The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
15 results across all types
videovPub Live - Independent Core Ranges - The New Thing
Wait, what? The terms “Independent’ and ‘Core Range’ do not usually sit together in whisky. Independent bottlers do their own thing - small batch or single casks. Official bottlings are from distilleries and large producers - they’re the ones who make ‘core ranges’, right? But of course for years now those lines have become very blurred. But it’s with the release of a new ‘core range’ from an independent bottler that the concept has taken on a slightly different tone: a new single malt, from a k
videovPub Live - Global Brands - The Macallan
This comes from a list of distilleries I compiled a while back for vPub consideration; those that - I think - are unique or interesting enough to warrant some closer consideration. Arguably, all distilleries are, but I think we all agree there are some distilleries or brands that have, for many reasons, become much more visible. Somehow, they have built something of a unique reputation and they can often transcend our enthusiasts’ ‘whisky bubble’ and become something of a globally recognised ent
videovPub Live - Whisky Predictions 2026
I'll keep this about whisky, specifically from the perspective of Scotch whisky, that's where I find myself happiest. And despite the last couple of years, I find it to be a very happy place indeed. But of course, I'm looking at everything through the lens of a whisky enthusiast. I think you are too. But, for the whisky industry, these last two years have been filled with turmoil. To me, it doesn’t feel like we’re fully out of the woods yet. Correction is too soft a word for it. The post-covid h
videovPub Live - The Forgotten #2 - 5 Whiskies we've forgotten about
As many of you know, I like to categorise things. It helps me digest ideas as well as compare and consider. It’s also pretty handy when preparing bottles for vPub discussions. Over the years we’ve had ‘Under-the-Radar’ whiskies - those which are known by some but often kept secret. We’ve had ‘Sleepers’ - those unknown gems waiting to be discovered. And we’ve had multiple visits to brands under the ‘Ignored’ series theme - the brands and producers who we just seem to be able to walk past, despite
videovPub Live - On Location at Edradour (Signatory Vintage)
Sorry to seem so coy about our location, but we've always had fun with these: Where are we? Will we be in a visitor centre? Or a bar? Or a still house? Or there was that time we were literally live from a mash tun. Anyway, this time we'll leave the guesswork to you. What I can tell you is that this will be a popular location, with a popular guest; someone who’s often been requested directly by you. We’ll be doing our best to take questions on the night, and answering a few long debated mysteries
videovPub Live - New, Newer, Newest
Time for some new arrivals. It’s said that the only constant is change, and that’s as true in whisky as anywhere else. As markets adjust and new products are developed, so too new distilleries and brands enter the fold. Truly exciting times for folk, such as us, who are forever curious about whisky. But of course, ‘new’ never guarantees ‘better’. While we hope that new releases are carefully curated and prepared to be as good as they can be, they’re not always better than what existed before. Sh
videovPub Live - What the Industry Drinks w/ Oliver Chilton
Is there a chance you may not know who Ollie is? If not, I’m confident you’ll know the brands that he’s involved in. If you’ve ever tried or owned a Single Malts of Scotland bottling, an Elements of Islay or perhaps even a Port Askaig release, chances are Ollie has been involved. That’s before we consider his responsibilities for the two Elixir distillery projects: Portintruan on Islay’s south coast as well as the exciting renaissance of Speyside’s Tormore after its acquisition from Chivas in 20
videovPub Live - The Best Coastal Whiskies
Inspiration for vPub topics is usually found in my mood. But recently I was sipping away happily on a glass of Swedish malt whisky when suddenly, mid-palate, I got such a blast of salty tang that I instantly felt like I’d just cracked a salt crystal on my tongue. While this week’s vPub topic is not focused specifically on salt in whisky there’s an inevitability that, when we speak about ‘coastal’ whiskies, we’re going to talk a lot about saltiness. Of course there are other descriptors - objecti
videovPub Live - Top 15 Inaugurals Ranked
How many ‘new’ distilleries have been founded in Scotland? Let’s keep it simple and suggest ‘new’ means since the year 2000. Things started off gently, with the - now actually well-established - Kilchoman, Daftmill and Glengyle. Soon followed by mega-plants Ailsa Bay and Roseisle. But it was the 2010s where the new distillery tracker trajectory strapped on a rocket pack and went nuts. So much so, it would be silly to try to list them all here. But, by my count, we’re already beyond sixty. With t
videovPub Live - Blind Tasting Whisky: Why We're Rubbish (and great)
Over the course of the last few weeks, I’ve attended joyously good fun events. All at whisky’s side; celebrations of great whiskies and the people around it. It’s been a brilliant time with positivity and energy running throughout. But there’s another thing that connects all of these events - they were all enjoyed blind, or at least semi-blind. What I’m about to state is from a personal perspective only, but perhaps you’ll agree that in recent times tasting whisky blind - without fear - has beco
videovPub Live - Islay Whisky - A Decade of Change
The angle on this has changed a little, but I think I’m happier with it now. What started as a focus on ranking whiskies, policies, pricing, ethics and market attitudes has morphed into something that’s a mini-take on general whisky today. I’m personally very precious about Islay, so when I discuss it I feel myself drawn to the positives. I hope I’ve worked out a way to do that while still drawing attention to those odd things that are less positive. First, let’s zoom out. We often discuss whisk
videovPub Live - Whisky's New Golden Era?
It’s my belief that we’re in a golden era of whisky enjoyment. Seriously. We’ve never had it so good. But it’s the vPub - I need to prove it. How? Well, firstly, I need to remind myself - and everyone - that what I do in my wee corner of the whisky space is focus everything through the lens of a punter: a drinker, a sipper, a flavour hound, bottle-chaser and general all-round ‘botherer’. I’m speaking of those who throw their own cash on the occasional bottle, not necessarily to polish it off, bu
videovPub Live - When Indies Do It Better - Ep.1 'The Bens'
I think this could end up being a series. Hence the optimistic “Ep.1” title. Time and time again we hear ourselves saying “leave it to the indies”, “I tried a much better indie bottling” or “indies just do it better”. Can this really be true? How can official bottlings be so lacking with access to all that they have while indies are so capable despite how little they get? We see it everywhere, and it’s no longer just the cherry-picked single casks. We’re seeing indies releasing curated brands an
videovPub Live - The Undrinkables - with Roddy
Over the Christmas holidays many of us were enjoying brussels sprouts. At each visit, there was always someone at the table that viewed them as nature's palate poison. I personally enjoy the wee bitter green balls of goodness, but it turns out that many are genetically sensitive to their taste, to the point they’ll find them inedible. It got me thinking about whisky. Which is all too easy for me. If I’m honest, despite pushing an agenda of flavour promiscuity and staying as open minded as possib
videovPub Live - Best of 2025
This is actually the last vPub of the year. For the first time in the life of the vPub, oddly, Christmas Day and New Year's Day are falling on Thursdays. Not only would I be in a lot of bother if I slinked off to hang out with my online whisky pals, I think it would be a pretty quiet session too. If we add in the - now traditional - first week of January off, I’ll be away for three weeks! 😳Instead, I’ll set up a Lock-in on Sunday 28th December for all the New Aqvavitae Guardians and patrons for