Islay

Experiments in Whisky (Episode 1001: April 23, 2023)

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Dr. Bill Lumsden has been experimenting at both Ardbeg and Glenmorangie distilleries. His latest Ardbeg release, Heavy Vapours, involved taking part of the distilling system out of the picture just because he wanted to see what would happen if he did. At Glenmorangie, he has a whole year’s worth of projects for his experimental Lighthouse distillery. We’ll catch up with whisky’s mad scientist on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Scotland’s controversial alcohol marketing restrictions have been sent back to the drawing board, while the equally controversial deposit return scheme for bottles has been pushed back to next March. Read More »

Thanks a Thousand! (Episode 1000: April 16, 2023)

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We’re celebrating a major milestone this week with the 1000th episode of WhiskyCast! To mark the occasion, Mark went back through the archives to pick some memorable moments and interviews from the past 18 years for this special episode. You’ll hear from legends like the late Parker Beam and Michael Jackson, along with Jimmy Russell, Jim McEwan, Maureen Robinson, Fawn Weaver, and Richard Paterson…just to name a few. This episode is a lot longer than usual, and there’s plenty more that we could have included. In the news, Scotch Whisky Association leaders are hoping to persuade Parliament to reject a Read More »

Glen Grant Unveils New 21-Year-Old Single Malt

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March 26, 2023 – Glen Grant has introduced the oldest permanent addition to its range with a new 21-year-old single malt. The whisky was matured in a combination of Oloroso Sherry butts and hogsheads along with ex-Bourbon barrels, and is bottled at 46% ABV with no chill filtering. “The 18-year-old was our oldest one before, and it was mainly Bourbon wood which gives you much more floral notes to it,” said Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm. The 62-year veteran of the Scotch Whisky industry was on hand this week at an event in New York City to introduce the new whisky. Read More »

The GlenAllachie Unveils Lum Reek Batch

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The GlenAllachie Distillery has released the second batch of their Lum Reek 10-year-old cask strength blended malt whisky – which derives its unique name from the old Scottish toast to a long and healthy life, ‘lang may yer lum reek’, translating to ‘long may your chimney smoke’ – and is offered via MacNair’s boutique. The […]

Review / Laphroaig 10 years old Sherry Oak Finish

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The Sherry Oak Finish is a recent addition to the core range of the famous Islay single malt of Laphroaig. It was introduced in mid-2021. The whisky follows the same maturation path as the classic Laphroaig 10 years old, the best seller within the rang…

Sovereign Collabs With Pernod Ricard To Produce Deacon Whisky

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Sovereign Brands – known for wine and spirits [Bumbu rum] has collaborated with spirits behemoth Pernod Ricard to create their first-ever Scotch whisky, which they are calling The Deacon – a blended Scotch whisky originating from hand-selected drams from various Scottish regions, including Islay and Speyside. Sovereign’s The Deacon has the aforementioned blend of whiskies […]

Heaven’s Door Back With 11-Year-Old Wheated Bourbon

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Heaven’s Door Spirits – co-founded by iconic American folk singer, Bob Dylan, in 2018 – has added to their Bootleg Series with the release of an 11-year-old wheated bourbon finished in Islay whisky casks. Heaven’s Door Spirits Bootleg Series Vol IV is an 11-year-old wheated bourbon which spent nearly a year finishing in seasoned Scotch […]

Lochlea Unveils Ploughing Edition Peated Single Malt

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Lowland distillery Lochlea has released Ploughing Edition – their first peated single malt. Lochlea’s Ploughing Edition joins Sowing Edition [March 2022], Harvest Edition [September 2022] and Fallow Edition [November 2022] and completes their First Crop Series. Lochlea’s Ploughing Edition was matured in a combination of ex-Islay barrels and peated quarter casks, bottled at 46% alcohol […]

McEwan Honored with MBE

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January 2, 2023 – “For contributions to the Scotch Whisky industry and the community on Islay.” Eleven words that describe a six-decade career in the whisky industry, but not nearly enough to describe Jim McEwan’s career. McEwan was named a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in King Charles’s first New Year’s Honours List along with Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes, who will be knighted for his services to the business community and equality. “To receive an award like that completely floored me…I never ever, ever, ever, anticipated anything like that, McEwan said in a telephone interview with Read More »

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