A dram for the end of a hard day
My House When you write a blog, you feel after a while you get to know the readers of the blog. We meet at events, we talk online or through email. I need a bit of advice from you. I’ll explain: Let me tell you something about my Spirits collection in my home (forgive me, [...]
Interview with Sandy Hyslop (Master Blender of Ballantine’s)
As I mentioned in my previous post, I was in Speyside a couple of weeks ago. My purpose for being there was to learn more about Chivas brothers and their single malt and blending operations. I would say that on this trip, the concentration was more on the blending operations, which is understandable. The majority [...]
Speyside Trip
A couple of weeks ago, I was in Speyside. It was a truly amazing trip. I was a guest of Chivas, so we were really looking at the heart of their blending and single malt empire. Glenburgie to start with (the heart of Ballantine’s), then the Glenlivet (the heart of their Single Malt empire) and [...]
Best Whisky Packaging!
I have always been quite intrigued/impressed/entertained by whisky packaging. I wrote an article about it a while ago. It does require quite a bit of thought to make your brand stand out on a bar or make it the must have in a whisky shop. The aim of the packaging is to be iconic, encourage [...]
It is all about making the right impression
The Ballantine’s slogan is ‘leave an impression’. In business, whisky and life, making a good impression is very important. Your first impression being the most important. I was thinking about this during a Ballantine’s components tasting while at the club house at Loch Lomond Golf Course for the Scottish Open. Whoever played the best round [...]
A Quick Dram: Ballantine’s 17 yo
Ballantine’s 17 yo Blend 43% ABV £39.99 from Here Colour: Honey Nose: Rich Christmas cake icing, honey, spice, plum jam sweetness, juicy red apple, sweet oak and a touch of marzipan. Palate: Elegantly bitter and spicy on the entry, ever so slightly smoky and medicinal, oak sweetness punching through. Finish: Super dark chocolate, iodine, chilli [...]
