During the festive season the SMWS is releasing a new cask collection each week. That’s a lot of whisky! You are able to view all the releases in advance to make it easier to choose those special Christmas gifts for family and friends… or for yourself. Why not? Everyone deserves a little extravagance from time […]
These smoky bottles will offer warming spices, chilli kicks and memories of bonfire that will definitely keep you nice and toasty. Also, if you aren’t able to celebrate Bonfire Night (5th Nov) but wish to experience the smoke and fire flavours at home, these bottlings are for you! I have selected a range of spirits […]
This quick overview will help you navigate through the wide array of whiskies worldwide. There are differences between the core ingredients, production methods and ageing requirements, which all contribute to their unique flavours. You may have noticed that there are two spellings for whisky. Whiskey is preferred by Irish and Americans, whisky is used in Scotland, Canada, Japan […]
The Glenlivet Distillery has spent the past 18 months renovating its visitor centre to offer guests new experiences and innovative ways to learn more about their story and the history of the Speyside area. Last week I had the opportunity to visit The Glenlivet where I could explore these new features and enjoy a few […]
Ever dreamed of cycling along remote roads and beautiful landscapes with diverse wildlife? Islay is a wonderful island to discover by bike. The roads are reasonably flat and single-track, the places aren’t far apart and there are many beautiful locations to stop. And there’s whisky. Earlier this month we did a quick trip to the […]
What if you could stay on an island right next to a distillery overlooking the magical Isle of Skye? Now you can literally do just that, but is the reality as good as the idea? I had to go and investigate. The wonderful Isle of Raasay lies off the west coast of Scotland in the […]
As you probably know by now, I’m a huge fan of whisky and whisky tastings in general. By sampling a range of whiskies, you will gain so much more insight into the category and the wide variety of flavours available. You might think you know what you like, but these tastings allow you to dive […]
The spirits industry has been male-dominant for quite some time, yet it was women who used to do the hard yards of distilling and distribution in the pre-industrial era. Back in the day, it was common practice to make spirits from the comfort of your home using the ingredients at hand, and the work was […]
When you are new to whisky, it can be a minefield to choose ones suitable for a beginner’s palate. There’s always the fear of not liking something and ruining the whole experience at the first few yards. You want something easy sipping, nothing overly complex, but with still enough oomph to make you want to […]