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Adam O'Connell

Adam O’Connell writes for Master of Malt. He has visited distilleries, wineries, and breweries across the world and reviewed a frankly unreasonable number of whiskies, gins, rums, Tequilas, mezcals, brandies, vodkas, wines, beers, and cocktails. His work spans more than 1,000 articles for Master of Malt’s award-winning blog, The Whisk(e)y Wash, along with many guides and features you might have read while hunting for something good to drink.
The Darkness Tasting Set on a whisky barrelTop 10: Best New Releases in July

There were so many fine new releases in July it was actually quite difficult to narrow down just 10. Tormore was a big one, but we covered that on this…

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A bottle of Mango Bay Rum in MauritiusMango Bay Rum: Daddy Rack, a Mauritian First and the Art of Never Standing Still

I was drinking Mango Bay Rum recently. It’s from Mauritius and comprises molasses rums aged for at least three and five years respectively in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks,…

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Reactory sample kitHere We Go Again: Can Reactory Really Mature Spirits in 72 Hours?

A New Zealand company called Reactory says it can create decades of flavour in days, using a fraction of the oak, space, and money required by traditional maturation. Here we…

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Taking Tormore into the Spotlight: Light and Fruity Does ItTaking Tormore into the Spotlight: Light and Fruity Does It

The first-ever official permanent line-up from Tormore is here! Limited editions Blueprint and Legacy in 2025 gave us a hint of what was to come. Now the Speyside distillery is…

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A glass of Tamnavulin whisky in natureTamnavulin at 60: The Single Malt People Actually Drink

Tamnavulin is the UK’s fastest growing single malt whisky. It’s the second biggest in the UK off-trade (supermarkets), behind Jura, and the number one single malt in Sweden. In 2022…

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Darkness Whisky 2026 Group Shot and Tasting SetDarkness Whisky Returns with 10 New Limited Edition Bottlings

Darkness Whisky is back, bringing with it 10 (ten!) new limited edition Scotch whiskies and a tasting set containing the entire collection. The independent bottler has built its reputation on…

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The Odyssey, a New Collection From Berry Bros. & RuddToast The Odyssey with New Collection From Berry Bros

Have you ever had a dram of whisky at the cinema? It’s a thing of beauty. A great picture deserves a great pairing, after all. The Odyssey arrives to the…

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The two Zacal Mezcal expressionsZacal Mezcal: Beyond Oaxaca

Zacal is a mezcal brand founded by four friends, Phil Clayton, Ian McCaig, Cri Osborne and Andrew Maidment, in partnership with third-generation mezcalero Milton Román Ochoa Corona. Two bottlings have…

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Westport Blended Malt 21 Year Old 1997What Is A Teaspooned Whisky?

Are you familiar with teaspooned whisky? No, not a cocktail recipe, but one of Scotch whisky’s most delightfully petty secrets. What is a teaspooned whisky? It goes like this: take…

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Spirit being filled into bottles at the Lancaster Spirits Co.Lancaster Spirits Co. Steps Into Peat Before It’s Released Whisky

Lancaster Spirits Co. has not released its first single malt whisky yet. It’s not expected to reach the market until 2027. That is not stopping it from planning the next…

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The Master of Malt Trade Blog Is HereThe Master of Malt Trade Blog Is Here

We’ve launched the Master of Malt Trade Blog today. And yes, you’re allowed to read it too. Before anybody panics, this blog, the one you are reading now, is staying…

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Drambuteo, the football meets whisky game from Master of MaltTop 10: Best New Releases in June

June has been busy. And hot. The best new releases this month are pretty scorching too. You’ve probably seen a few already. But there’s so much to get stuck into…

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Loch Lomond Golf Bag and prizesWin a Golf Bag Full of Loch Lomond Whisky

Who wants to win a golf bag full of Loch Lomond whisky? UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Sarah Thompson! That’s right, Loch Lomond Whiskies returns for another year…

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Kyrö Game of Thrones WhiskyWin a Trip to Finland with Kyrö Game of Thrones Whisky

Kyrö Game of Thrones whisky has arrived at Master of Malt, and for two weeks, you’ll only find these new limited edition whiskies here. To celebrate the launch of Kyrö…

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Bartender making a fresh summer cocktail in shakerWhen to Shake or Stir Cocktails

To shake or stir cocktails, that is the question. Each choice changes the temperature, dilution, texture, appearance, aroma, and overall balance of the drink. When to shake or stir cocktails…

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The inside of a warehouse at Old Pulteney DistilleryOld Pulteney at 200: The Whisky That Belongs to Wick

Old Pulteney is now 200 years old. I recently went to Wick, Caithness to see the whisky distillery and take in the local sights. Because you can’t understand Pulteney without…

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