Best Whiskies To Invest In - November Whisky Investment Index

Springbank holds on

This month Springbank has just held onto the top position, but the story I think is about another bank, Rosebank. Rosebank has moved up the field significantly and with Brora also moving up it seems that distilleries that have been long gone, but are now being brought back to life are doing well. Whether this is to do with the publicity surrounding these distilleries or not we will never know, but with Rosebank resuming construction earlier this year and Brora being opened in the summer, there is a lot of excitement over these distilleries and their historical bottlings will be of greater importance as they get closer to bottling their new whisky.

As always, it seems the difference at the top of the field is very little in percentage terms and last month was tighter than ever proving that buying bottles from within the top echelons of whisky will probably do you well in the long run. 

With the prices of bottles from closed distilleries very high at retail, it really is best to find bottles at auction. Below the whisky ranking is a list of auction houses in the UK, US and Hong Kong which have been around for a while and are well respected.

Springbank .5%
Brora 1%
Macallan 1%
Bowmore 1.0%
Karuizawa .5
Rosebank Official Bottlings 2%
Clynelish 2%
The Dalmore 2%
Ardbeg 2%
Glen Grant

Best Whisky Auction Houses in the UK

Scotchwhiskyauctions.com

Based in Scotland, this auction house is one of the longer established businesses and has reasonable fees.

Whiskyauctioneers.com

This auction house is relatively new to the scene but has rapidly become the biggest auction house of all. With thousands of bottles in each auction, there is always something to pick up at a good price.

Whisky.auction

This house is owned by the hugely respected Sukhinder Singh and run by Isabel Graham-Yooll they have a huge amount of experience in weeding out fake whisky and are one of the safest houses to buy from. Their organisational skills are second to none and buying or selling is incredibly smooth and easy.

Best Whisky Auction Houses in the US

Ackerwines.com

The USA’s oldest wine and spirits merchant has been doing wine auctions for many years and retailing wines and spirits since 1820, however, in May 2019 they held their first Spirits auction in Hong Kong and are going from strength to strength. With a hugely knowledgeable team across Hong Kong, the UK and USA they are definitely worth consideration, and if you are USA-based then an obvious house to look at.

Best Whisky Auction Houses in Hong Kong

Bonhams

A subsidiary of the famous London auction house, Bonhams has been breaking records for selling whisky rather a lot recently. Well-known and well respected, I would say Bonhams is a great place to sell any collection.

Spinks

A smaller lesser-known auction house that gets less publicity than Bonhams and I would say a good place to find whisky. 

All the above auction houses are good places to buy and sell whisky, they have respected reputations and slick operations. But do some research. Some are better at selling and others better at consigning unusual bottles. All are happy to talk to you and help you in our quest for fabulous whisky though.

To catch up on the past couple of months of whisky investment advice and to see how it all started click on the following links: October, September, August, the beginning.

Best Whiskies To Invest In - October Whisky Investment Index

Springbank leaps forward.

Last month was all about Springbank. At auction, this distillery has excelled and pushed its way to the top of the board. Macallan is still up their but seems to be slowing down at the moment, Brora is still strong as is Bowmore, and the rest of the table stays pretty much as it was.

Springbank is a relatively small distillery in comparison to many, and really only produces about as much as the Springbank fans can consume. This leaves collectors and speculators picking up Springbank at auction and keeping the prices rising. Releases of Springbank sell out extremely quickly, like the “local barley” expression for example, and are then traded for a lot more than the retail value at auction. Even after they are picked up at auction the prices will still steadily rise.

Springbank 2%
Macallan 1%
Karuizawa 1.0%
Brora 2%
Bowmore 1.5%
The Dalmore 2%
Clynelish 2%
Rosebank Official Bottlings 1%
Ardbeg 1%
Glen Grant

Bottles to Watch

I recently highlighted Springbank bottles, and there are a few more I have found here. But with the rarity of Springbank at retail, it is really about keeping a keen eye on the auction sites and picking up bottles when they seem good value to you.

Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength

This expression sells out pretty quickly as Springbank at cask strength is well sought after. A good option for anyone starting out in collecting Springbank

ABV: 53.8%
Size: 750ml 
Find here: $159.99

Springbank 16 Year Old Local Barley

Another cask strength offering and this being the local barley expression, means that this is rare and will do very well in the future. There is very little of this expression produced as there is very little local barely to make the whisky.

ABV: 54.3%
Size: 750ml  

Springbank 19 Year Old Rechar Sherry

Cask strength with an unusual cask make up using casks which have been de-charred and then re-charred giving them one more use and they have a spicier flavour profile. With this expression being a little older, the price is higher, but then so might be the returns.

ABV: 58.6%
Size: 750ml

The next couple of expressions are very rare as they are older expressions from years ago.

Springbank 25 Year Old Millennium Collection

Released some time ago, this expression of Springbank has been steadily rising in value over the years. Hard to find even at auction, these bottles will always be wanted.

ABV: 46%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £3495

Longrow 1973 Natural Strength

Longrow is a peated expression distilled at the Springbank distillery. This one has been bottled by famous Italian independent bottler Samaroli. This bottler holds a great deal of respect, especially with older offerings like this one.

ABV: 53%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £6995

These are a few examples and always everything written in this article is just advice, but overall with Springbank, the annual releases which have an age statement and unusual cask maturation will do well, especially if they are at cask strength. Try and seek them out at retail when they first come on the market, otherwise, happy hunting at auction.

To catch up on the past couple of months of whisky investment advice and to see how it all started click on the following links: September, August, July, the beginning.

The Best Cocktails to Make with Scotch Whisky

While beautiful taken neat, Scotch needn’t stay lonely in a glass. Don’t shy away from being a bit creative, either, as Scotch is a lot more versatile than you might first think. Whether you’re going for a traditional Whisky Sour or spicing up a Bloody Mary, try Scotch in a cocktail today!

Bloody Scotsman

This classic cocktail is normally made with vodka, but adding Scotch gives it a fiery kick that can tackle the Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t forget the all important celery!

Ingredients:
45ml Scotch whisky
90ml tomato juice
15ml lemon juice
1 dash Tabasco
2 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper
celery, for garnish

Method:
Add Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to a highball glass. Pour all other ingredients in, add ice and stir. Garnish with a celery stick and enjoy! 

Scotch Sour

The classic we know and love dearly, a Scotch Sour never fails to liven up an evening. If you want to make this vegan, you can either leave out the egg white for a No-Foam Sour, or swap it for a tablespoon and a half of aquafaba (that’s the juice out of a chickpea can!).

Ingredients:
50ml Scotch whisky
25ml fresh lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 egg white
twist of orange, for garnish

Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with no ice and shake. Add ice and shake for 15 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over ice and garnish with a twist of orange.

Scotch Paloma

A Paloma probably isn’t the first cocktail you’d jump to when thinking about Scotch - Mexico and Scotland don’t exactly have the same atmosphere. However, swapping out a reposado or añejo tequila for Scotch keeps that same caramel richness while adding an interesting twist to this Mexican classic. If you don’t have spicy honey, regular is fine! 

Ingredients:
35ml Scotch whisky
35ml grapefruit juice
35ml spicy honey
club soda
grapefruit slice, for garnish

Method:
Add all ingredients but club soda to an ice-filled glass and stir. Once chilled, top with soda water and garnish with a grapefruit slice. Enjoy!

Rusty Nail

Don’t worry, you don’t need to search through your medical files to see if you’ve had a tetanus jab to drink this cocktail. This kind of Rusty Nail is the ultimate Scotch cocktail of days gone by. So, pull out that bottle of Drambuie Scotch whisky liqueur and give it a go! 

Ingredients:
60ml Scotch whisky
15ml Drambuie 

Method:
Add all ingredients to an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until well chilled. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and enjoy! 

The Godfather

Named after the iconic 1972 film, The Godfather cocktail adds a welcome bit of Italian flair to a classic Scotch. While the nutty Amaretto slightly softens the whisky, the almond-flavoured liqueur doesn’t take away any of the flavour. This recipe calls for quite exact measurements, but the ratio is really up to you and your personal tastes, so don’t take it by the book. This cocktail is an offer you can’t refuse.

Ingredients:
60ml blended Scotch whisky|
7ml Amaretto

Method:
Add all ingredients to an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until well chilled. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and enjoy! 

Blood & Sand

This cocktail is another Scotch cocktail that has been around for eons, first appearing in 1930! At first, the ingredients might baffle you - orange juice, cherry liqueur AND Scotch - but once you’ve tried it you’ll know what all the fuss is about! Stay away from very smoky Scotches for this recipe, and fresh orange juice is a MUST. 

Ingredients:
20ml Scotch whisky
20ml sweet vermouth
20ml cherry liqueur
20ml freshly squeezed orange juice
twist of orange, for garnish 

Method:
Add all ingredients to an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe or martini glass and garnish with a twist of orange. Enjoy! 

Flying Scotsman

Named after the famous steam train, the Flying Scotsman is a cocktail allegedly served to first-class passengers on the train, which broke the record for the first steam train to reach 100mph! Both simple and delicious, this cocktail will make you feel like a first-class mixologist when you master it.

Ingredients:
50ml Scotch whisky
45ml sweet vermouth
5ml sugar syrup
2 dash Angostura bitters
black cherry, for garnish 

Method:
Stir all ingredients in a cocktail glass with ice. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass, preferably over a large ice cube. Garnish with a black cherry. Up, up and away!

For more cocktail inspiration be it gin, vodka, tequila or whisk(e)y click here!

The Glenturret 2021 Whisky Range

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Most brands in the whisky world have their regular expressions. They may start with a non-age statement whisky or two, then a 10 or 12-year-old, and then rise through the age statements to around a 21 year old. All these expressions are based on consistency, the idea that if you bought a 12-year-old one year, then it would be no different if you bought it again in three or four years time. This builds up a customer base who know your product and know exactly what they are buying.

The Glenturret is a little different though. They too, like other brands have a core range. They start with a non-age statement called Triple Wood, they then have a 10, 12 and 15 year old with the age statements culminating in a 25 and 30-year-old, which like most other brands are more limited and will change in profile with each release.

Where The Glenturret is different though, is that all their expressions are batched, and therefore change with each annual release. This is a deliberate decision. Each expression holds true to the previous in style. Their entry level is still a triple wood, the 10 year old a peated expression and the 15 year old a high strength expression, but the 2021 releases are different in flavour profile to their predecessors. Not hugely, but enough to keep them interesting. The concentration at The Glenturret is not consistency of flavour profile, but consistency of flavour quality. For The Glenturret creating whisky expressions is all about quality.

Recently the distillery was sold to a group that included a strong link to Lalique glass. Another company that thrives on quality. Being a hand-crafted product, Lalique and The Glenturret have a lot in common. Individuality, quality, and all aimed at a luxury market. It is special to own a piece of Lalique glass, and so it is special to drink Glenturret. The two brands have great symbiosis.

Let’s have a closer look at this year’s release:

The Glenturret Triple Wood 2021

This opening gambit from The Glenturret showcases their spirit well. By delicate use of American and European sherry casks and ex American bourbon casks, they let the fruity side of the spirit shine whilst allowing gentle wood and spice characters to come through the spirit for a very well-balanced whisky.

ABV: 44%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £47

The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked 2021

A peaty expression at a higher-than-normal abv. This year’s expression follows on from last year with the smoke being sweet rather than saline and dry. Where the difference comes through is that there is less citrus fruit than the maiden expression and a little more orchard fruit with more richness. The two expressions are clearly linked by a good base spirit, but there are subtle differences.

 ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £54

The Glenturret 12 Year Old 2021

With lots of rich dried fruits and spice, this expression is close in style to its predecessor. It is the heart of the range and therefore makes sense to stick to a similar flavour profile. Being a small batch of casks, this will still differ a little from the previous release, but the blending is superlative, and the differences are only clearer once the two expressions are tasted side by side.

ABV: 60%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £46

The Glenturret 15 Year Old 2021

Keeping the strength quite high at 53% is consistent with the 1st release. The use of refill casks allows the spirit to shine through, but there are also rich and spicy characteristics created by European oak and a small number of first fill casks. This is a whisky which expresses power and flavour equally without losing any of the finesse associated with The Glenturret today.

ABV: 53%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £110

The Glenturret 25 year old 2021

This expression has been created using only four casks all stored in traditional dunnage warehouses. A mixture of American and European ex Sherry casks, it is opulent and rich with baked apple and toffee flavours alongside soft spices and rich toasted oak.

ABV: 44.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £1,050

The Glenturret 30 year old 2021

The pinnacle of the range. This expression draws on American and French influence by using refill American ex-bourbon casks and first-fill European oak giving an opulent mix of sweet oak and fruit with vanilla and rich deep spice and smooth toasted oak. A whisky to certainly savour.

ABV: 41.6%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £1,700

If you’re quick enough there are still a few bottles of the maiden release left too and it’s a great tasting to try the maiden releases next to the 2021 releases.

The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked Maiden Release 2020

ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £49.95

The Glenturret Triple Wood Maiden Release 2020

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £51.49

You can find out more about The Glenturret’s 2020 range here and if you’re looking for some cocktail inspiration, make sure to have a look at One Drink, Three Ways: The Glenturret Triple Wood or One Drink, Three Ways: The Glenturret 10YO Peat Smoked.

One Drink, Three Ways: The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked

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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Although most usually associated with Islay Scotch, peat smoke and whisky has a long history at The Glenturret as it used to feature heavily in distilling traditions, with records showing peat being dug from Octhertye Estate in the early 1800s. Nowadays, The Glenturret are in the lucky, rare position of being able to produce both peated and non-peated spirits at different times of the year from the same small stills. This 10 year old single malt version is incredibly mellow and sweet with an elegant smokiness that does not blow your head off!

Sip it alone or try one of these serves:

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Helena’s Choice: A Smokin’ Word

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I love a sweet and sour cocktail and this one feels so deliciously retro! It’s a new take on the Last Word cocktail and was invented by Kyle Jamieson from Panda & Sons in Edinburgh. The smokiness of the peat does something fascinating with the cherry and it’s one that looks as good as it tastes. Simply shake all the ingredients together with ice, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with cocktail cherries.

A Smokin’ Word

Recipe

35ml The Glenturret 10 Years Old Peat Smoked

20ml Yellow Chartreuse

20ml Maraschino Cherry Liqueur

20 ml lemon juice

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Aidy’s Choice: Smoky Whisky Sour

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You know me and my sours. I love them! Often I like to experiment with fruit and garnishes but sometimes, simplicity is what’s called for. This is a classic whisky sour with no frills, using egg white to get that silky texture. Firstly, add all the ingredients into the shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Then strain back into the shaker to remove the ice and have a vigorous dry shake to fluff up the egg white. Strain into an old fashioned glass and garnish with a lemon or orange twist.

Smoky Whisky Sour

Recipe

60ml The Glenturret 10 Years Old Peat Smoked

30ml Fresh Lemon Juice

25ml Sugar Syrup

1 Egg white

2 Dashes Angostura bitters

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Colin’s Choice: Stirred Smoky Martini

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Those of you who know me know I'm a bit of a whisky purist, but I can’t resist a smoky, dry Martini. It uses a dash of peated Scotch whisky with the gin instead of Vermouth, so it is particularly dry and aromatic. I’d go for a large splash of whisky around 15ml but play around to suit your taste. Simply Stir the gin, whisky and a little ice together in a glass (stirring keeps it crystal clear and smooth), then strain and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with your lemon or orange twist.

Stirred Smoky Martini

Recipe

15ml The Glenturret 10 Years Old Peat Smoked

60ml Any premium gin

Lemon twist for garnish

Like this? Check our our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces: Noilly Prat Vermouth, Tanqueray Gin and The Macallan 12.

What is Wine Finished Whisky?

By Helena Nicklin

There’s no drink that conjures up the spirit of cosy dark nights by the fire quite like whisky. Even for the many who don’t drink it, the aroma of whisky and wood smoke evokes warm memories of Christmases past with relatives, glass in hand, playing charades and stuffing their faces with Quality Street chocolates. I was one of those ‘many’ who remembered it rather than drank it until a few years ago, when my head was turned by the headlines in drinks papers about the continual rise in popularity of whisky, not just from Scotland but all around the world.

It was with zero hesitation then that when asked to co-present a TV travelogue through Scotland tasting whisky, I said yes. I was converted immediately upon arrival, of course. It’s hard not to be when tasting a product in the region where it’s made, especially while surrounded so deliciously by ancient castles, lochs, legends and wonderfully hairy cows. So without further ado, I want to share with you a glorious discovery that has rocked my world of booze: whisky with a wine ‘finish’.

What is a whisky ‘finish’?

Single malt, blended whisky, Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, Irish… there are many styles of whisky from many regions, but it’s the way distillers choose to ‘finish’ the spirits that can give them such a unique personality. What is a finish? It’s when the spirit is matured in a cask from one particular origin before spending time in a different cask from another origin. Most often, the first cask is American oak that has previously held Bourbon. The second cask is used to add extra nuances of flavour and complexity and it is here that distillers can have some fun. You may also see on the label ‘wood-finished’ or ‘double matured’, but it’s the same thing.

Fine wine whisky finishes

On my trip to Scotland, I met a man who whisky buffs describe as the ‘rock star of distillers’. He is Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation and Whisky Stocks at Glenmorangie in Tain. Fearless in his experiments (he has a scientific background) and with a wonderfully potty mouth, Lumsden is man who oozes passion and Scottish charm. He also has a penchant for seriously fine wine, which is why Glenmorangie have had some incredible, limited edition whiskies finished in barrels that have held extraordinary wines.

“Wine continues to inspire me, but it’s a tricky animal to use with Scotch whisky,” he says. “I’ve tasted as many terrible whiskies made with wine barrels as I have good ones. It’s been fascinating to watch though how actually, with a wine finish, whisky can change in the bottle over time.”

Naturally, it would have been rude not to taste as many as I could get my hands on and my goodness, I loved them, for their perfume as much as anything else. Glenmorangie is famous for its fruity, spicy whiskies that have elegant aromatics, thanks to their particularly tall copper stills (the tallest in Scotland). Add a wine finish to the mix and you get some seriously special drams. It is not just Glenmorangie who use wine finishes, however. The Macallan is famous for its Christmas-cakey, sherry finishes and several other big names have been doing their own experimenting with sweet wines, fortified wines and dry, still wines.

There are so many to choose from, so here are just a few wine-finished Scotch whiskies that are well worth seeking out:

Sherry cask finish: Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Year Old

The richness from Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry is a wonderful addition to this whisky. If you like those baking spice, Christmas cake flavours, a sherry finish is for you.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £43.65 // US $71.99

Sherry cask finish: The Macallan Gold Double Cask

Finished with American and European sherry-seasoned oak, this whisky is ripe and rich, with a spicy kick and notes of dark chocolate orange.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £59.99 // US $75.99

French red wine finish: Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Cask Finish

Highland whisky finished for 12 months in 228-litre Red Burgundy wine casks from Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet, this whisky has a gentle fruit flavour and a beautiful, creamy mouthfeel. Delicious.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £39.99 // US $59.99

Sweet ice wine finish: Glenfiddich Winter Storm Batch 2

Incredibly rare Scotch whisky (aged 21 years and older) finished in French oak casks that previously held Canadian icewine. This whisky has plenty of tropical notes and a hint of candied fruit and Turkish delight that develop into flavours of lychee.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £249.99 // US $499.99

Sauternes Finish: Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

Nectar D’Or has the succulent, honeysuckle and orange peel notes that you’d expect from Sauternes. It’s golden and glorious; one for wine lovers for sure and a little easier to get hold of.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: UK £51.25 // $101.99

Port finish: The Balvenie 21 Year old Port Wood

Aged in port pipes that are over 30 years old, this whisky is brooding and dark, with powerful fruit and notes of woodsmoke. One for the end of the tasting!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £175 // $324.99

Port finish: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban

A development of the recipe of the highly popular 12 year old, this intensely flavoured whisky is initially matured in bourbon casks before being transferred into ruby port casks from carefully selected Portuguese quintas (wine estates). It’s an intriguing mix of sweet and dry with delicious fruit and chocolate notes.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: UK £45.70 // $82.99

Enjoyed this? Then have a read of The Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisk and don’t forget to check out The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky now LIVE on Amazon Prime!

Whisky Infinity Bottle

Words by Colin Hampden-White

What is an Infinity Bottle?

If you are an avid whisky drinker, you may well have many bottles open at the same time and some of them will have very little left in them. A good way to make space for more bottles is to create what is commonly known as an infinity bottle. This is simply a large bottle (I use 8 and 4 litre Kilner jars), which contain a blend of all the nearly finished bottles in my house. This creates a living blend which as it is drunk and re-filled with different bottles, changes in character as new whiskies are poured into it.

How do you make a whisky infinity bottle?

There are a few tips that will help when creating an infinity bottle:

1. If using a jar with a tap at the bottom, buy extra seals in case one doesn’t last and it begins to leak.

2. Keep peated and non-peated whisky separate. A tiny amount of peat in an un-peated blend can overpower the whisky.

3. Don’t be too precious about pouring your most sought-after whiskies into it. A good whisky will help the blend, and if it is left to oxidise in its own bottle it will simply never be as good as it first tasted.

4. Don’t worry about the size. I use large Kilner jars now, but in the past, I had a simple 750ml decanter. It did the job just as well, I simply had to top it up more frequently!

5. Lastly, if it all goes very wrong and it tastes horrible, don’t be afraid to start again, it’s not worth pouring perfectly good whisky into not so good leading to the end result being unsatisfactory.

I find an infinity bottle both fun and interesting at the same time. I use my blend for long drinks like whiskey and ginger ale when it is an average blend, and occasionally it has been superb, and I’ve sipped it neat or on ice to be able to savour the good blends for longer. But I’m fully in the knowledge that whenever I pour a new whisky into the blend, it will be different. For better or for worse. And that’s what makes it exciting. The art of blending is strange, and a whisky can be far greater than the sum of its parts as new flavours are created by blending. It makes me realise how skilled our whisky blenders of today are. Whether they are blending many casks from a single distillery, or many from many distilleries to keep a brand consistent, their skill is clear, and as for me, I’m happy to keep on practicing.

Wondering which whiskies to try next? Why not have a read through The Best Scotch Whisky to Try This Year or The Best Japanese Whisky to Buy.

Johnnie Walker Princes Street

Words by Colin Hampden-White

It is hard to describe what the new Johnnie Walker experience is on Princes Street in Edinburgh. One word sums it up though, incredible, but why it is incredible takes a little longer.

In essence, it is a full whisky experience, involving, bars, tastings, shops and shows which both entertain and educate in equal measure. There is the use of light, projections, actors and educators, aromas and flavours, and architecture all coming together to create an immersive experience which I certainly won’t forget. I will be coming back with friends and family who want to learn more about Scotch and blended Scotch, but also to convert those who haven’t yet caught the bug.

With all this pizazz, the best bit of the whole experience is that the star of the show is you. From the moment you walk through the door, it is all bout you. Initially, you are asked what flavours you like in your life and the answers build up a picture of the type of whisky you might like. This is where the blending starts and continues throughout the experience. Introducing you to cocktails and highballs and if you would like to, the neat whisky.

It’s not only the whisky and cocktails which are exquisite. The food is fabulous too, with Michelin standards providing refined food to go with the drinks, without the experience being formal. All visitors would be at home in shorts as much as suits.

All the senses are catered for, taste and smell are covered by wonderful drinks and food, but the sights and sounds are wonderful too. Not only the shows along the whisky journey, but the building itself and the views. There are views from the rooftop bar reaching all the way along Princes Street, and from another cocktail bar, a large single pane window offers views across north Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth and into Fife.

One of the most initiative decisions the Walkers made was to have a 20° slant to their label to allow for a larger font and logo. This angle is reflected all over the building in subtle ways. Even the stair banisters are at a 20° angle. It is the brilliant attention to detail like this that is so impressive.

This is the new way to experience whisky, it is beyond any other brand experience I have been through, and at the heart of it, it explains whisky in a way that is memorable and fun. It is said that if you tell someone many things, they will remember very few of them. Yet this experience manages to give you so much information in a way that involves the customer on so many levels, meaning one manages to take away a great deal rather than a few small nuggets of information.

Such is the level of enjoyment with this experience, one wouldn’t even have to enjoy whisky to have been happy to have been. But I might suggest you would find it hard not to once you’ve been.

For a more in-depth look at the different Johnnie Walker expressions, have a look at Colin’s article The Many Colours of Johnnie Walker.