Latest news with #Islay
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
The best holidays to book for July 2025, from Suffolk staycations to Indian rail adventures
School holidays don't start till quite late in July this year, leaving time to explore parts of Europe before prices shoot up and the crowds descend. Check out one of the most attractive resorts along Turkey 's Izmir coast and plunge into the clear waters of the Aegean Sea. Southern Italy also beckons, with the hilltop towns and long sandy beaches of Puglia. If you're looking for a grand adventure, let an escorted rail tour of India take you into its summertime hill stations and astounding mountain scenery. Once the school holidays kick in, take the family to one of Atlantic France's most appealing coastal villages. Stay closer to home in a cosy cottage in Suffolk, or indulge in a foodie break on the Scottish island of Islay. Whichever holiday you're thinking about taking in July, have a look at these ideas. Soak up the sunshine and sophisticated vibe of Mark Warner Phokaia Beach Resort near Foça in Izmir, where you can be as active or as lazy as you like. Take advantage of the huge range of activities – tennis, pickleball, watersports and fitness, among many others – plus four pools and a fabulous stretch of beach right in front of the hotel. Travel on 1 July when prices start at £1,199pp, including flights, transfers, five days' full-board and two days' half-board accommodation. India If Race Across the World has inspired you to travel to India, do it in comfort and style with this Royal Indian Odyssey escorted journey with Mercury Holidays. Over 15 days, you'll travel by rail and coach between Delhi and Mumbai to see such classic sights as Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mehrangarh Fort and lake-filled Udaipur. Prices for a 16 July departure start at £2,099pp, saving £200, and include flights, transfers, entrance fees, 13 excursions and 39 meals. Italy Bask in views of one of Puglia's most delightful hilltop towns from your own hilly perch at Hotel Monte Sarago. Its outdoor pool overlooking Ostuni's old town is the place for laid-back afternoons after you've spent the day exploring Puglia's beaches, historic towns, cute white trulli buildings and tranquil coastal nature reserves. Citalia has five nights at Hotel Monte Sarago from 4 July from £950pp, including flights, transfers and breakfast. Hole up in the pretty Suffolk village of Yoxford when you stay at Coach House Cottage, whose extensive gardens roll down towards the River Yox. This characterful two-bedroom cottage has plenty of places to relax and dine indoors and out, and also includes a barbecue. There's a pub within staggering distance, and the nearest beach is six miles away. Booked through Suffolk Secrets, it's available from 6 July for £607 for five nights' self-catering. France 'Camping in France ' is the usual failsafe idea that pops up during the school holidays when you want to take the children away and not spend a fortune. But at Siblu's Les Viviers, you'll be in one of France's loveliest places to stay, Cap Ferret, on its wild Atlantic coast. Stay in a two-bedroom mobile home from 29 July for seven nights from £1,033 for a family of four, and you'll have a week of swimming in the site's lake and private beach and more activities than the kids will have time for. And you can visit the oyster villages running along the peninsula, take a boat to Arcachon and even pop down to the massive Dune du Pilat, Europe's highest sand dune. Scotland Get away from it all on a weekend break at Another Place The Machrie on Islay, one of the most enchanting islands in Scotland – not to mention among the booziest thanks to its nine whisky distilleries. Book a room at The Machrie and enjoy long walks along the seven-mile sandy beach, or play a round of golf. Prices for a three-night break from Friday to Monday or Saturday to Tuesday cost from £928 per room, including breakfast, one dinner and one Sunday lunch, plus discounts on golf and spa treatments.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Fèis Ìle 2025 Whisky Festival: What Islay's Distilleries Are Releasing
The Fèis Ìle, Islay's annual celebration of whisky and culture, started in the 1980s as a local festival of music and Gaelic traditions. Now, it has become a global pilgrimage for whisky fans, as distilleries across the island release limited-edition bottlings made exclusively for the event every year. With this year's festival already in full swing, here's a round-up of the official Fèis Ìle 2025 whisky releases announced so far. Some will inevitably escape this article - a few distilleries like announcing secret releases on extremely short notice. Others are available to the general public outside of festival attendees, I've included purchase links where available. Here's what Islay's distilleries are cooking up: Promotional image for Ardbeg's Smokiverse The 2025 Ardbeg Day release, "Smokiverse," is proudly marketed as a 'high-gravity' whisky - meaning that less water was used along with more grains being packed in during the brewing process, resulting in more fermentable sugars that can translate to more aromas and flavors in the resulting whisky. By maturing it entirely in in ex-bourbon casks (this article claims the age is around 10 years but no actual age is officially given), the notes from this process are brought to the fore. The Ardnahoe 2025 festival release. Ardnahoe's second Fèis Ìle release is a 6-year-old single malt matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels. Bottled at natural cask strength, this limited edition comprises 1,116 individually numbered bottles. Available exclusively at the distillery, not much information is available on its taste profile but so far all past releases from the distillery have been excellent. Matured in a single sherry cask, this 8-year-old Bowmore was crafted using 100% floor-malted barley and bottled at 56% ABV, and matured in Bowmore's No.1 Vault which is typically used for the distillery's showcase casks earmarked for great things. It's only available at the distillery. Bunnahabhain's pair of distillery-exclusive festival releases. Released for Fèis Ìle 2025, Turas Math No. 1 is the only one of Bunnahabhain's three. festival releases available outside of the distillery in select retailers. Two different types of casks were used for maturation. Some of the liquid involved was matured in Manzanilla sherry butts for the full 15 years, while the rest. Bunnahabhain matured in Manzanilla tends to be a winner as the cask emphasizes Bunnahabhain's drier, marine and salty notes. Unlike the No. 1, Turas Math No. 2 and No. 3 are available only at the distillery. The more budget-friendly option of the pair is matured in ex-bourbon before being finished in Palo Cortado sherry casks. A 19-year-old unpeated single malt was finished in an Armagnac cask which is very unusual in the whisky world. Two very different heavily peated whiskies from Bruichladdich. Octomore whiskies are famous for being some of the peatiest available. The range's festival special, Polyphonic 01, is a 15-year-old single malt made from a blend of seven distinct casks, including Grenache, Bourbon, Sauternes, Syrah, Amarone, Oloroso, and PX. It is the oldest Octomore yet bottled. No wonder the 2,500 available bottles already sold out. Given how long the Port Charlotte range has been around, I was truly surprised to read on the distillery website that this is the first ever official single cask bottling outside of its distillery shop exclusive Valinch releases. This 19 year old whisky was matured entirely in a second-fill Moscatel wine cask, and of course is already sold out. Caol Ila's release features a finish in Colombia oak This 8-year-old Caol Ila was finished in Colombian oak after maturation in refill, PX, and Oloroso-seasoned casks. It is only available at the distillery and Diageo's internet retail site (though not yet listed at time of writing), with 1,476 bottles available. 'This release explores Caol Ila's waxy character, delivering an intensely smooth, oily texture and a richer, unexpectedly sweet profile emerging from the Colombian Oak cask finish. The whisky's complex smoke is amplified by layers of spice notes and peppery warmth.' Jura isn't on Islay but because it's nearby it's included in the festivities. No need for unusual maturation here - this single cask Jura is matured for 17 years in an Oloroso sherry butt, which gave up only 300 bottles. These are available only at the distillery, a good reward for making the pilgrimage over. This is apparently a sister cask of the 2022 festival release from the distillery. 'With an additional three years maturation, #1895 builds on the complexity of our 2022 Fèis Ìle release, with notes of crystallised citrus, prune, and hazelnut together with hints of polished leather and dark chocolate from its full-course Sherry maturation.' - Jura whiskymaker Joe Ricketts Two 9 year old Madeira casks were vatted together for Kilchoman's release. Kilchoman blended together two Madeira casks to create this 9 year old whisky, of which there are only 615 bottles available and was made using barley exclusively grown on Islay. Curiously, the peating level (20 ppm) is lower than most Kilchomans. "We very rarely mature our 100% Islay spirit for its full maturation in anything other than ex-bourbon or sherry casks, so I was thrilled to find these unusual casks coming along so well. The lighter peating level allows for the bold Madeira notes to come through into the whisky.' - Anthony Wills, Kilchoman founder This year's Lagavulin was finished in Moscatel de Málaga casks. This 15-year-old Lagavulin was finished in Moscatel de Málaga casks, and is only available at the distillery with 1,596 bottles available. Like with the Caol Ila, while the official presser says the whisky will be available on as well as the distillery shop, it is not yet available at time of writing. A cask strength version of Laphroaig's Lore is the distillery's 2025 festival entry. The 2025 Càirdeas release is a cask strength version of Laphroaig's 'Lore', blending a wide variety of cask types including ex-Bourbon, Oloroso sherry, European oak, and quarter casks. It's only available at the Laphroaig distillery shop and to Friends of Laphroaig, the distillery's loyalty programme. Outside of the distilleries, some indie bottlers with a longstanding association with Islay also often release their own festival bottlings. Here's the ones announced so far: For the 2025 Fèis Ìle, family business and indie bottler Douglas Laing have released a customary festival edition of Big Peat, their iconic Islay blended malt. This year's release is marketed as a 2010 'vintage' matured exclusively in refill hogsheads and bottled at 14 years old. Knowing this…I therefore must quibble. Claiming a 2010 'vintage' implies all whiskies blended in were distilled that year, but the blend also includes some precious Port Ellen according to the Douglas Laing website, which was not in operation in 2010…regardless this should still be good value for money. 'Expect layers of sweet smoke intertwined with a salty, oceanic character, culminating in the signature smoky BBQ profile for which Big Peat is renowned.' - Douglas Laing press release. Mac-Talla's 2025 Fèis Ìle release is NAS (No Age Statement) finished in two different Amarone wine casks from Northern Italy that were then blended together.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 Whiskies That Whisky Experts Choose Over Johnnie Walker Black Label
Johnnie Walker Black Label has long been a gateway into Scotch whisky. But for those ready to explore furthere here are 5 bottles to try next. Ask any whisky drinker to name one of the bottles that got them into scotch, and chances are Johnnie Walker Black Label will be on the list. It's the gateway whisky for countless fans around the world. The iconic square bottle with its black label has been a fixture on shelves since 1906, when it first appeared under the name 'Extra Special Old Highland Whisky.' It took on the name we know today after a 1909 rebrand—and 119 years later, it remains a global staple. In fact, Diageo reported sales of 291 million bottles of Black Label in 2022 alone. But for those looking to expand their whiskey horizons beyond this classic, where should you go next? I asked five experts to share their favorite alternatives to Johnnie Walker Black Label. Glen Scotia Double Cask (c. $50), recommended by Holly Seidewand, offers a smooth, coastal single malt alternative to Johnnie Walker Black Label. The first pick comes from Holly Seidewand, Co-owner of First Fill Spirits and a whisky educator. What many drinkers don't realize is that Johnnie Walker Black Label is actually a gently peated whisky. The subtle smoke in the blend comes from Caol Ila, a peated Islay malt that is a key component in the blend. 'What's interesting is JW Black is peated but most won't come with that as their first description,' Seidewand explained to me over email. 'That usually only comes with JW Double Black. Anyways, most people are shocked when you tell them it's peated! Most just think it is 'rich' and 'smooth.'' With this in mind, Holly recommends Glen Scotia Double Cask, a no-age-statement whisky from the Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown. Typically priced around $50, it offers a comfortable step up for someone moving from a blended Scotch to a single malt. As Holly puts it, it has 'some coastal qualities that could present as 'peat' but overall a well-rounded, vanilla-forward single malt.' Ardnamurchan AD/Core Release ($70), suggested by independent bottler Finn Thompson, blends peated and unpeated malt for a balanced, smoky profile. Next recommendation comes from Finn Thompson, an independent bottler whose family has deep ties to the scotch whisky industry. His selection reflects the long-standing presence of blends like Johnnie Walker Black in both professional and personal contexts. Finn explained to me over email the unique place Johnnie Walker Black holds for him and his family. 'For me, Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of the iconic brands of scotch whisky,' Finn said. 'It was my grandfather's favourite dram during his time running our family business in the 1970s, and going back further, we have records of my family trading casks with John Walker and Sons dating back to 1903.' Finn's selection of the Ardnamurchan AD/Core Release makes perfect sense. It's a 50/50 blend of peated and unpeated whisky, resulting in a profile that will feel very familiar to anyone who enjoys Johnnie Walker Black. He went on to explain that the 'balanced but rich, smoky style is something that Ardnamurchan Distillery have perfected. Independently owned and with a focus on sustainability it is a distillery that sums up everything that is good about scotch whisky.' Expect to pay around $70 if you can find a bottle in the US, or around £40 if you are in the UK. The Lakes Distillery's The One Sherry Cask Finish (~$50), recommended by former Macallan whisky maker Sarah Burgess, offers rich flavor with a touch of subtle smoke. If the name Sarah Burgess rings a bell, it's because she was formerly Lead Whisky Maker at The Macallan, where she helped create some of the brand's most well known releases, including Tales of The Macallan Volume One and The Macallan Genesis. She later joined The Lakes Distillery in Cumbria, where she now leads whisky production to a category that is ripe with innovation and new ideas. While her pick might seem like a case of choosing your own homework, it's hard to argue with her credentials. After all, who's better placed to recommend a whisky than the person who crafted it? Sarah explained to me over email: 'Naturally, I'm going to lean toward a whisky I've been closely involved in creating, and with that in mind, I'd recommend The One Sherry Cask Finish. I know this whisky inside out, and it offers just the right balance of richness and subtle smoke that fans of Johnnie Walker Black Label tend to enjoy. It's full-bodied, versatile, and a quiet favourite among bartenders, perfect for classics like the Old Fashioned or a smoky twist on a Whisky Sour.' While not available in the US, you can order from The Whisky Exchange or Master of Malt for around $50 plus shipping. Blair Bowman's pick? Stick with the classic. Reliable, versatile, and found in bars from Tokyo to Tobermory—why fix what isn't broken? While the first three picks have all offered thoughtful alternatives for anyone looking to take a step up the whisky ladder, Blair Bowman, a whisky consultant and author, raises a fair point: if it isn't broken, why fix it? For that reason, he sees no need to substitute Johnnie Walker Black Label at all. And while that might sound a little non-committal, he made a very good case for it when we spoke over email. 'I simply can't pick an alternative to Johnnie Walker Black Label - because nothing truly compares. It's a fantastic whisky. My go-to when travelling: reliably excellent and found in hotel bars from Tokyo to Tobermory. Versatile, elegant, and always satisfying. Depending on where I'm travelling, the time of year, or the local climate, it works perfectly in a highball, on the rocks, or simply neat.' (CALL OUT QUOTE) 'If I could only drink one whisky for the rest of my life, it would be Johnnie Walker Black Label." Johnnie Walker Black Label from the 1960s, recommended by Peter Wilcockson, offers deeper sherry notes and vintage character—currently £350 at The Whisky Exchange. Call me biased, but I believe we've saved the best for last. This isn't just a great substitute or a step up from Johnnie Walker Black Label, in my view, it's one of the best whiskies in the world. Peter Wilcockson, Whisky Specialist at has picked Johnnie Walker Black Label from the 1960s and 70s as your next bottle to try, and I couldn't agree more. These old bottlings offer something truly special. Despite their age, they're surprisingly affordable and you can often find them at auction for under $200, or a bit more from select retailers. In my opinion, it's some of the best money you can spend on whisky. Especially one you already know you enjoy. The sherry profile is far more pronounced than with modern bottlings, likely due to a higher proportion of sherry casks in the blend at the time. Some even suggest early Black Label was matured exclusively in sherry casks during that era, a claim I haven't been able to verify, but one that certainly feels believable when you taste it. Peter explained to me over email: 'Johnnie Walker Black Label bottles from the 1960s, 70s and 80s tend to outperform their modern counterparts. They show less sweetness, more pronounced malt character, and often an oily texture with a touch of saltiness—qualities that give them greater complexity and balance.' And with that, I'll leave the decision to you. Whether you stick with the classic, explore some single malt alternatives, or take a step back in time with a vintage bottle, there's plenty out there for your next whisky adventure.
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Now Might Be The Perfect Time To Grab This Rare Islay Whisky
As original stocks dwindle, is now the last great chance to own a true piece of Islay history? The Port Ellen distillery is an icon of scotch whisky. Despite closing in 1983 its whisky went on to become so popular as a single malt that brand owners Diageo spent $246 million (£185 million) completely rebuilding it and the Brora distillery—that had also met the same fate in 1983. In 2024 Port Ellen officially began producing spirits once more and this year they celebrate 200 years of Port Ellen whisky. The 2024 relaunch was announced with the $60,000 Gemini; a pair of bottles of 44 year old single malt distilled before the old distillery closed. This year they have bought us more information on their ten part spirit safe and their experimental still where they are working on unlocking 'new and mysterious dimensions of smoke.' Whisky fans are now waiting patiently for the first spirit from the new Port Ellen. But if you want to taste—or collect—the iconic whisky from the original stills, you'd best act quickly. Or be willing to pay a handsome price. Port Ellen closed in 1983. It was one of 21 distilleries closed by its parent company DCL (now Diageo) during the 80s, and 12 in that year alone. It is important to understand that these distilleries weren't closed because they were bad, or boring. DCL closed them because at the time they thought of themselves solely as a blending company. The 1980s wasn't a great time to be making whisky thanks to a slow market and a lot of surplus stock. So as a company DCL looked at its distilleries and decided to close those that were surplus to requirements to them as blenders—as a business they simply assessed whether they could make something that would do the same thing, cheaper and easier elsewhere? Port Ellen's Gemini bottles offer a rare glimpse into the distillery's past—just 274 sets were released as part of its long-awaited relaunch. Port Ellen, Brora and Rosebank were amongst some of the (now) most prominent names that got the chop. Their complex styles were difficult to work with and/or the facilities themselves needed significant investment to bring them up to modern standards. These distilleries were seemingly confined to the history books, forever to be forgotten. Only, Diageo actually had warehouses full of whiskies that were no longer needed for their blending projects. In came the independent bottlers. 'I was the first to sell casks of Ardbeg, Caol Ila and Port Ellen in Italy around 1982, ' said Silvano Samarol in an Interview in Collecting Scotch Whisky, Emmanuel Dron, 2018. This was the heyday for these single malt whisky connoisseurs, who had almost free range into the forgotten depth of warehouses full of surplus stock. Some of you may remember 1983 in a more positive light as the launch of Macallan's Anniversary Malt series. In that light it seems strange that in the decade Macallan began its famous marketing push that is iconified with the Folio series, DCL closed almost half its distilleries. But while DCL was happy as a blender, managing its orchestra of whiskies to create harmonies, individual distilleries like Macallan were starting working to build themselves into soloists, carrying the reputation of single malt scotch with it. At the same time, independent bottlers like Samaroli, Cadenhead, Signatory Vintage were championing the 'pure' single cask style of single malt. Eventually Diageo realised that it didn't have to be all or nothing. In the 1990s we began to see some special single malt releases and in 1995 Diageo launched the Rare Cask Series. This specifically showcased exceptional single cask releases, from its open and closed distilleries. This became the precursor to its Annual and Special releases that would be key to the eventual reopening of Port Ellen. The Port Ellen Annual Release range was issued from 2001 to 2017 and compises 17 bottles aged from 22 to 37 years old. "When the first official Port Ellen was included in the Diageo Special Releases in 2001, it established a blueprint for reintroducing closed distilleries to whisky collectors. Until then, Port Ellen was only accessible through extremely limited independent bottlings. These new releases offered enthusiasts a chance to experience Port Ellen's distinctive smoky maritime character with the assurance of official provenance,' said David Mellor of London's wine and spirits mecca, Hedonism, in an email to me discussing the inherent collectability of Port Ellen 'More than two decades since that inaugural bottling, with Port Ellen's original stocks dwindling and new production still years from reaching maturity, these Special Releases remain among the most significant and collectible series for the distillery—both as historical artefacts and as exceptional examples of Islay whisky." 'Throughout this journey, our primary goal has always been to ensure that our releases live up to the legendary reputations of these historic distilleries, providing whisky enthusiasts with products of unparalleled quality and depth,' said Julie Bramham, Managing Director of Global Luxury and Marketing Transformation Director at Diageo, in an email exchange with me to discuss the opening of new and old distilleries across Scotland in 2024. Port Ellen reopened in 2024 and celebrated with Gemini, a $60,000 (£45,000) release of a pair of exceptional 44 year old single malts that showcase both the past and future of the distillery. This year they have introduced more information about the experimental work going on in the new Port Ellen still and one of a kind spirit safe. They have also announced a handful of exclusive distillery tours and tasting events at Fèis Ìle 2025 that range in price from £40 up to £600. If Brora is anything to go by we can expect another big release when Port Ellen's first distillate turns three. But I won't be expecting any kind of new core range Port Ellen release until the new spirit is at least five—if not considerably older. The Port Ellen distillery may be opperational again but when will we see the first official bottling of the new spirit? That means we have a minimum of five years of releases of increasingly scarce original stock. Realistically it'll be longer, as they will not want to exhaust that stock until they absolutely have to! All the while they are going to be pushing the Port Ellen brand—and if it doesn't go straight into super premium, I will be extremely surprised. That means that any new releases of Port Ellen from the original distillery are going to get more and more expensive and more and more scarce. Equally as the marketing for the new releases rolls out I'll be expecting the prices for the vintage releases to start climbing again too. Prices for Port Ellen have come down with the rest of the market, but not as steeply. If you're a fan of drinking Port Ellen it's unlikely to get any better value than right now. If you are a whisky collector, the profile of the Port Ellen value over the last few years makes it a sound purchase and the current prices make it a great time to buy. So what are you waiting for—get it before it's gone!
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
German drinks enthusiasts create most Scottish drink ever as they mature whisky in Irn Bru-soaked barrels
They are two tipples that are synonymously Scottish and loved around the world. However, a new drink that looks to combine the two has been dreamed up by a group of drinks enthusiasts in Germany. Dubbed Bohemian Schnapsidee, the limited edition dram is created by finishing off a Scotch whisky inside barrels that have been infused with Irn Bru. And the quirky drink, which is described as 'part peat monster, part candy-coated fever dream', has nearly sold out with only 20 bottles left up for grabs at 75 euros (£63) apiece. The creator is VAME Malts, four friends from the Bavarian capital whose hobby is testing out bizarre twists on whisky and then bottling their brainwaves. Their latest escapade saw them infuse an empty cask with 80 cans of Irn-Bru then use the barrel to finish a peated seven-year-old Scotch from Islay. When the flavours mingled after two months, they christened it Bohemian Schnapsidee – a play on the Queen hit song and also the German phrase for a wonderful plan that comes together when drunk. Max Kling - who dreamt up the fusion - said: 'It was an idea during a good evening on Islay with a lot of whisky. 'What does it taste like? It's a very controversial one. We took a sample to a fair in Germany and a bunch of Scotsmen tried it there. 'They were all pretty on board with it – they thought it was pretty fun. 'On the nose, it's just like a sweet whisky, but I've been told by people who are sensitive to Irn-Bru that the palate and finish are heavy with it. 'I would say the oak has done its fair share – the wood notes are very prominent. 'When Irn-Bru loses its fizz, it's has a sweet-and-sour quality, which some people, including me, find amazing, but others not so much.' Mr Kling, a 33-year-old insurance statistician, added: 'I first had Irn-Bru at a pub in Edinburgh. It was love at first taste. 'The distinctive sweetness and artificial flavour reminds me of the chewing gums I had as a child. 'Scotland is close to our hearts. We come at least once a year. It is one of the most beautiful countries in the world for all of us. 'It's not only the whisky. Just walking around Jura, Islay, Arran, Skye, Edinburgh, Speyside and even the Central Belt is really good.' Bohemian Schnapsidee's notes describe it as 'a wee Scottish beastie finished in a cask that held a Scottish elixir – in a Munich basement'. Irn-Bru dates back to late Victorian times and its recipe – formulated by the Barr family of Glasgow and Falkirk - has been a closely-guarded secret. Now canned at AG Barr's plant near Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, sales have long rivalled those of Coca-Cola in Scotland, but the company unveiled record profits last year off the back of growing popularity in England. The friends behind VAME are now planning another bottling with tweaks to the finishing process to refine the taste. And they have other whisky experiments lined up with hybrid casks and infusions with drinks including Buckfast, Italian aperitif Aperol and Spezi, an orange-flavoured cola popular in Bavaria. Max created VAME with mechanical engineers Volker Kling, 60, and Ege Gümüs, 33, and Australian-born insurance worker Andrew Brodie, 35. They forged their love of whisky over board-game nights in Munich then created VAME five years ago to invest in and create their own casks. Their barrel of Bohemian Schnapsidee yielded 72 bottles for sale in their online shop.
