Since first releasing blended malt whiskies in 2005, the Wemyss Malts team have continued to develop a stable core range of products that best example some of scotch whisky's key unique identifiers: sweet, spicy and smoky. These three characteristics are represented within the three unique expressions that comprise their core range: The Hive, Spice King... 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: Mackinlay’s – Shackleton
Ask yourself this: what would I need to take with me when heading out on an incredibly perilous, unpredictable and life-threatening expedition to unchartered territories in Antarctica? Bear in mind that the year that you are asking yourself this question is 1907 too, so iPhones, laptops and complex geo-positioning devices are not even the stuff... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Sheep Dip – Original
The brand Sheep Dip has a great little story behind its origins, which, despite being a blend of malt scotch whiskies, originally started in Gloucestershire in 1974. In the beginning, the whisky was packaged as 'The Original Oldbury Sheep Dip', named after the pub that it was crafted in, in Oldbury-on-Severn, as an 8-year old... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: The English Whisky Co – Cabernet Sauvignon Cask
Following the 2017 rebrand of The English Whisky Co. it seems that the 'Chapter' naming and numbering convention of the distillery releases has fallen by the wayside for a stronger emphasis on their newly found identity as "The English". Since the initial release of their two staples releases under this brand ("Original" and "Smokey"), the... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Dumbarton – 32 Years Old (Claxton’s)
One of the benefits of tasting whisky from an independent bottler is that you are sometimes able to access some of the more rare whisky distilleries' products, and occasionally, if you're lucky enough, that can be some of the final stock from a distillery that is no longer around today. Claxton's Spirits have done just that... Continue Reading →