“At the ancient seaport of Banff, nature’s elements meet as the black waters of the River Deveron break into the expanses of the North Sea.”  This quote from the label of Glen Deveron 10 Years Old, produced by the Macduff distillery, reflects the river on which the distillery lies and from which it draws the water used for cooling in the production process.  Macduff has gone against the norm and named their Speyside whisky by a different name than their own; however, independent bottlers continue to release under the Macduff …

Following up on our recent Cigars in Paris article, I thought I’d write something up for the curious whisky-lover in Paris.  As the host of Whisky Live every year, Paris is one of the biggest whisky hubs outside of the UK, and nearly every market will have a small selection of bottles.  So let’s avoid the formalities and get right to it.  So what is the best place to buy whisky in Paris?  What is the best whisky bar in Paris?

Considered the most naturally beautiful and picturesque locale on Islay, Caol Ila is perched on Loch Nam Ban near the town of Port Askaig. The distillery in the picture here, built in 1974, may seem rather large given Caol Ila’s low profile on supermarket shelves but they are a large supplier for Johnny Walker blends.
Caol Ila’s single malts have an unmistakable profile, distinct from other more famous Islay’s like Lagavulin. Lighter in a low viscosity oil kind of way, seaweed and iodine are common elements with smoky phenolics taking a …

In the spirit of the market downturn, last fall The Spirit Journal put out a list of the world’s best spirit values. I came across this list while poking around for information about F. Paul Pacult’s opinions of Highland Park. Most of the selections on this list are quite accessible here in Canada.  The Famous Grouse, Bushmill’s Black Bush, and Canadian Club 12 all made this list, and a few single malts such as Caol Isla and Glenlivet 12.

When I decided to start stocking my bar at home with a collection of single malts, I referenced my experience tasting single malts at the many bars I’ve worked at over the last decade. I enjoy drinking heavily peated mosters like Lagavulin and Laphroaig after a long hard night when things are moving towards after-hours. For relaxation at home, I would like to turn to a savory, smooth and sweet malt. The Balvenie Doublewood was an obvious choice.
The Balvenie distillery was named after the adjacent Balvenie Castle in Dufftown(Speyside). …