The 12 days of Giftmas - Huge giveway!

To celebrate the launch of Part Two of The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky, we’re giving away 12 drinky prizes to 12 winners, picked each day from 1st December. To enter and for all T&Cs, head over to our competition page here!

The Prizes

1st December: Uncle Nearest Bourbon Pair

Two very special Bourbon whiskies from exciting brand Uncle Nearest. The whiskey honours a former slave called Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green who was the first premium distiller in Tennessee and even taught a certain Mr Jack Daniels. These whiskies by Nearest Green Distillery honour ‘‘the best whiskey maker the world never knew... until now’. The 1856 RRP £55 & the 1884 small batch whiskey is RRP £45 but not yet available in the UK. Find out more here.

2nd December Old Bakery Gin & Rum

We’re loving this brand new, yet super old, small batch distillery gin that has made a big splash on the likes of Dragon’s Den. When owner Ian Puddick bought an old bakery in London’s Palmers Green, he discovered a centuries old illicit distillery on the premises and set about sourcing original recipes. They now have three gins and a rum, which has just been released. Yum! Gin RRP £38 Rum. RRP £43. Find out more here.

3rd December Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2015 MAGNUM

Our friends at Armit Wines have offered a magnum of red wine from one of Italy’s most famous Tuscan wine estates: Ornellaia. Le Serre Nuove is an elegant, silky blend of Bordeaux varietals. Drinking now but will keep! See more here.

4th December: Coravin Model One Black

The original Coravin gadget that allows you to have a glass of wine without pulling the cork! It works by sending a needle through the cork and replacing the wine with inert argon gas. Genius! RRP £199 See more here.

5th December Giant Glencairn Glass

Remember the oversized glass from our Loch Ness episode? Well, award-winning family business Glencairn Crystal - creators of the whisky industry’s favourite glass - is offering you the opportunity to win a limited-edition giant Glencairn Glass. The oversized version is 12 inches tall and can hold just over three bottles, or nearly 100 drams! Collectable, with only a small number made each year. This glass is worth is worth over £150.  See more here.

6th December: 30 year old ‘Blue Flower’ Baijiu

Photo credit: Cheng International Co. Limited

Baijiu is the world’s most popular spirit but have you heard of it? This stunning, grain spirit from China has many guises, but we love this elegant, 30 year old ‘blue flower’ Baijiu from Fenjiu. It’s pretty rare and has an RRP of £150. See more @fenjiu_london

7th December: Ice Cool Luxury Wine Cooler

These compact Ice Cool Wine Coolers are beautiful and practical. They maintain the temperature of a wide range of bottles yet take up less space than an ice bucket and don’t get the label wet! Available in a variety of finishes and with a personal engraving. See more here.

8th December: Master of Malt 6 Month Whisky Dram Club Subscription

Our friends at Master of Malt are offering six months worth of their Dram Club subscription to one lucky winner! You’ll receive five carefully selected whiskies worth up to £100 a bottle, right to your door. Read more about them here.

9th December: Eto wine decanter

The decanter reinvented, Eto is a work of art that works as a decanter and a wine preserver at the same time. It works by displacing air thus not allowing wine to spoil for up to 2 weeks. Perfect for that one (!) glass in the evening and keeping the rest. RRP £125-145. See more here.

10th December:  Frapin 1270 Cognac and Cocktail Kit

Frapin 1270 is a versatile cognac which can be enjoyed neat or mixed, thanks to its great aromatic richness. Win a full size 70cl bottle, two cocktail glasses and a cocktail mixing kit with all the essentials you need to start mixing like a pro and impress your friends with classic Cognac cocktails such as Mint Julep, Side Car and Old Fashioned. Prize worth over £100. See more at @cognacfrapinofficial

11th December:  Armand de Brignac Brut Gold Champagne

Gold Brut is the most iconic cuvée in the Champagne Armand de Brignac range and is created using the old world traditions of champagne blending. This prestige cuvée is a trio of vintages from some of the most highly-praised terroirs in the region and expresses vibrant fresh fruit character, and layers of complexity. RRP £300. See more here.

12th December: Personalised bottle of 18 year old Highland Park

A rich and fruity 18 year old Highland single malt bottled in 2019, this whisky from The Whisky Exchange is limited edition (only 276 bottles) and will arrive personalised with a message of your choice. Prize worth £99.95. See more at @whiskyexchange

The Three Drinkers' Definitive Scotch Whisky Buying Guide 2019

Whisky has never been a hotter commodity. Globally, sales are at the largest they’ve ever been and value-wise, Knight Frank just described whisky as the best alternative investment of 2019. Sometimes however, we just want to drink the stuff. Want to get into whisky or pick up a bottle for a friend or parent? Start with the original: Scotch whisky. Here are some epic drams for every occasion, style and budget:

For the Whisky Novice

Wonderfully accessible in both style and price point, these three classic whiskies are hard to beat:

Glen Moray Classic Single Malt (£21, 40%, 70cl)

Think shortbread, lemongrass and butterscotch. Stockist: Glen Moray.

Johnnie Walker Black Label (£20, 40%, 70cl)

Smooth and creamy blended whisky with toffee notes and a touch of fig. Great alone, with ice or with a mixer. Stockist: Amazon.

Glenmorangie 10 year ‘The Original’ (£29.50, 40%, 70cl)

Un-peated, floral and citrussy, this a gorgeous single malt. Stockist: Master of Malt

For the Wine Lover

Many distilleries have taken to ‘finishing’ their whiskies in wine casks for extra depth of flavour and to create a wider range of editions. Lovers of whisky and wine, give these a go:

Glen Moray Port Cask Finish (£25, 40% abv, 70cl)

Sweet, dried fruit, vanilla and spice from eight months ageing in port pipes. Stockist: Glen Moray.

The Balvenie Doublewood 12 year (£38.75, 40%, 70cl)

Finished in Oloroso sherry butts, this is a classic, need-to know whisky that’s spicy, nutty and ever so slightly peated. Stockist Master of Malt.

Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or 12 Year (£50.90, 46%, 70cl)

Honey, marmalade and citrus notes shine from extended time in barrels that held Sauternes dessert wine. Stockist: Master of Malt.

For the Mixologist

Purists look away. Whisky can be enjoyed any which way you like it and if that’s with other ingredients, so be it. Here are three that work particularly well in cocktails:

Johnnie Walker Red Label (£20, 40%, 70cl)

A brilliant, inexpensive, smooth whisky that works particularly well with soft drinks and adds a spicy kick to cocktails. Stockist: Tesco and other supermarkets.

Glenfiddich 15 Year (£39.90, 40%, 70cl)

Made with a solera system like sherry, where barrels are constantly topped up, this is a very smart, marzipan and cinnamon-scented whisky that makes a killer Old Fashioned. Stockist: Master of Malt.

Jura Seven Wood (£55, 42%, 70cl)

Matured in seven types of wood from France to Kentucky, this richly fruited, textured and chocolately whisky actually goes well with white wine and a touch of agave syrup to soften the wood influence. Stockist: Master of Malt.

For the Collector

If this person really know their hogsheads from their butts, try one of these stunning, off-the-beaten track whiskies that will doubtless increase in value if you can keep your hands off them:

Fettercairn 1997, Aged 21 Years, Cask Strength (£106, 58%, 70cl)

A well-loved if little known distillery that have access to fantastic aged casks. This is all hazelnut, ginger cake and chocolate, which sings with a small drop of water. Stockist The Whisky Exchange.

The Dalmore King Alexander III (£184, 40%, 70cl)

A staggeringly beautiful blend of malts finished in sherry, madeira, marsala, port and bourbon casks. Notes of raspberry, toffee, orange and licorice. Divine! Stockist: The Whisky Exchange.

Invergordon 45 Year Old 1972 - Cask 14772 (£244.98, 49.6%, 70cl)

This elegantly aged whisky should be wearing a smoking jacket and slippers. Notes of tobacco, walnut and Christmas cake. Stockist: Master of Malt.

Want to know more about your Scotch whisky? You know where to go! The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky, streaming on Amazon Prime now!

Premium Spirits Subscription Service? Yes please!

Our friends over at 31Dover have good news for budding bartenders and cocktail aficionados alike in the form of their brand new, premium spirits subscription service: Off the Still.

Your own home bar

Over the course of twelve months, subscribers will gradually put together the ultimate home bar while learning all about the magical liquids in each bottle. From spiced, world rums, to boutique gins and rare whiskies, each delivery comes with serving inspiration, production information and colourful stories from the people who made them. It’s a great way to kick start a journey into mixology where all the hard work is done for you by the experts. 

Director of Buying Ashika Mathews says “We’ll be conjuring the spirit of adventuring and exploring, using visual cues like maps and evocative imagery to ensure members feel like they’re being transported to where these amazing bottles are made.”

The monthly subscription costs £40 and includes a bottle of premium spirits, two hand-picked mixers and another small bottle or gift. There are also options to have a box bi-monthly or quarterly.

Early subscribers can take advantage of 50% off their first month Off the Still subscription with the code SPIRITED50. Go to www.offthestill.com for more details and enter the code when prompted.

Whisky buyer, collector or investor? You need to know about Cask Trade.

There’s a new whisky cask trader in town and it’s dubbed the first, truly ‘trustworthy marketplace for trading exceptional whisky casks’.

Introducing Cask Trade: founded by entrepreneur and angel investor Simon Aron with help from our very own Drinker, Colin Hampden-White and several other famous whisky masters including Lee Tomlinson ‘The Trader’ and Dr. Theo Empleslidis MD, ‘The Oracle’.

As a passionate whisky collector for over 25 years who has seen astronomical gains in the value of some whiskies over the years, Simon had been burned many times by sellers in the past, becoming frustrated with false promises and dishonest dealing. Now was the time, he decided, to create a much more open and honest marketplace for investors, bottlers and collectors. 

An expert-led approach

Thanks to their crack team of experts team of masters, Cask Trade offer unparalleled whisky trade expertise to their clients and guarantee the most stringent checks and processes, so customers can rely wholeheartedly on the quality, provenance and ownership of any whisky they buy. All customers can ask to receive samples of their whisky or to visit their cask whenever possible and Cask Trade only sells whisky it owns itself, in whole casks.

“We are not brokers but stockists,” says Aron. ‘Our aim is to build a true, and safe, marketplace… We are six experts covering all angles of the cask whisky trade and we have clients from all around the world. Having traded thousands of casks, our knowledge of whisky and its value is our most valuable asset. Throughout my 25-years’ of collecting I suffered from all sorts of false promises which I will never subject my clients to.”

To view a live stock list, register an account today at casktrade.com.

The first live auction website dedicated to exceptional whisky

As an extra plus, customers also have the option to put their casks into Cask Trade’s new quarterly online auction to sell, either to other customers or eventually, back to Cask Trade themselves. With complete transparency, a low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT and no sellers’ fee at all, customers get the actual hammer price. The first auction will take place in October 2019 and will then be hosted four times a year. See more at auctionyourcask.com.

For more information on whisky cask investment, Simon and his team offer frequent editions of Cask Trade’s Cask Investment Guide. 

23 Unusual Facts About Whisky

Our friends at Rabbie’s, our travel partner for our Scotch whisky travelogue series on Amazon Prime, have given us 23 fun facts about whisky. How many of them did you know already?

Bernard Shaw described whisky as liquid sunshine, and we can’t help but agree. Although the sunshine can be a little bothersome the next morning when you’ve indulged in one too many glasses.

Mark Twain begs to differ, however, as he’s famous for boldly declaring “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”

What could we possibly have to tell you about whisky that you haven’t heard from these great poets, playwrights and avid whisky drinkers? You’d be surprised. Whisky has a long history and its makers and consumers are fond of a good blether. 

So whether you’re a whisky aficionado or have only just begun your love affair, you may be surprised by a few of the following facts:

1. Whisky or Whiskey - what’s the difference? The Irish spell it with an ‘e’ whereas the Scots spell it without one. This is due to the variations between Scottish and Irish Gaelic.

2. The New York Times famously used the word ‘whiskey’ with an ‘e’ to encompass all forms of the spirit from all locations. This caused so much outrage amongst readers, they were forced to change their style guide to reflect the appropriate spelling for their regional distribution.

3. Many distilleries store casks of whisky belonging to other brands and distilleries in their warehouses. This way, if a fire or catastrophe occurs, they won’t lose all their stock. 

4. The term whisky in Gaelic translates to ‘water of life.’

5. When whisky is stored in barrels for maturation, approximately 2% of the liquid evaporates per year. This is called the ‘Angel’s Share’ as this portion of liquid gold seemingly disappears into the heavens. It keeps the angels in good spirits.

6. Moonshine is typically un-aged whisky with a high alcohol content, which is made illegally. It’s called moonshine because it would be created under the light of the moon, hidden from the eyes of the authorities.

7. A bottle of Macallan Fine and Rare 60-year-old 1926 was sold for £1.38 million in October 2019, setting a new world record for the most expensive bottle of whisky.

8. Whisky doesn’t age once it’s bottled. So there isn’t much point in saving it for a rainy day, just crack it open when you feel like it.

9. Whisky gains its colour from the barrel it’s aged in. Sometimes, for the sake of product image, brands may put caramel colouring in a batch to make the whisky look more consistent when bottled on the shelf. The additive isn’t supposed to affect the taste of the whisky. 

10. Scotland relies on a constant supply of oak casks previously used to store bourbon in the US for maturing whisky.

11. Much of the flavour of a batch of whisky will depend upon what was stored in the cask previously. Bourbon, sherry, rum and port casks all generate different finishing flavours.

12. A Swedish distillery has started using AI to help generate the perfect whisky recipe based on past and current consumer trends.

13. Surprisingly, France and India are two of the biggest consumers of whisky, alongside the US. 

14. The iconic American soda brand Mountain Dew was originally intended to be a chaser for sub-par whisky.

15. Just as the Brits say “cheers”, the Germans shout “prost” and the Spanish yell “salud,” you’ll find the Scots chinking whisky glasses and saying “Slàinte,” which means “good health,” as they share a dram with friends.

16. Contrary to popular belief, nosing isn’t the act of sticking your conk in other people’s business. It’s what you do when you inhale the aromas of a fine whisky before drinking it.

17. A copper dog is a device that was used by distillery workers to smuggle whisky home after a hard day at work. It’s copper pipe with a penny soldered on one end and a cork stopping the other. A wily employee would dip it into the cask to fill it with whisky, and then smuggle it home in his trouser leg.

18. When the TV show Mad Men hit the air, it spurred a significant spike in orders for Old Fashions at bars worldwide. In some areas, the demand for Canadian Club almost doubled.

19. Diageo, one of the world’s largest distillers, released a Game of Thrones collection of Whisky in 2019, in preparation for the final season of the hit TV show. They paired Scottish distilleries with the prominent family houses of the seven kingdoms. Each was matched up carefully, considering house traits alongside distillery history. Cardhu was paired with house Targaryen for its past of strong female ownership. 

20. Ardbeg, a popular Islay distillery, sent vials of their whisky to the International Space Station in 2011 to see how the gravity in space would affect compounds of the whisky over time.

21. The term ‘dram’ widely adopted in the Scottish vernacular, is believed to have evolved from an apothecary’s units of measurement.

22. Keeping with the theme of whisky and medicine, during the prohibition era the only whisky legally imported by the US was scotch whisky, as it was often prescribed to ease many illnesses.

23. And last but not least, Humphrey Bogart’s final words are rumoured to have been “I should never have switched from scotch to martinis.” May we live and learn from Bogart’s mistakes.

Discover whisky for yourself on a tour with Rabbie’s here!

Glencairn Crystal: Is this the ultimate whisky tasting glass?

We certainly think so and here’s why...

When you have a drink, you want to enjoy it to the max, right? Well, luckily for us, around thirty years ago, the Davidson family set up Glencairn Crystal, based in East Kilbride, with the aim of helping us to do just that. A brand for both the consumer and the whisky industry alike, they produce a mixture of products including bespoke packaging for some of the oldest and most luxurious single malt whiskies ever released. They are also, however, commissioned to create a variety of other products including high-profile decanters, some of which are even engraved with rare gemstones! 

The Glencairn Glass 

Amongst all their products, there is one that stands out: the iconic, Glencairn Glass. We chose this glass for our TV show, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky as it is the best designed, most attractive whisky glass out there. They are also the official glass for whisky endorsed by the Scotch Whisky Association, so it’s little wonder that over 65,000 of them are now sold per week globally.

Why is the Glencairn Glass so popular?

Before the Glencairn glass came along there were really only tumblers available for whisky drinkers which while serving their purpose as a holder of liquid, never really felt like they gave the whisky its full chance to shine. The Glencairn Glass however, has rectified this as its unique shape allows the aroma to collect towards the lip of the glass. With taste being 80% smell, this design ensures that the full impact of a whisky’s aromas and flavours are delivered in perfect balance. 

Fun Facts! 

1. If you stacked every Glencairn glass ever made, it would stretch to the international space station and back 3.5 times!

2. If you lined up every Glencairn glass ever made, they’d reach a width of over 1600km, more than the entire length of New Zealand.

3. If you filled every Glencairn glass ever made to the brim with whisky, there’d be enough to fill two Olympic sized swimming pools. That’s 5 million litres!

Glencairn Crystal works with 600 distilleries and ships to 95 countries so if you too are interested in getting your hands on the gold standard of whisky glasses head over to glencairn.co.uk

By Sophie Furukawa

Bring a bottle: John Rempe, master distiller at Lux Row Distillers

(audio only)

The Three Drinkers take 5 with John Rempe, master distiller at Lux Row Distillers and a glass of Rebel Yell Bourbon. They discuss the rise of rye, cocktails, food matches, beginner’s whisky and more!

One Drink, Three Ways: The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join The Three Drinkers’ Helena, Aidy and Colin as they take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves which you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, the three help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

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The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask: a whisky with rich, spicy notes from ageing in both American and European sherry oak casks. The Three Drinkers each share their favourite ways to taste it….

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Helena’s Choice: The ‘Mac-Hattan’

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A twist on a classic Manhattan, I love this rich, christmas-cake scented whisky mixed with a little orange and chocolate bitters. I found this recipe while shooting episode four of our Amazon show, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky. It won the taste competition hands down! Simply add all liquid ingredients to a shaker, shake, pour and add garnish. Ice optional. I prefer it without or with one massive chunk.

The ‘Mac-Hattan’

Recipe

25ml The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Whisky

25ml Orange liqueur

25ml Red Vermouth

3 Drops Chocolate bitters

Dried orange wheel to garnish

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Aidy’s Choice: The Macallan Highball

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Perfect as the weather starts to get a little warmer, this Macallan highball is zesty and refreshing with a bitter, spicy kick. Simply pour the whisky and fino over lots of ice into a highball glass, add the lemon juice and top up with your favourite tonic water. Dangerously delicious!

The Macallan Highball

Recipe

25ml The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Whisky

25ml Fino Sherry

Juice of half a lemon

Tonic water to taste

Lemon rind to garnish

Highball glass

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Colin’s Choice: The Macallan. Straight up.

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Those who know me are aware that I’m a bit of a whisky purist, and when The Macallan is involved, I like to sip it straight. If it’s the first whisky of the day however, I may add a tiny drop of water just to cut the initial nose burn. No ice. No garnish. No problem.

The Macallan

Recipe

50ml The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Whisky

Glencairn glass

Macallan 12 Double Cask can be found in the USA and UK

USA
ABV: 40%
Size: 750ml
Buy it now for $64.99

UK
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £51.95