Whisky Magazine 135

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Japanese craft whisky Sedgwick Kentucky Peerless

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Editor's Word Spring is in the Air It's time to get out and about

By Rupert Wheeler

News The Perfect Blend New whisky tasting tour experience at The Real Mary King's Close

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Durban, 26-28 May 2016

By Rupert Wheeler

Thoughts from... The Apocalypse is Nigh… Where has all the whisky gone?

By Neil Ridley

Thoughts from... It's a Millennial World How do we keep the new ‘baby boomers' on track

By Fred Minnick

Distillery Focus Grain from the Cape South Africa's award winning Bain's

By Ted Bruning

Travel Toronto Treasures Going underground is where the real whiskies are found

By Blair Phillips and Davin de Kergommeaux

Distillery Focus Peerless in Kentucky Distillery restarts after nearly 100 years

By Liza Weisstuch

Production Alternative Grains How to make ‘that' difference in whiskey production

By Liza Weisstuch

History A Highland Romance From merchants to brands – the early years of Scotch whisky advertising

By Mark Newton

Awards & Events SPEYSIDE: In the True Speyside Spirit The Speyside Whisky Festival runs from 28 April through to 2 May 2016

By Gavin D. Smith

Bars SPEYSIDE: The Highlander Inn Enter the home of Oishii Wisukii (Delicious Whisky!)

By Christopher Coates

Food SPEYSIDE: The Speyside Malts “à table” A new cookbook from Martine Nouet takes an original slant on whisky as an accompaniment to good food

By Martine Nouet

News SPEYSIDE: Speyside Shorts What else is going on at the festival

By Gavin D. Smith

People Cut to the Point Zak Shenfield from Strathearn Distillery

By Joel Harrison

Production The Japanese Boom A huge increase in demand leads to rapid expansion

By Stefan van Eycken

Production It's All About The Kit The dying art of rousing

By Jonny McCormick

Production The Importance of the Cask A growing range of casks are used for ageing – we ask what can they contribute to malt whisky?

By Ian Wisniewski

Cocktails Cocktails from Around the World Why London is so important to the world cocktail scene

By Charles Montanaro

Food Whisky Live London Seasonal food pairings

By Seáneen Sullivan

Travel Retail Mumbai Duty Free A new store opens at Chhatrapati Shivaji airport

By Joe Bates

Whisky Magazine Index Hong Kong Reigns Supreme A roundup of the year in the auction rooms

By Jonny McCormick

Whisky Magazine Index The Whisky Magazine Index at 50 Hong Kong leads the world in live auctions

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 BatesMumbai Duty FreeA new store opens at Chhatrapati Shivaji airport

Ted BruningGrain from the CapeSouth Africa's award winning Bain's

Christopher CoatesSPEYSIDE: The Highlander InnEnter the home of Oishii Wisukii (Delicious Whisky!)

Blair Phillips and Davin de KergommeauxToronto TreasuresGoing underground is where the real whiskies are found

Joel HarrisonCut to the PointZak Shenfield from Strathearn Distillery

Jonny McCormickHong Kong Reigns SupremeA roundup of the year in the auction rooms

Fred MinnickIt's a Millennial WorldHow do we keep the new ‘baby boomers' on track

Charles MontanaroCocktails from Around the WorldWhy London is so important to the world cocktail scene

Mark NewtonA Highland RomanceFrom merchants to brands – the early years of Scotch whisky advertising

Martine NouetSPEYSIDE: The Speyside Malts “à table”A new cookbook from Martine Nouet takes an original slant on whisky as an accompaniment...

Neil RidleyThe Apocalypse is Nigh…Where has all the whisky gone?

Gavin D. SmithSPEYSIDE: Speyside ShortsWhat else is going on at the festival

Seáneen SullivanWhisky Live LondonSeasonal food pairings

Stefan van EyckenThe Japanese BoomA huge increase in demand leads to rapid expansion

Liza WeisstuchAlternative GrainsHow to make ‘that' difference in whiskey production

Rupert WheelerThe Perfect BlendNew whisky tasting tour experience at The Real Mary King's Close

Ian WisniewskiThe Importance of the CaskA growing range of casks are used for ageing – we ask what can they...

A. D. Laws
Secale Straight Rye Whiskey, Single Barrel Cask Strength

ABV 66%

Comments: Could work well in an Old Fashioned.

Overall score

8.0

Ailsa Bay
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV 48.9%

Comments: A quality spirit balancing smoke, citrus, sweetness. Serve in a hip-flask or a highball

Overall score

8.7

Ballantine’s
21 Years Old Signature Oak Edition

ABV 40%

Comments: A light blend, acceptable for sipping but nothing incredible. Missing some bass notes.

Overall score

8.6

Ben Nevis
15 Years Old Single Cask

ABV 59.7%

Comments: A good balance of flavours, I’d be happy to drink.

Overall score

8.6

Berrys' Own Selection
1992, 21 Years Old, Cask #3472

ABV 46%

Comments: Another well made, easy to drink, light, malty whisky

Overall score

8.9

Darkness!
16 Years Old

ABV 54.9%

Comments: This is a wonderful cask selection for a smoky, meaty, oily dram with real oak influence on it.

Overall score

9.1

Douglas Laing
Limited Edition Cask Strength

ABV 57.4%

Comments: Not a sample I warmed too. Too thin and the flavours just not well balanced enough for me.

Overall score

7.7

Glencadam
19 Years Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: An old-school style of single malt where oak flavours mattered.

Overall score

9.3

Highfern
Rich Peat Edition, Blended Malt

ABV 46%

Comments: Not a very old, or very extracted whisky, which benefits from the addition of smoke.

Overall score

8.3

Hyde
10 Years Old, Rum Cask Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: This is more like a Scotch than an Irish whiskey. A boxer in ballet shoes.

Overall score

8.2

J. H. Original Selection
Rye Whisky

ABV 46%

Comments: One of the few rye-based whiskies I could happily sit and sip neat.

Overall score

8.6

Knappogue Castle
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A perfectly nice dram that isn’t going to set the world on fire, but is very drinkable indeed.

Overall score

8.4

Littlemill
2015 Private Cellar Edition

ABV 50.4%

Comments: Lovely and balanced, warming and honeyed.

Overall score

8.2

Michter's
Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Years Old

ABV 47.2%

Comments: Very drinkable, but very spicy.

Overall score

8.6

PUNI
Alba

ABV 43%

Comments: This tastes like it could be a great dram, but not for another few years yet.

Overall score

8.0

Syndicate 58/6
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: This was not just perfectly drinkable, but astonishingly tasty. Really good body and flavour, it was a pleasure to drink.

Overall score

9.1

The Antiquary
35 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Shows off why whisky is aged in oak, all caught at the right time.

Overall score

9.1

The Glenlivet
Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish

ABV 61.5%

Comments: Warning: dilute! And you’ll discover Narnia through the wardrobe.

Overall score

8.5

Woodford Reserve
Master’s Collection 1838 Style White Corn

ABV 45.2%

Comments: Very, very good whiskey making, pure and simple.

Overall score

9.2

Yellow Rose
Outlaw Bourbon

ABV 46%

Comments: Jumps about a bit too much. Still needs a little longer to mellow.

Overall score

8.3

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Whisky Magazine 135

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