Category Archives: Fun

Review: Battle of the Blends – The Judging

Posted on by
Reply

Whisky Mag’s Battle of the Blends
in association with Master of Malt

Battle-of-the-BlendsSo, Dave ‘The Rummager’ Broom and Neil ‘Copper Dog’ Ridley have been set a challenge by the Whisky Mag along with Master of Malt… which of the two can produce the best blend… and it’s now time for selected blaggers judges to compare, contrast and submit their favourites. Want more info on the fight? Head to Master of Malt’s blog here.

As regular readers of my blog may have noticed I’ve run a small selection of blend reviews over the last few posts, so this seems a great way to finish that round up.

Annnd it’s on to my thoughts…

Continue reading →

Review: SWIG and their Amazing Hip Flasks

Posted on by
Reply

swiglogo

“9 months ago, David Galbraith sold everything he owned and moved across the country to pursue his vision of making the world’s best hip flask brand. SWIG® is a seamless stainless-steel Hip Flask which can be supplied with a wide range of personalised genuine leather pouches. The flasks arrive gift boxed, ribbon tied and engraved with a unique serial number that permits lifetime membership to the ‘SWIG Society’ (the global membership club for flask owners – members include the Prime Minister!).”

Continue reading →

Review: Clan Mackenzie Dinner at Dalmore & The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive 2015

Posted on by
Reply

DalmoreLogo

Clan Mackenzie International Gathering Dinner at The Dalmore Distillery
(plus a review of The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive 2015!)

Autumn in Dalmore

View from Dalmore out over the Cromarty Firth in Autumn

Recently I had the good fortune to be invited along to the Clan Mackenzie International Gathering Dinner at The Dalmore distillery. Hosted by Master Distiller Richard Paterson it was in honour of The Dalmore’s rich history and the fact that The Dalmore distillery was once owned by members of Clan Mackenzie. Clan Mackenzie have an International Gathering every 5 years which involves a week packed full of of events attended by members of the Clan from all around the world, this dinner being one such event.

Continue reading →

Multi Review: anCnoc 12yo, 2000 & 18yo

Posted on by
Reply

ancnoc-logo

Multi Review: anCnoc 12yo, 2000 and 18yo
A #ModernTradition Twitter Tasting

As luck would have it, I’ve been invited along to a Twitter Tasting to try out some lovely drams from the Knockdhu distillery, otherwise known as anCnoc on the shelves (so as to not get confused with Knockando).

We’re going to take a look at the 12yo, the 2000 vintage, and the newish 18yo. So without further ado, let’s get cracking… Continue reading →

Press Launch & Review: Glenmorangie Tusail

Posted on by
Reply

GLENMORANGIE LOGO

Glenmorangie Tùsail

Recently Glenmorangie launched Tùsail, the 6th release in their yearly Private Edition series of malts… most of which form some part of experimentation by Glenmo’s main man, Dr Bill Lumsden. (See below for my review tasting notes.)

GlenmoTuasilThis years experiment \ release is comprised of Maris Otter barley, floor-malted by hand, and non chill-filtered.

A rich winter variety of barley first introduced in 1965, Maris Otter was bred specifically to meet the demand for a high quality brewing malt and recognized for its ability to impart rich, rustic malty flavours. The variety at the time was much loved by brewers and created great ale’s, however the variety started to fall out of love and started being replaced with newer varieties that had greater alcohol yields until it was revived by a dedicated company and is now revered as one of the best malts for brewing once again.

Continue reading →

My Dewar’s Last Great Malts Trip – Day Two

Posted on by
Reply

Dewars-new-logo1        

So, I’ve been on a Last Great Malts trip, kindly put on by Dewar’s… To read about day one of the trip, go here.

Day 2, and it’s a bright and early start. Actually, I tell a lie, it’s an early start with a sore head, but a good full Scottish breakfast and coffee later and the world seems just about right again. Which is a good thing as we’re straight back onto the coach for the next part of our tour. It’s a different coach to yesterday, we won’t mention the mishap the day before.
Continue reading →

My Dewar’s Last Great Malts Trip – Day One

Posted on by
Reply

Dewars-new-logo1        

Last week I was one of a lucky few to be invited up to Scotland by Dewar’s to look around their distilleries. Termed the ‘Last Great Malts’, Dewar’s have taken the step to release single malt whiskies from their distilleries which, until now have mostly only been used in blending or seen as single malts in the independent bottlers world.

This is great news within the category because Dewar’s are rather going against the grain here… their releases all have age statements, and where the bottles are new to market they’re being released at 46% non chill filtered and with no colour, with existing releases (Aberfeldy 12yo for example) being changed over time to match. Big congrats to Dewar’s for this as many other brands at the moment are increasingly releasing more and more no age statement whiskies which are filtered, coloured and reduced to within an inch of their lives with water.
Continue reading →

Trip to Old Pulteney

Posted on by
Reply

Old Pulteney Logo

Recently there was a press trip to various Inver House Distillers Ltd distilleries, and being the kind folk that they are they had noticed I was on holiday in Inverness for the week and so invited me up for the day to join in the fun at Old Pulteney distillery, lucky me!

I didn’t have to be asked twice, I immediately hired a car and when the day came enjoyed the 2hr+ trip up north along the coast… as with most driving in Scotland the time flew by because the scenery is so amazing.

Continue reading →

Balblair Tasting at Milroys

Posted on by
Reply

BalblairLogo

During this week I found myself in London for work, and as happy coincidence would have it in the evening there was a Blablair tasting hosted at Milroys by the distillery’s manager John MacDonald. He’s a top gent and very interesting to talk to, if you get the chance then you should spend some time in his company, be that at a tasting somewhere, or if you manage to visit the distillery and he’s around.

We spent a couple of hours chatting about loads of things, and going through some of the current range… most of which I’ve reviewed before, but it’s always nice to make some new notes which you can find below.

BalblairTastingLdn

Continue reading →

Review: Old St. Andrews whisky range

Posted on by
Reply

osa_logo

Old St. Andrews Tweet Tasting: A review of the range

old_st_andrews-clubhouse-premium-blended-scotch-whisky-golf-ball-miniature-5cl
Recently I took part in an online Twitter Tasting to have a look at four of the Old St. Andrews range of whiskies. You may have seen these in tourist shops, they’re in the shape of golf balls and mini barrels… so if you like golf and whisky then they might be the xmas stocking filler pressie for you?!

Let’s take a look at the range…

Continue reading →