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In my latest piece on Substack, I speak with Master Distiller Dr Nick Savage about the thinking behind The Wave series a...
19/06/2025

In my latest piece on Substack, I speak with Master Distiller Dr Nick Savage about the thinking behind The Wave series and why each release carries remnants of the last, how a single sherry tun becomes the backbone of a five-part story, and what makes Bladnoch’s southern spirit so distinctive. Link in Bio.

It takes just 45 minutes to fly from Glasgow to Campbeltown. But the journey feels like stepping back in time. Glen Scot...
14/05/2025

It takes just 45 minutes to fly from Glasgow to Campbeltown. But the journey feels like stepping back in time. Glen Scotia, one of Scotland’s most characterful distilleries, has released a 50-Year-Old whisky, its oldest ever. A dram shaped by salt air, patience, and quiet resilience.

I travelled to Campbeltown and then tasted this rare release at the Connaught Hotel in London. It’s not just a whisky; it’s a chapter in the story of a town that almost vanished from the whisky map. Glen Scotia didn’t let it.

Read my full article now—link in bio


Whisky is often about the moment - opened, poured, enjoyed. But what if it were about the future? I was fortunate to be ...
02/05/2025

Whisky is often about the moment - opened, poured, enjoyed. But what if it were about the future? I was fortunate to be invited by to visit Girvan distillery in Ayrshire, and Hazelwood House in Speyside
recently, to sample what can only be described as an extraordinary whisky.

House of Hazelwood’s One For The Next is a whisky laid down not for us, but for those we’ll never meet. The first release: a 60-Year-Old single grain from Girvan, distilled in 1964. Just 25 bottles. The same cask will be revisited every decade until 2065, when it reaches 100 years old.

Made from casks laid down by Charles Gordon himself, this is whisky as an heirloom, complete with a hand-built time-locked cabinet, a microsite for future tracking, and even a place to leave a message for your descendants.

Only 25 people will own it. But its story will outlive us all.

Read my article on the website. Link in bio.

#1964

I have a couple of rather nice posts on my finds in Vienna coming up, but before that I spotted these. I am not sure I h...
26/04/2025

I have a couple of rather nice posts on my finds in Vienna coming up, but before that I spotted these. I am not sure I have seen them before but found them at in Vienna.

Do you know anything about them?

I spotted these rare beauties from  in Bratislava yesterday. Which would you have? What a brilliant selection to have.  ...
25/04/2025

I spotted these rare beauties from in Bratislava yesterday. Which would you have? What a brilliant selection to have.

Loch Lomond was born in 1966 with a mission: to produce spirit with precision and purpose. Straight neck stills. 32 copp...
22/04/2025

Loch Lomond was born in 1966 with a mission: to produce spirit with precision and purpose. Straight neck stills. 32 copper plates. Up to 16 spirit styles. It is perhaps the most misunderstood distillery in Scotland.

I’ve been enjoying their whiskies for years, but finally stepping inside the distillery was something else. Behind the warehouse doors? A rare in-house cooperage, flame-charred casks glowing like furnaces, and a flavour-first philosophy led by Master Distiller Michael Henry. This is where orchard fruit meets soft peat, and where caramelised spice meets chewy texture.

Inchmurrin is bright and floral. Inchmoan is peated but polished. The Loch Lomond 12 Year Old bridges them both. Then there’s the Waypoint series — limited releases that play with yeast, fermentation, and finish. If you’re into flavour exploration, this is your playground.

I will be publishing a full article on later this week so keep an eye out!

Loch Lomond was born in 1966 with a mission: to produce spirit with precision and purpose. Straight neck stills. 32 copp...
22/04/2025

Loch Lomond was born in 1966 with a mission: to produce spirit with precision and purpose. Straight neck stills. 32 copper plates. Up to 16 spirit styles. It is perhaps the most misunderstood distillery in Scotland.

I’ve been enjoying their whiskies for years, but finally stepping inside the distillery was something else. Behind the warehouse doors? A rare in-house cooperage, flame-charred casks glowing like furnaces, and a flavour-first philosophy led by Master Distiller Michael Henry. This is where orchard fruit meets soft peat, and where caramelised spice meets chewy texture.

Inchmurrin is bright and floral. Inchmoan is peated but polished. The Loch Lomond 12 Year Old bridges them both. Then there’s the Waypoint series — limited releases that play with yeast, fermentation, and finish. If you’re into flavour exploration, this is your playground.

I will be publishing a full article on later this week so keep an eye out!

I am really enjoying finishing this sample of . It is the Kulo which has spent 7 years in sherry casks. It is delicious!...
30/03/2025

I am really enjoying finishing this sample of . It is the Kulo which has spent 7 years in sherry casks. It is delicious!!

Enjoying a  overlooking Loch Lomond. Does it get any better? I had an incredible day learning about the distillery and s...
27/03/2025

Enjoying a overlooking Loch Lomond. Does it get any better? I had an incredible day learning about the distillery and shall be writing a full article shortly.

On   I would like to share a recent interview I did with Martha Dalton, the founder of . The interview is carried on in ...
08/03/2025

On I would like to share a recent interview I did with Martha Dalton, the founder of . The interview is carried on in the comments.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a fantastic time to celebrate the incredible achievements of women everywhere. In the whisky industry, this day gives us a chance to shine a light on the women who are breaking barriers and shaping the future of whisky. There are so many talented women in this field, from distillers to bartenders, journalists, and buyers. I’m particularly inspired by Marianne Barnes, who became the first female Kentucky Bourbon Master Distiller at just 28, and Dawn Davies from The Whisky Exchange, who’s an absolute powerhouse in the industry.

What can be done to encourage more women to work in the whisky industry?
Strong representation is key to encouraging more women to join the whisky industry. Seeing other women enjoying, crafting, and leading within the sector will inspire more to get involved. I’m a huge fan of the work of Our Whisky who play a crucial role in this effort, championing inclusive representation and highlighting women’s achievements across the industry.

Of all your releases, which would you recommend to someone who is starting their whisky journey?
I’d recommend our signature Small-Batch Bourbon as a great starting point for anyone new to whisk(e)y. Bourbon is typically a good introductory whiskey because it’s generally sweeter and smoother, with notes of vanilla and caramel making it more approachable than some other types of whiskey, which can be peatier or more robust. Our small-batch has an accessible ABV of 47.5%—lower than our barrel strength, which can go as high as 60%. It’s a carefully chosen blend of our most interesting barrels, crafted to complement each other and create a balanced and versatile bourbon that’s easy to sip.
For those who love cocktails, I’d suggest our Rye. Its spicy, bold flavours really stand out in a mixed drink, making it a fantastic choice for cocktail enthusiasts.

I spotted these  bottles at  last week. It is a distillery I am looking forward to learning a lot more about this year. ...
06/03/2025

I spotted these bottles at last week. It is a distillery I am looking forward to learning a lot more about this year. I have a few single cask expressions but it occurred to me that I am not familiar enough with the core range, or these older bottles. I want to correct that.

Twenty-five years ago, Ardbeg was on the brink of extinction. A few die-hard whisky lovers refused to let that happen. T...
28/02/2025

Twenty-five years ago, Ardbeg was on the brink of extinction. A few die-hard whisky lovers refused to let that happen. They formed the Ardbeg Committee, a global band of peat-heads sworn to keep the doors of this Islay icon open forever. Today, 200,000 members strong, they’re still arguing over what makes the perfect dram.

To mark the occasion, Ardbeg has unleashed Eureka! – a whisky born from the wild, wonderful, and sometimes heated debates of its most devoted fans. On Ardbeg Day 2023, a secret tasting mission (Operation Smokescreen) brought together 100 Committee members from 15 countries to sample extreme Ardbeg expressions. Their feedback led Dr Bill Lumsden and Master Blender Gillian Macdonald to craft a whisky that somehow captures all their preferences in one bottle.

The result? Ardbeg Eureka! It is said to be a paradox of flavours: briny seaweed, dark chocolate, cinnamon, bonfire smoke, cherries, and raisin fudge. It sounds great doesn’t it and takes us back to the Ardbeg we love, and at a price we can enjoy - £72.

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