Benromach Tweet Tasting

Hootrendrammy! We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our first Tweet Tasting of 2019, which will also just happen to be our 150th tasting!

 

We’re delighted to say that on January 30th, we’ll be teaming up again with our very good friends at the Benromach Distillery, to get reacquainted with the with their multi-award winning 10 Year Old, 100 Proof and 15 Year Old expressions.

 

Full details to follow, but if you fancy pouring and exploring your way through some pure Speyside splendour click here to register your interest by emailing your name, address and Twitter handle. Remembering to mark the subject line with the hashtag: #BenromachWhisky

 

The closing date to register is January 10th, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of January 30th 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 dramfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on January 30th at 7pm GMT via #BenromachWhisky

 

Registration open to over 21's only!

 

@TheWhiskyWire

@Benromach

#BenromachWhisky

 

Be part of the dramfotainment!

 

Whisky Insiders Interview - Dhavall Gandhi

Company:
The Lakes Distillery

Job:
Whiskymaker

Website:
lakesdistillery.com



How long have you been working in the whisky industry?
I started my career in corporate finance, based in the US, before venturing into the exciting world of spirits. I decided to move to the UK and pursue a MSc degree in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. 

I held various technical and strategy roles at Heineken before joining Edrington Group as a Whiskymaker for The Macallan. I left Edrington in the later part of 2016 to join The Lakes Distillery, where I am responsible for all things whisky, gin and vodka.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
Working with brilliant people from all sorts of backgrounds and creative industries – writers and photographers, craftspeople – I find it very inspiring. I love working with people who are at the top of their respective fields.

Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was?
Yes, I was probably twelve years old and had a sip from my dad’s glass. I think it was a Johnnie Walker Black Label.

What does whisky mean to you?
Whisky makes you see things differently. I have found that I can express things with whisky that I would find it difficult to do with words. It’s like painting with whisky.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?
In 2024 we’ll be preparing for the Lakes flagship releases. All the work myself and the whiskymaking team have been doing now – the changes, tweaks and cask management - will finally come to fruition!

The real joy will be when the next generation is releasing the whiskies we are laying down now. Part of my role now is spending time coaching and developing a strong team in an area that has never previously had a distillery.

What was your last dram?
I was in Normandy a few weeks ago, and my last dram was a prototype of the Lakes Single Malt – it was a joy to share the experience with some close friends.

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?
I have recently discovered whisky and cheese – my favourite combination is Compass Box Spice Tree with Baron Bigot (a brie-style cheese), the yoghurt and mushroom notes in the cheese work very well with the spiciness of the whisky.

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
In the comfort of my home with my family and close friends.

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?
There are interesting whiskies coming out from different world producers; trying new things, those pushing boundaries with innovation whilst staying true to tradition. I find whiskies from the Dutch producer, Millstone very interesting at the moment.

What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without?
I haven’t made it yet!

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

The Whisky Wire's 12 Drams of Christmas 2018

For the last eight years we’ve brought you our ’12 Drams of Christmas’ as chosen by you! So we thought it would only be rude not to do the same again this year, and use it as the perfect excuse to start getting into the festive spirit!

Since November 16th, you’ve been nominating your top three favourite festive favourites in abundance, and after trawling through all the entries and tallying up all the nominations, here are our '12 Drams of Christmas' 2018, in ranking order, as chosen by you!

Just in case you're thinking of gifting any of this year’s dramspanking festive dozen to yourself or others, we've done all the hard work and have also included the most current and competitive retail details. Hootendrammy!
 

12 Drams of Christmas 2018

 

1. Glenfarclas 15 Year Old

Available from Master of Malt for £49.55
 

2. Lagavulin 16 Year Old
Available from Tesco for £49.00

 

3. GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival

Available from Master of Malt for £61.95

 

4. Jameson Irish Whiskey

Available from Morrisons for £17.00

 

5. Aberlour A’Bunadh

Available from Amazon for £60.00

 

6. Balvenie 12 Year Old Doublewood

Available from Master of Malt for £33.95

 

7. Glenlivet 18 Year Old

Available from Amazon for £62.99

 

8. Johnnie Walker Black Label

Available from Tesco for £23.00

 

9. Redbreast 12 Year Old

Available from Ocado for £35.00

 

10. Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Available from Tesco for £26.00

 

11. Glengoyne 18 Year Old

Available from The Whisky Exchange for £75.55

 

12. Benromach 10 Year Old

Available from The Wee Dram for £31.95

  

*Prices correct as of December 13th 2018

 

 

A huge thanks to all those who took part and entered, the response was absolutely phenomenal. In return for your nominations we added the names of everyone who entered into our virtual Santa hat for a chance to win a bottle of GlenDronach 12 Year Old.

 

We’re delighted to announce that Louise Mayers from Hornchurch had her name drawn from the hat and is our winner. Congratulations, your bottle will be winging its way to you in time for Christmas!

 

#12DramsOfChristmas

Glen Moray Fired Oak Competition

To help celebrate the launch of their dramspankingly new Fired Oak expression, we’ve teamed up with our very good friends at Glen Moray, to give away two bottles to our followers.

Glen Moray Fired Oak, is a single malt Scotch whisky, which has been matured for 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, and finished in heavily charred American oak casks.

Master Distiller Graham Coull, worked closely with the distillery’s cooperage to source the finest new American oak barrels for finishing. He then selected the precise firing regime to achieve exactly the right level of char to impart intense flavour and colour to the whisky.

Graham, was inspired to created Glen Moray Fired Oak, by the increase in popularity of American bourbon and the success of the sweeter flavour within the drinks market.

To be in with a chance of winning a bottle of Glen Moray Fired Oak click here to email us your contact details along with the phrase that dramming pays:

“I’d love to be warmed up this winter

with something fine, feisty and Fired

from Glen Moray”

 

*Remember to mark the subject line of your email with: Glen Moray Comp

 

If you’re on Twitter, you can also follow us via @TheWhiskyWire and RT one of our related competition tweets for another chance to win!

 

Glen Moray Fired Oak is now available from The Whisky Exchange for £37.95.

 

#GlenMorayFiredOakComp

@TheWhiskyWire

@GlenMorayDist

 

Competition closes at 23:59 on Dec 19th 2018. You have to be aged 21 years or over to enter!

 

Good Luck!