Whisky Magazine 130

Global Travel Retail Coppersmiths Favourite Blends Texas Whiskey

Buy this issue

Editor's Word Spreading the Word Out and about in Scotland and Kentucky

By Rupert Wheeler

News Space-Aged whisky Suntory whisky embarks on space mission

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Singapore

By Rupert Wheeler

A Dram with Dave Broom Out Of Fashion Is there still room for wine on the table?

By Dave Broom

Thoughts from... In Bourbon We Do Not Trust It's all about the label

By Fred Minnick

Travel The Southern Highlands Gavin D Smith embarks on a whisky trail through Perth and its environs

By Gavin D. Smith

Distillery Focus A Still Called Annie The spirit starts to flow in Glasgow

By Gavin D. Smith

Production Atomic No 29 The art and skills of the coppersmith

By Ian Wisniewski

Production The Magnificent 7 Contributing Editor Neil Ridley looks back on some of the very best blended whiskies he has experienced

By Neil Ridley

Travel Texas and Crown Royal The Lone Star State loves a Canadian favourite

By Davin de Kergommeaux

Competition They Think It's All Over... It Is Now The Battle of the Blends, the final salvo

By Rupert Wheeler

Production Japanese Harmony America tunes into Hibiki whisky

By Liza Weisstuch

Travel Retail The Flybuy Zone The explosion in Global Travel Retail, especially ‘Exclusives'

By Joe Bates

Cocktails Irish Pot Still Whiskey An icon of the past and future

By Charles Montanaro

Food Syncopated Harmony A look at foods that employ the skill of blending and pairing them with blended whisky

By Seáneen Sullivan

Whisky & Culture The Very Best Reads Some of the whisky books recently published

By Rupert Wheeler

Travel Retail Sky High Buying whisky at 33,000 feet

By Joe Bates

Collections Four Scapa Whiskies Jonny checks out whiskies from Orkney's southernmost distillery

By Jonny McCormick

Whisky Magazine Index Vintage Whisky Sellers Where to buy that elusive whisky

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 BatesSky HighBuying whisky at 33,000 feet

Dave BroomOut Of FashionIs there still room for wine on the table?

Davin de KergommeauxTexas and Crown RoyalThe Lone Star State loves a Canadian favourite

Jonny McCormickVintage Whisky SellersWhere to buy that elusive whisky

Fred MinnickIn Bourbon We Do Not TrustIt's all about the label

Charles MontanaroIrish Pot Still WhiskeyAn icon of the past and future

Neil RidleyThe Magnificent 7Contributing Editor Neil Ridley looks back on some of the very best blended whiskies he...

Gavin D. SmithA Still Called AnnieThe spirit starts to flow in Glasgow

Seáneen SullivanSyncopated HarmonyA look at foods that employ the skill of blending and pairing them with blended whisky

Liza WeisstuchJapanese HarmonyAmerica tunes into Hibiki whisky

Rupert WheelerSpace-Aged whiskySuntory whisky embarks on space mission

Ian WisniewskiAtomic No 29The art and skills of the coppersmith

Abbey Whisky
Batch 1, Aged 13 Years

ABV 51.5%

Comments: Great, floral, citrusy, nutty, an amalgam of flavours which do not supersede each other. I would gladly indulge in some more.

Overall score

7.8

Aberfeldy
18 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Aberfeldy handles sherry and age well. A fine example, but a shame this is bottled at 40% ABV.

Overall score

8.5

Ardmore
Triple Wood

ABV 46%

Comments: A very drinkable peated Highlander. Good to see Ardmore’s unique take on peated whiskies is gaining a much greater exposure.

Overall score

7.7

Auchentoshan
Blood Oak

ABV 46%

Comments: A very interesting and individualistic expression of Auchentoshan. Takes a drop of water well.

Overall score

7.4

Aultmore
21 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Surprised the flavour did not follow up as expected on the intriguing nose, yet there is something which keeps me coming back for more.

Overall score

7.9

Balblair
2004 Sherry Matured

ABV 46%

Comments: We tend to think that Balblair’s spirit character is best suited by ex-Bourbon barrels, but this is a good example of how well it handles sherry wood, too.

Overall score

8.3

Balblair
2004 Bourbon Matured

ABV 46%

Comments: Classic American oak-matured Bablair. Lack of chill-filtration and enhanced ABV really suit the brand.

Overall score

8.2

Benromach
15 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: An enjoyable dram, albeit its astringency could be a problem for some.

Overall score

8.5

Berry's Own Selection
1989, 24 Years Old, Cask #7857

ABV 46%

Comments: Enjoyable, a great sipper as a beginning to the evening dram.

Overall score

8.1

Bunnahabhain
Cruach-Mhona

ABV 50%

Comments: Bunnahabhain as a ‘mainstream’ Islay! Not overly complex, but a very decent, sturdy dram.

Overall score

8.4

Chivas Regal
Extra

ABV 40%

Comments: The first NAS Chivas Regal, and with a greater emphasis on sherry wood than usual. A valuable addition to the line-up.

Overall score

8.0

Cleveland Underground
Black Cherry Wood

ABV 47%

Comments: Expecting originality from the original spices on the nose, it was well balanced and delivered on its promise. Enjoyable.

Overall score

7.8

Craigellachie
17 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: The flavour is a pleasant follow up from the nose, sadly falling a little short on the finish. Enjoyable nonetheless.

Overall score

8.2

Craigellachie
19 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Intriguing combination of aromas and flavours. Good to see a producer introducing a whisky with such an advanced age statement into Travel Retail.

Overall score

8.6

Cù Bòcan
Virgin Oak

ABV 46%

Comments: Enjoyable, even though it had a short finish, I found the dram well balanced and quaffable.

Overall score

8.4

Douglas Laing
Cask Strength

ABV 53.6%

Comments: Enjoyable, surprised how quaffable this is considering its ABV. If, as I suspect, this is a sherried whisky, it is extremely well balanced with no overwhelming oak but a discreet marriage of flavours. A great Speyside.

Overall score

8.2

Douglas Laing
Small Batch

ABV 46%

Comments: Well balanced, not abrasive, great for a winter’s eve.

Overall score

8.0

Douglas Laing
Small Batch

ABV 46%

Comments: A lovely, young Islay with plenty of sweet barley to balance the coastal astringency.

Overall score

8.0

Four Roses
Single Barrel

ABV 50%

Comments: Very enjoyable, clean, well pronounced and exactly as expected for a Bourbon.

Overall score

8.2

Glen Breton
Ice, 10 Years Old, Single Malt Whisky

ABV 57.2%

Comments: Difficult to get my head around, an enigma as to its position in the market. Even diluted, it’s hard to discern any identity.

Overall score

7.6

Glen Garioch
15 Years Old

ABV 53.7%

Comments: A confident, well-rounded cask strength expression from an often underrated distillery.

Overall score

7.9

Glenfarclas
18 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Not a ‘sherry bomb’ Glenfarclas by any means. Quite complex, but the finish is a little drier than might be expected.

Overall score

8.6

Hibiki
Japanese Harmony

ABV 43%

Comments: Diverse aroma and flavour characteristics are intertwined in a manner typical of a fine Japanese whisky.

Overall score

8.4

Highland Park
Einar

ABV 40%

Comments: Nicely balanced, not overly complex.

Overall score

8.3

Highland Park
Harald

ABV 40%

Comments: Getting close to what we expect our Highland Parks to be.

Overall score

7.9

Highland Park
Sigurd

ABV 43%

Comments: Clear evidence of a higher proportion of Spanish oak-matured spirit here.

Overall score

8.3

Highland Park
Svein

ABV 40%

Comments: Quite an easy-drinking, relatively lightweight Highland Park.

Overall score

7.9

Highland Park
Thorfinn

ABV 45.1%

Comments: A lovely old Highland Park, but a bit hard on the wallet.

Overall score

8.9

Islay Mist
8 Years Old Manzanilla La Gitana Cask Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: After three tastes of this dram, still consider it peculiar for my taste. Difficult to establish its identity or where it positions itself on the market.

Overall score

8.1

Jim Beam
Kentucky Dram

ABV 40%

Comments: A curious beast! The name suggests a fusion of Bourbon and Scotch. Interesting idea in theory!

Overall score

7.0

Laphroaig
16 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Comments: Ticks all the ‘true’ Laphroaig boxes, but doesn’t match this year’s revived 15 Years Old for overall excellence which is a pity.

Overall score

7.8

Laphroaig
16 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Ticks all the ‘true’ Laphroaig boxes, but doesn’t match this year’s revived 15 Years Old for overall excellence which is a pity.

Overall score

7.8

Lombard Jewels of Scotland
1969

ABV 41.1%

Comments: Enjoyable, from the first whiff to the last sip. One I could sip endlessly by a fire.

Overall score

8.9

Lombard Jewels of Scotland
1969

ABV 41.1%

Comments: I’m lost
for words!

Overall score

8.9

Master of Malt
Bruichladdich, 12 Years Old

ABV 57.3%

Comments: Interesting and surprising to say the least. An unusual combination which I’m enjoying trying to get my head around though would happily indulge in trying to understand it further.

Overall score

7.9

That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Batch 1

ABV 51.7%

Comments: Impossible to get my head around this dram. Very unusual finish and ageing, intriguing to say the least. Muscat / wine finish? The sample was finished as I kept sampling more to try and further understand the dram.

Overall score

7.3

The GlenDronach
The Heilan'

ABV 46%

Comments: A pleasure to imbibe, with the flavours taking turns and enchanting my palate at every sip. A touch difficult to get my head around at first, a little breathing and water goes a long way.

Overall score

8.3

The Glenlivet
Master Distiller's Reserve

ABV 40%

Comments: Straightforward, easy-drinking Glenlivet at a fair price.

Overall score

8.2

The Glenlivet
Master Distiller's Reserve Small Batch

ABV 40%

Comments: Another interesting and more complex departure from the ‘standard’ Master Distiller’s Reserve, but not sure it’s worth twice the price of the Solera Vatted expression.

Overall score

7.7

The Glenrothes
Elder's Reserve

ABV 43%

Comments: Soft and rounded – a step up from Manse Reserve in being very nearly the complete article.

Overall score

8.3

The Glenrothes
Manse Reserve

ABV 43%

Comments: Quite light on the palate; a very pleasant dram.

Overall score

7.5

The Glenrothes
Minister's Reserve

ABV 43%

Comments: Rounded, confident and complex. Old Glenrothes in top form.

Overall score

8.2

Troy & Sons Platinum Whiskey
Nectarine & Honey

ABV 35%

Comments: It’s always difficult to score flavoured new make highly as by its very nature there is not much in the way of complexity. As they say, it is what it is! – Peachy Dog!

Overall score

7.2

Tullibardine
225 Sauternes Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: Enjoyable dram, enjoyed it much more once it opened up and with no water. Well balanced and thoroughly enjoyable.

Overall score

8.4

Wheatfish
Whiskey

ABV 45%

Comments: Unsure where it sits in the category. A lack of ageing, and I struggle to identify its identity and character.

Overall score

7.6

WhistlePig
Old World Series: Port Finish

ABV 45%

Comments: A mountain Rye, could easily imagine sipping this by a fire in the middle of a forest. Reminds me of aromatherapy, a pleasurable, intriguing experience for sure.

Overall score

8.5

Whisky Magazine 130

See another issue

Newsletter