Whisky Magazine 144

Discovering Lexington Ardnamurchan Distillery Japanese whisky Whisky adventures

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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 and Davin de Kergommeaux

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

Blair Phillips and Davin de KergommeauxWater, Water EverywhereDodging the floods in Alberta and Guyana

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

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Whisky Magazine 144

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