Whisky Magazine 29

James Bond Cooley Distillery Indian Whisky Festival Reviews

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Column The Miller's Tale

By Marcin Miller

Musings with Michael Jackson Local Hero Michael Jackson fulfils a fantasy

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom A real Japa-knees up Tequila, Italian death drinks, replica pubs and bad country and western …Dave Broom discovers the surreal side of Japan

By Dave Broom

Distillery Focus From monsters to minnows Pip Hills looks at who owns what in the world of whisky

By Pip Hills

Awards & Events Big in Japan Whisky Live Japan goes from strength to strength and is getting weirder as it does so. Marcin Miller mixes it...

By Marcin Miller

Awards & Events A true boon in Kentucky The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is one of the year's whiskey highlights. Damian Riley-Smith brought back a suitcase full of fond memories

By Damian Riley-Smith

News A taste of India The market for whisky in India is huge. Tom Bruce-Gardyne examines its colourful, unconventional nature

By Tom Bruce-Gardyne

People The King of Cooley Dr John Teeling is teetotal, he runs on caffeine, and he's making waves in the world of Irish whiskey. Peter...

By Peter Mulryan

Whisky & Culture The name's malt... Single Malt... James Bond is drinking whisky again. More specifically, he's drinking Talisker – and the relationship is benefiting both of them....

By Dominic Roskrow

News Waste not, want not Gavin D. Smith takes a look at the by-products of whisky-making, and where they end up

By Gavin D. Smith

Awards & Events Whisky Live 2003! Rare and delicious whiskies are just waiting to be discovered

By Brigid James

Whisky & Culture Bile with Style Jefferson Chase on a sharp-penned Canadian who both writes and drinks whisky – Mordecai Richler

By Jefferson Chase

Cocktails Lift the winter spirits Martine Nouet argues that one of the advantages of bad weather is that you can drink strong spirits to keep...

By Martine Nouet

Production As esay as one, two, three? Peter Mulryan looks at the increasingly rare art of triple distillation

By Peter Mulryan

Production Bottle ageing...so where's the science? In Issue 27, Martin Isark argued that whisky aged in the bottle. His views have provoked a storm of opposition....

By Peter Woods

Dave BroomA real Japa-knees upTequila, Italian death drinks, replica pubs and bad country and western …Dave Broom discovers the...

Tom Bruce-GardyneA taste of IndiaThe market for whisky in India is huge. Tom Bruce-Gardyne examines its colourful, unconventional nature

Jefferson ChaseBile with StyleJefferson Chase on a sharp-penned Canadian who both writes and drinks whisky – Mordecai Richler

Pip HillsFrom monsters to minnowsPip Hills looks at who owns what in the world of whisky

Michael JacksonLocal HeroMichael Jackson fulfils a fantasy

Brigid JamesWhisky Live 2003!Rare and delicious whiskies are just waiting to be discovered

Marcin MillerBig in JapanWhisky Live Japan goes from strength to strength and is getting weirder as it does...

Peter MulryanAs esay as one, two, three?Peter Mulryan looks at the increasingly rare art of triple distillation

Martine NouetLift the winter spiritsMartine Nouet argues that one of the advantages of bad weather is that you can...

Damian Riley-SmithA true boon in KentuckyThe Kentucky Bourbon Festival is one of the year's whiskey highlights. Damian Riley-Smith brought back...

Dominic RoskrowThe name's malt... Single Malt...James Bond is drinking whisky again. More specifically, he's drinking Talisker – and the relationship...

Gavin D. SmithWaste not, want notGavin D. Smith takes a look at the by-products of whisky-making, and where they end up

Peter WoodsBottle ageing...so where's the science?In Issue 27, Martin Isark argued that whisky aged in the bottle. His views have...

Auchentoshan
Three Wood

ABV 40%

Comments: A lot of wood-derived flavours and aromas here. Has a certain swaggering style.

Overall score

7.7

Auchentoshan
Aged 10 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: At 10 years, Auchentoshan makes an expressive, eloquent claim to being the classic Lowlander.

Overall score

7.7

Bladnoch
10 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A very peculiar beast.

Overall score

7.0

Bruichladdich
Legacy Series One, 1966, Aged 36 Years

ABV 40.6%

Comments: A cracker.

Overall score

8.2

Bruichladdich
1970

ABV 44.2%

Comments: A whisky which needs time, thank god we're seeing some great old examples.

Overall score

8.4

Bruichladdich
1984 Vintage

ABV 46%

Comments: A good addition to an impressive range.

Overall score

7.7

Cadenhead's
The Glenlivet 1977, 24 Years Old

ABV 57.6%

Comments: It wears its heart on its sleeve, and its big heart.

Overall score

7.7

Cadenhead's
1990, 11 Years Old

ABV 60.6%

Comments: Seems sweet, but just isn't quite balanced, as if the cask has yet to interact fully with the spirit.

Overall score

7.4

Cadenhead's
1989, 13 Years Old

ABV 54.9%

Comments: A good example from a shamefully overlooked distillery.

Overall score

7.8

Chieftain's
1984, Aged 18 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: A gentle, appealing drink.

Overall score

7.7

Chieftain's
1990, Aged 12 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: A very good, well-balanced Caol Ila, but not enough happening to make it complex. Ideal for beginners.

Overall score

8.1

Douglas Laing
1977, 22 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Good balance of the fruity acidity and sweeter juicy notes.

Overall score

8.0

Glenkinchie
1989 Distiller's Edition

ABV 43%

Comments: Glenkinchie was always robust for a lowlander, and this expression is more so. Again, it works: the typical grassy sweetness brought out by a touch of sherry.

Overall score

7.9

James MacArthur's Old Masters
10 Years Old

ABV 64.2%

Comments: Sweet and simple.

Overall score

7.7

James MacArthur's Old Masters
1989

ABV 59.1%

Comments: A good one, though spoiled by that slightly grubby character.

Overall score

7.7

Jameson
18 Years Old, Master Selection

ABV 40%

Comments: I could drink this all day. A classic Irish whiskey.

Overall score

9.0

Midleton
Very Rare

ABV 40%

Comments: In general, Midleton is a bit too elegant for me, but this is a lovely vintage. The Yquem of whiskies?

Overall score

8.8

Rare Malts Selection
1998, Aged 19 Years

ABV 63.8%

Comments: For a ghost, quite aggressive.

Overall score

7.7

Rare Malts Selection
Aged 20 Years

ABV 62.3%

Comments: This is how Lowlanders used to be: drier, more herbal, more complex. Buy now, while stocks last.

Overall score

8.3

Rosebank
Aged 12 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: Relatively young, but beginning to weary nonetheless. Perhaps this tiredness is caused by worry about the future. A feminine whisky that has lost the first bloom of youth. Snatch a kiss while you can.

Overall score

7.8

Signatory
1974

ABV 50.6%

Comments: Lovely, but the oak is just maybe a little too firm.

Overall score

7.7

Signatory
1989, 13 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: With its curiously greeny-white colour, this one actually looks like a ghost. A shadow of a great malt.

Overall score

6.3

Signatory
1975

ABV 51.5%

Comments: Attractive, but just a touch insubstantial, lacking the texture and flavour range to make it great.

Overall score

7.5

Strathisla
12 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A malt that dares to be truly oaky. Thank heavens for boldness and individuality in a world where blandness is always an easier option. This beautiful old distillery is Chivas' showpiece, but it is more than a pretty face.

Overall score

8.2

The Cask of Yamazaki
1993, Bourbon Cask

ABV 58%

Comments: A good addition to the range, maybe just a little young.

Overall score

7.5

The Cask of Yamazaki
1980, Japanese White Oak Cask

ABV 58%

Comments: Aged in a Japanese-made, second-fill, US white oak cask, so no bourbon ageing involved. A worthwhile experiment typical of this enterprising distillery.

Overall score

7.8

The Cask of Yamazaki
1981, Sherry Cask

ABV 61%

Comments: An elegant, beautifully balanced whisky.

Overall score

7.9

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Whisky Magazine 29

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