Fine whisky

Loch Lomond possesses a distinct aura that few bodies of water can match. As the largest expanse of fresh water in Great Britain, it straddles the Highland Boundary Fault, splitting the calm pastoral Lowlands from the rugged wilderness of the north. Its eastern shore belongs to the raw solitude of the West Highland Way, while the western banks harbour quiet enclaves of extraordinary wealth and discretion, most notably the ultra exclusive Loch Lomond Golf Club, where billionaires and world leaders arrive by boat or helicopter, shielded behind gated lochside paths.

Last week, I attended a press lunch at Carousel in London alongside fellow whisky writers for the relaunch of Tormore, one of Speyside's most distinctive distilleries. The event was far more than the simple unveiling of a new range of single malts. It represented the fulfilment of a long held ambition for brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, whose profound influence on modern whisky appreciation through The Whisky Exchange remains difficult to exaggerate.

Burns Night has always been about more than reciting poetry and piping in the haggis. At its heart, it is a celebration of place, identity, and shared experience. Whisky sits naturally at the centre of that table, not as a luxury flourish, but as a cultural companion. I have selected some of my favourite recommendations below for you to celebrate with this Saturday January 25th:-

I am publishing this article today, as it coincides with the Distillers One of One charity auction, which I recently wrote about. Glen Scotia’s contribution is stunning, and I urge you to make a sizable bid. Not only will you receive 4 wonderful bottles, but 100% of the proceeds go to charity. 

Bladnoch is no stranger to reinvention. Founded in 1817 on the banks of the River Bladnoch in Dumfries and Galloway, the distillery has seen prosperity, closures, sales and revivals across more than two centuries. Today it stands as the oldest privately owned Scotch whisky distillery, often referred to as the Queen of the Lowlands. Under the stewardship of owner David Prior and master distiller Dr Nick Savage, Bladnoch has been brought back into focus, producing single malts that carry both the weight of history and the promise of modernity.

Whisky often gets framed as a finished product. But with The Wave, Bladnoch invites us to witness whisky as a process, fluid, experimental, and deliberately unresolved. Led by Master Distiller Dr Nick Savage, each release explores one of Bladnoch’s five production pillars, such as spirit character, time, or cask influence, layered across time using a system of progressive marrying tuns.

Mossburn 12-Year-Old “Famille Dupont” Calvados Casks 57.2%

Mossburn Distillers and Blenders continue to impress with their thoughtful and innovative cask finishes, and this 12-year-old expression is no exception. Neil Mathieson, Mossburn's master distiller, has selected 18 casks from four Speyside distilleries to undergo a finishing process in Calvados casks sourced from the Dupont family.  

Old Pulteney, known as the "Maritime Malt," is located in the northern Scottish town of Wick. When I saw Northern I really mean it, being a mere 16 miles from John o' Groats. The distillery is deeply intertwined with the maritime heritage of this historic port, as I discovered on a recent visit.

The Macallan is synonymous with unparalleled quality, craftsmanship, and a steadfast commitment to whisky making. This year, as The Macallan commemorates two centuries of excellence, enthusiasts like myself are buzzing with excitement to hear of the new releases that promise to mark this bicentennial celebration. Their 200th birthday is also an opportunity to reflect on the brand's contributions to the whisky world, and to toast all that they have achieved so far.