Whisky Magazine 2

What's it worth The Macallan Johnnie Walker

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Editor's Word From the Editor

By Charles MacLean

Musings with Michael Jackson My frisky Valentine Michael Jackson has a story of seduction, and a moral for all would-be seducers

By Michael Jackson

Column See you in court Jim Murray beomans a legal spat over a barrel, from which only the solicitors and whisky experts will gain

By Jim Murray

Collections Hammer of the Scots If you want to spend thousands on a bottle of whisky, head for an auction. Jonathon Goodall looks at what...

By Jonathon Goodall

History Right foot forward The original John Walker supplied tea and biscuits, wine and whisky to the sober bughers of Kilmarnock; his descendant Sir...

By Charles MacLean

People Hill and the glens (Jimmy Hill) Sports commentator Jimmy Hill loves Glenlivet, Laphroaig and Scotland generally; so why don't the Scots like him more?

By Tim Atkin

Production Two bites of the sherry If you're going to age whisky in heavily scented olorose casks you need a powerfully flavoured spirit to start off...

By Stephen Brook

Bars Elementary my dear Michael Michael Jackson visits Sherlock's Home in Minnesota: he loves the bar, hates the pun

By Michael Jackson

Collections Down with collectors John D Lamond laments the rise of whisky collectors- unnatural creatures who should be forced to drink the stuff, and...

By John Lamond

Travel What's in a name? Jim Murray goes in search of Whiskeytown and encounters more water than whiskey

By Jim Murray

Production A suitable cask for treatment Sixty per cent of the flavour of malt whisky comes from the wood in which it is aged, says Dave...

By Dave Broom

Tastings Sensorary evaluation Charles Maclean, glass in hand, continues his course in how to taste whisky

By Charles MacLean

Column Glenweevil an everyday story of distilling folk 2 The story so far at our fictional distillery: under the new ownership Andrew had to reapply for his own job....

By Andrew Mcvie

Tim AtkinHill and the glens (Jimmy Hill)Sports commentator Jimmy Hill loves Glenlivet, Laphroaig and Scotland generally; so why don't the Scots...

Stephen BrookTwo bites of the sherryIf you're going to age whisky in heavily scented olorose casks you need a powerfully...

Dave BroomA suitable cask for treatmentSixty per cent of the flavour of malt whisky comes from the wood in which...

Jonathon GoodallHammer of the ScotsIf you want to spend thousands on a bottle of whisky, head for an auction....

Michael JacksonElementary my dear MichaelMichael Jackson visits Sherlock's Home in Minnesota: he loves the bar, hates the pun

John LamondDown with collectorsJohn D Lamond laments the rise of whisky collectors- unnatural creatures who should be forced...

Charles MacLeanRight foot forwardThe original John Walker supplied tea and biscuits, wine and whisky to the sober bughers...

Andrew McvieGlenweevil an everyday story of distilling folk 2The story so far at our fictional distillery: under the new ownership Andrew had to...

Jim MurrayWhat's in a name?Jim Murray goes in search of Whiskeytown and encounters more water than whiskey

Aberlour
1988, Distiller's Selection

ABV 40%

Comments: An astonishingly malty whisky. For someone who wants to taste the eponymous ingredient, this shows it at its best.

Overall score

7.8

Aberlour
30 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A really excellent and classy Aberlour showing amazing complexity for its age.

Overall score

8.8

Adelphi
22 Years Old, Single cask

ABV 46%

Comments: Struggles to find a rhythm. Lowlanders weren't built to last to this age. Nevertheless, it has its delightful moments. Best at full strength and at about 46%.

Overall score

7.0

Auchentoshan
1966, 31 Years Old

ABV 43.5%

Comments: A fine whisky, but does something as fresh and soft benefit from quite so much ageing?

Overall score

8.8

Auchentoshan
Aged 10 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: A highly sophisticated dram. Intensely malty. Has improved enormously over the last few years.

Overall score

8.5

Cadenhead's
1980, 17 Years Old

ABV 57.2%

Comments: An uncomplicated but less exhausted, more even Bladnoch than Adelphi's, offering pleasing balance. Past its best, though.

Overall score

7.3

Cadenhead's
1989, 9 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: All of the characteristic floweriness of Rosebank, but with some roundness.

Overall score

8.8

Connoisseur's Choice
1986

ABV 40%

Comments: Starts brightly enough but the caramel character prevents the whisky taking off.

Overall score

7.3

Connoisseur's Choice
1988

ABV 40%

Comments: A deft balance between the whisky's own character and the sherry.

Overall score

8.0

Glenkinchie
1986, Distiller's Edition, Amontillado Cask Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: As a relatively restrained whisky, Glenkinchie stands up well to the amontillado finish.

Overall score

8.3

Glenkinchie
10 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: I always enjoy this whisky, even though it is not the most typical of Lowlanders.

Overall score

7.3

Gordon & MacPhail
1985

ABV 40%

Comments: Beyond the stark, disappointing nose, this is a genuinely fine dram. The star turn is the balance.

Overall score

7.5

Murray McDavid
1990, 8 Years Old, Sherry Cask

ABV 40%

Comments: The flowery youth of the whisky and the freshness of the sherry cask achieve an interesting harmony.

Overall score

8.0

Murray McDavid
1990, 8 Years Old, Bourbon Cask

ABV 40%

Comments: The label quotes my devotion to Rosebank at 8 years. I'm not devoted to it in this form. The cask this malt was filled into must have been exhausted as the whisky is closer to a 2 Years Old in character. The only good point is that there are no off notes.

Overall score

6.5

The Glenlivet
1968 Vintage

ABV 52.75%

Comments: Excellent character, though the oak has taken a firmer grip than on the 1967; this is never quite so rich.

Overall score

8.0

The Glenlivet
1969 Vintage

ABV 52.76%

Comments: A little woody.

Overall score

8.3

The Glenlivet
1970 Vintage

ABV 56.58%

Comments: Enjoyable, but I expected a little more.

Overall score

8.8

The Glenlivet
1972 Vintage

ABV 54.29%

Comments: A big whisky which shows not all Speysiders are shrinking violets. Beautifully weighted throughout; breathtaking complexity.

Overall score

8.3

The Glenlivet
1967 Vintage

ABV 53.32%

Comments: Astonishing for a Speysider of such antiquity. First class complexity with no over-ageing.

Overall score

8.5

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Whisky Magazine 2

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