Notes

31.07.21

Tasting: Jura Feis Ile 2021, The Gladstone Axe – Black Axe; Whisky Charity Events; Iain Henderson

Hello everyone We‘re starting this time with a couple of whiskies mentioned last time but which hadn‘t been tasted. The first is Jura Distillery Cask which was bottled at 57.1% …

18.07.21

Scallywag Tasting – with Chocolate?; Juras on Taste; Edinburgh Cocktail Week Is On!; Whisky Distillery Ownership – Does It Matter?

Hello everyone First item for this column is a review of a sample sent from Douglas Laing & Co. It‘s their new Scallywag Chocolate Edition (48% vol) which arrived on …

30.06.21

Tastings and More Tastings; News Bits; Awards?; Islay Revisited

Hello Bit of a hybrid this time with tasting notes blog and some news bits which aren‘t opinion pieces. However, one bit of opinion – or question – I will …

15.06.21

Interview – Jaclyn McKie, Isle of Arran Distillers

When I first started this interview series, it was intended to be chats with members of family whisky (or related) companies. The Covid problem and people‘s availability put paid to …

27.05.21

Feis Ile Starts; Big Peat Reappears and a Timorous Beastie Beckons; Brora Reopens; Jim McEwan Retires (Finally?).

Hello Well, it‘s the end of May and Feis Ile time again, though Islay‘s annual festival of malt and music is virtual again this year. It all kicks off tomorrow …

14.05.21

World Whisky Day; Almost a UK Tasting; Whisky Investments?; Speyside Results; WWD Cocktails

Hello Everyone Well, tomorrow (Saturday 15th May) is World Whisky Day. Why not make it World Whisky Week? Not just for the alliteration but it gives all you talented on-trade …

29.04.21

Whisky Festivals Galore! – New Benriach Visitor Centre – Clynelish a JW Highland Home – Jura Rum Cask on Taste – Jim McEwan‘s Autobiography & One Last Dram

Hello Everyone As I write, the 2021 Spirit of Speyside Festival is getting started, a virtual one again this year but packed with interesting events – tours, talks and tastings. …

14.04.21

Islay & Ireland Tasting; Ardbeg Day 2021; Cutty Sark‘s Adventures; Consumer Whisky Course

Hello again Well, we‘ve had some April snow here in Scotland but all seems to be improving now. Snow is good for the whisky water table, though it won’t have …

29.03.21

Bruichladdich Ternary Project and Islay Barley 2012 on Taste; Laphroaig 10 Sherry Finish; Islay Rum Distillery; Aberfeldy Virtual Tours; Ardbeg New Still House

There‘s quite an Islay focus this column. Main item this time is tasting notes of two new Bruichladdichs. The Islay Barley 2012 came out recently but the sample arrived just …

16.03.21

New Fettercairn Tasting; Do We Scribes Ever Buy Whisky? – Craft Whisky Club – Oak on BBC Radio 4 (Get the Names Right!)

Hello everyone, Having recently had my first dose of Covid vaccination, I’m champing at the bit for the second one so life can get back to being rather more interesting. …