For us, music goes hand in hand with tasting whisky. There’s nothing like emerging yourself in music and let the taste of a dram be part of the story. Iron Maiden is Dennis’ go-to artist on moments like these. Listening to their music, is like sitting around a campfire while Bruce Dickinson is talking to you about historical events and heroes, legends and mythical beasts. Just like whisky brings you to special places through smell and taste.

I miss no single opportunity to see Maiden performing live and yesterday was such an opportunity. Whether you like them or not, you can’t ignore the fact that they know how to tell stories. Their live shows are among the best, you’ll be emerged from the moment they take stage, whether you’re in the pit or high on the tribunes: Iron Maiden’s gonna get all of you.

Back to whisky, the parallel here is that a trip to, for example, Islay gives you the same sort of experience. You’re no longer tasting whisky, you’re being part of it. And everytime we taste a wee dram of an Islay-born whisky, we get back to that special place.

This Bowmore 15yo Mariner is not just a randomly chosen whisky, It made me think of one of Maiden’s great songs: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner from their 1984 album Powerslave. I’d like to invite you to relax a bit, pour yourself an Islay-dram and listen to this song with your headphones on. Close your eyes… and be part of it…