Whisky Magazine 122

Is Craft an Expression of Skill Aberlour Flavoured Whiskies Glen Grant

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Editor's Word Orcadian Skies Dark Origins and Aberdeen Angus

By Rupert Wheeler

News The Cotswolds Distillery There's a spirit beginning to stir in the heart of the English countryside

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Paris, Saturday 27 – Monday 29 September

A Dram with Dave Broom Running the Voodoo Down Dave looks into age versus maturity

By Dave Broom

Thoughts from... Whiskey and Apparel Leapfrogging what's inside the bottle

By Fred Minnick

Travel I'll Take the Low Road Hans takes a trip through the Lowlands

By Hans Offringa

Production Craft Fair? Has the distillation world effectively spawned an uncontrollable, unregulated monster

By Neil Ridley

People Glen Grant and the Italian Influence Gavin interviews Dennis Malcolm, born on site in 1946 and still very much involved

By Gavin D. Smith

Production Monster or Hero The growth of flavoured whiskies from Canada

By Blair Phillips

Production The Blender Without Portfolio Craft blenders... a disappearing art?

By Joel Harrison

History Driving Through the Glens A ubiquitous term when used in combination with single malt, especially the ones that started it all

By Hans Offringa

Production When Will the Wood Run Out The current demand for whisky has created a boom to beat all booms. But will a worldwide shortage of casks...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Original Aberlour Where connoisseurs can enjoy a distillery experience

By Gavin D. Smith

Bars In a Bar Down Under We locate the very best of Oz's bars

By Chris Middleton

Cocktails A Ramble Around the Lowlands A region for delicate and triple distilliation whiskies

By Ryan Chetiyawardana

Food Using Your Loaf Sourdough fermentation and its parallels in whisky production

By Seáneen Sullivan

Whisky & Culture What's New on the Shelf What's coming up in the whisky book world

By Rupert Wheeler

Travel Retail World of Whiskies What's in store at Terminal 5

By Joe Bates

Collections Airside Tested Jonny recommends some travel retail exclusives

By Jonny McCormick

Whisky Magazine Index Live Auctions Face Online Competition Auction news with records broken

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

Joe BatesWorld of WhiskiesWhat's in store at Terminal 5

Dave BroomRunning the Voodoo DownDave looks into age versus maturity

Ryan ChetiyawardanaA Ramble Around the LowlandsA region for delicate and triple distilliation whiskies

Joel HarrisonThe Blender Without PortfolioCraft blenders... a disappearing art?

Jonny McCormickLive Auctions Face Online CompetitionAuction news with records broken

Chris MiddletonIn a Bar Down UnderWe locate the very best of Oz's bars

Fred MinnickWhiskey and ApparelLeapfrogging what's inside the bottle

Hans OffringaDriving Through the GlensA ubiquitous term when used in combination with single malt, especially the ones that started...

Blair PhillipsMonster or HeroThe growth of flavoured whiskies from Canada

Neil RidleyCraft Fair?Has the distillation world effectively spawned an uncontrollable, unregulated monster

Dominic RoskrowWhen Will the Wood Run OutThe current demand for whisky has created a boom to beat all booms. But will...

Gavin D. SmithOriginal AberlourWhere connoisseurs can enjoy a distillery experience

Seáneen SullivanUsing Your LoafSourdough fermentation and its parallels in whisky production

Rupert WheelerThe Cotswolds DistilleryThere's a spirit beginning to stir in the heart of the English countryside

Abraham Bowman
Double Barrel Bourbon

ABV 50%

Comments: Like walking down a sea front pier after fresh rainfall on the hot, wooden walkway.

Overall score

8.4

Armorik Single Malt
Whisky Breton Double Maturation

ABV 46%

Comments: This whisky was pulled at the right time; it won't see another World Cup in cask. On the podium, but not quite punchy enough to take gold.

Overall score

8.0

Bowmore
Laimrig

ABV 53.7%

Comments: Covers a lot of bases, but maintains balance. The Quantum Leap of whisky; let's hope it's next leap is into my glass.

Overall score

7.9

Breizh Whisky
Whisky Breton Blended Single Distillerie

ABV 42%

Comments: The whiff of a Parisian boulangerie and the sweet treats hidden inside.

Overall score

8.4

Buffalo Trace Collection
12 Years Old Bourbon From Floor #9

ABV 45%

Comments: Lots of oak here, maybe a touch too old.

Overall score

8.6

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection
12 Years Old Bourbon From Floor #1

ABV 45%

Comments: A fruity little number which is undoubtedly a good option for both sipping and mixing. Versatile.

Overall score

8.4

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection
12 Years Old Bourbon From Floor #5

ABV 45%

Comments: Very well produced and aged, this has a smoothness rarely seen in releases from this category.

Overall score

9.1

Colonel E. H. Taylor
Straight Kentucky Rye Whisky

ABV 50%

Comments: Too bitter for me. Needs more sweetness in it, but then again, who doesn't.

Overall score

8.2

Glen Garioch
Vintage 1998, Wine Cask Matured

ABV 48%

Comments: I was impressed by this. No individual star in the tasting notes, but a team effort to create the World Cup winner of whiskies. Is this the start of a new era?

Overall score

8.7

Master of Malt
10 Years Old, 1st Edition

ABV 47.5%

Comments: Reminds me of a house party I once went to in Brixton; all tie-dye and hemp smoking. Nice, but lacking any real bite. Needs some irony goodness for some get-up-and-go.

Overall score

8.4

Maverick Drinks
The Lost Distilleries Blend, Batch 5

ABV 50.4%

Comments: Dead easy to drink, neat. Even easier with water. Once opened, don't expect this to sit around. It demands to be poured and polished off. Not for sipping!

Overall score

8.5

That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Blended Whisky #1 Batch 1

ABV 50.3%

Comments: Three wishes you say? More, more, more...

Overall score

9.3

That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Batch 1

ABV 49.6%

Comments: Surprisingly tasty and fresh, if not a little odd!

Overall score

8.4

The English Whisky Company
Chapter 7

ABV 46%

Comments: A little misdirected, I couldn't get to grips with the flavours in the mix here but I can see how this might appeal.

Overall score

7.8

The English Whisky Company
Chapter 13

ABV 45%

Comments: A really, really drinkable whisky. No idea of the price point, but if this is anywhere near 'reasonable' then clear a space for it in your cabinet.

Overall score

8.9

The English Whisky Company
Distiller's Elect

ABV 46%

Comments: Sweetness and light, this is well matured and well rounded and highly entertaining. Summery? Yes. But well worth sipping in the other three seasons as well.

Overall score

8.2

The Single Malts of Scotland
1995, 18 Years Old

ABV 57.5%

Comments: A corker, this one, lots of super-fruits vibes. The sort of dram I can see becoming a cult classic with people who love that fresh fruit vibe. Wonderful.

Overall score

8.2

The Single Malts of Scotland
1992, 22 Years Old

ABV 57.8%

Comments: An active cask, probably exhausted from the effort outlaid on this liquid, but it has resulted in a whisky which no one can deny isn't quality.

Overall score

8.4