Astonishing.

It’s an easy term to bandy around (and god knows I’m possibly more guilty of doing so than most), but from time to time, one is simply so taken aback that the term “astonishing” is really all that fits the bill. I found myself using that particular word on approximately a dozen occasions, when my good lady wife and I visited Purl earlier this year.

Just as it is usually possible to accurately assess the competence of a curry house by ordering a simple Madras, the ‘control’ drink in any half-decent cocktail bar, for me, is a martini cocktail. Good glassware – points; correctly chilled glass – yet more points; really, really good Sicilian lemons for the twist, many points. If, however, as in the case of one restaurant recently visited who shall remain nameless – you serve it in a chipped glass, complete with crushed ice, and a slice of lemon, you’re scoring very low indeed. More...

Crikey, a lot happens whilst you’re away for a few days doesn’t it? Turn your back, and all of a sudden the recent uber-releases from Dalmore, Macallan, and Aisla T’Orten ain’t no thang – it’s all about the Isabella’s Islay… Released a week or so ago, this extraordinary piece of work is being billed as the world’s most expensive whisky, at $6,200,000: More...

It all began a few weeks ago…

We received a brochure through the door at MoM towers from Adnams Brewery, advertising the range of wines they sell under their own label. More often than not, generic marketing materials such as this would end up swiftly filed under ‘B’, but in this instance, we had a quick flick through as Adnams are a pretty superb brewery, making one of our absolute favourite beers ‘Broadside’ - a 4.7% abv bitter that’s arguably one of the best on the market in the UK. It was only upon turning to the centre page of the brochure however, that we came across something that made us do a double-take. A chuffing great Carl Still sitting in front of a huge window looking out over the beautiful seaside town of Southwold. More...

Quite a big one this…

For as long as anyone can remember, (some) whisky companies have been using caramel colouring in their whiskies. The arguments for and against the use of caramel in whisky are well documented, but just in case, let’s imagine a discussion between a well-educated, handsome whisky consumer, and one of those nasty and ‘orrible whisky companies that make whisky packed full of yucky and horrible caramel (the b*stards).More...

Those good ol’ boys at Gordon and Macphail have done it again – they’ve release another ‘the world’s oldest whisky’…

Following on from the huge success of last year’s release of a 70 year old Mortlach under their new ‘Generations’ brand, G&M have released another cask that has been sitting dormant in their warehouse since the days of the second world war.

Perhaps the most astonishing part of both of these releases has been that neither of the whiskies have been described in any way as ‘over the hill’ or ‘too woody’. It’s testament to the absolute vastness of G&M’s stock that they’re able to pull out gems such as these after the best part of a lifetime in Oak.

Distilled on 4th February 1940 (just 3 days before the release of Disney’s Pinocchio – thank you Wikipedia), the whisky was filled into a first-fill sherry butt which has yielded only 100 70cl bottles, and 175 20cl bottles. The bottling ABV (at natural cask strength of 45.9%) is actually comparatively high for a whisky More...

It’s a welcome occupational hazard, being one of the largest whisky retailers on the web, that from time to time, distilleries, distributors and agents will want to show you ‘where it all comes from’ so to speak…

Recently, Master of Malt were fortunate enough to be invited on a trip to see the working distilleries of Balblair, Knockdhu (where An Cnoc whisky is made) and Old Pulteney. What made this trip slightly different from many others that we’ve been on over the years is that it was an all-expenses paid trip organised solely for whisky bloggers. More...

In one word? Awesome.

You want more than that you say?

It’s kind of hard to know where to begin. The events of the weekend before last have all converged into a bit of a blur. Not so much because of the alcohol, but rather the simply dizzying array of tastings, masterclasses, quizzes, meals and world-class whiskies which were thrust upon us over the course of the weekend… yet with all the activity, we came away feeling really rather impressed at just how relaxed and informal the weekend managed to be. More...

Okay, so just a teaser at this stage, but you all remember the Glengoyne ‘Scottish Merchants’ Choice’ that was released last year?

Yep – you’ve got it - the English Merchants’ Choice is coming soon!!!

A full report will follow, but suffice it to say that Master of Malt were sequestered in the Glengoyne sample room with four of England’s greatest (other) whisky merchants earlier this year, and at great, great length selected a cask of which we are all supremely proud. More...

I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen a delivery driver so amused.

Literally the second the new bottling of the Noh Karuizawa Whisky walked through the door, the office broke out into a frenzy – photographers snapping, directors grabbing tasting glasses and falling upon the beautiful decanters like they contained the elixir of eternal life.

Such is the sense of anticipation and wonderment that surround all whiskies bottled by the Number one drinks company. This particular release is a 32yo Karuizawa from 1977 (Karuizawas before 1981 are revered as somewhat special because of their intense Umami-rich flavour), and it’s spectacular. It’s by no means a gentle giant at 32 years of age – we’d describe it more like being kicked in the face by an angry bosozoku than the peaceful tranquillity brought by Hanami (ed - d’you like that? Bit of Kulcha and that)…

Anywhoo, enough rambling, here are our tasting notes:

Nose: This dram opens with an olfactory delight of walnuts, chestnuts roasting in New York, pineapple and maple syrup. As it sits in the glass the nose develops stewed fruits in mulled wine, a slight note of autumnal bonfire and orange peel element and finishes on glacé cherries

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Okay, so once in a while at MoM towers, we like to make a brief foray into the wonderful (if dangerous) world of Mixology.

Over the next few months we’ll be publishing some reasonably detailed recipes of our favourite whisky cocktails for you to make at home – and this week’s instalment is the famous Blood and Sand.

This absolute belter of a cocktail is best made with fresh orange juice, but (and this is really important) you’ll need to find More...