Whisky Magazine 163

Saburomaru Distillery, Israel's Milk & Honey Distillery, Gooderham - Canada's whisky industrialist, Nc'Nean's female focus

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Editor's Word Tariffs and troubles ahead Turbulent times in politics could have impacts on whisky and jobs

By Rob Allanson

Column A question of devotion How the whisky industry engenders longevity of service

By Liza Weisstuch

Column The corn supremacy Quality is a top priority when it comes to corn

By Maggie Kimberl

Mythbusters The lost history of sour mash How acidity came to create more complex flavours

By Chris Middleton

Distillery Focus New beginnings Our man visits Saburomaru Distillery as it turns over a new leaf

By Stefan van Eycken

Distillery Focus L’Chaim to the dream! Behind the scenes at Israel’s first whisky distillery

By Simon Roser

Distillery Focus Silent no more Revival leaves this Highland gem glowing

By Gavin D. Smith

Interview The quiet man of whisky Meet the man whose CV is a Top Trumps of whisky

By Mark Jennings

Interview Changing the narrative A revolution in the Highlands

By Kate Packwood

History The aqua vitae era An odyssey through distilling expansion

By Chris Middleton

Whisky & Culture The rise and rise of a scion The story behind the iconic Canadian distiller

By Blair Phillips

People Living the dream The culture and lifestyle of Bourbon and whiskey

By Maggie Kimberl

Interview The importance of legacy Can London’s famous Milroy’s of Soho still cut it?

By Mark Jennings

Production Growing around the world Rye whisky is currently having ‘a moment’, but it has the credentials to remain in the limelight

By Ian Wisniewski

Cigars & Whisky Charting his own journey Ali Mezher talks about his passion and dream come true

By Cathryn Papadopoulo

Travel Retail Blends on show Single malts seem to take all the plaudits in travel retail but blends can be the star

By Joe Bates

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

By Greg Dillon

Rob AllansonTariffs and troubles aheadTurbulent times in politics could have impacts on whisky and jobs

Joe BatesBlends on showSingle malts seem to take all the plaudits in travel retail but blends can be...

Greg DillonIsland life: Dr. Christopher WhiteWe send some of the whisky world’s great and good to a desert island. What...

Mark JenningsThe importance of legacyCan London’s famous Milroy’s of Soho still cut it?

Maggie KimberlLiving the dreamThe culture and lifestyle of Bourbon and whiskey

Chris MiddletonThe aqua vitae eraAn odyssey through distilling expansion

Kate PackwoodChanging the narrativeA revolution in the Highlands

Cathryn PapadopouloCharting his own journeyAli Mezher talks about his passion and dream come true

Blair PhillipsThe rise and rise of a scionThe story behind the iconic Canadian distiller

Simon RoserL’Chaim to the dream!Behind the scenes at Israel’s first whisky distillery

Gavin D. SmithSilent no moreRevival leaves this Highland gem glowing

Stefan van EyckenNew beginningsOur man visits Saburomaru Distillery as it turns over a new leaf

Liza WeisstuchA question of devotionHow the whisky industry engenders longevity of service

Ian WisniewskiGrowing around the worldRye whisky is currently having ‘a moment’, but it has the credentials to remain in...

1770
2019 Release

ABV 46%

Comments: Age? Who cares. This is balanced with great oak and spirit integration too.

Overall score

8.6

Arran
10 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Like an afternoon at a cake sale, all cakes and biscuits and jam. Comforting and a little bit unchallenging.

Overall score

8.2

Bunnahabhain
12 Years Old

ABV 46.3%

Comments: Like eating those bags of salt and sweet chilli prawns on the beach.

Overall score

8.6

Glenfarclas
21 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: If Bertie Basset made whisky, awesome stuff.

Overall score

9.1

Glenfarclas
25 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Initially shy, but then opens up with glorious results.

Overall score

9.1

Glenfiddich
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: 40%? Really? Packs a punch with a ton of flavour.

Overall score

9.5

Heaven Hill
Bottled in Bond 7 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Wonderfully smooth and rich. Reminds me of opening vintage bass cases.

Overall score

9.4

Highland Park
Valfather

ABV 47%

Comments: Oddly reminds me of a good pastrami sandwich; a balance of meat, mustard and pickle.

Overall score

8.4

Michters
Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash

ABV 43%

Comments: Like opening the door of a freshly valeted car in the summer heat, inviting and comforting.

Overall score

9.4

The Balvenie
A day of dark barley 26 Years Old

ABV 47.8%

Comments: A gentle drop that packs a punch towards the end. A velvet covered hand in a velvet glove.

Overall score

9.2

The Balvenie
The week of peat 14 Years Old

ABV 43.3%

Comments: Lovely balance and interplay between the smoke and the sweetness.

Overall score

9.2

The Lakes
Whiskymaker's Reserve No.1

ABV 60.6%

Comments: The full gamut of aroma and flavour. Well balanced and put together.

Overall score

9.1

The One
Port Cask Finished

ABV 46.6%

Comments: Jammy, almost sticky and very moreish as well.

Overall score

8.6

The Solaria Series
Artis Secretum

ABV 67.1%

Comments: Really benefits from a little water to tame the beast, but not too much as it doesn’t swim that well.

Overall score

7.3

The Solaria Series
Aultmore

ABV 67.5%

Comments: Like a mechanics overalls. Water serves to ramp up the oil and sulphur.

Overall score

7.3

The Solaria Series
Craigellachie

ABV 67.9%

Comments: Despite the searing ABV there is flavour here, in time it reveals a balanced character. Water ramps up the sweetness.

Overall score

7.8

The Solaria Series
Royal Brackla

ABV 68%

Comments: For me this is pushing the acceptable boundaries of ABV. This is not a neat sipper, but with water there is a lovely huge sherry bomb under there lurking.

Overall score

7.5

Tomatin
2006 Amontillado Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: Wow this is a whopper for the ABV; huge and punchy and punchy and huge.

Overall score

8.7

Tomatin
2009 Rum Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: Sweet all the way and not much else, but very enjoyable for what it offers.

Overall score

8.0

Weller
Full Proof

ABV 57%

Comments: Reminds me of wearing 70s suntan lotion and then being out in the sun for a while. Big, warming and lovely.

Overall score

9.1

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Whisky Magazine 163

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