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The Pendulum Swings Back On The Scotch Whisky Association

Scapa warehouse

By Richard Thomas Two years ago, independent blender-bottler Compass Box found itself in a tussle with the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), that industry’s trade association. The company run by crafty Master Blender John Glaser enjoyed a reputation for relating more details about its blending recipes than anyone else in the industry, and was warned about giving out too much information ...

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Glenmorangie Spios Scotch Review

Glenmorangie Spios

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Although ex-bourbon barrels dominate the cask stock for maturing whiskey around the world, whether it be in original ASB or hogshead format, one doesn’t hear much about old rye whiskey barrels. Once upon a time, that made a good deal of sense, as rye whiskey production was miniscule compared to bourbon. Yet several years ago, ...

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America Needs To Recognize What “Single Malt” Really Means

Westland Barrel Room

By Richard Thomas For a couple of years now, malt whiskey has been the great up-and-comer of the American Whiskey Boom. The buzz that it was the “next big thing” proved to be overblown—after two years of hype, American Malts are definitely a thing, but hardly big—yet the malt whiskey scene in America has grown steadily, gaining depth and maturity ...

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Maker’s 46 Bourbon Review

Maker's 46

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Few individual expressions have the kind of production story about them that Maker’s 46 has built up. The expression was Maker’s Mark first major brand extension, using a finish based on seared French Oak staves inserted into the middle of the barrel. This was an idea first employed by the independent Scotch blender-bottler Compass Box ...

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