Taiwan stole the show at the International Whisky Competition 2026, but the real story goes far beyond Kavalan’s Whisky of the Year title. Here’s what this year’s results reveal about the future of Scotch, world whisky and the trends likely to shape the industry over the coming years.
Copper Dog may not receive the same attention as Monkey Shoulder, but after trying it at a whisky festival, I came away pleasantly surprised. In this Copper Dog Review, I explore whether this affordable Speyside blended malt deserves a place on your shelf and whether it’s one of the best entry-level whiskies available today.
Dam Dranken MacRothes 11 Year Old Review | DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026 Some whiskies sell themselves with a story. This one certainly does. Dam Dranken MacRothes is a blended malt bringing together Macallan and Glenrothes before receiving its finishing period
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
