Join Murray Anderson (@thewestmount), whisky expert and talented videographer, on an exhilarating journey through the Scottish Highlands.
Visiting four of the region’s finest distilleries, Murray captures every moment behind the lens while pairing each whisky with the perfect NUDE Glass, revealing how the right glass transforms aroma, flavour, and mouthfeel.
Through stunning landscapes, masterful craftsmanship, and immersive tastings, Murray uncovers the secrets behind each dram and showcases the art of whisky like never before.
We caught up with Murray to hear more about the experience. The full series is available on Instagram, where every episode brings you closer to discovering your ideal whisky and glass pairing.
What do you think makes a Scottish whisky distillery so special?
I am a nationalist at heart…. I am in love with Scotland’s traditions and its beauty. When you visit a Scottish whisky distillery - especially one established in the 1800s - you really feel that magic. It’s hard to explain, but it just feels special. Each distillery feels so unique as well, from the location to the ingredients and craft.
After visiting four distilleries, which whisky stood out the most to you and why?
This is so hard to answer because each distillery really was so unique, had their own character and beauty… but I do have a favourite.
Bunnahabhain is just special, and you need to visit the distillery to understand.. It sits on the water’s edge on the north-east of the island and has stunning views looking towards Jura. The whisky is absolutely delicious, and the staff live and breathe the brand. From start to finish, it is made with real care and love. I could talk for hours about that whisky, but I’ll leave it at that.
Did any distillery’s approach to cask selection, maturation, or blending surprise you or shift your perspective on whisky-making?
I did notice that Glenallachie had this real pride in their cask selection. They are totally independent, so that allows them to pick some incredible casks made from really unique wood from across the world. All of the distilleries I worked with on this project shifted my perspective even more though. They were all just so passionate and I feel this newfound love for not only the brands themselves, but Scottish single malt whisky.
How did the tasting experiences differ between distilleries - from aromas and flavours to presentation and glassware?
Each distillery really did have a different flavour and that was what I hoped for when creating this project. Lochlea is a newer distillery with younger whisky, so the flavours were really quite light and fruity and pairing it with Big Top was such a fun combination. Moving on to Deanston, the flavour was rich and complex, but it was the ‘waxy’ character that stood out to me. The whisky was full of natural oils and gave it this incredibly velvety texture and it worked perfectly with a simple glass like Finesse.
Now, both Glenallachie and Bunnahabhain used their 12yr old whisky, both sherry-cask finished. The difference? Their location, water source and glassware choice. Bunnahabhain had this subtle salinity which balanced the rich sherry sweetness really well. When poured into the Islands glass, you really didn’t miss a single flavour note. Glenallachie on the other hand had a similar flavour profile but had this oaky’ness to it as well.
They finish their whisky in 3 different barrels, one of which being virgin oak. It sounds like a whirlwind of flavour but it works so well. That oaky punch felt right in a glass with some weight and Alba really was the perfect combination.
Having compared multiple whiskies side by side, did you notice any emerging trends in style, innovation, or storytelling across the distilleries?
Cask experimentation felt like a strong trend. All of the distilleries were secretly working on new releases and experimenting with new types of wood. However, each distillery really paid respect to the tradition that is Scottish whisky making and that’s what I loved. The storytelling between all 4 distilleries is so romantic and really makes you fall in love with their spirit.
NUDE’s whisky collection is designed to enhance the tasting experience - which NUDE Glass is your favourite and which do you enjoy tasting from the most?
If I had to base this answer on tasting experience alone, I’d go with the short Islands glass. It’s a real connoisseur's glass with a modern elegance.
If you had to pick one NUDE Glass as your go-to for whisky enjoyment, which would it be and why?
Oh, that’s tough. For me, Alba. I love the glass and decanter equally. I love the weight, the shape and the design as well. It’s a beautiful glass to drink neat spirits from but also works really well for stirred cocktails too.
What is your favourite time of day or moment for sitting down and enjoying a whisky?
I am a sucker for celebrating life’s special moments with good friends, a neat pour and a cigar. The cigar is optional of course, but sharing a dram of whisky with a loved one and chatting into the early hours sounds like my idea of heaven.
