A few months ago BenRiach distillery released a new expression exclusively in global travel retail market segment, a 10 Year Old Tripled distilled. Triple distilled whisky isn’t too common in the Scottish whisky industry with only Auchentoshan and Springbank (with their Hazelburn brand) producing such whisky on a regular basis. But other distilleries do play with triple distillations and it’s even not the first tripled distilled coming from BenRiach.

The third distillation usually produces a further refined new make, which usually leads to a lighter flavor and body profile for the aged whisky.

This BenRiach 10 Year Old Triple Distilled was...

The Lowlands have the dubious reputation of producing Scotland’s least fashionable whiskies. While it’s easy to find whisky lovers who swoon for the peaty malts of Islay and rich, sherried drams of Speyside, the delicate and floral whiskies of the Lowlands have lingered on in relative obscurity—more of a footnote on most whisky lists—until now. From a low of just two operational Maltwhisky distilleries in 1993, the designated Lowlands region of Scotch whisky production has now grown to include eleven distilleries, with several more in the pipeline. The Lowlands Renaissance has arrived.

Lowlands Emergence

The Lowlands Maltwhisky region...

Visiting the Lowlands is really a matter of choosing the best city center for your stay . Glasgow is convenient to the western distilleries and offers a wide range of accommodations, restaurants, and whisky bars. However, if Annandale and Bladnoch top your list, Dumfries is worth consideration as a base. The historic town was home to Robert Burns from 1791 until his death in 1796. Visitors can explore his house and enjoy a dram in The Globe Inn , which was frequented by the poet, songwriter, and one-time excise officer.

Edinburgh is convenient to the eastern distilleries, and includes the...

More than just sugar, honey lends its warming, sunny sweetness to a cup of tea or a glistening glaze for chicken wings. Of course, honey is not just a single flavor. A natural food product of honeybees, honey reflects its origins, whether the nectar was collected from a Scottish heather moor or from wildflowers growing on a California mountainside. Honey connoisseurs will happily pay a premium for a quality, single-source jar from an artisanal apiary, admiring the spectrum of honeyed colors from gold to deep mahogany, and their nuances of flavors in a way familiar to whisky lovers.

Honey and...

It’s a great week for single malt scotch lovers. After teasing four new whiskies just a few weeks ago, Old Pulteney has revealed a brand-new lineup for its core range, including the non-age statement (and slightly peated) Huddart, a 15 year old, and an 18 year old. The flagship Old Pulteney 12 year old will continue to be available as well, but with revamped packaging to match its new brethren. Old Pulteney discontinued its 17 year old and 21 year old expressions in 2017 ( although eagle-eyed hunters maj still spot them on store shelves as back stock gets sold...

Scotland’s most southerly region is home to a s mall, but growing number of distilleries . Many of these producers are newcomers, just getting started making whisky that is years away from maturity, while others are well-established and familiar to many scotch drinkers. If you can’t make it to the region to tour its whisky trail , get a taste for the Lowlands with some of these single malts.

Auchentoshan 12 year old —84 points, $45 The nose offers tropical fruit and honeyed vanilla, emerging nuts, and dried spice, banana, and almonds. The texture is slightly oily, and the palate...

Scotland’s Lowlands region offers a multitude of outdoor activities, including nature preserves, mountain bike trails, fishing, and golfing. Of course, the area has plenty of  whisky  as well—perfect for rounding out a day’s adventures. Here are ten exciting activities to try out while in the Lowlands; for more adventure ideas, check out  Visit Scotland .

Glasgow and the West

Have an Ice Time Even those who take their whisky neat will enjoy a visit to the Baltic Ice Bar Glasgow at the Snow Factor experience just outside Glasgow. After a day of skiing or snowboarding, head to the bar where...

Fettercairn isn’t a well-known whisky. One of Whyte & Mackay’s single malts – along with Dalmore , Jura , Tamnavulin and Invergordon – it’s not received much love from the owners over the past few years. However, Whyte and Mackay has been doing some sprucing up of its whiskies: first Tamnavulin got its first official release in years – Tamnavulin Double Cask – then the Jura range had a complete makeover. Each time, I’ve asked whether it’s Fettercairn’s turn yet. The answer, as of this week, is yes – please welcome the new Fettercairn 12 Year Old .

Fettercairn Village...

Ardbeg Drum

Here’s the Ardbeg Day release for 2019: Ardbeg Drum . Pictured above is the Committee only edition that will come first, bottled at a higher 52% ABV.

Let the rumbustious revelry begin… as they say on the label. Ardbeg Drum is matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in rum casks from the Americas to bring notes of pine resin, woodsmoke, banana and pineapple, as well as lavender (!), liquorice and vanilla.

GlenDronach Forgue 10 Years

Already pre-announced during a travel retail summit in mars, but now available in the wild: GlenDronach Forgue 10 Years . It...

This Macduff 1997 was matured in a bourbon hogshead for 20 years. It was bottled by Valinch & Mallet as part of their Lost Drams Collection.

Macduff 20 yo 1997 (51,3%, Valinch & Mallet 2017, bourbon hogshead #17-0120, 296 btl.)

Nose: fairly light and neutral, with lemons and apple peelings, blossomy notes and honey. Vanilla pastry with glaze on top. Sweet lime candy. Fresh, almost scented oak as well. A light hint of bubblegum. Summery whisky in a way. Mouth: a combination of sweet fruity notes (citrus, pear, berries) with big gingery notes, walnuts and a bitter edge...

Independent bottler Eiling Lim has a new Zen series which has a very minimal label design with a picture of cut wood, showing its rings.

While officially an unnamed Orkney Malt 2000 , there’s a good indication we’re dealing with the viking distillery, if you know what I mean.

Orkney Malt 17 yo 2000 (51,8%, Eiling Lim ‘Zen label’ 2017, 96 btl.)

Nose: great style. Chalk and other mineral notes, some greasy hints as well as some leatherette. Sea spray and beach sand. Candy apples and a nice jammy touch of yellow plums in the background. Light grassy,...

Independent bottler North Star Spirits have only been operating since 2016, but the company founded by former AD Rattray ambassador Iain Croucher has already built up a nice reputation.

The blended malt Vega 40 Years was the second Vega, after a 23 year-old expression. It was distilled in oktober 1977 and matured in a combination of Spanish and American oak before being bottled at cask strength in januari 2018.

We won’t try to guess the provenance, but remember we saw quite a few ‘malt bases’ in the past few years, basically different combinations of Tamdhu, Glenrothes, Macallan and other Edrington...