From the Traditional Distillery to the Brewstillery – with the Whisk(e)y Atlas through Europe

Hamburg, 6 April 2022: Whisk(e)y, which originates in Scotland and Ireland, is becoming increasingly popular in Europe. Whisk(ey) is now being produced all over Europe, as the newly published Whisk(e)y Atlas Europe 2022 shows. It presents the 967 active distilleries in 31 European countries in the form of clearly laid out maps that invite you to discover them. Whisk(e)y lovers will not only find interesting facts about their favourite drink, but also numerous regional and tasty inspirations for journeys into the world of whisk(e)y.

Whether among tradition lovers or trend-conscious connoisseurs – whisk(e)y is a eternal favourite. Whisk(e)y is not only produced in the old-established distilleries in Scotland and Ireland. In recent years, new distilleries have sprung up all over Europe, making the whisk(e)y landscape more diverse and exciting. Preferences have shifted away from industrially produced mass spirits towards high-quality products with genuine origins. In addition to craftsmanship demands, there is also a growing interest in sustainable and environmentally friendly production.

In line with the saying „beer is an unfinished whisky“, numerous „brewstilleries“ have also developed in the recent past, a combination of brewery and distillery under one roof, which are also listed in the Whisk(e)y Atlas Europe 2022 alongside the classic distilleries. Often combined with a gastronomic offer, they are popular destinations for whisk(e)y lovers and make tasting on site an all-round experience.

The Roots of Whisk(e)y: Scotland and Ireland

Scotland and Ireland are still the most important and, measured by production volume, the largest whisk(e)y producers in Europe. Both countries are therefore the focus of the front section of the atlas.

Scotland currently has the largest number of whisk(e)y barrels in storage in the world (various sources estimate between 32 and 36 million casks in Scottish warehouses). All the sites of themaltings, cooperages, central warehouses (bond) and bottling plants in Scotland are listed in the Whisk(e)y Atlas. For even more detail knowledge, the atlas shows which Scottish distilleries still partly malt their own beer.

Regional Maps and Distillery Finder

35 regional maps, a map of Campbeltown (in the past the whisky capital of the world with over 30 local distilleries), six overview maps and two graphics help with orientation and make the success story of whisk(e)y throughout Europe visible.

In addition to the active distilleries, the atlas shows about 90 whisk(e)y distilleries that are planned or under construction as well as about 800 already closed establishments.

All entries are sorted alphabetically by country and region.

The „Distillery Finder“ at the end of the book is divided into seven regions and helps to find a specific distillery, a brand name or the distilleries of a group. For each distillery, the location, year of opening, year of closure, company name, internet address and the type of whisk(e)y produced there are listed.

Last year, the Whisk(e)y Atlas North America was already published by Alba-Collection Verlag.

Original title:              Whisk(e)y Atlas Europe 2022 Publisher:         Alba-Collection Verlag

Date of publication:   2nd April 2022 Edition:                       1st edition (04/2022)

Language:                  English

Pages:                        124

Format:                      Hardcover (30 x 21,5 cm)

ISBN:                       978-3-944148-77-9

Price:                          39 €

Available in whisky and bookshops or directly from the publisher (www.alba-collection.com/atlas-europa).

Arran TWB 15th Anniversary Exclusive

2022 marks the 15th Anniversary of TheWhiskyBarrel.com and what better way to celebrate than a year of single cask distillery exclusives! Opened in 1995 Arran distillery is located at Lochranza on the Isle of Arran just off the west coast of Scotland.

We simply could not pass on the opportunity to bottle a fresh sherry hogshead filled December 2009. This single cask #934 has yielded 245 bottles at cask strength 55.4%. In the interest of fairness, these bottles are limited to 2 bottles per customer.

Buy – Arran 12 Year Old Single Sherry Hogshead >>

Arran Distillery was commissioned by the Isle of Arran Distillers in 1995 and lies amid stunning scenery just to the south of Lochranza on the northern tip of the Isle of Arran. This distillery has four stills, dunnage warehouses, a visitor centre offering distillery tours and a distillery café. Arran distills both un-peated and peated malt spirit and matures its whisky in sherry, bourbon, port and wine casks in order to produce an ever-evolving and expanding range of whiskies including Arran single malts such as Arran Machrie Moor and The Illicit Stills, and Arran blended scotch.

Glencairn Ruby Tribute Whisky raises £15,000 for charity!

At the end of last year our Glencairn Ruby Tribute Blended Whisky was auctioned as part of The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ One-of-One Charity Auction, in partnership with Sotheby’s. It sold for an incredible £15,000 – all the money raised has gone to The Distillers’ Charity Youth Action Fund, helping to improve the lives of Scotland’s young people who need it most.

This very special whisky containing contributions from some of the world’s most iconic master blenders was presented to Glencairn Founder and CEO Raymond Davidson back in 2004. It was auctioned in a unique hand crafted ruby adorned decanter, created by our team of talented craftspeople, to mark our 40^th anniversary.

Fettercairn
46 Year Old

An exceptional malt matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and finished in tawny port pipes, this incredibly rare Highland dram was distilled on 8th May 1973. Bottled aged 46 years old at a strength of 42.5% abv, only 55 bottles have been produced! 

£8,500.00
BUY NOW

Fettercairn 46 Year Old Description

https://youtu.be/DfaoZcVKTt0

Hibiki, as a brand, has become unstoppable. Never before, in my era, have I seen a blended whisky fight for the top spot of ‘most sought-after whisky in the world’.

Now there are many factors to this:

– Well made whisky.

– An incredibly designed bottle.

– Stocks from two of the most sought-after whiskies in the world: Yamazaki & Hakushu.

– An award winning reputation of its own.

– No real marketing campaign at all…apart from a sole reference in Lost in Translation.

One could argue that with a bottle that pretty you don’t need a marketing campaign. It’s memorable enough already.

Established as a brand in 1989, outside of Irish whisky, no other product has seen sales growth like Hibiki. Growth which was so incredible that they discontinued their 12YO in 2015, then their 17YO in 2017 – rounding into 2020 with just a 21YO occasionally available, a 35YO rarely available and this, Japanese Harmony. A NAS Japanese blended whisky with huge appeal but with a varying price tag and dwindling availability of its own.

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Contact: thisiswhiskywednesday@gmail.com

Logo Design: @wenbilson – Instagram

Badachro Distillery releases limited edition new port cask single malt whisky expression

A Highland distillery has unveiled its latest limited edition single malt – a smooth, velvety whisky finished in ruby port casks.

Badachro Distillery has released a run of Bad na h-Achlaise Port Cask, limited to just 1,200 hand-filled and numbered bottles.

The unpeated Highland single malt is the latest cask expression of the distillery’s popular Bad na h-Achlaise series. Aged in bourbon barrels and refill hogsheads for several years, it has been vatted and filled in handpicked ruby port casks and matured in the Badachro dunnage warehouse for a full year before bottling.

Managing director Gordon Quinn said: “Our new port cask expression reflects the tranquillity and peacefulness of our corner of the Scottish Highlands. We selected ruby port casks for their distinct dark chocolate and vibrant red fruit influence and, once all four finishing casks were married together, we knew we had created a unique single malt.

“Bad na h-Achlaise Port Cask is a smooth, unpeated whisky that we believe is the perfect dram to begin a tasting session with. And, if you’re anything like us, continue with too!”

Tasting notes:

• Nose: sweet with jams, blackberries, vanilla, fresh sawn oak and currants
• Mouth feel: sprightly with powerful black cherry and glazed red cherries, a hint of bitter chocolate and pink jelly baby or strawberry sherbets
• Finish: lively with dried fig then a long lasting stewed mix of red fruits and berries

Bad na h-Achlaise Port Cask is available from www.badachrodistillery.com and selected stockists.

46% ABV, 70cl, £56.95 – limited to 1,200 bottles.

Badachro Distillery in the western Scottish Highlands is home to a range of uniquely handcrafted whiskies, gins and vodkas that have gained a reputation for bold, complex flavours that leave you coming back for more. The distillery is a true family venture – founded by Gordon and Vanessa Quinn who met at the Badachro Inn and married just 12 weeks later. After travelling the world together, the pair returned to Badachro to follow their dream of setting up a craft distillery.

Find out more about Badachro Distillery at www.badachrodistillery.com, or follow the distillery on Instagram (@badachrodistillery), Twitter (@badachrospirits) or Facebook (/badachrodistillery).

Maltstock 2022 is on!

A few weeks ago we had to bring you the not so relaxed news that Maltstock 2022 might not happen, since the Buitencentrum venue is currently used to house Ukrainian refugees. But we bring you very relaxed news now:

Maltstock 2022 is on!
Yes, that’s right: Maltstock 2022 is on! We have managed to find an alternative venue where we can have Maltstock with a relaxed twist!

Relaxed twist!

Nothing much will change! Good food, good whisky, good company, outside and indoor space, plenty of seating, lots of ‘bring your own bottle’ -sharing, tastings, a retox walk and our infamous raffle. Relaxed as always, all will be there. A very relaxed weekend, meeting old and new friends and sharing relaxed drams.

New dates
The venue we found had only one weekend still available in September. This means that this years Maltstock will be held from 23 to 25 September.

New venue
So where is this new venue? It’s in a lovely town called Lievelde.

We are impressed with the standard and quality of the accommodation. More info on this venue will be available soon from our Facebook page and website. Everything is available for having a relaxed weekend!

Now what?
In the next couple of months you can expect updates regarding our relaxed program. We hope to see you all in September at Maltstock (with a twist)!

Tickets
Tickets are available from our shop on the website: www.maltstock.com/shop

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Bob, Klaas, Stan & Teun

A QUADRUPLET OF AWARDS AT SFWSC

We are thrilled to announce Glengoyne picked up four awards at this year’s prestigious San Francisco World Spirit Competition awards, renowned for being the “Oscars of the whisky world.”

Glengoyne, 10 Year Old, was awarded Gold, recognising “…products that set the standard in their category.” Glengoyne 12, 21 and 25 Year Old were each rated Double Gold, with the judging panel unanimous in their gold medal rating for these single malts being “amongst the finest in the world.”

DISCOVER OUR AWARD-WINNING COLLECTION

MATURED FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY

Matured exclusively in hand-selected sherry casks for a quarter of a century, this bright amber beauty includes notes of brown sugar, soft oak, cinnamon, stewed fruit and spicy liquorice.

25 YEAR OLD

The Glencairn Glass launches its first ever crime short story competition 🕵️‍♀️

The Glencairn Glass launched its first very own crime short story competition in autumn last year, inviting all budding crime writers to enter stories around the theme: ‘A Crystal-Clear Crime’. The competition was in partnership with Scottish Field Magazine and the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival, attracting entries from all over the world.

A big congratulations goes to Brid Cummings for her winning story ‘Halmeoni’s Wisdom’ and also to the two runners up: Jennifer Harvey with ‘Teardrops’ and Judith O’Reilly with ‘Auld Bride’.

Find out more about the competition, the winning authors and read their stories

There’s some GlenDronach Cask Strength left!

Yesterday we released The Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 10 to our W Club members who had Priority Access, and we have a very limited amount leftover which is now live on general sale – so be quick! Below (via link) is a round-up of some other interesting bottles that have landed recently too.

All new arrivals →