Firstly thanks to all of you who have read my blog (c228,000 up from 147,000 last year) and followed me on Twitter (c6,350 up from 5,300 last year).
Sunday 31 December 2023
Review of my whisky year - 2023
Friday 29 December 2023
Bimber Santa's Edition 2023
@BimberLondon have released a number of special edition bottles over the year and have rounded it off with Santa's Edition 2023
Tuesday 19 December 2023
Newer Distilleries : Isle of Harris
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about @harrisdistiller.
Monday 18 December 2023
Side by side : Under the radar : two indie Braeval
Braeval Distillery is very under the radar, a workhorse producing blending stock for Chivas Brothers.
Tuesday 12 December 2023
Newer Distilleries : Bonnington
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Bonnington Distillery
Hyde @TweetTasting
@HydeWhiskey chose a @TweetTastings to share some of their whiskies!
Sunday 10 December 2023
#BTC38 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes
These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 38th #BlindDrams evening.
Monday 4 December 2023
Kendal Whisky Festival 2023
Sunday 26 November 2023
Bowmore @TweetTasting
@bowmore chose a @TweetTastings to share some of their older whiskies!
Monday 20 November 2023
Fisherman's Retreat Edition 13
I've written about @FishRetreat many times before, a restaurant in the Twine Valley at the edge of the Pennine Hills around 15 miles north of Manchester. They are also an Independent Bottler selling whiskies matured in wine casks.
Tuesday 14 November 2023
Weetwood's The Cheshire - Fireside
Following on from their first Special Release Seaside @weetwoodales have bottled their second called Fireside.
I've really enjoyed all of their bottlings to date so bought one of these straight away!
Sunday 12 November 2023
#BTC37 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes
These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 37th #BlindDrams evening.
Thursday 9 November 2023
Tullibardine @TweetTasting
A regular on the @TweetTastings cycle, @Tullidistillery allowed us to try their Core Range bottlings.
Tuesday 7 November 2023
The Fool from North Start Spirits
Sunday 5 November 2023
Borders Distillery WS:02 - The Long & Short Of It
Whilst they wait for their single malt to mature, Borders Distillery are teasing us with another single blend (not a term you'll find in the SWA handbook but one which a number of distilleries can now produce) from their Workshop Series.
Wednesday 1 November 2023
Stirk Brothers Cameronbridge from Claxton's
Stirk Brothers are a new independent bottler but they do have some history...
Monday 30 October 2023
Wolfie's First Release
When a legendary rocker wants to release a whisky where would they go? Loch Lomond of course - its been there since 1814*.
That's exactly where @RodStewart went for his latest release Wolfies!
Saturday 28 October 2023
Glen Scotia The Mermaid
After three years of autumnal Seasonal Releases @GlenScotiaMalts have changed tack and have started a new series based on the town's famous Cross - Icons of Campbeltown.
This year is all about the Mermaid, let's find out a little more!
Thursday 26 October 2023
Tullibardine 18yo
I recently published a blog on the price of 18yo bottlings, @Tullidistillery didn't feature as they didn't have an 18yo when I started my survey back in 2021
But they do now, so let's try it!
Monday 23 October 2023
AD Rattray @TweetTasting
@ADRattrayWhisky chose a @TweetTastings to launch some of their new Cask Collection bottlings.
DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Tomatin
The DrivenByDrams gang's Speyside Tour was over and it was time to go home, but first a detour - further up the A9 to @Tomatin1897
Saturday 21 October 2023
DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Glenfiddich
After our fantastic tour of @BalvenieUS (I'm linking in the US account as the UK one hasn't been active since 2017) the DrivenByDrams gang walked up the road to @GlenfiddichSMW
Tuesday 17 October 2023
DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Balvenie
After our fantastic tour of @TheDunphail.the DrivenByDrams gang rested overnight before our Speyside trip had us heading for @BalvenieUS
The Whisky Cellar @TweetTasting
@whisky_cellar chose a @TweetTastings to launch some of their new 7th series Private Cellars Selection and Pintail bottlings.
Tuesday 10 October 2023
DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Dunphail
After our disappointing trip to Benromach the DrivenByDrams gang Speyside trip had us heading for @TheDunphail.
Monday 9 October 2023
DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Benromach
The first day of the DrivenByDrams gang Speyside trip had us heading for Benromach.
Sunday 8 October 2023
DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Planning
Thursday 5 October 2023
Glasgow Distillery @TweetTasting
@GlasgowDC @1770Whisky chose a @TweetTastings to launch some of their new bottlings.
Sunday 24 September 2023
#BTC36 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes
These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 36th #BlindDrams evening.
Wednesday 20 September 2023
Side by side: A Little Brown Dog Flight
@lbdspirits are an Indie bottler and micro distillery based in rural Aberdeenshire, founded in 2018.
Sunday 17 September 2023
Whisky Prices 2023 - Key Bottle?
Each September I complete a survey, recording the prices of a distillery's key bottle - the standard bottle which you might buy if wanting to get into a new distillery.
Tuesday 12 September 2023
Whisky Prices 2023 - 18yos
Tuesday 29 August 2023
Side by side: a flight of Indie Glen Ord
Wednesday 23 August 2023
Loch Lomond Steam & Fire
Just to make things a little more complicated @LochLomondMalts have released a new NAS bottling with completely different packaging from their core range!
Sunday 20 August 2023
#BTC35 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes
These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 35th #BlindDrams evening.
Sunday 13 August 2023
Side by side: Glencadam Reserva Range
Thursday 10 August 2023
Brave New Spirits @TweetTastings
Indie bottler Brave New Spirits @BNS_Whisky chose a @TweetTastings to launch some of their new bottlings.
Tuesday 8 August 2023
Side by side: Four from GlenDronach
I can't remember the last time I reviewed a GlenDronach so here, to make up, are four cask strength bottlings.
Three single casks and the latest Cask Strength Batch.
Friday 21 July 2023
Side by Side: The Cheshire Second (and 'Third') Releases
Following on from their first release last year @weetwoodales have bottled their Second and 'Third' Releases
I really enjoyed the First so have been looking forward to the Second.
Sunday 16 July 2023
#BTC34 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes
These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 34th #BlindDrams evening.
Saturday 8 July 2023
Waxhouse Whisky Release 008
Waxhouse Whisky are a tiny, indie bottler formed by members of the St. Albans Whisky Club in 2018.
Monday 3 July 2023
Side by side: Lismore
Lismore is a brand you may not of heard of - it's an indie bottler based at the same address in Speyside as Glenfarclas!
Sunday 18 June 2023
Loch Lomond Distillery Edition Three
@LochLomondMalts have released the third in their, now quarterly, Distillery Edition series featuring innovative distilling techniques.
#BTC33 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes
These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 33rd #BlindDrams evening.
Friday 9 June 2023
Side by side : Under the radar : two indie Strathmill
The first in an occasional series about under the radar distilleries - this time Strathmill Distillery in Speyside.
Thursday 1 June 2023
Side by side : MoM Campbeltown 8yo
Tuesday 30 May 2023
Side by side : Chivas Regal
One of the big blends @ChivasRegal, owned by Chivas Brothers who are owned by Pernod Ricard have been getting creative in the last couple of years with a range of Extra 13yos
Thursday 25 May 2023
Bankhall First Release
Bankhall distillery in Blackpool have released their first single malt whisky
Sunday 21 May 2023
#BTC32 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes
These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 32nd #BlindDrams evening.
Saturday 13 May 2023
Side by side : peated whisky from Bunnahabhain
Islay - home of peated whisky? We know that all of the distilleries on Islay produce peated whisky* - well all except one @Bunnahabhain! Well it turns out that they actually do!