My 2011 FNB Whisky Live Festival Experience

FNB Whisky Live Festival

This was my second FNB Whisky Live Festival, and turned out to be a very different experience to my first festival, which was last year. Last year it was all about discovering and tasting as many new whiskies as was possible, and I did pretty well in my endeavours. This year, my focus was primarily … Read more

Grant’s Whisky Twitter Tasting

Grant's Twitter tasting drams poured

A few night’s ago I was fortunate enough to take part in a Twitter tasting – an online tasting of whiskies, where the participants share their thoughts and notes about the whiskies being tasted. Steve Rush, of The Whisky Wire fame, co-ordinated the #GrantsTT event and Grant’s Whisky provided the samples. As an added bonus, … Read more

Head-to-Head Comparison: Ardbeg Alligator vs Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix

Ardbeg Alligator vs Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix

With names like Alligator and Snow Phoenix you know straight off the bat that these are no ordinary whiskies. Both have been out for a while now, and both are rather hard to come by. I’m a sucker for a good story, and here we have two. The first, the Ardbeg Alligator derives it’s name … Read more

Tasting the Bunnahabhain Un-chillfiltered Whisky Range

Bunnahbhain and Bentley

A couple of days ago I was fortunate enough to be invited to an exclusive Bunnahabhain whisky tasting at Bentley Johannesburg. What a combination! Sleek automotive sophistication paired with Islay’s unpeated malt whisky. I love my peated Islay’s and was looking forward to the opportunity of trying “the gentle taste of Islay” as they brand … Read more

Tasting Grant’s Sherry Cask Finish Whisky

Grant's Sherry Cask Finish Whisky

Grant’s includes a couple cask finish whiskies in it’s line-up, namely the Ale Cask Finish, which I reviewed a short while back in my “Is South Africa Ready For Ale Cask Whisky?” post, and the Sherry Cask Finish – neither of which is available in South Africa unfortunately. Luckily for me, the people at Grant’s … Read more

Bell’s Special Reserve Whisky

Bells Special Reserve - A Rich Pure Malt Whisky

My father was in town on a work trip recently and we invited him over for our first Spring braai (a.k.a. barbecue). The weather was brilliant – sun shining, a gentle breeze and not a cloud in sight. In other words, perfect weather to slap some bacon-rolled chicken sosaties (a.k.a. kebabs) marinated in pineapple sauce … Read more