Whisky Magazine 103

World Whiskies Awards winners Daftmill Cambus Distillery Oak matters The Angels' Share Drinker's guide to Chicago

Buy this issue

Editor's Word Editor's Word

By Rob Allanson

News Taking the plunge? Thinking of investing? Two of our writers give us their opinions on the arguments

News Janet Sheed Roberts

By Rob Allanson

A Dram with Dave Broom Bubble trouble Dave gives us his take on the recent investment rumblings

By Dave Broom

Thoughts from... Maturing nicely Neil Ridleyis a regular contributor to Whisky Magazine and a number of publications including Imbibe, The Malt Whisky Yearbook, The...

By Neil Ridley

Production Oak matters Oak is whisky's tutor, it's transformative powers helping craft something miraculous. It persuades, influences, steers and ideally never dominates. It...

By Dave Broom

Production The quirks of quercus Mark Gillespie looks at American Oak

By Mark Gillespie

Production French delights Gavin D. Smith chats with John Glaser about the influence of French oak

By Gavin D. Smith

Production The joy of re-fill Gavin D. Smith looks at the recurring use of casks

By Gavin D. Smith

Production Return and burn Neil Ridley visits Diageo's main cooperage to find out how cask life is being extended

By Neil Ridley

Production Flavour factors Ian Wisniewski asks how much influence does an oak cask and ‘wood chemistry' have on the character of a malt whisky?

By Ian Wisniewski

Travel Retail Making waves Joe Bates gets press ganged onto the Viking Line

By Joe Bates

Cocktails The Irish Resurgence Naren Young discovers how the revival of Irish whiskey is being greeted behind the stick

By Naren Young

Distillery Focus Not as daft as it seems (Daftmill) Neil Wilson visits this pretty farmhouse distillery

By Neil Wilson

Travel Fear and snacking in Louisville Liza Weisstuch finds a wonderful weirdness in Bourbon country

By Liza Weisstuch

Interview Kitchen sink dram(a)s Ken Loach is one of the finest filmmakers the UK has produced. Neil Ridley caught up with him on the...

By Neil Ridley

Bars Drinking in the Windy City Charles K. Cowdery takes us to some of his favourite haunts in this North American city

By Charles K Cowdery

Food Mixing tradition & modernity Martine Nouet explores food and whisky with a Dutch phenomenon

By Martine Nouet

Whisky & Culture Mother's milk Jefferson Chase revels in a tale of bizarre ordinary lives

By Jefferson Chase

Whisky Magazine Index One Day They Will Glenfiddich puts in a serious challenge, observes Jonny McCormick

By Jonny McCormick

Rob AllansonJanet Sheed Roberts

Joe BatesMaking wavesJoe Bates gets press ganged onto the Viking Line

Dave BroomOak mattersOak is whisky's tutor, it's transformative powers helping craft something miraculous. It persuades, influences, steers...

Jefferson ChaseMother's milkJefferson Chase revels in a tale of bizarre ordinary lives

Charles K CowderyDrinking in the Windy CityCharles K. Cowdery takes us to some of his favourite haunts in this North American city

Mark GillespieThe quirks of quercusMark Gillespie looks at American Oak

Jonny McCormickOne Day They WillGlenfiddich puts in a serious challenge, observes Jonny McCormick

Martine NouetMixing tradition & modernityMartine Nouet explores food and whisky with a Dutch phenomenon

Neil RidleyReturn and burnNeil Ridley visits Diageo's main cooperage to find out how cask life is being extended

Gavin D. SmithThe joy of re-fillGavin D. Smith looks at the recurring use of casks

Liza WeisstuchFear and snacking in LouisvilleLiza Weisstuch finds a wonderful weirdness in Bourbon country

Neil WilsonNot as daft as it seems (Daftmill)Neil Wilson visits this pretty farmhouse distillery

Ian WisniewskiFlavour factorsIan Wisniewski asks how much influence does an oak cask and ‘wood chemistry' have on...

Naren YoungThe Irish ResurgenceNaren Young discovers how the revival of Irish whiskey is being greeted behind the stick

anCnoc
Vintage 1998

ABV 46%

Comments: A pleasant dram, well balanced and refreshing.

Overall score

8.0

Balcones
Texas Single Malt

ABV 51%

Comments: Oak is certainly present but does not mask the malty and fruity notes. Elegant austerity.

Overall score

7.8

Balcones
Brimstone Corn Whiskey

ABV 61%

Comments: For some reason I keep thinking of Gram Parson’s immolation at Joshua Tree.

Overall score

6.8

Bowmore
100 Degrees Proof

ABV 50%

Comments: Soothed with a dash of water. If you program this dram for a wake up call, you will soon be on your feet!

Overall score

7.7

Bowmore
Springtide

ABV 50%

Comments: The nose is sweeter than the palate. A strong character.

Overall score

7.9

Cutty Sark
Tam O'Shanter

ABV 46.5%

Comments: Oaky, elegant, rich.

Overall score

8.2

Glenfiddich
Vintage Reserve 1974

ABV 46.8%

Comments: Surprising, refreshing, light and aromatic, quite hot on the tongue. A sort of ginger ale cocktail!

Overall score

8.1

Glenfiddich
Malt Master's Edition

ABV 43%

Comments: What’s going on up in Dufftown?There seems to be a new ‘Fiddich every week –and on the strength of this that’s no bad thing.

Overall score

7.7

Master of Malt
Bunnahabhain, 1990, 20 Years Old

ABV 54.1%

Comments: Soft and very easy.

Overall score

7.8

Master of Malt
50 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Lovely nose but not fully backed up on the tongue. In cask just too long.

Overall score

8.2

Master of Malt
8 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Young but well knitted. Good balance, good delivery. A cheerful dram.

Overall score

8.1

Master of Malt
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: It's fine, but a bit one-dimensional.

Overall score

7.4

Master of Malt
Speyside Whisky Liqueur, 30 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A fine addition to the ever-growing whisky liqueur category.

Overall score

7.7

Stein Distillery
Straight Ram Rye 2 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Good spirit -but please keep it in cask for longer.

Overall score

7.6

Stein Distillery
Straight Bull Bourbon 2 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Not to my taste really.

Overall score

6.8

The BenRiach
Septemdicem 17 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: A full weight peaty character matured in a refill hogshead. Displays an assertive phenolic character but has not gained much from the cask.

Overall score

7.7

The Dalmore
Cigar Malt Reserve

ABV 43%

Comments: It's fine, but only suitable for a lighter stogie. Not a patch on the old version I'm afraid.

Overall score

7.9

The Glenlivet
Cellar Collection 1980

ABV 43.3%

Comments: Like entering a candy shop! A dram to remind you of your young years!

Overall score

8.6

See another issue

Please select

Please select
192
191
190
189
188
187
186
185
184
183
182
181
180
179
178
177
176
175
174
173
172
171
170
169
168
167
166
165
164
163
162
161
160
159
158
157
156
155
154
153
152
151
150
149
148
147
146
145
144
143
142
141
140
139
138
137
136
135
134
133
132
131
130
129
128
127
126
125
124
123
122
121
120
119
118
117
116
115
114
113
112
111
110
109
108
107
106
105
104
102
101
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

Whisky Magazine 103

See another issue

Newsletter