September 8, 2022
Extreme distilling: Arctic barley
Two casks sat close to the entrance of the turf-covered warehouse. Outside a fresh fall of snow had…
August 23, 2022
What Price Whisky?
£16 million for a cask of Ardbeg? Whether the declared price included 40% import taxes has yet to…
March 7, 2022
Scotch in Russia, Russia in Scotch
The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has resulted in Western companies pulling out of Russia. How is the Scotch…
September 30, 2021
On The Edge
Into the fjord’s great maw. Cliffs like dragon teeth, streaming with rain, looking as if they had just…
September 19, 2021
Weaving A Story
It had been a long day. A highball was called for. Something refreshing, cooling. That reset which comes…
July 22, 2021
ENTER THE THREE CHAMBERS OF LEOPOLD
They arrived within days of each other. New whiskies, breaking new ground. Two different styles, one a rye,…
June 23, 2021
Raasay Revival
There were beads of sweat running down our ever-reddening faces. Not because of any crisis, or misspoken words,…
March 9, 2021
Labels and Trust, the new Japanese agreement
Sone thoughts on the new labelling agreement for Japanese whiskies. A positive move that has been deservedly welcomed,…
August 19, 2020
Native Grains
Whisky is a cereal-based drink, but the majority is made from two types: corn and barley, with some…
August 4, 2020
THREE STEPPS TO … (part 2)
The continuation of my first whisky job. Part one is here. We pick up the story as…