Smoke Stack Tweet Tasting

As we continue to ‘Keep Calm and Dram On’ with our always safe and self-isolated, industry leading Tweet Tastings, we’re delighted to announce that on May 6th, we’re teaming up with mighty Vintage Malt Whisky Company, to share sip and savour their award-winning Smoke Stack Blended Malt Scotch Whisky.

Full details to follow, but if you fancy being part of the dramfotainment and sampling their phenol-menal blended malt, click here to register your details by emailing your name, postal address,Twitter handle and date of birth. Please also remember to mark the subject line of your email: #SmokeStackWhisky

The closing date to register is April 13th, and if you are registering to take part, please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of May 6th to take part!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evening’s dramfotainment, with a dram in hand. So we very much look forward to seeing you over on Twitter, on May 6th from 19:00 BST via #SmokeStackWhisky

Registration open to over 21's only!

For more info on Smoke Stack, visit: vintagemaltwhisky.com

@TheWhiskyWire

@VintageMaltWhis

#SmokeStackWhisky

#KeepCalmAndDramOn

Be part of the Dramfotainment!

The Dublin Liberties Distillery Tweet Tasting

Continuing our teeming throng of industry leading Twitter trending Tweet Tastings, and to help continue to provide some much needed escape to what is a very surreal time at the moment, were thrilled to announce that on April 29th, we’re teaming up again with our friends at The Dublin Liberties Distillery, for another epic evening of Irish whiskey discovery.

On the night, and as we ‘Keep Calm and Dram On’,we’ll be sharing, sipping and savouring their limited-edition and one-off brewer collaborations, in the form of their Dubliner Beer Cask X Rascals Coffee Stout, Dubliner Beer Cask X O’ Haras Stout and Dubliner Beer Cask X 5 Lamps Red Ale bottlings.

If you fancy taking part in what promises to be an epic evening of Irish dramfotainment, click here to register your interest by emailing your name, address, phone number (for sample courier), date of birth and Twitter handle. Please remember to mark the subject line of your email: #DublinerWhiskey

The closing date to register is April 6th, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the night!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following the evening’s dramfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on April 29th from 7pm BST via #DublinerWhiskey

For more info on The Dublin Liberties, visit: thedublinlibertiesdistillery.com

Registration open to over 21's only!

@TheWhiskyWire
@DublinerWhiskey

@DublinLiberties

@WeAreTheDLD

#KeepCalmAndDramOn

Be part of the Dramfotainment!

W.D. O'Connell Tweet Tasting

Fancy some more Irish whiskey based Tweet Tasting dramfotainment? Do you know what I think we all could right now, so allow us to very gladly oblige as we try to Keep Calm and Dram On!

Continuing our teeming throng of industry leading, Twitter trending Tweet Tastings, we’re delighted to announce that on April 22nd, we’ll be teaming up with the fab folks at the indie Irish whiskey bottlers W.D. O’Connell, for more self-isolated sip, sippery!

On the night we’ll be sharing, sipping and savouring a duo of their dramspanking Irish dramming ditty’s, in the form of their PX Series - 17 Year Old Single Malt, and their Peated Series - Bill Phil Single Cask bottling.

Full details to follow in due course, but if you would like to take part on what promises to be an epic evening of Irish whiskey discovery click here to register your details by emailing your name, postal address, Twitter handle and DOB. Please also remember to mark the subject line: #oconnellwhiskey

The closing date to register is April 2nd, and if you are registering please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of April 22nd, to take part!

Even if you're not one of our selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evening’s dramfotainment, with your dram of choice in-hand. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter, on April 22nd from 19:00 BST via #oconnellwhiskey

Registration open to over 21's only!

For more info on W.D. O’Connell, visit: wdoconnell.com

@TheWhiskyWire

@oconnellwhiskey

#oconnellwhiskey

#KeepCalmAndDramOn

Be part of the Dramfotainment!

102nd Whisky Insiders Interview - Max McFarlane

Company:
Ardgowan Distillery

Job:
Whisky Maker

Website:
ardgowandistillery.com

How long have you been working in the whisky industry?

I joined Lang Brothers in 1974 and then spent many happy years at Edrington prior to joining the Ardgowan Distillery. I’m still working now, so that makes 46 years!

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

The resurrection along with others of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky, culminating in it being selected as the best single malt Scotch whisky in the world three times, was an extraordinary team effort of which I remain extremely proud.

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

It was my second day at Lang Brothers when I was introduced to Glengoyne single malt in the staff sample room. It made for a pretty special first week at work!

What does whisky mean to you?

If gold medals were awarded for lifetime experiences, then whisky would undoubtedly be the winner for me. It has enabled me to travel the world, meet so many wonderful people and indulge my creativity and passion for a really incredible product.

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

Over the next few years, I would like to play a part in the education of the public about Scotch whisky. There are many great ambassadors out there and we need them in this ever-challenging market. The Ardgowan Distillery and our Clydebuilt series will be at the forefront of my thoughts too – we have a really exciting vision to build a world-class distillery and visitor centre in my home village of Inverkip and I would love to be closely involved in the production of the first spirit, and ensuring it finds a home in the finest first-fill sherry casks

What was your last dram?

A bottle of Clydebuilt Coppersmith is lying beside my laptop as we speak, and a dram will be poured as soon as I am finished.

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?

My favourite whisky and food pairing would be Highland Park 30 Year Old, with scallops and Stornoway black pudding – all fantastic natural Scottish produce.

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

Sitting watching sunset going down atop Yesnaby Cliffs on Orkney – stunning.

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

Undoubtedly blended grain and single grain casks will feature heavily in the future of Scotch whisky.

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

As I created Clydebuilt Coppersmith blended malt, there will always be a bottle in my drinks cabinet!

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