Why exactly is Smokehead so dear?

As I would imagine somebody will be quick enough to point out, this isn’t really a post with a point. It’s more of a musing, maybe a push for some discussion. I was looking at the price of Smokehead 18 year old yesterday and was struck by just how expensive it really is. In case [...]

A Quick Dram: Caol Ila 10yo Unpeated

Sorry for not posting anything up straight after my tasting on Sunday… but to be honest with you I had just finished a big piece of coursework and I needed a home-holiday from everyone and everything. But now, ladies and gentlemen, I am back with new strengths so watch this space! But first things first.
You [...]

Manager’s Choice, Executive’s Price

So… the biggest whisky news of the year has been broken. The Managers Choice selection. 27 single cask whiskies, one from each Diageo distillery, bar the behemoth that is Roseisle.
When I first got wind of this news from one of our very secretive sources, I was really excited. Not only could I try single caskings [...]

Paula on Islay: Day 3

A pretty good night’s sleep- got woken briefly by the malt lorries at 6am. Shot down to Port Ellen to get cash (again) and a thank-you present for the staff and returned to find I’d missed the morning tour - typical! Now, what to do first…Islay Ales beer festival or Bowmore open day? Where’s that map…?
Couldn’t [...]

The Great Islay Adventure: Part One

Today we have a real treat for you. The first part of an amazing travelogue by our guest blogger, representative, ambasador and, above all, a great friend… the one an only, unstoppable, unpredictable, unbelievable - Miss Paula Arthur!
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The adventure began at 12am, Monday 25th May 2009. I’d had 3hrs sleep so it took me until [...]

Single Cask Caol Ila and Lagavulin for Islay Festival

Press Release from 5 May 2009:

To celebrate this year’s Islay Festival of Malt & Music on 23-30 May, Diageo is once again making available two special Festival editions of its Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. These very limited editions will be available only to personal shoppers, with a limit of one bottle per person.
The first-ever [...]

Leslie’s Bar Night: Tasting Notes

At last some tasting notes from Tuesday. I must warn you, they are slightly special. We started off pretty good but then, as whisky and chasers affected our nervous systems, we slid off into abstraction and, quite often, near-insanity in what we were saying. But never mind. It’s not like people around the world will [...]

Tasting with Edinburgh Whisky Blog on 21 April

Edinburgh Whisky Blog and Leslie’s Bar are organising an amazing tasting on Tuesday 21 April to which you are all invited. The Event is on from 7pm until late.
We will sample Longmorn 15, Mortlach 19, Springbank CS, Caol Ila 13 and more. Whisky will come in traditional (proper) measures of 35ml, just like in the [...]

Six Nations, five whiskies, one hipflask

Wondering what whisky to take to Scotland’s games during this 6 Nations tournament? Our friend, Euan Martin* solved the problem for you! Read and never lose hope…
As the 6 Nations approaches I have begun to look out the essentials for any trip to Murrayfield. Game tickets, check. Kilt, check. Scotland jersey, check. Hipflask, check. But [...]