Whisky Posts & Articles

Glen Moray – The emerald of Elgin

If you’re relatively new to the whisky scene, you’ll most likely have seen a few different expressions of Glen Moray at your local retailer and perhaps wondered what the brand is all about.  Conversely, you may have been into your whiskies for a while now…and also wondered what the brand is all about!  That said, what you’ll undoubtedly have noticed in recent times is that the brand is making a bigger splash these days and is more prevalent about the place.  That’s no accident or stroke of luck, but as we’ll explore in just a moment, it’s a distillery that’s well and truly grown into its own skin and forged new frontiers.  So what’s the Glen Moray story, and why should you be exploring its whiskies?  

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The Singleton of Glen Ord 40yo

Exciting news for fans of rare and aged whisky this month, with Diageo releasing the third and final expression of The Singleton’s Epicurean Odyssey series.  The first and second releases were bottled at 38 and 39 years old respectively, and so perhaps it’s no surprise that the third release is The Singleton of Glen Ord 40yo.

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Diageo Special Releases 2022

The annual Diageo Special Releases range is always keenly anticipated around the world each year.  Typically unveiled in the UK around October, many international markets don’t release them locally until the following calendar year.  And so it is that, in April 2023, many markets are only just now launching the Diageo Special Releases 2022 range.

The Diageo Special Releases – first launched 21 years ago now in 2001 – is a fantastic opportunity to try some of your favourite distilleries in an expression quite unlike the regular version that you’re otherwise familiar with.  The Special Releases expression might appear with a different or unique age statement, or might have undergone a different maturation regimen to the regular release.  Also of note is that, unlike the regularly available expressions that are typically bottled at 40-43% and have been chillfiltered, the Special Releases are typically bottled at higher cask-strength and remain non-chillfiltered.  The annual Diageo Special Releases also often include a distillery or two in the range that actually aren’t regularly bottled or commercially available – and so it’s an opportunity to try a distillery that you might not otherwise encounter.

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The Scotch whisky industry goes from boom to…more boom?

The Scotch whisky industry is currently in the middle of an era.  Quite what that era will be defined or described as won’t become clear for another decade or so.  For it is usually with the experience and benefit of hindsight that we can apply such labels.  For example, the period that followed the industry’s catastrophic downturn and distillery closures of the mid 1980’s came to be synonymous with and defined 10 to 15 years later as the era of the so-called “whisky loch”, due to the huge amount of excess, aged stock sitting around unloved.  Similarly, the application of the term “whisky boom” to any era (e.g. the late 1800’s was a boom time for whisky sales and distillery construction) usually has relative context because it was followed by a corresponding “bust” a few years later.  (Such as the Pattison-triggered crash in 1898 that followed the boom).

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The Neck Pour – myth, fact, or scapegoat?

Of all the terms to rise into common use amongst whisky drinkers these days, the “neck pour” is one of the more interesting concepts.  So what is the neck pour?  Is it good or bad?  Does it even exist?  Read on….

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Macallan Harmony Collection – Intense Arabica

The Macallan’s Harmony Collection burst on the scene last year as the new badging for a limited edition, annual release.  The first release (now referred to as Harmony I) celebrated the world of chocolate with its “Rich Cacao” expression.  The second release (you guessed it – Harmony II) celebrates the world of coffee, and so The Macallan now brings you The Harmony Collection Intense Arabica.

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That Boutique-y Whisky Company: Return to Oz

Following the success of That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s first Australia Series releases back in 2021, the independent bottler is back with their second run focussing on whiskies from Australia, appropriately titled Return to Oz.  

Whisky & Wisdom covered Boutique-y’s original Australia Series back in April 2021, and you can read our original piece here, which gives much of the relevant background and philosophy behind it all.  The Return to Oz series shares the same approach and outlook, albeit with some new faces and names in the line-up.

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Morris Sherry Barrel

Morris has announced and released the third whisky in its permanent or core-range portfolio.  Morris Sherry Barrel joins its two stablemates, the Signature and the Muscat Barrel.

Morris – a name associated with wine-making for more than 150 years – launched its whisky brand and its first two releases in June 2021, and the Sherry Barrel has joined the party some 16 months later.  Whisky & Wisdom has previously told the full story of Morris whisky in our feature piece here (including a review and discussion of the Signature release), so we won’t repeat all the details on this occasion – click on the preceding link for the full background or to re-familiarise yourself with the Morris story.  

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Iniquity – Lazy Daze and Iniquity Gold Batch 007

The single malts from Iniquity, produced by Tin Shed Distilling Co, consistently rank amongst the finest Australian whiskies.  Two new releases from Iniquity crossed our desk this week and, not surprisingly, they impressed.  So much so, we figured they deserved a review and write up.  Accordingly, below are the details and our thoughts on Iniquity’s new Lazy Daze release, as well Iniquity Gold Batch 007 … 

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The complete guide to non chill-filtered whisky

Non chill-filtered whisky (also styled non-chillfiltered and even un-chillfiltered whisky) is one of those terms in the whisky industry that is widely seen, read, and heard…and yet few drinkers truly understand what it means or signifies.  In that respect, it’s a bit like sour mash in the bourbon industry – a term you see printed on the label; a statement that supposedly has a positive connotation, and yet the majority of consumers view it as mumbo-jumbo…not really appreciating what it means, but just happy to enjoy what’s in the bottle.  So what is non chill-filtered whisky?  What is chill filtration?  And how do you un-chillfilter something?  Is a non chill-filtered whisky better than a whisky that has been chill-filtered?  Let’s dive in…

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