Whisky Magazine 144

Discovering Lexington Ardnamurchan Distillery Japanese whisky Whisky adventures

Buy this issue

Editor's Word The Big Chair The siren call of whisky writing proved too much

By Rob Allanson

News From Farm to Bottle WhistlePig offers a first taste of its own Vermont grown rye

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events Whisky Live Whisky Live Pleasanton, San Francisco, 2–3 September 2017

By Rob Allanson

Thoughts from... Whisky and Words Strong advice for the whisky ‘writer’

By Hans Offringa

Thoughts from... Up the Down Bourbon Responding to business trends in American whiskey

By Fred Minnick

Travel Water, Water Everywhere Dodging the floods in Alberta and Guyana

By Blair Phillips

Distillery Focus Keeping It Real Consistency, authenticity and Viking Soul

By Christopher Coates

Production That's My Whisky! Part Two: Construction – converting paper to plant

By Chris Middleton

Travel Travel Lexington Whiskey, beer and chocolate – what more could a traveller want?

By Fred Minnick

Distillery Focus Ardnamurchan Distillery On the road to world-class single malt

By Gavin D. Smith

Production Closing the Circle Japanese craft brewers become whisky chasers

By Stefan van Eycken

Bars Delilah's America’s first great Bourbon bar

By Fred Minnick

People Pioneers The colourful characters who have shaped Highlands whisky

By Gavin D. Smith

Production The Kit Ger Buckley’s Croze

By Jonny McCormick

Distillery Focus Never Will These Barrels Plunge Over Niagara Falls Blair visits Gretzky Distillery, a first-class stop on Niagara’s wine and spirits trail

By Blair Phillips

Production The Ageing Process What happens in those first three years?

By Ian Wisniewski

Whisky & Culture The SMWS A whisky club like no other

By Hans Offringa

Cigars & Whisky Cigars & Whisky Two minutes with Kyle Gellis, founder of Warped Cigars

By Christopher Coates

Cocktails A World of Possibilities More cocktail inspiration from Edinburgh’s Bramble Bar

By Christopher Coates

Food Flavour Revelations Stave off the squall with seafood and whisky

By Seáneen Sullivan

Travel Retail A True Travel Retail Exclusive Dublin and Cork airports chosen for Slane Whiskey global launch

By Joe Bates

Whisky Magazine Index The Auctioneer’s Hammer Online auctions are on board\r\n

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

Rob AllansonFrom Farm to BottleWhistlePig offers a first taste of its own Vermont grown rye

Joe BatesA True Travel Retail ExclusiveDublin and Cork airports chosen for Slane Whiskey global launch

Christopher CoatesCigars & WhiskyTwo minutes with Kyle Gellis, founder of Warped Cigars

Jonny McCormickThe Auctioneer’s HammerOnline auctions are on board\r\n

Chris MiddletonThat's My Whisky!Part Two: Construction – converting paper to plant

Fred MinnickTravel LexingtonWhiskey, beer and chocolate – what more could a traveller want?

Hans OffringaThe SMWSA whisky club like no other

Blair PhillipsNever Will These Barrels Plunge Over Niagara FallsBlair visits Gretzky Distillery, a first-class stop on Niagara’s wine and spirits trail

Gavin D. SmithPioneersThe colourful characters who have shaped Highlands whisky

Seáneen SullivanFlavour RevelationsStave off the squall with seafood and whisky

Stefan van EyckenClosing the CircleJapanese craft brewers become whisky chasers

Ian WisniewskiThe Ageing ProcessWhat happens in those first three years?

Berry Bros. & Rudd
1995, 21 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: This goes from nought to 100 in two seconds. One minute it’s vanilla softness, the next it’s gutsy and funky.

Overall score

7.7

Box
American Oak

ABV 50.8%

Comments: A neon dream of a whisky on the nose, much more traditional on the palate.

Overall score

8.3

Cù Bòcan
2005 Limited Edition

ABV 50%

Comments: These tasting notes could constitute the world’s weirdest cake.

Overall score

8.6

Douglas Laing Old Particular
Consortium of Cards, 18 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: I love my peat, but it dominates to the detriment of others here, else I would have marked it even higher.

Overall score

8.7

Elijah Craig
Barrel Proof Batch No A117

ABV 63.5%

Comments: Big, ballsy and unapologetic. Water struggled to temper this beast.

Overall score

8.3

Glen Moray
18 Years Old, Elgin Heritage Collection

ABV 47.2%

Comments: From pine forests to chalk cliffs. A fun walk in a glass.

Overall score

8.5

Gordon & MacPhail
25 Years Old Refill (bottled for The Whisky Shop Dufftown)

ABV 56.4%

Comments: Not a whisky that sits on the fence. Powerful, fruity, and pretty great.

Overall score

8.4

Highland Park
Fire Edition, Aged 15 Years

ABV 45.2%

Comments: The nose is a little peculiar at first, but the solid flavours put those doubts to rest.

Overall score

8.0

Langatun
400 Jahre Kornhaus

ABV 49.1%

Comments: There’s real interest here, but I’d love to taste a bit more age on the liquid.

Overall score

8.4

Longmorn
The Distiller's Choice

ABV 40%

Comments: For fans of American oak.

Overall score

7.3

Method and Madness
Single Grain Finished In Virgin Spanish Oak

ABV 46%

Comments: A light whiskey overall, with two clear parts; first up rich and smooth, then cooling and zingy. I enjoy unexpected flavour developments like this.

Overall score

7.3

Raasay
While We Wait

ABV 46%

Comments: The peaty medicine box is balanced by creamy characters, but vegetal quirk marks it down.

Overall score

7.5

Rock Town
Flavor Grain Series, Barley Arkansas Whiskey

ABV 46%

Comments: Like licking a splintered piece of oak… but in a good way!

Overall score

7.5

Tamdhu
Batch Strength 002

ABV 58.5%

Comments: For the fireside – bonfires or indoors. Should be enjoyed year-round.

Overall score

9.0

The BenRiach
22 Years Old Moscatel

ABV 46%

Comments: I’m not sure where those dominant fruit aromas went, but they were edged out by those richer notes. Still a good drop.

Overall score

7.8

The GlenDronach
Single Cask Batch 14, 26 Years Old

ABV 54.8%

Comments: Satisfying. leather and chocolate notes balanced by tropical flavours.

Overall score

8.2

Three Ships
15 Years Old Pinotage Cask Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: Sweet relief. An easy-drinking drop.

Overall score

7.8

Tomatin
Five Virtues Wood Edition

ABV 46%

Comments: Have this as a half-and-half with a lambic, perhaps?

Overall score

8.3

Wemyss Malts
1997, Chocolate Orange Segment

ABV 46%

Comments: Interestingly, rather than dominate and deaden the whisky, the vanilla adds a creaminess to the mouthfeel that really benefits those other zanier flavours.

Overall score

7.7

Wemyss Malts
Bunnahabhain 1991, The Ship’s Decanter

ABV 45.6%

Comments: A lot to mull over in this unusual, expressive dram.

Overall score

8.6

See another issue

Please select

Please select
186
185
184
183
182
181
180
179
178
177
176
175
174
173
172
171
170
169
168
167
166
165
164
163
162
161
160
159
158
157
156
155
154
153
152
151
150
149
148
147
146
145
143
142
141
140
139
138
137
136
135
134
133
132
131
130
129
128
127
126
125
124
123
122
121
120
119
118
117
116
115
114
113
112
111
110
109
108
107
106
105
104
103
102
101
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

Whisky Magazine 144

See another issue

Newsletter