Whisky Weekly Digest

Whisky books, memorable drams, community pours and another exciting South African release — plus the latest whisky news, international releases and new arrivals.

Four new South African whiskies caught my eye this month — from Metanoia’s experimental single cask to two 23-year-old Bain’s finishes and Boplaas’s oldest release yet. Plus: five questions on silent distilleries, new releases, industry news, reviews, bourbon and what’s worth buying in SA right now.

I’m away on holiday with my family this week, so the digest might be a bit smaller than usual. I’ll leave you with my thoughts and impressions from my Thursday attendance of The Only Whisky Show last week. I’ve been to every TOWS since it launched, and it never disappoints. The selection of whiskies is … Read more

“Nae coopers, nae whisky — that’s what we always say. Without these skills there wouldn’t be a whisky industry.” — Kyle Cooper, Speyside Cooperage [1] Fair point, and one we don’t make often enough. We talk endlessly about distillers, blenders and the mysterious alchemy of oak, but rarely about the people who make sure the … Read more

Let me share an excerpt of the brilliant documentary, Neat: The Story of Bourbon When Dad rolled out the 6 millionth barrel, Julian Van Winkle gave me as a gift to my Dad this bottle of 20-year-old Pappy.So I take the bottle and I open it up and I pour a little bit in his … Read more

There was a time when a whisky finishing in a sherry, Port or Madeira cask was considered fairly adventurous. These days, whisky makers are rummaging through almost anything that once held something interesting. Tequila. Mezcal. Guinness. Tobasco. Seaweed. Pineapple. Maple syrup. Even herring! And yet, tequila and mezcal casks might be two of the more … Read more