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.

Allotment Drams / Spey Fumare Batch #3 & Cutty Sark 12 years old

We have two more episodes from our Allotment Dram whisky review series for you. In the videos we sit and talk about different whiskies in the surroundings of our allotment plot in north London. Firstly, Matt takes a look at the Spey Fumare Batch #3, a limited edition version of the peated malt from the Speyside distillery that was released in 2021.

Then on his next visit watch as Matt opens up a bottle of the new Cutty Sark 12 years old, a reinvented expression from the new owners of the brand. In both cases, learn more about the whiskies and brands before listening to Matt give his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Jameson Black Barrel Proof & Caisteal Chamuis

We have a couple more episodes from our Allotment Dram video review series for you. In both we take a look at a new product that has recently been released on to the market. First watch as Matt talks about the Jameson Black Barrel Proof, a high strength version of the popular Black Barrel from the leading Irish whiskey brand.

Then on his next visit Matt pops the cork on Caisteal Chamus, a heavily peated blended malt that uses only single malts from Hebridean island distilleries. Watch both episodes to discover more about the bottlings and to hear his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Method And Madness Rye & Malt and Ailsa Bay

We have two more recent episodes of our Allotment Dram series for you. This series sees us talk about different whiskies in the surroundings of our north London allotment. First, Matt takes a look at the new Method and Madness Rye & Malt, the latest innovative whiskey from the Irish Distillers micro distillery. Find out more about the limited release and the micro distillery, before hearing his thoughts and tasting notes on the whiskey.

Then on his next visit he reviews the first release from Ailsa Bay. This peated Lowlander caused excitement at the time as it was almost the total opposite of what a classic Lowland Scotch whisky normally was. Watch to learn more and then discover Matt's tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Aber Falls 2021 Bottling & Redbreast Pedro Ximenez Edition

We have two more episodes from our Allotment Dram whisky review series for you. Both whiskies have been recently released. Firstly, Matt is at the plot and takes a look at the Aber Falls 2021 Bottling, the first of an expected annual series from the Welsh single malt distillery. Watch to discover more about the distillery and the whisky, before finding out Matt's thoughts and tasting notes.

Then on his next visit Matt opens and samples a small bottle of the new Redbreast Pedro Ximenez Edition, the latest product from the popular Irish single pot still brand. Again learn more about the release as well as his tasting notes and thoughts.

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Matt's Chats / Dr. Bill Lumsden & Ewan Gunn

Welcome to our new video series - Matt's Chats. In these short episodes Matt will chat with figures from the whisky industry that will help to bring their roles and brands to life. The first two videos are now live and saw Matt talking with Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie, and Ewan Gunn, the Scotch Whisky Global Brand Ambassador for Diageo. Watch as Dr. Bill discusses about Glenmorangie and the new experimental Lighthouse distillery, and Ewan chats about the 2021 set of Diageo Special Releases. We hope you enjoy and like the format.

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Allotment Drams / Glenmorangie Lighthouse 12 years old & Redbreast Pedro Ximenez Edition

We have two more recent episodes from our Allotment Dram review series for you. Both are exciting and brand new releases. Firstly Matt discusses the Glenmorangie Lighthouse 12 years old, a distillery exclusive that he recently picked up when visiting. It has been created to celebrate the opening of the new experimental Lighthouse distillery that has been built next to Glenmorangie up in the north Highlands. Watch to find out more about the innovative project and the whisky, before Matt pops the cork and gives his thoughts and tasting notes.

Then on a very warm late September afternoon, Matt returns to the allotment and takes a look at the new Irish single pot still whiskey of Redbreast Pedro Ximenez Edition. Watch to discover more about the whiskey and the new range that it is joining, plus his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Abasolo & The Whistler 'Mosiac' Marsala Cask

There are two more Allotment Drams, the series of short videos where we sit and review whiskies at our north London allotment, for you. And they are two slightly different ones too. Firstly, Matt takes a look at a new Mexican whisky called Abasolo, which is made from 100% Mexican heritage corn varieties and uses ancient techniques during the whisky making process. Watch to discover more about the groundbreaking distillery where it is produced and then Matt's thoughts and tasting notes.

Then he is back on a hot September afternoon and is back in Ireland for his next choice - The Whistler Marsala Cask from their small batch single grain range of whiskeys. Find out more about the brand and the Boann distillery that it is associated with and then discover Matt's thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Starward Two-Fold & Power's John's Lane 12 years old

We have two more episodes from our Allotment Dram series. Within this we record whisky reviews in the surroundings of our north London allotment. For these two new episodes we have gone Australian and Irish. First, watch as Matt talks about the Starward Two-Fold - a whisky made from berley and wheat at the Melbourne-based distillery. Discover some background behind the distillery and bottling before finding our his thoughts and tasting notes.

Then on his next visit he takes a look at the Power's John's Lane 12 years old, a classic single pot still whiskey from the famous old Irish brand. Learn a bit about the history of Power's and its old distillery in John's Lane, Dublin. Then he pours a dram, so discover his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Bimber Oloroso Cask & Spey Chairman's Choice

Matt is back at the allotment and has two more whiskies to review. First, he takes a look at Batch #4 of the Bimber Oloroso Cask and talks about the London-based distillery and its phenomenal early success. Then discover his thoughts and tasting notes on this limited edition single malt. 

Then on his next visit to the plot, he heads back to Scotland and the small Speyside single malt brand of Spey. This is distilled at the Speyside distillery near Kingussie and is beginning to gain some decent awards. Watch as Matt gives a few details about the distillery and the Chairman's Choice bottling, before going on to give his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Dram / Episode #100

It is unbelievable to think that our lockdown side project has reached its 100th episode. Watch as Matt talks about the idea behind the Allotment Dram and then takes a look back over the previous 99 episodes. And he has selected a suitably decadent whisky to sip and savour as he does ...

We would like to thank everyone that has watched, liked and commented on our Allotment Dram videos over the last 16 months and look forward to the next 100 episodes.

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Allotment Drams / Kavalan Solist Port Cask & Jameson Crested

We have two more Allotment Dram episodes for you. This is where we sit and talk about different whiskies in the the surroundings of our north London allotment. First watch as Matt takes a look at the single ex-Port cask Kavalan Solist and talks about the Taiwanese distillery. Then discover his thoughts and tasting notes as he pops open the bottle.

On his next visit Matt goes Irish in the form of the Jameson Crested, a slightly under the radar member of the famous brand's core range. Find out a bit about this Irish whiskey and what makes it different from the regular Jameson expression. Watch further to then hear his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Ardbeg 8 years old : For Discussion & Redbreast Lustau Edition

We have two more Allotment Dram episodes for you as Matt returns to the plot following a period of self isolation and a busy couple of weeks. First, he takes a look at the brand new limited edition Ardbeg 8 years old : For Discussion. This whisky is exclusively available to Ardbeg Committee members and he managed to snaffle a bottle. Watch to discover about Ardbeg and the Committee, before he opens the bottle on camera to give his thoughts and tasting notes.

Then on his next visit he revisits an old favourite - the Redbreast Lustau Edition. Learn about the origins of the Redbreast brand and the collaboration between the Midleton distillery in Co.Cork and Bodegas Lustau in Jerez, Spain. Then watch further to find out his thoughts and tasting notes on this Irish classic.

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Allotment Drams / Tomintoul 16 years old & Mackmyra Brukswhisky DLX

We have two more episodes from our Allotment Dram video series for you. First, Matt takes a look at the Speyside distillery of Tomintoul and the classic 16 years old expression from their core range. Watch to discover a few facts about the distillery and bottling before he cracks open the bottle to give his thoughts and tasting notes.

Then, on his next visit he talks about the brand new Mackmyra Brukswhisky DLX. This is the latest addition to the pioneering Swedish single malt distillery's limited edition Moments series. Watch as Matt gives some background to the distillery and brand, then discusses what makes the whisky special. Then he opens the bottle (eventually) to offer his thoughts and tasting notes.

To watch other episodes of the Allotment Dram or any of our other videos, or to subscribe to our YouTube channel - please click here.

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Allotment Drams / Glen Grant 10 years old & Black Bottle 'Island Smoke'

We have two further episodes from our increasingly popular Allotment Dram series for you. This is where we sit and review different whiskies in the surroundings of our north London allotment. Firstly, Matt takes a look at a classic Speyside single malt in the form of Glen Grant 10 years old. Watch to discover about the distillery and then hear his thoughts and tasting notes on this multi award-winning whisky.

Then on his next visit, which is a pretty warm Spring afternoon, he cracks open the new Black Bottle 'Island Smoke', a blended Scotch whisky that forms part of the famous old brand's new Alchemy Series. Find out more about the new bottling and a little bit about the history of Black Bottle before he then gives his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / X by Glenmorangie & The Hive Blended Malt

We have the two latest episodes from our Allotment Dram series of reviews for you. First, Matt takes a look at the X by Glenmorangie, a new single malt from the famous north Highland distillery that is 'made for mixing'. Then on his next visit he talks about and opens a new bottle of The Hive, a Speyside-based blended malt from the family-owned Wemyss Malts. Watch both videos to discover more about each whisky and to find out his thoughts and tasting notes. We hope you enjoy them.

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Allotment Drams / Jura Rum Cask Finish & Ardbeg Scorch (Committee Edition)

We have two more episodes from our allotment dram series for you and both feature new whiskies to the market. First, Matt takes a look at the Jura Rum Cask Finish. This is the third bottling in the Cask Editions series from the island distillery and has seen the whisky matured in ex-rum casks sourced from the Caribbean. Watch to find out more about the release and then discover Matt's thoughts and tasting notes.

Then on his next visit to the plot Matt talks about the Ardbeg Scorch. This is the Committee Edition that is released at the natural cask strength. The release is this year's release for the Islay distillery's annual Feis Ile bottling. Sadly it is already all sold out but Matt wanted to review it anyway. Watch to discover more about the whisky and his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Tamnavulin Double Cask & Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2021 Edition

We have two more episodes from our Allotment Dram series for you. This is where we talk to you about whisky from the surroundings of our north London allotment. First join Matt as he takes a look at the little known Speyside distillery of Tamnavulin, which he has not tasted anything from for over a decade. Watch to discover his thoughts and tasting notes for the accessible Double Cask expression.

Then on his next visit he samples a brand new release from the family-owned Islay distillery of Kilchoman. Watch as he talks about the distillery and the annual Loch Gorm bottling, before giving his thoughts and tasting notes on the 2021 Edition.

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Allotment Drams / Redbreast 10 years old & Ardbeg 25 years old

We have two more episodes from our Allotment Dram video review series for you, both looking at new releases. First, Matt talks about the limited edition Redbreast 10 years old, a single pot still Irish whiskey matured in ex-Oloroso sherry casks and released exclusively for members of The Birdhouse - a private club for fans of Redbreast. Watch to discover his thoughts and tasting notes.

Then on his next visit to our north London plot, Matt samples the rare Ardbeg 25 years old which was released a couple of months ago. This first batch has already sold out but more bottles are scheduled to follow. Watch to find out what makes this Islay single malt so rare and more background behind it, then hear his thoughts and tasting notes.

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Allotment Drams / Starward Left-Field & Midleton Very Rare 2021 Vintage

We have two more episodes from our Allotment Dram series of video reviews for you. The weather has warmed up and Matt is back at the plot with a new offering from the Australian whisky brand of Starward - the Starward Left-Field. This is an Australian single malt that has been matured in three different types of Australian red wine barrels sourced from the Barossa and Yarra Valley wine regions. Watch as he talks about this European exclusive.

Then on his next visit, he looks at another brand new whiskey. This time it is from Ireland and comes in the form of the 2021 edition of the legendary Midleton Very Rare. This is the first to be released under a new Master Blender, so watch to find out more about this super premium Irish whiskey and then discover his thoughts and tasting notes.

To keep up-to-date with our latest videos and to watch previous episodes of the Allotment Dram, please visit our YouTube channel here.

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