John C McDougall

I have spent a Great few days in Poland last week. Mostly in Warsaw….Another beautiful European City! For the last almost 4 Years I have been involved in the creation and development of the Polish Single Grain Whisky for the Toorank Distilleries company in that Country. This is one of the most exciting projects that…

On June 30, in the Jasienica lounge, Toorank Polska presented its first single grain whiskey – Wild Fields. Distilled from rye, aged over three years. There are two versions, both 44%, not cold filtered, distilled in December 2014. Wild Fields Original aged in Polish oak, in barrels with a capacity of 225 l, sealed with…

This is a very vexed question. Without going into the why’s and wherefores of this argument I have always believed that there is a place for Vatted Malts (Sorry Blended, as a result of Diageo’s ignorant attempt to convert the wonderful Cardhu Single Malt) into a Pure Malt Brand in the early 000’s. This was…

In Scotland, for as long as I can remember “Whusky” wuss the drink. In the mid 70’s you could buy a bottle of Bell’s for Thirteen shillings. We were all paid very low wages then..Me Included unlike certain charlatans…say no more. That one 20% of a total weeks’s wages……Not Good ! How things have changed…….Have…

I may not be the most popular critic/cynic in the world, but from Very Personal work experience I Do Think That I have a Little First hand experience of Several Spiritous  drinks. Frankly I am apalled at the  claims being made by “So called experts” about everything to do with the Spirits World. Where the…

I visited a very upmarket outlet today and of course viewed all 0f the spirituous drinks on display. We had the usual Malt whisky suspects on the shelves even up to 60 Y/O. However the average price for a really well known suspect (without naming names) was around £35.00 per 70 cl bottle. That’s absolutely…

This was Autumn 2017, when the sun was beginning to set early in the evening, and it was still possible to enjoy a modest libation outside before retiring indoors for one’s dinner. Behind the house was a lovely barley field which had been cut a few weeks previously, and will end up as whisky after…

I have had, and am still having a great time making whisky, whiskey, gin, vodka, in many different parts of the world. It continues to stimulate me, like a “Drug”, like riding fast motor cycles, or driving fast cars, whatever your fancy may be. But it always comes back to the fundamental of crafting perfect…

54 years ago this month I went as a young man to begin learning the art of distilling. I had already been occupied in barley and malting activities for several years beforehand , so the brewing and distilling side was a natural follow on for me. I am not going to ramble on and “blow…

Award winning Gins, Whiskies and Vodka’s today! It just goes on and on. I counted at least 10 today. Who are the (silent) Awarders ? Soon there will be Awards for Awards. It just get’s sillier and sillier. Just the way my DNA is configured I guess. Now there is a REAL whisky hero. (Vicky)…