Whisky Magazine 128

Crown Royal The Netherlands Laphroaig Photo Challenge 2015

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Editor's Word The Spirit of Islay What soundtrack would you choose?

By Rupert Wheeler

News Race Across the Sahara The challenge of the Marathon Des Sables (World's Toughest Race)

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Cape Town, Thursday 18-Saturday 20 June 2015

By Rupert Wheeler

A Dram with Dave Broom Mission Impossible? How Japanese whisky and food pairings hit the spot

By Dave Broom

Thoughts from... The First ‘Kentucky' Lady Bourbon County has its first female Master Distiller

By Fred Minnick

Distillery Focus Crown Royal The spirit of Gimli

By Davin de Kergommeaux

People Women, Whisky and Wort Making the cut in the whisky business

By Alwynne Gwilt

Travel Going Dutch Hans takes a whisky tour of the Netherlands

By Hans Offringa

Competition Campbeltown Vs Lowlands The Battle of the Blends round four

By Rupert Wheeler

Bars Bars of Titan The wider the range, the harder to source

By Liza Weisstuch

Travel Screeching In St John's Newfoundland uncovered

By Blair Phillips and Davin de Kergommeaux

Distillery Focus Laphroaig: It's All About the Peat Laphroaig ‘medicinal malts' or ‘damp dog and tree bark' – opinions vary

By Gavin D. Smith

Cocktails The Buffalo's Graveyard A trace of Bourbon history

By Charles Montanaro

Food Simple Food Pairings Whiskies with cheese, seafood and chocolate

By Seáneen Sullivan

Awards & Events What's New on the Shelf Coming up in the whisky book world

By Rupert Wheeler

Travel Retail Taoyuan Airport The Johnnie Walker show marches on

By Joe Bates

Collections It's No Big Thing Jonny looks at whisky miniatures

By Jonny McCormick

Whisky Magazine Index Straight to the Top Glenfiddich stands fast

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 BatesTaoyuan AirportThe Johnnie Walker show marches on

Dave BroomMission Impossible?How Japanese whisky and food pairings hit the spot

Blair Phillips and Davin de KergommeauxScreeching In St John'sNewfoundland uncovered

Davin de KergommeauxCrown RoyalThe spirit of Gimli

Alwynne GwiltWomen, Whisky and WortMaking the cut in the whisky business

Jonny McCormickStraight to the TopGlenfiddich stands fast

Fred MinnickThe First ‘Kentucky' LadyBourbon County has its first female Master Distiller

Charles MontanaroThe Buffalo's GraveyardA trace of Bourbon history

Hans OffringaGoing DutchHans takes a whisky tour of the Netherlands

Gavin D. SmithLaphroaig: It's All About the PeatLaphroaig ‘medicinal malts' or ‘damp dog and tree bark' – opinions vary

Seáneen SullivanSimple Food PairingsWhiskies with cheese, seafood and chocolate

Liza WeisstuchBars of TitanThe wider the range, the harder to source

Rupert WheelerRace Across the SaharaThe challenge of the Marathon Des Sables (World's Toughest Race)

Aultmore
12 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Slightly puzzling at first but grew on me as I let it air.

Overall score

7.6

Black Mountain
BM No2

ABV 40%

Comments: Not sure about this one. Perplexing. It is very perfumey and perhaps not entirely balanced.

Overall score

7.5

Compass Box
Quindecimus

ABV 46%

Comments: Comments: Good all- rounder. Tastes like whisky straight from warehouse on a cold day. Very appealing.

Overall score

8.3

Corsair
Outrage

ABV 50%

Comments: Something very different and not for the faint hearted. Even after a few sips I couldn’t decide how I felt about it.

Overall score

7.1

Craigellachie
13 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Lovely whisky – lots to offer, and one to sit with for a while.

Overall score

8.3

Edradour
Port Cask Matured

ABV 46%

Comments: Really beautiful. Loads going on with great depth and a classic approach. Very engaging nose and palate.

Overall score

8.3

Garrison Brothers
Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV 47%

Comments: It’s very good. Bizarre at first but then you realise there is a lot of complexity if you give it time. Well balanced, I could keep going back for more.

Overall score

7.5

Glen Breton
Rare 19 Years Old, Single Malt Whisky

ABV 43%

Comments: Really enjoyable, a great aperitif and the apple notes almost reminded of a Calvados. Would have only preferred it to be a slightly higher ABV as think it needed a bit more oomph.

Overall score

7.8

Glendalough
7 Years Old, Single Malt Whiskey

ABV 46%

Comments: Dark and slightly medicinal. Reminds me a bit of mirto. It’s confusing but weirdly attractive.

Overall score

7.3

Glengoyne
12 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: It really sticks to the back of the palate in a cloying way. Not hugely complex, though the palate was, at first, quite interesting.

Overall score

7.4

Knappogue Castle
14 Years Old, Twin Wood, Single Malt Irish Whiskey

ABV 46%

Comments: Loved this. Lots of complexity but wonderful soft fruitiness. Would happily go back for a few drams of it and would never guess the ABV was 46%.

Overall score

8.3

Mackmyra
Moment Solsken

ABV 52.6%

Comments: Intriguing mix between the nose and the palate – both were highly enjoyable but the taste was not what I was expecting after smelling it. A whisky with a story to tell.

Overall score

8.6

Port Charlotte
Islay Barley Heavily Peated

ABV 50%

Comments: Well balanced, attractive and drinkable.

Overall score

7.4

Smögen Svensk
Sherry Project 1:1

ABV 51.8%

Comments: A classy, rich whisky that one can take one’s time with. Wouldn’t want more than one or two, as quite full-on, but attractive nonetheless.

Overall score

8.4

That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Batch 3

ABV 49.8%

Comments: Classic: fruity, spicy, rich, unctuous and a superb mouthfeel.

Overall score

7.9

That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Batch 2

ABV 52.7%

Comments: Sweetness balanced out by that hint of struck matches and something savoury.

Overall score

8.2

The BenRiach
10 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: An attractive nose, perfect for summer sipping, though hides more of a punch than expected.

Overall score

7.8

The Glenlivet
Nàdurra First Fill Selection

ABV 59.8%

Comments: Nice and sweetie like. Lots of candy shoppe flavours but not overly complex or supremely exciting. Just pleasant.

Overall score

8.2

Wemyss Malts
1982, Smoke on the Water

ABV 46%

Comments: Wow. Loved this. Okay, it’s very sweet and won’t be for everyone, but it’s interesting and it keeps unfolding more and more layers.

Overall score

8.5

Wemyss Malts
2002, Dark Treacle Fondant

ABV 46%

Comments: Bold and forward but with a nice balance of sweetness and spice.

Overall score

7.4

WhistlePig
Old World Series: Sauternes Finish

ABV 45%

Comments: Again, one that was intriguing but not so out of reach that it wouldn’t be appealing. My brain was going a mile a minute as I tasted this. Well worth it.

Overall score

8.1

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Whisky Magazine 128

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