15 May 2024

White Peak Distillery Tweet Tasting


More industry leading, social media based dramfotainment you ask? Well as ever, allow us to very gladly oblige!

When it comes to craft whisky distilling in England, there’s one distillery in particular that ticks all the right boxes for us with regards to its craft credentials, authenticity, ethos, innovation and of course its liquid; the Derbyshire based White Peak Distillery - which we’re thrilled to be teaming up again with for our 275th Tweet Tasting on June 26th. 

The dramming line-up is all a bit hush, hush for now, but what we can confirm is that we’ll be pouring and exploring some stunning new sensory stories! So if you fancy taking part click here to register your details by emailing your name, postal address, mobile number, Twitter / X handle and date of birth. Please also remember to mark the subject line of your email: #WireWorksWhisky

The closing date to register is May 29th, and if you are registering to take part, please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of June 26th to take part!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evening’s dramfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter / X, on June 26th from 19:00 BST via #WireWorksWhisky

Registration open to over 21's only!

For more info on White Peak Distillery, visit: whitepeakdistillery.co.uk

@TheWhiskyWire
@whitepeakwhisky
#WireWorksWhisky
#BePartOfTheDramfotainment
#TheHomeOfTheTweetTasting

10 May 2024

129th Whisky Insiders Interview - Euan Campbell


Company:
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Job:
Head of Whisky Creation
Website:
Socials:
@SMWSUK



How long have you been working in the whisky industry? 
I’ve been with SMWS for over 15 years. Prior to that I worked in a whisky shop for a few years too, so about 18 years in total. 
 
What has been your biggest career highlight to date? 
It’s a hugely varied role, so I get the opportunity to do lots of interesting projects and to visit many distilleries and cooperages. 
 
If I was to pick one recent highlight, it would have to be a recent trip to Jerez in the south of Spain. I have visited several times to source top quality sherry casks, but this time we went to make a documentary on the link between Scotch and Sherry. We explored cooperages and bodegas, and in the end, I think we created a great piece of film which gives great insight on the lengths we go to, to ensure that we use the highest quality casks for our whiskies. 
 
Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was? 
I can indeed. It was a sip of Laphroaig 10 Year Old from my dad’s tumbler. I recall being blown away by the intensity of flavour, with barbecued meats and medicinal peat reek. It was a bit of a baptism of fire! 
 
What does whisky mean to you? 
Whisky means flavour. Shared experiences. Community. A unique product of agriculture, chemistry, and alchemy. 
 
Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time? 
Probably right where I am! Whisky is a long game. There’s something very special about seeing casks that you laid down as new make hitting maturity. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of seeing spirit develop over a number of years, starting a new maturation project as another comes to a close. The freedom to be creative with our cask stocks is very rewarding. 
 
What was your last dram? 
It was a dram of the deeply sherried and fruity SMWS bottling no 39.290, called “Delish!”. A great example of the Sherry cask matured whiskies available from the society. Our tasting panel were reminded of sticky toffee pudding, chocolate brownies and treacle scones. A real treat! 
 
Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination? 
I tend to enjoy whisky and food separately, but that’s just my preference. The best combo I’ve tried was a big sherry cask dram (unpeated) with a chocolate brownie and berry compote. A Bakewell tart also works really well with that style of whisky. I’ve also enjoyed some big peated Islay drams along with a fresh Arbroath Smokie (smoked in a barrel right at the distillery!). 
 
What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
At the end of a long day, when you can just really switch off with a tasty dram. A comfy chair is essential. I also enjoy a dram when making music, either playing guitar or tinkering with synthesisers. 
 
What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon? 
The industry is very environmentally aware, so I think we are going to see a lot of new technologies being embraced by distillers. I’ll be very interested to see whether there are any ingenious ways to influence flavour as new methods and equipment are developed. 
 
What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without? 
Whichever one is currently in my glass! 
 
Many thanks to Euan Campbell. Who will be our next Whisky Insider? Click back soon to find out!

2 May 2024

Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Rye
Tennessee Rye Whiskey
45% ABV / RRP: £55.00


Nose: A gaggle of gloriously garish rye grains, oak cocktail bitters, grilled peaches, ripe avocado and bergamot oil kick off the nasal niceties. Followed by notes of warm cherry pie drenched in Madagascan vanilla custard, toffee popcorn, foam bananas, ground cinnamon, dill pickles, poly cement (Airfix) glue and exuberant echoes of the brands signature charcoal mellowing.

Palate: Sweet charred oak, rye spice, sugared almonds, freshly grated nutmeg and Dentyne cinnamon chewing gum lead the palatable charge, before being joined with caramelized fennel fronds, peach and apricot Muller Fruit Corner yogurt, Tiptree orange marmalade smeared over buttered granary toast, Luxardo maraschino cherries and more of those ripe avocados, along with something moreishly menthol-esque.

Finish: A sassy spiced, teasing Tennessee treat, of lush liquid Americana on the finish front, that neither under or overstays its welcome on the palate.

Summary: There’s far more to Jack Daniel’s than just their signature Old No.7, which in itself has its time and place. But in addition to their recent Bonded and Bottled in Bond releases, the biggest highlights from their range for me are their Single Barrel bottlings. This one in particular offers such a wealth of balance between sweet and spice, that it knocks itself out of the park every time I use it as cocktail base or a solo sipper.