Whisky Candles

Whisky candles?  It’s not as far-fetched as you might think.  Of all mankind’s creations and inventions, the wicked candle is one of the more enduring.  The ancient Egyptians were using wicked candles as early as 3,000 BC.  Five thousand years later in our tech-heavy 21st century lives, it’s easy to overlook that the candle is often one of the first things we scramble for in our homes when there’s a power failure at night.  Five thousand years ago also coincides with some of the earliest evidence for the making and enjoyment of beer – a drink made from fermented cereal grain – and from which whisky is made.

Initially and primarily a source of light, candles came to be used in religious symbolism and ceremonies.  Somewhere along the way, they also became de rigueur for a romantic dinner.  Scented candles have been around for centuries, but are enjoying something of a resurgence due to a combination of growing interest in aromatherapy, together with society’s pursuit of more natural, organic, and environmentally friendly products.  For whisky lovers, the lines may have just intersected…

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The complete guide to peat and peated whisky

Are you wanting to know more about peat and smoky whiskies?  Want to know what makes a whisky smoky in the first place?  Peat is one of the least understood aspects of the whisky industry, but fear not:  Our complete guide to peat will make you an instant expert on the topic.

Most whisky drinkers will remember and can pinpoint the first time they tasted a heavily peated whisky.  Like a fork in the road, it was probably a “love it or hate it” moment….there is rarely middle ground or ambivalence when your tastebuds first encounter a truly peaty, medicinal, smoky whisky.  But things change…

Would it be crude to suggest that Scotch whisky drinkers thus fall into three camps?  There are those that hate peated whisky; those that love peated whisky; and those that are actively and earnestly transitioning at some point between those two extremes.  No matter where you sit on that three-pointed scale, this guide will assist you in understanding all the ins and outs of peat and the role it plays in Scotch whisky.  (And we’ll touch on Irish whiskey, too).  So settle in with a dram of your favourite malt and let’s cover some facts and dispel a few myths….     Continue reading “The complete guide to peat and peated whisky”