It is said that about 70 per cent of a whisky’s flavor and 100 per cent of its (natural) color come from the cask. When you put a sub-par distillate into top-quality wood, the result will usually be decent at least. But when you fill excellent new make into weak barrels (more…)
When we found out that The Macallan would invite the winners of their #ToYourMacallan competition over to their home turf for a full weekend of whisky extravaganza, my girlfriend Dini and I left no stone unturned to produce the best contributions we could. (more…)
When he compared Benromach’s approach to whisky making to the technique of reverse engineering, our tour guide Robert was only half-joking. Cause whatever the Forres-based distillery plans and wherever it heads, it always has one eye directed at the future (more…)
The fine folks at Glen Moray say about themselves that they are “not your usual Speyside distillery”. And indeed, the wonderful experience they provide is everything but ordinary. Neither are their prices: The 60-minute tour including two complementary drams (more…)
“This spirit can restore you / It’s the finest I have seen / With my own eyes / With my own eyes,” sings whisky bard Robin Laing in his beautiful piece “Macallan” from the acclaimed “Whisky For Breakfast” album. While I have already seen the cherished Speyside distillery’s excellent product (more…)
When I planned my latest holidays in Hohegeiß in the beautiful Harz Mountains, I made sure that the flat my wife and I stayed in was not too far away from the small village of Zorge. Cause this is where Hammerschmiede Distillery is located. (more…)
On our last day in Dublin, my wife and I decided to take a little bus trip to see a bit more of Ireland than just its biggest city. So we took the 9am bus from Dublin city centre to Galway, which stopped in a small town about 90km away from Dublin called Kilbeggan. (more…)
For almost 40 years, there was no working distillery in Ireland’s capital. But in 2015, the Spirit of Dublin was awoken at Newmarket when Teeling Distillery opened its gates. The distillery was founded by Stephen and Jack Teeling, sons of Cooley Distillery founder John Teeling. (more…)
In November 2016, Vibrant Stills by Alba Import hosts a tasting tour across Germany called the Irish Challenge. It marks a great opportunity to get to know two distilleries from the Emerald Isle, namely The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey and Hyde Irish Whiskey. (more…)
