Recently, I’ve come across several intriguing, perhaps even a bit unusual, cask finishes on the scotch whisky scene. By playing around with different cask types and sizes, the Master Blender can create layers of flavours. They can use a range of the same casks, for example, different fills of ex-bourbon, or mix and match a […]
Throughout May, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society has been hosting several events on- and offline as part of their Flavour Hunters Festival. The idea was to explore the range of flavours from each Scottish whisky region. As a part of the celebrations, the Society has hosted a range of events at their members’ venues in […]
Traditionally, the single grain scotch whisky category was not something that you would see bottled and sold as it is mainly used for blends, where they add body and texture. There is, however, a growing market for single grain bottlings, especially under various independent bottler labels. There seems to be a misconception of single grain […]
Bunnahabhain distillery and casks
Who doesn’t love a good food and drink pairing? I’ve spent enough time in Italy to have adapted their ‘no alcohol without food’ policy. I love a good snack to go with whatever I’m drinking, whether it is simply salted nuts and olives or something fancier like a smoked salmon blini. I’m also always interested […]
I have teamed up with Douglas Laing to create a selection of scotch cocktails for you to enjoy during the festive season (or any season really…). For these recipes, I have used three expressions from their Remarkable Regional Malts range: Scallywag, Timorous Beastie and Big Peat. These are a marriage of Single Cask Single Malts […]
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 […]
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 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 […]