People often ask me: “Michael, what are your favorite Scottish distilleries? You know so much about Scotch whisky, I really want to pick your brain and find out which distilleries you keep coming back to!” Just kidding. No one has ever asked me that, although I have often wished someone would ask me about my …
Continue reading My favorite malt distilleries (and some thoughts on other distilleries, too!)
The Basics: Do I recommend it?: Definitely, if you can find any! Availability: Limited (UK/EU specialty retail and possibly auction) ABV: 54.0% Presentation: Unchillfiltered and natural color General information: Peated spirit, matured in American oak and finished in marsala casks Bottling type: Independent Character: Fruity, nutty and smoky. Score: 95/100 The details: To honor the …
Continue reading InchDairnie 2021 (Cooper’s Choice – “Finglassie” Lowland Smoke)
The Basics: Do I recommend it?: Yes, highly recommended. Availability: UK specialty retail ABV: 46% Presentation: Unchillfiltered and natural color General information: Peated Bottling type: Proprietary Character: Smoky, fruity, and herbal. Score: 93/100 The details: Anyone following the Scottish whisky scene over the past decade or so is sure to have been struck by the …
Specialty retail, maybe. Recommended For the details… One of the surprising things about the Scotch whisky industry is that, until quite recently, neither of Scotland’s two major cities had a malt distillery. With the recent boom in the industry, all that has changed, of course, but Holyrood, founded in 2019, was the first distillery to …
Specialty retail For the adventurous taster and completionist For the details… Ailsa Bay lies within William Grant and Sons’ grain distillery at Girvan. Girvan was the result of a dispute between Diageo forebear DCL and Grant’s (owners of Glenfiddich and Balvenie) in which DCL refused to supply grain whisky to Grant’s. In response, Grant’s built …
Whisky Considered 