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Glenmorangie release the Grand Vintage Malt 1989

Founded in 1843, Glenmorangie is one of the Highlands’ most distinguished single malt whiskies. The name, oft mispronounced as Glenmor-AN-gie instead of Glen-MOR-angie (rhyming with orange-y), is said to be derived from the Scots Gaelic for ‘Vale of Tranquillity’ and to see the distillery it is clear how the moniker was acquired. Situated on the banks of the Dornoch Firth in Ross-shire, the distillery began life as Morangie Farm, latterly home to a brewery before Andrew Matheson, a former distillery manager, bought the farm and converted the Morangie brewery to a distillery, duly Christened Glenmorangie. Using two second-hand gin stills, Andrew set out to produce his single malt.

From a humble grocer to the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky

With almost 200 years of history, Johnnie Walker is synonymous with whisky. Visit almost any bar in the world and you can be sure to see the striding man on at least one of the whiskies on the shelf. From humble beginnings in a Kilmarnock grocer, Johnnie Walker has built a loyal following and impeccable reputation based on the quality of the liquid. Perhaps surprisingly for the namesake of the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky, the eponymous Johnnie Walker was teetotal. So just how did a non-drinker become an icon of whisky?

From legendary bravery to legendary whisky

The Dalmore is renowned for its smooth Highland single malt whisky, winning awards in competitions and spaces in home drinks cabinets across the world. Each and every bottle bears a 12-pointed silver stag, from the humble 12-year-old to the grandest expression in The Dalmore Constellations range. Seen by many as a mark of quality, the stag’s history actually pre-dates The Dalmore single malt, the distillery, and indeed all records of whisky itself.

The island distillery’s new signature range launched exclusively with The Whisky Shop and is already proving popular with customers

Lying off the north eastern coast of Islay, the island of Jura is around the same size as its neighbour, but while Islay boasts eight whisky distilleries and more in development, Jura is home to just one. The Isle of Jura Distillery was founded in 1810, predating the official opening of some of Islay’s biggest names including Bunnahabhain (1881), Caol Ila (1846), Lagavulin (1816) and Laphroaig (1815). While it may have historic roots, the Jura distillery’s success today stems from our more recent past, having been rebuilt in 1963 by local estate owners after an unfortunate period of disrepair.

The new look Speyburn is aiming for a permanent place on your whisky shelf...

Speyburn was established in 1897, designed by renowned distillery architect Charles Doig, inventor of the pagoda roof, one of the most iconic features of a whisky distillery. Doig also introduced drum maltings to the Highlands at Speyburn, meaning the distillery’s production was not restricted by the size of its malting floors. Such innovation likely played a part in the distillery becoming one of the top ten best-selling malt whiskies in the world. But somehow, despite this standing, the whisky itself has remained relatively unknown.

Variety is the spice of life for the Highland distillery with the 9th release in the Private Edition series now available at The Whisky Shop

There are a few events in the calendar that true whisky die-hards await with the excitement and impatience of a child on Christmas Eve. From the Islay Festival in May to Diageo’s Special Releases in October. Fortunately, they are well enough spaced out to keep us happy all year round and January’s treat for the past eight years has been the release of the Glenmorangie Private Edition.

Winter is here, bringing with it a string of festivities. Make sure you're prepared for every occasion with these simple-yet-spectacular serves using The Loch Fyne range of whiskies and gin, guaranteed to impress, without any stress.

'Twas the month before Christmas
and all through the land
customers were scurrying
in search of a dram.
The whiskies were many,
too many to pick,
but The Whisky Shop Blog
was there to help old St. Nick!

The Last Drop Distillers oldest release to date – 1947 Single Estate Cognac

At the close of the Second World War, France was a country in ruins – quite literally with Western Allies bombs decimating some 1,570 French towns and cities during the Nazi occupation of 1940-1944. Much of the country’s workforce had been sent to forced labour camps or interned in concentration camps in Poland or Germany.

New single cask from Hunter Laing & Co’s Platinum Old & Rare Selection arrives at The Whisky Shop

The year is 1987. The world gets its first taste of a family of colourful characters from Springfield as The Simpsons make their debut in a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. New Zealand’s revered All Blacks triumph in the first ever Rugby World Cup, hosted by New Zealand and Australia. President Ronald Reagan visits Berlin and issues the challenge heard around the world, "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Meanwhile, on the banks of the River Spey in the north of Scotland, drops of new make spirit trickle from the stills of Tamdhu distillery.