Barley Nectar

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Barley Nectar

Whisky lovers, drinkers, and educators.

18/05/2026

Thank to everyone for coming along to our inaugural chocolate x whisky making workshop.

Do check out our event partners - they make some truly delicious, guilt free chocolates!

13/05/2026

A fun whisky story this week with the discovery of a 200 year old smuggler’s whisky distillery hiding on Ben Lawers, a mountain, in the Highlands.

They’ve discovered the remains of a stone bothy and, very unusually, part of the copper still used to make the whisky.

The illicit whisky trade was booming in the late 18th century following the 1788 Excise Act, which banned the use of small household stills, and led to a cat and mouse game between illegal distillers and excise officers across the Highlands.

I love the romance, and rebellious aspect, to these early whisky stories. In my mind far more compelling than the slick branding and marketing of today’s whisky world.

The whisky is probably more likely to blind you, but definitely more romantic.

24/04/2026

One of the most recognisable features of late Victorian distilleries are the ‘pagoda’ style roofs.

Whilst the phrase is commonly used, from an architectural perspective it’s a misnomer.

Originally named ‘Doig’s Ventilators’ after the architect who designed them - their purpose is to provide ventilation, and help draw air up through the distillery.

Pagodas are multi tiered South Asian structures, with only the top most section resembling the ‘Doig Ventilator’.

From an architectural perspective the correct term is actually a ‘cupola’.

Regardless, whether you call them a cupola, Doig Ventilator, or pagoda - they’re one of my favourite features of a distillery.

Photo credit .jackson

17/04/2026

Another great vintage whisky ad.

This time it’s a mock up for a Bushmills campaign in 1907. To be honest I have no idea what’s going on, but I love the pointillist style.

Artist. Henry Quinan, dated 11/12/1907

27/03/2026

Bowmore is one of my favourite distilleries. Not just due to their fantastic whisky (famed as one of the least aggressive from Islay), but as one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, they have some incredible stories.

Wether it's their vaults being used to house sea planes as part of the war effort during WWII, or else stories of the devil being spotted in a local church before taking refuge in their iconic 'No. 1 Vault' - the oldest whisky warehouse in Scotland. They even converted one of their old warehouses in to a public swimming pool - warmed by waste heat from the distillation process.

Well worth checking out if you don't know them.

Photo credit as ever to the photography maestro .jackson

20/03/2026

Not all horned creatures are terrifying. Some are just here for the good whisky. 👃🥃 (Okay, he’s probably here for the grass, but let a brand dream!)

Photo .jackson

13/03/2026

The SS Politician is one of the best stories in Scotch. It also provides the inspiration for our name, 'Barley Nectar', and that of our bottling brand 'Castle Bay'! 🥃🚢⚓️

10/03/2026

Floor malting is a traditional, labour-intensive method where distilleries soak, germinate, and manually turn barley on floors to produce malted grain. This 17th-century technique, now used by fewer than ten distilleries worldwide, preserves more of the grain's flavour, resulting in a more complex, oily, and, often, peatier whiskey compared to modern industrial drum-malted alternatives.

Allowing more control than more automated approaches, the technique is still championed by distilleries including Bowmore, Laphroaig, Springbank, Balvenie, Kilchoma, Ardnamurchan, BenRiach, and Highland Park.

It also looks pretty…

05/03/2026

Scotch whisky has to be matured in oak casks, however the provenance of these casks can vary wildly. From former bourbon and sherry barrels, the two most popular formats, all the way through to rum, cognac and even punchy red wine barriques as with the above Mouton Rothschild x Bruichladdich example.

Cask choice is one of the main levers whisky makers have available to them to help craft the end product.

02/03/2026

One of the great joys in life - sampling a whisky that has laid long dormant in it’s cask. Really old whisky isn’t necessarily better than younger whisky, it can just taste like a tree, however it can also carry some really interesting nuances to it.

Well worth a try if you get the opportunity.

11/02/2026

Sneak peak of one of our new bottling - a lovely dram from the Craigellachie distillery. Video was taken at the ever stunning Glen Coe.

My dad grew up at the iconic Clachaig Inn, a pub a mile or so from here. It’s fantastic - do check it out if your local ever in the area.

Address

33-35 Hillier Street
Sheung Wan
0000

Telephone

+85294089671

Website

http://www.barleynectar.com/

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