With the rise of no-age-statement (NAS) scotches, there’s been some hand-wringing and whingeing online about the death of whisky, and of Scotch in particular. But those who actually know what they’re talking about are quick to point out that the spirit is merely entering a new age.

• Matt Chambers of Whisky For Everyone offers a well-reasoned defense of the continued vitality of Scotch, pointing out that NAS bottlings are common in other whisky categories. (See also the list of recently announced Canadian Whisky Award recipients.) He aligns Scotch’s plight to that of Old World wine in the 1990s, suggesting that we’ll ultimately see not the decline of Scotch, but a leveling of the bar across regions. Greater selection of widely available, well-crafted whiskies? Now that’s a future I’m anxious to see!
• Adam McDowell was similarly optimistic in the most recent installment of his National Post “Fix My Drink” column. Taking that controversial Jim Murray pick as his point of departure, McDowell draws on whisky history and basic supply-and-demand, ultimately making a case for blended whiskies. He does recognize what’s lost when an old single malt is no longer available, but he’s ready to embrace the new frontier: “Today we live at the time of peak whisky, poised between two eras. The age statements and old standbys remain relatively plentiful for now, while a new era of youth and product variety are dawning… The drinker’s life after Peak Whisky won’t be all bad, just different.”
• For those whose drams are half empty, though, there’s science! Via a gadget known as the THEA One Reactor comes the world’s first “flash-aged whiskey,” Rattleback Rye. I wouldn’t call barrel aging “doomed” — I think the verdict’s out, Food Republic, at least until after the spirit’s release — but if the result is a good one, perhaps this development will take some of the pressure off distillers who are struggling to keep up with consumer demand?
• Finally, if you’re a DIY type who happens to be dissatisfied with your youthful whisky, the folks who brought you the Carry On Cocktail Kit have a new toolkit just for you: The Barrel Aged Spirits Kit. This kit operates on the same premise as Whiskey Elements, which I mentioned in a previous Tasting Flight, but comes with a bonus guide to aging. If nothing else, it may give you a greater appreciation for coopers!

International Women’s Day is still two weeks away, but why celebrate women’s achievements on only one day? As a whisky-drinking woman, I’ve loved reading about and learning from women who share my passion. Here are six admirable women in whisky to kick off Women’s Day festivities early:

– Alwynne Gwilt, whisky enthusiast, journalist and the palate behind the excellent Miss Whisky — where she reviews drams, explores distilleries and profiles fellow women in whisky — tells The Whiskey Reviewer how she fell in love with the spirit, and how to introduce Scotch to the uninitiated.

– Mackmyra master blender Angela D’Orazio shares what it’s like working at Sweden’s flagship whisky distillery, as well as her interests outside of the spirits business.

– Helen Mulholland, Bushmills’ master blender, is all business as she discusses the distillery’s range and packaging. And I second her recommendation of the Black Bush blend, which is one of my own favourites!

– when it comes to women in whisky, Allison Patel is a powerhouse. She’s the founder and owner of Brenne Whisky, which is uniquely finished in cognac barrels. Here she talks about crafting Brenne’s flavour profile.

– if job envy’s a thing, Eimear Kelleher leaves me positively green! She’s a Brooklyn-based brand ambassador for Tullamore D.E.W., and she’s spreading her love of Irish whiskey.

– a list of whisky women I admire wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Johanne McInnis, a.k.a. the Whisky Lassie. Knowledgeable and friendly, Johanne is highly active on Twitter, connecting whisky-lovers or, to paraphrase Johanne, weaving the whisky fabric. When I started to tweet about whisky, Johanne was one of the first people to engage me in conversation and in doing so, she made me feel welcome. With one small gesture, she took away a lot of the remaining whisky intimidation — the sense that everyone knew what he or she was talking about but me — and I’ll be forever grateful for that. Johanne is a connector — of people to whisky and to each other — and The East at last gives her the in-depth profile she deserves.

Looking over my list of goals for 2015, I realize I should have specified that I mean to read more books this year. In 2011 and 2012, I read 30 books of various genres, but in 2014 — I’m embarrassed to say — I read less than one book per month.

My RSS reader, on the other hand, was robust. Here are a few recent whisky stories I found worth reading:

• Coming as a surprise to no one but CBS News: women drink whisky and like it. Some even like it enough to found their own brands and tasting clubs.
• And to what, or rather to whom, do we attribute whisky’s apparently sudden popularity among women? The Washington Post, reporting on that CBS News report, asserts well-known female whisky drinkers, women like Hillary Clinton and Christina Hendricks, can take credit, but this is a little reductive. As Fred Minnick’s Whiskey Women shows, women have a long and colourful association with the spirit; it’s just that the association has now lost its stigma, which has allowed more women — unknown women like myself — to find their ways to whisky. Nor can we discount the influence of the overall resurgence of whisky’s popularity. But that’s just my two cents.
• The Whisky Advocate made its picks for the best expressions of 2014, and the best Canadian whisky is all rye: Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye. It really is a wonderfully smooth, flavourful dram, and great value for money. On taste alone, I prefer it to the regular Canadian Club, which I’ve always imagined had more in common with paint thinner than whisky. This expression is great on its own, and divine in a Manhattan — and that’s coming from a bourbon Manhattan drinker!
• The only thing more quintessentially Scottish than peated whisky may be Harris tweed — until now. Harris Tweed Hebrides, Johnnie Walker Black, and Heriot-Watt University have come together with designer Angelos Bratis to craft tweed jackets that permanently smell like whisky. Possibly the perfect birthday gift for that whisky drinker in your life.
• Not sure about the whisky tweed? Here’s great advice about gifting bottles of whisky that has currency far beyond the Christmas season.
• Has someone bought you a bottle of whisky that you just don’t like? Don’t pour it out or regift the bottle yet! A better tasting dram may be only 24 hours away.
• This is an older link, but worth sharing. Note well: “10 whiskies you probably haven’t tried (but really should).” The recommendations come from Ian Buxton, whose 101 Legendary Whiskies You’re Dying to Try But (Possibly) Never Will I’m excited to read this year even though it may cause me to cry in my dram.

This blog has been a little neglected lately, and now that work is starting to slow down a bit, I’m happy to return my attention to it. Terse Tuesday posts are fine, but a girl needs variety in her expression!

And speaking of expressions, here a few of the whisky-inspired links that tickled my fancy over the last few weeks:

• Last Friday marked the 81st anniversary of the day our bourbon-drinking neighbours to the south repealed Prohibition. Here are ten appropriately festive cocktails to enjoy now and through the holiday season. (I find this one, which calls for balsamic- and apple-infused Woodford, especially appealing.
• Counting down the days until Christmas? I hope it’s with this dram-a-day Advent calendar! I can’t believe I discovered these existed only last week! You can bet I won’t miss out next year.
• There are those who believe that water mixes with whisky as well as it does with oil. While I do prefer most whiskies neat, a drop of the real aqua vita can really enhance some drams. Here the Bourbon Guy shares his thoughts on dilution.
• Though as a whisky-drinking woman I’m a little annoyed by Harry Rosen’s CEO’s “boys will be boys and they love scotch” comment, I love the sentiment behind this promo event for The Macallan: it’s not the age that matters but the cask. Now, go hug a cooper.
• Where do good barrels go when they die? The garden centre crowd has one idea, but here’s a better one. Show your love for whisky by keeping a piece of monogrammed cask close to your heart. Dear Santa…