The Last Sipper with Joel Harrison
The spirits writer and presenter on the whisky that gets his tastebuds tingling, and his favourite Soho hangout
Exclusive: Limited edition ‘Secrets of Smoke’ is a sweet peat release from Compass Box in time for Christmas
A special limited edition release from Compass Box unveils the secret sweetness behind peated malts
Barley culture: Alice Lascelles
Our favourite people on the things they like, that you might like too: this month, the award-winning drinks writer and columnist on an epic novel, her favourite blended whisky and the special place she retreats to
A vine romance: Whisky and Port’s joyful union
The Dalmore’s epic new Port Edition is forged in Scotland and finessed in the feted Douro valley wine region. For Anna Lou Larkin, a Glaswegian with a Portuguese grandfather, this was a magical marriage too good to resist
English whisky’s field of dreams
The centuries old Christian and Pagan tradition of Lammas Day has been resurrected by Fielden whisky to honour the harvest and sow a new way of making whisky – with heritage grains once used by the Vikings. Tom Pattinson joins the happy throng
Libations in Laugharne on the trail of Dylan Thomas
Drink, poetry and solitude. Chris Moss toasts the Welsh writer on a walk around the author’s favourite home town – and final resting place
Mellow fellow: meet Japan’s genius of distilling
Kanosuke is an astonishing young whisky matured in rice wine barrels and produced on Japan’s ‘Mellow Coast.’ Barley gets a taste of the future
Spirited away: A pilgrimage to Norway’s Whisky Cathedral
Beyond the Arctic Circle lies the most remote distillery in the world. Heather Storgaard makes the epic journey to pay homage
Sip advisor: Tamdhu 43-Year-Old Single Malt
Tamdhu’s latest exclusive release is a show-stopping raising of the stakes for the Speyside whisky makers. Barley succumbs to its exquisite sherry-drenched charms
Scotch is striding to disaster
Johnnie Walker and other pioneers made Scotch distinctive, so why does it seem hellbent on becoming something else?
My eco manifesto for future-proofing whisky
The boss of a groundbreaking 100% organic distillery on her vision for a net zero future
Is this a dram which I see before me?
Max Bennett is fresh from an acclaimed run as Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Alexis Burgess is the pioneer behind a dazzling whisky collection featuring every character from the play. The two Macbeths sat down for Barley
Making a strong Impression
Johnson Reserve’s new Renoir Edition single malt whisky is a work of art, both inside the bottle and on it. Barley gets an exclusive taste and hears MD Alexander Johnson explain his masterful vision
Sip advisor: The local’s guide to Austin’s coolest cocktail bars
Famous worldwide for its buzzy music scene, Austin, Texas, is no slouch when it comes to whiskey. Local resident and whisky writer Gabrielle Nicole Pharms picks her favourite hang-outs
Video: In a Lalique Of Their Own
Watch the Michelin-starred chef from Glenturret distillery in Perthshire prepare a stunning langoustine dish from his tasting menu
Hip flask hikes: Pendle Hill
Lancashire’s famous “witches’ mountain” marks the natural frontier of the true north. Our local lad walks diagonally into the mists and mires
Where Buffalo roam
Kentucky Kings of Bourbon Buffalo Trace is on a mission: to convert Londoners to the delights of its world famous whiskeys. Barley heads to their new British outpost to get a sneak peek of what lies in store
The Deep Dive: Wake-up call for whisky?
Sales slumps. Teetotal Gen Z-ers. And a cataclysmic attempt at categorisation alongside chicken nuggets by food activists. In this exclusive investigation for Barley, Nick Morgan reveals the range of converging factors conspiring against a new golden age of whisky
The Last Sipper with Kiefer Sutherland
The Canadian actor and guitar-mad musician tells Barley about his new whisky — and reveals what Picasso taught him about tasting notes and why he loves nothing more than drinking ‘Cutty Sark in dive bars’
Welcome to Whisky Rocks - our new Substack newsletter
Whisky Rocks is our new guide for the whisky curious to help you discover more about the magic and wonder of the world’s most exciting spirit
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In A Special Place: Glencoe
By Alastair Campbell
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Video: Queens of cashmere
By Barley staff
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Whisky cabinet must-haves
By Olly Smith
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5 distilleries opening soon
By Barley staff
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Islay whisky starter for six
By Dave Broom
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Three classic Detroit speakeasies
By Nina Caplan
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Video: Japan's best dram?
By Tatsuya Minagawa
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Four supermarket whiskies we rate
By Olly Smith
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The Last Sipper
Hollywood legend Brian Cox invites Barley’s Tom Pattinson into his home to talk about the drams that changed his life - and what he really thinks about tasting notes…
Video produced by Emir Eralp