Adam O'Connell

Maidstone

Marketing Content Manager at masterofmalt.com

Author at The Whiskey Wash

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Articles

Win rare Del Maguey mezcal!

2 weeks ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

Want to win a bottle of Del Maguey mezcal so rare it’s literally not for sale anywhere in the world? All you have to do is buy any qualifying bottle of Del Maguey mezcal before 15 June and you’ll be entered into the draw automatically. The rarer the bottle, the more entries you bag. Yes, even Vida gets you in. But if you fancy swinging for wild agave and weirder terrain – Wild Tepextate, Pechuga, or the one finished in ex-Stitzel-Weller casks – your odds get better with every sip.
Amrut vs. Paul John: Battle of the Indian Single Malts

3 weeks ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

Do you have a preference between Amrut vs. Paul John? Indian single malt is no novelty, but some whisky lovers might not be as familiar with its leading lights. Among Rampur, Godawan, Indri, and more, two names lead the charge: Bangalore’s Amrut and the Goan coastal force that is Paul John. Both work with Indian barley, tropical ageing, and a serious sense of identity. But each has its own style. Amrut pushes intensity. Its whiskies hit hard, packed with spice, oak, and tropical heat.
Top 10 Father’s Day Whiskies

3 weeks ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

This is our Top 10 Father’s Day Whiskies. Think we’ve missed a bottle? Let us know in the comments below!Whisky for Father’s Day? Groundbreaking. Well, it sort of is – provided you pick the right one. The classic ‘dad drink’ reputation has stuck like an old label, but whisky has never been more exciting, varied, or giftable. Whether he’s a seasoned sipper, a cocktail creator, or just the kind of dad who enjoys a good story with his dram, there’s something in this lineup for him.
Top 10 Father’s Day Scotch Whiskies

3 weeks ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

This is our Top 10 Father’s Day Scotch Whiskies. Think we’ve missed a bottle? Let us know in the comments below!Let’s be honest: if Dad says “don’t get me anything this year”, what he really means is “surprise me with whisky”. Luckily, Scotch always delivers in spades. From smoky Islay brilliance and sherry-drenched drams to grain whisky underdogs and Lowland charmers, this year’s Father’s Day lineup is stacked with sippable greatness. Need more?
Win a luxury Johnnie Walker whisky bundle

3 weeks ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

Want to win a luxury Johnnie Walker whisky bundle? Buy any qualifying bottle of whisky before 15 June and you’ll be entered into the draw automatically. The fancier the bottle, the more entries you bag. Ready your glass and your luck – the Johnnie Walker prize pool has landed, and it’s loaded with premium sippers and rare finds. From the coveted Blue Label Elusive Umami to Legendary Eight and Ice Chalet, there’s more prestige here than a royal honours list. Our exclusive bundle:Want to go big?
Laphroaig Elements 3.0 – born from a fiery accident | Master of Malt blog

3 weeks ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

Laphroaig Elements 3.0 is here. Its third release in the experimental Elements Series is arguably the most dramatic yet. This smoky single malt was born not from a calculated production tweak but from a full-blown distillery mishap: a kiln fire that burned hotter and longer than intended. Rather than panic, Laphroaig’s team leaned into the chaos, distilling a whisky that captures the unique flavour profile created by those fiery conditions.
Port Ellen Distillery: Rebuilt for a New Century

4 weeks ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

You’d think that after spending £185 million rebuilding one of whisky’s most storied ghost distilleries, Diageo might be content to stick with the original blueprint. Make some classic-style smoky Scotch, sell a few limited editions, call it a win. But Port Ellen Distillery is doing something far more ambitious. With its 200th anniversary in 2025, Port Ellen is pushing forward. It’s not just a distillery, it’s an R&D lab too, with smoke as its pet obsession. The team aren’t just making whisky.
Port Ellen: Too Big to Die

4 weeks ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

When Port Ellen Distillery closed in 1983, it seemed like it was for good. Back then, it was another name on the long list of distilleries lost to the whisky loch era. Overproduction and plummeting demand had forced the Scotch industry to downsize, and Port Ellen was one of around 20 distilleries culled. Lagavulin and Caol Ila survived in SMD’s* portfolio, a clear indication of which distillery was deemed surplus. Yet, Port Ellen managed to become more famous in death than it ever was in life.
Master of Malt blog

1 month ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

“No ice, mate.”Every bartender has heard this. Every. Single. One. Usually from a certain type of customer. You know the type. You might even be the type. And if you are, brace yourself. I’m referring to those who order a whisky or a cocktail with a smug little cherry on top of a request.As if they’ve just spotted the magician’s trick. The sleight of hand behind the bar’s cunning pricing strategy. No ice = more drink, right? Wrong. You haven’t hacked the system. You’ve ordered a glass of lukewarm regret.
How world whiskies are filling the hunger for new

1 month ago | masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell

Whisky is no longer just the pride of Scotland’s glens, Ireland’s green hills, or Kentucky’s rickhouses. It’s being made in Mexico and Argentina, China and Denmark, South Africa and New Zealand – and, crucially, it’s being taken seriously. You know this already, I’m sure. What was a curiosity became a movement and has grown into the new status quo. These aren’t just “emerging” producers anymore. They’ve arrived. They’ve evolved beyond being “new world whiskies”.