November 2023

Whisky Magazine

Celebrating the whiskies of the world

Whisky Magazine3 min read
To Raise A Glass
Before entering the whisky world, I’d never heard the word ‘slàinte’ or the extended ‘slàinte mhath’ before. It’s ubiquitous, not just in Scotland – from whose Gaelic language it derives – but in whisky-loving circles around the world. Being in a pos
Whisky Magazine1 min read
Whisky Magazine
Editor – Bethany Brown bethanyb@paragraph.co.uk Editor-at-large – Christopher Coates christopherc@paragraph.co.uk Deputy editor – Phoebe Calver phoebec@paragraph.co.uk Content executive – Bradley Weir bradleyw@paragraph.co.uk Canada – Blair Phillips
Whisky Magazine1 min read
London Life
Whisky Live’s flagship London tasting experience is returning to the city in 2024 with exciting improvements and a new venue. The 2024 Whisky Live London show will be taking place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 March at the Woolwich Works, a larger spa
Whisky Magazine3 min read
Too Good To Be True
“We have managed to secure some unique casks of whisky from a superb distillery, [Redacted], at 25 per cent less than the price the distillery sells them for. They are first-fill virgin oak with beautiful peated whisky. Prices start from £3,800. Rele
Whisky Magazine3 min read
An Unlikely Hub
On a Saturday in September, pubs and bars throughout Ireland and South Africa were heaving as rugby fans gathered to watch their teams go head-to-head in the Rugby World Cup. Around 2pm Central Time, about 5,990 miles from Dublin on a commercial stri
Whisky Magazine6 min read
Silence Is GOLDEN
Over the last few decades whisky has prospered. This is especially true of single malt, which has transformed from a virtually unknown category into the Scotch industry’s golden goose. Ironically, certain popular malt whisky brands, now well-known an
Whisky Magazine3 min read
The Case Against George Thorpe
There are many myths and misleading claims in the whisky industry. One of the most egregious is the claim that George Thorpe was America’s first grain distiller, let alone a distiller of corn whisky (he never distilled or brewed). Since the 1950s, ma
Whisky Magazine8 min read
Talk Of The town
When hunting for distilleries in Scotland there are often clear signs that one is close by. It could be a pagoda on a roof, a redbrick chimney poking over the brow of a hill, the blackened wall of a warehouse, or the sweet aroma of hot mash in the ai
Whisky Magazine2 min read
Myth MANAGEMENT
Whisky is undoubtedly an intricate topic. That’s part of the joy of it – even the most advanced whisky chemists still don’t have all the answers. PhD students are delving into the complexities of malt varieties and wood’s impact on flavour. Their wor
Whisky Magazine2 min readChemistry
Long Fermentation Times Are Inherently Better
Head off on any distillery tour and it won’t be long until the touring party arrive at the washbacks. Often pine, sometimes stainless steel, this is the stage in whisky production where yeast is added to the sugary liquid and a beer-like wash is crea
Whisky Magazine2 min read
Water Source Has A Significant Impact On The End Whisky
Another common stage on a distillery tour, especially if that distillery is in a picturesque location, is a short hike to visit a water source. The narrative broadly includes the words ‘pure’, ‘distinct’, and ‘flavour’. The implication is that this w
Whisky Magazine2 min read
‘Craft’ And ‘Small Batch’ Mean Something
It’s a real quirk of whisky marketing. In a highly regulated industry, it comes as a surprise to many that the words ‘craft’ or ‘small batch’ on a product label have absolutely no weight. So much so that back in 2015, a senior Diageo executive descri
Whisky Magazine2 min read
Colour Is A Reliable Indicator Of A Whisky’s Quality
This is a topic rife with misconceptions. Colour (legally) gets into a whisky one of two ways: through cask influence, and by adding caramel colour, or E150a. Considering there’s not a requirement for whisky companies to disclose the use of colour in
Whisky Magazine6 min read
Honouring Your Roots
For 225 years, the whiskies of Highland Park have shouted, “ORKNEY” – a bold yet simple assertion that cuts through the lore and myth of a distillery with a storied past. Still, every drop of Highland Park, soaked in the wildness of Scotland’s Orkney
Whisky Magazine6 min read
The Lost Whisky Of TERSCHELLING
Late November 1969. MS Portoria is on a voyage across the North Sea when a storm hits. The ship loses part of its cargo near the Dutch Wadden Islands, a natural barrier off the north coast of the Netherlands. The lost containers house an eclectic col
Whisky Magazine1 min read
Tasting Highland Park’s Whiskies
ABV: 43% Style: Single malt Price: £40 Bottling type: Distillery Availability: Worldwide Nose: Sweet apple, citrus, and floral honey support its rounded malty and crisp profile with wisps of smoke. Palate: Refreshing citrus notes dress up the sweet a
Whisky Magazine4 min read
Whisky Rising
What’s your star sign? It’s a question that can be a major talking point, depending on how aligned one is with the ancient practice. The zeitgeist for the zodiac resonates strongly with today’s millennials, Gen Zers, women, and many in the queer comm
Whisky Magazine9 min read
Laying The FOUNDATIONS
The words ‘passion’ and ‘enthusiasm’ are thrown around a lot in the origin stories of whisky makers, but it would be hard to find two people more passionate and enthusiastic about the craft than Ian Stirling and Paddy Fletcher, founders of the newly
Whisky Magazine4 min read
A Spirit Of Two Halves
Haig Whisky has a remarkable history and perception in the modern world. To some, it is a historic brand with an instantly recognisable bottle that can trace its history back to the 17th century. For others, they’ll know it as “that blue bottle with
Whisky Magazine2 min read
Tasting Haig Whisky
A single grain Scotch whisky aged in three cask types including first-fill American white oak and refilled and rejuvenated ex-bourbon casks. Nose: Savoury with iodine smoke and elements of balsamic vinegar. A developing sweetness with baked apple and
Whisky Magazine7 min read
Under Its Spell
In a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, the Old Burying Point Cemetery serves as a particularly bleak resting place. That city is Salem – a name universally associated with the punishment of accused witches, having held its infamous t
Whisky Magazine6 min read
The Making Of A Style
Single malt has been the great Scotch whisky success story of the 21st century. Its dramatic rise in popularity has been driven largely by marketers, drinks journalists, and influencers, promoting this spirit made exclusively from malted barley as Sc
Whisky Magazine1 min read
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Whisky Magazine13 min read
Tastings Latest
After studying English literature at university, Bethany worked as a journalist for regional newspaper groups before moving to the spirits industry. She was appointed as editor of Whisky Magazine in 2022, having previously edited its sister titles Gi
Whisky Magazine3 min read
The Macallan Opens New Airport Boutique In Panama
At first glance, the small Latin American country of Panama with its population of only 4.35 million people might not seem the obvious place to open the second The Macallan airport boutique in the Americas. On closer inspection, however, Panama’s sta
Whisky Magazine3 min read
Caskaway
Huw Wright started his drinks industry journey at William Grant & Sons in Richmond back in 2015. From there he moved to AB InBev, where he was involved in projects with companies including Camden Town Brewery and Atom Supplies (Master of Malt, Bathtu
Whisky Magazine1 min read
Recommended Whiskies
ABV: 49.43% Style: Single malt Bottling type: Distillery Price per bottle: €500 (£427) Availability: Dublin and Cork airports Origin: Ireland This latest addition to the Walsh Whiskey portfolio pushes at the upper boundaries of the increasingly popul

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