Category Archives: Whisky Round Table

#Winning – this hashtag is so 2011 but this award is so 2017

 

Imagine my surprise when the good people at FeedSpot told me I was in their top 40 whisky blogs of the world list!

I remember when it felt like there was only 20 whisky blogs and I was one of 12 Knights of the Whisky Round Table (ah, the good ‘ol days).

Given that there are literally hundreds of whisky blogs on the webosphere nowadays, I’ll take top 40. Thanks FeedBlog folk!

 

To see the other 39 people on this list that are likely more qualified than me, check it out HERE.

Today the Whisky Round Table discusses multiple aging locations for whisky. PR stunts or a sound practice?

My guess is that you’re no stranger to the Whisky Round Table by now.  We’re just about to start our 3rd year as a Round Table.

In case you’re not familiar, here’s a quick explanation:

The Whisky Round Table was the brainchild of Jason Johnstone-Yellin (of guidscotchdrink.com).  His idea was to get a group of 12 of the most active (and hopefully knowledgeable) bloggers from around the world together for a monthly conversation.  One blogger (or, knight/knightess) poses a question to the group and then we all give our answers.  This is done on a monthly basis and the questioner/knight changes every month (as does the topic yet it’s ALWAYS about whisk(e)y).

The question of the month was posed by Gal Granov of Whisky Israel and his questions is:

Multiple aging locations – do they add complexity, and enhance the spirit, or are they only PR stunts?

“Lately we’ve seen a few examples of distilleries aging their whisky in two (or more) locations until full maturation. Amrut has done quite a few of those with their “Herlad” aged on Helgoland (a wee German island) and the “Two continents”. In Israel the IWC has bought a few casks from the Arran distillery and aged them on holy land for periods of 2-3 years in various locations (Tiberias, Jerusalem etc).

What are your views on those methods? Do multiple maturation locations (of the same cask) something that makes whisky better or is it a PR stunt?”

A great question if you ask me!

You can find our answers here – Thanks for the thoughtful question, Gal!

It’s that time of the month again!! The Whisky Round Table reconvenes!

This time around, the question is posed by the fine chaps at Edinburgh Whisky Blog.  Before I get to their question though, I wanted to let you know that there is a bit of a line up change at the Whisky Round Table.

Some of our valiant knights fell to the sword (in other words, had to drop out for various reasons) and some new knights have been selected to join.

The newly added knights are:

Steffen Bräuner @ Danish Whisky Blog

James Saxon @ Scotch Odyssey Blog

Chris @ Whisky Wall

Marc Pendlebury @ Whisky Brother SA

Welcome Knights!!

And sadly, we say goodbye to Keith from Whisky Emporium, Ruben from Whiskynotes.be & Joel and Neil from Caskstrength.net.  Guys. it’s been great having you as part of the discussions – I hope you’ll chime in from time to time in blog comments…

Without further ado, here is EWB’s question:

In recent years we’ve seen a good few releases of not-quite-whisky-yet or spirit-that-dares-to-command-a-price. Whether kissed by Quercus Robur tannins for 4 months or just plain clearac, do you think this is something new distilleries or ones with severely depleted stocks should be doing?

Here is the link to our answers – enjoy!!

Well met, Knights of the Whisky Round Table. Well met.

Nearly two years ago, Jason Johnstone-Yellin of guidscotchdrink.com had a great idea: bring together 12 prominent whisky bloggers and hold a monthly conversation regarding whisky; the ins, the outs… everything and anything whisky-related.

In case you’ve missed the previous year’s Whisky Round Table Discussions: click here to catch up.

This month, rather than ask a question of us, Whisky Round Table Knightess and Knight from Whisky For Everyone (Karen and Matt) challenged us to a task.  Being the type of person that always picked “DARE” in the game of Truth or Dare, I said GAME ON!  Cha-longe!!

Here is what we knights were asked to do:

Pick two or three members of your family and select a whisky drink (this can be straight dram, with a mixer or elaborate cocktail) or whisky & food pairing that you think they will like. Try to mix it up – pick an auntie who ‘hates whisky following a bad experience’, your brother who always asks “what’s the best thing you’ve tried this week?” or your dad who you are just trying to impress. You get the idea … hopefully! Make them begin to understand about the fantastic spirit that is whisky and why we all love it so much.

You can read all of our answers here.  Thanks to Karen and Matt for coming up with this great challenge!

Not all of the members were able to partake in this month’s WRT question/challenge.  Notably, Keith Wood of Whisky Emporium could not partake due to a death in the family – Keith my sincere condolences go out to you and your family.  May the memory of your loved one always be for a blessing.

As a reminder, the valiant Knights (and links to their blogs) of this round table are:

Chris – Nonjatta
Keith – Whisky Emporium
Karen & Matt – Whisky For Everyone
Ruben – Whisky Notes
Mark – Glasgow’s Whisky (And Ale)
Neil & Joel – Caskstrength.net
Lucas & Chris – Edinburgh Whisky Blog
Jason – Guid Scotch Drink
Gal – Whisky Israel
Mike – Whisky Party
Peter – The Casks
Joshua (hey, that’s me!)– The Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society

Again, for all of the Whisky Round Table discussions, click here.

The Whisky Round Table was asked: If you could reopen a mothballed distillery, which one would it be and why?

Whisky Round Table, meeting number “Sweet Sixteen”…

Just over a year ago, Jason Johnstone-Yellin of guidscotchdrink.com had a great idea: bring together 12 prominent whisky bloggers and hold a monthly conversation regarding whisky; the ins, the outs… everything and anything whisky-related.

In case you’ve missed the previous year’s Whisky Round Table Discussions: click here to catch up.

Here we are at the sixteenth month/sixteenth meeting of the Knights of the Whisky Round Table and we are presented with this seeming simple yet intriguing question from Ruben of Whisky Notes:

If you could reopen a mothballed or demolished distillery, which one would it be and why?

So, who’s for whisky cocktails and who’s against them.

Click here to find out our very varied answers (and please chime in on Ruben’s post – there’s a great discussion going on there right now).

As a reminder, the valiant Knights (and links to their blogs) of this round table are:

Chris – Nonjatta
Keith – Whisky Emporium
Karen & Matt – Whisky For Everyone
Ruben – Whisky Notes
Mark – Glasgow’s Whisky (And Ale)
Neil & Joel – Caskstrength.net
Lucas & Chris – Edinburgh Whisky Blog
Jason – Guid Scotch Drink
Gal – Whisky Israel
Mike – Whisky Party
Peter – The Casks
Joshua (hey, that’s me!)– The Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society

Again, for all of the Whisky Round Table discussions, click here.