Whisky Magazine 187

Independent Spirits Country Focus: Taiwan Nauticus Bar Leith

Interview Interview: Billy Walker, Scotch whisky's master of reinvention As Billy Walker celebrates a half-century in whisky, he reflects on the importance of creative freedom, fresh perspectives, and how,...

By Kristiane Sherry

Interview The joy of connections at The Single Cask From a shared passion to building a commercial collective, discover how The Single Cask team are dispensing whisky stories from...

By Kristiane Sherry

Whisky Focus Finn Thomson Whisky: Exploring a remarkable archive Step into the world of Finn Thomson Whisky, an independent bottler that has been three centuries and nine generations in...

By Moa Nilsson

Bars Whisky bar focus: Nauticus, Leith Neighbourhood bar Nauticus is bridging the gap between Leith’s historical and modern personas through great Scottish produce

By Jason Thomson

Thoughts from... Opinion: You've got to admire the independent whisky makers who follow their instincts From Angus to Oregon, I've been blown away by the independent spirits who follow their gut.

By Christopher Coates

Distillery Focus Teerenpeli: A Finnish approach to sustainability Drawing from the region’s remarkable natural resources, Finnish distillery Teerenpeli makes single malt with an eye on sustainability

By Thijs Klaverstijn

Production Explore the micro-distilleries run by mega-distillers To keep pace in the whisky innovation race, some of the world's biggest distilleries are thinking small

By Susannah Skiver Barton

Regional Focus Taiwan: The whiskies to try and bars to visit Taiwan’s taste for single malt Scotch is underpinning the growth of a new generation of whisky educators, producers and consumers

By Steven Parker

Distillery Focus The Cairn Distillery: The 'new school' of Scotch whisky production Esteemed bottler Gordon & MacPhail is aiming to test the boundaries of Scotch whisky innovation at its new distillery

By Gavin D. Smith

Distillery Focus Vietnam's first single malt whisky is on its way Vietnam is about to start production on its first single malt whisky – we went to the Son Tinh distillery...

By Millie Milliken

Thoughts from... Opinion: How the popularity of Cognac influenced the identity of bourbon The ingenuity of one 19th-century Kentucky distiller led to the introduction of a definitive feature of bourbon production

By Maggie Kimberl

Thoughts from... Opinion: Mastering the art of accumulation The generational divide in the act of collecting things – and getting rid of them

By Liza Weisstuch

Thoughts from... Opinion: The extra blessing for Tennessee whiskey How a practical solution in distillation became a hallmark of Tennessee whiskey

By Chris Middleton

Editor's Word Opinion: Analysing whisky's XX factor The world of whisky is undergoing a slow but steady gender revolution

By Bethany Whymark

Caskaway Caskaway: Gregor Hannah's desert island drams The founder of Hannah Whisky Merchants and Lady of the Glen shares which whiskies he would take to our desert island

By Bradley Weir

Christopher CoatesOpinion: You've got to admire the independent whisky makers who follow their instinctsFrom Angus to Oregon, I've been blown away by the independent spirits who follow their gut.

Maggie KimberlOpinion: How the popularity of Cognac influenced the identity of bourbonThe ingenuity of one 19th-century Kentucky distiller led to the introduction of a definitive feature...

Thijs KlaverstijnTeerenpeli: A Finnish approach to sustainabilityDrawing from the region’s remarkable natural resources, Finnish distillery Teerenpeli makes single malt with an...

Chris MiddletonOpinion: The extra blessing for Tennessee whiskeyHow a practical solution in distillation became a hallmark of Tennessee whiskey

Millie MillikenVietnam's first single malt whisky is on its wayVietnam is about to start production on its first single malt whisky – we went...

Moa NilssonFinn Thomson Whisky: Exploring a remarkable archiveStep into the world of Finn Thomson Whisky, an independent bottler that has been three...

Steven ParkerTaiwan: The whiskies to try and bars to visitTaiwan’s taste for single malt Scotch is underpinning the growth of a new generation of...

Kristiane SherryThe joy of connections at The Single CaskFrom a shared passion to building a commercial collective, discover how The Single Cask team...

Susannah Skiver BartonExplore the micro-distilleries run by mega-distillersTo keep pace in the whisky innovation race, some of the world's biggest distilleries are...

Gavin D. SmithThe Cairn Distillery: The 'new school' of Scotch whisky productionEsteemed bottler Gordon & MacPhail is aiming to test the boundaries of Scotch whisky innovation...

Jason ThomsonWhisky bar focus: Nauticus, LeithNeighbourhood bar Nauticus is bridging the gap between Leith’s historical and modern personas through great...

Bradley WeirCaskaway: Gregor Hannah's desert island dramsThe founder of Hannah Whisky Merchants and Lady of the Glen shares which whiskies he...

Liza WeisstuchOpinion: Mastering the art of accumulationThe generational divide in the act of collecting things – and getting rid of them

Bethany WhymarkOpinion: Analysing whisky's XX factorThe world of whisky is undergoing a slow but steady gender revolution

Balcones
Baby Blue Corn Whisky

ABV 46%

Comments: A sweet and rather autumnal treat – I’d be pretty up for making a hot toddy with this and getting cosy by a fire.

Overall score

8.2

Berry Bros. & Rudd
Sherry Cask Matured

ABV 44.2%

Comments: A lot of lovey dark fruity notes here, with interesting progression and just the right amount of old wood character to play with.

Overall score

8.2

Bunnahabhain
Stiùireadair

ABV 46.3%

Comments: Delightfully dessert-like.

Overall score

8.1

Carpathian
Feteasca Neagra

ABV 46%

Comments: An unusually savoury style but I think it will prove popular.

Overall score

8.1

Copperworks Distilling
Release 044

ABV 50%

Comments: One to sit and sip as the more time you spend with it, the more it opens up and delivers greater complexity.

Overall score

8.4

Copperworks Distilling
Release 045

ABV 50%

Comments: Its nuances may be delicate, but what it’s doing is truly lovely. A comforting sip.

Overall score

8.4

Cotswolds
Harvest Series – Golden Wold

ABV 52.5%

Comments: It’s punchy and flavoursome, with lovely balance and character. I think this could be fun as a simple whisky and ginger.

Overall score

8.4

Filey Bay
Yorkshire Day 2022

ABV 55%

Comments: I’d really like to test this out in an Old Fashioned with some chocolate bitters as I think it could play well there.

Overall score

8.4

Highland Park
Cask Strength

ABV 64.1%

Comments: A really nicely balanced whisky, with the interplay of the nutty notes and delicate smokiness that runs throughout.

Overall score

8.1

Kilchoman
100% Islay 12th Edition

ABV 50%

Comments: As pure an expression of an Islay distillery as I’ve ever tasted.

Overall score

8.7

Kings County Distillery
6 Years Old Bottled in Bond Bourbon

ABV 50%

Comments: Lovely complexity and development through the experience of drinking it – as it is, it’s a lovely little sipper.

Overall score

8.4

Kings County Distillery
3 Years Old Peated Rye

ABV 45%

Comments: An unusual rye with lots to like. It’s fruity, sweet and savoury.

Overall score

8.4

Lochlea
Our Barley

ABV 46%

Comments: This is rich and complex, certainly something to give some time to in the glass. Sit back, relax and simply enjoy.

Overall score

8.5

Rosebank
31 Years Old Release 2

ABV 48.1%

Comments: A really enjoyable interplay between the light and bright fruit and the rich toasted notes. Really well done.

Overall score

8.5

Talisker
Surge

ABV 45.8%

Comments: Wondrously moreish, this could become a regular after-work sipper.

Overall score

8.5

Talnua
Continuum Cask

ABV 43%

Comments: Looks like Talnua will school the Irish on how to make pot still whiskey!

Overall score

8.5

Talnua
Olde Saint's Keep

ABV 50%

Comments: It’s got a whole lot of character and plenty to sink your teeth into... if that is possible with a liquid.

Overall score

7.9

Wemyss Malts
Supper Club 25 Years Old

ABV 51.7%

Comments: This took a little time to warm up for me, but it comes into its own on the palate and into the intriguing finish.

Overall score

8.3

Woven
Experience No. 9

ABV 46.1%

Comments: A mature and well-rounded blend, with a high malt content.

Overall score

8.2

Woven
Experience No. 10

ABV 52.4%

Comments: I really, really like this – it’s different and full of character that could so easily not work but it does and is delightful.

Overall score

8.6

Whisky Magazine 187

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