Tasting

An exclusive Evening with The Glendronach and Benriach in Hamburg (Event)

The Glendronach & Benriach Road Show with Whisky Maker Dr. Rachel Barrie in Hamburg (BarleyMania Blog)

Starting in the early 1990s, Dr. Rachel Barrie’s whisky journey is long, colorful, and successful. Over the years, the acclaimed whisky maker has worked with some of the Scotch industry’s biggest players, creating malts for such well-known distilleries (more…)

World of Whisky Festival 2024 by STOCK Spirits in Hamburg (Event)

When I first attended this event eight years ago in 2016, it was celebrated as the German spin-off of the Jura Tastival. Later, it changed it’s name to Borco Markenimport’s World of Whisky Festival. And this year – following Borco’s acquisition by the STOCK Spirits Group it was held (more…)

Hanse Spirit 2024 in Hamburg – Explore the Liquid Life (Fair)

Hanse Spirit 2024 - Explore the Liquid Life (Northern Germany Hamburg Whisky Fair)

“Explore the Liquid Life” – ever since its first installment back in 2011, that’s been the claim of the Hanse Spirit fair, which is traditionally held in my home town of Hamburg in the beginning of the year. And what can I say? When I visited the event this year, I embraced that motto (more…)

“10+ Years”: Virtual Warehouse Tasting with Fary Lochan from Denmark (Tasting)

Virtual Whisky Warehouse Tasting with Fary Lochan Distillery from Denmark (Impressions)

Fifty-five years of maturation spread across five drams! In this day and age, where less and less whiskies are bottled with double-digits on the label, that is a respectable number for any tasting line-up. It is all the more impressive, however, for a five-piece from a distillery located in (more…)

Thy Whisky: Cask Owners Tasting aboard the Cap San Diego in Hamburg (Tasting)

Thy Whisky Cask Owners' Tasting aboard the Cap San Diego in Hamburg

Earlier this year – in the summer of 2023, to be precise – my wife Dini and I became cask share owners at Thy Whisky in Denmark. In four-or-so years, this will get us a dozen bottles of beechwood-smoked, PX-matured, organic single malt whisky. But that’s not all! (more…)

Diageo Special Releases 2023: Open Whisky Tasting at Alsterhaus in Hamburg (Tasting)

Diageo Scotch Whisky Special Releases 2023 - Open Tasting at Alsterhaus in Hamburg

Each year, Diageo launches its highly exclusive Special Releases, which show some of the international spirits giant’s Scotch distilleries from a different angle. The whiskies always come in cask strength and with colorful artworks. Often, they also feature out-of-the-ordinary (more…)

“The Hearach” by Isle of Harris Distillery: Whisky Launch Event in Hamburg (Event)

Proudly named after the inhabitants of its birthplace, The Hearach by Isle of Harris Distillery is a lightly peated single malt Scotch whisky that is deeply connected with the remote island from which it originates. It is thoughtfully composed to reflect the one-of-a-kind character (more…)

“Wheel of the Year” – Online Whiskey Tasting with Dingle from Ireland (Tasting)

"Wheel of the Year" - Dingle Online Whiskey Tasting organized by Kirsch Whisky

Irish whiskey is a sleeping giant who’s only recently woken up from a long slumber. But now that he’s back on his feet, the colossus is here to stay! To better understand this picture, it is helpful to go 10-or-so years back in time. Back then, the once-glorious whiskey nation of Ireland (more…)