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Tag: elixir distillers

Posted on 20 June 202220 June 2022

Tormore distillery bought by Elixir Distillers

Tormore

Elixir Distillers has been in the news recently, first getting planning permission for and then finally revealing the name of its Islay distillery: Portintruan. The company is now making what maybe its biggest announcement yet: Elixir Distillers is buying Tormore distillery.

Continue reading “Tormore distillery bought by Elixir Distillers”

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Well. That was @whiskyshow 2026. In usual fashion, Well. That was @whiskyshow 2026. In usual fashion, I didn’t take many pictures and, as is increasingly my way, they are mostly terrible selfies. I am sorry to the victims in these photos… . @angusmacraildwhisky signing @dawndaviesmw’s shirt; The Art of the Blend; 40 Years of Whisky History; Umami and Texture; Japanese showcase; tasty port cask whisky (which yet again annoys me); and some birth year Glenfarclas. . #whiskyshow #whisky #sorry
A final burst of activity before @whiskyshow comes A final burst of activity before @whiskyshow comes to town: an excellent awamoro cocktail by @mitsuhiro.bartender at @parkhyattlondonriverthames after running an @iichiko.shochu training session for his team; the excellent private dining room reserved for the training session; getting to meet @debadz from @hellyersroaddistillery in person and try their 23yo whisky; a late evening writing tasting notes for the (rather good) Whisky Show whiskies; a couple of drams at @milroys3greekstreet to welcome @thescotch_guy to London; and finally, the excellent Guinness taps (producing excellent Guinness) at @the_thomas_wolsey in Ipswich, where I ran a Beginner’s Guide to Whisky session this evening. Now to do sleeping before three days of running around and telling people about booze. Well, another three days of telling people about booze, anyway. . #shochu #australianwhisky #whiskyshow
The busy-ness before @whiskyshow continues, but I The busy-ness before @whiskyshow continues, but I got to explore the world of Japanese drinks (and food) at @drinkjapan at the weekend. I was mostly there to lead some (fully booked) beginner’s guide to awamori sessions, but also managed to fit in a lot of buying of awamori, as well as gacco (smoked pickled radish. Or pickled smoked radish. I’m not sure, but it’s pretty amazing). Best thing of the weekend: Laphroaig-cask-matured awamori from a direct-fired still – thank you for sharing @shirayuri1951. Rather special. . #drinkjapan #awamori #gacco
Running around a bit last week, with a stop at @wh Running around a bit last week, with a stop at @whiskyexchange Great Portland Street to pour some whisky (including bottles with @whiskyalex72, @polli_mellow and my faces on) and a trip to Newcastle for the @whiskyindylovefestival – my first time pouring all 12 Zodiac bottlings, which I can now mostly remember the star signs and distilleries of. And along with all that, a quick stop in to see the @clearcut_drinks gang launch @elbagazo_tequila – really tasty stuff that pushes beyond the usual tequila flavour profile, along with doing cool sustainable things. . This week: glasses, podcasts, livery interviews, whisky tastings, awamori classes and maybe sheep. . #whisky #tastemyface #tequila
A fantastic long weekend at @riga.whiskyfriends an A fantastic long weekend at @riga.whiskyfriends and wandering the streets of Riga itself. I was presenting a tasting showcasing whisky around the world, and the show was full of folks from around Latvia enjoying whisky: on its own, in cocktails, and alongside food and cigars. The show was at @rigas_cirks, the former city circus (the masterclass room was where the elephants used to live) and @lauris_grass, @nordsaigars, @baibaboze and the gang put on an excellent performance. I didn’t get a chance to try much whisky, but thanks to hosting buddy @sherryhound, I did manage to get to try both @tervetedistillery’s malt and corn whisky: I have a bottle of the former for future tastings and really liked the latter (I couldn’t find a bottle and had no space in my bag – sad times). . The night before the show, Diego and I hosted the opening dinner, with a raft of great whiskies and amazing food from @b7_resto: full details of the dinner on @billysfoodpics. . …and, of course, I drank some beers: @valmiermuizas_alus, @labietis, @alus_darbnica_teika and @malduguns_alus. @kakis.maisa.bar is ace, @salons_mybeer do an excellent charcuterie plate and the best place to have a beer in Riga Airport is the bookshop… . I look forward to finding an excuse to head back and explore more of Riga. . #whisky #rigawhisky #latvianwhisky
The wonders of @whiskyshow are fast approaching an The wonders of @whiskyshow are fast approaching and @whiskyexchange have put the bottle with my face on on offer: Ben Nevis 2013 10 Year Old, filthy and sherried, now £25 off at £46.95. I am now officially cheap. Link in bio, as they say. . The piccy on the bottle is based on the second picture in this post. For the past couple of years I’ve been questioning Steve the designer’s skills due to the hair on top of my head on the label, but now I see that he was reflecting the depressing reality more than I thought… . #whisky #whiskyshow #tastemyface
…and after an August of randomness, it’s back to m …and after an August of randomness, it’s back to my ‘normal’ job: pouring boozes and telling people about them. Great day pouring @whiskyexchange’s Zodiac bottlings at our Covent Garden shop on Friday (including the final four, hiding at the back) which go live for everyone on Monday (although available to the Friends of The Whisky Exchange this week); followed by a trip to @hopscotchliverpool to host a couple of tastings and (finally) check out the (rather excellent) bar (thanks Matt). Before that, there was some rum training (looking at different ways of categorising rum – any guesses on these examples?) and the launch of the new @bruichladdich Octomore 17s. And the final pic is from @johannmalawana’s tasting a few weeks back, but I felt you all needed to see the beauty of @philipstorry. . The silly season has now begun. Next stop: @riga.whiskyfriends… after a busy week including a rather anticipated acoustic Devin Townsend gig tonight. . #whisky #madness #octomore
A slightly strange week: I presented at the yearly A slightly strange week: I presented at the yearly Reputation Symposium at Oxford University, in a session about undeserved reputation, focusing on whisky. Which was slightly out of my comfort zone – my first academic conference and I was presenting in the first session... I wasn’t the only boozy person there, with @mrwill_lyons ending the official part of the conference with a talk about wine and a tasting. I then wrapped things up with a whisky tasting at @bodleianlibraries, the first time I’ve been encouraged to raise my voice in library. Staying at Merton on the Mob Quad (the oldest quad at the university) was also a treat, to say nothing of the excellent breakfasts… . Thanks to @tormoredistillery and @londondistilleryco for the whisky donations and having excellent stories to tell, and thanks to @signatoryvintage1988 for bottling the Speyside (M)s as an excellent example of whisky with an interesting reputation. . Now to find an academic who wants to do some research into the whisky industry and would like a ‘practioner’ to collaborate with… . #whisky #oxforduniversity #reputationsymposium
It’s been a busy few months, but I took some time It’s been a busy few months, but I took some time off this week to…go to Scotland and visit a few distilleries with the excellent @oliverchilton and @distilledconsultant. It counts as holiday. . Ta muchly to the lovely people of @uilebheistdistillery, @the_macallan, @gordonandmacphail, @thebalvenie, @theglendronachofficial and @the_cabrach for showing us around and feeding us tasty things. Now to spend the rest of the month ‘just’ working before heading off on more adventures from September. . #whisky #scotland
So, I’m a Musketeer now. Well, a member of l’escad So, I’m a Musketeer now. Well, a member of l’escadron Britannique de la Compagnie des Mousquetaires d’Armagnac – an organisation dedicated to excellent food and drink from the south of France and the heritage of d’Artagnan and the three musketeers, both the fictional and real ones. . Many thanks to Capitaine Lieutenant of @britishmusketeers Martin Riley and Lieutenant Ed @distlondon Bates for welcoming me into the Company. . Website is coming soon… . #armagnac #musketeer #touspourunetunpourtous
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  • Billy A. is drinking a Four All Intensive Porpoises by Verdant Brewing Co at Untappd at Home 11 October 2026
    Bigger than expected, with with some nice chewiness, tangeriney citrus, grapefruit peel and herbal hoppiness.
  • Billy A. is drinking a TDH Hand-Selected Nectaron X Riwaka IPA by Ārpus Brewing Co. 13 September 2026
    Warm in the train but thick as soup, with stacks of pineapple balanced by a touch of pine. Custard rolls in. Really very good.
  • Billy A. is drinking a Kramplauzis by Malduguns at Rīgas lidostas skrejceļš 13 September 2026
    Not a young can, so the hops have died and things are a bit biscuity. Reminds me of anonymous brewpub ambers in the USA… Suspect it would be rather nice when fresh.
  • Billy A. is drinking a BEĻĢU VASARA by TEIKA at KAĶIS MAISĀ | Local craft beer 13 September 2026
    Veryvgrain forward, with a touch banana and a chunk of well-balanced bitterness. A touch swampy, but not in a bad way.
  • Billy A. is drinking a Gaišais Alus (Amber Lager) by SIA Valmiermuižas Alus at MyBeer / Mans Alus 13 September 2026
    Sweet, slightly chewy, with a whack of banana.

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