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1 day ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
The distillery formerly known as Lough Gill has a new name: Hawk’s Rock Distillery. Sazerac Company – the spirits giant behind Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Pappy Van Winkle – has officially renamed its Irish whiskey site, giving it a new look and fresh ambition. Located in County Sligo on Ireland’s west coast, the over-100-acre site includes the historic Hazelwood House.
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2 days ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
Ever wondered what a typical day looks like at a whisky distillery? We spent the day at Copper Rivet Distillery in Chatham, Kent, to see how the magic happens – and got a rare glimpse at the meticulous, mad, and marvellous work that goes into every drop. The team kindly guided us around for a true whisky geek’s guide. We got seriously technical about fermentation. Discussed the ability for English whisky to innovate and evolve. We tasted EVERYTHING. And we caught it all on camera.
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3 days ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
In the Irish whiskey aisle, two names dominate the conversation – Jameson vs. Bushmills. Yes, the Irish whiskey renaissance has broadened our horizons. And our options. But these two remain the classics. The titans. Both affordable, both reliable, both readily available just about everywhere. So which one deserves a spot on your shelf (or in your glass) when you’re looking for a go-to whiskey? Let’s pit them against each other in a good old-fashioned Irish whiskey face-off. No gloves. No bias.
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4 days ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
Have you tried Beyoncé’s whiskey yet? She’s a global icon. A genre-defying artist. A cultural force. But last year, Beyoncé entered our humble corner of the world by founding a whiskey brand: SirDavis. The rye-led whiskey (51% rye, 49% barley, if you’re into that sort of thing) was brought to life by Dr Bill Lumsden – yes, the same Dr Bill behind Glenmorangie and Ardbeg. There’s serious whisky pedigree here, and it shows (no, really).
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1 week ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
Glenturret might be Scotland’s oldest working distillery, but it’s not stuck in the past. Tucked into a scenic glen in Crieff, Perthshire, the Highland whisky maker has been producing the good stuff for more than 250 years. Its whisky has been known by royalty and Robert Burns. Famous Victorian whisky author Alfred Barnard called it “a perfect paradise to artists”. A place where tradition reigned and “no new fads” intruded. Fast forward to today, and those fads have well and truly moved in.
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1 week ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
It’s back. Is it a Kraken? Is it a mermaid? A, wait, that’s just another Kraken, isn’t it? No, it’s Dr Squid Gin!Yes, the best thing inspired by brainy molluscs since Octodad: Dadliest Catch, this curious creation was unavailable for a period after it sold out. Popular demand, you see. Very popular demand. A whopping 500% surge over the past three years, according to its creator. That would be Pocketful of Stones, an independent distillery tucked away in the salty wilds of Penzance.
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1 week ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
Once upon a time, rye whisky was seen as a strictly North American pursuit – all spice and swagger, hailing from strongholds of Pennsylvania and Canada. But that’s changing fast. The rye-naissance is in full swing. Across the US and Canada, new whiskey makers are popping up, but the creativity and craft stretch far beyond that. From Danish distilleries to English innovators, the grain that built American whiskey is thriving well past US borders. That said, the rye world’s not without its dramas.
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1 week ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
Whisky and chocolate. Two of life’s great pleasures – and, when paired properly, an outrageously good combo. Done badly? It’s chaos. Sweet clashing with smoke, tannins turning bitter, and expensive bottles wondering why they were sacrificed for this. But get it right and you unlock all sorts of magic. Here’s how to pair whisky with chocolate. Whisky is bold, and so is chocolate. The key is finding balance, and matching flavour intensity so neither dominates.
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1 week ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
Three bold single malts, one distillery, and a whole lot of sherry-soaked splendour. Glendronach has unveiled its latest opus: The Master’s Anthology – a trio of Highland single malts curated by master blender Dr Rachel Barrie that explore the depths of its sherry-soaked soul. And yes, they’ve ditched the age statements – but they’ve kept all the richness, complexity, and brooding elegance we’ve come to expect from one of the Scotch whisky’s most beloved names.
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1 week ago | 
masterofmalt.com | Adam O'Connell
We love a good whiskey competition. And when it involves some of the best single pot still whiskey coming out of Ireland? Even better. For two glorious weeks, we’ve teamed up with the fine folks behind Spot Whiskey to give you the chance to win 12 bottles. That’s a whiskey a month, essentially a year’s supply. The rules are simple: buy any bottle from the Spot range and you’re in. But there’s a twist – the more premium the bottle, the more entries you get.
