Whisky Magazine 142

World Whiskies Awards Icons of Whisky Global winners Battle of the Blends

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Editor's Word What's Around the Corner It could be everything or it could be nothing

By Rupert Wheeler

News Desert Island Drams R&B Distillers look for a castaway distiller

By Rupert Wheeler

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Louisville

By Rupert Wheeler

Column Trump Goes 'Bigly' Neil hypothesises on a certain President's first 100 days in office

By Neil Ridley

Thoughts from... New Beginnings Blair takes on contributing editor for Canada

By Blair Phillips

Thoughts from... Back On Top The relaxation of licensing laws has led to massive expansion

By Fred Minnick

Whisky & Culture Mutually Beneficial Relationships William Grant & Sons and their brand partners

By Rupert Wheeler

People The influence of oak A Q&A with The Balvenie's malt master David C. Stewart

By Christopher Coates

Travel The A9 Road Trip Part 1: Gateway to the Highland's distilleries

By Gavin D. Smith

Distillery Focus The Rise of Willett Holding out as a family concern

By Fred Minnick

Competition The 'Aegir' Takes It George Keeble comes out on top with 50 per cent of the vote

By Rupert Wheeler

Production That's My Whisky A guide to starting your own distillery

By Chris Middleton

Distillery Focus How to Make Whisky in Devon Dartmoor whisky – the road to production

By Mark Newton

Taste Tasting Wheel The eight flavour profiles and what to look for in a dram

By Mark Newton

Production It's All About The Malt Whisky offers an amazing range of flavours, but it all begins with the barley

By Ian Wisniewski

Cigars & Whisky Cigars & Whisky A guide to pairings

By Christopher Coates

Bars Whisky Islands Idyll Where to taste the very best whisky in Stockholm

By Hans Offringa

Cocktails Mixing Things Up A Bit We visited Edinburgh's Bramble Bar for some whisky cocktail inspiration

By Christopher Coates

Food Open up the flavour Not all whiskeys can be paired

By Seáneen Sullivan

Travel Retail Bourbon Bonanza Kentucky airports raise their game

By Joe Bates

Whisky Magazine Index Lagavulin Single Cask Release Islay charities to benefit to the tune of £500,000

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 BatesBourbon BonanzaKentucky airports raise their game

Christopher CoatesCigars & WhiskyA guide to pairings

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

Chris MiddletonThat's My WhiskyA guide to starting your own distillery

Fred MinnickThe Rise of WillettHolding out as a family concern

Mark NewtonTasting WheelThe eight flavour profiles and what to look for in a dram

Hans OffringaWhisky Islands IdyllWhere to taste the very best whisky in Stockholm

Blair PhillipsNew BeginningsBlair takes on contributing editor for Canada

Neil RidleyTrump Goes 'Bigly'Neil hypothesises on a certain President's first 100 days in office

Gavin D. SmithThe A9 Road TripPart 1: Gateway to the Highland's distilleries

Seáneen SullivanOpen up the flavourNot all whiskeys can be paired

Rupert WheelerDesert Island DramsR&B Distillers look for a castaway distiller

Ian WisniewskiIt's All About The MaltWhisky offers an amazing range of flavours, but it all begins with the barley

Berry Bros. & Rudd
11th Limited Release

ABV 45.6%

Comments: If you like grapefruits, this one’s for you.

Overall score

8.3

Box
The Explorer

ABV 48.3%

Comments: Chocolaty flavours juxtapose with a dry palate and wood shavings.

Overall score

8.3

Compass Box
3 Years Old Deluxe

ABV 49.2%

Comments: For goodness' sake, I got the hoppy, hoppy shake…

Overall score

7.7

Douglas Laing
Cask Strength No. 2

ABV 54.1%

Comments: It’s a cake face-off at the local baking competition.

Overall score

8.0

Douglas Laing XOP
25 Years Old, Cask Strength

ABV 54.4%

Comments: For sherry fans, this is your gal.

Overall score

8.6

Edinburgh Whisky
The Surgeons Ball

ABV 46%

Comments: A good weight to it, yet with lighter frills. A bit like a rugby player wearing a tutu.

Overall score

7.7

Edradour
Chardonnay Cask Matured

ABV 46%

Comments: Chef got carried away in the kitchen and walked off leaving a right mess after that caramel mishap.

Overall score

8.3

Lombard Jewels of Scotland
1979 Sherrywood

ABV 50%

Comments: Hopping mad.

Overall score

7.5

Old Forester
2016 Birthday Bourbon

ABV 48.5%

Comments: Totally tropical taste (Lilt!).

Overall score

7.7

Port Charlotte
2007 CC: 01

ABV 57.8%

Comments: If that doesn’t put a rocket up you, what will?!

Overall score

8.0

St Patrick's Distillery
Oak Aged Irish Whiskey

ABV 46%

Comments: Bananarama! If you’re a big fan of the bendy yellow fruit, this is the drop for you.

Overall score

7.4

Sullivans Cove
Double Cask

ABV 40%

Comments: Interesting. A touch green/bitter for my taste.

Overall score

7.7

The Belgian Owl
Single Malt

ABV 46%

Comments: Lots of interest there in an understated organoleptic package.

Overall score

7.4

The Exceptional Malt
2nd Edition

ABV 43%

Comments: Sugar and spice and all things nice, that’s what this Scottish dram is made of.

Overall score

7.3

The GlenDronach
Single Cask Batch 14, Aged 12 Years

ABV 58.3%

Comments: Like a hug in a high-ABV mug (which is the exact-sized receptacle I’d like to enjoy this in).

Overall score

8.0

The GlenDronach
Single Cask Batch 14, Aged 20 Years

ABV 53%

Comments: If whisky were cocktails, this would be a Rob Roy twist made with Antica Formula.

Overall score

8.5

The Notch
12 Years Old Batch No 2

ABV 48%

Comments: Easy-going, pleasant to drink but not particularly memorable.

Overall score

8.0

Tomatin
2007, Aged 9 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: You have to search for the flavours past the vanilla, but they’re definitely there.

Overall score

7.3

Wemyss Malts
1995, Arbor In Bloom

ABV 46%

Comments: A slalom of a whisky – unexpected twists and turns.

Overall score

7.5

Wolfburn
Aurora

ABV 46%

Comments: Smells nothing like a curry, but all the elements of the passanda are there. Trust me!

Overall score

7.3

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Whisky Magazine 142

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