Learn Whisky Archives - Whisky Foundation

The Best Independent Bottlings of 2021

Cask 88, Gleann Mor, Independent Bottling, Learn Whisky, Opinion, Scottish History, Whisky Foundation Bottle Guide, Whisky History

Posted on December 20, 2021December 20, 2021 by Cat Marney

20
Dec

According to Whisky Foundation Independent bottlings are often the most impressive whiskies on your shelf. Bottlers like Gordon and Macphail, Gleann Mór and Cask 88 provide the kind of alternative expressions (in age, maturation type etc.) that we whisky lovers get very excited about. They have an excellent eye when it comes to whisky and […]

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Wine Cask Whiskies

Highlands, Independent Bottling, Learn Whisky, Opinion, Recommendations, Scottish History, Speyside

Posted on September 3, 2021September 3, 2021 by Cat Marney

03
Sep

The Grape and the Grain – ‘Are you a whisky drinker?’ – ‘No, I am more of a brandy/red wine/cognac lover, myself.’ A common situation we whisky fans find ourselves in. Why one or the other? Can’t both go together? Never mix the grape and the grain, they say. Wisdom passed down by your ancestors. […]

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What’s So Special About Cask Strength Whisky?

Learn Whisky

Posted on July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 by Anna Rogan

24
Jul

When whisky is taken out of a cask to be bottled, it typically sits at between 50-65% ABV (or lower, if it has aged for much longer). To make the drink more palatable, and to increase the number of bottles they can sell to consumers, bottlers will typically dilute their whisky down to reduce this […]

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Whisky’s Other Influencer: Mother Nature

Learn Whisky, Opinion

Posted on May 22, 2019May 22, 2019 by Anna Rogan

22
May

When we talk about variation of flavour in whisky, the two subjects that come up most frequently are cask and time. Whether a whisky was matured for three years or twenty, in an ex-Bourbon hogshead or Sherry puncheon, is vital to how the final product turns out. However, if cask and time were the only […]

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Do NAS Whiskies Provide Bang for Buck?

Learn Whisky, Opinion, Whisky News

Posted on February 8, 2019February 11, 2019 by Liam Hiller

08
Feb

In the last 10-15 years we have seen many distilleries slowly move away from the age-statement expressions we have become so accustomed to seeing, as more and more NAS (non-age-statement) drams have appeared on the market. Many of these expressions are valued at similar prices to the 12, 15 and even 18 year olds out […]

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Recipe: The Perfect Hot Toddy

Learn Whisky, Recommendations, Seasonal

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019 by Liam Hiller

01
Feb

It’s that time of the year when the cold weather is starting to take its toll and many of us are experiencing a wee bit of the sniffles. There’s nothing worse than having to get out of bed feeling this way, only to go to work for the day and then struggle to sleep again […]

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Five 2018 Releases to Add to Your Collection

Independent Bottling, Learn Whisky, Whisky Foundation Bottle Guide

Posted on January 15, 2019January 15, 2019 by Liam Hiller

15
Jan

With the 2019 well and truly underway, everyone is getting back into the swing of things as we return to work, the kids return to school and normality resumes. The holiday period was fantastic and we hope you all had a great time with family and friends, but the hectic two and a bit weeks […]

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Ask Whisky Foundation: is older whisky better?

Learn Whisky

Posted on May 1, 2017June 9, 2017 by jack

01
May

If you’re new to the world of single malts, then you may be working under the assumption that the older the whisky, the better it is. In fact, until very recently, ‘is older whisky better?’ wasn’t even a question that needed asking; older bottles were held in much greater regard than their whipper snapper younger […]

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Scotch 101 – What is chill filtration?

Learn Whisky

Posted on April 18, 2017April 19, 2017 by jack

18
Apr

If you’re new to the malty-delights of Scotch or have never taken an interest in the behind-the-scenes whisky-making process, you’d be forgiven for never having heard of chill filtration. But among those in-the-know – the maltheads and whisky connoisseurs around the world – chill filtration is a serious bone of contention. On one side of […]

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Ten Top Independent Bottlers To Try Right Now

Independent Bottling, Learn Whisky

Posted on April 12, 2017April 13, 2017 by George Koutsakis

12
Apr

Indie whisky bottling is so hot right now, with the top independent bottlers experimenting with techniques to mature innovative and distinctive whiskies. Whether you’re already an indie whisky fan, or you’re looking to go indie for your whisky, these are the top bottlers you should try. Your favourite 12 or 10 year-old single malt is […]

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