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Master of Malt Whisky Blog

Author: Adam O'Connell

In Pictures: Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke Mill Distillery

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Bombay Sapphire Distillery

In the first of our new occasional series we showcase one of the UK’s most visually striking distilleries: Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke Mill!

What would any discerning gin enthusiast enjoy most? The chance to expand their gin knowledge? An opportunity to uncover the secrets, skill and artistry behind world-famous brands? A window into how their favourite spirit is made? A distillery tour, of course, where you can do all these things and more!

If you need a good place to start, then we have a suggestion… Hampshire’s Laverstoke Mill, where Bombay Sapphire gin has been made since 2014. You can learn about the brand’s history in the heritage room, see the botanicals used to create the gin in the iconic glasshouses and dry room, say hello to Mary and Thomas* in the Dakin Still House, and enjoy the dedicated bar (yay!) and gift shop (double yay!!).

Interest piqued? Why not take a look at the distillery in pictures right here – so you can get an idea of the treat you’re in for if you do stop by and visit.
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Categories : Features, Video
Tags : Bombay Sapphire, British gin, Gin
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10 of the best London dry gins

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London dry gin

Forget flavoured: London dry gin is the style that’s stood the test of time and remains one of the most popular worldwide. We thought it was about time we celebrated the classic, juniper-forward style…

We live in an era of rampant gin production and consumption – and everyone has a favourite. Maybe you enjoy the timeless taste of Old Tom, or you’re the experimental kind who craves cask-aged editions. There are plenty who favour flavoured gin, and others who love gin liqueurs or savour sloe gin.

It can be difficult to narrow down and determine the best from the rest in a market flooded with new-fangled options. But in the midst of the constantly changing world of gin, why not take a moment to celebrate London dry gin*, the timeless, defined style that offers a wealth of expressions we can all enjoy. To save you the time of finding the bottle that’s right for you, we’ve made a list of 10 of the best London dry gins around. Enjoy!

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Categories : We're drinking...
Tags : British gin, Gin, London dry gin
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The Balvenie names successor to David C. Stewart MBE

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The Balvenie malt master

We received huge news this week from Speyside Scotch whisky creator The Balvenie: Kelsey McKechnie will become the brand’s apprentice malt master!

The Balvenie had only just released a new celebratory, limited edition single malt Scotch whisky. Now the brand has named a malt master that will eventually succeed the legendary David C. Stewart MBE.

Introducing: apprentice malt master Kelsey McKechnie!

The Balvenie chose to mark the important milestone in the history of the Scotch whisky distillery with an event titled ‘A Moment In Time’. It included a tasting of rare Balvenie liquids at Greenwich Planetarium. So, we did the decent thing and got an interview with Stewart and McKechnie – we need to know more about The Chosen One (I don’t think that’s pushing it!).

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Categories : News
Tags : Balvenie, scotch whisky, The Balvenie
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The Nightcap: 24 August

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The Nightcap

Say hello to Friday with this week’s Nightcap, packed with the biggest booze news stories from the past seven days in one handy digest. Enjoy!

Happy Friday, folks! The weekend is here and we’re excited. For this is not just any weekend. Here in the UK it’s the super-duper mega-fantastic bumper three-day August Bank Holiday weekend (if you need to stock up, we’ve got everything you need booze-wise to celebrate. There’s just about still time to order!).

But before we get toooo carried away, let’s recap the week that was. On Monday, Annie came to rescue unloved drinks cabinets and cocktail kits the world over with her must-haves for a dynamite home bar. Then on Tuesday Henry took a trip down the road to Greensand Ridge, discovering a world of local rums and well as gins.
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Categories : News
Tags : American whiskey, bars, Bourbon, cocktails, Dallas Dhu, Glenrothes, Japanese whisky, Kingsbarns Distillery, rum, scotch whisky, Spiced Rum, The Nightcap, wine
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10 drinks that taste as good as they look

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Boozes that taste as good as they look

We all know that the most important feature of a spirit is how it tastes. But that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate an elegant or innovative bottle every now and then…

Did you know that numerous studies have shown that when food or drink looks good it effectively makes it taste better, too? We just can’t help but be drawn by beautiful things, be it the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) or Beyoncé (Aurora Bey-ealis). So it stands to reason that a thoughtful, creative spirits presentation could make a difference. And we’re down for anything that means a more enjoyable dram…

Let’s be clear: we’re not judging a book by its cover. A truly great expression has to have the substance to match its style. We’ll only settle for a celebration of the complete package.

With this in mind, we thought we’d have a lovely little rummage through the shelves at MoM Towers to find the fairest of them all. We present to you our list of 10 drinks that taste as good as they look!

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Categories : We're drinking...
Tags : 1897 Quinine Gin, Compass Box, Glenlivet, Hennessy, Ron Zacapa, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur, The Macallan
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Stefanie Anderson wins Talisker’s Race to Skye comp!

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Talisker’s Race to Skye

Some of the UK’s finest bartenders took part in the Scotch whisky brand’s challenge, but there could be only one winner of Talisker’s Race to Skye competition.

Stefanie Anderson of Bon Vivant, Edinburgh has been crowned the champion in the annual Race to Skye competition. She follows in the footsteps of inaugural winner Andrew Lennie, from The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen in Edinburgh.

The Scottish native was able to see off worthy opponents in Elysa McGuire from Epicurus: Death & Taxes, Leeds; Alex Francis from Devil’s Darling, London; Mike Pendergast from East London Liquor Company, London; Adam Day from Peggy’s, Manchester; Liam Grogan from Kelvingrove Café, Glasgow; and Miran Chauhan from Buck & Birch, Edinburgh.

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Categories : News
Tags : cocktails, Talisker
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The bank holiday boozes you need in your life

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With a precious bank holiday fast approaching (if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that marks it) there is little time to waste. You need some delicious booze, but what should you choose? And where to find it? Don’t fret, dear reader. We have all the answers you need…

Bank holidays provide us with a well-earned break, a chance to catch-up with friends and/or family, and offer a seriously good excuse to indulge in a tasty tipple or two. So, what’ll it be this year? Maybe you’re one of the many going gaga for gin, or perhaps you’re on the lookout for a new go-to wine. Others will be searching for a superb single malt or are looking for some cocktail inspiration. With so many different styles and spirits around, the biggest challenge is finding the right booze to tickle your taste buds!
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Categories : We're drinking...
Tags : Auchentoshan, Champagne, cocktails, Gin, Glenmorangie, scotch whisky, That Boutique-y Gin Company, The Handmade Cocktail Company, whisky, wine
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Royal Salute unites master blender and perfumer with latest whisky

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Royal Salute 28 Year Old Flask Collection - Kew Palace Edition

Perfume and Scotch whisky may seem like unlikely bedfellows. However, Royal Salute 28 Year Old Flask Collection – Kew Palace Edition, the latest release from the distillery’s annual Flask Collection series, demonstrates how the two worlds can harmonise to create something truly unique…

We’ve previously explored the interesting crossover between perfume and Scotch whisky. The two have plenty in common: both are luxury elixirs, both are crafted by specialists and both attempt to create aromas that become a mode for recalling memories.

That partnership of perfume and whisky has arisen once again thanks to Royal Salute 28 Year Old Flask Collection – Kew Palace Edition. The latest addition to the acclaimed annual Flask Collection range was inspired by London’s Kew Palace (the charming former home of George III) and the substantial sensory experience that is its iconic Kitchen Garden.

It was created from a collaboration between Chivas Brothers’ director of blending Sandy Hyslop and famed perfumer Barnabé Fillion. This is exciting, not only because this is the first time in Royal Salute’s history that a master blender has teamed up with someone else on a new expression, but also because it provides us with another chance to examine how the world of perfume can provide an inspiration for whisky as it attempts to innovate and grow.

We spoke to both Hyslop and Fillion about the latest offering from the luxury whisky brand to see what whisky can learn from perfume, and what memories the new edition evokes for the pair.

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Categories : Features
Tags : Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, scotch whisky
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Brilliant booze for International Beer Day!

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Get your snacks and novelty pint glasses at the ready, folks – Friday 3 August is International Beer Day! Ale admirers across the globe will be enjoying the best of the brewer’s efforts, so why not join them? We’ve done the hard work, narrowing down a sublime selection of the finest beers from around the world so you can relax and crack open a cold one…

International Beer Day is coming, folks! And, in a marvellous twist of fate, it happens to land on a Friday this year. What greater excuse could you need to drink good beer with good friends? It’s the ideal time to thank your brewer and bartenders, gift your loved ones a brilliant bottling and branch out into new styles and varieties from different places around the globe.

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Categories : We're drinking...
Tags : Beer
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Talking trends: What we’ll be drinking in 2019 and beyond

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Last week, we joined William Grant & Sons UK to future gaze as the Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Reyka and Sailor Jerry-owner unpacked its 2018 Market Report. What will we be drinking over the next 18 months and why? The trends brainiacs behind the scenes reckon they have the answer…

We’d all love to see into the future. Honestly, who among us would pass up the chance to gaze into a crystal ball in the search for answers: what are next week’s lottery numbers? How long until there are flying cars? When will the ‘gin bubble’ burst?

The UK drinks industry would certainly love the chance. With rampant technological advances, a difficult geo-political climate and economic uncertainty, the pace of change has never felt quite as fast as it does today. Keeping up is tough, never mind being one step ahead.
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Categories : News, Scotch Whisky, Vermouth, Vodka, Whisky
Tags : william grant
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