That’s an easy one, it was John Whisky from Auchtermuchty who came up with the brilliant idea when tinkering in his shed one warm afternoon in 1852. If only it was that simple. In fact, the origins of whisky are mysterious and ancient. So let’s take a trip back in the Master of Malt-branded time machine and see what we can find out. WHIRRING NOISES. FLASHING LIGHTS. BUDGET SPECIAL EFFECTS. Who invented whisky? There are two great claimants to the invention of whisky, the Irish and the Scots, but we have to go back even further in time to the origins of distillation. Distillation, the process ..read more

Hey, you there. Yes, you, the person who clicked on a blog about under-the-radar Tequila. I’m going to guess that you’re somewhat of a flavour explorer. Someone who loves to try new things. Who abhors people ordering chicken nuggets at a Chinese restaurant. Who doesn’t drown every alcoholic drink they consume in off-brand Pepsi. You don’t just want a drink. You want exquisite new taste sensations. Unique stories. To traverse beyond the well-known brands.  Or you were just interested to see which Tequilas made the cut. Regardless of what brought you here, we’re confident there’s a delicio ..read more

Glenfiddich is the giant of Scotch whisky. Its single malt Scotch whisky sold 16.8 million bottles in 2018 and is either the biggest or second-biggest single malt Scotch brand in the world (depending on which figures you consult), challenging The Glenlivet for the top spot.  The claims it’s also the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, saying the Glenfiddich range has received more awards since 2000 than any other single malt Scotch whisky in two of the world’s most prestigious competitions, the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Spirits Challeng ..read more

With times so hard at the minute, it’s become essential to be adept in the art of bargain hunting. But you don’t need to go through the trouble of trying to find a budget-friendly gin, because we’ve done all the hard work for you.   When choosing a budget gin, we need to consider what you’ll primarily use it for. Some gins may excel in cocktails, while others shine in a classic Gin & Tonic. But we also need to select bargains from across the many categories of gin: London dry, Old Tom, Navy Strength, flavoured, cask-aged, pink, and gin liqueurs. And one for a good but cheap Mart ..read more

You could describe mezcal as a characterful cousin of Tequila. Hailing from Mexico, it’s an artisanal agave spirit that stands out for its complex, diverse characteristics and rich heritage. For curious, adventurous drinkers, it’s a spirit that is well worth exploring.  What’s the difference between mezcal and Tequila? While Tequila can only be produced from one type of agave (blue weber) mezcal can be made from any agave species, and there are over 30 commonly used! Each of these varieties offers up its own unique flavour profile. Many species aren’t regularly farmed, certainly not on t ..read more

I don’t really have a ‘house whisky’ because, well, my house is mostly whisky.  But if I were to have one ol’ reliable that would be my house pour, Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old would be on the list of candidates for that prestigious position. Bunnahabhain (pronounced boo-na-ha-ven) has an outstanding core range – Toiteach a Dhà, Stiùireadair, 18 Year Old Whisky, 25 Year Old, 30 Year Old, and 40 Year Old – as well as its excellent cask strength series, top-notch experimental cask releases, peaty Mòine (pronounced Moi-gna) whiskies, and its Islay festival editions.  And yet I always come ..read more

World Dram Day is coming! Don’t be alarmed if you don’t already have this day marked in your calendar because it’s a new thing. 2024 is the first year of World Dram Day but it’s going to become a fixture right up there with British Pie Week (first week of March), National Shawarma Day (15 October) and International Talk Like a Pirate Day (is that still going?)  The first World Dram Day will take place on 25 April and then will be an annual celebration on the last Thursday of April. So what is World Dram Day? No drama, it’s simply a day devoted to the dram, the perfect tasting measure fo ..read more

There’s no need to break the bank when it comes to buying a decent bottle of whisky, if you search wisely, there are all sorts of affordable gems to discover.  The quality of a whisky isn’t all about its price tag, where it comes from, or whether it resides on the top or bottom shelf on the back bar. Cast the net a little wider when you browse rather than loosening the purse strings and you might well find some new favourites. We’re going to explore a few ways to find a good deal. Knockdhu distillery, great whisky, not so well-known Here are the best weeknight whiskies Lesser-known dis ..read more

There are thousands of gins in our range, so when it comes to finding the right bottle to impress even the most discerning of gin drinkers, where to begin? Understanding your recipient’s preferences alongside the nuances that distinguish one bottle from another can greatly enhance the gifting experience. Here are some of the most important factors to consider: Juniper, the crucial ingredient How should I choose a gin? Botanical profile The key to the character of any gin is its botanicals and flavours. Juniper is the defining ingredient, but there are lists of other traditional botanicals l ..read more

Modern English whisky celebrated its 15th birthday in style this year when The English Single Malt picked up Best Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards in March making headlines all over the country. When the English Whisky Company released its first single malt in 2009, I don’t think anyone, not least founder James Nelstrop, could have predicted that his business would be beating the Scots at their own game. Sadly, he died in 2014 but he did live to see his dream become an acclaimed and most importantly profitable business. It’s now run by his son Andrew and his wife Katy. Andrew Nelstrop ..read more