That strange whirring noise you can hear is old Scots stillmen spinning in their graves. A Japanese whisky has been named Malt Whisky of the Year by Whisky magazine. Yoichi 20 year old from Hokkaido succeeded last year’s winner Talisker 18 year old to become the first ever overseas winner. It’s £150 a bottle so I don’t anticipate sampling it anytime soon, but it apparently tastes of smoke and blackcurrant.

Just to pile on the agony Suntory Hibiki won the best blended category. Excuse me while I go and cry into my Caol Ila.

P.S. I would have included a link to Whisky Magazine, but any site in this day and age that tells you that you have to use a particular browser to view it doesn’t deserve one. As a web designer I won’t be visiting it again.