A Scot on Scotch

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WHISKY REVIEWS, NEWS, HISTORY & FOLKLORE Reviews of affordable whisky with some entertaining tales along the way... written by Neill Murphy

01/11/2025

Farewell to Islay - huge thanks to everyone who made the week so special - the teachers, the distillery staff, the restaurant staff, the drivers, and of course to Rachel for making it all happen and delivering it so brilliantly. Finally, warmest thanks to the students who came with open minds, ready to learn and absorb. We hope to see you again some day 🥃

31/10/2025

Islay Whisky Academy Residential Diploma Day 5. Our magical week draws to a close but there’s a couple of important matters to be dealt with first. The students will sit their exam this morning - and pass we hope 😬🤣 - then they’ll make their own blend.

Then in the afternoon it’s off to Bunnahabhain for some celebratory drams and in the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner at the Port Charlotte hotel. A brilliant way to round off our week. Slàinte.

30/10/2025

IWA Diploma Day 4. A magical night last night at the Machrie, but another epic day today. This morning we have John Lamond teaching whisky history, fact and fiction. Then it’s off to Islay’s oldest distillery, Bowmore.

In the evening we head to Ballygrant for a tasting with John McCheyne and the SMWS. It’s a hard life 😆

29/10/2025

A Halloween Whisky Review…

Over on A Scot on Scotch, I’m doing some Halloween storytelling with the strange and foreboding tale of Eagsa Bhuidhe na Fèidh.

You’ll be needing a dram after reading it so why not look towards Ardnahoe, Islay’s newest single malt.

Bholsa is their second core bottling and features peated whisky matured in sherry casks.

29/10/2025

Another incredible day lined up - lecture on maturation & oak, followed by a round table discussion with four inspirational women of whisky.

Then in the afternoon it’s off to Laphroaig - the definitive Islay malt? Then in the evening it’s off to the Machrie for a night with Willie Phillips, formerly of Macallan, current chairman of Ardgowan. What a day!

28/10/2025

It’s a wee bit blowie! Ready to get started on Day 2 of the Islay Whisky Academy Residential Diploma. This morning we’re off to the peat bog, then it’s Octomore spring.

Then in the afternoon we’re off to Kilchoman - Islay’s Farm Distillery before a wee get together and a dram in the accommodation tonight.

28/10/2025

I’ve had worse Mondays 😁

27/10/2025

Islay Whisky Academy Residential Diploma October 2025 - Day 1. All the students have arrived and are eager to get started with their learning.

Rachel MacNeill will be getting us off and running with lectures on barley and the nosing and tasting of whisky. Then after lunch it’s off to Bruichladdich and then this evening we’ll be in Bridgend for Seachad an Eòrna / Beyond the Barley whisky tasting and storytelling.

26/10/2025

Good morning! I’m up bright and early but it’s all good because I’m officially Islay bound! A week of whisky, culture and magic awaits.

17/10/2025

Last night was the latest online whisky tasting from Scottish Rogue.

We put together a lineup of vintage single malt bottlings from the 1980s and 90s.

It was really interesting delving into the whiskies of yesteryear - I think it’s fair to say that Scotch was a very different drink back then.

All the drams felt quite muted on the nose - maybe a symptom of being coupled up for so long - but on the palate there was some interesting stuff going on.

The Tullibardine was a wee bit bland - soft, fruity, floral… the Tomatin stepped up a bit, with more depth.

The Tomintoul was a surprise - it’s not a brand I love nowadays but this was one of the highlights. Felt like there was a bit of sherry going on.

Fettercairn was interesting with a funky, sulphury touch. Balblair had some body to it but felt a bit pedestrian, nothing to make it stand out.

Tobermory and Ledaig were good. Tobermory felt as close to a Sherry bomb as we got, with a bit of spice. The Ledaig was more ash than smoke, but enjoyable all the same.

Great fun, and more tastings coming soon 👍

07/10/2025

I was so busy last week with Scottish Rogue stuff that I somehow missed a bit of an anniversary!

The 2nd of October marked 10 years since I published the first whisky review on my humble wee blog.

Mad to think how much has changed in that time - not to mention how much a thing that started as a hobby has come to be the main focus of my working life.

Wouldn’t have it any other way 😎

Here’s to the next 10.

Slàinte 🥃

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