Glencairn Podglass - Episode 3 with Richard Paterson
Glencairn Podglass - Episode 3
The Glencairn Podglass brings you exclusive interviews with master blenders and industry experts, offering unparalleled insights into the whisky world.
Listeners can expect to hear first-hand stories about whisky production, blending techniques, and the craftsmanship behind every bottle.
In Episode 3, we have Richard Paterson, renowned whisky expert and master blender, as our featured guest.
Glencairn Podglass - Episode 2 with Raymond Davidson (Part2)
Glencairn Podglass - Episode 2
The Glencairn Podglass brings you exclusive interviews with master blenders and industry experts, offering unparalleled insights into the whisky world.
Listeners can expect to hear first-hand stories about whisky production, blending techniques, and the craftsmanship behind every bottle.
Our first featured guest is Raymond Davidson, the founder of The Glencairn Glass. Join us for this two-part series as we explore the story and history behind Glencairn Crystal.
Glencairn Podglass - Episode 1 with Raymond Davidson (Part1)
Glencairn Podglass - Episode 1
The Glencairn Podglass brings you exclusive interviews with master blenders and industry experts, offering unparalleled insights into the whisky world.
Listeners can expect to hear first-hand stories about whisky production, blending techniques, and the craftsmanship behind every bottle.
Our first featured guest is Raymond Davidson, the founder of The Glencairn Glass. Join us for this two-part series as we explore the story and history behind Glencairn Crystal.
Weekly Whisky News- 27th of September
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 27th of September
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Discover The Glenlivet’s Oldest, Laphroaig’s Tribute Series, and Isle of Harris’ Newest Gem!
Limited-Edition Treasures: Littlemill's Cask Reflections, Diageo's Special Releases, and Raasay's Dùn Cana Unveiled!
- Littlemill has released the first expression in its new limited-edition Cask Reflections Collection series – Littlemill Cask Reflections Release No.1 33 Year Old Japanese Mizunara Oak Finish. Read More
- Diageo launched Spirited Xchange Second Edition – the 2024 Special Releases single malt Scotch whisky collection. Read More
- The Isle of Raasay Distillery, based in the Inner Hebrides, unveiled the second edition of its Dùn Cana Sherry Quarter Cask expression – an annual single malt release named after the highest point on the Isle of Raasay. Read More
Celebrating Visionaries: Bimber’s Tribute Series, Mortlach’s Bold New Releases, and Bushmills’ Exclusive Whiskies!
- Bimber introduced the second release of Shoulders of Giants, its series of single malt whiskies crafted to honour the world’s greatest thinkers, innovators, and visionaries. Read More
- Mortlach Distillery announced a trio of single malts – Begin, Become and Beyond – under L’Evolution Collection, imagined by creative director Philippe Starck. Read More
- Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland revealed eight new rare and exclusive single malt whiskey expressions in its fifth annual Causeway Collection. Read More
For more on the latest whisky releases, join us at The Whisky Hub Weekly Whisky News every Friday
Weekly Whisky News- 20th of September
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 20th of September
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Glenmorangie Scoops Up Ice Cream Magic, Lindores Abbey Launches Limited Edition THIRON, and Fielden Unveils Yorkshire's Hedgerow Whisky!
Glen Scotia Launches Dragon-Inspired Release No. 2, and Bladnoch Introduces Heritage Collection with New Age Statements
- Glen Scotia revealed Release No.2 in its Icons of Campbeltown whisky series – the medium peated 14 Year Old single malt whisky takes inspiration from St Michael slaying a fire breathing dragon: Read More
- The Lowland distillery, Bladnoch, renamed its single malt whiskies as the Heritage Collection and introduced a new 13 Year Old and a 16 Year Old expression. Read More
Lagavulin Celebrates Islay Jazz Festival with Exclusive 14 Years Old Release, While Fettercairn Unveils Third 18 Years Old Limited Edition!
- Islay based Lagavulin Distillery has announced the release of an exclusive 14 Year Old bottling, finished in South African Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks, to celebrate Islay Jazz Festival: Read More
- Located in in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, Fettercairn Distillery revealed its third 18-year-old annual limited release single malt finished in responsibly sourced Scottish oak casks. Read More
For more on the latest whisky releases, join us at The Whisky Hub Weekly Whisky News every Friday
House Of Hazelwood
House of Hazelwood Q&A
House of Hazelwood
In this exclusive Q&A, House of Hazelwood offers insights into their meticulous curation and bottling process, the historical significance behind their rare and luxurious whisky collection, and what sets their offerings apart.
House of Hazelwood is known for curating some of the rarest and most luxurious whiskies. Can you share the story behind how House of Hazelwood was founded and the inspiration that led to its creation?
For almost one hundred years, generations of the Gordon family have carefully laid down stocks of whisky for special occasions and personal consumption. This rare collection has become known as House of Hazelwood, after the family’s Dufftown home – Hazelwood House.
Today, the House of Hazelwood collection has grown to become the greatest inventory of aged Scotch whisky held anywhere in the world. Spanning seven decades and every corner of Scotland, the diverse whiskies held in cask tell stories of remarkable places, lost ways of working, first casks, last casks, the ambitions, and achievements of several lifetimes – none of which will be repeated.
In 2022, this once-private collection was made available in small batches hand-selected for release. The whisky stocks had amassed to such a level, it simply would be impossible for one family to consume it all – and at the age statements and styles offered, this is a unique opportunity to sample liquid history, bottled.
While House of Hazelwood isn’t a distillery, your approach to selecting and bottling whisky is both unique and meticulous. What sets your curation process apart, and how do you ensure each bottle maintains such high standards of quality and craftsmanship?
As an independent producer, we are not bound to the same commercial challenges as others may be – and as a result, House of Hazelwood can foster a whisky making methodology that truly is “ready when it is ready” and bottled not a minute sooner. The stocks are assessed regularly by the sampling team – and when a whisky reaches optimal maturation or takes on a particularly unusual characteristic, we make the decision to bottle and share with connoisseurs.
With such a prestigious collection of rare whiskies, are there any upcoming releases or special projects that you’re particularly excited about at House of Hazelwood?
We recently released the 2024 collection, adding eight new expressions to our current offering, inspired by the adventuring spirit of the Gordon Family. Every bottle within this release is to be cherished, but there are a few that really demonstrate our ethos of constant innovation and producing exceptional whisky. For instance, our 1972 Single Grain Scotch Whisky titled “The Old Ways” is a remarkable example of whisky-making techniques which are no longer employed. At its time of distillation, the technology simply did not exist of which we have today, so it offers a true insight into how things have evolved into present day.
Given House of Hazelwood’s distinct position in the whisky industry, how do you envision the future of rare and luxury whisky? Are there any industry trends or innovations that you’re paying close attention to?
As a company, we are never driven by trends, but rather opting to bottle only the most exceptional of expressions when they are assessed to be ready to bottle – at 30 years, or 50 years. Looking to the future, we believe the whiskies will represent a liquid time capsule of techniques, flavours and stories that are unlikely, or in some cases even impossible, to recreate in the modern day. For us, our custodianship of such pivotal, yet drinkable, moments in history is an honour to serve.
If you would like to find out more about House of Hazelwood or would be interested in purchasing one of their bottles you can visit their website here
Weekly Whisky News- 13th of September
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 13th of September
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Ewan McGregor Launches Charity Auction for 26 years old Arran Whisky, While Duncan Taylor Unveils 54 years old Highland Park Scotch.
Douglas Laing Releases 13 Years Old Blair Athol in Red Wine Cask Collection, Bruichladdich Unveils Octomore 15 Series, and Benromach Distillery Launches 50 Years Old Limited Edition.
- Douglas Laing & Co. announced the release of a Blair Athol 13 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, the second bottling in their exclusive Old Particular Red Wine Cask Collection: Read More
- Islay distillery Bruichladdich unveiled its Octomore 15 Series – which includes the second most-heavily peated expression in the Octomore single malts series so far. Read More
- Speyside distillery, Benromach Distillery released a limited-edition 50 Years Old Single Malt: Read More
The GlenAllachie Unveils Its Oldest Whisky Yet with a 35 Years Old Single Malt, Turntable Spirits Launches a Blend Inspired by Foo Fighters, and Cotswolds Distillery Expands Harvest Series with Amber Meadows.
- Another Speyside distillery, The GlenAllachie, revealed it’s 35 Years Old Single Malt – its oldest ever whisky to date: Read More
- Turntable Spirits in Glasgow unveiled a new blend inspired by a Foo Fighters’ song which is the sixth release in its series: Read More
- Cotswolds Distillery has expanded its Harvest Series with a third limited-edition whisky – Amber Meadows Single Malt: Read More
For more on the latest whisky releases, join us at The Whisky Hub Weekly Whisky News every Friday
Lindores Abbey Distillery
Lindores Abbey Distillery Q&A with Gary HaggartDistillery Manager
Lindores Abbey Distillery
In this exclusive Q&A, Gary Haggart, Distillery Manager of Lindores Abbey Distillery, shares insights into the whisky-making process, the distillery’s historical significance, and what visitors can expect during their visit.
Lindores Abbey Distillery has a rich historical significance as the spiritual home of Scotch whisky. Can you tell us about the journey that led to the revival of whisky-making at Lindores and how the distillery was brought to life?
Obviously, we have the late, great Michael Jackson to thank for his book, ‘Scotland and Its Whiskies’, with its immortal line ‘To the whisky lover, it is a pilgrimage’, in relation to Lindores Abbey.
The whisky industry is a wonderful thing, and we were encouraged from the very beginning of our journey by the people who believed and assisted us in making Lindores Abbey Distillery a reality. Once funds were in place, the team that we chose to build and fit out the distillery were exceptional. We knew that Lindores, with its important Scotch whisky story, would be scrutinised and so we needed to use the best in the business, they are too many to name here, but Dr Jim Swan, 3B Construction, Organic Architects, Forsyths and Bright 3D are just some, and the result was a beautiful distillery fitted to make beautiful spirit.
The residents of the town of Newburgh were also supportive, with not a single objection placed at the planning stages. It’s always heartwarming when you hear locals refer to ‘our distillery’, and Drew and I are so happy to have been able to put the Abbey well and truly on the map. Our founder’s great-grandfather and grandfather were benefactors to the town, and we relish the opportunity to continue that tradition. It’s an honour to be able to play our part in the local community, as employers naturally, but also in less obvious ways which have a more personal impact on day-to-day life in the surrounding area.
We are also lucky to be surrounded by a very strong and loyal team, many of whom joined us 7 years ago and have grown with us on the journey, we are very appreciative of the skill and loyalty they show and for their support when it’s not all plain sailing!
Lindores Abbey is steeped in history, but its approach to whisky-making is both innovative and respectful of tradition. What sets Lindores Abbey’s production methods and flavour profiles apart from other distilleries?
Finding a method that both produces exceptional spirit but also honours our rich heritage and those who paved the way for us. We start by using local malt from the area over which the monks at Lindores Abbey had stewardship. This land provided for them all those years ago, and still provides the barley for our malt today. Next, we use a specific vorlauf method to clarify our worts which leads to a reduced spice and grain character, but an increase in fruity character – the DNA of Lindores! We also do a few things to increase the complexity of our spirit character. Firstly, we operate a longer length fermentation to really elevate ester and congener levels within the spirit. Secondly, we run sister spirit stills which provides increased copper contact over a process that uses one larger spirit still and helps contribute to the smooth, clean character of our spirit. We also always use a high percentage of fresh casks, in fact, our MCDXCIV uses only fresh casks, but we also source casks of exceptional quality for our other bottlings.
What really completes our spirit is our people. We can train people, we can support them in learning skills to enable them to be successful, but you can’t train passion or enthusiasm, and that is what we look for in every member of our team. Every person who works at Lindores is passionate about
making the best single malt scotch whisky that we can, and that contributes heavily to the bottles that land on shelves worldwide.
In short, to make the best whisky, you need the best people, the best spirit and the best casks – we’re lucky enough to have all three!
Sustainability is an important aspect of modern whisky production. How does Lindores Abbey Distillery incorporate eco-friendly practices, and do you have any long-term goals for sustainability?
Sustainability is indeed a crucial element in modern whisky production, and Lindores Abbey Distillery has integrated several eco-friendly practices into its operations. Currently, the distillery repurposes draff, a by-product of whisky production, as cattle feed, effectively reducing waste and supporting local agriculture. Additionally, Lindores Abbey employs a closed-loop system for its condenser waters, which prevents hot water from contaminating the environment. We also take a sustainable approach to effluent management as our pot ales are taken by a local farmer for use on fields within 10 miles of the distillery.
In terms of sourcing raw materials, Lindores Abbey minimizes its carbon footprint by using locally grown barley (grown by Drew’s cousins within half a mile from the distillery), which is then malted nearby in Alloa, resulting in a mere 90-mile round trip for these essential ingredients.
On a consumer basis – the distillery also avoids providing secondary packaging for its products, and any packaging materials used are fully recyclable or biodegradable.
Looking to the future, we are committed to further enhancing our sustainability practices, in particular through the preservation of our beautiful surroundings. Whether that is by ensuring minimal impact and sustainable use of the rolling hills and fields of Fife that we are so lucky to call home, or through the upkeep of the ancient abbey walls we have on site – we are determined that Lindores will be a place that is enjoyed for generations.
Are there any upcoming releases or special projects at Lindores Abbey that you’re particularly excited about?
On the 12th September, THIRON will land on shelves in our visitor centre, across the UK and be available to buy online (it will also be hitting shelves worldwide from October onwards!). This release is an incredibly special one for us, it marks the start of a series of annual releases that celebrates the true Lindores Spirit, encapsulating our rich history, our wonderful people and our award-winning spirit.
This bottle celebrates our centuries-old ties to the Abbey and French village of Thiron-Gardais and we’ve ventured back to our roots to bring forth scotch whisky that embodies the legacy of the Tironensian monks who laid down the spiritual foundations of Scotch Whisky.
Thiron Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been nurtured in virgin oak casks hewn from the same lands that connect Thiron Abbey and Lindores Abbey across centuries. The use of bourbon and red wine barriques casks with the French virgin oak has yielded a whisky of unparalleled character.
Thiron is imbued with rich flavours of vanilla and roasted banana, complemented by the warm essence of cinnamon and baking spices. This unique combination enhances the mellow notes of vanilla and caramel, as well as the fruity undertones and layers of roast chestnuts. The result is a
finely balanced and complex whisky, with a delightful finish and the smooth, silky texture characteristic of Lindores whisky. It is bottled onsite at our unique strength of 49.4% ABV. Natural colour and non-chill filtered.
This really is not a release to be missed, having already attracted attention from whisky lovers and stockists worldwide, I wouldn’t wait to purchase as I don’t think this bottle will be available for long!
Given Lindores Abbey’s unique position in the whisky industry, how do you see the future of the distillery and the whisky industry as a whole? Are there any trends or innovations that you’re watching closely?
As far as sustainability is concerned, one of the trends that we are following closely is the move towards more sustainable power solutions, such as biomass and hydrogen.
Our production team are investigating the use of mechanical vapor recompression (MVR), which is an energy recovery process which can be used to recycle waste heat to improve efficiency.
Just like the Monks in the past, we have been lucky to have many innovators within the Lindores team and I have no doubt that we will be trailblazing new and innovative processes in the very near future.
The future of the whisky industry?
It’s a tricky question! If only we had a crystal ball. There is no denying that the demands from the consumer and the market are changing, but I think there will always be a home for a good quality honest whisky.
If you would like to find out more about Lindores Abbey Distillery or would be interested in purchasing one of their bottles you can visit their website here
Weekly Whisky News- 6th of September
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 6th of September
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Exclusive Whisky Releases: Macallan's 84 Years Old, Ardbeg’s 17 Years Old Revival, and Ballantine’s Tribute to Music Legends
Nc'Nean's Cask Strength Debut, Whisky Exchange's #WeAreWhisky Show Bottlings, and Brave New Spirits' Whisky Heroes Batch Two
- Highland distillery, Nc’Nean, announced a new cask strength expression as the latest addition to its core range of whiskies. Read More
- The Whisky Exchange has unveiled a fun range of whiskies inspired by its #WeAreWhisky campaign exclusively for this year’s Whisky Show taking place in London this weekend (6-8 September). Read More
- The second batch of Whisky Heroes releases were revealed by Brave New Spirits, the independent bottler based in Glasgow. Read More
Jura's Perspective No.1, Tamdhu's Dedication Collection, and Dalmore's Distillery Select Series
- Jura, the single malt scotch whisky distillery at the heart of a Scottish island community off the West Coast of Scotland, announced Perspective No.1 – the first in a new series of limited-edition expressions. Read More
- The Speyside distillery Tamdhu launched its limited-edition Dedication Collection with the release of a new 43-year-old whisky. Read More
- The Dalmore Highland Distillery introduced The Distillery Select series, a collection of three limited-edition single malts, including a 15 Years Old, 17 Years Old, and 24 Years Old. Read More
For more on the latest whisky releases, join us at The Whisky Hub Weekly Whisky News every Friday
Weekly Whisky News- 30th August
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 30th August
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Moët Hennessy & Beyoncé Launch SirDavis Whisky, While Bowmore Marks 250 Years with New Ranges
The Single Cask Unveils Rare Teaninich Whisky for Charity, as Tomintoul Introduces Three New Cask-Finish Expressions
The Glenturret Releases 'Still Life Summer' Whisky in Latest Series by Bob Dalgarno
- Scotland’s oldest working distillery, The Glenturret, launched Still Life Summer, the latest instalment of their Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno’s Still Life series: Read More
For more on the latest whisky releases, join us at The Whisky Hub – Weekly Whisky News – every Friday