The first (official) single malt Scotch whisky release from a new distillery is always an exciting moment. Especially as in this case when it’s the first foray into distilling from Douglas Laing, the famous Glasgow-based independent bottlers. It comes from Strathearn which vies for the crown of smallest whisky distillery in Scotland. The stills (made by Hoga in Spain) are tiny, a 1000 litre wash still and a 500 litre spirit still. Just for comparison, Highland Park has a 12,000 litre spirit still. The distillery was founded by Tony Reeman-Clark in 2013 and is located in Methven, near Crieff i ..read more

Brandy is a distilled and aged spirit made all over the world from all kinds of fermented fruit juices. It’s not just France and not just grapes. Globally, brandy exhibits a rich diversity, from Cognac and Armagnac to Spain’s Brandy de Jerez, Greek Metaxa and more all contributing to the spirit’s international tapestry, showcasing regional nuances. As we’re celebrating all things brandy at the moment, here’s a short and sweet guide to brandy from around the world. We’re going to leave French brandy until last because we’re certain you already know about it and be sure to check out our ultimat ..read more

Next week is National Amaretto Day (19 April). Are you guys stoked?   Regardless of whether you knew that, it’s a nice excuse to get some sweet amaretto in our glass and talk about this beloved liqueur.  Its sweet, almond-like flavour has charmed the palates of people around the world, including this humble writer in his university days. And it says a lot about the spirit that I can still stomach it, unlike my other drink of choice in my reckless youth: sambuca. *Shudders*.  Anyway, let’s talk amaretto: its rich history, how it is made, and the many ways to drink it. Amar ..read more

It’s spring! The sun has come out… sort of. Colour has started to come back into the world. And our craving for fruity gin is perhaps at its peak. Until summer. What are we like? Fruity gins capture the essence of spring, whether it’s the tartness of raspberries, the sweet zest of citrus, or the delicate notes of cherry blossom, these flavours complement the botanicals in gin beautifully. Every product below is just waiting to be splashed with tonic or popped into a sprightly spring cocktail.  So come take a look at the following 10 fabulously fruity gins to enjoy this spring! The gin ..read more

Yes, many Scotch whisky brands use artificial colouring. It’s not possible to put an exact number on how many distilleries and brands do this, but it’s fair to say it’s a lot.  That’s because colouring whisky is pretty standard practice in whisky production across the world. If you want to know about artificial colouring in whisky, then read a book or something. No, wait! We’ve just remembered, this blog has all the info you need. Read on…  What do Scotch whisky brands use to artificially colour their whisky? A caramel colouring, known as E150a. It’s used across the industry, not ju ..read more

Agave spirits are enjoying increasing popularity these days, and we’re seeing plenty of high end, well aged expressions catering to a growing interest in premium extra añejo Tequila.  We produce a quarterly trend report for Master of Malt’s trade customers and one of the most striking statistics in early 2023 was that sales of Tequila over £150 had increased by an eye-watering 578% over the past two years. 578%! What is Extra Añejo Tequila? The most well aged category of Tequila is extra añejo, if you see this on the label, you know the spirit has been aged for a minimum of three years i ..read more

Let’s take you back to 1999. We’re all dutifully partying so we don’t upset Prince and because we better make the most of the good times before Y2k sets in.  But hardly anyone is reaching for the gin. It’s not been cool for a while. The choices are sparse. Most pubs only have Gordon’s, maybe Beefeater. Perhaps a Bombay Sapphire.  Order a G&T and you get Schweppes tonic, if you’re lucky, and a wedge of citrus that’s been there since the bartender had a go at making Margaritas for the ‘86 World Cup in Mexico. And one wet ice cube. All in all, it was not the era of gin. Not exactly ..read more

Negronis and mezcal are two things in the drinks world that will never go out of fashion, so it makes perfect sense that their paths now cross in a collision course set for a satisfyingly smoky twist of the classic bittersweet cocktail. First, a quick introduction… What is mezcal? Mezcal is a traditional Mexican spirit distilled from the cooked and fermented sap of various species of agave plants. Unlike Tequila, which is made exclusively from blue weber agave, mezcal can be produced from over 30 varieties, offering a wide range of flavours and complexities. The process begins by harvesting t ..read more

We’ve offered some pretty amazing prizes recently but we think this one is going to have particular appeal to Master of Malt customers – it’s a trip to Islay with Bunnahabhain including a tour and tasting with the distillery manager Andrew Brown. Basically, it’s a dream come true for any Scotch whisky lover.  You could be going here! Here’s a full rundown of what you could win: -Return travel from the UK mainland to Glasgow. -Return flights from Glasgow to Islay for two people. -Two nights’ accommodation at the Machrie Hotel, based on sharing a double or twin room, including daily brea ..read more

The Indian subcontinent has a surprisingly rich whisky heritage, there’s even a distillery in Pakistan called Murree. Indian whisky brands like Officer’s Choice, Royal Stag, and Imperial Blue sell in the millions of cases. These, however, cannot be sold as ‘whisky’ in the UK or EU because they contain spirit derived from molasses, what we would class as rum. The rise of Indian single malts  But in recent years, Indian producers have started making single malt whiskies such as Rampur, Amrut, and Paul John with the help of equipment and consultants from Scotland. In fact, my uncle, Charlie ..read more