Browsing Posts in: Whisky Tasting Notes

This year has gone both strangely fast and slow. The whisky calendar is all over the place and while most things have been delayed, others are keeping to plan or even arriving earlier than expected….

One of the most sought-after ranges of Irish whiskey, the Midleton Very Rare series was created in 1984 by master distiller Barry Crockett. Every year, a handful of specially-selected casks are blended together to create…

The Glenlivet is a tricksy whisky. While the distillery is normally quite transparent about how it makes its whisky, once a year they release a bottle where they hide all the details. First Alpha, then…

It’s been a busy few years for Whyte & Mackay’s Gregg Glass. He arrived at the company in 2016 from Compass Box, where he’d spent more than a decade creating boutique blended whiskies. Hailed as…

Modern Scotch whisky is at an interesting point. Whisky makers are torn between two poles of thought – tradition and innovation – with regulations governing both pushing them to choose their paths carefully. When it…

The last year has been a very busy one for The Whisky Exchange when it comes to exclusive bottlings. We’ve put out more than 30 exclusive whiskies and a rum, with many more to come…

We’re kicking off the new year with a brand-new exclusive release – please welcome our Kavalan Vinho single cask, freshly arrived from Taiwan. Kavalan – Taiwanese Malt If you’ve been reading the blog for a…

For the past few years, there’s one annual whisky release that we’ve received more questions about than any other. It’s not the Port Ellen from the Diageo Special Releases or even the Glenmorangie Private Edition…

American whiskey is on the up. While Irish whiskey may be the fastest growing in the world, the USA is gaining ground as the connoisseurs choice. Whiskeys like the Van Winkle range are snapped up…

In a bust-up for the dubious honour of ‘most mysterious and least-known major whisky-producing nation’ it is, by my reckoning, a straight-up two-way tussle between India and Taiwan – Japan and England having now backed away into relative…

It’s a year for celebrating big anniversaries. Not only has legendary independent bottler Signatory Vintage just turned 30, but it was also the 10th instalment of The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show. To begin the celebrations,…

Last weekend was one of our biggest of the year – The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show. 2018 is a particularly special year, as it marked the tenth edition of the show. Ten years have seen…

It’s time to reveal the final bottle of the Diageo Special Releases 2018 – Cladach. What is Cladach For the second year in a row, Diageo have dropped a secret bottle into the line-up, only…

Announcing our latest Whisky Exchange exclusive – a rare chance to try one of Loch Lomond’s wide range of single malts that don’t usually see the light of day as single malts. Introducing our brand…

When it comes to tasting whiskies, there is a huge range of things to distract you. The room you’re in, other people around you, rogue pets, your roommate’s bad taste in music, next door’s obsession…

Autumn is almost here and the Diageo Special Releases 2017 are here. It’s an exciting group of whiskies this year: along with the regular Port Ellen, Brora, Caol Ila and Lagavulin, there’s also the oldest…

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…