Days to inspire
You may have noticed that we’re celebrating different days in the calendar this year, big and small, and finding some connection between an annual event and the world of whisky. April kicks off with April Fool’s Day, of course – and while we’d never take you for a fool, it did get us thinking about some of the things we all wish we’d known when we started out on our whisky journey. That’s where our Society ambassadors around the world come in handy, calling on their years of whisky-drinking wisdom in a series of short videos.
Earth Day on 22 April, meanwhile, provoked a discussion in the Unfiltered team around peat – and how increasing numbers of non-Scotch distillers are looking at producing their own whisky using local varieties. Tom Bruce-Gardyne did some digging (sorry…) and has come up with a fantastic overview of how peat is being used far beyond Scotland.
Elsewhere we travel to Ayrshire to visit Lochlea distillery and meet John Campbell, formerly of Laphroaig and now heading up this farm distillery’s operations. Jamie Oliver’s business partner, Pete Begg, shares his passion for Scotch and the Society with us. And we meet one of a rare breed, English master cooper Alastair Simms, whose life and dedication to his craft is beautifully captured by photographer Andy Barnham.
Here's hoping you enjoy that and much more this month.
Cheers,