The Glenlivet has unveiled the Second Edition in its Eternal Collection, a 56 Year Old single malt, accompanied by a bespoke artwork from the acclaimed design studio Fredrikson Stallard. Only sixty bottles have been released worldwide. I had an opportunity to taste it at an exceptional dinner at Somerset House.
For those of us who spend our working lives around whisky, tasting the annually released Buffalo Trace Antique Collection remains a rarity. It is cited regularly, chased relentlessly and yet rarely seen. Bottles appear in specialist shops on release and disappear almost instantly, later reappearing at auction with price tags that bear little resemblance to their intended purpose (to be drunk). Tasting even one of them is unusual. I have never managed to. Tasting all six in a single sitting is almost unheard of.
Few European towns blend history and beauty quite like Ypres. Nestled in Belgium’s West Flanders region, this elegant city charms visitors with its cobbled streets, graceful façades, and lively squares filled with cafés serving excellent Belgian beer. It’s a region I’ve visited many times, not only for its accessibility but also for its superb cycling, equally appealing to families and seasoned racers.
Scotland’s whisky landscape has rarely stood still, but the pace of innovation and reinvention is apparent at the moment. From the opening of a gleaming new distillery on the banks of Loch Lomond to the return of one of Speyside’s great family names to global travel retail, the country’s distillers continue to balance heritage with forward thinking. There are fresh releases from rising independents, mythical bottlings from cult retailers, and even a clear spirit that challenges our very idea of what whisky should look like.
Autumn has a way of coaxing us toward comfort with the warmth of a slow roast (I cooked lamb shanks over the weekend), the glow of a fire, and the kind of wines that bring a little light to darker evenings. This month’s selection travels from the Provençal slopes of the Rhône to the limestone valleys of the Loire, pausing in Rioja and Germany’s Pfalz along the way.
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.
I have been to Lucky Cat at the summit of 22 Bishopsgate, London’s tallest building, a number of times now. It has always been bustling, busy and with a great vibe. Located Sixty floors up, with Tower Bridge and the Gherkin stretched beneath you, Gordon Ramsay has created something unlike anything else in his empire. But within this restaurant/bar, there is a hideaway Chefs Table called Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High.
I was in Edinburgh earlier this week to taste Glen Scotia’s Four Quarters set that is heading to the Distillers One of One charity auction. It is rare that a single tasting manages to cover history, technique, design and philanthropy with the same clarity. This did. Four single malts from the same month in 1999, each a quarter of a century old, and each showing a different facet of Campbeltown’s character through its choice of cask.
Rosé and red are increasingly sharing the spotlight, with traditional regions producing styles that sit comfortably in a global market that prizes freshness and accessibility. Clarendelle Bordeaux Rosé is a good example. As the first official rosé in the history of Domaine Clarence Dillon, the family behind Haut-Brion. It marks a small shift in their outlook.
If you’re looking for a reason to raise a glass with purpose, Tamdhu Whisky and Waitrose have come together to support the Atlantic Salmon Trust in honour of World Nature Conservation Day on 28 July. The exclusive charity edition of Tamdhu’s 12 Year Old Speyside single malt, fully matured in Oloroso Sherry casksis , available now in selected Waitrose stores and online for £50. Bottled at 41.3% ABV and presented in a gift box, it makes an ideal treat or thoughtful present.
