Crown Royal is the best-selling Canadian whisky brand in the world, known for its exquisitely smooth blend and iconic purple velvet bag. The brand’s Signature range includes blended, rye, and high-proof whisky expressions, alongside the well-aged ‘Master’ series, flavored whiskies, and even canned cocktails.  The brand’s growing popularity is evidenced by record sales of 7.9 million cases worldwide in 2019, earning Crown Royal the award of the World Whisky Brand Champion 2020. Exploring the origins, production, and different expressions – this ultimate guide provides everything you need ..read more

This Ardbeg 17 Year Old Cadenhead Dumpy was, most likely, bottled in the 1980s. Ardbeg Distillery, nestled on the Isle of Islay, Scotland, boasts a rich history dating back to 1815. However, the 1960s through the 1980s marked a tumultuous period for this revered whisky producer. In the 1960s, Ardbeg, like many distilleries of the era, thrived on the booming demand for Scotch whisky. It was during this decade, specifically in 1967, that the distillery expanded its still house to accommodate a fourth still, effectively doubling its production capacity. This expansion was a response to the growin ..read more

Awards season is well and truly underway. The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) 2024 recently published the results of this year’s contest.  Held by The Tasting Alliance, the SFWSC is one of the most prestigious competitions in the spirits industry, with thousands of entrants and numerous medals up for grabs. The competition was first held in 2000 and is the oldest competition of its kind in the United States.  The Tasting Alliance has over 40 years of expertise in blind tastings, and the judges at the SFWSC hold the spirits they taste to exacting standards.  The ..read more

The Macallan 10 Year Old has been a staple of the distillery’s core range since the 1980s. Until the start of the 80s, Macallan had been outsourcing its bottling to independent bottlers such as Gordon & Macphail. At the beginning of the decade, Macallan took control of bottling and distribution, and the 10 Year Olds were unveiled. Various packaging changes, as well as some short-lived collections such as the Fine Oaks, have graced the market. The 10 Year Olds from the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s have become highly sought-after on the secondary market. After all, everybody wants a piece of Macal ..read more

We review Hard Truth Bottled-In-Bond Four Grain Bourbon, a 100-proof offering aged five years after being distilled from a mash bill of 79% corn, 9% rye, 9% wheat, and 4% malted barley. (image via Hard Truth) Editor’s Note: We received a review sample of this whiskey from the brand. However, in accordance with our editorial policies, this has not influenced the outcome of our review in any way. Since its start in distilling back in 2015, Indiana’s Hard Truth distillery has primarily focused on being a whiskey producer, more specifically, a maker of bourbon. Some of the earliest things they pro ..read more

Londoners, will you answer the call to become untamed? Rendered image credit: Buffalo Trace Distillery London This bank holiday weekend in the UK (May 4th and 5th) Buffalo Trace Distillery is staging a pop-up with a twist ahead of the opening of Buffalo Trace Distillery London on May 6th.  In rebranding the iconic British phone booth, Buffalo Trace Distillery London is asking the public one important question: “Will you answer the call to become untamed?”  The Buffalo Trace Distillery London Phone Booth  During the weekend, visitors to London’s Covent Garden will find a phone bo ..read more

Mark Littler shares his five tips for buying and investing in whisky bottles in 2024 Whether you’re looking at whisky bottles, luxury housing, crypto currencies or traditional stocks and shares, 2024 is an interesting time for investment markets. But one thing that’s common between them all, is that you don’t make money by investing at market peaks. 2024 is not expected to be a market peak for the secondary whisky market. Noble and Co’s Whisky Intelligence report stated that for their data set average prices in December 2023 were up 20% compared to the same period in 2022, but were clear that ..read more

We review Hard Truth Bottled-In-Bond Wheated Bourbon, a 100-proof offering aged five years after being distilled from a mash bill of 69% corn, 19% wheat, and 12% malted barley. (image via Hard Truth Distilling) Editor’s Note: We received a review sample of this whiskey from the brand. However, in accordance with our editorial policies, this has not influenced the outcome of our review in any way. Since its start in distilling back in 2015, Indiana’s Hard Truth distillery has primarily focused on being a whiskey producer, more specifically, a maker of bourbon. Some of the earliest things they p ..read more

UK mixologists, this one is for you. Credit: That Boutique-y Whisky Company That Boutique-y Whisky Company, an independent bottler, is launching a brand new cocktail competition for mixologists of any level. Whether you are a professional, a bartender, an influencer, or an amateur, anyone with a passion for cocktails can enter (UK residents 18+ only).  The ‘Boutique-y vs. The World’ competition offers the winner the chance to bottle their own whisky. With the guidance and expertise of Head of Whisky Sam Simmons, the winner will aid in the label design and receive the first bottling of the ..read more

$200,000 worth of rare and highly sought-after bourbons are set to be raffled to raise funds for the West End School in Louisville, Kentucky.  Brands such as Pappy Van Winkle, Maker’s Mark, Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., and Michter’s will appear in the Ultimate Bourbon Raffle, with the bottles having been donated by distilleries, collectors, and industry executives.  West End School  Funds raised in the raffle will go to the West End School, a tuition-free all-boys school that supports children from underprivileged backgrounds in their education. Over 70% of West End School graduate ..read more