In a way, whisky blending is like alchemy. Cause just like the proto-scientists of yore, whisky blenders also create an elixir of life (“aqua vitae”), turn differing raw materials into gold (albeit in liquid form) and produce a universal solvent (if the blend is good, one sip is all it takes (more…)
Every end is also a beginning. So when his contract with Cadenhead’s ended after 13 years, whisky vet Klaus Pinkernell looked forward rather than back. And not even half a year later, he opened a new store called Pinkernell’s Whisky Market in Berlin-Friedrichshain. (more…)
Talisker has the motto “Made by the sea” written in silver or gold on all of its bottles for a reason. After all, there is hardly another distillery in Scotland, whose product epitomizes the image of a maritime malt as perfectly as the fruity, peppery and peated whisky from the Isle of Skye. (more…)
Although I met Douglas Laing’s Global Brand Ambassador Jan Beckers quite a few times in the last years, I never got to attend one of his tastings. So when I saw that he would not only man the booth of the company’s German importer Bremer Spirituosen Contor (more…)
Every month, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society puts out a new outturn of round about 20 single cask whiskies. As these illustrous releases always cover a wide range of styles, regions, ages and price points, picking your next purchase isn’t easy. (more…)
In 2017, I took part in no less than five tastings and masterclasses at Christiansen’s Fine Drinks & Cocktails. Since I really enjoyed each and every one of these experiences, I came out of hibernation rather early this year to make sure I would not miss the afore-mentioned bar’s kick-off event (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…)
“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…)
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…)
This year was the first time I did not only spend a single day at Bottle Market. Instead, I convinced my wife to find a nice hotel and stay in Bremen for the whole weekend. After starting slowly with a few drams on Friday evening, we returned to the fair on Saturday morning (more…)
