Whisky Magazine 11

Highland Malts Tasting Lagavulin Buffalo Trace Cigars Fishing

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Editor's Word From the Editor

By Charles MacLean

Musings with Michael Jackson Then along came the fire department Michael Jackson reports on a hot night in Bowmore

By Michael Jackson

Column Never stumped for words Jim Murray muses on the role of two loves in his life.

By Jim Murray

Travel Super fly Kate Pierrepont tested the waters with some of Scotland's finest fishermen.

By Kate Pierrepont

History A trace of greatness Stuart Maclean Ramsay roams among the magnificent buffalo of Kentucky.

By Stuart MacLean Ramsay

Awards & Events Comfort and joy Whisky pilgrims , tourists, locals- this summer's Islay Festival attracted fans from around the globe. Michael Jackson reports on...

By Michael Jackson

News High hopes Maisha Frost discovers a new collection of whiskies that resurrect the Bennachie name

By Maisha Frost

Production Growing old gracefully Coopering is an essential part of the maturation process. Gavin D Smith hails an irreplaceable art.

By Gavin D. Smith

Tastings First Class Whisky Magazine's Michael Jackson teamed up with a panel of fellow experts to assess the new Balvenie vintage cask

By Michael Jackson

Awards & Events Open house Whisky Magazine's Damian Riley-Smith previews bourboun's hot event

By Damian Riley-Smith

Awards & Events Whiskies galore Heaven is wall to wall Scotches, bourbons and malts for the taking. Stuart Maclean Ramsay had a hard time coping.

By Stuart MacLean Ramsay

Bars Glenmorangie Highland Estate

By Marcin Miller

Places Moving malts on Madison (Park Avenue Liquor) Damian Riley-Smith dropped in on the Park Avenue Liquor shop and emerged energised and inspired.

By Damian Riley-Smith

Awards & Events Largesse flows at Dufftown Whisky Magazine readers revelled in true highland hospitality when they were entertained at a William Grant and Sons special lunch.

By Charles MacLean

Distillery Focus Teasing Talisker An eccentric entrepreneur is seeking to challenge Talsiker's status as the only distillery on Skye. Tom Bruce-Gardyne went ot meet...

By Tom Bruce-Gardyne

Production The battle for independence Tom Bruce Gardyne profiles Muray McDavid, the enfant terrible of independent bottlers.

By Tom Bruce-Gardyne

People Confessions of a party animal (Charles Kennedy) The leader of the Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy, shares a dram with Jane Slade.

By Jane Slade

Whisky & Culture Holy smoke A cigar replete with the aromas of bourbon, 'Paradise', thought Adam Edwards, and that's was where his troubles began

By Adam Edwards

Whisky & Culture The A-Z of Cigar tasting Expert James Leavey provides the ultimate guide to smoking pleasure.

By James Leavey

Whisky & Culture Rolled Gold Nothing befits a dram more than a fine smoke. James Leavey advises where to buy the best cigars.

By James Leavey

People In conversation with Dr Jim Veveridge Maturation expert, Dr Jim Veveridge, demonstrates the virtues of the refill cask to Charles Maclean.

By Charles MacLean

Tom Bruce-GardyneThe battle for independenceTom Bruce Gardyne profiles Muray McDavid, the enfant terrible of independent bottlers.

Adam EdwardsHoly smokeA cigar replete with the aromas of bourbon, 'Paradise', thought Adam Edwards, and that's was...

Maisha FrostHigh hopesMaisha Frost discovers a new collection of whiskies that resurrect the Bennachie name

Michael JacksonComfort and joyWhisky pilgrims , tourists, locals- this summer's Islay Festival attracted fans from around the...

James LeaveyRolled GoldNothing befits a dram more than a fine smoke. James Leavey advises where to buy...

Charles MacLeanLargesse flows at DufftownWhisky Magazine readers revelled in true highland hospitality when they were entertained at a William...

Marcin MillerGlenmorangie Highland Estate

Jim MurrayNever stumped for wordsJim Murray muses on the role of two loves in his life.

Kate PierrepontSuper flyKate Pierrepont tested the waters with some of Scotland's finest fishermen.

Stuart MacLean RamsayWhiskies galoreHeaven is wall to wall Scotches, bourbons and malts for the taking. Stuart Maclean Ramsay...

Damian Riley-SmithMoving malts on Madison (Park Avenue Liquor)Damian Riley-Smith dropped in on the Park Avenue Liquor shop and emerged energised and inspired.

Jane SladeConfessions of a party animal (Charles Kennedy)The leader of the Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy, shares a dram with Jane Slade.

Gavin D. SmithGrowing old gracefullyCoopering is an essential part of the maturation process. Gavin D Smith hails an irreplaceable art.

Aberfeldy
Aged 12 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: Refreshing and light-hearted. Almost too playful to take seriously.

Overall score

8.0

Adelphi
1985, 15 Years Old

ABV 55.3%

Comments: Judging from the very pale colour, the wood did not have much positive input. Hence, perhaps, the lack of Tamdhu's sometime elegance.

Overall score

7.8

Adelphi
1981, 17 Years Old

ABV 59%

Comments:

Overall score

8.4

Adelphi
1988, 12 Years Old

ABV 57.5%

Comments: Oh what might have been...

Overall score

7.3

Adelphi
1969, 31 Years Old

ABV 53.9%

Comments: Holds up very well in the middle but the woodiness at the end is overpowering.

Overall score

8.6

Ben Nevis
10 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: The sweetness could be excessive, but it is saved by the stogie.

Overall score

8.4

Blair Athol
12 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: About as uncomplicated as it gets. Has improved on recent years, though.

Overall score

7.6

Bowmore
Dusk

ABV 50%

Comments: After that smoky start, becomes much more toffeeish than most Bowmores. But is this a good thing?

Overall score

8.6

Bowmore
Voyage

ABV 56%

Comments: Port often leaves a toffeeish note, but not in this case. Perhaps needs a bit more maturity.

Overall score

8.7

Connoisseurs Choice
1978

ABV 40%

Comments: Delicate but not bland. Real subtlety. Very mature, but not a hint of wood. A Highlander, but blindfold I would have placed it as a Speysider.

Overall score

8.2

Deanston
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: More of a Lowland style. If Deanston were regarded as a Lowland distillery, it would score higher.

Overall score

6.7

Deanston
17 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: An improvement from the 17 Years Old of old, which doesn't even begin to show its big age.

Overall score

7.7

Edradour
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Massive whisky from a pint-sized distillery and massively impressive.

Overall score

8.4

Glencoe
8 Years Old

ABV 58%

Comments: A vatted malt that has comprehensively changed shape in the last year.

Overall score

7.9

Glengoyne
17 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A lovely, complex, sophisticated malt.

Overall score

7.9

Inchmurrin
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Interesting stuff. Hardly glorious but unlike any other single malt around with an astonishing array of flavours and mood changes.

Overall score

7.3

Kingsbury's
23 Years Old

ABV 60%

Comments: All the oily, waxy, junipery, bush-like flavours of Caol Ila, but the whiff of the sea comes late.

Overall score

8.4

Kingsbury's
1965

ABV 46.2%

Comments: The result of a stillman's very worst nightmare.

Overall score

6.8

Kingsbury's
1990, Amontillado sherry cask

ABV 0%

Comments: That distinctive pine-nut character perhaps derives from the Amontillado sherry, but its influence is otherwise restrained.

Overall score

8.4

Loch Lomond
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV 40%

Comments: Not the greatest malt I have tasted from this distillery but the finish saves it.

Overall score

7.0

Signatory
1973

ABV 55%

Comments: Has matured superbly. I love the interplay of sweet and fruity, hot and dry. The orange colour distinguishes this from Signatory's earlier bottling.

Overall score

8.4

Signatory
1976

ABV 53.1%

Comments: Past its best with one or two off-key notes, but otherwise still holds out well.

Overall score

7.8

Signatory
1973

ABV 55.5%

Comments: Brinkmanship at its bravest and best: another summer would have done this one in.

Overall score

8.1

Signatory
1973

ABV 49.6%

Comments: Rounder than a previous Signatory bottling at 1972.

Overall score

8.2

Signatory
1978

ABV 43%

Comments: Less structure than the youthful version from the distillery or the more mature choice, but enjoyable in its own right. As a dessert malt with trifle?

Overall score

7.5