Earlier this year, Glaswegian indie bottler North Star celebrated its fifth anniversary. So, before I continue, here is a little insert: “Happy Birthday, Iain and team! Keep up the stellar work!” And now, on with the text … For my latest review here at BarleyMania, I have spent some quality time (more…)
In his capacity as Assistant Rerserve Spirit Buyer at Berry Bros & Rudd, Jonny McMillan is fortunate to make a living on a pretty exciting activity: He traverses the wide world of whisky in search of ever-new casks to purchase, develop and bottle. Recently, he started a special project (more…)
For the people that make it, Artwerk Bio Brandy is more than just a tasty treat. It is their attempt to breath new life into a spirit category that is long overdue to have its revival: brandy or “Weinbrand” (as we call it in our native tongue). At least here in Germany, this grape-based distillate (more…)
In recent months, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society released a couple of bottles with the identifier 24 on the label. All of ’em got sold out within minutes, if not seconds. The reason for this: In the bottle code system of The SMWS, the number 24 stands for The Macallan (more…)
Over the years, Burg Scharfenstein – a medieval castle in the federal state of Thuringia in Germany – had many owners. Since most of them did not really know what to do with the place, they did not give it the attention it needed and deserved. Luckily, this changed in recent years (more…)
When I met Fary Lochan’s CCO and Chairman Thomas Smidt-Kjærby in Hamburg last Saturday, he told me something that really lightened up my heart: After a lengthy corona break, the distillery has meanwhile opened its doors to visitors again. And the drammers in Denmark (more…)
If someone compiled a list of Germany’s best whiskies in 2021, there is a good chance that The Nine Springs would be on it, too. In its first eight years of existence, the brand – which was born in the small town of Worbis in the federal state of Thuringia in 2013 (more…)
On 28 March 2017, the wonderful people at Douglas Laing invited me to join the ranks of their honorary ambassadors. Going by the amiable name of the Fellows, these good-humored whisky enthusiasts help Douglas Laing to spread the word about their products, offers (more…)
When they reach their 40s or 50s, people often look for new things to spice up their lives. Some buy a sportscar or a motorcyle. Others do a round-the-world trip. And yet again others – like Robert and Benny from the Netherlands – build their own micro distillery. Yeah, that’s right. (more…)
