Now… I need to tread carefully here. I am dealing with a fan favourite. So extreme is the love for the Springbank distillery that their regular age statement expressions and core releases now seem to have a waiting list for those willing to partake - and at a price that is some 150-200% above the... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Coachbuilt – Build No.001
The spirits industry is no stranger to celebrity endorsements, and it seems that they are becoming more and more commonplace. These tend to fall into 2 camps: 1) pure advertising, or 2) where it is more than just endorsement but also financially backing a startup. It seems that the most successful arrangements fall into that... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Douglas Laing – The Gauldrons
Back in 2009, the indie bottlers Douglas Laing launched their first instalment in what has become the revered "Remarkable Regional Malts" series. That release was none other than Big Peat - a blended malt scotch whisky, featuring purely Islay single malts - namely Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, and the long-departed Port Ellen distillery. Off the... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Dà Mhìle – Tarian
For St David’s Day, I wanted to post about a Welsh whisky. And no, it’s not from THAT distillery. Whilst THEY have been flying the flag for Welsh whisky for some 20+ years now, it was Dà Mhìle distillery that actually resulted in Wales being declared a whisky making nation. Come again? Well... European legislation... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Glen Scotia – 14 Years Old (Tawny Port Finish)
Back in its heyday, Campbeltown had some 30 whisky distilleries in full operation and garnered a reputation as the whisky capital of the world. Whilst those days are now long gone, there are still 3 distilleries in operation - Springbank, Glengyle, and Glen Scotia - and the Campbeltown Malts Festival was started in 2009 to... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Glen Scotia – 16 Years Old
Glen Scotia distillery is based in the "Victorian Whisky Capital of the World" Campbeltown. It is one of the three remaining functioning distilleries in the town and claims to still focus on creating the same characteristics of the single malts that made the region so famous in the 1800s. The distillery was recently bought by... Continue Reading →