The Water of Life has a bias towards small and independent distilleries. Given how hard it is to build and… Read more Glenfarclas 105
Titanic Distillers Whiskey
Close your eyes, imagine Belfast and picture the first thing that comes into your head. Some may think of the… Read more Titanic Distillers Whiskey
Irish Blended Whiskey Tasting
Recently, the WOL crew and I did a blind tasting of five blended Irish whiskeys. They were a mix of… Read more Irish Blended Whiskey Tasting
It’s Time To Talk About Sourced Whiskey
As a comparatively recent convert to Irish whiskey, one of the more confusing things to come to terms with has been the practice of distilleries sourcing their spirit. I initially scratched my head when trying an 18-year-old from a distillery that had only started production in 2013. So how is it that something like this can be released, and what does it mean for the consumer? Sourced whiskey seems to be a widely acknowledged but seldom discussed topic.
Hinch- a New Dawn in Irish Whiskey
County Down in Northern Ireland has a distinguished and famous history. From the eighteenth to the early twentieth century, it… Read more Hinch- a New Dawn in Irish Whiskey
Talisker Skye
Talisker describes itself as “made by the sea”. In the literal sense, this is quite right: the Talisker distillery in Carbost on the West coast of the Isle of Skye is a few yards from Loch Harport, which opens onto the Atlantic. The whisky that Talisker produces is famously maritime in character, displaying salt and seaweed in spades. Clearly, when Talisker looks to establish a link with their branding, they go all in, which should s branding, it goes all in. This should mean good things for the Talisker Skye, the distillery’s entry-level offering, named after its island home.
Baoilleach Distillery: Staying True to Heritage
I’ve recently blown the horn for small-batch independent whiskey brands such as Killowen, seriously commending their ability to punch above… Read more Baoilleach Distillery: Staying True to Heritage
Mackmyra Vinterglöd
Christmas has passed and the New Year is upon us. Soon, we will be deep into the depressing, cold weeks… Read more Mackmyra Vinterglöd
Interview with Brendan Carty, Killowen Distillery
Treachery, gin-infused new-make and the relationship between architecture and distilling; no this isn’t a cacophony of misaligned gibberish, this was… Read more Interview with Brendan Carty, Killowen Distillery
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Sitting in the gulf between the islands of Jura and Scarba, the Corryvreckan whirlpool is one of the largest and most dangerous in the world. The unique underwater topography results in a tide that flows at 9 knots and in over 9 metres high waves. This is a truly terrifying force of nature, and any whisky bearing its name can only be fearsome.
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