The Last Straw? - The Death of Plastic in Bars

The use of paper straws is becoming more popular.

© Nicholas Morgan

One of the hottest topics currently circulating the drinks industry is the use of plastic and improving sustainability. Many bars in the UK are working hard to reduce the amount of waste and non-recyclable materials that it produces in the wake of heightened awareness and increased public outcry.

The environmental impact of bar waste was largely unconsidered by the majority of establishments and their consumers until recently. This change of focus has forced the industry to take a serious look at the issue and seek alternatives to become more eco-friendly.

Gineration X - Keeping The Gin Boom Alive

* This article was written by Matt Chambers of Whisky For Everyone and originally appeared on the Huffington Post UK on 14/12/17.

The last couple of years have seen the re-birth of gin, a spirit that many considered long dead. It has shaken off its historical ‘mother’s ruin’ image to capture the imagination of consumers like almost no other spirit category has before.

Shops and bars are awash with different gin brands and new products seem to pop up every week. Gin palaces, often dens of iniquity in the past, are re-opening. Gin is cool again and consumers are lapping it up.

But what has driven this boom and how long can it be sustained?

Minimum Alcohol Pricing - Why?

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post on 16/11/17.

Scotland is poised to become the first country in the world to charge a minimum price per unit of alcohol. The unanimous ruling by the UK Supreme Court to back the Scottish Government proposal quashes a legal challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), allowing authorities to proceed with legislation that was initially approved five years ago.

So what does this mean for those buying alcohol in Scotland? And will it spread to the rest of the UK?

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?

How Did You Get In To Whisky?

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post UK on 19/4/17.

What turned you on to whisky? Was there one experience or a particular whisky you tried that got you hooked? What made the biggest first impression on you? How did you get in to whisky? These are questions that I get asked on a regular basis.

Getting started in the whisky world can be a daunting experience. I found it that way to begin with. There are lots of things that you hear or read that could be true, but you just do not know. These include numerous well-known stereotypes and opinions – Should I add water to my whisky? How about ice? Is single malt better than blended whisky? And so on.

Rum & Cigars - A Match Made In Heaven

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post UK on 6/4/17.

Rum and cigars have long gone hand in hand. The combination is largely associated with the Caribbean and one island in particular is synonymous with it. That island is Cuba. Some of the best rum on the planet is made there and it is home to many of the world’s best known and biggest selling cigar brands.

Playing To Your Strengths

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post UK on 5/1/17.

The current buzzword in the Scotch whisky industry seems to be experimentation. This year we have seen major brands releasing whiskies that have been matured in funky wine casks, creating new recipes and collaborating with craft beer brewers.

Experimentation has generally been seen as the realm of the craft or artisan distiller, especially those new to the scene. The major players argue that they have always been experimenting throughout their history and that this is simply taking it to the next level.

So what are the big whisky brands trying to achieve from this experimentation? Is it to simply diversify their range? Is it to make their product more attractive to a wider audience or new drinkers? Or is it to be seen as a ‘craft’ product themselves?

Is Rum The New Whisky?

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post UK on 10/11/16.

A few weeks ago, someone asked me about which spirit would be the ‘next whisky’. By that they meant, which spirit would come out of the shadows in a similar way that whisky started to do about ten years ago? Whisky has become the ‘new Cognac’. My prediction skills have never been good, but after some discussion we came to our conclusion – rum.

Why Is Old Whisky So Expensive?

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post UK on 4/11/16. 

When details of the latest super premium Scotch single malt were released earlier this week, they seemed to cause quite a stir across social media platforms and the whisky drinking community. Comments such as “looks nice but way too expensive”, “outrageous pricing” and “what a rip-off” were vented, but were frankly predictable.

But do these comments have an element of correctness, or are they simply naïve and showing a lack of understanding about the economics of the whisky industry? Why are old whiskies priced as they are?

The Rise and Rise of Irish Whiskey

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post UK on 11/10/16.

The Irish whiskey landscape is changing.

Whiskey in Ireland is experiencing an unprecedented boom. On the back of a general increased global demand for whisky as a spirit, the Irish side of the industry is witnessing something of a re-birth. But can this growth be sustained or will the market reach a saturation point somewhere in the future?

Which Whisky Would You Like? Let Me Guess ...

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post UK on 12/9/16.

“Taste is the least understood of our senses”
Dr. Adam Moore

Something caught my eye recently – a press release from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society telling me that they could predict the type of whisky I like from my personal characteristics. It seemed an interesting idea and one that potentially makes sense, but can it really be achieved? Do your own personal traits mean that you will like certain flavours over others?

Huffington Post Revisited Part 4 - Another Day, Another Distillery ...

Matt of Whisky For Everyone has been writing on the Huffington Post UK since being invited as a contributor in 2012.  His posts in the Lifestyle section are increasingly popular, so we thought we would publish the most-read articles in case you have not seen them before.  Recently, we showed three posts on WFE for the first time.  This fourth one was published on Huffington Post last week and looks at the ever-growing number of new distilleries and potential problems facing them.

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Another Day, Another Distillery ...
Posted on HuffPostUK on 08/02/16 - click here to view the original article.

The proposed Ardnahoe distillery

Recently, the news of a new single malt whisky distillery in Scotland was greeted with universal applause from whisky fans. The Ardnahoe distillery, which will be constructed on the north east coast of the famous whisky island of Islay, is hoped to be in production by the end of 2017.

This is the latest in an increasingly long line of such announcements, mostly in the craft/boutique sector. But is there a real danger of the whisky industry overloading itself with new distilleries and will all of these projects survive?

Huffington Post Revisited Part 3 - Think You Know How To Taste Whisky? Think Again ...

Matt of Whisky For Everyone has been writing on the Huffington Post UK since being invited as a contributor to the blogging site in 2012.  His posts in the Lifestyle section are increasingly popular, so we thought we would publish the most-read articles in case you have not seen them before.  This week we will show three posts on Whisky For Everyone for the first time.  This one about an innovative brand launch changed how Matt viewed whisky tastings and opened his mind to experience more.

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Think You Know How To Taste Whisky?  Think Again ...
Posted on HuffPostUK on 23/9/15 - click here to view the original article.

As a London-based whisky commentator I get regularly invited to whisky tastings and brand launches. Most follow tried and trusted routines. Nothing wrong with that, but they can seem formulaic sometimes. Sometimes something changes your thoughts, opening both eyes and mind. For me, this came at the recent launch of a new Chivas Regal whisky.

The words 'Experimental Chef' and 'Exploration Lab' on the invitation filled me with a slight sense of dread. I pictured a gimmicky tasting, albeit in a cool venue, that would push food and whisky pairing. Quickly I discovered just how wrong those initial feelings would be ...

Huffington Post Revisited Part 2 - A Positive Argument for No Age Statement Whiskies

Matt of Whisky For Everyone has been writing on the Huffington Post UK since being invited as a contributor to the blogging site in 2012.  His posts in the Lifestyle section are increasingly popular, so we thought we would publish the most-read articles in case you have not seen them before.  This week we will show three posts on Whisky For Everyone for the first time.  This one about 'no age statement' whiskies got lots of people irritated on whisky forums and is the most controversial to date.

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No Age Statement Whiskies - A Positive Argument
Posted on HuffPostUK on 18/2/15 - click here to view the original article.

The recent release of The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve seems to be causing a stir amongst the whisky community. The Glenlivet has long been one of the biggest selling single malts but Founder's Reserve represents a departure for the brand as it strives to grow even further. It is the first permanent core range product to have 'No Age Statement' (or NAS for short) and this has got some people very annoyed.

Huffington Post Revisited Part 1 - Is Scotch Whisky Dead?

Matt of Whisky For Everyone has been writing on the Huffington Post UK since being invited as a contributor to the blogging site in 2012.  His posts in the Lifestyle section are becoming increasingly popular, so we thought we would publish the most-read articles in case you have not seen them before.  This week we will show three posts on Whisky For Everyone for the first time, starting with his most recent one - Is Scotch Whisky Dead?  This has over 1,700 Likes on Facebook to date.

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Is Scotch Whisky Dead?
Posted on HuffPostUK on 13/1/16 - click here to view the original article.

The publication of a book last Autumn created a serious stir amongst the whisky community. In fact, it created a stir in the wider world with issues raised and tackled by the UK and global media.

The book in question was the 2016 edition of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, an annual release that has become the world's best selling whisky publication. Murray samples around 4,000 whiskies each year and the book is a collection of his tasting notes and personal scores. Whisky fans wait to find out his top marks and these can make brands an instant success overnight. Murray is a powerful influencer and many consumers naturally follow his recommendations. So, why the fuss this year?

Whisky For Everyone on The Huffington Post UK

Matt C, one of the founders of Whisky For Everyone, is a regular contributor on The Huffington Post UK.  He has been writing about whisky and whisky related topics within the LifeStyle section of the popular blogging website since being invited to be a contributor in 2012.

His latest article is now live on the site.  Within the article he looks at influences behind the reported demise of Scotch whisky in the media and awards being given to other sectors, plus asks whether the situation is really as bad as we are led to believe.  To read the article, please click the link below.  We hope that you enjoy ....

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/matt-chambers/is-scotch-whisky-dead_b_8960890.html