Whisky, space & vikings
India became the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit, highlighting its advancements in space technology. The Ice Bucket Challenge virally promoted ALS awareness, uniting people globally for a cause. The World Health Organization and international partners rallied to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, showcasing collective medical efforts.
In the whisky universe, the Highland Park Odin, part of the Valhalla Collection, drew significant attention.
The 16-year-old single malt was presented in a wooden frame resembling a Viking long ship and became an instant collector's item. Meanwhile, Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 received the title of "World's Best Whisky" by Jim Murray, causing a surge in interest for Japanese whiskies and further establishing their reputation on the global stage.
In the independent bottling sector, Cadenhead's continued to build its reputation for excellence with its Authentic Collection, featuring rare single cask, cask strength releases. These whiskies, often from lesser-known or even closed distilleries, became invaluable additions to any collection. Thompson Brothers, a small bottler out of Dornoch, Scotland, started to gain recognition for their carefully curated releases that focused on quality over quantity. For whisky aficionados, the year 2014 was an exciting period of discovery, as both new and traditional distilleries and bottlers offered extraordinary experiences.