ALT: Spiraling Clock: Infinite Time Illusion

Revisiting places you haven't been to in a while is always a mixed blessing. A lot depends on your previous experience, because it sets your expectations for this one. A good memory brings with it high expectations, which can easily be dashed, spoiling both the present experience and the past. However, bad memories can be very difficult to overcome - leading me neatly on to Jura 14.

Islay is a mysterious and beautiful place. It’s so full of places to explore that it could take an entire lifetime to see it all. I’ve been three times, and every visit only makes my list of places to see even longer. I’m hoping to go back this year, so maybe I’ll finally make it to the Bholsa Caves. For now, I’ll have to make do with visiting in liquid form.

One of the things I love about whisky is the way it can take on the quality of a time capsule. Each bottle, even each dram, has its own lifespan, unfolding alongside your own life and marking itself into your experience. Some whiskies become part of your everyday. You replace them as soon as they are finished, so in a sense they never really leave.

I have never been very good at sticking with subscription services. I am far too much of a control freak and my short attention span means that often I lose interest in what they send within the first few deliveries. This means that I have a long collection of usernames and passwords that I don't use anymore and a fair few pin badges and stickers lying around the house.

I first met Matt and Michelle when they worked at Hawkshead Brewery, Matt as the head brewer, and Michelle as the head of marketing. In the 2010s, Hawkshead was the pride and joy of Cumbria’s independ...

Whether it’s for one of our industry-leading virtual tastings or one of our monthly bottle competitions, we love nothing more than sharing the whisky love – by giving away some of our favourite dra…

ALT: a woman is running on a treadmill that says back in the groove on it

A six whisky blind tasting to celebrate all that is brilliant about English whisky.

Wm Cadenhead’s is a whisky company you can trust. They produce fantastic whisky, and I have never bought a bottle from them that has been anything less than great. I spent a very long time at the Cadenhead’s table at the Exploring Whisky Bristol festival. Aroma: Sweet with caramel, but slightly synthetic — almost Caramac-like. It becomes creamy and vegetal, like popcorn.

Whisky festivals are a fantastic place to try new whiskies. You get small amounts of lots of drams, hear stories, and take on new experiences. But they are also a good place to try new things from old favourites. If you are a regular reader, then you will know that I love WireWorks and all that they make. Aroma: Sweet like brioche, with a waft of smoke, toasted hazelnuts, and stewed apples.