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.

Best Whiskies To Invest In - September Whisky Investment Index

By Colin Hampden-White

Macallan does it again.

Macallan has not only managed to stay at the top of the table, but it has also extended its lead. This could be down to a few things. Mainly, it’s because there has been a lot of Macallan at auction recently. Also there have been a few lower-level limited editions come to market over the last year or so and they are finding their way onto the secondary market. Examples of this would be the Concept series, which has had its final release recently, and the editions series. These I believe still have potential to grow even if bought on the secondary market at today’s prices. And it looks like a lot of other people feel the same as these series are doing well at auction.

High value Karuizawa bottles are still coming to auction giving this Japanese closed distillery a strong place on the table and with the recent releases of Brora, the most well known being the Tryptic, Brora continues to do well.

There is little change in the table this month, but the percentages have changed. They have become closer together. This makes it difficult to pick clear winners, but it is also a good sign that one shouldn’t do badly by choosing any of the brands or distilleries below as an investment. As long as one sticks to the rule of buying limited editions, single casks and good independent bottles.

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

With no clear winner other than Macallan, I have chosen a few different brands rather than sticking to one. As any good investment portfolio should have variation.

Bottles to Watch

Ardbeg Drum

Released a few years ago, this has already had some time in the marketplace and is still a great one to keep your eyes open for.

ABV: 46%
Size: 750ml
Find here: $279.99 

From the committee release, this can still be found in the UK.

Ardbeg Drum Committee Release

ABV: 52%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £295

From the middle of the table I’d look for Clynelish

Clynelish Game of Thrones

This is a good low-level bottle at well under £50. It is high strength, and although not very limited, it is limited and will run out. A longer prospect, but still worth it.

ABV: 51.2%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £40.95 // US $178.49

Clynelish 1995 25 year old

With only 340 bottles of this single cask, cask strength bottle produced, from a well known independent bottler. I think this will do well.

ABV: 51%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £313.15

And from the very top of the table.

The Macallan Edition No.6

The last in the edition series, these are already collectable. And although not as expensive as earlier editions, it will still rise in value.

ABV: 48.6%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £299.99 // US $179.99

The Macallan Rare Cask 2021 edition

When customers are only allowed to buy one, it’s a clear indication that these will sell out fast and be in high demand. An annual release, also shows it’s only going to be created in limited numbers.

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £249.95

And there we have it. A few suggestions for bottles which I think will do well in the future. As always, they are only suggestions, and I don’t profess to be the fountain of all knowledge, but these ideas might give you a helping hand in choosing bottles to invest in.

To see how this whisky investment index was created, follow this link and if you want to check out August and July’s recommended bottles then click here: August / July.

One Drink, Three Ways: The Glenturret Triple Wood

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 Glenturret Triple Wood Scotch whisky is the perfect continuation of Glenturret’s long whisky history, being part of the older range and then reborn into the new. It’s a delightfully subtle, golden whisky that’s light on its feet with lots of ripe, fruity notes with sweetly spiced aromas thanks to a combination of European and American Sherry oak casks with Bourbon barrels. Try it alone to sip and savour or give it a go in one of these fantastic serves.

The Three Drinkers each share their favourite ways to taste it….

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Helena’s Choice: Vanilla Highball

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Highballs are back as new generations discover whisky in an accessible way before hitting the stuff neat. The Vanilla highball is a long serve that’s incredibly simple to make at home. Here’s a refreshing version with a twist to bring out those beautiful sweet spice flavours from the wood casks: Simply pour the whisky into a highball glass topped up with ice, splash in some vanilla bitters (to taste) and top up with cream soda. Garnish with a slice of orange or a vanilla pod if you have one. 

The ‘Vanilla Highball’

Recipe

25ml The Glenturret Triple Wood 

200ml Cream soda

Ice

Orange slice or vanilla pod for garnish

Highball glass

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Aidy’s Choice: Pineapple Whisky Sour

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Whisky cocktails don’t have to be heavy, dark affairs; there are tonnes of lighter, fruity options too. Here’s a particular serve that I consider my TGIF drink (Thank God It’s Friday!) or quite frankly, any time I’m just in the mood for a little pick me up! Method: place the sugar, whisky, lemon juice, pineapple juice and egg white into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds. Strain into an old fashioned cocktail glass and serve.

Pineapple Whisky Sour

Recipe

60ml The Glenturret Triple Wood 

25ml Lemon juice 

25ml Pineapple juice 

1 egg white

2 tsp Caster sugar

Pineapple wedge to garnish (optional)

Glass tumbler

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Colin’s Choice: The Rob Roy

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Here’s one for fans of a classic Manhattan but with a Scotch whisky twist! Originally created in 1894 at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel and was named after the opera Roby Roy that was premiering in New York at the time. Method: Stir all the ingredients together in a mixing glass with ice, then pour into the coup. Garnish with an orange twist or a maraschino cherry.

The Rob Roy

Recipe

50ml The Glenturret Triple Wood 

30ml Martini Rosso Sweet Vermouth

2 dashes Angostura bitters

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

Glenfiddich to Fuel Trucks with Whisky Waste

Does driving a car powered by whisky count as drunk driving…? The jury’s still out on that one, but one thing we know for certain is that a whisky waste powered car is on the horizon!

Making whisky can be surprisingly wasteful, with nearly 85% of the leftover grains and barley from the malting stage going to waste. Wastage is a huge problem in the food and drink industry, but major whisky producer Glenfiddich seems to be on the road to combatting their waste.

Though previously sold off as high-protein cattle feed, Glenfiddich is using its spent grains to create fuel for trucks. The grains are put through ‘anaerobic digestion’, a process in which bacteria break down organic matter and produce biogas. This biogas is what can be substituted for the harmful diesel. Using biogas instead of diesel or other fossil fuels cuts CO2 emissions by over 95% and reduces other harmful particulates and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 99% - now that’s cool. Each truck will displace up to 250 TONNES of CO2 annually!

Glenfiddich currently have four trucks running off this biogas, but plan to convert the other sixteen of their trucks to be biogas fuelled in the near future. At the moment, these trucks are only the ones transporting the spirit to be bottled but William Grant & Sons, Glenfiddich’s parent company, are looking to use the same biogas to power trucks that transport the whisky nationally.

William Grant & Sons have always proclaimed to be at the forefront of reducing carbon emissions in the whisky industry, and they hope to hit carbon net zero targets by 2040. Judging by the way things are going now, that doesn’t seem to be such a huge hurdle anymore.

Glenfiddich distillery director Stuart Watts (pictured above) told Reuters, “The thought process behind this was, ‘what can we do that’s better for us all?’”. This mindset is certainly one that is catching on around the drinks industry as we see more and more brands either utilising waste or becoming carbon neutral (even sometimes carbon negative!).

In Finland, even goose poop has been used to make beer! Check out this article to see how other companies are making their processes a bit more eco-friendly.

Which Whiskies To Invest In - August Whisky Investment Index

The closed distilleries march on.

It seems that having been out of the running a few months ago, and now moving up the table, Karuizawa is moving up further. There have been some significant bottles at auction and quite a few of them giving the Japanese distillery a lift in recent weeks. Springbank and Bowmore have kept steady, and Brora has entered the fray.

Brora distillery could be an interesting prospect. Having been closed since 1983, the distillery has been rebuilt. Not just another distillery on the same site. The re-built distillery is almost an exact replica of the original. The original new make is no more, but Dr Jim Beverage can remember the profile and is certain he can recreate the magic of the past.

Whether this will bring old bottles out of the woodwork, or if people will hold onto them hoping the Brora brand will grow and grow, one doesn’t know. But my feeling is that if you can invest in old bottles of Brora, which already has cult status, you won’t do badly.

Macallan 1%
Bowmore 1%
Springbank 1.5%
Karuizawa 2.0%
The Dalmore 2%
Clynelish 3%
Brora 2%
Rosebank Official Bottlings 1%
Ardbeg 2%
Glen Grant

Bottles to Watch

The following bottles are from Brora. There are not many as Brora bottles are truly old and rare, and I would advise finding bottles at auction rather than at retail. As always, these are just suggestions but it will point you in the right direction to do your own research and introduce you to the possibilities of investing in whisky.

Brora 37 year old (Special releases 2015)

This bottle is from a release a few years ago and will likely improve over the coming years as well. An official bottling from Diageo, it will always be sought after.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 50.4%
Find here: US $1999.99

Brora 21 year old 1977

This 1977 is a lot less expensive than its older sibling from 1972, and therefore has a little more room to increase in value.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 56.9%
Find here: UK £1795

Brora 1982, bottled 2008 G&M Connoisseurs Choice

Independent bottles are frequently less expensive to buy, this can also be because they are also bottled at a lower ABV. However, with good ones, they can increase in value at the same rate as official bottles. This is a prime example.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £1200 

To see how this whisky investment index is created, have a look at March and to see how August compares to July click here.