whisky

House of Hazelwood and Hedonism Wines have come together to create the ultimate expression of indulgence: *The Pursuit of Pleasure*, a 52-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky.

Regular readers will know I’m a longtime admirer of House of Hazelwood, but what you might not realise is that I’m also a fan of shopping for whisky and Armagnac at Hedonism Wines, just off Berkeley Square in London. So, when I heard these two were collaborating to create a whisky, I was immediately intrigued.

The past few weeks have been incredibly busy, filled with a whirlwind of tastings, travels, and dinners. It's been a bit of a challenge to keep up with everything, but it's a good problem to have when you're surrounded by such exceptional wines and whiskies. From visiting renowned vineyards to experiencing rare bottles, I’ve been lucky to immerse myself in some truly unforgettable moments. As I catch my breath and start to write about my recent experiences, I wanted to share with you a few of the highlights that have stood out. 

Earlier this year I attended a splendid lunch at the private members club Oswald's, in the heart of Mayfair. Upon entry our phone cameras were taped over, ensuring we complied with their no photography policy. This is not something I mind, as it meant full dedication to tasting the whisky from our hosts, the Johnson family. It was a lavish luncheon with many of the whisky worlds great and good in attendance. Looking at the crowd, it was obvious the family were keen to impress and get their whisky in the hands of some fine writers. I like their confidence. 

Torabhaig

The Torabhaig distillery on Skye never ceases to excite me. As you may have read previously, I have tasted all the releases of their Legacy series and loved each one. However, I had never had the opportunity to taste their distillery exclusives - until now. This changed at the wonderful Merchant House in London, where Neil Macleod hosted a small group of us.

I have written about the House of Hazelwood extensively before. On this occasion, I thought it would be interesting to interview Jonathan Gibson, a director of House of Hazelwood to find out how they curated this, their third, extraordinary collection of whiskies. My tasting notes are below the interview. 

Roughly how many barrels were tasted before selecting the whiskies included in this collection?

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.

Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts 2024 edition - £64.95 from Master of Malt

Red Bank Whisky by Kiefer Sutherland

I have had the privilege of attending numerous events and meeting an array of fascinating people. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Kiefer Sutherland at the launch of his new whisky brand, Red Bank. As both a fan of the television series 24 and a whisky writer, this encounter was particularly special for me. 

Tiffon Cognac

Rooted in the heart of Cognac, this family-owned distillery boasts a history dating back to 1875. The distillery was established by Medéric Tiffon, whose passion for cognac laid the foundation for the brand. The early 20th century saw significant expansion under the stewardship of Sverre Braastad, a Norwegian who married into the Tiffon family. Braastad's influence was instrumental in expanding Tiffon's reach, particularly in the Scandinavian markets.