Whisky Insiders Interview No.87 - Billy Walker

Company:
The GlenAllachie Distillers Co. Ltd

Job:
Master Distiller

Website:
theglenallachie.com

 

How long have you been working in the whisky industry?

I’ve now been working in the industry for around 47 years!

 

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Acquiring the BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh distilleries was stellar, but being given the opportunity to acquire GlenAllachie and sculpt our own canvas is so amazing.

 

Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was?

I certainly can. My first dram was a Ballentine’s, which was and still is in the champions league of blended Scotch whisky.

 

What does whisky mean to you?

Scotch whisky is an absolute passion and being in the position to craft brands has been such a privilege.

 

Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?

Still blending and still alive!

 

What was your last dram?

My last dram was a trial sample of the new 12 Year Old GlenAllachie, which will be launch later this year. It’s quite simply stunning!

 

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?

My favourite has to be a single malt with venison.

 

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?

Any time after 6pm and in any location.

 

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?

Confusing my aspirations with reality, I hope the GlenAllachie range of single malts, which will have all the hallmarks of quality.

 

What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without?

The next gentlemen’s measure of the GlenAllachie 1978 sherry cask, part of the 50th anniversary single cask releases.

 

Many thanks to Billy Walker. Who will be our next Whisky Insider? Click back soon to find out!

Glengoyne World Whisky Day Tweet Tasting

Continuing our hugely successful triumphant teeming throng of Twitter trending Tweet Tastings, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that on Saturday May 19th (World Whisky Day) we’ll be teaming up with our good friends at Glengoyne, for an afternoon of epic dramspankery from this Highland hero of a distillery.

 

Full details and sampling line-up coming soon, but if you would like take part in an afternoon pouring and exploring all the glory of the Glengoyne, click here to register your interest by emailing your name, address and Twitter handle, remembering to mark the subject line of the email: #GlengoyneWhisky

 

The closing date to register is April 20th, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the afternoon of May 19th to take part!

 

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the afternoon’s dramfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter, on Saturday May 19th, at 16:00 BST via #GlengoyneWhisky

 

Registration open to over 21's only

 

@TheWhiskyWire

@Glengoyne

 

For more information on Glengoyne, visit: glengoyne.com

 

Be part of the dramfotainment!

Quick Fire Rum Tasting Notes

Havana Club Tributo 2018

Cuban Rum
40% ABV

 

 

Nose: Werther's Original butter candies - stewed stoned fruits - grilled pineapple rings – clove studded orange – Hotel Chocolat dark chocolate covered coffee beans – smoked walnuts – musk – sandalwood – iodine - old chair leather – freshly polished oak furniture – seaweed - wood smoke and a tease of something very sweet dessert wine-esqe.

Palate: Tea stewed stoned fruits – blackberries – Princes tinned strawberries in syrup - mixed candied peel – butterscotch sauce - Caffè mocha – sugared almonds - liquorice – juniper – cloves - tobacco leaf - charred oak and the subtlest kick off capers.

Finish: A right rollickingly rich and rum-arkable ride across the senses, with a finish that is longer than a hot steamy night in Havana.

Summary: In addition to its core range of Cuban rums, which make for superb bridging sips and serves between the worlds of rum and whisk(e)y, Havana Club also has a number of special limited editions in its armoury, including this, the third bottling in its Tributo Collection, which contains rums drawn from 60 Year Old casks.

Limited to just 2,500 bottles, this latest Havana Club release has been finished in barrels that previously held smoky Scotch whisky. Although not immediately obvious, once you take the time to get up, close and personal with this epic drop of rummage, some of the notes more synonymous with Scotch, start to make themselves proudly present.

 

 

The Cognac Tweet Tasting

Not only are we thrilled top announce our 120th Tweet Tasting, we’re also delighted to announce that on April 25th, ahead of this year’s Cognac Show, we’re teaming up again with our good friends at Marussia Beverage, to host our first dedicated Cognac event.

 

On the night we’ll be pouring and exploring a cornucopia of cracking cognacs from the Le Reviseur, Maxime Trijol and Leyrat Cognac houses. If you're curious about Cognac and are looking for the perfect set of bridging sips into another sensational spirits category, or are already a full on fan, we’d love to have you join us on the night!

 

Full details to follow soon, but if you like to take part in an evening dedicated to all things Cognac, click here to register by emailing your name, address and Twitter handle, remembering to mark the subject line #TheCognacTT

 

The closing date to register is March 28th and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on April 25th to take part!

 

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evenings tweet taster, so we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on April 25th at 19:00 BST via #TheCognacTT

 

Registration open to over 21's only!

 

For more information on Marussia Beverage’s Cognac brands, visit: marussiabeverages.co.uk

 

@TheWhiskyWire

 

#TheCognacTT

 

Be part of the dramfotainment!