Well, happy birthday big man! Here we look at this month's brand new, special release, 10 year old age-stated bottling of Big Peat, looking to celebrate 10 whole years since Big Peat first arrived on the scene as the forerunner to the Douglas Laing & Co series of Remarkable Regional Malts. As per his brethren before … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Douglas Laing – Big Peat (Aged 10 Years)
Back in 2009, the team at Douglas Laing & Co. unleashed a concept that had a big objective and a big name to live up to, for that is the year that Big Peat was born. The blended malt whisky features "A Shovelful of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies including Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore & … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Douglas Laing – Big Peat
As with all Compass Box whiskies, the name of the game here is quality and transparency, even if the name of the whisky itself is "No Name". What is more unusual however is that, whenever Islay whiskies are used in blends, then the original distillery tends to hide its identity within a shroud of mystery … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Compass Box – No Name
Pronounced oo-gah-dahl, and named after the loch that provides Ardbeg with its spring water on the south east of Islay, this peaty puncher is one of the distillery's core expressions. The master distillers have taken their revered smoky malt and given it a final and thorough sherry butt maturation. Bottled at a high percentage, this … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Ardbeg – Uigaedail
It might seem odd for someone to be writing about beer on a whisky blog but stick with me on this one… I've always been a whisky man. There's never really been any other type of alcoholic drink that I've enjoyed more thoroughly. Like many whisky fans, I've had to have THAT conversation with … Continue reading From Whisky To Beer – A Spirited Journey
After a brilliant day's musical and liquid entertainment on the Saturday, I managed to wake up without a single regret on the Sunday, and the weather was also as surprisingly clear as my head. There are few sights in this world that I've been lucky enough to witness that are as serene, calming and stunning … Continue reading Best Of The West Festival 2015 – Day 2
My trip to the 2015 Best Of The West Festival (or "Bowfest" as simply referred to) was a journey two years in the making and it did not disappoint! Pretty much two years ago to the day, WU embarked on their first Islay road trip. Having started out from the south of England, it took … Continue reading Best Of The West Festival 2015 – Day 1
