Whisky Magazine 141

How copper stills are made Journey down the Rockies Ballindalloch Distillery

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Editor's Word New Beginnings The times they are a changing

By Rupert Wheeler

News William Grant Celebrates 100th ambassador appointed to cover Australia and New Zealand

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Perth 31 March - 1 April

By Rupert Wheeler

Thoughts from... Farewell To 2016 In with the new and out with the old

By Neil Ridley

Thoughts from... Judgement Day Whisky tasting to the extreme

By Fred Minnick

Production Copper Bottom Vessels Forsyths of Rothes

By Gavin D. Smith

Production The Art & Science of Flavour - Part II Davin talks to Dr Don Livermore about the influence of wood, time and previous barrel contents

By Davin de Kergommeaux

History Scotch on the Rocks Whisky advertising between the World Wars

By Mark Newton

Distillery Focus On The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond Gavin takes a trip to discover this truly versatile distillery

By Gavin D. Smith

Travel Cowboys and Whisky Our road trip ends in Texas

By Liza Weisstuch

Distillery Focus Out of the Box A Swedish distillery emerges from the forest

By Hans Offringa

Production Making Whisky At Ballindalloch Suzanne and Gavin learn the fundamentals of distilling

By Gavin D. Smith

Production Forcing Vapours A look at purifiers and the role they play during distillation

By Ian Wisniewski

Bars Turning Japanese Whisky tasting Tokyo style

By Stefan van Eycken

Food Start As You Mean To Go On Warming winter drams with recipes to get your year off to a healthy start

By Seáneen Sullivan

Travel Retail Multi-Sensory Extravaganza Johnnie Walker lands at Bahrain Airport

By Joe Bates

Whisky Magazine Index Yamazaki Legends Another stunning year for Japanese 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 BatesMulti-Sensory ExtravaganzaJohnnie Walker lands at Bahrain Airport

Davin de KergommeauxThe Art & Science of Flavour - Part IIDavin talks to Dr Don Livermore about the influence of wood, time and previous barrel contents

Jonny McCormickYamazaki LegendsAnother stunning year for Japanese whisky

Fred MinnickJudgement DayWhisky tasting to the extreme

Mark NewtonScotch on the RocksWhisky advertising between the World Wars

Hans OffringaOut of the BoxA Swedish distillery emerges from the forest

Neil RidleyFarewell To 2016In with the new and out with the old

Gavin D. SmithOn The Bonnie Banks O' Loch LomondGavin takes a trip to discover this truly versatile distillery

Seáneen SullivanStart As You Mean To Go OnWarming winter drams with recipes to get your year off to a healthy start

Stefan van EyckenTurning JapaneseWhisky tasting Tokyo style

Liza WeisstuchCowboys and WhiskyOur road trip ends in Texas

Rupert WheelerWilliam Grant Celebrates100th ambassador appointed to cover Australia and New Zealand

Ian WisniewskiForcing VapoursA look at purifiers and the role they play during distillation

Black Mountain
Notes Fumées

ABV 45%

Comments: Comme ci, comme ça.

Overall score

7.4

Box Whisky
2nd Step Collection – 02

ABV 51.2%

Comments: A youthful drop that dances across the tongue.

Overall score

8.3

Compass Box
Extravaganza

ABV 46%

Comments: There’s a lot to love here – the fruity characters, complexity and texture add up to a satisfying whole.

Overall score

8.2

Douglas Laing Old Particular
19 Years Old

ABV 51.5%

Comments: I like the texture of this whisky neat, but comes into its own with water.

Overall score

7.4

Glenfiddich
Experimental Series No. 02, Project XX

ABV 47%

Comments: Approach-able, soft and safe.

Overall score

7.6

Grindlay's Selection
Single Cask Release 2006

ABV 64.1%

Comments: A chalky texture that works well with all those flavours.

Overall score

7.0

Kinloch Malt
Strathspey

ABV 46%

Comments: The spice is right – heat dominates the front and mid-palate.

Overall score

7.0

Lady of the Glen
1992, Aged 23 Years

ABV 51.1%

Comments: Fabulously fresh yet pleasingly complex. Wears its high ABV relatively lightly.

Overall score

9.0

Langatun
Winter Wedding

ABV 46%

Comments: A great drop for a garden party.

Overall score

8.0

Murray McDavid
1989, Mission Gold, Aged 26 Years

ABV 50.4%

Comments: Greener than I’d expected, but a solid dram from the Queen of the Hebrides.

Overall score

8.1

Murray McDavid
2009, The Vatting: Peatside , Aged 6 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Mouth-watering and juicy, there’s an elegant balance to this smoky number that means it’s easy-drinking and appealing.

Overall score

7.6

Powers
The Temple Bar Exclusive, Aged 14 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Disjointed nose, palate and finish, but pleasant nonetheless.

Overall score

7.2

Rampur
Vintage Select Casks

ABV 43%

Comments: Unexpected, but great. The lightness of touch and florality are intriguing. Avoid adding water – it dulls the nuances.

Overall score

8.1

Sullivans Cove
French Oak Cask Matured

ABV 47.5%

Comments: One for sherry fans. The nose was my favourite part.

Overall score

8.7

The Glendronach
Single Cask Batch 14, Aged 13 Years

ABV 52.5%

Comments: Lots going on in this whisky that runs hot and cold.

Overall score

8.2

The GlenDronach
Single Cask Batch 14, 30 Years Old

ABV 52.3%

Comments: Lots to love, but the anise-y seeds knock points unfortunately – they don’t quite sit comfortably with the rest.

Overall score

7.8

Usquaebach
Usquaebach An Ard Ri, Cask Strength

ABV 57.1%

Comments: Big and beautiful.

Overall score

9.0

Wemyss Malts
Batch Strength

ABV 56%

Comments: A punchy, smoky blend that’s not for the faint-hearted.

Overall score

7.7

Woodford Reserve
Master's Collection 2016, Brandy Cask Finish

ABV 45.2%

Comments: Chocolate and spice and all things nice.

Overall score

8.1

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Whisky Magazine 141

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