As master blender and strategic inventory manager for Beam Suntory, Ron Welsh is responsible for more than 800,000 individual casks of all ages from Laphroaig, Bowmore, Auchentoshan, Glen Garioch and Ardmore as well as those
One to Watch Out for: Faer Isles Distillery
A new whisky distillery is being built in the Faroe Islands and apparently they will be the first in the world to be community funded using crypto currency. Despite its close proximity to Scotland (it
Canned Cocktails are Ready To Deliver
The rise of the canned cocktail format (also known as ready-to-drink or simply RTD) follows the well trodden path followed by craft beers and more recently, hard seltzer brands, providing drinkers with both convenience and
Latest M&A in the Drinks Industry – August 2020
Zenith Global has released the latest mergers & acquisitions data across beer, wine and spirits from May to July 2020, including the return into the champagne category by Remy Cointreau and the acquisition of Gin
Having a dram with…Lady of the Glen
Lady of the Glen is the Independent Bottler brand name of Hannah Whisky Merchants. I was invited recently to join them and a few other lucky people to sample some of their single cask releases,
How the whisky industry is faring during COVID-19
A guest blog post by Patrick Bailey. “Some distillers and brewers have resorted to making hand sanitizer during the pandemic. Like a fine scotch whisky that gets better with age, the global liquor industry might
How to start your own Whisky Tourism business
Whisky Tourism plays a crucial role in Scotland’s economy. A Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) survey found visitor numbers to distilleries totalling 2,004,745 visits in 2018, representing a 56% rise on the number recorded in 2010.
A Walk Down Memory Lane….Reyka and Iceland Trip 2014
Back in the William Grant’s days, we had the opportunity to visit Iceland and the Reyka vodka distillery in 2014. These are some of the photographs I have been able to find… Jan from our
Welsh Whisky and the Frongoch Legacy
The first commercial whisky distillery in Wales was started by two friends, Richard John Lloyd-Price and Robert Willis, who first had the idea to start the enterprise in 1887 and only two years later, The
My Quarantine Diary #5
Most recently, I have taken part in the Uncorked Batch 12 podcast on ‘Whisky in Cinema’ by That Boutique-y whisky Company, hosted by Sam Simmons and David Worthington, with guests Georgie Bell, Curtis MacEachern and
Chocoholics Beware! Godiva Chocolate Liqueur has arrived
Chocolate lovers are in for a treat this World Chocolate Day (Tuesday 7th July) as The Bottle Club brings Godiva premium chocolate liqueurs to the UK. The luxury Belgian chocolate company’s Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur are available for £34.99 (75cl) and feature the ultra-velvety
Suntory Time and other Celebrity Whisky Ads
Celebrities of all kinds have been used to promote whisky brands, from Scotland and Japan in particular. This was brought to life and made famous by actor Bill Murray in the 2003 Lost in Translation
The Green Wine Bottle made of Paper
Frugal Bottle is a paper wine bottle made from 94% recycled paper with a food-grade liner to hold the wine or spirit. The bottle is produced by British packaging company Frugalpac, who claims that it
Digital in Drinks 2020 Report
Rewrite Digital’s report on the state of digital in the drinks industry has now launched. The Digital in Drinks 2020 Report includes exclusive perspectives from the likes of Diageo, Pernod Ricard, AB InBev and C&C
Alcohol + Tech = Cocktails
Robots (and artificial life) have fascinated us throughout history, but the modern era of commercial robots started at a cocktail party of all places, believe it or not! Since then, we have now come full
