The year 2017 has come to an end… And what a year it was! With the whisk(e)y blogging machinery constantly running hot, no less than 166 articles got published on BarleyMania in 2017, resulting in more than 12,000 blog visits and over 30,000 page hits. (more…)
For two reasons, picking a bottle from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is not a particularly hard task. First, the whiskies’ telling monickers always give you a good impression of what to expect. And second, the quality of the releases of the world’s biggest dramming club (more…)
Traditionally, Douglas Laing release a new cask strength edition of their best-selling Big Peat brand every year in time for the festive season. Previously, the Christmas Edition 2016 surprised its fans by being the first (and for a long time most likely also the last) blended malt (more…)
“The north star always guides me, when winter skies are gray”, Manowar proclaimed in the opening verse of the sing-a-long hymn “Carry On” from their 1987 masterpiece “Fighting The World”. And just like the band’s lead singer Eric Adams, I also hope that the North Star will forever (more…)
Without a doubt, my hometown of Hamburg has a pretty vibrant whisky scene. We got amazing bars such as Christiansen’s or The Rabbithole, great liquor stores like Weinquelle Lühmann or Spirituosen Wolf and regular tasting events (more…)
Last week, I attended another wonderful tastings of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society hosted by one of their German brand ambassadors, Chris Rickert, in his “Room for Liquid Education” at Hamburg’s Fischmarkt. As only four guests found their way to this tasting, the atmosphere (more…)
Last weekend, the Buddel Jungs craft spirit store opened its doors in the Northern German city of Oldenburg. Specializing in regional small-batch products, the well-sorted shop carries a fine selection of liquor, gin, rum and, of course, whisky as well as craft beer, wine, cheese and other treats. (more…)
“I’m sorry, guys. But when you buy a bottle like this and keep it to yourself rather than share it with your friends, you’re a loser”, said The Whisky Jack’s Gearoid O’Callaghan last Thursday, when he popped the cork off the Octomore 08.1 (more…)
When a whisky legend like Fred Laing, who has been working in the industry for half a century (and counting), hand-picks a cask for a special occasion, you know that liquid greatness is inbound. And indeed, I cannot think of a better term to describe this 16-year-old Laphroaig, (more…)
Every once in a while northern German retailer Weinquelle organizes great whisky tastings in their show room in Siek, just a few kilometres away from Hamburg. This time they invited George S. Grant, manager of Glenfarclas Distillery in the sixth generation (more…)
BarleyMania | Whisky & Whiskey 