Whisky Magazine 32

Brian Cox Whisky down under Silent Stills Speyside Festival

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Editor's Word The Miller's Tale

By Marcin Miller

Musings with Michael Jackson Everyone's a critic Now expose your palms and check for salt, romance or poetry, says Michael Jackson

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom Rockin' in Fochabers Dave Broomembraces a rock 'n' roll lifestyle in Speyside's hippest town

By Dave Broom

Production What does whisky mean to you? Whisky Magazine is to launch a new feature next issue – but we need your help. Dominic Roskrow explains

By Dominic Roskrow

Awards & Events Where there's a still there's a Spey The Speyside Festival was both a blur of activity and a civilised and leisurely jaunt through the heart of the...

By Dominic Roskrow

Travel Going VIP at Macallan Did Whisky Magazine's secret agent really feel like a VIP on The Macallan's special tour?

Travel Hole in one The Road Hole Bar in the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, carries a bottle of single malt from every Scottish...

By Brigid James

People Lure of the amber nectar (Brian Cox) Brian Cox appears in two of the summer's biggest blockbuster films. He spoke to Vivien Devlin about his love of...

By Vivien Devlin

Production Gentleman's relish Lynn Seldon charts the history and success of a bourbon made beyond Kentucky:\rVirginia Gentleman

By Lynn Seldon

Awards & Events When two worlds collide Whisky with food is becoming increasingly popular. Dominic Roskrowgets a taste for it

By Dominic Roskrow

Food Sweet fruits of labour Martine Nouet finds good use for the harvests of summer, combined with whisky

By Martine Nouet

Musings with Michael Jackson Spirit from the South Seas M. F. Jameson looks into the past, present and future of Tasmanian whisky production

By M F Jameson

Musings with Michael Jackson Aotearoa excellence Singer and whisky lover Robin Laing was fascinated to discover that New Zealand has a long whisky-making tradition when he...

By Robin Laing

People New-age whiskey Peter Mulryan talks to Dave Phelan and Pat Rigney, the men who broke the mould producing a charcoal-mellowed Irish whiskey, Clontarf

By Peter Mulryan

Whisky & Culture Dark Art Jefferson Chase examines Ian McEwan's use of whisky as emotional crutch in his novel The Child in Time

By Jefferson Chase

Production The burning issue Ian Wisniewski asks that all-important question: does the way a still is heated affect the final product?

By Ian Wisniewski

Column Always on call Ever wondered about the demands of being a whisky superstar? John Haydock offers his answerphone contents up for scrutiny

By John Haydock

Dave BroomRockin' in FochabersDave Broomembraces a rock 'n' roll lifestyle in Speyside's hippest town

Jefferson ChaseDark ArtJefferson Chase examines Ian McEwan's use of whisky as emotional crutch in his novel The...

Vivien DevlinLure of the amber nectar (Brian Cox)Brian Cox appears in two of the summer's biggest blockbuster films. He spoke to Vivien...

John HaydockAlways on callEver wondered about the demands of being a whisky superstar? John Haydock offers his answerphone...

Michael JacksonEveryone's a criticNow expose your palms and check for salt, romance or poetry, says Michael Jackson

Brigid JamesHole in oneThe Road Hole Bar in the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, carries a bottle of...

M F JamesonSpirit from the South SeasM. F. Jameson looks into the past, present and future of Tasmanian whisky production

Robin LaingAotearoa excellenceSinger and whisky lover Robin Laing was fascinated to discover that New Zealand has a...

Marcin MillerThe Miller's Tale

Peter MulryanNew-age whiskeyPeter Mulryan talks to Dave Phelan and Pat Rigney, the men who broke the mould...

Martine NouetSweet fruits of labourMartine Nouet finds good use for the harvests of summer, combined with whisky

Dominic RoskrowWhere there's a still there's a SpeyThe Speyside Festival was both a blur of activity and a civilised and leisurely jaunt...

Lynn SeldonGentleman's relishLynn Seldon charts the history and success of a bourbon made beyond Kentucky:\rVirginia Gentleman

Ian WisniewskiThe burning issueIan Wisniewski asks that all-important question: does the way a still is heated affect the...

Cadenhead's
23 Years Old

ABV 60.8%

Comments: I think I have discovered a breakfast whisky. They can call it Dallas Dhu. I'll dub it \"Death in the Morning. \"

Overall score

8.3

Celtique Connexion
Speyside 1989, Armagnac Wood Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: Still sweet, but much more rounded. Real depth of flavour, tastes more like Armagnac than whisky. I would like to try it with pecan pie.

Overall score

8.0

Celtique Connexion
Speyside 1989, Sauternes Wood Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: The wood has a fair say in things, the Sauternes playing a subtle role in it all.

Overall score

7.7

Celtique Connexion
Speyside 1990, Vin de Paille du Jura Wood Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: A new flavour and a valid one. Well handled. Just a little grippy for me.

Overall score

8.1

Chieftain's
1979, Aged 23 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: I thought this whisky had died in the bottle, but water brought it back to life.

Overall score

7.3

Chieftain's
1984, Aged 18 Years, Rum Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: Pretty woody but has a certain rough-hewn charm.

Overall score

7.7

Connoisseur's Choice
1979

ABV 40%

Comments: A nostalgic reminder of the Lomond still, though I had forgotten it could produce such sweet whisky.

Overall score

7.7

Douglas Laing
24 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Much more herbal than other bottlings of Dallas Dhu.

Overall score

7.9

Dun Bheagan
Aged 13 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: Lacks the energy and the lusciousness you expect from Scapa.

Overall score

6.9

Gordon & MacPhail Rare Old
1982

ABV 40%

Comments: Brings to mind those fragile Swiss white wines. All very delicate and ever so slightly faded.

Overall score

7.2

Lombard Jewels of Scotland
1990

ABV 50%

Comments: Poor.

Overall score

6.3

Murray McDavid Mission
1979

ABV 46%

Comments: This take a LONG time to open, but is worth it when it does.

Overall score

7.9

Signatory
Un-Chillfiltered Collection 1981, Aged 21 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Not sufficient drive being given by the cask.

Overall score

7.7

Signatory
1989

ABV 55.7%

Comments: Lacks the complexity you expect from Cragganmore.

Overall score

7.7

Signatory
Un-Chillfiltered Collection 1988, Aged 15 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: A huge, rich and strangely elegant Laphroaig. Miles better than the official 15 Years Old.

Overall score

8.8

Signatory
Un-Chillfiltered Collection 1989, Aged 13 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: The most complex and structured of the Mortlachs in this tasting.

Overall score

8.7

Signatory Silent Stills
34 Years Old

ABV 50.1%

Comments: Just too woody for me.

Overall score

7.5

Signatory Silent Stills
25 Years Old

ABV 59.2%

Comments: A little less eccentric, and more rounded than other bottlings I have tried recently.

Overall score

7.3

Signatory Silent Stills
29 Years Old

ABV 52.5%

Comments: This whisky used to remind me of strawberry shortcake. This bottling turns me toward tiramisu.

Overall score

7.5

Stronachie
12 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: I have a vague family connection with the original Stronachie Distillery. Good to see the name back. A good aperitif.

Overall score

7.7

The Wee Dram
12 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: The first bottling from The Wee Dram. A promising debut.

Overall score

8.3

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Whisky Magazine 32

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