Let me tell you about my first mesmerizing experience with Master of Malt.
It was over a decade ago in 2011 and I was looking to purchase a gift for my father‘s 60th birthday. He‘s a lifelong whisky lover so I wanted something special – an exclusive bottling he couldn‘t buy locally.
Some googling led me to discover Master of Malt and what immediately struck me was the depth of their whisky inventory. Pages and pages of beloved distilleries and obscure indie bottlers beckoned my curiosity.
I ultimately selected a 20 year aged Caol Ila single cask at $120. The packaging was pristine with a handwritten tasting card – my dad was absolutely thrilled!
And thus began my enduring relationship with this iconic online spirits merchant. Hundreds of orders later, Master of Malt remains my go-to for buying across whiskey, gin, vodka, tequila and more.
So you‘re probably wondering – what specifically endears this retailer so deeply to me? Let me countdown 10 awesome qualities I‘ve experienced first-hand:
1. Unrivaled Catalogue Spanning Every Spirit Category
As extensively shown in the table below, Master of Malt‘s catalogue totally dwarfs competitor inventory across the board:
| Category | Master of Malt | The Whisky Exchange | Drinks&Co |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisky | 4500+ | 2800 | 1200 |
| Rum | 1500+ | 750 | 430 |
| Gin | 350+ | 189 | 112 |
| Vodka | 300+ | 87 | 155 |
| Liqueurs | 750+ | 210 | 300 |
And their strengths go deeper than just sheer volume. Niche spirits like mezcal, brandy and armagnac also see fantastic representation in their halls.
I‘m consistently amazed at Master of Malt‘s ability to unearth hidden gem distilleries and bottlers. Plus, their 40+ exclusive releases annually means enticing options you literally can‘t buy elsewhere!
2. Website Design That Enthralls For Hours
Far too often, liquor e-commerce feels dated – cramped layouts, tiny images, and clunky navigation.
Master of Malt delivers where competitors fail. Modern is the operative term from their silhouette bottle visuals to responsive search filters. I can (and do!) explore for hours thanks to thoughtful tools like:
- Faceted category browsing with clear sorting
- Flavor profile tags (fruity, smoky, etc)
- Curated themes like gifts under $50 or summer sippers
- Wish lists and gift finder questionnaires
- Slick mobile experience – over 50% of my buying is via my phone
It‘s a website built to inspire extended discovery missions. And some nights after the kids sleep, I‘ll browse endlessly building imaginary carts and dreaming.
3. Exceptional Customer Service Standards
I‘m trite in saying customer service makes or breaks e-commerce brands nowadays. But hay, it‘s true dammit!
My experience? Master of Malt stands mightily above the rest.
I still fondly remember a cracked bottle of Chivas Regal they overnight shipped me gratis after an ordering mix-up. Zero hassle or questioning – just genuine helpfulness.
Their omnichannel support shines too – timely responses on email, knowledgeable reps on live chat and active social media engagement. I feel heard and valued as a 10+ year patron.
Consider this remarkable case study from just last month:
I had ordered a gift set for my father-in-law‘s birthday. The delivery arrived while I was traveling abroad. Upon returning, my wife mentioned the packaging was damaged although the contents were intact.
I shot the support team a message with photos fully expecting to just get an apology. Instead, Julian himself called me the next morning apologizing profusely and already processing a complete replacement order!
I doubt many brands would so swiftly address an issue caused by the shipping partner. But that exceptional service recovery left me smiling for days – when you get it right, customers stick loyally like glue.
4. Best-In-Industry Loyalty Program
Call me cynical but too many loyalty programs feel half-heartedly tacked on. Amass points only to find limited redemption options or crazy high thresholds.
Master of Malt continues bucking trends here too! I‘m a proud member of their Dram Club which offers:
- 10 points per £1 spent
- 150 point welcome bonus
- Free delivery on dram orders over £45
- Exclusive member discounts and miniatures
- Tier status levels (I‘m "Connoisseur" currently)
Redeeming 2000 points nets you a £20 dram credit for example. Compared to the 5-10x requirements many alcohol sellers have, it feels gratifyingly gettable.
Through my years of patronage, I‘ve redeemed points for rare Karuizawa whisky and bartender-style bottling kits. An authentic loyalty/reward program paying me back in spirited kindness!
5. Expanding Payment and Shipping Options
Digital transformation remains key to Master of Malt‘s escalating industry dominance. Beyond website and loyalty innovations, their backend processes modernize rapidly too.
Over my decade plus of purchases, I‘ve witnessed encouraging growth in supportive policies like:
- Now accept PayPal, Google/Apple Pay
- Partially delegated customs/duties collection and processing
- 7 new European delivery destinations just last year
- £6.95 flat-rate UK shipping with reduced minimums
There‘s always room for improvement (I‘m greedily awaiting US shipping), but the existing breadth keeps me satiated. I‘ll also note their transparent pricing helps avoid nasty surprise fees at checkout too.
If current trajectories hold, Master of Malt will be a global shipping juggernaut in no time!
6. Range of Experiences – From Big Brands to Wild Rarities
My exploratory tastes have matured over 10+ years of buying from Master of Malt. I‘ll confess entering as an industry novice – buying haphazardly, easily lured by label aesthetics and what friends were drinking.
But exposure to thousands of options educated me enormously. I progressed to valuing aging, cask finishes, pure pot still style – becoming quite the whiskey snob!
Beyond pride in my acquired knowledge, I‘m ever grateful that Master of Malt stocks big familiar brands like Johnnie Walker and also hunter-gatherer only oddities.
Just last week, I bought a 26 year single cask Imperial rum from a long-closed Trinidad distillery. Obscure yes, but the buying validation I crave as a seasoned spirits collector!
7. Responsible Drinking Advocacy
No good Master of Malt review omits their laudable responsibility efforts. Beyond verifying buyer age, they proactively promote moderate consumption via initiatives like:
- Default bottles showing alcohol by volume (ABV)
- Serving size guidance with all spirits types
- Bottle recycling programs with Teracycle
- No sales offered on "Drinking Holidays" like Black Friday
I so admire ethical principles not taking a backseat to profits. It demonstrates true leadership and aligns wonderfully with my own stance as a parent of two young kids. Kudos all around!
8. Delightful Unboxing and Gift Appeal
I may be biased as a design appreciator, but no one elevates opening experiences quite like Master of Malt. Their packaging boasts premium touches including:
- Textured paper wrapping secured by black wax seals
- Polished pineapple gift boxes
- Perfume-esque bottles with quirky etchings
- Ornate accessory pairings like globes and rocks glasses
I relish those Christmas morning moments when my kids unwrap the latest creation. Plus, I know environmentally-conscious efforts happen behind the scenes through initiatives like plastic-free padded envelopes.
9. Price Parity with Local Retailers
As an economics teacher by day, I understand the supply chain challenges alcohol importing brings. And living in highly taxed Sweden, I brace myself seeing 50%+ markup hitting shelves locally.
Master of Malt seemingly wields magician powers keeping costs at admirable parity levels. I assume tremendous order volumes help them broker killer rates.
But as a buyer, knowing I snag coveted releases for essentially UK pricing gives irreplaceable peace of mind. Those savings fund even more purchases facilitating my spirited hobby!
10. Embracing Drinkers of All Types and Occasions
My final point of adoration relates to Master of Malt welcoming all preferences and budgets. I may skew towards aged Scotch whisky nowadays, but I fondly remember early vodka and tequila party phase buys too!
And even now, I appreciate how floor drinks like Gordon‘s gin coexist with $3000 50 year Guyanese rums. There exists recommendations for cocktails, gifting, investments – every quaffing occasion imaginable.
It makes me proud realizing a niche merchant from my homeland nurtures both novice and expert. I feel our shared passion more profoundly thanks to Master of Malt popping tabs on new drinking adventures.
So there you have it – 10+.reasons and counting that Master of Malt enthralls me year after year! I suposed you could call it an alcoholically codependent relationship at this point. 🥃
I don‘t anticipate breaking up anytime soon though. Not when every delivery elicits feelings akin to reuniting with a long-lost friend.
When it comes to spirits buying online, accept no substitutes my friends. Through impeccable curation to customer care and everything between, Master of Malt remains utterly peerless after 13 years in my life.
Here‘s to what I trust will be 13 more ahead! Cheers to great drink and even better memories. 😊
