Bung Hole Sniffing?

I'm sure everyone who has visited a distillery warehouse has had a go at this:

Photo : SpiritAndWood & @MaltMusings

Sniffing a cask's bung hole is an unforgettable experience - the vapours escaping from cask strength whisky are amazing!

The Whisky Works @TweetTastings

 James Whyte and Charles Mackay founded their company in 1844, on the banks of the River Clyde, they experimented with blending whisky as an alternative to the Cognac which was popular at the time. Today, as well as the Whyte & Mackay, John Barr and Claymore blends, they own single malt brands Dalmore, Fettercairn, Invergordon, Isle of Jura and Tamnavulin.

Experimentation is still at the heart of what they do and a recent addition to the portfolio is The Whisky Works brand, a boutique blending and bottling house, run as an independent arm. They release small batches of experimentally matured or blended whiskies.

Aerolite Lyndsay

A surprise package through the post a couple of weeks ago was a curiously named bottle of single malt Islay whisky from a new whisky company.

The Character of Islay Whisky Company is part of Atom Brands and a sister company of That Boutique-y Whisky Company and Master Of Malt amongst others. The whisky is called Aerolite Lyndsay and it turns out the name is an anagram!

Side by side : Lakes v Bimber initial releases

I've recently been lucky to try the initial releases from two of England's latest distilleries, both were impressive on their own but lets see how they compare side by side!

The Lakes Distillery's Whiskymaker's Reserve #1 and Bimber Distillery's 1st Release.

Bimber Distillery Initial Release - The 1st Release

Unless you've been off planet for the last few years you can't have failed to notice the seemingly never ending release of initial releases from new distilleries, both in Scotland and the rest of the world.

This time were looking at one of the very latest from @BimberLondon - let's see what it's like!

Goslings Rum #TweetTastings

A conversation with Steve pursued me to have a go at a rum TweetTasting and a few days later a parcel duly arrived!

Now I must admit I've only tried rum on a couple of occasions so didn't know quite what to expect, Steve did mentioned that these were a good cross-over drink.

#MiniTasting - Don't beat around the Bush!

A trip across the Irish Sea, figuratively speaking, for the #MiniTasting gang as we look at some of @BushmillsUK standard range.

Bruichladdich MP8

Every now and again Bruichladdich launch what they call a Micro Providence set showcasing three difference whiskies with slightly different characteristics so you can compare and contrast them. These are made available in sets of three 200ml bottles for around £50.

Photo: @JWBassman_

The most recent set, MP8, was a set of Port Charlotte drams - about a month after their release the #MiniTasting team and friends gave them a go.

Boutique-y Highland Fling!

As part of That Boutique-y Dram Good Club I recently received two Highland drams and decided to give them my side-by-side treatment.

These are both TBWC bottlings of Teaninch and Glengoyne whiskies.

BlindTastingOnTour : Glen Scotia

     

So where do you go for lunch in Campbeltown when you're between distillery visits and what do you have to eat? You've got whisky in your belly and know there's more to come later...

BlindTastingOnTour : Springbank

    

Tuesday morning arrived all to quickly and brought a few sore heads, memories of an empty Cage and the damp weather didn't improve the situation.

BlindTastingOnTour : WM Cadenhead's

    

After our tour of Glengyle we went back to the distillery shop to join the queue for the Cadenhead's Warehouse Tasting - and by queue we meant 20 Swedes.....

BlindTastingOnTour : Glengyle (Kilkerran)

    

The first 'official' visit of our Campbeltown trip was to the Glengyle Distillery where Kilkerran whisky is distilled.