Whisky Magazine 126

The Best Whiskies in the World Lowland distilleries Tomatin The importance of mashmen

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Editor's Word It's Awards Time Our time to present

By Rupert Wheeler

News Insight: Jaw dropping The Macallan breaks world record for most expensive whisky sold at auction

By Rupert Wheeler

Competition Final chance to get snapping Focus your attention on getting your images to us by 31 March 2015

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Tel Aviv 24-26 March 2015

By Rupert Wheeler

A Dram with Dave Broom Rules of Engagement An end to the British Empire approach

By Dave Broom

Thoughts from... First World Problems Terms of infringement

By Fred Minnick

Competition The Tale of Rosalita and Orville The Battle of the Blends Round Two

By Rupert Wheeler

Travel The Lowland Distilleries The comeback boys

By Gavin D. Smith

Collections The Gavel Comes Down Is the future of whisky auctions – online?

By Claire Smith

Production Whisky's Backroom Boys The testing results at Tatlock & Thomson

By Gavin D. Smith

Production A Tale of Two Men The times are a changing at Heaven Hill

By Fred Minnick

Travel The Hunt for La Bagosse The elusive Acadian moonshine

By Blair Phillips and Davin de Kergommeaux

Production Working the Spirit The importance of the mashman

By Dave Waddell

Distillery Focus Tomatin: The Sleeping Giant Single malt unleashed at Tomatin

By Gavin D. Smith

Cocktails A Cocktail Revolution The rise of new age methods of ageing

By Charles Montanaro

Food An agreeable interlude Canapés and whisky

By Seáneen Sullivan

Whisky & Culture What's new on the shelf Coming up in the whisky book world

By Rupert Wheeler

Travel Retail The Overlooked Neglected distilleries coming to the fore

By Joe Bates

Collections The Moon and The Stars Jonny goes to infinity and beyond

By Jonny McCormick

Column That was the year that was 2014 A roundup of the year in the auction house

By Jonny McCormick

Whisky Magazine Index Crunch Time Chasing the top dram

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 BatesThe OverlookedNeglected distilleries coming to the fore

Dave BroomRules of EngagementAn end to the British Empire approach

Blair Phillips and Davin de KergommeauxThe Hunt for La BagosseThe elusive Acadian moonshine

Jonny McCormickThat was the year that was 2014A roundup of the year in the auction house

Fred MinnickA Tale of Two MenThe times are a changing at Heaven Hill

Charles MontanaroA Cocktail RevolutionThe rise of new age methods of ageing

Claire SmithThe Gavel Comes DownIs the future of whisky auctions – online?

Gavin D. SmithWhisky's Backroom BoysThe testing results at Tatlock & Thomson

Seáneen SullivanAn agreeable interludeCanapés and whisky

Dave WaddellWorking the SpiritThe importance of the mashman

Rupert WheelerInsight: Jaw droppingThe Macallan breaks world record for most expensive whisky sold at auction

anCnoc
18 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: A whisky of two halves! Big and oaky on the nose but crisp and fresh on the palate.

Overall score

7.2

Benromach
10 Years Old, 100 Proof

ABV 57%

Comments: Surprisingly easy to drink neat, the palate not as alcoholic as the nose suggests.

Overall score

7.7

Berrys' Own Selection
1997, 17 Years Old, Cask #4043

ABV 46%

Comments: The nose initially feels a little lumpen but give it some time and aeration.

Overall score

7.4

Compass Box
The Lost Blend

ABV 46%

Comments: Bottled in the nick of time. Any longer in the cask and the oak would dominate.

Overall score

8.5

Corsair
Triple Smoke, Single Barrel

ABV 67.5%

Comments: It’s a love or hate whisky and I love it.

Overall score

9.5

Corsair
Triple Smoke Single Barrel Distiller Select

ABV 67.5%

Comments: It’s a love or hate whisky and I love it.

Overall score

9.5

Edradour, Straight from the Cask
Chateauneuf du Pape Cask Finish, 11 Years Old

ABV 58.9%

Comments: It’s a young sherry monster, which could have come from anywhere.

Overall score

7.7

Glendalough
Double Barrel Whiskey

ABV 42%

Comments: Unencumbered by complexity, but it’s a pleasant quaffer, as they say.

Overall score

7.3

Glenmorangie
Tùsail

ABV 46%

Comments: A lovely robust, deep whisky with a delightful finish. What more can you say?

Overall score

8.0

Highfern
Blended Malt, First Edition

ABV 40%

Comments: Young, characterful malt which will be fascinating to see how this develops if given more time in the cask.

Overall score

7.7

Ichiro's Malt
Chichibu Chibidaru

ABV 53.5%

Comments: Water makes it easier to drink.

Overall score

7.0

Mackmyra
Moment Bärnsten

ABV 49.8%

Comments: Entertaining but it just lacks some sweetness to balance the alcohol and rye.

Overall score

8.1

Old Forester
Birthday Bourbon

ABV 48.5%

Comments: This is seriously intense and seriously impressive!

Overall score

8.5

Old Pulteney
Highland Single Malt 35 Years Old

ABV 42.5%

Comments: A pleasant, mature whisky, which has almost succumbed to the oak.

Overall score

8.6

Parker's Heritage Collection
Original Batch

ABV 63.7%

Comments: This has alcohol, complexity and character in abundance.

Overall score

8.8

Paul John
Single Cask #1444, Indian Single Malt

ABV 59.7%

Comments: Wow, this has come out of left field. Is it made from some kind of multi-grain mash?

Overall score

8.4

Smokehead
Rock Edition

ABV 43%

Comments: I would have liked to have seen this bottled at 46% or 50% as it would have given the palate more intensity.

Overall score

8.2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Batch 3

ABV 49.2%

Comments: A bit simple but pleasantly bracing.

Overall score

8.2

The English Whisky Company
Chapter 15

ABV 46%

Comments: It’s an odd one this with most of the character appearing on the palate.

Overall score

8.4

The GlenDronach
1994, Aged 20 Years

ABV 54.8%

Comments: Pure, clean, natural sherry character.

Overall score

8.2

The Glenlivet
Guardian's Chapter

ABV 48.7%

Comments: You could argue that it’s a bit simple but when it delivers simple like this, who needs complexity?

Overall score

8.7

Wemyss Malts
1997, Bench with a Sea View

ABV 46%

Comments: Beautifully balanced. Gritty oak and coastal notes hint at an Islander but the oak and honey says Speyside. Grantown-on-sea?

Overall score

8.4

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Whisky Magazine 126

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