Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (October 27, 2017)

Welcome to Inbox.  For those new to WFE, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.

Why Not Make Your Own Cocktails At Home?

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post on 24/10/17.

Over the last few years the whisky industry has been making a concerted effort to attract more consumers. One such way has been the idea of mixing your whisky or drinking it in a cocktail, particularly at home. Adding a mixer to a whisky is nothing new – one thinks of whisky and coke as easily as one thinks of gin and tonic or vodka and lemonade, for example – and is easy. But does anyone really make cocktails at home? Can they really be bothered?

Review - Highland Park Dragon Legend

The Dragon Legend is a new expression that has recently been released by the Orcadian single malt whisky brand of Highland Park. It is designed to have a 'richer and smokier flavour' than previous expressions of Highland Park and is initially exclusive to UK supermarkets, including Tesco. Dragon Legend will then be rolled out to key European markets in early 2018. The name takes inspiration from the brand's Viking heritage and the tale of the evil serpent Fafnir. It has been matured in a combination of American oak and European oak ex-sherry casks, and is bottled at a strength of 43.1% ABV. The recommended retail price is £40.

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (October 20, 2017)

Welcome to Inbox.  For those new to WFE, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.

Review - Glenfiddich 21 years old Winter Storm

The Winter Storm is the third bottling in The Experimental Series from Glenfiddich. The whisky has been created by Brian Kinsman, the brand's Malt Master, and uniquely uses Canadian ice wine casks made from French oak for a short finishing period. These have previously matured ice wine, made from grapes frozen on the vine and picked at night, produced at the Peller Estate winery in Niagra. Following a period of experimentation, Kinsman discovered that older whiskies reacted best with the casks. Therefore, the Winter Storm is a 21 years old expression with a six month finish in the ex-ice wine casks.

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (October 13, 2017)

Welcome to Inbox.  For those new to WFE, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.

Distillery Visit - Glendronach

It is not easy to find the distillery of Glendronach. The address is given as 'near Huntley' and as you drive along the busy A96 from Aberdeen towards Inverness you see a large brown tourist sign that tells the distillery is off to the right. But, then you drive. And drive. And drive, down and increasingly narrow and winding road.

You begin to wonder if you've gone wrong somewhere as the brown signs disappear, or if it even exists. But then you are rewarded - there nestled in a small valley is the padoga of a distillery. The picturesque scene means that you have finally reached your destination.

Review - Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Rum Cask Finish & Espresso Roast

These two whiskies are the latest expressions to be released in to Johnnie Walker's experimental Blenders’ Batch series. The Rum Cask Finish (Experiment #8) and the Espresso Roast (Experiment #9) have been created by Jim Beveridge, the Johnnie Walker Master Blender, along with his team of 12 blenders. This includes Chris Clark, who worked exclusively on the Rum Cask Finish, and Aimée Gibson, who developed the Espresso Roast project. Both new whiskies have been designed with bartenders in mind.

Inbox Special Edition (October 9, 2017) - Brora & Port Ellen Distilleries Come Back To Life

It is not often that we produce an edition of Inbox outside of our regular weekly Friday slot, but sometimes news is announced that needs to be reported straight away. News that is so significant that it potentially changes the landscape of the whisky world. Today is one of those days as Diageo, Scotland's largest producer of whisky, have announced the re-opening of two of their most iconic closed distilleries - Brora and Port Ellen.

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (October 6, 2017)

Welcome to Inbox.  For those new to WFE, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.