On 1st March (St. David's Day) 2004 Penderyn became the first distillery in Wales to (legally) sell its own Welsh whisky in over a century. 15 years later, their limited edition Royal Welsh Whisky release is a celebration of their predecessor. Since their launch in 2000, the team at Penderyn have honed their signature bottlings... Continue Reading →
News: Cù Bòcan – Unlocking The Unusual
Ever since tasting Tomatin's seasonal Cù Bòcan whiskies last year, I have bought bottles for both myself, and - the ultimate test - for friends, and have even converted a seasoned whisky drinker to "unlocking the unusual". You can see my notes on the Signature release here. I realise that I got so wrapped up... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Talisker – Storm
Talisker is one of the first names that scotch whisky drinkers will encounter on their spirit(ed) journey. Its name evokes mental images of the rugged Isle of Skye and their whiskies’ flavours make those images come to life. That might all sound a bit grand and romantic but that’s my impression of Talisker and it... Continue Reading →
Triple Tipple: The English Whisky Co – Chapters 10, 11, 12
Today is April 23rd, a.k.a. St. George’s Day, the national day of England, and so it seems an appropriate day to publish a post about the English Whisky Co. (EWC). The coincidences don't stop there, because their site is actually called the St. George’s Distillery in Roudham, Norfolk. Though the St. George branding and name... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: MacNair’s – Lum Reek
Despite the fact that this post relates to a new series of blended malt scotch whiskies, the origins of the whiskies actually start with a single malt whisky distillery under a new vision from 2017, originally built in 1967, a Victorian inventor and distiller, and an even older, traditional Hogmanay greeting. To go back and... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Compass Box – No Name
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 →