Whisky Magazine 18

Whisky & Cigars Islay Whisky Festival Glenmorangie

Editor's Word From the Editor

Whisky & Culture Picture perfect Harry Cory Wright accompanied Michael Jackson while he researched Scotland and its Whiskies. Diary extracts complement his stunning images

By Harry Cory Wright

Awards & Events Feis Ile 2001 Dave Broom takes up residence on Islay for the duration of the whisky festival and enjoys a seemingly never ending...

By Dave Broom

Whisky & Culture Smoke less, smoke better James Leavey avoids the anti-smoking lobby and cigar flavoured coffee in order to update Whisky Magazine readers on what's been...

By James Leavey

Whisky & Culture From seed to smoke - the making of hand-rolled Havanas James Leavey takes us through the production of a cigar – from tobacco seed to cedar wood box

By James Leavey

Whisky & Culture Swapping the Bentley for a BMW If you don't have the money to burn on the Bentley of cigars, the Cuban, there is always the...

By Chris Orr

Whisky & Culture Up in smoke Marcin Miller and friends light up and savour a dozen whiskies and half a dozen cigars

By Marcin Miller

Distillery Focus Pilgrim's progress to whisky Mecca (Glenmorangie) Despite the advance of time, Tain continues to be a sacred destination for pilgrims the world over. John Lamond believes...

By John Lamond

Distillery Focus The essential distillery guide Duncan and Wendy Graham have travelled to every corner of Scotland in researching their book Visiting Distilleries. We asked them...

Production The Life of Brian John Lamond talks to the man behind The VIntage Malt Whisky Company, Brian Crook, who is making a big noise...

By John Lamond

Whisky & Culture Limited expressions Neil Wilson casts his eye over some recent reissues of classic whisky books

By Neil Wilson

History Whisky woe in Wales Charles MacLean recalls a bygone era when distinguished gentlemen with a love of alliteration decided to distil whisky in Wales...

By Charles MacLean

Food Dinner with the companions of Aberlour Martine Nouet couldn't wait to take up Aberlour's challenge of creating a whisky inspired menu for a dinner at the...

By Martine Nouet

Production Whisky: even in spirit There is a plethora of special finish styles and now there's a trend for maturation in spirit barrels: is this...

By Ian Wisniewski

Bars From hacks to hospitality (The Scotsman Hotel) Tom Bruce-Gardyne visits the heart of Edinburgh and a new luxury hotel that has taken over the former home of...

By Tom Bruce-Gardyne

Travel Retail Planes, brand names and very good deals Martin Moodie reports on duty free stores that have abandoned the “stack ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap” mentality and become...

By Martin Moodie

Column Whisky on the rock cakes John Haydock gets the call to help design and build a visitor centre where whisky souvenirs sell like hot cakes......

By John Haydock

Dave BroomFeis Ile 2001Dave Broom takes up residence on Islay for the duration of the whisky festival and...

Tom Bruce-GardyneFrom hacks to hospitality (The Scotsman Hotel)Tom Bruce-Gardyne visits the heart of Edinburgh and a new luxury hotel that has taken...

John HaydockWhisky on the rock cakesJohn Haydock gets the call to help design and build a visitor centre where whisky...

John LamondThe Life of BrianJohn Lamond talks to the man behind The VIntage Malt Whisky Company, Brian Crook, who...

James LeaveyFrom seed to smoke - the making of hand-rolled HavanasJames Leavey takes us through the production of a cigar – from tobacco seed to...

Charles MacLeanWhisky woe in WalesCharles MacLean recalls a bygone era when distinguished gentlemen with a love of alliteration decided...

Marcin MillerUp in smokeMarcin Miller and friends light up and savour a dozen whiskies and half a dozen cigars

Martin MoodiePlanes, brand names and very good dealsMartin Moodie reports on duty free stores that have abandoned the “stack ‘em high, sell...

Martine NouetDinner with the companions of AberlourMartine Nouet couldn't wait to take up Aberlour's challenge of creating a whisky inspired menu...

Chris OrrSwapping the Bentley for a BMW If you don't have the money to burn on the Bentley of cigars, the...

Neil WilsonLimited expressionsNeil Wilson casts his eye over some recent reissues of classic whisky books

Ian WisniewskiWhisky: even in spiritThere is a plethora of special finish styles and now there's a trend for maturation...

Harry Cory WrightPicture perfectHarry Cory Wright accompanied Michael Jackson while he researched Scotland and its Whiskies. Diary extracts...

Aberlour
12 Years Old, Sherry Cask

ABV 40%

Comments: Good for such a young Aberlour. Sherry in balance.

Overall score

8.2

Aberlour
Vintage 1990 Edition

ABV 40%

Comments: On this occasion the vintage bottling had the most typical Aberlour character, especially in its spiciness. I also enjoyed its liveliness and complexity. The best Aberlour on the day.

Overall score

8.2

Aberlour
Aged 15 Years, Double Cask

ABV 40%

Comments: Easily drowned with water. The standard 15 Years Old is stunning, but this just seems gawky and awkward. There are so many Aberlour variants on the market - I'm getting mightily confused.

Overall score

8.2

Adelphi
21 Years Old, Cask 4150

ABV 56.1%

Comments: The confident virtues of a good Speyside whisky: malt, heather and peat. Well-combined but without either refinements or flourishes.

Overall score

8.4

Ardbeg
1977

ABV 46%

Comments: A stunner.

Overall score

9.2

Ballantine's
Limited

ABV 43%

Comments: Much more sherryish than the colour suggests. Sweet. Sponge fingers. I wouldn't have recognised it as a Ballantine's.

Overall score

8.6

Blackadder
1989

ABV 60.5%

Comments: Enjoyable, with an appropriate touch of earthy rawness, but not as statuesque as this elegant whisky can be.

Overall score

8.3

Bowmore
Surf, 25 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A fine introduction to peated Islays and a good session malt.

Overall score

7.9

Bushmills
1608 Reserve

ABV 40%

Comments: A less exuberant Black Bush: richer and more brooding.

Overall score

8.6

Cutty Sark
25 Years Old

ABV 45.7%

Comments: Cutty with rippling well-oiled muscles. Well done!

Overall score

8.9

Eagle Rare
10 Years Old, Single Barrel

ABV 50.5%

Comments: Big and sweet. Scale down the sweet vermouth when making your Manhattan.

Overall score

7.9

Elmer T. Lee
Single Barrel

ABV 45%

Comments: A gorgeous refreshing summery glass.

Overall score

8.2

Glen Moray
1981 Single Sherry Butt

ABV 57.7%

Comments: Sherry but(t) no Glen Moray.

Overall score

7.6

Gordon & MacPhail
1981, Reserve

ABV 43%

Comments: Mild-mannered though some would say bland.

Overall score

7.4

Old Malt Cask
Aged 24 Years

ABV 50%

Comments: Slightly sweeter than the 1977 but equally good. The sulphury note lets it down.

Overall score

8.9

Old Malt Cask
1979, Aged 21 Years, Sherry Cask

ABV 50%

Comments: Port Ellen had such a distinctive character. This seems to be one of the less robust bottlings, yet has some character.

Overall score

8.4

The Balvenie
1970 Vintage Cask

ABV 44.6%

Comments: Complex, luscious, gorgeous.

Overall score

9.2

The Balvenie
Islay Cask, 17 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Cheaper than buying a distillery on Islay but what's next? Speyside finished Caol Ila or a cask aged in every region?

Overall score

8.4

The Famous Grouse
1989 Vintage Malt

ABV 40%

Comments: The Grouse enthusiast who tastes this vatted version will be seduced by it. The aromas and flavours suggest malts from the company's own distilleries – and perhaps a little more Highland Park than last year.

Overall score

8.6

The Glenlivet
12 Years Old, American Oak Finish

ABV 40%

Comments: Lacks the subtlety of a more conventional Glenlivet, but will charm some consumers with a richer, creamier, style. Very drinkable indeed.

Overall score

7.8

The Macallan
10 Years Old, Cask Strength

ABV 58.8%

Comments: Fiery. Alcohol dominates too much for me.

Overall score

8.4

The Macallan
Fifties

ABV 40%

Comments: Closest to The Macallan of today, appropriately enough.

Overall score

8.9

The Macallan
Forties

ABV 40%

Comments: A similar style to 30s but less delicate and more robust.

Overall score

8.9

The Macallan
Thirties

ABV 40%

Comments: The dry amontillado.

Overall score

9.2

The Macallan
Twenties

ABV 40%

Comments: Despite a relatively full colour, suggesting plenty of sherry, the Macallan flavours shine through. The driest of these bottlings.

Overall score

8.8

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
2.35 – 24 Years Old

ABV 61%

Comments: Full-on but distillery character is obliterated

Overall score

7.9

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
53.50 – 7 Years Old

ABV 62.1%

Comments: You can see why blenders adore this. For those who like their Islay malts aggressive, zesty and smoky.

Overall score

8.1

Tomatin
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: No great complexity, but pleasant.

Overall score

7.4

Tullamore D.E.W.
Heritage

ABV 40%

Comments: Deserves points for daring to be so sweet.

Overall score

7.9

Whisky Magazine 18

See another issue

Newsletter