Can whisky go bad in the bottle?
The Whisky Virgin wonders if an open bottle of whisky has a definitive shelf life, just like wine.
Features
The whisky virgin
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The whisky virgin
23 September 2019
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The whisky virgin
26 August 2019
Shining a spotlight on Scandinavian whisky
Our Whisky Virgin’s quest for enlightenment leads him to an examination of Scandinavian whisky.
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The whisky virgin
22 July 2019
Irish whiskey is smooth and light… right?
A search for ancestral roots leads the Virgin on a quest for Irish whiskey’s true style.
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The whisky virgin
25 June 2019
Am I adding the wrong water to my whisky?
The Virgin wonders whether certain types of water can negatively affect a whisky’s flavour.
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The whisky virgin
23 May 2019
Are Islay whiskies suitable for beginners?
The Virgin heads to Islay to find out if its whisky really is too intense for beginners.
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The whisky virgin
22 April 2019
How does a cask’s background impact whisky?
The Whisky Virgin goes out on a limb to understand how a cask’s history affects whisky flavour.
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The whisky virgin
25 March 2019
Exploring the wonderful world of whisky
Time for the Virgin to expand his horizons beyond the safety blanket of Scotland’s drams.
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The whisky virgin
28 February 2019
How does peat make whisky taste… peaty?
A smoky dram leads The Whisky Virgin digging into the mysteries of peat.
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The whisky virgin
07 February 2019
Should I be worried about fake whisky?
In a post-truth world, fakes are everywhere, but have they invaded your whisky cabinet?
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The whisky virgin
28 December 2018
Nine things I learned about whisky this year
There’s always something new to learn about whisky, as the Whisky Virgin discovers.
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The whisky virgin
26 November 2018
Whisky tastes of its terroir… or does it?
The Whisky Virgin is on a mission to learn the truth about terroir, starting in Campbeltown.
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The whisky virgin
22 October 2018
What makes a whisky the best in the world?
The Whisky Virgin wonders how seriously to take the preference of just one whisky critic.
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The whisky virgin
28 September 2018
Deconstructing whisky words for newbies
What do the words ‘limited edition’ and ‘Master’s Select’ on a whisky label really mean?
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The whisky virgin
27 August 2018
Why aren’t grain whiskies loved like malts?
The Whisky Virgin is a huge fan of grain whisky, but doesn’t think it gets the respect it deserves.
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The whisky virgin
24 July 2018
How to drink Scotch in a heatwave
Our Whisky Virgin is feeling the heat and on the hunt for cooler ways to enjoy his whisky.
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The whisky virgin
25 June 2018
Why are Japanese age statements vanishing?
Will age-stated Japanese whiskies become an endangered species, the Whisky Virgin wonders?
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The whisky virgin
28 May 2018
The fine art of whisky flipping
A frustrating brush with the latest Ardbeg release leaves the Virgin with a fresh dilemma.
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The whisky virgin
24 April 2018
What’s wrong with blended Scotch?
Our Whisky Virgin heads to Compass Box HQ for the low-down on why blends get a bad rap.
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The whisky virgin
26 March 2018
Unlocking the mysteries of ‘craft’ whisky
The Whisky Virgin finally gets to visit a distillery – not in Scotland, but in East London.
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The whisky virgin
26 February 2018
Tasting whisky with The Murray Method
After reading Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, our Virgin begins questioning his own tasting method.
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The whisky virgin
29 January 2018
Why young Scotch whisky is worth a chance
The Whisky Virgin puts aside his preconceptions to discover the beauty of youthful Scotch.
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The whisky virgin
20 December 2017
Which whiskies to choose for Christmas Day?
Out to impress the rellies, our Whisky Virgin ponders which drams to crack open for Christmas.
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The whisky virgin
22 November 2017
How to choose a Thanksgiving whiskey
With Thanksgiving approaching, our hapless Whisky Virgin sets out to learn about American whiskey.
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The whisky virgin
30 October 2017
Discovering the world of indie bottlers
Not all whiskies are bottled by the distilleries; there’s many a gem among the indie bottlers.
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The whisky virgin
02 October 2017
A very expensive date with Diageo
The Whisky Virgin discovers the price of rare whisky, but its value is another question altogether.
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The whisky virgin
05 September 2017
How do you choose your first whisky?
The Whisky Virgin searches for help in buying a first bottle of Scotch… and finds it down the pub.
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The whisky virgin
08 August 2017
Why you need to visit a whisky distillery
After a year of whisky exploration, the Virgin finally made it to Scotland for a distillery tour.
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The whisky virgin
11 July 2017
Don’t forget about whisky this summer
As the mercury nudges upwards, the Whisky Virgin discovers whisky was made for all weathers.
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The whisky virgin
12 June 2017
How hard can it be to be a blender?
A series of blending classes has given the Whisky Virgin new-found respect for blends.
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The whisky virgin
11 May 2017
The importance of blind tasting whisky
To really understand your likes and dislikes, try removing any prejudice from your whisky glass.
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The whisky virgin
06 April 2017
What makes a medal-winning whisky?
The Whisky Virgin wonders what the gold, silver and bronze awards adorning some bottles really mean.
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The whisky virgin
09 March 2017
Being a beginner on International Scotch Day
The Whisky Virgin was flying high after an enlightening International Scotch Day tasting.
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The whisky virgin
14 February 2017
Put your whisky senses to the test
The Whisky Virgin finds it is possible to train your senses to recognise aromas more easily.
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The whisky virgin
16 January 2017
Do I really need whisky tasting glasses?
If the whisky is good, does it really matter what sort of vessel you drink it from?
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The whisky virgin
12 December 2016
Deciphering age statements, NAS and vintages
How old’s that whisky? Does it matter? Numbers have got the Whisky Virgin’s head in a spin.
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The whisky virgin
10 November 2016
Puzzled by whisky casks
There’s considerable confusion surrounding cask types, as the Whisky Virgin discovers this week.
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The whisky virgin
22 September 2016
Why is there chocolate with my whisky?
There’s a new Whisky Virgin in town – and they’re baffled by this classic confectionary combination.
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The whisky virgin
09 May 2016
Luxury, transparency and sacrifice
Compass Box’s controversial bottling gets the Virgin treatment, with the aid of a sweary friend.