I received this on Monday. It’s the Scotch Whisky Association’s (SWA’s) response to the criticism that is going around regarding the proposed new definitions of whisky, including the controversial “Blended Malt”. It’s only fair to show both sides of this story. Now that we have SWA’s attention, feel free to comment. (Be sure to also read […]
As many of you know, there’s a big debate going on right now about the proposed definition of what has, in the past, been called “vatted malts” (i.e., a marriage of single malt Scotch whiskies from two or more distilleries). The category would now be called “Blended Malt.” It fits in between a single malt […]
The 8th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition announced their medal winners recently. Since then, I have been getting press releases almost daily from spirits companies bragging about how many medals they won.
I respect the competition’s organizers. Ditto the 25 judges. In fact, some are my friends. Some write (or have previously written) for Malt […]
There appears to be no end in sight to the whisky boom. Last week Pernod announced plans to expand the Glenlivet distillery and re-open Braeval. Now, Edrington has announced expansion plans for the Macallan distillery.
And, if all this weren’t enough news for one week, it was announced this morning that Glenglassaugh, which has been mothballed […]
Until after St. Patrick’s Day, that is. For the next three weeks or so, I am not going to write about Irish whiskey. Why? because that’s what everybody else will be doing.
The whiskey companies pick now to promote their whiskeys. They pick now to introduce new whiskeys. They pick now to bring their distillery managers, […]
My favorite night is always spent at home, being with my family. That would include my wife Amy, my daughter Shannon, our dog Jake (also female–a long story) and our cat Cosmo (yet another female).
I would always prefer a night at home with all of them over anything else in life–even a tour of Bruichladdich […]
What do you do when demand is great and your supplies are low—or you have gaps in your production?
In other words, what are so many whisky companies doing right now?
They’re introducing new expressions without age statements. Just look at some of the recent releases: Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Tomintoul Peated, Ardmore Traditional, Longrow CV, Benromach Organic. […]
Sometimes older is better. Sometimes it’s worse. Other time it’s neither, just different.
I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted the “Double Barrel” Ardbeg whiskies released last year which were distilled in 1974. Ardbeg fans will know that 1974 was the same vintage as the great Ardbeg “Provenance” whiskies releaseed around a decade ago. The bar […]
I would like your thoughts on the fate of Michael’s “Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch” (”Malt Whisky Companion” in the overseas edition).
As you know, it’s been nearly four years since he last revised it. For many of us, this book has been our “go to” book for many years. With Michael’s passing, what do […]
I think so. And if you ask Dr. Bill Lumsden, the whisky-maker behind all of the Glenmorangie whiskies, he will agree.
How do I know this? I was with Bill for two hours this past week, and I asked him.
How refreshing it is to taste a line of whiskies from one distillery ranging from 10 years old to […]
