whisky

Heavens Door

Bob Dylan has spent a lifetime resisting definition. The man who reshaped folk music, redefined rock, won a Nobel Prize, and became a reluctant prophet of a generation also has his own whisky - and, fittingly, a new film that refuses to pin him down. The Complete Unknown, a biopic, doesn't attempt a straightforward retelling of Dylan’s life. Instead, it fragments his identity, reflecting the ever-shifting enigma of the man himself.

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.  

Tomatin

Highland distillery Tomatin has launched a new series of single malts, The Sherry Collection, featuring three unique expressions that celebrate Sherry’s influence on Scotch whisky. This limited-edition collection highlights the distinct characteristics imparted by Manzanilla, Palo Cortado, and Pedro Ximénez casks.

As the holiday season approaches, the quest for unique and memorable gifts takes centre stage. But why make your friend or loved one wait until December 25th to open your gift? Wouldn’t it be better to see their face light up early in the season, and avoid your gift getting lost in a mountain of presents?

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?