Ian Buxton

Ian Buxton is a drinks writer and author of countless books including 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die and 101 Gins to Try Before You Die. He is also a former marketing director of Glenmorangie single malt, a Keeper of the Quaich, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers and a member of the Gin Guild. His is a bitter-sweet love affair with Scotland’s national drink – not to mention gin and rum, or whatever the nearest PR is pouring. Once, apparently without noticing, he bought a derelict distillery.
Boby mill is backThe Boby Mill Is Back

For over 40 years, if you wanted a high-quality malt mill for your new whisky distillery then the best thing to do was buy a refurbished old one made by…

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Port of LeithScottish Government vs. Scotch Whisky

With some new legislation in the consultation process concerning the marketing of alcohol in Scotland, Ian Buxton takes a look at the often unhappy relationship between the Scotch whisky industry…

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Dirtgrain Blackwater Irish WhiskeyBlackwater: Irish Whiskey – As It’s Meant To Be?

With the long-awaited whiskies from Blackwater in Ireland soon to be landing at Master of Malt, Ian Buxton talks to Peter Mulryan, the distillery’s outspoken founder about his problems with…

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Talisker-18-Blog-ImageWhisky Prices – The Upwards Spiral

In the light of various steep price rises in whisky, naming no names, Ian Buxton takes a look at what’s behind the changes and suggests that things might not be…

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Angostura RumRum Revival: How the Spirit’s Second Coming Happened

Has the year of rum finally happened? Ian Buxton returns to look at the causes behind the increasingly glorious rum revolution occurring in spirits right now. A few years ago…

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Whisky lochThe Return of the Whisky Loch?

With rampant inflation, strikes, an energy crisis, and dysfunctional government, it’s starting to feel a lot like the 1970s. Yet the Scotch whisky industry is expanding rapidly. Does this mean,…

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Whisky BaronsWhisky Heroes: The Whisky Barons

Ian Buxton returns to add The Whisky Barons to his Whisky Heroes series, and shed some light on how former Prime Minister David Lloyd George fits into the picture in…

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Cecilia - robot bartenderThe Rise of the Machines

AI is becoming an increasingly important part of the drinks business. But will the rise of the machines put highly skilled bartenders, blenders and other industry professionals out of business,…

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Alfred BarnardWhisky Heroes: Writers

As part of his series on whisky heroes, Ian Buxton takes a look at two pioneering writers on the subject, Alfred Barnard, author of The Whisky Distilleries of the United…

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The Master of Malt Islay Festival 2021Islay: Island or Idea?

As all across Europe, herds of camper vans are being fueled and provisioned ahead of the long journey to the forthcoming Fèis Ìle, I fell to dreaming of Islay. But…

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Caol Ila distilleryWhisky Heroes: The Architects Who Made the Mould

As part of his series on whisky heroes, Ian Buxton celebrates three architects who defined how a distillery should look, Charles Doig, William Delmé-Evans and George Darge. There was a…

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The swanky still set-up at Helsinki Distilling CompanyDo the Words ‘Master Distiller’ Mean Anything?

The drinks world proliferates with various masters like master blenders and master distillers. But do these terms have any validity or are they just marketing flimflam? Ian Buxton investigates.  The…

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michael-jackson-king-beer-writersWhisky Heroes: Michael Jackson

As part of a new series on his whisky heroes, Ian Buxton takes a look at the man who pretty much invented whisky writing for the modern age, Michael Jackson. …

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Dunnage CasksTips For Investing in Whisky (And Avoiding Scammers)

Today, Ian Buxton returns to one of his favourite topics, buying whisky in cask. He’s come up with some tips to help you not to get scammed. Here are seven…

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Advert for Corio 5 starThe Lost Whisky Industries of Australia and New Zealand

In all the excitement about new world whiskies, it’s not generally known that we have been here before. Until surprisingly recently, both Australia and New Zealand had thriving whisky industries….

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Bailey's Whiskey.Remembering Great Whisky Marketing Fiascos

Do you remember Bailey’s whiskey, or J&B -6°C? Don’t ring a bell? Well, they weren’t around for long but Ian Buxton remembers these and other product launches that failed to…

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