Our Top 10 Whiskies of 2023

This is always our favourite post to write each year. The Top 10 is something we first began way back in 2009 and within it we celebrate the finest new whisky releases of that calendar year. Our first selection crowned Benromach 10 years old as our inaugural Whisky of the Year. However, some time ago we decided to no longer give a top prize. Instead, each of the ten whiskies that we have chosen is a winner in its own right and for differing reasons. 

As the world thankfully moves further away from the Covid-19 pandemic, some normality has resumed. The whisky world has responded with more releases than ever, fuelled by the ever-growing craft and artisan distilling movement around the globe. It has been difficult to select just ten to be honest, given that we have sampled close to 150 whiskies this year. 

Video / How To Make A Whisky Barrel

We recently had the privilege of watching a cooper construct a whisky barrel from scratch. So, we thought that we would share the experience with you by recording it. Below you will see Brian Morgan from the Speyside Cooperage in Alloa, Scotland use his training and skill to build a cask using only the wooden staves, metal hoops and traditional tools.

The video is split into two parts. In Part 1 you will see how he takes the basic components and puts them together to form a recognisable barrel, while in Part 2 you will see the finishing touches that make the barrel watertight and ready to receive spirit. Watch and enjoy, and we hope you find it as fascinating as we did.

Review / InchDairnie Ryelaw

This whisky is the highly anticipated first release from the Fife distillery of InchDairnie. The Ryelaw was distilled from a mix of 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley in 2017. Both cereals were grown at farms in the Kingdom of Fife, including Ryelaw Farm from which the whisky takes its name. The spirit was then matured in charred virgin American oak casks for five years. It has been bottled at 46.3% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. Ryelaw is made for just one week each year at the groundbreaking distillery, which features one of only two mash filters in the Scotch whisky industry (the other is at Teaninich in the Highlands) and a bespoke Lomond still. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (April 28, 2023)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. 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. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (December 8, 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 - Inchdairnie

Inchdairnie is a new single malt distillery located in the Lowlands region of Scotland. The distillery is the brainchild of Ian Palmer, a whisky industry veteran with almost 40 years experience, who decided that he wanted to produce and launch his own high quality single malt. He founded Inchdairnie’s parent company John Fergus & Co. Ltd in 2011. Construction began in July 2104 and was completed within 18 months. Production began in December 2015.

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (May 20, 2016)

Welcome to this week's Inbox.  For those that have recently discovered us, 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.