Of all the things that have crossed my path since starting to work in the drinks world, judging whisky competitions is one of the most enjoyable. However, many people don’t know what’s involved. The final round…
Continue reading »A day in the life of…a whisky judge
Posted on 3 February 2017 by Billy
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What makes a great whisky tasting?
Posted on 31 January 2017 by Stuart
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I’ve been lucky to attend plenty of whisky tastings. The latest was a tour through the new batch of Diageo’s Special Releases hosted by whisky educator Colin Dunn – and it was superb. But as…
Continue reading »The Botanist – a gin for everyone
Posted on 26 January 2017 by Billy
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Gin is in a fantastic place. It’s booming in the UK, with new distilleries popping up on a weekly basis and established distilleries producing increasingly wild and wacky recipes. However, along with the explosion of…
Continue reading »Jim Murray – ‘the only criteria I look at is quality’
Posted on 19 January 2017 by Stuart
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In the second part of our exclusive interview, Jim Murray explains his strict rules for choosing his World Whisky of the Year, his response to critics of the Whisky Bible, and his retirement plans. You…
Continue reading »Jim Murray – ‘I went to Talisker and it changed my life’
Posted on 18 January 2017 by Stuart
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In the first part of our exclusive interview, Jim Murray tells Stuart how Lord Lucan helped him get into whisky, how he helped create the rye boom, and why sulphur is the enemy of a…
Continue reading »The Whisky Exchange Blog Review of 2016
Posted on 13 January 2017 by Stuart
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The Whisky Exchange blog was busier than ever in 2016, with so much happening in the drinks world to talk about, from shock EU rulings to legendary masterclasses and cool cocktail trends. Here are some…
Continue reading »The Whisky Show Old and Rare – better than a bar
Posted on 6 January 2017 by Billy
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The whisky market moves quickly. In the past year, we’ve seen hundreds of new releases at The Whisky Exchange – single casks, special editions, ongoing bottlings and the occasional relaunch. However, with so many whiskies…
Continue reading »Dry January? Time for a mocktail
Posted on 4 January 2017 by Jane
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There are hundreds of reasons why you might find yourself in a bar or party and not want to drink, and it certainly isn’t something to be judged or punished for, let alone find yourself…
Continue reading »Kavalan – on top of the podium
Posted on 28 December 2016 by Rocky
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Regular blog readers may remember I wrote about Kavalan in May, when master blender Ian Chang hosted a TWE tasting. Inspired by this, I took a trip to Taiwan to see the distillery for myself….
Continue reading »Our Favourite Spirits of 2016
Posted on 23 December 2016 by Stuart
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Despite our name, we don’t just sell whisky at The Whisky Exchange; far from it. In fact, we have nearly 4,000 spirits, liqueurs and Champagnes to choose from. The TWE blog team cast our minds…
Continue reading »Last orders, please: UK delivery deadline
Posted on 21 December 2016 by Duncan
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Not sure what to get for Christmas? Join the club. Because of the buffer of a non-working day between now and Christmas on Sunday, I’ve tricked myself into thinking I’ve got a hold on my…
Continue reading »Our Favourite Whiskies of 2016
Posted on 16 December 2016 by Stuart
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As we approach the end of 2016, it’s time to look back at the TWE blog team’s favourite whiskies of the past 12 months. It doesn’t have to be a new release; just the drams…
Continue reading »The Perfect Measure to share – whisky with friends
Posted on 14 December 2016 by Billy
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When it comes to drinking whisky, one of the greatest pleasures is sharing a dram. While there is joy in solitary sipping, teasing apart the flavours in a glass with others adds another level to…
Continue reading »The five best festive drinks for Christmas
Posted on 9 December 2016 by Stuart
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Christmas is the ideal time to relax and share a glass or two of something good, but why not step out of your comfort zone and try something different? I’ve picked five festive drinks that…
Continue reading »The Glenlivet 18 – your festive friend
Posted on 2 December 2016 by Duncan
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Ever since I’ve worked in the wine trade, December means a flood of texts and emails asking which wine I should buy for Christmas. I’m happy helping friends and family choose the perfect bottle, and…
Continue reading »Black Friday 2016 – why pay less?
Posted on 25 November 2016 by Stuart
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We’ve got a great Black Friday deal this year – but unlike some retailers, we’re not slashing prices. We’re taking one of our favourite whiskies and charging more for it – or are we? Glendronach…
Continue reading »Sloe gin – enjoy the fruits of your labours
Posted on 18 November 2016 by Stuart
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I’ll be honest – it took me a while to get into gin. My spirits education began with dark, not white spirits, and it was only a few years ago that I learned to appreciate…
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Recent Comments
Unfortunately, the answer is 'between 400g and 2000g per litre' :)
Posted on: 9 October 2024
What ratio of Sloe to gin is used, I see anything from 400 to 2000g of sloe to 1 litre of gin!
Posted on: 7 October 2024
What really makes Bob Harris' predicament in 'Lost In Translation' so absurdly funny is that he nailed it in one take, and the director just couldn't accept that.
Posted on: 11 January 2024
I'd say there's not a lot between them. I'd say that the techniques used to make the rum change the flavour more than the raw material between molasses and cane honey, so it'll be other factors that...
Posted on: 26 October 2023
Such a pity that the distillery was destroyed. I had the great luck to try one of these, to me almost magic, Karuizawas. It was a 1972/2008, 36y, #7290 with 65%. Since today I have memoriesof this...
Posted on: 17 October 2023