Some whiskies tell a story long after the bottle is empty. With Still & Story, the story begins before the first dram is poured. In this special feature, I introduce The Kraken, an 8-year-old Staoisha matured in a second-fill Oloroso cask and the very first release from the independent bottling company I co-founded with Peter Linting.
English whisky has gone from an overlooked curiosity to one of the most exciting categories in the whisky world. In this in-depth feature, I explore the history behind its remarkable revival, the distilleries leading the charge and why producers like Bimber, Fielden, White Peak, The Lakes and Cotswolds are proving England is no longer living in Scotland’s shadow.
This Cadenhead’s Ben Nevis 13 isn’t a bottle most people will ever get the chance to buy, but that’s exactly why it’s worth talking about. Bottled straight from the cask during the Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting in Campbeltown, this rich Oloroso-matured Ben Nevis delivers far more than its thirteen years suggest. More importantly, it carries the memories of an unforgettable Fèis Ìle trip and a thoughtful gift from friends who made the week one I’ll never forget.
Turntable Bittersweet Symphony divided opinion during the DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026. Blind tasters discovered everything from raisins, prunes and European oak to lavender sweets, strawberries and grapefruit, creating one of the most debated drams of Set 1. While some panellists praised its rich sherry character and full-bodied texture, others felt its sweetness overshadowed the complexity beneath. The result was a memorable whisky that earned 72.80 points and proved far more difficult to define than its name might suggest.
A Father’s Day gift from my 16-month-old son (with a little help from mum) made Daddy Rack Tennessee Straight Whiskey a bottle I’ll always remember. Opened during a nostalgic weekend in Belgium spent revisiting childhood memories of my late father, this Tennessee whiskey had a lot to live up to. Thankfully, its sweet maple, brown sugar, and vanilla-forward profile makes it a pleasant and approachable sipper, even if it falls short of true enthusiast territory.
Loch Lomond Distillery may be the most versatile whisky producer in Scotland. From tropical-fruit-driven Inchmurrin and heavily peated Croftengea to single grain whisky and rare Single Blended Scotch, the Alexandria distillery creates an astonishing range of spirit styles from a single site. Discover the unique stills, production techniques and whisky brands that make Loch Lomond one of Scotch whisky’s most fascinating and misunderstood distilleries.
Ardbeg Dolce Review: A Different Side of Ardbeg By the time I sat down with a glass of Ardbeg Dolce with Roman from The Malt Club at Behrens Hotel, it was still early morning and not my palate was not
Hogshead Inchmurrin 11 Year Old Review | DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026 The second whisky of a blind tasting often faces a different challenge from the first. By the time sample number two is poured, the panel already has a reference
English whisky has spent the last decade transforming from an emerging category into one of the most exciting areas of the whisky world. Digital Distiller’s new English Whisky Subscription is the latest sign of that growth, offering a curated monthly journey through England’s increasingly diverse whisky landscape while highlighting just how far the category has come.
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The first time I tasted Wild Turkey Rare Breed was at Hotel Fidder in Zwolle, where a recommendation from whisky expert Patrick introduced me to a bourbon that has never left my shelf. Years later, this barrel-proof favourite continues to impress with rich caramel, orange peel, baking spice and oak, delivering one of the best combinations of flavour, balance and value in modern bourbon. In this Wild Turkey Rare Breed review, I compare it with Wild Turkey 101 and explain why it remains a permanent fixture in my collection.
