Adam O'Connell

Adam O'Connell

Adam O'Connell has been writing for Master of Malt for over eight years now. He’s visited distilleries, wineries, and breweries across the world, reviewed a variety of whiskies, gins, rums, Tequilas, mezcals, brandies, vodkas, wines, beers, and cocktails, and contributed all kinds of words in all sorts of places, including over 1,000 articles to its award-winning online blog, The Whisk(e)y Wash, and many of the handy guides you might have enjoyed. He’s even jammed with Kiefer Sutherland AND dined with Ainsley Harriott. Not at the same time.

The label of Shindo Experimental 01Shindo Experimental 01 and the End of Japanese Whisky Mystique

Shindo Experimental 01 arrives at Master of Malt this week. And at a moment when Japanese whisky can no longer rely on romance alone. Age statements are thin on the…

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Whisky is a low-calorie alcoholThere Will Be a 100-Year-Old Whisky in the Future

The idea of a 100-year-old whisky is not a fantasy. Thanks to Gordon & MacPhail, it seems that it will one day be an inevitability.  “My brother talks about the…

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Gordon & MacPhail bottle of 1949 Glenlivet single maltUnlocking the Liquid Library of Gordon & MacPhail Whisky

Gordon & MacPhail whisky has a relationship with time like few companies. The family-owned firm has spent more than a century quietly building a liquid archive of Scotch whisky. The full…

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Tomatin core range displaying the 2026 packaging redesignThe Tomatin Redesign and the Joy of a New Coat of Paint

Tomatin whisky has a new packaging redesign. The Highland distillery’s refresher is purely aethestic, the whisky remains the same. The outside, however, has had a proper wardrobe rethink. That’s not…

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Redbreast Irish Whiskey being poured into a Glencairn glass on a barHow Redbreast Irish Whiskey Is Made

If you want to understand how Redbreast Irish whiskey is made, you have to start in Midleton. That’s the sprawling County Cork distillery responsible for some of Ireland’s most famous…

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Lifestyle imagrey for the launch of Johnnie Walker Red SoulJohnnie Walker Red Soul: A “Sweeter Take” on Red Label

Johnnie Walker Red Soul is the latest addition to the world’s most famous Scotch brand, offering a softer, sweeter twist on the long-running Red Label blend. Rolling out globally from…

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A still from BBC2 celebrity quiz, Do You Know Your Place?Rosebank Pops Up on BBC Quiz Show

Rosebank Distillery has added another line to its résumé: a cameo on a BBC quiz show. The Falkirk distillery is known for its popular revival following years as a cult…

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A hot chocolate made with Glas 55Stillgarden and the Irish Herbal Liqueur Taking on Chartreuse

Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin says it’s for the modern spirit drinkers. Making Irish Chartreuse-style liqueurs is one way to prove that.  That’s Chartreuse-style liqueur. Let’s get that right. Chartreuse belongs…

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A whisky barrel in The Borders DistilleryWhy The Borders Distillery Is Launching A Cask Transparency App

The Borders Distillery has launched an app that lets whisky cask owners track every stage of their spirit’s journey. In a category where cask ownership can sometimes feel like sending…

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Blackwater Distillery's stand at Bord Bia's Meet the MakersMeet the Makers: A Showcase of Irish Drinks Producers

Invite me to a showcase of Irish drinks, and I will attend. Eight consecutive years of Bord Bia’s annual trade show at the Irish Embassy in Grosvenor Place prove it….

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Irish Coffees made with Teeling whiskeyWin a Trip to Dublin with Teeling Whiskey

St Patrick’s Day prezzies aren’t really a thing. Usually, it’s just getting a round in. Let’s start a new tradition here, together. How about the chance to win a trip…

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A bottle and glass of Yellow Spot 12 Year Old with a green backgroundTop 10 Saint Patrick’s Day Whiskeys

Need Saint Patrick’s Day whiskeys? You’re in the right place. Leave a comment below with any bottles you love. Saint Patrick’s Day is coming, and for us, that means one…

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Witchmark Single Origin English Vodka in a field of local barleyWitchmark Distillery: English Whisky Made Magic

A witchmark is an apotropaic symbol. A small carved sign believed to ward off evil, bad luck, and other unwelcome forces. Derived from the Greek apotropaios, meaning “turning away”, these…

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Brighton Whisky Weekend posterBrighton Whisky Weekend arrives this summer

Heads up, festival fans, the Brighton Whisky Weekend is taking place from 26 to 28 June 2026 and turning the city into a three-day dram crawl. A Brighton whisky festival…

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A bottle of Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 Release on a barrel in a whisky warehouseGlen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 Release arrives

The Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 Release is here! And as usual, it’s a corker. This year’s limited edition whisky arrives as a seven-year-old, medium-peated single malt, matured in…

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Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage arrivesMidleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage arrives

The arrival of Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage is a big one for Irish whiskey fans. Heck, whiskey fans in general. For collectors, this drop is a yearly ritual. For…

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