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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.
Glass of cognac on the vintage barrelWhisky barrel bought for £130 goes on sale at £270k

A whisky barrel bought for £130 will go on sale for £270,000. And hilariously, the guy who bought it doesn’t even really like whisky. “I don’t drink Scotch,” says Surrey…

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Michter’s whiskey on a fence post in the sunshine.Michter’s Named the #1 Most Admired Whiskey in the World

Once again Michter’s has been named the #1 Most Admired Whiskey in the World. The newly-released 2026 list published by Drinks International celebrates leading whisky distilleries from around the globe. For…

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The World’s Largest Johnnie Walker Whisky CollectionWorld’s Largest Johnnie Walker Whisky Collection Goes To Auction

Alert to all whisky collectors: the world’s largest Johnnie Walker whisky collection is going to to auction. Whisky Auctioneer will hold a landmark sale this September featuring the most comprehensive…

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Tanduay Rum surrounded by food and drinkTanduay: How Can the Bestselling Rum in the World Still Need Introducing?

Tanduay sells more rum than Bacardi. But does the average person in the UK know them? Ask your friends. Heck, ask a reasonably committed British rum drinker about Tanduay. What…

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angels' share3 of the Best Oloroso Whiskies to Try for 2026

Here are 3 of the best Oloroso Whiskies to try for 2026. Oloroso sherry casks have become a cornerstone of whisky maturation, prized for the rich, bold flavours they impart…

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A bottle of Ardray blended Scotch whisky among records and foodCan Ardray Make Blended Scotch Cool Again?

Ardray was launched in June 2023 by Suntory Global Spirits with a brief: celebrate blended Scotch. And restore a litte credibility. “For a while, blended Scotch simply wasn’t considered cool,”…

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Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 Release on a barrel in a warehouse with Glencairn glasses around itA 7-year-old Glen Scotia: The Best Scotch in the World?

Is the World’s Best Scotch really a seven-year-old Glen Scotia? Well, Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 Release has been named Scotch Whisky Taste Master at The Scotch Whisky Masters…

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Westland is an American Single Malt Whiskey10 Trend-Setting Whiskies You Need to Try

Trying to identify the next trend-setting whiskies is a long game. While each year is finally The Year Of rum, Cognac, mezcal… whisky trends develop over time, much like the…

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Nick Offerman, pictured here holding Lagavulin is a very famous whisky drinker20 Very Famous Whisky Drinkers

These are 20 of the most famous whisky drinkers. But if your favourite whisky drinking celebrity isn’t here, let us know in the comments below. You probably know lots of…

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Bruichladdich Greener Still whisky in a fieldBruichladdich Greener Still: By Name, and By Nature

Bruichladdich continues to roll out the anniversary presents with Bruichladdich Greener Still. The 15-year-old single malt Scotch whisky was created to mark 25 years since the Hebridean distillery’s resurrection, joining…

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The washbacks at Wylye DistilleryMeet Wylye Distillery: The English Whisky You Don’t Know, But Soon Will

For the past three years, Sam Barber has spent his working week at Wylye Distillery making whisky. Not gin or vodka while the spirit matures. There’s no cask ownership scheme….

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The first run of Kythe new make spirit.Kythe Distillery Has Begun Distilling

Some welcome news hit our inbox today: Kythe Distillery officially began making whisky on 2 July 2026. The newsletter records this emotional milestone as arriving after a long and “meticulous…

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Our Whisky Championships 2026 Is Here!Our Whisky Championships 2026 Is Here!

UPDATE: We have a champion! Congratulations to Bruichladdich, who have won the Whisky Championships 2026! To celebrate its victory, we have an exclusive Master of Malt single malt for you…

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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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