Browsing Posts in: Scotch Whisky

Jim Murray knows how to surprise. Two years ago, he named Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 as his World Whisky of the Year, while last year saw that honour go to Canada, with Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye taking…

Diageo’s Dr Nick Morgan has spoken about Lagavulin many times this year, with the distillery celebrating its 200th anniversary. But what really came through at The Whisky Show’s 200 Years of Lagavulin masterclass was how…

This year’s showpiece Whisky Show masterclass featured three contrasting figures. The first: an avuncular figure who has held every job possible in a whisky distillery. The second: an innovator, famed for his experiments with casks….

We’re busy at Whisky Exchange HQ. Not only are we getting ready for a busy final three months of the year, but tomorrow marks our annual Whisky Show – two days with some of the best…

Speyside distillery Glenrothes bucks the trend by releasing its whiskies by vintage rather than with an age statement. Since 2010 it has been under the sole ownership of wine merchant (and independent bottler) Berry Brothers & Rudd. We welcomed…

It’s that time of year again: the Diageo Special Releases 2016 are here. Well, almost here – they’re earlier than usual this year and should be hitting The Whisky Exchange website on the evening of…

Whether it is to heat up in the middle of a storm, celebrate summiting a peak or having a well-earned nightcap, a carefully chosen spirit can elevate a weekend in the Scottish Highlands. Here are four…

As soon as you look beyond the whiskies released by distilleries, there’s a whole new world out there – the world of independent bottlers. Distilleries don’t own every cask of whisky hidden in the warehouses of Scotland….

Tom Kitchin is owner of award-winning restaurant The Kitchin, in Leith, Scotland and The Scran & Scallie gastropub in Edinburgh. He was awarded his first Michelin star aged just 29, and has worked with some of the world’s…

George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, Mila Kunis and even Danny DeVito. Are stars attracted to spirit brands because they believe in the product, or just the money? Early in the film Lost in Translation, Bill Murray’s character,…

Our capital is filled with bars all jostling to claim ownership of the largest collection of Scotch, bourbon and Irish whiskies. But, as is the case with wine lists, a carefully curated selection in a…

Being a dedicated Scotch whisky drinker, I normally don’t do that well in summer. Traditionally, Scotch whisky is associated with cooler weather, and the past month here in London has not provided me with a…

Here at The Whisky Exchange, we’re always on the lookout for something different, whether it’s a new take on an established favourite or a totally new idea that makes us sit up and take notice….

Scotch whisky is very different to a few decades ago. Demand is up and as drinkers’ tastes change, distilleries tweak their recipes. The spirit, the casks and the resulting whiskies are all different to how…

We like the folks at Signatory. Andrew and his team know good whisky and we’re very pleased they sometimes let us into their warehouses to choose some casks. Our latest four TWE-exclusive drams have just landed…

The island distillery of Arran was the inspiration for our latest TWE tasting, hosted by sales manager Louisa Young. Although it was only founded relatively recently – in 1995 – Arran is well known among…

Maureen Robinson is a master blender for Diageo’s whisky team, and is involved in both blended Scotch and single malts, as well as helping to choose the eagerly awaited Special Releases each year. She is also…

‘Islay is the eighth wonder of the world’ Colin Dunn knows how to open a whisky tasting. While invoking wonder-dom for Islay may seem hyperbolic, there are some tasting line-ups that justify such comments –…