Whisky Magazine 133

The Irish West Coast Trail Tullibardine Distillery Bourbon Pot Stills Westland Distillery

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Editor's Word It's a New Year Cranking up is proving difficult

By Rupert Wheeler

News Stauning Funding Diageo invests £10 million in Danish distillery

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Cape Town, 14-16 April 2016

By Rupert Wheeler

Thoughts from... January Bleakness Leads To... Some whisky predictions for 2016

By Neil Ridley

Thoughts from... Gone Fishin' A Bourbon Affair experience

By Fred Minnick

Travel The Wild Atlantic Way From Mazin Head to Malin Head

By Seáneen Sullivan

Production Wort + Yeast = Wash The importance of fermentation

By Ted Bruning

Distillery Focus A Highland Queen A Custodian Collection from Tullibardine

By Gavin D. Smith

Distillery Focus American Peat Matters Westland Distillery and volumes of smoke

By Fred Minnick

Collections The Zagatti Collection How one man's ‘vision' has been saved for the nation

By Hans Offringa

Production A Flavour Profile We look at the range of flavours malt whisky offers, and ask how they develop and interact

By Ian Wisniewski

Production The Magnificent Seven – Part Two Neil Ridley reflects on some of the most memorable world whiskies he has enjoyed in the past

By Neil Ridley

Production Pot Still Bourbons Distillation of a different kind

By Fred Minnick

Whisky & Culture The Voice-o-Graph There's a vinyl revolution in the air

By Neil Ridley

Production The Art of Craft It's all in the spirit of MGP

By Liza Weisstuch

Cocktails Cocktails Around the World New Orleans, Louisiana... ‘The Big Easy'

By Charles Montanaro

Food An Alternative Burns Night Some twists on the traditional supper

By Seáneen Sullivan

Whisky & Culture Bookcase Focus Recently published whisky related books

By Rupert Wheeler

Travel Retail The World of Duty Free A brand new outlet for Edinburgh airport

By Joe Bates

Whisky Magazine Index Karuizawa Reaches Number One It's taken nine years for The Macallan to be toppled

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 World of Duty FreeA brand new outlet for Edinburgh airport

Ted BruningWort + Yeast = WashThe importance of fermentation

Jonny McCormickAsk The ExpertSend your questions to editorial@whiskymag.com or by post to: Q&A, Whisky Magazine, 6 Woolgate Court,...

Fred MinnickAmerican Peat MattersWestland Distillery and volumes of smoke

Charles MontanaroCocktails Around the WorldNew Orleans, Louisiana... ‘The Big Easy'

Hans OffringaThe Zagatti CollectionHow one man's ‘vision' has been saved for the nation

Neil RidleyThe Magnificent Seven – Part TwoNeil Ridley reflects on some of the most memorable world whiskies he has enjoyed in...

Gavin D. SmithA Highland QueenA Custodian Collection from Tullibardine

Seáneen SullivanAn Alternative Burns NightSome twists on the traditional supper

Liza WeisstuchThe Art of CraftIt's all in the spirit of MGP

Rupert WheelerStauning FundingDiageo invests £10 million in Danish distillery

Ian WisniewskiA Flavour ProfileWe look at the range of flavours malt whisky offers, and ask how they develop...

"An Fear Ciuin"
8 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Utterly consistent from start to finish, this is one to enjoy with friends just getting into whisky.

Overall score

8.3

Ben Nevis
White Port Pipe Cask 12 Years Old

ABV 56.3%

Comments: Perfect to pair with cheese, but make sure you have some water handy.

Overall score

8.3

Berrys' Own Selection
1996, 18 Years Old, Cask #224766

ABV 56.8%

Comments: This is not the light and delicate whisky that the nose suggests. A bit of a Jekyll and Hyde affair.

Overall score

8.6

Compass Box
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV 48.9%

Comments: I like the front footedness of the smoke in this whisky, and water does open it, but it isn’t for the fainthearted.

Overall score

8.1

Craigellachie
23 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: A spicy little number which took some getting used to. Savoury.

Overall score

8.5

Deerstalker
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV 43%

Comments: This will go down well paired as a half-and-half. Not one for cradling in an armchair but one for fast pouring.

Overall score

8.1

Edinburgh Whisky
Highland Park

ABV 46%

Comments: Made sloe gin recently? Try this alongside it as a chaser!

Overall score

8.5

Glen Moray
25 Years Old Port Cask Finish, Batch 3

ABV 43%

Comments: This could be the most perfect dessert whisky; pour in place of a sweet wine.

Overall score

9.0

Glenmorangie
A Midwinter Night's Dram

ABV 43%

Comments: A really fantastic, fruity dram which reminds me of the first time I tried Jolly Rancher sweets. Great balance, great flavours.

Overall score

8.7

Hamiltons
Lowland Single Grain

ABV 40%

Comments: A little unbalanced. With some tweaks this has potential to be a lovely dram.

Overall score

7.9

High West
American Prairie Reserve

ABV 46%

Comments: A nice whiskey but not a sipper in my book; good for a whiskey cocktail.

Overall score

8.3

John E. Fitzgerald
Very Special Reserve

ABV 45%

Comments: I liked this spicy, oaky number. Any longer in a cask and it would be too dry, but this was big, bold and brash!

Overall score

9.4

Lombard Jewels of Scotland
1985

ABV 41.9%

Comments: I’m sure Whinnie the Pooh would love this, all runny honey sweetness.

Overall score

8.8

Master of Malt
Paul John, 6 Years Old

ABV 59.7%

Comments: A direct and robust whisky, but it is no joker. Much more Ali than Tyson Fury. Pair with a cold bottle of beer to tame.

Overall score

9.1

Midleton
Dair Ghaelach

ABV 58.1%

Comments: A really lovely dram which is complex from start to finish. A drop of water does it wonders.

Overall score

8.9

Nant
Sherry Wood Single Cask

ABV 43%

Comments: A great start but let down a little by the back palate and the overly dry finish.

Overall score

8.0

Royal Brackla
16 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Really very nice indeed. Maybe could have done with being at 42 or 43% ABV.

Overall score

8.8

The GlenDronach
Peated

ABV 46%

Comments: A whisky that has taken on a fair amount of oak influence but a robust spirit has fought back to give a fairly well rounded end product.

Overall score

8.9

The Quiet Man “An Fear Ciuin”
8 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Lots
of potential for this Irish Whiskey.

Overall score

8.3

The Tweedale
14 Years Old Blended Scotch

ABV 46%

Comments: Not a bad little blended whisky. I don’t think this will challenge too many people but might be a good gateway blend to richer offerings.

Overall score

8.3

Yellow Rose
Blended Whiskey

ABV 40%

Comments: I think drinkers of this style of whiskey might find this a little weak, but I really like it.

Overall score

8.6

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Whisky Magazine 133

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