We’d like to take the opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year but to also say a massive thank you for your continued support in 2024, it really is appreciated by all of us here at Abbey Whisky.

 Best wishes and good health from everyone at Abbey Whisky.

Slàinte Mhath

The Abbey Whisky Team

Wow!! What a quick and exciting year 2024 has been. Here at Tamdhu Distillery we have already stopped production for 2024 and the team are catching their breath and updating their training. The end of the year always seems to be a time for some reflection but also to build anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead.

The best thing about Tamdhu (after the whisky of course!!!) is the team here at the site who are so passionate about delivering the very best sherry matured whisky time and time again, however that could not be achieved without the help and support we have from our blenders, sales and marketing colleagues and I’m always delighted that they have the same enthusiasm for Tamdhu that those of us at site do. But what makes it even better is knowing that you enjoy the releases as much as we enjoy producing them.

During 2024 we moved into our new office, made energy saving improvements with our TVR project, filled over 13,000 casks and, of course welcomed some of you during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival to share some fun and drams with us. The Festival is always our opportunity to showcase our whiskies and meet some of you into the bargain. I can hardly believe Dalbeallie is already at release 007 and we are already preparing number 008 ready for next year’s events at the end of April next year.

2025 promises to be another milestone year for Tamdhu. Following our recent releases of Tamdhu 43 & 46 for the Dedication Collection, we have been preparing a 21 year old – we are coming of age, and I have to say we are maturing exceptionally well !! I can hardly wait to share it with you during the year.

It goes without saying that our success is thanks to you, for enjoying Tamdhu with friends, family and colleagues, and I would like you to raise a glass with those that are close and special to you over the Festive or New Year period and wish you all the very best wishes and good health from everyone at Tamdhu.

Slàinte Mhath,

Sandy McIntyre
Distillery Manager

Merry Christmas from us all at Glengoyne

 May your holidays be filled with joy, warmth, and the magic of the season, we raise a glass to you.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Slàinte Mhaith,

Team Glengoyne

Selling Christmas Trees is by David Jacobsen 1853

本日はクリスマスイヴ サンタさん、来てくれるといいな…  今年1年頑張ったご褒美に「倉吉12年」がほしいです

We’re on vacation and will resume publication on August 13th!

After publishing daily since 2009 and publishing 28,000 articles in the interim (without a break), we’re on vacation!

IS A DRAM OF WHISKY GOOD FOR YOU?

With more and more people looking at enjoying a gluten-free or vegan lifestyle, which whiskies are OK? Whisky is made with malted barley, the finished product is gluten free. Anyone with coeliac disease or those cutting out gluten for other reasons will be glad to hear that whisky can be taken safely, it’s all down to the distillation.

The Coeliac UK charity write: “when a cereal containing gluten is used as an ingredient, spirits are distilled and the process removes any trace of gluten. Meaning malt whisky – made from barley is safe for people with coeliac disease. Gluten is produced when making whisky (in mashing of the barley), it will be carried through to fermentation process, gluten – a heavy compound, will be lost and it is not present in whisky, also the casks whisky is matured in – sherry, bourbon and ex-wine casks – are all gluten free.

To be called Scotch whisky, it must be minimum 40% ABV, meaning that forty percent of the drink is pure alcohol. If the ABV is higher, the percentage of alcohol is higher too. A single measure of whisky, 25ml, can contain around 61 calories. The calories will increase depending on what mixer you add to your whisky, if you add any, excluding water. A dram has less calories than a banana!

Whisky is vegan, whisky is not refined using animal derivatives, all ingredients are plant-based, and fermentation doesn’t use animal derivatives, whisky is vegan. The Vegan Society has confirmed that spirits (including whisky) use animal-free processing, meaning most of them are vegan, the exceptions are certain whiskies, including liqueurs, that contain honey meaning they are excluded from a plant-based diet.

IS IT OK TO ENJOY A DRAM NIGHTLY?

Whisky has several health benefits, including: Helps in weight loss. Helps to control diabetes. Prevents the onset of heart disorders. Prevents internal blood clotting. Contributes to small amounts towards the prevention of cancer. Benefits the heart and blood vessels. If you drink whisky every night you’ll consume less calories and carbs. It seems drinking whisky can do a person’s brain some good in the long-term. A study coming out of Boston concluded that drinking one to six drams each week might actually lower the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s among older adults. This combined with a healthy lifestyle, of course. A team at the University of California researched what makes certain people live to and beyond age 90. Their study found that the people who enjoyed two glasses of alcohol every evening had a slimmer chance of dying sooner.

While you enjoy your nightly glass of whisky, you may also be decreasing your risk of developing a stroke. Researchers have shown that a person’s risk may drop somewhere between 25 to 40 percent if they drink alcohol. Harvard University assessed over 100 scientific studies to come to this conclusion.

HOWEVER One of the largest body organs that can easily be ruined by whisky is the liver, by drinking three or four drams a day, a person has a much higher chance of developing chronic liver disease, so drink aware!

Remember drink aware, the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines – no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days, wee note, there are maybe 26 – 28 drams (25ml) in a UK bottle, meaning 14 units = a half bottle. Take it easy and enjoy your whisky.

I AM NOT ENCOURAGING ANYONE TO DRINK WHISKY OR DRINK HEAVILY, THIS IS JUST A FEW FACTS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW.  PLEASE DRINK AWARE.

“Drinkaware” is an independent charity which aims to reduce alcohol-related harm by helping people make better choices about their drinking.  https://www.drinkaware.co.uk

PAUL MCLEAN

WWW.WHISKYTOURS.SCOT