One thing I love about whisky is the fact that it is so much more than just a rich, versatile and well-tasting drink. It is also a carrier of lore, a bringer of joy, a patron of togetherness and an ignitor of the imagination. Often, it only takes one sniff and one sip to unlock the most amazing thoughts (more…)
On New Year’s Eve I am all for smoke – albeit in the glass and not in the air! One whisky brand that you can always count on in this regard is Octomore by Bruichladdich. Whenever a malt gets released under the Octomore banner, you can be sure that it is packed to the brim (more…)
Named after a legendary Glasgow-based whisky maker from the 19th century, MacNair’s Lum Reek is a line of peated blended malts in the portfolio of The GlenAllachie Distillery. It encompasses three expressions: NAS, 12 Years Old and 21 Years Old. (more…)
In the Northern Germany and beyond, Weinquelle Lühmann has an strong reputation as a top-quality spirits retailer. So far, their business centered around the selling of wine, whisky and other spirits through their stores in Hamburg and Siek as well as their online shop. (more…)
Whiskey is best enjoyed in good company. So I immediately agreed when my friend Aaron, who runs the Drams United blog, asked me if I wanted to try this 10-year-old Irish whiskey from Blackadder with him. Sniffing, sipping and dissecting the spirit together was good fun. (more…)
Originally, the term “cuvee” has been coined by the wine industry. It refers to a technique similar to blending or vatting: wines made from different grapes are being mingled to create a new product with a special flavor profile or balance. (more…)
Most of the time when I review samples, I try to group them together thematically. For example, I have done review flights for whiskies that all came from the same company, the same product line or the same country. In this case, however, there is not really a common thread. (more…)
At the last Bottle Market in Bremen, the limited Vintage 2010 by Kilchoman was one of my favorite drams. I drank it at the booth of Vibrant Stills, who distribute Islay’s farm distillery here in Germany. Though I was deeply impressed by this multi-layered smokester’s clarity and refinement (more…)
