Nick Morgan

Without criticism there is only marketingWithout criticism there is only marketing

For his first column of 2023, Nick Morgan looks into the state of whisky and spirits criticism today and asks whether some writers are too close to the industry giants…

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Cardhu distilleryCardhu Pure Malt and other ill-advised whisky reformulations

Earlier this week, Dr Nick Morgan looked at what happened when United Distillers lowered the strength of Gordon’s gin. Now in the second part, he looks at the furore when…

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Gordon's bottle '80sThe reformulation of Gordon’s gin and other PR disasters

In a two-part special Dr. Nick Morgan looks at what happens when distillers mess around with the formula of well-loved brands. First up the sorry saga of when United Distillers…

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Who got da funk?Who got da funk?

We often describe whiskies and other spirits as “funky” but what exactly does this mean? Dr Nick Morgan takes a journey into funk to find out.  I doubt I”m not…

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Southern ComfortThe sticky story of Southern Comfort

We’ve got a treat for you today, a look into the history of Southern Comfort. From its origins in a bar in Memphis, Tennessee to a global brand, taking in…

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£16 million Ardbeg cask: a source of pride for everybody?£16 million Ardbeg cask: a source of pride for everybody?

Dr. Nick Morgan asks if the industry really should be shouting about the record-breaking £16 million Ardbeg cask from 1975 that sold this week, the sale price of which is more…

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Royal BracklaThe Royal Touch

As the Queen celebrates 70 years on the throne this long weekend, Dr Nick Morgan takes a look at the long interlinked history of the Royal Family and the Scotch…

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Fèis Ìle 2022How Fèis Ìle was stolen by the Scotch whisky industry

Dr. Nick Morgan returns to chart the history of the Islay festival of Fèis Ìle to see if somewhere along the way it went from a festival of culture to…

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The changing role of the whisky distillery managerThe changing role of the whisky distillery manager

With news of the constant churn of distillery manager jobs in Scotch whisky, industry veteran Dr Nick Morgan takes a look at the history of the role, and how it…

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Accelerated ageingAccelerated ageing, in search of whisky’s Holy Grail

Whisky takes time. Following distillation, you have to wait years until it is ready to drink. It’s a process that can’t be hurried… Or can it? Dr Nick Morgan takes…

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Dukes Hotel LondonA Love Letter to Dukes Bar

During all the lockdowns, there’s one thing that Nicholas Morgan missed the most: a Martini made by Alessandro Palazzi at Dukes Bar in London. Here’s why… It’s hard to think…

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Negroni photoDon’t over-ice my Negroni

Nick Morgan has a bone to pick with bartenders. He’s noticed a worrying trend to put so much ice in cocktails that it’s impossible to drink them. So for 2022,…

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Whisky investment déjà vuWhisky investment déjà vu

A number of warnings about whisky investment firms have appeared in the press, and on this blog, in the past year. But, as Dr. Nick Morgan explains, dodgy schemes promising…

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Lifting the lid on bulk Scotch whisky sales to JapanLifting the lid on bulk Scotch whisky sales to Japan

Today, we’re delighted to have a new writer for Master of Malt, industry veteran Dr Nick Morgan. Here he brings us a tale of greed, deception, and short-sighted business decisions,…

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