Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i Whisky Magazine

Cognac, the epitome of French luxury spirits, has long been engaged in a fierce commercial rivalry with Scotch whisky, vying for the title of the world’s finest brown spirit. Its department, the Charente, nestled within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, would seem the unlikeliest destination for whisky enthusiasts. And yet, in an almost bizarre turn of events, Cognac’s own homeland has emerged as the epicentre of France’s whisky revolution. “In Cognac we have about 1,300 distilleries and I would say that over two per cent are involved in whisky production now,” says Alexandre Vingtier, one of France’s leading spirits consultants. The region indeed boasts an impressive count of more than 20 whisky distilleries and brands, a number that keeps growing as more wait for their inaugural whiskies to come of age. Some…

The drinks industry is in Charles Beamish’s blood: he is a descendent of the family behind Beamish & Crawford, producer of Beamish Genuine Irish Stout and once the largest brewing company in Ireland, and his cousin Michael Beamish was a leading figure in the resurrection of Tullibardine in the early 2000s. Charles was born in Singapore and lived there for 14 years before his family moved to Aberdeenshire in 1998. His first career was in financial services, starting as an analyst and progressing into brokering before securing a director’s position at investment bank Panmure Gordon. He and his wife then moved to Edinburgh and he was offered a job at investment management company Baillie Gifford. However, a chance meeting with Jonathan Driver – former global malts director at Diageo and,…

One of those facts I have no recollection of learning, but like to wheel out about once a year, is that octopuses have a habit of collecting shells. They often collect them to protect themselves, hiding under them when faced with danger from larger predators, or to hurl at their enemies in direct combat – an image that defies belief, but brings me unbridled joy. These eight-limbed molluscs are not the only beings that gather objects. Humans can be devoted collectors too, of objects often meant not for combat, but for study, preservation, or sheer pleasure. Eggs, TY Beanie Babies, stamps, records, sci-fi figurines, and of course whisky are just some of the categories that have been recorded as collectors’ items. There are plenty of theories as to why we…

Hailing from the United States, Alex Chasko began his life in liquid as a brewer in the 1990s with the BridgePort Brewing Company in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Asked how he went from being a brewer in Portland to a distiller in Dublin, Alex said the short answer is that his wife is Irish. However, there is more to the story than marriage. While working as a brewer in Portland, Alex and his colleagues looked to the craft brewing scene in the UK and its beer styles, such as India pale ale (IPA) and English-style pale ale (ESB), trying to put their own take on them. While learning about this type of brewing, he found there were many ways to achieve the desired results and asked lots of questions…

On a rainy afternoon a few months ago, the staff office at Tormore Distillery was in an uproar. Distillery manager Polly Logan and assistant manager Sam Douglas were hunting everywhere for a small handheld pump to help them move liquid used for samples. “We don’t know what it’s actually called,” says Logan, “so we’re going with the technical term ‘whisky sooker-ooper’ because that’s what it does, it sooks the whisky oop.” “We’re trying to describe what we need to the team,” Douglas laughed. “But even when we use Google, we can’t figure out what this thing is called.” Logan and Douglas have been in charge of making Tormore’s new spirit since January this year, when the distillery’s new owner, Elixir Distillers, officially received the keys to the facility from Pernod…

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that incredible whisky is now made all over the world. The development of the industry at the hands of exciting, innovative distillers means we can experience a sense of place like never before – through a tasting glass without leaving the comfort of our homes. The more intrepid whisky drinker will actually make the trip to far-flung makers. Around 2.2 million people visit distilleries in Scotland alone each year, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. Another two million headed to Kentucky distilleries in 2022, calculates the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. No one body tallies up global distillery trips, but it’s clear that whisky tourism is flying. Even for those not into whisky, combining distillery visits with local adventures can make for extraordinary travel. Beyond the drams…

Last year, The Dalmore launched the Luminary Series, a collection of exceptionally rare limited-edition single malts developed in partnership with experts from the world of architectural design. The series’ inaugural chapter – Luminary No.1, 2022 Edition – showcases the skills of internationally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma, designer of the V&A Dundee, and his protégé Maurizio Mucciola. The chapter consisted of two expressions: The Rare, a 48-year-old Scotch accompanied by a unique sculpture limited to only three specimens, and The Collectible, a 15-year-old single malt produced in a batch of 15,000 bottles whose packaging reflects the aesthetic of its Rare(r) counterpart. While unique in their aesthetic, the Luminary Series releases reflect a rising trend in the world of fine whisky, as distillers increasingly tap artists and designers to craft packaging concepts…

American whiskeys continue to underperform in travel retail. Only Jack Daniel’s and Jim Beam made the list of the top 50 best-selling spirits in duty free in 2021, according to the drinks research firm the IWSR. This poor showing for American whiskeys has many causes – most notably the primacy of Scotch whisky in many big-volume duty-free markets, such as China – but it also reflects the low priority US distillers have traditionally placed on the duty-free channel. However, for several reasons, this situation is changing. The worldwide bourbon boom is winning over more converts, and since the end of international restrictions last year, Americans themselves have rushed to travel and spend internationally. Foreign owners with a keener interest in travel retail are also increasingly snapping up American whiskey brands.…

The Powerscourt Estate, located just outside Enniskerry in County Wicklow, Ireland, was already world renowned before two local families joined forces with the estate’s owners the Slazengers (of sports kit fame) to open a whisky distillery there. Powerscourt House, built in the Palladian architectural style popular in 18th-century Britain, is home to a chic café and a range of shops and serves as a majestic wedding venue. The Powerscourt Gardens stretch to 47 acres and have placed third in National Geographic’s World’s Top 10 Gardens competition, beaten only by the Palace of Versailles in France and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London. The 1,0000-acre estate is also home to a golf course, a popular garden centre, a 198-bedroom luxury hotel, and Ireland’s highest waterfall. It’s an A Team of…

How does one truly define luxury, especially in whisky? Is it based on price? Age? Exclusivity? Investability? Is it based on a feeling, or personal connection? Or is it some assemblage of all of the above? In reality it will be a marginally different definition for everyone. Some put value in limited-access releases from cult distilleries such as Ardbeg, or even London’s Bimber, where age statements are less of a consideration as the brand itself has built either clout or status through its production, personality, or prior releases. Then the question of what to do with the bottle remains. Do you keep it? Do you hope to sell it one day? Do you leave it to the kids as a sort of liquid inheritance fund? Or dare you open and…

PRINT • 8 print editions a year • Get the convenience of home delivery • Delivered before it hits the newsstand • Automatic entry into our exciting competitions COMPLETE PACKAGE • 8 print editions a year • Enjoy the convenience of home delivery • Full access to every digital edition via your Desktop, iOS or Android device • Automatic entry into our exciting competitions DIGITAL • Immediate access to Digital editions • Available on your Desktop, iOS or Android device • 8 issues a year • Automatic entry into our exciting competitions BE A PART OF OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION! Subscribe today and unlock exclusive benefits, including automatic entry into our thrilling competitions. We have something special planned from November and we want YOU to be involved. Every subscription guarantees…

There’s a moment of stunned silence before more than 1,000 voices are lifted in a collective cheer. As the whooping and clapping dies down, the air buzzes with questions. “Can you believe it?”, “Who was the buyer?”, and even, “What does that work out as per cigar?” Through a haze of swirling, aromatic smoke, I see the faces of fellow partygoers illuminated as they puff on their puros – many showing a mixture of astonishment, wonder, and bemusement, while others shrug as if genuinely unsurprised. It’s the final night of the twenty third Festival del Habano – the Cuban cigar world’s equivalent of Fèis Ìle and the Spirit of Speyside rolled into one – and, after hours of eating, drinking, smoking, and non-stop entertainment, including raucous dancing troupes and opera…

Rebecca Jago puts her involvement in the drinks business down to good fortune. Her father, Tom Jago, spent almost his entire career in the industry, which gave her exposure to and interest in it. Early in her career she worked for a design agency that had clients including Chivas Brothers, where her father was working. Tom founded premium spirits company The Last Drop Distillers with James Espey in 2008. Rebecca initially had a small role with the business, helping in label design and artwork. When James’ daughter Beanie returned to the UK after a stay in Hong Kong, she and Rebecca asked their fathers to increase their involvement. In 2016, Rebecca helped facilitate the sale of The Last Drop to US drinks group Sazerac. She is now The Last Drop’s…

For the Irish whiskey industry, both the number and the range of liquids available have never been better, but cautious optimism is a universal theme for those in the trade. Not so long ago – indeed, still in living memory for some – brands in Ireland enjoyed great success only for it to be followed by huge losses. Irish whiskey was a global powerhouse in the early 1900s but within six decades was decimated to only a couple of distilleries. More recently, though, its rebirth has been nothing short of phenomenal. There are now more than 40 distilleries in operation across the island of Ireland, worldwide sales have exceeded 14 million cases, and to meet forecast demand 3.5 million casks are resting, waiting for their moment to shine. Even with…