Lia Niskanen is a dedicated storyteller and passionate whiskey advocate. She is also an Executive Bourbon Steward (Stave and Thief Society) and the founder of Barrel Strength Talent, a whiskey events and education business based
My Whisky Journey: From Visiting Glenfiddich Distillery at 18 to a Career in the Drinks Industry
My whisky journey did not begin with a job title or a career plan. It began with curiosity — and a first encounter with Scotch whisky at its source in Scotland. At 18, I visited
Merry Christmas from Inside the Cask and a Happy 2026!
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with their friends and family during this special time of the year. By the way, the image above was generated to reflect a young Andre
An Inside the Cask chat with…Mark Jennings
Mark Jennings is a prolific drinks writer, contributing to titles such as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate, Allt om Whisky and The Spirits Business. He is also a drinks judge, spirits commentator and marketer. We originally
A New Way to Explore Scotland’s Drinks Experiences by Sip Seekers
Sip Seekers is a new search engine for distillery and brewery visitors available from this week. Its founder Victoria Miller hopes it will make the many great drinks experience tours on offer much more accessible
Reflecting on the Spirits market in South America
As a Brazilian, I have tried where possible to play my part in increasing the diversity of whisky (in particular Scotch whisky) available to others in South America, either through exporting directly from Scotland or
New Product: SPEY 12 Year Old Brume Dorée Single Malt Scotch whisky
Speyside Distillery, Scotland’s latest Lost Distillery as announced in 2025, have unveiled their most recent creation, the SPEY 12yo Brume Dorée Single Malt Scotch whisky released at cask strength (57.6% abv). For reference – Speyside
Elijah Craig Introduces Char No. 3 Cologne: The Spirit of Bourbon
Elijah Craig is channeling its pioneering spirit into a new and original sensory experience with the debut of Elijah Craig Char No. 3 Cologne. Drawing on the craftsmanship and character of Bourbon-making, Elijah Craig Char
Japan welcomes new whiskies targeting Highball consumption
Independent Scotch Whisky specialist, Douglas Laing & Co., recently launched the Big Peat Highball, the first ever ready-to-drink (RTD) serve from its Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky brand, Big Peat. Crafted in collaboration with Japan
Trick-or-Trink for some Halloween Drinks
Halloween boosts alcoholic drinks sales and it has become a key occasion for adults looking for liquid treats so it is no surprise that drinks brands are embracing the creepy spirit of Halloween (on 31st
Guest Blog: A New Chapter of Chinese Whisky Begins at Qiandao Jinjiu
Rising From the East: A New Chapter of Chinese Whisky Begins at Qiandao Jinjiu – a guest blog post by Nené hu (Linzi Whisky) At this year’s Whisky L! exhibition, friends greeted me with a
Lights out and away we go as Whisky brands race to reach Formula 1 global audience
Thanks to streaming services and series such as Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’, films such as ‘F1 The Movie’ with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and new racing venues around the world, it seems that Formula 1
The English Whisky Guild’s 2025 Annual Review
The English Whisky Story of 2025 is here with the publication at the end of September of the English Whisky Guild’s 2025 Annual Review. This year’s review reflects the continued growth and ambition of English
One to Watch Out for: Drummygar Distillery in Scotland
The team behind acclaimed independent bottler Living Souls has announced the launch of Drummygar Distillery, a bold new venture that combines traditional farming and modern craftsmanship. Led by John Torrance, whose quarter-century of distilling experience
Guest Blog: Whisky L! 2025 Report from China
Whisky L! 2025 – A Toast to Craft and Community in Shanghai’s Summer Heat – a guest blog post by Nené hu (LinZi Whisky) In August 2025, Shanghai played host to a spectacular three-day celebration
