The Only Drop: A One-of-a-Kind Whisky Sculpture

A whisky ‘one of one’ always gets our attention, and when it’s part of a sculpture, well, it’s definitely worth a look. Combining the rich flavours of Scotch whisky with the artistry of sustainable design, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is about to unveil their masterpiece, "The Only Drop," at the Distillers One of One auction at Sotheby's on October 5, 2023, a full event dedicated to whiskies that will never be repeated.

Teaming up with a team of artists and craftspeople led by STCKMN, James Cropper and Matter Agency, The Only Drop stars the 33-year-old dram as part of a meticulously designed paper pulp sculpture, embedded with shavings from the original casks, reuniting the whisky with the cask it was once within. The lovingly crafted ripple formation is not only beautiful but relates to the unrepeatable pattern of water in nature, with the droplet hinting at the precious whisky within. It's a marriage of craftsmanship, sustainability, and artistry that brings the whisky full circle, reuniting it with its origins.

It's not just the presentation that makes this a special offering either. Born in 1989 at the mysterious Distillery No. 24,, it matured for 30 years in an Oloroso sherry butt, but in 2019, the experts decided to split it into two hogsheads – one Oloroso and one Pedro Ximénez. Three years later, they were reunited to create a one-of-a-kind bottle that will never be replicated.

This decadent and elegant dram combines the dry, nutty flavours of the Oloroso with the dark, treacly notes of the Pedro Ximénez for a Scotch rich in complexity and flavour. ‘But how will the lucky owner taste it?’ you might be thinking. Well, to leave the 700ml bottle as part of the art, a 100ml miniature will be included for sampling, sharing the same charming design with wax neck, foil embellishments and hand-bound stitched copper-foiled paper book documenting the entire journey. What a treasure trove.

And here’s the best part, the proceeds from this great project will support The Youth Action Fund, transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people, helping them develop confidence, resilience, and skills for a brighter future.

The Only Drop also ties into the 40th anniversary of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society so we can expect more exciting ventures on the way, but for now, if you’re lucky enough to be considering a bid at the auction, then make a note of October 5th in Edinburgh to get your hands on a collector’s dream dram.

Halloween Potion: York Gin’s Mad Alice Bloody Orange

We’re always on the look out for new Halloween drinks, and never more so with it creeping around the corner, but we get extra excited when it’s from a producer we know and love already. Teaming up with Mad Alice of the Bloody Tour of York, York Gin have concocted Bloody Orange gin, complete with blood-red bottle, blood-splattered label, and an embossed red wax seal on some bottles.

Mad Alice is an iconic and award-winning tour guide in York, guides visitors through Europe’s most haunted city rich in history from the Romans to the Vikings to famous Outlaws and most importantly, rich with a ridiculous number of ghost sightings. Stabler, who plays Mad Alice says, “'I have loved York Gin ever since it launched years ago. The idea for a Mad Alice gin came to us over - yes, you guessed it - one or three G&Ts after my regular Friday night tour. I’ve tasted it - and it comes with my seal of approval. It’s bloody gorgeous. Ideal for a G&T or cocktail as the autumn nights draw in.’

If you haven’t heard us praise York Gin before then you can found out more about them here, but in short they have a spectacular portfolio of gins that not only taste delicious, but tell the rich historical story of the city also. Honestly, they never miss, and they’ve been wanting to make an orange elixir for a while. With the shadow of Halloween looming large, of course it had to be fresh blood orange - super smooth as always and bursting with vibrant zesty citrus.

If you want Bloody Orange to accompany you this Halloween, then you can pre-order now on the York Gin website for delivery at the beginning of October. Or, if you’re feeling brave and wish to descend into the darkness of York with Mad Alice lighting the way, then visit the city itself and enjoy 10% off at York Gin if you go on the tour, and vice versa!

Torabhaig Allt Gleann Batch Strength: Liquid Legacy

Closing the chapter on their Legacy Series are 2,500 beautiful bottles of Torabhaig’s Allt Gleann Batch Strength, each one showing how far this distillery has come since 2017. It's like the grand finale of a captivating novel, leaving us yearning for more.

When Torabhaig began distilling, it was the first new distillery on the iconic Isle of Skye for 190 years, and only the second to focus on Single Malt. After much renovation and experimentation, their signature well-tempered peat style has really taken shape producing robust drams with serious smoke and brine.

This release is, ‘our way of bidding a fond farewell to Allt Gleann’ says Whiskymaker Neil Macleod Mathieson and it’s, ‘the last time we’ll get to see this specific style of Torabhaig, so we set aside a few hundred casks of this expression distilled during the experimental phases of 2017 and 2018 to release at its natural strength’.

That natural strength is a lip-smacking 61.1% with unforgettable punch behind it. Torabhaig's Allt Gleann Batch Strength draws inspiration from the dramatic landscape of crashing waves and salt and seaweed scented air, truly capturing the essence of the Isle.

It’s a confident whisky, with the rugged intensity of the peat smoke and brine blending with the refinement of the floral fragrance. The vanilla-led oaky spice is a comfort from nose to finish, with touches of green apple and subtle grain throughout.

It’s full of the Torabhaig character and complexity that we’ve come to expect, and with the confidence of a distillery that’s been around for far longer than they have too, which has to make us wonder, what’s next for Torabhaig?

You can try and pick up your bottle of Allt Gleann Batch Strength today whilst stocks last from the Torabhaig site where it’s priced at £75.

Have You Heard of Guinnessy?

You can probably guess from the portmanteau what two drinks you combine to make one. Yep, Guinness and Hennessy.

The new serve caught traction on American TikTok before crossing the Atlantic, as lovers of both liquids fiercely protected the purity of their drinks, but some were ready to embrace the heresy. 

As you can see from our Guinness Recipe guide, it’s probably more versatile than you think and after The Three Drinkers in Cognac, we’re all up for trying cognac with everything, but how the two work together in reality?

Well, from the original TikTok it’s hard to say as it’s ‘shotgunned’ – a shotting technique in which the drink makes a whole in the bottom of the can, and in this case, pours the Hennessy in the top. He did seem to enjoy it though!

There are lovely stouts out there aged in cognac barres, and both cognac and Guinness are used in a tonne of different cocktails recipes, but we think that, on this occasion, all that malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness mixing with the fruity richness will only serve to ruin both drinks to be honest.

Still, we’re always up for mixology experimentation so you never know. Everything is down to personal taste so try it yourself! (‘shotgunning’ optional).

The Outlander Stars And All Their Boozy Ventures

If you love Outlander and want to get even more of it in your life, then how about exploring the major passion of several stars of the show– their drinks ventures.

Did you know that not one, not two but a remarkable three members of the cast have launched their own booze?

The most well-known is from Sam Heughan (aka Jamie Fraser) himself, with The Sassenach, a slang term used for English people that crops up regularly in the show. Their flagship and original launch was the delicious Sassenach Blended Scotch, naturally. We’ve featured it before because we love it, and so do the judged awarding it Double Gold at the 2020 World Spirits Competition. Sam described it as a, ’lifelong dream’ to have his own dram’ and it tastes like a dream too.

Sam’s successful spirits portfolio has since expanded too, with The Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin bringing 8 Scottish botanicals together to create a wonderfully fresh profile of apples, berries, sweet rhubarb and airy pine and heather. It’s beautifully bottled like the Scotch, as is the spirit that completes the trio -  El Tequileño (and you don’t need to speak Spanish to know what is). From the Scottish Highlands to the Jalisco Highlands, this Reposado tequila brings bold agave flavour and is definitely one for sipping.

Sam’s character Jamie shares a whirlwind romance with time travelling nurse Claire, played by Catriona Balfe who herself is involved in a very interesting gin project. In August 2020, Balfe launched Forget Me Not, a small-batch Scottish-based gin where 25% of the proceeds go towards funding art programmes – a really high percentage for a spirit so hats off. When times are tough, art is one of the first funding groups to be cut despite the joy it brings. Not only does this gin look absolutely stunning and taste even better, but it also helps plug that funding gap.

But we’re not done there. Outlander fans, you’ll know Graham McTavish as War Chieftain Dougal MacKenzie. When he’s not fighting for Clan MacKenzie, Graham is behind The Warchief, his very own 7-year-old bottled-in-bond bourbon (which is US certification guaranteeing certain standards). He said, “It’s a dream of mine from when I was very young in Scotland, when I thought about the journey that I wanted to take in life – going to America, and the opportunities that gave me. This is the distillation of that experience”. Sweet vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and baking spice – classic, characterful bourbon.

With all that passion for booze, it’s no surprise that Sam Heughan and Catriona Balfe reportedly turned up to work a little bit worse for wear on one occasion… and where was that tasting – Graham McTavish’s house of course.

Still, it’s refreshing to see some celebrity drinks that dedicate real time, expertise and passion to the craft and producing an end result well worth trying – bravo.

KFC and Dead Man’s Fingers Unite for New Spiced Rum

We’re more than used to unusual drinks collaborations by now, but KFC and Dead Man’s Fingers still raised an eyebrow from us. Introducing the limited edition '11 Herbed and Spiced Rum', a bespoke blend born from the unexpected marriage of Kentucky zing and Cornish soul, aiming to tantalize taste buds and show that innovation pays off.

It’s a curious infusion of Dead Man's Fingers' spiced rum with a dash of KFC's legendary secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. Yes, the Colonel's finger-licking formula is part of this spirited concoction! This audacious blend has been artfully crafted to mark the occasion of National Rum Day (16 August), giving you a delightful reason to raise your glass and toast to creativity.

So, let’s get into what you must be wondering – the taste. Well, KFC say this, ‘Although the Colonel’s recipe remains a secret, we can reveal it has the perfect balance of our herbs and spices including black and white pepper, together with the freshly fried goodness of our golden breading that makes our chicken taste so damn good. Infused with the unmistakeable notes of Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rum, the new tipple also has whispers of creamy caramel, vanilla, treacle toffee and nutmeg’. So, on the surface of it at least, there’s no reason why the flavours wouldn’t work, but we’re yet to try (though we would love to!).

If you’re local to Margate, then you’ll get the opportunity to attend the pop-up chicken and rum shack to launch the new bottle, where you can even see how it works in a cocktail courtesy of expert on site mixologists. Zinger Punch or Colonel’s Colada anyone?

If you want to try it at home, then Dead Man’s Fingers suggest a cola pairing if you can’t pull together one of their cocktails, and you can purchase from Amazon (among other places) for £25.

How Much Has Alcohol In The UK Changed Price?

We’re all used to seeing drinks price go up and down, be it inflation or market trends, but on August 1st something happened that will have an effect on all of our favourite tipples – alcohol duty changes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was at the Great British Beer Festival promoting these changes, the most significant of their kind for over a century… so what’s the long and short of it?

Well, there are winners and losers but probably more in the latter camp, the biggest of which is sadly wine. Drinks Business have been running the numbers on this, and still wine will increase in duty by an average of 20% - that’s from £2.23 to £2.67 on a 12.5%ABV 750ml bottle.

Plenty of others failed to escape the hike too, with Sherry and Port up 44% (around a £1 increase on average bottles), vodka up 10%, canned beer up 10% and canned cider up 8%. Taking the average alcohol percentage and size of these drinks, the duty cost has increased from as much as £1.29 for port, to as little a 1p for canned cider.

Breweries are trying to dodge these changes however, in a process dubbed ‘drinkflation’. Essentially, various well-known beers like Foster’s (4% to 3.7%), Old Speckled Henn (5% to 4.85%) and Bishop Finger (5.4% to 5.2%) are cutting down on the booze to avoid the alcohol duty hit. Colin Angus of the University of Sheffield calculated that if all breweries cut alcohol content by 0.3% then the total saving would be £250 million, so expect to see more names following suit.

It isn’t all bad news, however. The increasingly popular RTDs (Ready to Drinks) like G&T have decreased by 14%, sparkling wine is down 7%, cream liqueur decreases 3% and the Chancellor’s draught relief means a 1p cut for draught cider, whilst beer stays the same.

On the whole, we’re talking about pennies here, but they do of course add up for both consumers and producers, and let’s not forget that if you’re a keen sherry, port, or wine drinker then the difference will be visible.

Seeking value has never been more important then, so check out the various guides across our website offering insight into bottles of your favourite drinks that punch above their price point.

Maestro Dobel 50 1970 Extra Añejo: The Art of Tequila

Introducing the Maestro Dobel 50 1970 Extra Añejo, a fine example of how to age gracefully. The epitome of tequila sophistication and craftsmanship, this limited-edition bottle is a true marvel, carefully sourced and selected from the personal collection of the brand's founder, Juan Domingo "Dobel" Beckmann. With a mere 50 bottles available in the UK, we’re talking about a rare gem that will make any agave connoisseur's heart skip a beat.

Aged in French Oak casks, meticulously chosen from Dobel's private cellar, it underwent the comprehensive three-year ageing process that all Extra Añejo liquids go through, but of course the journey doesn’t end there. Off to Italy it goes, where it finds its perfect match in Amarone wine casks, infusing the tequila with sumptuous notes of rich chocolate, coffee, nuts, and dried fruits. The result is a dark and velvety spirit that promises an unforgettable tasting experience, all that mouthwatering infusion as well as tropical undertones and sweet vanilla and cinnamon running through.

The Maestro Dobel 50 limited edition series is a true testament to the brand's commitment to excellence and innovation. Starting in 2017, these collectable editions pay tribute to inspiring events from fifty years ago, adding a touch of historical charm to every sip. Poetry has never been more delicious.

With its iconic apothecary-style bottle, inspired by vintage laboratory sample bottles, Maestro Dobel 50 1970 Extra Añejo stands out as a work of art, outside and in.

If you’re lucky enough to be in a position to pursue a bottle, then be quick because as mentioned, there are only 50! It retails for over £2000 so check out places like Hedonism Wines, House of Spirits and Master of Malt for availability. Alternatively, if you just want a taste of the nectar then it is available at some bars such as The Connaught, Mandarin Oriental, Annabel’s and Lyaness… but for how long, it’s difficult to say.