Telecoms-project-manager-turned-distiller Phil Brandon founded Rock Town in 2010, the first legal distillery in Arkansas. While he’s based in downtown Little Rock, he spends a lot of time on the road, travelling around the USA and…
Continue reading »In their own words – Phil Brandon, founder and distiller, Rock Town Distillery
Posted on 11 May 2015 by Billy
7 Comments on In their own words – Phil Brandon, founder and distiller, Rock Town Distillery
Whisky Fight Night 3: Brawl at the Bridge – Balvenie vs Glenmorangie
Posted on 8 May 2015 by Billy
6 Comments on Whisky Fight Night 3: Brawl at the Bridge – Balvenie vs Glenmorangie
We run a lot of events through the year, from barrel-top tastings in our shop through to The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show‘s weekend of wonder, but every now and again we do something very different….
Continue reading »Malt of the Month – Single Malts of Scotland Aberlour 1990
Posted on 6 May 2015 by Rocky
4 Comments on Malt of the Month – Single Malts of Scotland Aberlour 1990
Such has been the success of their A’Bunadh bottlings, you could be forgiven for thinking that all Aberlour whiskies are big and sherried. While the distillery’s spirit is on the heavier side for Speyside, there are bottlings…
Continue reading »The King’s Ginger Liqueur – created by royal demand
Posted on 4 May 2015 by Rocky
3 Comments on The King’s Ginger Liqueur – created by royal demand
There are many drinks that attribute their creation to a historic moment, but one trumps them all (especially as it’s actually true) – The King’s Ginger. In 1903, newly crowned King Edward VII had taken…
Continue reading »Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps – a thoroughbred cocktail
Posted on 1 May 2015 by Stuart
2 Comments on Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps – a thoroughbred cocktail
On Kentucky Derby day, there is only one drink you should be seen with: a Mint Julep. This year’s event takes place on Saturday 2 May, and at Churchill Downs racecourse in Louisville, where the…
Continue reading »Bruichladdich Masterclass – the first stop on Jim McEwan’s farewell tour
Posted on 30 April 2015 by Billy
21 Comments on Bruichladdich Masterclass – the first stop on Jim McEwan’s farewell tour
There are few people who have been more influential in modern whisky than Jim McEwan. From managing Bowmore to restarting Bruichladdich, he has helped build a legion of dedicated fans. But, after more than five decades…
Continue reading »Ayala – a resurgent Champagne house
Posted on 29 April 2015 by Rocky
4 Comments on Ayala – a resurgent Champagne house
Although we’re known for whisky and fine spirits, we also have a carefully chosen selection of that most celebratory of drinks, Champagne. We’re always looking for new and exciting additions to our range, too, and have…
Continue reading »Caol Ila 2002 – Gordon & MacPhail TWE Exclusive
Posted on 28 April 2015 by Billy
3 Comments on Caol Ila 2002 – Gordon & MacPhail TWE Exclusive
One of the favourite jobs at Whisky Exchange HQ is choosing whisky to become a TWE exclusive. Whether it’s from our own stocks of maturing casks or someone else’s stash, the opportunity to decide that a…
Continue reading »In their own words – Mickey Heads, distillery manager, Ardbeg
Posted on 27 April 2015 by Billy
13 Comments on In their own words – Mickey Heads, distillery manager, Ardbeg
We recently managed to grab a few minutes before a whisky tasting with Ardbeg distillery manager Mickey Heads. Here’s what he had to say about life on Islay. ‘I was born in Port Ellen too…
Continue reading »Laphroaig 15 Year Old – let the celebrations begin
Posted on 24 April 2015 by Billy
6 Comments on Laphroaig 15 Year Old – let the celebrations begin
If you’ve looked at a bottle of Laphroaig over the past few years, then you probably know why 2015 is a big year for the distillery – founded in 1815, as they proudly state on their labels,…
Continue reading »Spirit of the Month – Plymouth Navy Strength Gin
Posted on 23 April 2015 by Billy
2 Comments on Spirit of the Month – Plymouth Navy Strength Gin
For the past year, we’ve been naming a Malt of the Month. We’ve had some excellent drams, with great special offers, from old favourites like Laphroaig 10 and Highland Park 12, to lesser-known gems like…
Continue reading »Midleton Dair Ghaelach – if you go down to the woods today…
Posted on 22 April 2015 by Stuart
4 Comments on Midleton Dair Ghaelach – if you go down to the woods today…
Whisky drinkers are well versed in the effect the choice of cask has on the spirit. American oak (usually ex-bourbon) adds notes of vanilla and toffee, while Spanish sherry casks deliver rich, nutty, fruit and…
Continue reading »Cinzano 1757 – Cin Cin!
Posted on 21 April 2015 by Stuart
2 Comments on Cinzano 1757 – Cin Cin!
Cinzano is so ingrained in drinking culture, it’s almost taken for granted. I was first made aware of it by one of those famous mirrors that adorned so many households in the 1970s, as well…
Continue reading »Bowmore – a totally tropical journey (part 2)
Posted on 20 April 2015 by Oliver
6 Comments on Bowmore – a totally tropical journey (part 2)
In part one of this series, Ollie looked at the golden era of Bowmore whiskies. He now turns his attention to the 1980s and beyond, beginning with a tricky period for the distillery… 1980s For many…
Continue reading »Whisky Fight Night: Brawl at the Bridge – tickets on sale now!
Posted on 17 April 2015 by Billy
14 Comments on Whisky Fight Night: Brawl at the Bridge – tickets on sale now!
The Whisky Exchange Shop at Vinopolis hosts lots of great events. However, there’s one pair of presenters who stand out from the crowd when it comes to putting on an evening to remember, creating tastings that…
Continue reading »Chris Cusiter – ‘Whisky is something Scotland can be proud of’
Posted on 16 April 2015 by Stuart
10 Comments on Chris Cusiter – ‘Whisky is something Scotland can be proud of’
Scottish rugby international Chris Cusiter talks to TWE about his new-found love of whisky, this year’s World Cup, and his post-career plans. What do you like about whisky? I love it; I love everything about…
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Recent Comments
You'd need to take that up with Dave Broom :) For another point of view (and a direct answer to Dave's post), I'd recommend having a look at
Well, that is the issue: Broom writes reviews of whiskies with scores on one hand while saying that whiskies of the past weren't better, just different and that people pay too much attention to scores...
Posted on: 17 April 2018
If you think that no whisky is inherently better than another (which is an interesting reading of what Dave Broom has said – he does write whisky reviews with scores every week) then by definition...
Posted on: 17 April 2018
It probably would be a bit of both - but thinking back to recent comments by Dave Broom on whiskies of the past and on scoring, it kind of calls into question whether a whisky of the present (or past)...
Posted on: 16 April 2018
Only the one release that I can find, which is why it slipped under my radar – as I mentioned in the article, there will be lots more soon, but not much is old enough to release yet. I think Dingle...
Posted on: 3 April 2018