Whisky Magazine 127

A Focus on Speyside Allt-á-Bhainne Kentucky Visitor Centres Golf and Whisky

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Editor's Word Spring Has Sprung Mad as a March hare

By Rupert Wheeler

News Famous Grouse Experience Glenturret expands the knowlege bank of whisky

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Warsaw, 10-11 October 2015

By Rupert Wheeler

A Dram with Dave Broom The Scotch Event Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, is there jelly on the plate?

By Dave Broom

Thoughts from... Drinkin' Like It's 1985 The phenomenon of ‘vintage' bottles of whisky

By Neil Ridley

Places The Urban Bourbon Trail Fred hits the Kentucky Visitors Centres

By Fred Minnick

Competition Let the grain take the strain The Battle of the Blends Round Three

By Rupert Wheeler

Production Finishing Off It's all in the closure

By Ian Wisniewski

Collections Forewarned and Forearmed On the golf and whisky trail

By Hans Offringa

Awards & Events Spirits Galore The Speyside Whisky Festival 30 April-4 May 2015

By Annabel Meikle

Travel The Rivers of Iron Whisky and the railways on Speyside

By Mark Newton

Distillery Focus Whisky Making at Altitude Allt-á-Bhainne and Braeval's contribution to some of the world's best-selling blends

By Gavin D. Smith

Production Washbacks and Mashtuns The noble art of vessel making

By Gavin D. Smith

Distillery Focus Old School Kentucky They make craft whiskey don't they?

By Fred Minnick

Cocktails Unforgettable Classics An intertwined relationship to history

By Charles Montanaro

Food Dram-a-Queen Whisky and a taste of India

By Sandeep Arora

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

By Rupert Wheeler

Travel Retail Duty Free Show IAADFS shows US travellers what they're missing

By Joe Bates

Collections Democratic Bottles Jonny goes to the polls

By Jonny McCormick

Whisky Magazine Index Battle of the Brands Second round to Karuizawa

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 AroraDram-a-QueenWhisky and a taste of India

Joe BatesDuty Free ShowIAADFS shows US travellers what they're missing

Dave BroomThe Scotch EventWibble wobble, wibble wobble, is there jelly on the plate?

Jonny McCormickBattle of the BrandsSecond round to Karuizawa

Annabel MeikleSpirits GaloreThe Speyside Whisky Festival 30 April-4 May 2015

Fred MinnickOld School KentuckyThey make craft whiskey don't they?

Charles MontanaroUnforgettable ClassicsAn intertwined relationship to history

Mark NewtonThe Rivers of IronWhisky and the railways on Speyside

Hans OffringaForewarned and ForearmedOn the golf and whisky trail

Neil RidleyDrinkin' Like It's 1985The phenomenon of ‘vintage' bottles of whisky

Gavin D. SmithWashbacks and MashtunsThe noble art of vessel making

Rupert WheelerFamous Grouse ExperienceGlenturret expands the knowlege bank of whisky

Ian WisniewskiFinishing OffIt's all in the closure

Ancient Mariner
1996, 18 Years Old, Cask No. 349

ABV 46.1%

Comments: Solid enough, with masculine notes and a sweeter smoky centre.

Overall score

7.6

anCnoc
Distilled 1975

ABV 44.2%

Comments: What a superb starting point. Complex, fruit notes and laden with fudge sweetness, with a restrained dryness.

Overall score

8.5

Berrys' Own Selection
1988, 25 Years Old, Cask #33

ABV 46%

Comments: Youthful. For me, this just hasn’t developed enough.

Overall score

7.8

Black Mountain
BM No1

ABV 42%

Comments: Another young’un. Signs that greatness is on its way.

Overall score

7.7

Chivas Regal
Extra Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV 40%

Comments: A shame that the palate doesn’t match up to the pleasing notes on the nose.

Overall score

7.5

Corsair
Buck Yeah!

ABV 46%

Comments: Some unusual flavours going on here. Just not my cup of tea, I’m afraid.

Overall score

8.1

Dunville's
VR Old Irish Whiskey

ABV 46%

Comments: A straight bat this. Perhaps erring on the youthful side, but with some pleasant vibes alongside.

Overall score

8.1

Edradour
The Fairy Flag 15 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: This one isn’t quite to my liking.

Overall score

7.7

Glendalough
Single Malt Whiskey 13 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Well rounded, with a touch of dominant oak.

Overall score

8.1

Ichiro's Malt
Card Joker

ABV 57.7%

Comments: A well-rounded peaty beastie. Plenty of personality and enough power to give it some serious weight.

Overall score

8.6

Isle of Skye
21 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Someone’s been behind the wheel of the Delorean here. Either that or they have put something very interesting together.

Overall score

8.7

Mackmyra
Midvinter

ABV 46.1%

Comments: Very unusual. Almost like a liqueur, but without any of the syrupy sweetness on the palate.

Overall score

8.0

Millstone
Barrel Proof Rye (The Whisky Exchange Exclusive)

ABV 58.6%

Comments: I’m keeping the rest of this sample to try it out in a Manhattan. I suspect I won’t be disappointed.

Overall score

8.7

Paul John
Single Cask Peated #777, Indian Single Malt

ABV 59.2%

Comments: The posh bacon sandwich of the whisky world. If supermarkets served this, they would add on a few quid, that’s for sure.

Overall score

8.8

Redbreast
Mano a Lámh

ABV 46%

Comments: Not a star performer, but hints of something interesting in there, held back somewhat by hesitancy.

Overall score

8.2

Skip Rock
Rye Whiskey

ABV 43%

Comments: Hooky, with a lot to sink your teeth into here. Another one to try with a few different serves.

Overall score

8.3

Talisker
Skye

ABV 45.8%

Comments: Some people say that Scotch has lost its edge, especially compared to bigger, more bombastic world whiskies. They need to try this.

Overall score

8.9

That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Batch 3

ABV 48.1%

Comments: Quite limited in what it gives, but develops over time in the glass.

Overall score

8.6

The Glenlivet
Founder's Reserve

ABV 40%

Comments: Not a great deal going on here. Some bite, but never really sinks its teeth in.

Overall score

7.7

Van Brunt Stillhouse
Lot #7 Small Batch

ABV 42%

Comments: Due to its youth, this dram is a work in progress.

Overall score

8.0

Wemyss Malts
1991, Oysters With Lemon Pearls

ABV 46%

Comments: Well balanced, with enough going on to make this a very good choice for anyone new to peat smoke.

Overall score

8.7

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Whisky Magazine 127

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