Whisky Magazine 121

Rocky Mountain High Mixo-gastro India Drinkers' Guide Four Roses

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Editor's Word Ever Changing, Ever Moving The learning curve continues

By Rupert Wheeler

News Bushmills Live Enjoying the craic with a ‘money can't buy ticket'

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Dublin, Saturday 25th October 2014

By Rupert Wheeler

A Dram with Dave Broom Jenever, Juniper The very roots of whisky are discovered in Holland

By Dave Broom

Thoughts from... Collecting and Selecting Fred and his search for that rare American whiskey

By Fred Minnick

Travel The Land of the Midnight Sun Making whisky with a Scandinavian spin

By Dave Francis

Distillery Focus Long Lost Revival Originally closed in 1921 and now on the verge of reopening

By Gavin D. Smith

Places India's Finest Whisky Bars Our man in India gives us his recommendations

By Sandeep Arora

Whisky & Culture Rock Around the Clock Jack Daniel's and Tennessee I see a lot of music in thee

By Hans Offringa

Food Nose the Whiskey, Taste the Food Our man attends the Ballantyne Scotch Whisky Society

By Jim Leggett

History Bambi the Wonder Deer Often used but not worn out – meet some famous antlers in this new episode on old and interesting whisky labels

By Hans Offringa

Production Bespoke Blending Can you blend it with the best

By Joel Harrison

Production Ageing Warehouses in Kentucky We look at conditions within warehouses used to age bourbon

By Ian Wisniewski

Places Hudson Valley – A New Beginning in Distilling A sneak preview of New York's newest whiskies

By Jim Leggett

Food Mixo Gastro Whisky Chefery Recalibration of the palate at the Caledonian with a Caesar cocktail

By Blair Phillips and Davin de Kergommeaux

Bars Castle In The Air – Edinburgh Bars Guide We locate the very best of Edinburgh's whisky bars

By Claire Smith

Production USA Whiskey Today A lowdown on the state of the industry

By Liza Weisstuch

Production 50 Monumental Bourbon Moments To commemorate the 50 years since bourbon made history

By Fred Minnick

Distillery Focus Rocky Mountain High Liza takes a tour round Stranahan's distillery

By Liza Weisstuch

Production One Man's Yeast Quest The story of Four Roses' master distiller and his beloved yeast strains

By Fred Minnick

Production Bootleg Booze, Busted Legs An' Blasted Stills During the Great Depression Jimmie Lewallen led the pack struggling to extract himself from a life of poverty through risky bootlegging

By Jim Leggett

Production The Club, the Stash, the Heist An eye-popping tip-off sent me in search of a century-old whiskey, a truckload of hijacked booze, tales of a Harlem...

By Jim Leggett

Cocktails Whisky Bars and Signature Serves Crafting that serve to make that experience special

By Ryan Chetiyawardana

Food Over a Barrel Seáneen Sullivan looks at food producers using the traditional art of barrel ageing to create new flavours

By Seáneen Sullivan

Whisky & Culture Exploding Mangoes Snake pits or snake bites? That is the question

By Jefferson Chase

Travel Retail It's All in the Numbers Where to find that elusive blend and single malt

By Joe Bates

Collections Four Sailing Collectables Inspired by the sea and boats

By Jonny McCormick

Whisky Magazine Index A Future Number One Karuizawa hits the high spots

By Jonny McCormick

Ask the Expert Ask the Expert Send your questions to editorial@whiskymag.com or by post to: Q&A, Whisky Magazine, 6 Woolgate Court, St Benedicts Street, Norwich, England,...

By Jonny McCormick

Sandeep AroraIndia's Finest Whisky BarsOur man in India gives us his recommendations

Joe BatesIt's All in the NumbersWhere to find that elusive blend and single malt

Dave BroomJenever, JuniperThe very roots of whisky are discovered in Holland

Jefferson ChaseExploding MangoesSnake pits or snake bites? That is the question

Ryan ChetiyawardanaWhisky Bars and Signature ServesCrafting that serve to make that experience special

Blair Phillips and Davin de KergommeauxMixo Gastro Whisky CheferyRecalibration of the palate at the Caledonian with a Caesar cocktail

Dave FrancisThe Land of the Midnight SunMaking whisky with a Scandinavian spin

Joel HarrisonBespoke BlendingCan you blend it with the best

Jim LeggettHudson Valley – A New Beginning in DistillingA sneak preview of New York's newest whiskies

Jonny McCormickA Future Number OneKaruizawa hits the high spots

Fred Minnick50 Monumental Bourbon MomentsTo commemorate the 50 years since bourbon made history

Hans OffringaBambi the Wonder DeerOften used but not worn out – meet some famous antlers in this new episode...

Claire SmithCastle In The Air – Edinburgh Bars GuideWe locate the very best of Edinburgh's whisky bars

Gavin D. SmithLong Lost RevivalOriginally closed in 1921 and now on the verge of reopening

Seáneen SullivanOver a BarrelSeáneen Sullivan looks at food producers using the traditional art of barrel ageing to create...

Liza WeisstuchRocky Mountain HighLiza takes a tour round Stranahan's distillery

Rupert WheelerEver Changing, Ever MovingThe learning curve continues

Ian WisniewskiAgeing Warehouses in KentuckyWe look at conditions within warehouses used to age bourbon

Abbey Whisky
22 Years Old

ABV 55.3%

Comments: A delicate whisky but the alcohol bite makes it difficult to fully appreciate.

Overall score

8.0

Cutty Sark
Storm

ABV 40%

Comments: A well balanced dram with a good malty core.

Overall score

8.0

Darkness!
21 Years Old, PX Finish

ABV 40.1%

Comments: I wonder if this is a finish that may have had a little too long in its extra oak overcoat?

Overall score

7.6

Darkness!
15 Years Old, Oloroso Cask

ABV 52.9%

Comments: I am usually not a huge fan of these big oaky monsters, but this nails the nose perfectly. The dry palate will be a problem for others though.

Overall score

8.3

Darkness!
15 Years Old, PX Cask

ABV 53.3%

Comments: There is a theme running in these samples. Huge merits, but the tannic note takes the edge off slightly.

Overall score

8.0

Darkness!
16 Years Old, Oloroso Cask

ABV 54.9%

Comments: A strong character, oak driven. For me, the alcohol is not well mastered.

Overall score

8.3

Darkness!
15 Years Old, PX Cask

ABV 52.3%

Comments: A dry whisky with a sour fruit profile. It lacks balance and body.

Overall score

8.0

Dewar Rattray
10 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: f you like honey, this dram is yours. Well-balanced, with a good spicy dryness to counterbalance the honey sweetness.

Overall score

8.2

Few
Single Malt

ABV 46.5%

Comments: A very strange tasting whisky...this one is not for me.

Overall score

7.5

Four Roses
Single Barrel Limited Edition 2014

ABV 60%

Comments: An enticing and well structured bourbon.

Overall score

8.4

Laphroaig
Select

ABV 40%

Comments: A quiet islander. But rather one-dimensional.

Overall score

7.8

Lombard
Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV 40%

Comments: A lovely summer dram, fruity and full of peps.

Overall score

8.2

Lombard
Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV 40%

Comments: A well knitted dram. Pleasantly nutty.

Overall score

8.0

Speciality Drinks
Ar4 (Ardbeg)

ABV 58.1%

Comments: A strong phenolic profile framed in solid oak. The alcohol is not totally mastered. Adding water brings out bitterness.

Overall score

8.0

Speciality Drinks
Bn6 (Bunnahabhain)

ABV 56.9%

Comments: A dense and energetic profile. It would easily replace a wake up call! I need to tame it with a dash of water. But then it gets even spicier.

Overall score

8.3