Emma Symons
Emma Symons, content writer
Joining Master of Malt in 2014, Emma worked as part of our awesome customer service team before bringing her passion for drinks to our editorial team. She even qualified as a WSET spirits educator to share her love for all things distilled with colleagues throughout the company. A fan of pot still rum, imperial stout, and complex maritime malts, Emma also enjoys taking photos, listening to hip-hop, and rummaging in junk shops to add to her collection of funky, colourful clothing!
Emma's Whisky of the Month (April 2026)
Balmenach 24yo Wormtub Single Cask
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
The endangered species that is the worm tub condenser is celebrated here in all its glory! This single malt from Speyside's Balmenach joins the limited-edition Single Cask series from Wormtub Whisky, celebrating the handful of Scotch distilleries that still use the rather old-school (and rather brilliant) bit of kit. The whisky spent 24 years maturing in an oloroso sherry butt, yielding an outturn of 309 cask-strength bottles. Worm tubs are prized for the distinctive, heavy, robust flavour profiles they can achieve. Coupled with generous ageing, as we see here, truly wonderful things happen.
"Wild and wonderful worm tub whisky. This stands out in any crowd, and for all the right reasons. Intense, robust, funky, fruity, estery, there's more to explore every time I sip it."
Emma Symons
Whisky word-engine, rum nut, imperial stout maven & MoM OG
Tasting notes by the Producer
Green apples, condensed milk, and creamy grist, with notes of browned butter and vanilla fudge in tow. Mellow oak and drying hay bring depth and complexity, with rice pudding, and robust, tangy candied fruit.
Superbly characterful and vibrant, with juicy, creamy malt, tangerine, and caramelised tropical fruits, toffee popcorn, and elegant old oak. Estery fruit leads to delicate pepper and nutmeg warmth.
Sweet toffee and barley sugar tangle with notes of peppercorn salami, with plum jam and perhaps even a touch of mature cheese, while caramel, milk chocolate, and charred oak stand firm.
