Whiskey.


Martin Banks has been a journalist for over 40 years, working in Brussels since 2001 where he has covered EU politics, initially for European Voice and more recently for The Parliament Magazine plus a raft of other titles. He also writes about other topics including culture and travel. Prior to coming to Belgium he had worked in regional (including a 6 year stint as Chief Reporter for the 2nd biggest selling regional in the UK) and national journalism in the UK since 1980.

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30 November 2023
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Enjoying a “wee dram” in Belgium

It’s a matter of the past that when you think of whisky you immediately think of just one place: Scotland. While Scottish whisky is still a […]
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24 June 2021
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Dalwhinnie Distillery – a marriage in the mountains

In March 2018 I was on a final research trip for my book Sea of Bones and I took a train between Edinburgh and Inverness. Anticyclone […]
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23 June 2021
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Irish whiskey with inputs from Northern Ireland no longer seen as EU products

Irish whiskey and dairy products with inputs from Northern Ireland are no longer recognized as EU products when sold to third countries. On Monday June 14th, […]
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17 June 2021
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Wolfburn Whisky – the return of a mythical beast?

Like last week’s Arran whisky, this week’s tipple – Wolfburn – has seen a revival after a halt in production of 150 years. The Wolfburn distillery […]
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11 June 2021
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Arran Whisky – How a war veteran revived a sleeping giant

The Isle of Arran lies between Ayr and Kintyre. Sometimes known as ‘Scotland in miniature’, it possesses all Scotland’s geography – Highland and Lowland areas – in […]
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4 June 2021
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Auchentoshan Whisky – Is it breakfast or Suntory time?

When I think of whiskies owned by Suntory, the Japanese drinks conglomerate, I can’t help but think of one of the greatest travel films of all […]
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26 May 2021
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Caol Ila: the whisky from the Queen of the Hebrides

Just 25 miles north of the northern Irish coast lies Scotland’s fifth and the British Isles’ eighth largest island. Rich in Gaelic, Norse, and Scottish clan […]
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19 May 2021
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Oban, a town built by whisky

Just over two miles above the town of Oban lies Loch Gleann a’ Bhearraidh, a reservoir that overhangs the coast like an infinity pool, glassily reflecting […]
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