Whisky Magazine 124

David Beckham Interview Battle of the Blends Ardbeg Distillery Japan focus

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Editor's Word Managing Editor's word Not joined up\rThe ongoing quest for co-operation

By Rupert Wheeler

News Insight The Isle of Harris Distillery

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Jakarta, Friday 30-Saturday 31 January 2015

By Rupert Wheeler

Competition Whisky Magazine Photo Challenge Dig out your cameras and polish your lenses

By Rupert Wheeler

A Dram with Dave Broom Diageo Says Farewell to Bushmills Bushmills sold for a large shot of tequila

By Dave Broom

Thoughts from... Craft Wars Liza argues the case for making 'craft' nomenclature

By Liza Weisstuch

Competition Let the Blend Begin In the red corner, Dave 'The Rummager' Broom, and in the Blue corner, Neil 'Copper Dog' Ridley

By Rupert Wheeler

Production The Spanish Influence José y Miguel Martin and Glenfarclas

By Alwynne Gwilt

Production Join the Club With a Single Grain If I dont get rye whisky, well I think I will die

By Blair Phillips and Davin de Kergommeaux

People Million Dollar Dram Footballing legend David Beckham is the latest high profile celebrity to release a spirits brand, with his Haig Club

By Neil Ridley

Travel The Orient Expression Where spirits rule and tastes asunder

By Virginia Miller

Distillery Focus Supernova Interstellar Ardbeg and its journey through space

By Gavin D. Smith

Production Uisge Source – The final Cut Is the provenance of water overlooked?

By Annabel Meikle

Bars Seoul Searching Joshua gives us an introduciton to South Korea's bar scene

By Joshua Hall

Cocktails Maturation Marvels The spirit of wood and the beauty of diversity

By Charles Montanaro

Tastings Mushroom Foraging How to get the best out of your fungi

By Martine Nouet

Whisky & Culture All Booked Up For Your Holidays What's new in the whisky book world

By Rupert Wheeler

Travel Retail Tax Free Bonanza Joe heads down to Cannes and highlights some absolute stonkers

By Joe Bates

Collections Festive Limited Editions Jonny recommends four of the best

By Jonny McCormick

Whisky Magazine Index The Rise of Pappy Van Winkle Jonny on auction watch

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 BatesTax Free BonanzaJoe heads down to Cannes and highlights some absolute stonkers

Dave BroomDiageo Says Farewell to BushmillsBushmills sold for a large shot of tequila

Blair Phillips and Davin de KergommeauxJoin the Club With a Single GrainIf I dont get rye whisky, well I think I will die

Alwynne GwiltThe Spanish InfluenceJosé y Miguel Martin and Glenfarclas

Joshua HallSeoul SearchingJoshua gives us an introduciton to South Korea's bar scene

Jonny McCormickThe Rise of Pappy Van WinkleJonny on auction watch

Annabel MeikleUisge Source – The final CutIs the provenance of water overlooked?

Virginia MillerThe Orient ExpressionWhere spirits rule and tastes asunder

Charles MontanaroMaturation MarvelsThe spirit of wood and the beauty of diversity

Martine NouetMushroom ForagingHow to get the best out of your fungi

Neil RidleyMillion Dollar DramFootballing legend David Beckham is the latest high profile celebrity to release a spirits brand,...

Gavin D. SmithSupernova InterstellarArdbeg and its journey through space

Liza WeisstuchCraft WarsLiza argues the case for making 'craft' nomenclature

Rupert WheelerInsightThe Isle of Harris Distillery

Adnams
Triple Grain Whisky No 2

ABV 43%

Comments: A pleasant dram but maybe too much on the sweet side. Some green oak on the palate. Best served without water.

Overall score

7.9

anCnoc
Cutter

ABV 46%

Comments: Probably matured in second fill bourbon casks. Not complex but refreshing.

Overall score

7.9

Ardbeg
Kildalton

ABV 46%

Comments: An invigorating dram, well balanced. With a pleasant spicy outburst. Water brings out sweetness.

Overall score

7.9

Berrys' Own Selection
1987, 26 Years Old, Cask #2728

ABV 46%

Comments: A rich and enticing whisky. Complex aromatic layers. Clean and crisp. Water enhances the citrus notes.

Overall score

7.6

Bowmore
The Devil's Casks Second Release

ABV 56.3%

Comments: A classic sherry matured whisky. Probably aged. Don't spoil it with water as makes it astringent. It does not need it anyway.

Overall score

8.6

Collingwood
Hand-crafted Blended Canadian Whisky

ABV 40%

Comments: This is very sweet on the nose.

Overall score

7.7

Cù Bòcan
Sherry Cask

ABV 46%

Comments: Lovely nose. The oak has its wicked way with the palate.

Overall score

8.5

Douglas Laing Old Particular
13 Years Old

ABV 48.4%

Comments: A pleasant springtime dram. Easy and enticing. But it needs water to be rounded up.

Overall score

7.7

Edradour Straight from the Cask
Port Wood Finish 13 Years Old

ABV 56.3%

Comments: The alcohol is quite overwhelming. Works best with water. But even so, it lacks a little in structure and richness.

Overall score

8.0

Elijah Craig
Single Barrel 23 Years Old

ABV 45%

Comments: An old Bourbon with a good amount of rye in the mashbill? Elegant, intense and well structured.

Overall score

8.6

Forty Creek
Evolution

ABV 43%

Comments: The nose is enticing. The palate does not hold all the promises. A young bourbon?

Overall score

7.4

Machrie Morr
Cask Strength

ABV 58.4%

Comments: Very pungent. A tired cask? Water cuts the edges a bit but there is still this burning sensation.

Overall score

8.0

Michter's US*1
Toasted Barrel Finish

ABV 45.7%

Comments: An interesting array of flavours. A rich and complex bourbon without the sometimes sickly sweetness of corn whiskeys. Would pair well with chocolates and raspberries.

Overall score

8.9

Midleton
Very Rare 2014

ABV 40%

Comments: Oak is dominating but in an elegant way. Avoid water, it takes on a bitter side.

Overall score

7.6

Old Pulteney
1990 Vintage

ABV 46%

Comments: I expected a sweeter character. Oak tends to overwhelm in an assertive way. Tamed with a dash of water though, this whisky is pleasantly brisk.

Overall score

7.9

Teeling Whiskey
Single Malt Irish Whiskey

ABV 46%

Comments: A classic bourbon cask matured whisky. Springtime like, pleasant and refreshing. The pear flavour is so strong it almost tastes like a fruit spirit.

Overall score

7.7

The GlenDronach
Sauternes Cask Finish 12 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: I was disturbed at first by a kind of cheesy note; but on time, the nose blossomed into a pastry-like aromatic palate. Good spicy kick. An uplifting whisky.

Overall score

8.7

Triticale Whiskey
A Rye Wheat Hybrid

ABV 44%

Comments: A pleasant whispering whisky on the nose but an assertive character on the palate. The alcohol is biting. Lacks balance.

Overall score

7.8

Tullamore D.E.W.
Celebratory Phoenix Single Batch

ABV 55%

Comments: The nose announced a sweet dram but this wasn’t the case on the palate. A dash of water smoothes the flavours, but there is perhaps a sensation of immaturity.

Overall score

8.3

Wemyss Malts
1982, Loch Indaal Catch

ABV 46%

Comments: Something different here. The flavours are unusual. The structure is perhaps not well balanced. A young whisky? Special finish? I am not sure.

Overall score

8.2

Woodford Reserve
Master's Collection, Sonoma-Cutter Pinot Noir Finish

ABV 45.2%

Comments: An old bourbon? Too much on the oaky side for me but it will please those who like this style of whiskey.

Overall score

8.0

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Whisky Magazine 124

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