Benromach Distillery was founded in 1898 on Alexander Edward's Sanquhar Estate near Forres but did not go into production until 1909. The reason for the delay is interesting.
The W Club’s launch in 2012 was nothing short of timely. A new era for whisky had dawned, with the industry seeing its biggest boom in decades. The popularity of whisky was surging, but much of the language surrounding it remained stuck in an environment of elitism - or ‘Scotch snobbery’, as the press called it.
This May plays host to two whisky festivals: Campbeltown Malts Festival and Fèis Ìle, for which the participating distilleries have released commemorative bottlings. Most are only available at the distillery on the day, however we've got our hands on a handful of them.
To get some immediate feedback on the newest whisky from Islay, Ardnahoe, we allowed random customers who walked into our Manchester store the chance to try an advanced sample. Store manager, Phil, captured their first impressions and we have condensed their reactions into a short video.
Scotland's small islands – from Arran, Jura and Mull in the West, to Orkney in the North – produce whiskies of various styles. Though, when referring to the Island region, this does exclude the 'whisky capital' Islay, which is a region of its own. Island whiskies differ to one another, as their qualities are born from the individuality of the island itself. They, like the beautiful countryside they spring from, will provide something to suit everyone's taste.