A few years back I was at a literary festival giving a talk about booze history and someone in the audience asked where the current gin boom came from. Why…
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Master of Malt blog
It’s National Cocktail Day (NCD) on 24 March 2024! We’re sure this is a date you have circled in red pen and you’re counting down the days until you can…
Following on from our Scotch whisky regions article, we’re delighted to have a piece by Mark Reynier from Waterford in Ireland looking at how the whisky industry misuses the concept…
Where does the term whisky originate from? It derives from the Gaelic word uisge beatha (in Scottish Gaelic) or uisce beatha (in Irish Gaelic). It’s pronounced “ish-ka ba-ha” and they…
Ireland was once the grand capital of whiskey. At one point in the mid-19th century, it boasted 88 licensed distilleries and countless more illicit producers. The largest distilleries in the…
What came first, the song or the cocktail? Well that’s an easy one, it’s the cocktail. ‘Tequila Sunrise’ by the Eagles came out in 1973 whereas the Tequila Sunrise cocktail…
When it comes to artisanal spirits, mezcal stands out for its rich heritage and complex flavour profiles. Originating from Mexico, this agave spirit has seen a surge in popularity thanks…
Attention fans of Irish whiskey, St. Patrick’s Day, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: there’s a signed bottle of Four Walls Bartender’s Blend Whiskey to be won. You might remember last year…
Fans of top actor Sam Heughan, star of hit TV series Outlander, prepare to get excited… You ready? Right, we’re offering the chance for three lucky customers to get their…
Bourbon is the classic American whiskey, distinguished by its specific production requirements and geographic origins. To be legally labeled as bourbon, the spirit must adhere to several criteria, namely that…
When it comes to sipping spirits neat, the rum category truly stands out for its diversity and complexity. I’ve picked out a few of the best sipping rums, so grab…
Introducing someone to the world of whisky can be a delightful journey, offering a range of flavours and experiences. For beginners, it’s often best to start with whiskies that are…
You’ve asked a big question and we’ve come back with an even bigger answer. One you can see from space, like Lard Lad from The Simpsons stretching out through the…
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up fast. Irish whiskey is needed. But what if I could tell you that you could win a year’s supply of whiskey simply by buying…
As well as being Master of Malt we are also Masters of Molasses so we were very excited to learn about a new independent rum bottler with some very exciting…
One night in the Rum and Crab Shack, a charming rum bar and seafood restaurant in St. Ives, Cornwall, the owners Chris McGuire and Neythan Hayes were sipping the Venezuelan…
Let me guess. You’re planning on going into Lush and picking up a bath bomb or you’ll grab a candle the day before. Because Mother’s Day isn’t that big a…
How does a prestigious whiskey brand celebrate a 40th anniversary? With great whiskey, obviously. This year Irish Distillers gives us not only Midleton Very Rare 2024, but also the Midleton…
Following on from our Short History of Scotch Whisky, today, we’re taking a look at another country with a rich whiskey heritage… America. The country’s most prominent styles, bourbon and…
Mother’s Day is a special occasion to celebrate whoever you call mum, and spoil them with something special. Working at Master of Malt, our way of treating the women in…