The results are in from the Global Spirits Masters – one of the UK’s top annual judging competitions. Assessing the entries this year were a total of six panels, comprised of independent experts from across the industry, including top writers, authors and broadcasters from England and Scotland. After several days of exhaustive blind tastings, they narrowed the lengthy field down to their top scoring bottles: silvers, golds, and – the best of the best – the “Masters.”
When it comes to scotch, 2026 saw an unusually high number of that last category. There were 39 in total. That’s good news for folks who enjoy great whisky. But it’s bad news for folks who have a hard time making decisions; there’s a lot of magical elixirs to sort through here. Mercifully, the Global Spirits Masters anoints just one bottle its annual Tastemaster – the one bottle to rule them all.
Today we uncork that selection to see what makes it so special. Here’s everything you need to know about the Campbeltown Malts Festival Edition 2026 Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Glen Scotia.
Let’s start with how it tastes. The 107.8-proof bottling was primarily matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks where it accrued vanilla fudge undertones that play nicely atop its creamy body. But these are merely the opening chords in this complex orchestration. The real stars of the symphony are ripened red berries and dried clove, threads that are elongated in the palate, delivered largely thanks to the whiskey’s six month finish in first-fill Ruby port casks.
All that aforementioned robustness intertwines compellingly against an edge of coastal brine. It lands courtesy of the peated malt at the heart of this weighty scotch. It’s a remarkable interplay – a surprising degree of sophistication when you consider that this liquid wears an age statement of only seven years. A poignant reminder that chasing old age in scotch can often be a fool’s errand. At the very least, it would preclude you from experiencing the joy of this dram.
Unfortunately for American connoisseurs, we’re largely cut off from experiencing that joy simply on account of geography. The Glen Scotia distillery released this £59 offering only in the UK as part of the annual Campbeltown Malts Festival. The annual four-day event has been held every May in its namesake region of Scotland since 2008. Though that region was dubbed the whisky capital of the world in the Victorian Era – with more than 30 distilleries in its midsts – today Glen Scotia is one of just three that remain.
Though you might not be able to find this award-winning Festival Edition without a trip to its place of birth, there are plenty of other award-winning malts from Glen Scotia to be plucked from US shelves. In fact, four other expressions from the facility received medals at the 2026 Global Spirits Masters. Of them, the 12-Year Old and 15-Year-Old single malt offerings are both widely available here. Both are priced below $100 a bottle, and all are testaments to this too-oft forgotten region of superior scotch production. Which leads us to our final public service announcement of the day: it’s not too early to start planning your trip to the 2027 Campbeltown Malts Festival.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Distillery 'in serious trouble' after Cat and Fiddle closure - BBC
位於英國Peak District的Forest Distillery因Cat and Fiddle道路改善工程面臨生存危機。Derbyshire County Council正進行A54路段的1.7公里路面翻新及排水改善，分兩階段進行至2027年，首階段已於7月開始，將延續至10月。業主Karl Bond表示所有8月預訂已全數取消，員工生計堪憂。附近Duke酒吧及Burbage Village Store也因遊客迂迴繞路導致營收下跌近三成，當地商家生計受嚴重衝擊。
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Distillery 'in serious trouble' after road closure
- Published
The owner of a whisky and gin distillery in the Peak District says a road closure is putting the future of his business at risk.
Derbyshire County Council has started work to resurface and improve drainage on a section of the Cat and Fiddle - which runs between Buxton and Macclesfield - in a bid to make it safer.
Karl Bond, who owns the Forest Distillery at the Cat and Fiddle pub, said all their bookings for August had been cancelled.
Owners of a pub and convenience store near Buxton also said the closure had damaged their trade.
The Cat and Fiddle is made up of two roads, the A54 and A537, which are maintained by different councils.
Derbyshire County Council is resurfacing a 1.7km section of the A54 on the Buxton side in two phases, external, the first of which started in July and is due to run until October.
A second phase is due to start in spring 2027, lasting for 12 weeks.
The closure means visitors can get to Forest Distillery, which sits off the A537, as normal from the Macclesfield side but a lengthy diversion is needed to get there from the Buxton side.
Bond, who took over the business in 2019 with his wife Lindsay, said: "It is devastating and we thought we could potentially lose our business over this, and we still could if people stop coming.
"We are in serious, serious trouble. We employ staff here and they've all got lives and families.
"It's all on the line. So it's still a huge worry every morning when we wake up."
Bec Higgins, who runs The Duke pub in Burbage, near Buxton, said her takings had been down by nearly a third since the work started in late July.
"We're very lucky, we've got a really good local community but we're definitely noticing that the car park's a little empty here which is meaning we're not getting that stop-through," she said.
Carl Mycock, runs the Burbage Village Store next door to the pub and said his business had also taken a hit, with fewer lorry drivers stopping for food and drink.
"We're down quite considerably lately, since the road's been closed, we've noticed the difference straight away, he said.
Derbyshire County Council leader Alan Graves said: "The Cat and Fiddle is one of Derbyshire's most important routes, but its exposed location means it faces significant challenges from severe weather and heavy use.
"This first phase of works is essential as we invest heavily in its long-term resilience and make vital improvements to make the road safer, more resilient and better prepared for winter conditions.
"Whilst these works are carried out, we're using our new fence to fence approach to carry out additional maintenance works such as drainage improvements and vegetation removal to avoid any further unnecessary road closures."
He added that subject to weather conditions the council would try to finish the work ahead of schedule.
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- Published31 October 2013
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Selichos 5783 - The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth Archaeological Discovery Illicit Whisky Still (3ZhzJrfDMz) - Mshale｜僅標題
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Stout, whiskey... wine? Ireland's small but determined vineyards making their mark
- Published
Think about drinks produced in Ireland and you'd probably picture a creamy pint of stout or a tumbler of amber whiskey.
The last thing you'd probably think of is a glass of wine.
However, the Republic of Ireland is recognised as a wine producing country by the European Commission.
While it still has only a handful of commercial vineyards, along with smaller growers experimenting with wine production, the amount of land being planted with vineyards is continuing to grow.
A new winery near Slane in County Meath is believed to be the biggest ever planting of vines in Ireland - about 36,000 vines on 30 hectares of land.
'We really are the extreme'
David Llewellyn is one of Ireland's original winemakers, first becoming involved in the late 1980s, planting "a few dozen different vines" and observing "which ones were potentially viable".
He established Lusca vineyard in County Dublin in 2002, and currently produces 1,500 to 2,000 bottles per year.
He said for many people Irish wine "is a curiosity, it's a novelty".
Llewellyn said the two varieties he "swears by "are a red called rondo and a white called Madeline Angevine".
"There are very few varieties of grape that can be grown reliably here in Ireland," he said.
He said while comparisons are sometimes made between viticulture in Ireland and the UK, they are very different.
"It's less marginal than we are, we are really the extreme," he said.
"They can grow all kinds of varieties in England we just cannot grow here in Ireland - some of the classics like pinot noir and chardonnay.
"In Ireland we don't have a hope at all of growing those grapes, but unfortunately people are planting them."
Llewellyn said he tries to meet new winemakers in Ireland to pass on his knowledge.
"Anybody can do what I'm achieving if they do it right and plant the right varieties in the right type of location and if they have the skills and knowledge," he said.
Further south, in County Waterford, David Dennison started his Viking Winery in 2009, planting 30 vines of rondo.
He now has three and a half hectares producing 14 different varieties - red, white and 'pet nat' sparkling wine.
All are hybrids - crossbred varieties created by combining two or more distinct grape species.
"We think there's a great future in hybrids," he said.
"The flavours you get from the wines are just spectacular."
He added: "We're certified organic, we don't use sprays, using hybrids we don't need sprays, because they're disease resistant so they're very, very good for our climate.
"When these wines come into fashion, you get more and more producers producing them, I think the public will start to say 'that's different'.
"But it's a long journey, we're only at the beginning."
He said the winery usually produces 2,500 to 3,000 bottles per year.
"I think this year we're maybe going to hit 4,500," he said.
"If we had our vines in full production now we could be up to about 15,000 bottles, that's what we're trying to work towards."
Dennison said he follows the wine industry in Sweden and Denmark more than the UK "because they're doing exactly what I think we're going to do".
He said grapes are like any other Irish crop "everything really depends on the weather".
"In the spring our biggest threat is frost, we have to put out burners and candles and everything to try and fight off the frost because if we don't we lose the early crop, we lose the white."
Dennison is setting up an Irish winemakers' association, with just under 30 potential members.
Last weekend, The Irish Times reported, external that a large winery in County Louth has been dropped by a distributor as its labelling didn't reflect that some French grapes had been used in its production.
Dennison said all winemakers would be invited to join the association "if they adhere to the rules".
Will climate conditions become more favourable?
Climate change expert Prof John Sweeney said he is "not too surprised we now have vineyards in Ireland and it's probably going to become more viable as our summer temperatures increase further.
"Viticulture benefits from relatively dry summers and again the models are predicting summers will become drier in Ireland," he said.
He said the vineyards currently operating in Ireland tend to be on the east coast on relatively free-draining soils and sandier soils.
"I don't think it's going to be something that spreads very quickly," he added.
"But the way global temperatures and Irish temperatures are going anything is possible by the end of the century."
While he said viticulture was unlikely to spread to the west and north west, parts of Northern Ireland could become viable.
"Around Dundrum and those kind of sandy soil areas would possibly be candidates," he said.
Looking to the future, David Llewellyn said he hopes the industry continues to grow in a sensible way, rather than people producing "a whole load of substandard wines".
"It'll be taken seriously if it's done right and if the wine is good," he said.
He warned that the production of what he termed "fake Irish wine" is the biggest threat to the industry's credibility.
David Dennison said a lot of people "don't even know about" the Irish wine industry.
"They haven't been exposed to it, but they will when we get our act together," he said.
"There's not enough of it, that's the problem."
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- Published5 days ago
- Published16 December 2024
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Distillery 'in serious trouble' after road closure - BBC
位於英國德比郡Cat and Fiddle的Forest Distillery因道路改善工程面臨營運危機。德比郡議會對A54路段進行路面重鋪和排水改善，導致從Buxton方向進入酒廠的道路被迫繞路。酒廠老闆Karl Bond表示8月預訂全數取消，員工工作岌岌可危。鄰近的酒吧和便利店營收也下滑近三分之一。工程第一階段預計持續至10月，第二階段將在2027年春季進行。
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Distillery 'in serious trouble' after road closure
The owner of a whisky and gin distillery in the Peak District says a road closure is putting the future of his business at risk.
Derbyshire County Council has started work to resurface and improve drainage on a section of the Cat and Fiddle - which runs between Buxton and Macclesfield - in a bid to make it safer.
Karl Bond, who owns the Forest Distillery at the Cat and Fiddle pub, said all their bookings for August had been cancelled.
Owners of a pub and convenience store near Buxton also said the closure had damaged their trade.
The Cat and Fiddle is made up of two roads, the A54 and A537, which are maintained by different councils.
Derbyshire County Council is resurfacing a 1.7km section of the A54 on the Buxton side in two phases, the first of which started in July and is due to run until October.
A second phase is due to start in spring 2027, lasting for 12 weeks.
The closure means visitors can get to Forest Distillery, which sits off the A537, as normal from the Macclesfield side but a lengthy diversion is needed to get there from the Buxton side.
Bond, who took over the business in 2019 with his wife Lindsay, said: "It is devastating and we thought we could potentially lose our business over this, and we still could if people stop coming.
"We are in serious, serious trouble. We employ staff here and they've all got lives and families.
"It's all on the line. So it's still a huge worry every morning when we wake up."
Bec Higgins, who runs The Duke pub in Burbage, near Buxton, said her takings had been down by nearly a third since the work started in late July.
"We're very lucky, we've got a really good local community but we're definitely noticing that the car park's a little empty here which is meaning we're not getting that stop-through," she said.
Carl Mycock, runs the Burbage Village Store next door to the pub and said his business had also taken a hit, with fewer lorry drivers stopping for food and drink.
"We're down quite considerably lately, since the road's been closed, we've noticed the difference straight away, he said.
Derbyshire County Council leader Alan Graves said: "The Cat and Fiddle is one of Derbyshire's most important routes, but its exposed location means it faces significant challenges from severe weather and heavy use.
"This first phase of works is essential as we invest heavily in its long-term resilience and make vital improvements to make the road safer, more resilient and better prepared for winter conditions.
"Whilst these works are carried out, we're using our new fence to fence approach to carry out additional maintenance works such as drainage improvements and vegetation removal to avoid any further unnecessary road closures."
He added that subject to weather conditions the council would try to finish the work ahead of schedule.
Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
Dancing Goat Distillery Launches Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon and American Single Malt
Dancing Goat Distillery in Cambridge, WI has announced the launch of Stillman’s Sonder, a new whiskey brand debuting with two expressions – a 10 year old Straight Bourbon and a 10 year old American Single Malt.
Stillman’s Sonder Straight Bourbon Whiskey was distilled at MGP in Indiana and aged in both Andean and American Oak barrels, with several components of the final blend seeing a double-oaked barrel process. In the 6 months before bottling, barrels were spoon proofed at times with encouraged oxidation through short fills and vatting before bottling at 94 proof (47% ABV).
Official tasting notes for Stillman’s Sonder Straight Bourbon Whiskey follow:
The nose is remarkably expressive, showing evidence of the multiple barrel strategies and layered blending. Most prominent are notes of milk chocolate, ripe strawberry, and chai tea. There is also a curious hint of the outdoors, wet stone and live wood, like a forest stream in autumn.
The palate is sweet and remarkably concentrated. It opens with brown sugar and sweet cream, touched with vanilla bean. The strawberry note is confirmed here as well, though it subsides into a more structured sweet cardamom as the palate evolves.
The finish travels extremely far on the palate. What starts as sweet and inviting meets a robust wall of oak, showcasing the precise use of several different barrel types. In the end, the milk chocolate and berry notes prevail, leaving a sense of complexity with an inviting, long, and pleasant finish.
Stillman’s Sonder American Single Malt was distilled at MGP in Indiana and aged in Wisconsin. After initial maturation, it underwent three rounds of blending, re-barreling, and finishing across a range of casks – including virgin oak, ex-bourbon, Wisconsin brandy, Cognac, and Calvados – before bottling at 96.4 proof (48.2% ABV).
Official tasting notes for Stillman’s Sonder American Single Malt follow:
The nose features a subtle, integrated oak profile, dominated by toasted dessert spices like nutmeg and allspice. Unlike bourbon, vanilla plays a backseat role here rather than taking the lead. The fruit is sweet and stewed — think peach cobbler or baked pear.
The palate is surprisingly soft and slowly evolving, holding its fruit through the mid-palate while the more exotic baking spice notes develop into vanilla bean and caramel apple. The sweetness is viscous yet delicate, like light brown sugar or a balanced custard. As the palate transitions into the finish, the fresh fruit returns, leaving a sensation of Fuji apple and spiced pear.
Stillman’s Sonder’s finish begins late, offering a longer mid-palate experience than most whiskeys. Here, the spices finally transform into a touch of heat, with vanilla bean turning to chai and toasted black peppercorn. The Fuji apple note lingers but merges with more classic, oxidative whiskey tones — showing more as mulled cider or spiced pie. Most notably, the sweetness holds its own against the heat, leaving a balanced, lingering caramel afterthought.
Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon and 10 Year American Single Malt are now available for purchase online via stillmanssonder.com and at select U.S. retailers for a suggested retail price of $70 per 700 mL bottle. Limited single barrel selections are also available for both expressions.
Source: Dancing Goat Distillery.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Jack Daniel’s Unveils Distillery Series Selection #17 - One More Dram
Jack Daniel's 推出限量版蒸餾廠系列 Selection #17，採用2016年裝桶的傳統 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey。威士忌在蒸餾廠最高樓層熟成，天使份額蒸發量大，濃縮出豐富風味。酒精度 138.4 proof（69.2% ABV），帶有紅糖、香蕉堅果麵包與楓糖漿香氣，收尾柔和橡木味。375 mL裝，建議零售價 $44.75（約台幣1,425元），目前僅在田納西州及 Jack Daniel's 蒸餾廠販售。
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Jack Daniel’s Unveils Distillery Series Selection #17
The Jack Daniel Distillery has unveiled the latest release in it’s limited edition Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series, Selection #17: High Angel’s Share Tennessee Whiskey.
The creation of Distillery Series Selection #17 began with traditional Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey laid down in 2016. The whiskey rested atop Coy Hill on the top floor of Barrelhouse 1-13 for a high angel’s share maturation. As the barrels rested in the highest reaches of the barrelhouse, an increased amount of whiskey was lost, presenting a deeply rich concentration of flavors within the remaining spirit.
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Selection #17 is bottled at 138.4 proof (69.2% ABV) and described as “coating the palate in brown sugar, banana nut bread, and a hint of maple syrup, leading into a long finish delivering just the right touch of oak and a comforting embrace of rich, warm flavor.”
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Selection #17: High Angel’s Share Tennessee Whiskey is presented in 375 mL bottles and is now available exclusively in Tennessee and at the White Rabbit Bottle Shop at the Jack Daniel Distillery for a suggested retail price of $44.75.
Image credit: Jack Daniel’s.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Boplaas unveils its oldest whisky yet – A 15-year-old single cask release - news.wine.co.za
南非Boplaas Family Vineyards推出旗艦作品Boplaas 15-Year-Old Single Grain Whisky，採用南非黃玉米製造，先在美國前波本桶（包括Heaven Hill、Buffalo Trace、Wild Turkey等名廠）陳年，後轉入Boplaas自有白蘭地桶繼續熟成。全球限量400瓶，售價R1,300元/瓶（約台幣2,500元），首批200瓶已售罄。此酒運用Klein Karoo獨特風土——乾熱夏季、低濕度和巨大日溫差——加速風味發展。Boplaas以優異的桶選能力見長，旗下12年份蘭姆桶威士忌曾連續兩年獲World Whiskies Awards南非最佳穀物威士忌獎。
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Boplaas Family Vineyards has announced the release of its oldest whisky to date: the Boplaas 15-Year-Old Single Grain Whisky, matured for fifteen years in a combination of carefully selected ex-bourbon and brandy casks.
The limited-edition single cask release comprises just 400 individually numbered bottles, priced at R1 300 each. Demand has been immediate, with the first 200 bottles selling out after Boplaas Wine and Whisky Club members received exclusive early access before the remaining allocation was released to the public.
Crafted from South African yellow maize, the whisky was column distilled before spending fifteen years maturing in the unique climate of the Klein Karoo. Initially aged in premium American ex-bourbon barrels sourced from renowned distilleries including Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey, the whisky was then matured in carefully selected Boplaas brandy casks, adding further depth and complexity.
Unlike malt whisky, where the grain itself contributes much of the spirit's character, single grain whisky derives a significant portion of its flavour from the quality of the casks in which it matures. Barrel selection has become one of Boplaas's defining strengths, drawing on more than a century of experience ageing premium wines, Cape Ports and potstill brandies.
The Klein Karoo also provides exceptional conditions for spirit maturation. Its hot, dry summers, low humidity and significant day-to-night temperature swings encourage greater interaction between the whisky and the oak, accelerating flavour development while producing a rich, concentrated spirit.
"Our philosophy has always been that exceptional casks create exceptional whisky," says Daniel Nel, sixth-generation distiller at Boplaas. "Years of working with premium bourbon barrels, together with our own brandy, port casks and the unique ageing conditions of the Klein Karoo, have allowed us to produce a whisky that reflects both patience and place."
The release builds on Boplaas's growing international reputation for grain whisky. The distillery's 12-Year-Old Rum Cask Single Grain Whisky was named Best South African Grain Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards for two consecutive years, cementing Boplaas as one of the country's leading whisky producers.
With only 400 bottles available, the 15-Year-Old Single Grain Whisky represents Boplaas's rarest and oldest whisky release to date and showcases what long-term maturation can achieve under the distinctive conditions of the Klein Karoo.
About Boplaas Family Vineyards
Boplaas Family Vineyards is a seventh-generation family-owned wine and spirits estate in Calitzdorp. Since 1880, the Nel family has produced award-winning wines, Cape Ports and potstill brandies, and in recent years has established itself as one of South Africa's leading craft whisky producers.
Boplaas has been recognised with multiple national and international awards, including consecutive titles for Best South African Grain Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards. Boplaas’s 20 Year Old Potstill Brandy was also awarded the best Brandy in South Africa and scored the highest score of all spirits entered at the Michelangelo Wine and Spirits Awards in 2025.
For more information, contact the Boplaas team via email at admin@boplaas.co.za or phone at 044 213 3326, or visit their website: boplaas.co.za.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Watch: RIKKI ROCKETT's THE ROCKETT MAFIA Performs POISON's Entire 'Look What The Cat Dragged In' Album At Whisky A Go Go - BLABBERMOUTH.NET
Poison 創始鼓手 Rikki Rockett 8月14日在洛杉磯西好萊塢的傳奇音樂酒吧 Whisky A Go Go 進行演出，率領新樂隊 The Rockett Mafia 完整演奏 Poison 首張專輯《Look What The Cat Dragged In》全曲目，慶祝該專輯發行40週年。此舉乃首次現場完整演奏該專輯，陣容包括 Rikki Rockett 鼓手、Brandon Gibbs 主唱吉他手、Stacey Blades 吉他手及 Michael Adams 貝斯手。Rockett 表示這場巡迴是「回歸原點」的時刻，樂隊將在全美巡演其他場次，並提供VIP套票供粉絲見面。
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Watch: RIKKI ROCKETT's THE ROCKETT MAFIA Performs POISON's Entire 'Look What The Cat Dragged In' Album At Whisky A Go Go
August 16, 2026On Friday, August 14, founding POISON drummer Rikki Rockett paid tribute to POISON's "Look What The Cat Dragged In" album by performing the entire LP with his new band, THE ROCKETT MAFIA, at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. This year marks the album's 40th anniversary, which features the hits "Talk Dirty To Me", "I Want Action", "Cry Tough" and the album's title cut.
Fan-filmed video of the Whisky A Go Go concert — uploaded by the Kenneth Ramone channel on YouTube — can be seen below.
THE ROCKETT MAFIA's lineup for the Whisky A Go Go show consisted of Rikki Rockett on drums, Brandon Gibbs (DEVIL CITY ANGELS) on vocals and guitar, Stacey Blades (L.A. GUNS) on guitar and backing vocals, and Michael Adams (PUDDLE OF MUDD) on bass.
THE ROCKETT MAFIA kicked off its series of shows paying tribute to "Look What The Cat Dragged In" on May 21 at The Vixen in McHenry, Illinois.
When the shows were first announced in April, Rikki said in a statement: "Playing POISON's first album with THE ROCKETT MAFIA is a full-circle moment for me. It's raw, it's fun, and it's exactly how those songs were meant to be heard. Celebrating the 40th anniversary is really about giving the fans a chance to relive that moment with us."
Rikki added in separate video message: "It's gonna be a celebration of 'Look What The Cat Dragged In'. We're calling it 'Look What The Mob Dragged In', going across this country. We're gonna perform everything, from the first chord to the last scream of that record, plus more, some fan favorites. But we're not gonna stop there. We're gonna offer some really cool VIP packages where you can, of course, meet the band, take a picture, come to a soundcheck, signed merch, all kinds of really cool stuff. Make sure to go to rockettmafia.com and get all that information on tickets and VIP packages, when and where we're playing. We're gonna upload some really cool content as well along the way."
This is a historic moment for all POISON fans, as this is the first time that "Look What The Cat Dragged In" is being played in its entirety. Rockett's involvement with the performance creates a unique and authentic experience that will electrify the rock scene with THE ROCKETT MAFIA while honoring POISON's legacy.
"This band lets me play the kind of rock I grew up loving — loud, raw, and from the heart," said Rockett. "We take the music we love and give it new life."
In addition to performing songs from the POISON catalog, THE ROCKETT MAFIA performs a powerful mix of classic rock from the 1970s and 1980s, often reimagining songs from that era with a heavier, more contemporary feel.
Earlier this year, POISON scrapped its previously proposed 2026 tour plans to commemorate the 40th anniversary of "Look What the Cat Dragged In" after frontman Bret Michaels allegedly demanded to earn $6 for every dollar his each of his bandmates stood to make from the shows, a claim made by Rockett in January. Bret later shot down the report, saying he and his POISON bandmates "never got to that part of negotiations."
POISON was founded in 1983 and released "Look What the Cat Dragged In" in May 1986.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Wyoming Whiskey Launches State of the Union - One More Dram
Wyoming Whiskey推出State of the Union限量版直波本威士忌，紀念美國獨立250週年。該酒款熟成6年，酒精度98 proof（49% ABV），具有樹莓、軟檸檬與甜茶香氣，口感層次豐富，呈現桃子、樹莓、白巧克力與黑糖風味，餘韻則帶有蜜餞薑、櫻桃與滑順牛奶巧克力。建議零售價$79.99美元，目前限於懷俄明州特定零售商販售。
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Wyoming Whiskey Launches State of the Union
Wyoming Whiskey has announced the launch of State of the Union, a limited-edition straight bourbon whiskey created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Aged for six years and bottled at 98 proof (49% ABV), State of the Union is described as having aromas of “raspberry and soft lemon, rounded out by a touch of sweet tea.” The palate exhibits notes of “peaches and raspberries layered with white chocolate and brown sugar.” It finishes with “candied ginger and cherry balanced by smooth milk chocolate.”
Wyoming Whiskey State of the Union is available exclusively at the Whiskey Shop in Kirby, Barrel House in Jackson, and select retailers throughout Wyoming for a suggested retail price of $79.99.
Source: Wyoming Whiskey.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Taste Test: Jameson Distiller’s Batch Is an Excellent Upgrade to Its Core Irish Whiskey - Robb Report
Jameson推出Distiller's Batch，一款單一壺式蒸餾愛爾蘭威士忌，在美國市場新上市（先前在愛爾蘭和英國以Jameson Single Pot Still之名銷售）。該酒採用五種不同木桶陳釀（波本桶、Oloroso雪莉桶及處女橡木桶），相比經典Jameson調和威士忌更為複雜，具有香草、香料、水果、巧克力、肉豆蔻、肉桂等多層風味，評分88分（Very Good等級）。評論認為此款展現傳統愛爾蘭威士忌風格，有助於將消費者進一步帶入愛爾蘭威士忌的世界。
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Welcome to Taste Test, where every week our critic Jonah Flicker explores the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world. Check back each Sunday for his latest whiskey review.
You don’t have to be a whiskey expert to recognize the name Jameson. After all, it’s the best-selling Irish whiskey in the world (and one of the most popular whiskeys in the world, full stop). Walk into any bar, and you’re going to find people drinking Jameson neat, on the rocks, or as a shot paired with a cold beer (my fave). But there’s much more to this historic brand than the core blended Irish whiskey that it’s best known for, as evidenced by the excellent new Distiller’s Batch which simultaneously brings Jameson back to its roots and expands its range.
Regular Jameson is, as mentioned before, a blended whiskey. Specifically, it’s a blend of grain whiskey and single pot still whiskey that is produced at the Midleton Distillery just outside of Cork, both of which are aged for a minimum of three years in bourbon barrels and sherry butts. While Jameson is by far the highest volume whiskey produced at Midleton, the distillery also makes excellent whiskey under other names like Redbreast, Powers, Green Spot (and all the other Spots), and Midleton Very Rare.
The latter component in the Jameson blend is arguably the most Irish style of Irish whiskey. “Single pot still” means that it’s made at one distillery on a pot still using a mashbill that includes both malted and unmalted barley, and sometimes a small amount of other grains (compare that to single malt, which is made from 100 percent malted barley). The result is usually a fruity and oily whiskey that is a wonderful sipper when produced and matured using the right methods.
Clearly, the team at Midleton, led by master distiller Kevin O’Gorman, knows what those right methods are. The new Distiller’s Batch, which was previously available in Ireland and the U.K. under the name Jameson Single Pot Still, is indeed a single pot still Irish whiskey and not a blend. It was renamed Distiller’s Batch and just released in America, and I’m glad it’s arrived here. The whiskey was aged in a total of five different types of casks: ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry, and virgin Irish, European, and American oak. That’s a lot of virgin oak in the mix, which adds an intensity of flavor compared to used barrels, and each type of wood is meant to bring different notes to the palate. Overall, this is a relatively complex maturation process, but O’Gorman and his team have gotten it right here and it does not go overboard.
This whiskey is still recognizably Jameson, but Distiller’s Batch is much more complex than the core blend, something that you immediately pick up as you sip. There are classic notes of vanilla, spice, and fruit, but the palate diverges into rich notes of dark and milk chocolate, some nutmeg and cinnamon, honey sticks, maple, and ripe stone fruit, all undercut by a bit of tannic oak and a creamy mouthfeel. The brand doesn’t say how long the whiskey spent in those five cask types (by law, it’s at least three years), but the whiskey drinks well aged and not thin or immature.
I’m no whiskey snob; I like classic Jameson, although the time and the place have got to be just right (a dive bar will do just fine). But I like this new whiskey even more, and I will gladly keep this bottle on my home bar to sip neat or use in a cocktail. Distiller’s Batch isn’t reinventing the wheel—it’s showcasing a very traditional style of Irish whiskey that has been thoughtfully distilled and matured. I think this new release will help to bring people further into the Irish whiskey fold who maybe have only tried regular Jameson, and given the current state of the whiskey industry that’s a smart move.
Score: 88
- 100 Worth trading your first born for
- 95 – 99 In the Pantheon: A trophy for the cabinet
- 90 – 94 Great: An excited nod from friends when you pour them a dram
- 85 – 89 Very Good: Delicious enough to buy, but not quite special enough to chase on the secondary market
- 80 – 84 Good: More of your everyday drinker, solid and reliable
- Below 80 It’s Alright: Honestly, we probably won’t waste your time and ours with this
Google News（Scotch/Distillery）｜原題：Bruichladdich is celebrating 25 years of single malt Scotch innovation with Greener Still - Yahoo
艾雷島威士忌酒廠 Bruichladdich 推出限量版 Greener Still 單一麥芽威士忌，慶祝蒸餾廠重啟 25 週年。這款 15 年份新酒採用有機、生物動力學及 Bere 大麥混合釀造，在第一次使用的波本桶中熟成，酒精度 51.6%，無冷凝過濾。酒款為 Bruichladdich 招牌的無泥煤風格，帶有花香、果香和蜂蜜甜度。美國獨家線上販售，建議零售價 $159.99（約 NT$5,100）。
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Islay is an island of the Inner Hebrides located off the coast of Scotland. It's well-known for its large sheep population and number of noteworthy distilleries. One of the most highly regarded is Bruichladdich. Resurrected 25 years ago, the brand is celebrating by releasing a new whisky called Greener Still.
Bruichladdich Greener Still
This limited-edition single malt whisky joins the brand's Still Series that already features Blacker Still, Redder Still, and Golder Still. Greener Still is a 15-year-old expression that was not only crafted to pay tribute to the distillery's 25th birthday (since it was reopened), but to highlight the environmental and social sustainability found in Scotch whisky. It's not the only single malt released to celebrate the anniversary, though. It joins the previously released Bruichladdich Old Skool and Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III. Both of which were released earlier this year.
This unique release was distilled using a combination of Organic, Biodynamic and Bere barley. It was matured for 15 years in first-fill bourbon barrels. Unlike many whiskies from the island, Bruichladdich is known for its unpeated expressions, and Greener Still is no exception. The result is a multi-layered, memorable 51.6% ABV, non-chill-filtered single malt whisky that you'll want to sip neat or with a splash or two of water to open up the aromas and flavors.
"Bruichladdich Greener Still is a barley-forward whisky in every sense," Bruichladdich Master Blender Adam Hannett says.
"The Organic, Biodynamic and Bere barley parcels each bring something different – texture, spice, fruit and this incredible malt character that runs right through the dram."
He adds, "The bourbon casks frame that complexity without ever overpowering it. You get soft florals on the nose, ripe orchard fruit and honeyed sweetness on the palate, and this effortless, velvety finish with a lick of vanilla and coastal freshness. It's a whisky of precision and elegance, revealing profound depth the longer you sit with it."
Where can I buy it?
Bruichladdich Greener Still is currently available in the US exclusively online at https://us.bruichladdich.com/ for the suggested retail price of $159.99 for a 750ml bottle. For more information on this and all Bruichladdich releases, visit https://us.bruichladdich.com/
FOR hundreds of years, Islay has been a hub for highly prized whiskies, with its wind-blown sea salt and peat said to imbue drams there with unique characteristics.
FOR hundreds of years, Islay has been a hub for highly prized whiskies, with its wind-blown sea salt and peat said to imbue drams there with unique characteristics.
The World’s Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky—According To The 2026 Global Spirits Masters
The results are in from the Global Spirits Masters – one of the UK's top annual judging competitions. Assessing the entries this year were a total of six panels, comprised of independent experts from across the industry, including top writers, authors and broadcasters from England and Scotland. After several days of exhaustive blind tastings, they narrowed the lengthy field down to their top scoring bottles: silvers, golds, and – the best of the best – the "Masters."
When it comes to scotch, 2026 saw an unusually high number of that last category. There were 39 in total. That's good news for folks who enjoy great whisky. But it's bad news for folks who have a hard time making decisions; there's a lot of magical elixirs to sort through here. Mercifully, the Global Spirits Masters anoints just one bottle its annual Tastemaster – the one bottle to rule them all.
Today we uncork that selection to see what makes it so special. Here's everything you need to know about the Campbeltown Malts Festival Edition 2026 Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Glen Scotia.
Let's start with how it tastes. The 107.8-proof bottling was primarily matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks where it accrued vanilla fudge undertones that play nicely atop its creamy body. But these are merely the opening chords in this complex orchestration. The real stars of the symphony are ripened red berries and dried clove, threads that are elongated in the palate, delivered largely thanks to the whiskey's six month finish in first-fill Ruby port casks.
All that aforementioned robustness intertwines compellingly against an edge of coastal brine. It lands courtesy of the peated malt at the heart of this weighty scotch. It's a remarkable interplay – a surprising degree of sophistication when you consider that this liquid wears an age statement of only seven years. A poignant reminder that chasing old age in scotch can often be a fool's errand. At the very least, it would preclude you from experiencing the joy of this dram.
Unfortunately for American connoisseurs, we're largely cut off from experiencing that joy simply on account of geography. The Glen Scotia distillery released this £59 offering only in the UK as part of the annual Campbeltown Malts Festival. The annual four-day event has been held every May in its namesake region of Scotland since 2008. Though that region was dubbed the whisky capital of the world in the Victorian Era – with more than 30 distilleries in its midsts – today Glen Scotia is one of just three that remain.
Though you might not be able to find this award-winning Festival Edition without a trip to its place of birth, there are plenty of other award-winning malts from Glen Scotia to be plucked from US shelves. In fact, four other expressions from the facility received medals at the 2026 Global Spirits Masters. Of them, the 12-Year Old and 15-Year-Old single malt offerings are both widely available here. Both are priced below $100 a bottle, and all are testaments to this too-oft forgotten region of superior scotch production. Which leads us to our final public service announcement of the day: it's not too early to start planning your trip to the 2027 Campbeltown Malts Festival.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Google News（Scotch/Distillery）｜原題：Barbecue-Paired Whisky Ventures - Trend Hunter
Grant's Blended Scotch Whisky格蘭三桶威士忌與卡加里Brewery and the Beast燒烤節合作，推出以Triple Wood為基酒的兩款特調雞尾酒——含蜂蜜、檸檬、艾伯塔蜂莓和薄荷的卡加里碎冰飲，以及加新鮮橙片的威士忌可樂，同時提供原酒品飲機會。該活動突顯Grant's Triple Wood採用三種桶型（美國橡木、波本桶、處女橡木）釀製、具有香草、香料和棕糖甜感的特色，旨在與燒烤煙火風味形成互補。此趨勢反映威士忌品牌正藉由餐飲節慶搭配開發新市場，透過沉浸式品飲體驗吸引休閒飲用者。
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Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky has partnered with Calgary’s Brewery and the Beast festival, a premier barbecue and drink event featuring over 60 award-winning restaurants and live-fire cooking, to showcase its Triple Wood expression through two curated cocktails. These include the Calgary Smash, made with honey, lemon, Alberta honeyberries, and mint, and a Whisky & Cola elevated with fresh orange. As part of the venture, the company also boasts neat sampling opportunities. All of these whisky-focused activations are designed to complement the smoky, bold flavours of the festival’s offerings.
Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky's Triple Wood is created using three distinct cask types — Virgin Oak for warm spice, American Oak for soft vanilla, and Bourbon Refill for brown sugar sweetness. This makes for a smooth, approachable whisky with notes of vanilla, spice, and subtle sweetness that make it versatile enough to enjoy neat, over ice, or in cocktails.
Image Credit: Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky
What's Driving This Trend
- Barbecue-paired Spirits
- Smoky live-fire dining environments are creating new space for spirits brands to position whisky as a complementary culinary pairing rather than a standalone beverage.
- Festival Cocktail Activations
- Experiential drink formats at food festivals are reshaping brand discovery by blending sampling, mixology, and localized flavor ingredients into immersive consumer touchpoints.
- Approachable Whisky Experiences
- Smooth, cocktail-friendly whisky expressions are lowering entry barriers for casual drinkers while expanding premium spirits consumption beyond traditional neat pours.
Who This Affects Most
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Whisky producers are finding growth potential in occasion-based partnerships that connect product profiles to specific food cultures and social settings.
- Food Festivals
- Large-scale culinary events are becoming strategic platforms for beverage collaboration as brands seek high-engagement environments with adventurous consumers.
- Hospitality Marketing
- Branded tasting moments and curated cocktail menus are expanding experiential marketing models through sensory pairings that link flavor, atmosphere, and lifestyle identity.
Google News（ウイスキー）｜原題：ローソンのロールケーキにウイスキーのソーダ割り？店内のバーで試した6つのマリアージュ - otonano-shumatsu.com
日本東京新宿一家居酒屋《お酒の美術館》推出羅森便利商店甜點與威士忌、燒酎的餐酒搭配企劃。包括滑順布丁蛋糕配Glenmorangie歡雀單一麥芽威士忌、中式月餅配魔王芋燒酎蘇打、提拉米蘇配Johnnie Walker Black Label 12年等6款組合。該店位於新宿華盛頓飯店地下1樓，價格平易近人，允許顧客自帶便利商店購買的甜點。
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Saif Ali Khan claims he set the trend of iconic whisky-glass dance before Bobby Deol's Animal's ‘Jamal Kudu’! - odishatv.in｜僅標題
（僅標題資訊）印度演員Saif Ali Khan聲稱自己是在電影中使用威士忌杯進行標誌性舞蹈動作的始創者，比Bobby Deol在《Animal》中的『Jamal Kudu』舞蹈更早。這則新聞涉及寶萊塢電影文化與威士忌的結合。
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Rob McElhenney Talks Wrexham, The New Season Of It's Always Sunny, Eagles And Four Walls Whiskey Svitolina (1Mr8iJZQWm) - Mshale｜僅標題
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 77F. Winds light and variable..
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 77F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: August 16, 2026 @ 6:19 pm
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Lady Gaga often has whisky, is an ‘adventurous eater’, How does she keep fit? Her chef reveals, 'She stays - The Economic Times
流行天後 Lady Gaga 的私人主廚 Bo O'Connor 在 2024 年專訪中透露，Gaga 為準備電影《Jolie à Deux》而遵循的飲食計畫。儘管她是「冒險的美食家」，但刻意避免超加工食品，早餐多為蛋白和蔬菜或希臘優格，午晚餐則以沙拉、藜麥義大利麵和蝦肉為主。此外她也常喝綠茶和綠果汁保持水分。值得注意的是，Gaga 坦言經常喝威士忌，其前任男友曾著書分享如何在飲酒狀態下減重 40 磅的方法。
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Lady Gaga often has whisky, is an ‘adventurous eater’, How does she keep fit? Her chef reveals, 'She stays away from…’
Synopsis
In an old interview, pop diva Lady Gaga opened up on a rather unconventional diet she once followed to keep in shape. She also admitted she drank often.
Her then boyfriend, musician and personal trainer Luc Carl wrote in his book ‘The Drunk Diet’ how he accomplished the feat of losing 40 pounds, all while drinking alcohol.
An article on Glamour stated that alcohol contains roughly 7 calories per gram, which can add up (particularly considering it contains no nutrition). However, the concept of alcohol-focused diets is not new; "The Drinking Man's Diet" advocates frequent consumption of lower-carb liquors in addition to carb-free diets.
What happens when you exercise while being hangover? If you drink some energy-boosting drink with lots of electrolytes, a workout can relieve the symptoms of a hangover.
In a 2024 interview with Women’s Health, the superstar’s chef, Bo O'Connor, shared she followed a very different diet to get in shape for the Joker sequel, Folie à Deux.
He said that while she was an “adventurous eater", she steered clear of ultra-processed foods. Breakfast consisted of a lot of egg whites with lots of vegetables or Greek yoghurt with some granola. Sometimes, she would have the healthier version of the French toast.
Lunch usually consisted of a heart salad. She would often have salad throughout the day. Dinner usually included quinoa pasta along with vegetables and grilled shrimp.
Gaga also has a lot of green tea, fresh coconut water and green juice to keep herself hydrated.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Saif Ali Khan says he did the iconic whisky-glass dance before Bobby Deol in 'Animal': 'It was trendsette - The Times of India
Saif Ali Khan brought his signature energy to the Indian Army camp in
Uri as he joined the soldiers as part of an event. The actor grooved to his popular tracks, shared stories from his career, and spent quality time bonding with the jawans throughout the day. During the interaction at the event, he shared that the whisky glass on head dance was done by him before
Bobby Deol in 'Animal'.
Saif Ali Khan says he did the whisky-glass dance before Bobby Deol
Saif Ali Khan was the chief guest for NDTV's Jai Jawan 2026 programme and lit up the stage performing his '90s classic 'Ole Ole' along with the chartbuster 'Pungi' from 'Agent Vinod', a film he starred in alongside Kareena Kapoor. Talking about the making of 'Pungi', sung by Mika Singh and composed by Pritam, Saif recalled how much of the performance was unplanned. He shared, "The shoot was interesting. The choreographer told me some moves and then asked me to do the rest on my own. So that was all improvised. And if you remember, the song starts with a whisky glass on my head. And that became so famous in 'Animal' when Bobby Deol did it. But actually it all started from this song. It was a trendsetter."
More about Saif Ali Khan's visit to Uri
Beyond the performances, Saif spent time cooking pooris with the jawans in the kitchen and shared a meal with them.
He also picked up a guitar to entertain the soldiers, adding a musical touch to the day's celebrations. The actor visited the Kaman Aman Setu on the Jhelum River, a bridge built by the Indian Army in just six hours. A self-confessed cricket enthusiast, Saif also played a friendly match with the soldiers.
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About Saif Ali Khan
On the work front, Saif Ali Khan will next feature in Priyadarshan's 'Haiwaan', co-starring Akshay Kumar. The movie also features Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Sharib Hashmi, Rajesh Sharma, Manoj Joshi, Asrani, and Jisshu Sengupta. Reportedly, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal will be making a cameo in the film. It is set to hit theatres on September 11, 2026.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：15 American Whiskey Brands Under $25 Per Bottle - foodrepublic.com
美式威士忌風格多元，這篇文章推薦15款各具特色的平價選項（USD $14.99-$23.99），包括Jack Daniel's Black Old No. 7、Jim Beam、Evan Williams等經典品牌，以及Tincup、Traveller等特色酒款。文章強調平價威士忌中也有高品質產品，建議消費者勿懼嘗試陌生品牌，並留意酒瓶大小與產地特色（如Tennessee whiskey以順滑甘甜著稱）。各品牌定位從調酒用基酒到品飲級不等，提供預算有限的愛好者探索美式威士忌的入門指南。
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15 American Whiskey Brands Under $25 Per Bottle
American whiskey is as varied and diverse a field of liquor as French wine, Scottish liquor, and Japanese sake. Whether you're looking for a cheap whiskey with top-shelf taste or seeking to explore new types without breaking the bank, there are plenty of extremely reliable brands for under $25 a bottle.
While more affordable bottles from well-known brands are a great place to start, don't be afraid to experiment with labels you may not recognize. Oftentimes, established distillers feel they can charge a bit more because customers know what they're getting, whereas smaller businesses produce affordable bottles to gain entry to the market. One of the best ways to find out what you're getting beforehand is to know where the whiskey comes from. Tennessee whiskey, for example, has a wide range in quality but a distinct taste (smooth and sweet) that can help you identify flavor before walking out of the store.
You may also want to steer clear of larger bottles sold at the same price point as a standard, 750-milliliter size whiskey. For example, a $20 750ml bottle will likely be a higher quality than a $20 liter-sized one, which may end up tasting like ordering a well drink at a bar. Still, prices vary quite a bit depending on the store, location, and distance from the distiller, so it won't always be a perfect indicator of quality — and please note that prices listed here may not be the same as at your location.
Jack Daniel's Black Old No. 7 is a tried and true classic
If ever there was an entry point for Tennessee whiskey, it's the iconic Jack Daniel's Black Old No.7. Available just about anywhere, almost always affordable, and emblematic of the charcoal filter that defines the state's liquor, it's never a bad option for a general, all-purpose whiskey.
Jack Daniel's Black Old No. 7 can be found at Total Wine for $22.49.
Jim Beam is a no nonsense, all around good bourbon
Bourbon's often defined by its smooth texture, sweet aftertaste, and emphasis on notes of vanilla and oak. As one of Kentucky's best-known distilleries, Jim Beam captures this perfectly and provides a consistently solid product you'll never have trouble keeping in stock at home.
Jim Beam Bourbon can be found at Total Wine for $16.99.
Evan Williams is the best budget bourbon for batch cocktails
While few people would be blown away by the flavor profile of Evan Williams' bourbon, no one can deny that the Kentucky distiller produces a great product for its price point. When you're just looking for something to fill out a batch cocktail recipe, Kentucky's own Evan Williams is a great choice for its unobtrusive, simple taste.
Evan Williams Bourbon can be found at Total Wine for $14.99.
Elijah Craig Straight Rye is too good to be this cheap
While most know Elijah Craig as a producer of decent Kentucky bourbons, it also makes one mean rye. Lacking much of the spice and astringency you find in similar liquors, this bottle is easy to drink, with a lot of nuance for something that costs under $25.
Elijah Craig Straight Rye can be found at Total Wine for $21.19.
Wild Turkey 81 proof is an oaky masterpiece for affordable bourbons
Kentucky's Wild Turkey distillery has always produced affordable bottles, but its 81-proof bourbon is surprisingly good. With rich oakiness from being aged in deeply charred barrels, it's one of the best sipping whiskeys when you're looking for something affordable.
Wild Turkey 81 Proof can be found at Total Wine for $15.99.
Traveller whiskey is a great all-American blend
Distilled by Kentucky's Buffalo Trace as a collaborative product with Grammy-winning singer Chris Stapleton, Traveller encompasses all that's great about American whiskey. It's actually a blend, creating a heady mix of sweet, sharp, and spicy that's hard to find but always worth a buy.
Traveller Whiskey can be found at Total Wine for $16.99.
Bird Dog is serious, sipping flavor without breaking the bank
When it comes to cheap bourbons that taste more expensive than they are, few can compete with Bird Dog's Select Reserve Kentucky bourbon. Full of smooth vanilla and sweet corn, it's also famous for its range of flavored whiskeys, from blackberry to peanut butter.
Bird Dog Select Reserve Kentucky Bourbon can be found at Total Wine for $20.99.
Rough Rider rye is everything great about the liquor
Rye whiskey isn't for everyone, but if you like it, then Long Island Spirits' Rough Rider is the affordable bottle you should keep on hand. Sharp, spicy, and more than a little rough, it captures everything that you might love about the grain in an affordable bottle.
Rough Rider Rye can be found at Total Wine for $18.99.
Fraser & Thompson is where America and Canada meet
A celebrity collaboration with Canadian songwriter Michael Buble, Fraser & Thompson is so quintessentially North American it can't help but be delicious. A bit on the creamier side with strong notes of caramel, it's an interesting liquor to try when you want something new.
Fraser & Thompson can be found at Total Wine for $19.99.
Tincup shows what the Rocky Mountains can do
The Colorado single malt market is taking off, but that doesn't mean the Centennial State doesn't love a good collab. Blending single malt and bourbon before aging in charred barrels for six years, Tincup is the simple, straightforward liquor that captures the breadth of different styles you can find in America.
Tincup American Whiskey can be found at Total Wine for $21.99.
Redemption bourbon is a great entry from Indiana
Although Indiana may not be famous for its bourbon, it certainly produces enough corn. Redemption bourbon shows that the state has its own unique flair, combining the spice of rye with the smooth sugariness of bourbon to create something lovely, sippable, and always worth a buy.
Redemption Bourbon Whiskey can be found at Total Wine for $21.99.
Standard Proof's ginger rye is an eye opening unique take
Rye is already on the rougher side of liquors, strong enough to make your eyes water and put more than a little metaphorical hair on your chest. But Tennessee's Standard Proof takes that a step further with its ginger root rye, something so aromatically potent that it can clear out blocked sinuses better than a dollop of wasabi while still being so delicious that you can't help but come back for more.
Standard Proof Ginger Root Rye can be found at Total Wine for $21.99.
Paddleford Creek pecan bourbon is dessert in a glass
If you loved the sweetness of Fireball but had it ruined during your college years, Paddleford Creek's pecan praline bourbon from Minnesota is the grown-up upgrade you need. Its bourbon is already smoothly excellent, but factor in that extra pecan praline seasoning, and you get something that's sweet enough to sip as dessert.
Paddleford Creek Pecan Praline Bourbon can be found at Total Wine for $22.99.
Gentleman Jack is top-shelf taste for mid-shelf money
When you're ready to upgrade to a higher level of everyday whiskey, Gentleman Jack is the way to go. Taking everything great about its Black Old No. 7 and cranking it up to 11, Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack is a smoother way to enjoy a sippable glass, whether you like it straight, on the rocks, or with a touch of water.
Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack can be found at Total Wine for $22.99.
There's nothing in the world quite like Cherryshine
South Carolina's Holy City Spirits & Distilling Co. managed to produce something truly unique in Cherryshine. Mixing natural cherry and cayenne flavors with whiskey, this will certainly be the star of the party in a fall cocktail.
Cherryshine can be found at Total Wine for $23.99.
Google News（Scotch/Distillery）｜原題：2 Guys, 3 Drams: The Ultimate Live Blues and Whisky Experience (Water of Life Productions) – Big at theSpaceTriplex - theatrescotland.co.uk
Rhythm and Booze Project 樂隊在愛丁堡藝穗節推出創意演出「2 Guys, 3 Drams」，結合現場藍調音樂表演與蘇格蘭威士忌品飲體驗。演出由 Felipe（主唱兼吉他手）與 Paul（打擊樂手）組成，在一小時內為觀眾介紹威士忌品鑑技巧，並奉上三款精選蘇格蘭威士忌——不是常見的商業選擇，而是別具特色的優質酒款。表演兼具教育性與娛樂性，融合幽默解說、高水準藍調演奏與互動品酒，是長天紀錄行程後的完美結尾。
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I haven’t been as excited for a show in a long time. 2 Guys, 3 Drams: The Ultimate Live Blues and Whisky Experience sounded like it was made for me and boy was I correct.
The Rhythm and Booze Project play some stomping blues music and serve you three superb Scotch whiskies. In a whirlwind hour, you to learn how to sound clever about whisky, appreciate top-quality drams and enjoy some raucous tunes.
The Premise promises a lot, and somehow the Rhythm and Booze Project deliver on that and then some. The show is funny, sounds great and the whisky selection isn’t to appeal to tourists by pouring the typical drams you’d spot on every menu. The 3 options are delightful, not the most recognisable or commonplace to the audience, and most importantly delicious.
The duo are made up of Felipe and Paul. Felipe provides the sultry tones and intoxicating slide guitar while the audience sips some nips while their ears are engorged on some incredible sounding blues. Felipe’s understanding and appreciation of both Whisky and the Blues is so clear to see. He runs the audience through how to sound sophisticated or pretentious while tasting or nosing whisky and effortlessly switches from that funny whisky tasting guide to a dirty, gritty blues master the next.
Paul provides percussion of proceedings. Whether that be on a small but tight kit, or on the drastically underappreciated washboard, Paul keeps things in the pocket while also adding splashes of his own creativity in expertly crafted fills, or minutes long, but still not long enough washboard solo’s. Paul’s passion is clear to see too, and it’s obvious both performers adore doing this show, they’re in their element.
This show is the dream end to the night of a long day of Fringe-ing, a laidback, interactive and endlessly fun hour of delicious whisky and expertly performed rhythm and blues. A true delight.
2 Guys, 3 Drams: The Ultimate Live Blues and Whisky Experience | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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Google News（Scotch/Distillery）｜原題：The Best Islay Scotch Whisky: My Top 5 Smoky Whisky Picks - The Whiskey Wash
威士忌內容創作者公開其艾雷島（Islay）泥煤威士忌個人排行榜。前五名依序為：第五名Ardbeg Uigeadail、第四名Port Charlotte 10、第三名Kilchoman Machir Bay、第二名獨立裝瓶Whisky Barons三年Staoisha、第一名Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak Finish。作者強調這份排名基於實際品飲紀錄，反映其對艾雷島泥煤風格的深入認識與個人偏好。
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If any of my videos were going to start a whisky riot, it would be this one. The passion for peat runs high, and I know that ranking Islay’s finest is a task that stirs strong feelings in even the most measured of drinkers. But my channel members asked to watch me suffer as I sipped and ranked every peated dram I owned, so who am I to deny them?
I love Islay whisky, and I’m very much partial to a good slice of peat in my drams. What follows is my definitive top five when this video was made back in May 2024, built over two weeks of mulling, switching, and diving deep into my sample archive of dead bottles, all in the name of science.
Before I get into it, a couple of ground rules. Every whisky here is one I have actually tried and made a record of tasting, which means, sorry peat bomb fans, there is no Octomore on this list. I simply had not had it at the time.
Kicking off at number five is Ardbeg Uigeadail, the bottle to have when I first started my whisky deep dive back in 2018. It just keeps pulling me back in, a fantastic expression of what a non-age-statement Islay can be. Sliding down to four is the Port Charlotte 10, a proper “if you know, you know” dram that, for me, edges out both the Laphroaig and Ardbeg 10s. At number three sits Kilchoman Machir Bay, a super clean, fresh, slightly citric campfire peat that blew me away in 2019 and went straight onto my buy list. This, I’d argue, is the truest expression of what Kilchoman is.`
My final two were surprisingly easy to place. Number two is an independent release, the Whisky Barons three-year-old Staoisha. It warms my mouth, my belly, my heart and my soul. Think sherbet sticks set on fire, a punch in the gob with umami smoke, tangy plum sauce and a clean malty caramel backbone. It is the most expensive here, but only by a fiver.
And my number one? The Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak Finish. My whisky of the year back in 2021, and it is still standing strong nearly three years on. Sweet, savory, smoky and sensational, it genuinely tastes like burnt jam, and it remains my absolute jam.
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So, over to you: which Islay dram would you crown king of the peat?
To hear my full thoughts and see my honourable mentions, check out my YouTube video.