Whisky Magazine 12

By Royal Appointment Jack Daniel's Highland Park Highland Malts

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Editor's Word From the Editor

By Charles MacLean

Musings with Michael Jackson In a wick-ed mood Michael Jackson digresses democratically

By Michael Jackson

Column The writing is on the wall Jim Murray laments the demise of more distilleries

By Jim Murray

People Charles Monarch of the dram (Prince of Wales) Jane Slade traces the Prince of Wales' legendary love of Scotch

By Jane Slade

Whisky & Culture Contemporary whisky art Ian Buxton explores the whisky industy's shift from patron to sponsor of visual art.

By Ian Buxton

History By Royal Warrant In our modern world of television, internet and persuasive advertising products appear, are accepted, flourish or even disappear merely to...

By Malcolm Greenwood

Distillery Focus Happy Birthday Mr Daniel Over 6 million of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whisky were sold last year. Stuart Maclean Ramsay takes a look at this...

By Stuart MacLean Ramsay

Whisky & Culture Gipsy Kings Roby Lakatos and his band are redfining Hungarian gipsy music with the help of malt whisky. Ken Hyder reports.

By Ken Hyder

Distillery Focus The past, present and future of Highland Park Dave Broom visits Orkney, the home of Highland Park, and discovers that there is more to this timeless island than...

By Dave Broom

Travel Captain's log 'Win a week's sailing in the Classic Malts Millennium Cruise,' writes Philip Froude, 'too good a chance to let pass...

By Philip Froude

Distillery Focus A royal threesome It's one of the easier whisky trivia questions. Which three Scottish distilleries are allowed to append the word 'royal' to...

By Gavin D. Smith

Tastings Not just a question of taste Philip Hills writes an introduction to the first part of an abridged extract from his fascinatin new book Appreciating whisky

By Pip Hills

History By Royal Appointment The award of a Royal warrant is a hugely prestigious achievement. Elizabeth Walton explains the significance.

By Elizabeth Walton

Travel The hunt for liquid gold Hundreds of people renning around the Scottish highlands searching for 1000 hidden bottles of single malt? Surely not? Maxwell Macleod...

By Maxwell MacLeod

Distillery Focus New for old (Taylor) The old Taylor Distillery is getting a new lease of life Paul Harris investigates.

By Paul Harris

Food The 40 degree proof is in the pudding A freelance writer devoted to whisky, Martine Nouet is also a keen advocate of malt whisky dinners. She runs 'cooking...

By Martine Nouet

History Hope springs eternal Malcolm Greenwood samples the other 'water of life', pure mineral water, in Scotland.

By Malcolm Greenwood

Bars Whisky, cocktails, and all that jazz (Be Bop Bar) Ken Hoskins travels to eastern Europe and puts his feet up in the Be Bop Bar with his new Czech mate.

By Ken Hoskins

People In conversation with BC Charles Maclean talks to the General Manger of America's oldest (and youngest) distillery.

By Charles MacLean

Dave BroomThe past, present and future of Highland ParkDave Broom visits Orkney, the home of Highland Park, and discovers that there is more...

Ian BuxtonContemporary whisky artIan Buxton explores the whisky industy's shift from patron to sponsor of visual art.

Philip FroudeCaptain's log'Win a week's sailing in the Classic Malts Millennium Cruise,' writes Philip Froude, 'too good...

Malcolm GreenwoodHope springs eternalMalcolm Greenwood samples the other 'water of life', pure mineral water, in Scotland.

Paul HarrisNew for old (Taylor)The old Taylor Distillery is getting a new lease of life Paul Harris investigates.

Pip HillsNot just a question of tastePhilip Hills writes an introduction to the first part of an abridged extract from his...

Ken HoskinsWhisky, cocktails, and all that jazz (Be Bop Bar)Ken Hoskins travels to eastern Europe and puts his feet up in the Be Bop...

Ken HyderGipsy KingsRoby Lakatos and his band are redfining Hungarian gipsy music with the help of malt...

Michael JacksonIn a wick-ed moodMichael Jackson digresses democratically

Charles MacLeanIn conversation with BCCharles Maclean talks to the General Manger of America's oldest (and youngest) distillery.

Maxwell MacLeodThe hunt for liquid goldHundreds of people renning around the Scottish highlands searching for 1000 hidden bottles of single...

Jim MurrayThe writing is on the wallJim Murray laments the demise of more distilleries

Martine NouetThe 40 degree proof is in the puddingA freelance writer devoted to whisky, Martine Nouet is also a keen advocate of malt...

Stuart MacLean RamsayHappy Birthday Mr DanielOver 6 million of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whisky were sold last year. Stuart Maclean Ramsay...

Jane SladeCharles Monarch of the dram (Prince of Wales)Jane Slade traces the Prince of Wales' legendary love of Scotch

Gavin D. SmithA royal threesomeIt's one of the easier whisky trivia questions. Which three Scottish distilleries are allowed to...

Elizabeth WaltonBy Royal AppointmentThe award of a Royal warrant is a hugely prestigious achievement. Elizabeth Walton explains the significance.

Adelphi
16 Years Old

ABV 54%

Comments: Impressive, smokeless and delicate for its age. A finely tuned malt.

Overall score

8.3

Adelphi
11 Years Old

ABV 57.2%

Comments: This is not Dalmore at anything like its best. A miss, I'm afraid, for all its short-lived riches.

Overall score

7.2

Balblair
Aged 16 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: Much more life and structure.

Overall score

8.4

Balblair
Elements

ABV 40%

Comments: Gentle, but complex as the flavours open.

Overall score

7.5

Balblair
33 Years Old

ABV 54.4%

Comments: A whisky that starts life with some restraint has certainly developed over the years.

Overall score

8.4

Cadenhead's
15 Years Old

ABV 58.2%

Comments: Hardly elegant but a muscular malt of a style that is sadly vanishing from the Highlands. I greatly enjoyed it.

Overall score

7.9

Cadenhead's
24 Years Old

ABV 58.3%

Comments: This was probably a half decent dram 12 years ago.

Overall score

6.7

Cadenhead's
1981, Aged 19 Years

ABV 60.9%

Comments: This was never a great distillery but it made some perfectly pleasant whiskies and its loss is to be regretted. This bottling is past its best but obviously has rarity value.

Overall score

8.0

Cadenhead's
1999, Aged 12 Years

ABV 59.9%

Comments: Extraordinarily sweet-but an engaging curiosity. This pale, golden Dalmore, without the sherry, has an especially characteristic touch of amontillado.

Overall score

8.4

Clynelish
14 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A disarming malt that exudes sheer class.

Overall score

8.4

Drumguish
Highland Scotch Whisky

ABV 40%

Comments: A newish distillery, so this whisky is still on the young side, but I like its old-fashioned grassy-peaty flavours.

Overall score

7.4

Glen Deveron
1987, 10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: I am sure this is a wood problem: nearly two full marks down on its score from three years ago. What a massive disappointment.

Overall score

7.0

Glen Garioch
8 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Easily one of the best 8 Years Old on the market: very, very impressive and enjoyable.

Overall score

8.3

Glen Garioch
15 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Disappointing, with one or two delicious moments.

Overall score

7.4

Glen Garioch
Aged 21 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: A lovely malt more delicious for its effect than its complexity.

Overall score

8.0

Glen Ord
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Anyone not quite understanding the term \"malt\" should try this whisky. All will then be clear.

Overall score

7.2

Glenmorangie
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A great single malt: beautifully uncompromising from the first sniff to the last gulp.

Overall score

8.4

Glenmorangie
18 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A rich, mouth-filling dram that offers surprising length and depth to the finish.

Overall score

8.0

Glenmorangie
Malaga Wood Finish, 25 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Eye-catching, complex and downright deliciously unusual.

Overall score

8.7

Glenmorangie
15 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: If you like the classic flavours of the 10 Years Old but find it a bit light, this range-filler is for you.

Overall score

8.2

Ladyburn
1973, 27 Years Old

ABV 50.4%

Comments: I am pleased that this very rare malt has been made available. Ladyburn is a product about which I am frequently asked. Sad to say, its greatest appeal is as a collector's item.

Overall score

6.3

Old Malt Cask
1999, Aged 18 Years

ABV 50%

Comments: More Islay-like than its Clynelish brothers. Was this some of the last made with highly peated malt?

Overall score

8.7

Old Pulteney
15 Years Old, Sherry Cask

ABV 40%

Comments: A genuinely delightful malt that shows great charisma beyond the so-so nose.

Overall score

8.0

Old Pulteney
Aged 12 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: A complex and distinctive malt.

Overall score

8.1

Royal Brackla
10 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A pleasant malt, but this bottling has less structure than I remember. It is to be hoped that new owners Dewar's give more prominence to this distillery.

Overall score

7.9