Our Top 10 Whiskies of 2020

Another year has passed and it is time for one of our favourite blog posts - our top 10 whiskies from last year. Everyone will have a different opinion about what should and should not be on such a list. Our list is simply our favourites with no agenda or criteria, other than the whisky had to be released in 2020. 

2020 was a year like no other in our lifetimes. The effects of Covid-19 have impacted all facets of daily life and beyond. It has had huge implications for the whisky industry around the world too. But after a short hiatus in March and April, companies began to carry on with adapted plans and release new bottlings. Launch events, tastings and even whisky shows turned to the online format and have now become commonplace. 

Allotment Drams / Scarabus 10 years old & Tamdhu 15 years old

We have two more episodes of our increasingly popular Allotment Dram series for you. The colder weather is calling for a more robust style of whisky so first Matt goes smoky with the brand new Scarabus 10 years old, an Islay single malt from the guys at Hunter Laing & Co. Then on his next visit he takes a look at a big and bold sherry cask classic - the Tamdhu 15 years old from Speyside. Watch to find out his thoughts and tasting notes on these two whiskies.

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#AllotmentDram

 

Review / Scarabus 10 years old

This whisky is a new addition Islay single malt brand of Scarabus, which is bottled by family-owned independent bottlers and distillers Hunter Laing & Co. It is one of two new additions that will sit permanently in its newly created core range. This Scarabus 10 years old, plus the Scarabus Batch Strength, will join the re-named Scarabus Specially Selected that was launched last year. Scarabus translates as 'rocky place' in Nordic and refers to the rugged location on the north eastern coast of Islay where Hunter Laing have built their Ardnahoe distillery. The Scarabus 10 years old has been matured for a minimum of a decade in re-fill ex-bourbon and virgin American oak casks.

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (December 4, 2020)

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. Here is the news from this week ...

Allotment Drams - Roe & Co. & Scarabus

We have two more episodes for you from our increasingly popular Allotment Dram series. This is where we talk about a whisky and review it in the surroundings of our north London allotment.

First, watch as Matt samples the Roe & Co. from Diageo and gives his thoughts and tasting notes on this relative newcomer to the Irish whiskey market. Then on his next visit he takes on the Scarabus, an impressive young Islay single malt from the guys at Hunter Laing & Co. We hope that you enjoy both videos.

#allotmentdram

Our Top 10 Whiskies of 2019

Another year has passed and as we pass in to a new decade, it is time for one of our favourite blog posts - our top 10 whiskies from last year. Everyone will have a different opinion about what should and should not be on such a list. Our list is simply our favourites with no criteria, such as price or availability applied, or agenda.

2019 saw seemingly more whiskies released than ever before. The ever growing number of new distilleries saw some bottle their first ever products, established brands put new whiskies in to their core ranges, classic whiskies were re-invented and some distilleries pushed the boundaries with the use of experimental or unorthadox casks. The competitions that we both judge on saw record levels of entries, reflecting this vibrancy and innovation .

Review - Scarabus

The Scarabus is a new Islay single malt that has been recently released by the family owned independent bottling company and distiller of Hunter Laing & Co. The new whisky, which is an old Nordic word for 'rocky place', was initially previewed at the company's Ardnahoe distillery on Islay during the Feis Ile 2019 in May. The whisky, which comes from an un-named Islay distillery, is bottled at 46% ABV. Scarabus is available to buy and sample at the Ardnahoe visitor centre shop and selected specialist whisky retailers worldwide. A bottle will cost around £33.

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (May 24, 2019)

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.