Whisky Magazine 154

Soccer and Scotch The Borders Distillery Hiram Walker's Legacy

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Editor's Word A golden thread As high summer passes, a little reminiscing is in order

By Rob Allanson

News All in the blend Manchester United and Chivas join forces

By Rob Allanson

News Two new for Travel Retail Aberfeldy releases two new expressions

By Rob Allanson

News New rare cask Premium single malt from Aberlour

By Rob Allanson

Thoughts from... The health conundrum Our writer delves into the confusing world of alcohol and health

By Liza Weisstuch

Thoughts from... One Whisky Family Where will whisky end up in the changing political landscape?

By Davin de Kergommeaux

Mythbusters Rye, hiding in plain sight Is this grain on the rise, or has it been here all the time?

By Chris Middleton

Travel A mile in 2.5 seconds The world’s fastest whisky – Concorde, a dram from the past

By Jim Leggett

Places Into the spotlight Our man takes us round the Lithuanian capital

By Šarunas Cesna

Interview Lost and found Our man explores the blending company recreating the past

By Gavin D. Smith

Distillery Focus Back to the Borders Scotch whisky distilling has returned to the Scottish Borders

By Christopher Coates

Production The hidden gem We look at the backbone of the blending world

By Rob Allanson

Battle of the Blends Setting the scene The stage is ready for a new battle, now to introduce our players

By Rob Allanson

History The woman behind the bottle Celebrating Canadian Club’s 160th Anniversary

By Blair Phillips

News SPECIAL PROMOTION: 50 Years In The Making Highland Park have relaunched their acclaimed 50 Years Old expression

By Christopher Coates

Production The role of alcohol Alcohol is a primary component of malt whisky and a key influence on the development and resulting character

By Ian Wisniewski

Production The future beckons So your new whisky is in the market. Now what?!

By Greg Dillon

Cigars & Whisky The perfect atmosphere Humidors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but a few rules apply to all of them

By Christopher Coates

Cocktails Distilled different Auchentoshan, Scotland's only permanently triple-distilled single malt, has been reimagined as a bartender’s dram

By Christopher Coates

Food Changing the guard Making changes to accommodate allergy sufferers

By R. M. Peluso

Travel Keep walking Johnnie Walker and Dufry release new Black Label expression

By Joe Bates

Caskaway Island life: Alan Winchester We send some of the whisky world’s great and good to a desert island. What will they decide to take...

By Rob Allanson

Rob AllansonAll in the blendManchester United and Chivas join forces

Joe BatesKeep walkingJohnnie Walker and Dufry release new Black Label expression

Šarunas CesnaInto the spotlightOur man takes us round the Lithuanian capital

Christopher CoatesSPECIAL PROMOTION: 50 Years In The MakingHighland Park have relaunched their acclaimed 50 Years Old expression

Davin de KergommeauxOne Whisky FamilyWhere will whisky end up in the changing political landscape?

Greg DillonThe future beckonsSo your new whisky is in the market. Now what?!

Jim LeggettA mile in 2.5 secondsThe world’s fastest whisky – Concorde, a dram from the past

Chris MiddletonRye, hiding in plain sightIs this grain on the rise, or has it been here all the time?

R. M. PelusoChanging the guardMaking changes to accommodate allergy sufferers

Blair PhillipsThe woman behind the bottleCelebrating Canadian Club’s 160th Anniversary

Gavin D. SmithLost and foundOur man explores the blending company recreating the past

Liza WeisstuchThe health conundrumOur writer delves into the confusing world of alcohol and health

Ian WisniewskiThe role of alcoholAlcohol is a primary component of malt whisky and a key influence on the development...

1792
Full Proof

ABV 62.5%

Comments: Big and to be honest pretty awesome. Packs plenty of flavour punches too.

Overall score

8.5

Balcones
True Blue

ABV 50%

Comments: Some whiskey this, ticks all the boxes. Just a riot of sweetness that doesn’t seem to want to end.

Overall score

8.8

Berry Bros. & Rudd
Peated Cask Matured Blended Malt

ABV 44.2%

Comments: Like swallowing a cloud of peat smoke.

Overall score

8.4

Berry Bros. & Rudd
Sherry Cask Matured Blended Malt

ABV 44.2%

Comments: Serious sherry influence here, but the sulphur punches a little too much for me.

Overall score

7.6

Breckenridge
Port Cask Finish

ABV 45%

Comments: Gentle until that huge heat and spice layer builds up. You think it’s going to be simple but it’s anything but that.

Overall score

8.4

Casino Series
Aged 21 Years

ABV 48.9%

Comments: Hip flask material for a warming reviving stop in the countryside.

Overall score

8.3

Connoisseurs Choice
Aged 12 Years

ABV 55.1%

Comments: A Highland little cracker. Big bodied with plenty of character.

Overall score

8.6

Glenmorangie
175th Anniversary Release

ABV 53.1%

Comments: What I imagine being trapped inside a jam factory might be like.

Overall score

8.4

Highland Park
50 Years Old

ABV 42.5%

Comments: A very impressive drop. Shows the signs of age, and having aged gracefully.

Overall score

8.7

Jura
Seven Wood

ABV 42%

Comments: A really lovely dram – the lack of spice makes it sweet all the way.

Overall score

8.3

Kavalan
Solist, Manzanilla Sherry Cask

ABV 58.6%

Comments: Boom, sherry bomb heaven. A little water lengthens the notes but really is an ode to the love of sherry.

Overall score

8.6

Lombard Jewels of Scotland
1996

ABV 49.5%

Comments: Really lovely balance.Fruit and floral notes given room to play. Summer in a glass.

Overall score

8.4

Lombard Jewels of Scotland
1996

ABV 52.5%

Comments: Like eating honey sandwiches on the beach.

Overall score

8.2

Lombard Jewels of Scotland
1992

ABV 56.7%

Comments: Spicy, big and bold. Water helps it find its more refined edges and also lengthens the spice notes out.

Overall score

8.1

Sullivans Cove
Winter Feast Special Edition

ABV 47.1%

Comments: More proof that there is some awesome whisky to be discovered in Australia.

Overall score

8.5

The BenRiach
Temporis 21 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Glorious stuff. Lovely integration of peat and sweetness. Certainly one to bring in a hip flask for a long forest walk.

Overall score

8.5

The GlenDronach
Cask Strength Batch 7

ABV 57.9%

Comments: An interesting whisky and one for saving for a cold snap.

Overall score

8.0

Tomatin
Earth Edition

ABV 46%

Comments: Moves from light to dark as you go through from the nose to the finish. Has lovely balance all the way.

Overall score

8.1

Wemyss Malts
2002, Spiced Apple Strudel

ABV 46%

Comments: Looks light in colour, but there is a darker side lurking here too.

Overall score

8.1

Westland
Peated American Single Malt

ABV 46%

Comments: Wow, seriously intriguing layers, subtle peat too.

Overall score

8.4

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Whisky Magazine 154

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