Adam O'Connell
Witchmark Distillery: English Whisky Made MagicA 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…
Brighton Whisky Weekend arrives this summerHeads 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…
Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 Release arrivesThe 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…
Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage arrivesThe 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…
The Story of Aberargie Distillery and its First WhiskyAberargie Distillery has been laying down casks since November 2017. If you haven’t heard of them until recently, you’re not alone. The Lowland whisky maker was quietly tipping away on…
Compass Box Hedonism 2026: Recharting the Course of Grain WhiskyCompass Box Hedonism 2026 exists because in 2000, John Glaser decided grain whisky was good enough. At the turn of the millennium, he launched Hedonism as the first blended grain…
Glenfiddich Redesign Revisits the Past to Frame its FutureThe Glenfiddich redesign is here. Come take a look. The Speyside distillery has given itself a refresh, drawing heavily on cues from its own archive. Helpfully, the press release includes…
How To Make Your Own Maraschino CherriesMaraschino cherries are an essential cocktail ingredient. But they also have a bad reputation. Cocktail sabotage by these lurid, oversweet, radioactive-looking, vaguely cherry-flavoured impostors has occurred for decades. But the…
Top 10 Gins for the Ultimate MartiniHere’s our Top 10 Gins for the ultimate Martini. Purchase by clicking on the links in the product’s name. Got any suggestions? Leave them in the comments below. There’s an…
Karen Gillan becomes the face of Hedonism 2026The 2026 edition of Hedonism from Compass Box is here, and actor Karen Gillan stars as this year’s Muse. Yes, that Karen Gillan. From Doctor Who to Guardians of the…
What Should I Pair With Whisky?Ever ask yourself: What should I pair with whisky? If you have, this is the guide for you. Whisky lovers know the right pairing can turn a good dram into…
Enjoy Life – Drink The Good StuffI get to drink the good stuff a lot. It’s an occupational hazard. But I’m as much a slave to the culture of deferment as the next person. Save that…
Ardbeg 10 Year Old Cask Strength UnveiledArdbeg 10 Year Old Cask Strength is being released this month. The standard Ardbeg 10 Year Old is already one of the most revered peated whiskies on the planet. And whisky drinkers,…
Top 10 Valentine’s Day DrinksValentine’s Day drinking comes in many forms. There’s the thoughtful gift. The bottle you fully intend to open together. The cocktail session that starts civilised and ends with music far…
The Scotch Whisky Tariff Cut in China in ContextKeir Starmer and China have reached an agreement that tariffs on Scotch whisky imports into China will be reduced from 10% to 5%. Effective in early February, the deal will…
Mark Reynier’s Bids for €12 Million of Waterford StockReports this week reveal that Mark Reynier, former owner and founder of Waterford Whisky, is seeking to buy back €12 million worth of bulk whisky stock from the company’s receivers….
