Alex Martin

2 weeks ago | elitetraveler.com | Alex Martin

It began in 2020, only months before the pandemic. Midleton Very Rare revealed what was then the oldest Irish whiskey ever. Five years on, the Silent Distillery series ended as it began—with the first Irish whiskey to reach an age statement of 50 years. Not only does it mark the completion of an extraordinary collection, but also the end of an era, as Chapter Six is made with the final drops from the Old Midleton Distillery. Old Midleton shut its doors in 1975.

2 weeks ago | elitetraveler.com | Alex Martin

As master blender for Johnnie Walker, Dr Emma Walker is ultimately responsible for every drop of the world’s most popular Scotch whisky. Johnnie Walker sells 22 million cases of whisky annually, from the ever-reliable Black Label to prestigious hyper-aged rarities. Inside the Johnnie Walker Vault, Dr Walker will put all of her effort into a single bottle, one that is entirely crafted to the person standing opposite her.

2 weeks ago | elitetraveler.com | Alex Martin

History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes, and it certainly feels like it has come back around as I sit across from Dr Emma Walker, the master blender of Johnnie Walker. The world’s best-selling Scotch has humble origins, traced back to 1820 and a grocery store in Kilmarnock, where John Walker refined the art of blending often harsh single malt Scotch whiskies into more palatable expressions.

3 weeks ago | elitetraveler.com | Alex Martin

It's easy to overstate uniqueness in today's whisky market, but not with The Dalmore's latest release: The Luminary No. 3. Following on from the first two editions, The Dalmore once again partnered with a renowned luminary to bring the worlds of art, design and whiskymaking together. This year, it was the turn of Fosters + Partners and artist-cum-architect Ben Dobbin, who designed a unique bronze statue to complement an equally precious 52-year-old Scotch whisky.

1 month ago | elitetraveler.com | Alex Martin

The Singleton has unveiled a trio of 42-year-old single malt Scotch whiskies designed to taste like dessert. The new Gourmand Collection, limited to just 136 sets worldwide, draws direct inspiration from pâtisserie classics, with flavor profiles nodding to fig and chocolate ganache, crème brûlée, and black cherry gâteau. Each expression spent over four decades in oak, including what The Singleton claims is the longest secondary maturation in the brand’s history.