Whisky Magazine 21

Whisky and art Buying a cask Brian Morrison Rye Tasting

Musings with Michael Jackson The Laddie and the Geiko Michael Jackson on his own whisky trail, re-orients himself

A Dram with Dave Broom File under easy listening Dave Broom joins the rank and file as a late, late discussion reveals hidden treasures about life, the universe and...

By Dave Broom

News Cask iron investment? Dave Broom takes you through the possible pitfalls, the complications and the cons of many a whisky lover's dream: buying...

By Dave Broom

Awards & Events Record breakers Marcin Miller particpates in setting a whisky record in Sweden's beautiful capital Stockholm

By Marcin Miller

Awards & Events Bigger in Japan Tokyo was host ot Whisky Live Japan 2001-and Marcin Miller was there to report on the festivities

By Marcin Miller

Whisky & Culture The art of the matter Brian Hennigan swaps palate for palette as he takes you on an irreverent journey through the whisky-loving Renaissance and sipping...

By Brian Hennigan

Distillery Focus A new flame (Kilchorman) Gavin Smith takes a stroll by Kilchorman, the first new distillery of the millennium-and the first on Islay since 1883

By Gavin D. Smith

People A new dawn for Bowmore (Brian Morrison) After 38 years in whisky, Brian Morrison, managing director of Morrison Bowmore Distillers, is retiring from his executie position to...

By Charles MacLean

Distillery Focus A right royal return (Carneronbridge) Tom Bruce-Gardyne finds that Carneronbridge Distillery is ready to return to the public eye after years in the background of...

By Tom Bruce-Gardyne

Whisky & Culture Zen and now Waxing philosophically on paradox, Daniel Houck invites us to consider drinking whisky as a means to enlightenment. It's got to...

By Daniel Houck

Production Yeast of Eden The influence of yeast on the final flavour of a whisky is hotly debated within the industry. Ian Wisniewski takes...

By Ian Wisniewski

Distillery Focus Brewing up a storm Gavin Smith tells the complex story of Scottish brewing and its inextricable links with distilling

By Gavin D. Smith

Collections The deferred consumer Ulf Buxrud had dedicated a large portion of his life to his passion for malt whisky, enabling him to addemble...

By Rob Allanson

Bars Style and substance (The Rockwell) Bourbon is the focus for London's hottest new style bar, The Rockwell in the Trafalgar Hotel. John Roberts brings you...

By John Roberts

Food Ardbeg for more! Martine Nouet reminisces about a trip to Islay and the culinary delights she found there, in the surprising shape of...

By Martine Nouet

Whisky & Culture A nobel cause William Faulkner may not have made many positive references to whisky in his work, but he was a...

By Jefferson Chase

Tastings Tasting with a wean Instead of the usual acidic finish, why not enjoy a somewhat sweeter, slightly sentimental, but not overpowering, finish with John...

By John Lamond

Rob AllansonThe deferred consumerUlf Buxrud had dedicated a large portion of his life to his passion for malt...

Dave BroomCask iron investment?Dave Broom takes you through the possible pitfalls, the complications and the cons of many...

Tom Bruce-GardyneA right royal return (Carneronbridge)Tom Bruce-Gardyne finds that Carneronbridge Distillery is ready to return to the public eye after...

Jefferson ChaseA nobel causeWilliam Faulkner may not have made many positive references to whisky in his...

Brian HenniganThe art of the matterBrian Hennigan swaps palate for palette as he takes you on an irreverent journey through...

Daniel HouckZen and nowWaxing philosophically on paradox, Daniel Houck invites us to consider drinking whisky as a means...

Michael JacksonThe Laddie and the GeikoMichael Jackson on his own whisky trail, re-orients himself

John LamondTasting with a weanInstead of the usual acidic finish, why not enjoy a somewhat sweeter, slightly sentimental, but...

Charles MacLeanA new dawn for Bowmore (Brian Morrison)After 38 years in whisky, Brian Morrison, managing director of Morrison Bowmore Distillers, is retiring...

Marcin MillerBigger in JapanTokyo was host ot Whisky Live Japan 2001-and Marcin Miller was there to report on...

Martine NouetArdbeg for more!Martine Nouet reminisces about a trip to Islay and the culinary delights she found there,...

John RobertsStyle and substance (The Rockwell)Bourbon is the focus for London's hottest new style bar, The Rockwell in the Trafalgar...

Gavin D. SmithBrewing up a stormGavin Smith tells the complex story of Scottish brewing and its inextricable links with distilling

Ian WisniewskiYeast of EdenThe influence of yeast on the final flavour of a whisky is hotly debated within...

Adelphi Balmenach
1990, 11 Years Old, Cask 507

ABV 59.7%

Comments: Can whiskies be handsome and romantic? This is a seductive bottling.

Overall score

8.1

Adelphi Glen Grant
1970, 27 Years Old, Cask 7638

ABV 56.9%

Comments: A lot of wood...a lot of sherry wood but not a lot of Glen Grant.

Overall score

7.3

Adelphi Glen Grant
1970, 31 Years Old, Cask 1036

ABV 55.4%

Comments: Old, venerable even, but only of historical interest.

Overall score

7.7

Adelphi Knockdhu
1989, 12 Years Old, Cask 286

ABV 56.6%

Comments: Best with only a splash of water.

Overall score

7.8

Ardbeg
Lord of the Isles, 25 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Lots of flavour development, complexity and refinement. Very elegant, but where is the clamour of battle?

Overall score

8.7

Classic Malts
Glenkinchie Special Edition, Friends of the Classic Malts

ABV 58.7%

Comments: Bigger and more robust than you might expect.

Overall score

7.9

Compass Box

ABV 43%

Comments: Someone knows what they are doing. Who would have thought grain whisky could taste so good?

Overall score

8.3

Glen Darbach
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Approachable - even amiable - but with some substance. Wintery flavours that are warming without being challenging.

Overall score

7.4

Glen Elgin
19 Years Old, Centenary Bottling

ABV 60%

Comments: For me, the classic example of Speyside heather-honey character. A beautifully rounded, characterful, elegant, whisky.

Overall score

8.6

Inverey
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Light. A breakfast malt.

Overall score

7.2

Islay
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Emphatically Islay without being aggressive. Lots of flavour development, but deftly handled.

Overall score

7.8

Jim Beam
Straight Rye

ABV 40%

Comments: A decent mid-weight introduction. Drink mixed.

Overall score

7.8

Lot 40
Pot Still Single Canadian

ABV 43%

Comments: A mellow Canadian take on things with enough peppery bite to keep rye fans happy.

Overall score

7.8

Magilligan
8 Years Old, Irish Peated Malt

ABV 43%

Comments: A lovely, clean, malty, easily drinkable, whisky. The label promises peat, but that is hard to find.

Overall score

7.9

Old Overholt
Canadian rye

ABV 40%

Comments: A real bargain. Beginners start here.

Overall score

7.9

Old Potrero
Single Malt

ABV 62.1%

Comments: Despite the 'Old', a new rye. The idea was to get closer to what the first American ryes might have been. I like the idea. Wins points for all-rye character and assertiveness.

Overall score

8.2

Pikesville
Supreme Straight Rye

ABV 40%

Comments: A cracking, edgy drink and alongside the fuller Overholt a real bargain. Great for barmen and beginners alike.

Overall score

7.9

Port Ellen
1979, 22 Years Old

ABV 56.2%

Comments: From a sadly silent still: a great malt that is too good to chill, but wonderful with smoked salmon or scallops. Or, deservedly, caviar. You serve vodka? Shame on you!

Overall score

8.3

Rare Malts Selection
1975, 25 Years Old

ABV 61.9%

Comments: A grizzled old character, but gains points for resilience.

Overall score

7.8

Rare Malts Selection
1977, 24 Years Old

ABV 56.1%

Comments: Discreet on the nose but rages in like a north-eastern storm on the tastebuds.

Overall score

8.5

Rare Malts Selection
1979, 22 Years Old

ABV 61%

Comments: Good but not quite balanced.

Overall score

8.2

Rare Malts Selection
1977, 23 Years Old

ABV 53.6%

Comments: Rather aggressive for a malt that is usually delicate and sweet, but still very distinctive. Will stand softening with a good splash of water.

Overall score

8.2

Rittenhouse
Straight Rye 100 Proof

ABV 50%

Comments: A hundred American proof makes for a powerful whisky, but this is big and bold in flavour, too. I don't remember it being such a sensuous whiskey. A reborn giant? I'll look for it on Rittenhouse Square next time I'm in Philadelphia.

Overall score

8.0

Sazerac
18 Years Old, Straight Rye

ABV 45%

Comments: A trifle sophisticated for my tastes, but a very fine rye whiskey.

Overall score

8.4

Talisker
1975, 25 Years Old, Cask Strength

ABV 59.9%

Comments: Less instantly explosive than the regular 10. The flavours in the 25 are more tightly combined and take longer to unfold. You pays your money...

Overall score

9.0

The Macallan
Exceptional Single Cask

ABV 59.3%

Comments: Delicate, light and simple.

Overall score

8.3

Van Winkle
Family Reserve Rye, 13 Years Old

ABV 47.8%

Comments: A typical but a wonderful drink to sip on its own. The more I drink it the more I love it.

Overall score

8.4

Wild Turkey
Rye

ABV 50.5%

Comments: A classic big-boned style that gets maximum extraction of flavours.

Overall score

8.3

Whisky Magazine 21

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