Should the Islands be a region?
The Islands are part of The Highlands. Scotch whisky has five official regions of production (Speyside, Islay, Campbeltown, The Lowlands, and The Highlands). The latter contains The Islands. Some people think these small but mighty hubs of whisky-making deserve their own distinct category.
What do you think? Let us know what you think in the comments
A whisky all about harmony, The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve balances fruit, sweetness, and spice beautifully.
Limousin French Oak, the same kind that is used for many Cognacs, is used here. Its porous grain allows for greater interaction between the spirit and oxygen, while the high tannin levels add structure, spice, and a distinctive mouthfeel. Just as its vanilla, spice, and woody notes complement the fruit and floral spirit of Cognac, the light and bright Glenlivet spirit makes for an ideal partner in crime.
Buy Glenlivet whisky now as part of our Explore Scotch Whisky campaign and you could win a chance to visit the distillery!
Nose The nose is rich and oaked. There are notes of chewy resinous wood with a well-balanced acidity. Fudge and Madeira with apple crumble with calvados.
Palate The palate is full and rich with winter spice; cinnamon and cloves, thick oak with developing aridity.
Finish The finish is long and dry with a peppery note.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/explore-scotch/speyside/?utm_campaign=mom_social&utm_content=1742071260&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=facebook
For St Patrick’s Day, we’re enjoying many an Irish whiskey. But it’s especially nice to enjoy Single Pot Still whiskey as it’s uniquely Irish.
Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, a recipe that originated in the 18th century as a means to avoid the malt tax imposed by the British crown. The unmalted barley gives the whiskey a rich, chewy, spicy character that means it could never be confused for single malt.
Yellow Spot 12 Year Old is from The Spot range, made at Midleton Distillery alongside the likes of Redbreast and Jameson. The brand dates back to the famous Mitchell family of Dublin, who used coloured spots to mark whiskey casks by age.
Yellow Spot was once lost to time, but today is a single pot still whiskey aged in bourbon, sherry, and Malaga wine casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Honey-drizzled figs, toasted almonds, and a touch of crème brûlée.
Palate: Silky and warming, with spiced pears, caramelised orange, and a whisper of oak.
Finish: A lingering mix of dried mango, vanilla bean, and nutmeg warmth.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/spot-whiskey/yellow-spot-12-year-old-whiskey/?utm_campaign=mom_social&utm_content=1741995840&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=facebook
Could you pass this test?
Adam is being put through the paces with a tricky blind tasting.
How do you think he did?
The English whisky GI: why the uproar?
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has slammed the recent geographical indication (GI) proposal for English whisky, warning it could be “very damaging” to the reputation of UK-made single malts.
Their issue is that Scotch whisky requires the malt grains to be mashed, fermented and distilled all at the same site for the drink to qualify for the classification, while the English application only requires the whisky to be distilled at one site to receive the “single malt” grade. The SWA argument is that this undermines the sense of place of a single malt, which is crucial to its identity.
The Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery has found itself at the centre of this debate. It was founded by the owners of Wold Top Brewery and uses wash (the fermented ‘beer’ you distill whisky from) made there to distill its English single malt. Yet, it grows its own barley locally, in Yorkshire. Some within English whisky have hit back at the SWA, saying that it's more concerned that all grain used to make English whisky has to be grown in the UK, which is not the case for Scotch. Some distilleries import grain from as far and wide as Canada or Poland. Then there’s how much Scotch whisky is matured at large warehouses miles away from the distillery.
The whole debate has led to wider questions about what a sense of place really means when it comes to whisky.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/blog/post/the-english-whisky-gi-why-the-uproar.aspx/?utm_campaign=blog&utm_content=1741362603&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=facebook
Laphroaig 18 Year Old-
Aged to perfection in bourbon casks for 18 years, it delivers a symphony of flavours, including luscious vanilla, ripe fruit, and honeyed sweetness. At its heart, you'll find the signature herbaceous, medicinal peat and robust smoky notes that make Laphroaig an enduring favourite among whisky connoisseurs.
Tasting Note:
Nose - Sweet, vanilla and soft toffee with soft gooseberry, Bramley apple and a touch of cinnamon and freshly baked apple tart.
Palate - Oily, sweet and full bodied with an upfront fruitiness of oranges and nectarines followed by herbal notes of freshly cut mint and heathery honey with subtle ginger spice and peaty notes of iodine.
Finish - Sweet and rich with a long savoury and smoky finish.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/laphroaig/laphroaig-18-year-old-whisky/?utm_campaign=mom_social&utm_content=1739900941&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=facebook
A stunning release from Jura Whisky, Tide is a 21 year old single malt with a dual maturation, released as part of the Aged Vintage series. Firstly, the whisky rested in American white oak bourbon barrels before it was transferred to hand-selected virgin American white oak casks, which imparted a slightly more spicy character. It was finally bottled at 46.7% ABV in a frosted glass bottle, along with a pretty funky presentation box.
Tasting Note:
Nose - Gingerbread, buttery caramel digestive biscuits and tropical fruit, namely banana.
Palate - Melted white chocolate, toasted walnut, sugared almonds, gingersnap biscuits, marzipan.
Finish - A spicy finish with allspice, pepper and a touch of honey.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/jura/jura-21-year-old-tide-whisky/?utm_campaign=mom_social&utm_content=1738491120&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=facebook
Celebrate Burns Night 2025 with Talisker whisky, a true reflection of the wild and windswept Scottish Isles.
Known for its smoky, briny, and spicy character, Talisker Port Ruighe (pronounced Port Ree) is further enriched with luscious fruit notes from its Port cask finish. Here’s a fun poetic twist: Robert Louis Stevenson, author and whisky enthusiast, once declared Talisker “the king o’ drinks” in his verse The Scotsman’s Return From Abroad: “, “The king o’ drinks, as I conceive it, Talisker, Islay, or Glenlivet”. Clearly, Burns wasn’t the only Bard who knew his drams.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/talisker/talisker-port-ruighe-whisky/?utm_campaign=mom_social&utm_content=1737233100&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=facebook
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