There’s a great blog post about packaging design and antique bottles, inspired by this monstrosity from Highland Park. After seeing the packaging design for Highland Park 50 year old it made me think back to the days that I don't actually have any memories of; the days when there wasn't a bunch of goofy stuff on a… Continue reading Whisky bottle design insanity
The Glenrothes Adventure part 5: Tradition & Competition
Now, if you’re going to enter this ‘Glenrothes Whisky Maker‘ competition that starts on Monday, you’ll want to be aware of some things. The first is that there is a tradition in Rothes House: guests cook breakfast. Competitively. Be prepared for that. Anyone who’s ever stayed in Rothes House has been up at the crack… Continue reading The Glenrothes Adventure part 5: Tradition & Competition
The Glenrothes Adventure part 4: The Inner Sanctum
After all our hard work making the barrels, and touring the distillery, it was finally time to sample some of the fruits of our labour (or rather, the labour of others over the past decades). This is what we whisky writers like to call ‘the whole point of the exercise’. And what a fantastic tasting… Continue reading The Glenrothes Adventure part 4: The Inner Sanctum
The Glenrothes Adventure part 3: From grain to spirit
In this video, Ronnie Cox takes us on a private tour of the Glenrothes distillery – explaining the process of making the spirit that, over time, becomes The Glenrothes whisky. The four winners of The Glenrothes Whisky Maker competition will be immersed* in every part of whisky production from beginning to end – so you… Continue reading The Glenrothes Adventure part 3: From grain to spirit
The Glenrothes Adventure part 2: Hangin’ with Mr Cooper
There’s your bits and pieces – now get to it Clutch and I have a saying: Ordeals beget treats. We’re thinking of having it made into a coat of arms. Essentially, it reflects the fact that everything we do together that has an element of difficulty about it (like that time we thought it would… Continue reading The Glenrothes Adventure part 2: Hangin’ with Mr Cooper
The Glenrothes Adventure part 1: Welcome to Rothes House
Clutch is out of the country at the moment, and so I had my first solo whisky adventure up in the Northeast of Scotland this week. I was invited to visit The Glenrothes distillery in Speyside to learn more about the process of making whisky, meet the people, sample the food and incredible malts… and… Continue reading The Glenrothes Adventure part 1: Welcome to Rothes House
That’s Mr Ambassador to you
We were recently approached by Visit Scotland to be ambassadors for the Scottish Year of Food and Drink. We of course agreed, and eagerly await the arrival of our ambassadorial cars, armed security and the ability to commit crimes abroad without fear of prosecution. In the meantime, we get to put the above logo on… Continue reading That’s Mr Ambassador to you
The Scotch Whisky Experience
On our recent visit to Edinburgh, we did as every good tourist should and paid a visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience, which is at the top of the big hill, next to the big castle, opposite the big hall of mirrors. There are lots of reasons to go there – not least of which… Continue reading The Scotch Whisky Experience
A visit to Daftmill
You’ll notice that this blog post is neither right up to date, nor chronologically sequential with the other recent posts. Or you won’t. At any rate, this pertains to a visit we made to a distillery while we were on our way to St Andrews a couple of weeks back. Daftmill is the newest distillery… Continue reading A visit to Daftmill
A tasting in a big empty room – part 2: Whyte & Mackay
The Friday night tasting for the Dubber and Clutch St Andrews Golf Open Whisky Fiasco 2010 was a selection of rare and boutique bottlings from Whyte and Mackay – including three new expressions from Isle of Jura and the award-winning 30 year-old blend. Dalmore 18 Gorgeous. Dubber was tempted to just stay on this one… Continue reading A tasting in a big empty room – part 2: Whyte & Mackay