whisky

As I made a left turn from the A6 in Derbyshire to visit White Peak Distillery located in the stunning Derwent Valley, I was transported to a bygone era, steeped in decades of industrial history. This locale evoked the ambience of an environment where workers might have toiled for 12-hour shifts, clocking out at the end of the day, covered in the grime of their labour, fatigued, and longing for a full plate of homecooked food. It held a certain charm, which resonated with me, as it must have with Max and Claire Vaughan.

As you might expect, this time of year is pretty busy for all drink writers, and I for one have a desk of samples to taste through. This seems to pale into insignicance though compared to the sheer amount of Whisky Cask investment firms adverts I am being fed on social media. I urge you to avoid these and the promises of great returns unless you have specialist expertise. It is not regulated, casks are often vastly overpriced and you may not even own the cask you think you have bought. Buyer beware. 

On to this editions tastings:-

GlenDronach

The first ever bottle of serious whisky I purchased (that is non-supermarket) was a GlenDronach, so it holds a special place in my heart. In September I was able to visit the distillery for the first time and enjoy a tour and tasting, in a rather opulent room whilst sitting at a large round table.

As a whisky writer, I have the privilege of receiving invitations to a multitude of events, allowing me the opportunity to sample a wide variety of fine and rare whisky. While my passion for whisky would ideally lead to comprehensive articles for each event and whisky, the constraints of time render this impractical. Consequently, I will be introducing a column to provide succinct summaries of my impressions.

Nestled behind the worn black doors of Duty Free Warehouse “No 3” lies a treasure trove of whisky barrels, meticulously stored over decades by the Gordon family. As proprietors of William Grant, the parent company behind brands such as The Balvenie and Glenfiddich, their 80-year legacy of astute laying down of casks has yielded an extraordinary collection of malt, grain and blended whiskies, notable for their high age statements.

Islay, the picturesque island nestled in the southernmost part of the Inner Hebrides, is renowned for its rugged beauty, rich history, and, most importantly, its whisky. Among the many distilleries that dot the island, the one name that has achieved mythical status is Port Ellen. I have yet to meet any lover of peated whisky who does not jump at every opportunity to taste the spirit from this closed distillery.

Tomatin Distillery: Bridging Tradition and Innovation

I typically abstain from writing about blended whisky, but it is necessary to change that stance given the resurgence the category is experiencing. Blended whisky, when crafted with care, can offer a delightful drinking experience, deserving far more recognition than it currently receives. Gone are the days of dismissive notions about inexpensive, characterless bottles; instead, we must shift our focus to the profusion of new premium releases that have emerged.

The Whisky Event brings together some of the finest producers and enthusiasts in central London later this month. Held in the ballroom at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, it is set to be one of the highlights of the year.

Readers may recall my enthusiasm for Glenturret, which I previously extolled in a prior article (accessible here). Thus, when an invitation arrived to return to this historic distillery and sample the newest entry in their Trinity series, Prowess, I eagerly cleared my schedule. As an added treat, I was also afforded the opportunity to dine at Lalique, the distillery's Michelin-starred restaurant - a long-standing aspiration of mine since my initial visit to Glenturret in 2021.