Whisky Magazine 35

Kentucky Special Port wood finishes Bowmore Own label whisky

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Column The Miller's Tale

By Marcin Miller

Musings with Michael Jackson Foiling Freckles Michael Jackson's summer season, boosted by Bell's

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom Searching for sea legs Dave Broomdiscovers life on the ocean waves.

By Dave Broom

Column The wonderful world of whisky Dominic Roskrow reports back from Kentucky and Spain.

By Dominic Roskrow

Travel Kentucky on our minds If you'll excuse the pun, Kentucky whiskey is on a roll at the moment. Dominic Roskrow went on a voyage...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Mixing it up with George Washington The distillery at Woodford Reserve is like nowhere else on earth

By Dominic Roskrow

Awards & Events The feast of Bourbon The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is starting to attract people from across the world. Dominic Roskrow went to find out why

By Dominic Roskrow

People Literary Spirit (Iain Banks) Top author Iain Banks couldn't believe his luck when he was asked to write a book on Scotland's distilleries. He...

By Dominic Roskrow

Awards & Events Nothing like a spot of pillaging As crazy ideas go, pillaging malts on Islay for charity is pretty crazy. Dave Broom tracked down some of the...

By Dave Broom

News Easy does it The Easy Drinking Whisky Company is taking the selling of whisky to a new level – by selling directly on...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus A dream of a distillery (Arran) Our Mystery Visitor travels to Arran

By Mystery Visitor

Food Some like it hot. Some not Martine Nouet gathers her thoughts and gives a back-to-basics guide to the cooking methods she uses

By Martine Nouet

Distillery Focus It's all Go-more (Bowmore) Islay's meant to be all about tranquillity. But when Ian Buxton visited Bowmore it was anything but

By Ian Buxton

Whisky & Culture Not so lucky Jim Jim Thompson died unknown and poor. But his 1952 novel The Killer Inside Me is now regarded as a masterpiece....

By Jefferson Chase

People Frank's wild years (Frank McHardy) Frank McHardy has given his life to whisky. He's now installed in the newest distillery in Scotland and he's a...

By Dave Broom

News Simply a matter of shelf belief 'Own label' whisky brands are thriving across the world. But how does the market work and how has it developed...

By Peter Mulryan

Production Mash course Ian Wisniewski takes us step by step through the mashing process

By Ian Wisniewski

Column At home with the haydocks It's not often you get to see inside the secret life of John Haydock. Whisky Magazine's Jocasta Eatwell writes.

By John Haydock

Dave BroomNothing like a spot of pillagingAs crazy ideas go, pillaging malts on Islay for charity is pretty crazy. Dave Broom...

Ian BuxtonIt's all Go-more (Bowmore)Islay's meant to be all about tranquillity. But when Ian Buxton visited Bowmore it was...

Jefferson ChaseNot so lucky JimJim Thompson died unknown and poor. But his 1952 novel The Killer Inside Me is...

John HaydockAt home with the haydocksIt's not often you get to see inside the secret life of John Haydock. Whisky...

Michael JacksonFoiling FrecklesMichael Jackson's summer season, boosted by Bell's

Marcin MillerThe Miller's Tale

Peter MulryanSimply a matter of shelf belief'Own label' whisky brands are thriving across the world. But how does the market work...

Martine NouetSome like it hot. Some notMartine Nouet gathers her thoughts and gives a back-to-basics guide to the cooking methods she uses

Dominic RoskrowKentucky on our mindsIf you'll excuse the pun, Kentucky whiskey is on a roll at the moment. Dominic...

Mystery VisitorA dream of a distillery (Arran)Our Mystery Visitor travels to Arran

Ian WisniewskiMash courseIan Wisniewski takes us step by step through the mashing process

Cadenhead's Authentic Collection
Aged 14 Years

ABV 57.6%

Comments: I love Clynelish to bits but this was almost too much even for me.

Overall score

7.9

Cadenhead's Authentic Collection
Convalmore-Glenlivet, Aged 26 Years

ABV 61.4%

Comments: A welcome opportunity to taste a rare whisky, though it was never a classic, and in this instance is over the hill (or the Conval Hills?).

Overall score

7.2

Cadenhead's Authentic Collection
Aged 13 Years

ABV 55.4%

Comments: Well balanced and gentle.

Overall score

7.6

Chieftain's
1992, Aged 10 Years, Port Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: The nose suggests this was in sherry before being in Port. Has Glenrothes character but a bit dry.

Overall score

7.7

Chieftain's
1990, Aged 12 Years, Port Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: A cocktail rather than a finish.

Overall score

7.3

Dun Bheagan
Aged 10 Years, Port Finish

ABV 55%

Comments: Mortlach is usually a supple, muscular malt. At ten years, this already seems a trifle tired.

Overall score

7.7

Glenmorangie
Burgundy Wood Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: Decent balance means the finish isn't dominating. Just a bit blowsy?

Overall score

8.3

Glenmorangie
Madeira Matured

ABV 56.6%

Comments: Exotic and strangely appealing. More intensity and better grip than the Burgundy finish.

Overall score

8.6

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection
1990, Port Wood Finish

ABV 40%

Comments: This works. The Port gives a new spin to the distillery character without swamping it.

Overall score

8.4

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection
1991, Port Wood Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: Decent, but only for those with a sweet tooth.

Overall score

7.4

The Cooper's Choice
8 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A straightforward young dram.

Overall score

7.4

The Cooper's Choice
1991, 12 Years Old, Portwood

ABV 46%

Comments: The Port has the upper hand here. Unbalanced.

Overall score

7.4

The Cooper's Choice
1988, 15 Years Old, Portwood

ABV 46%

Comments: The port is trying to give this some life, but ends up dominating.

Overall score

7.4

The Glenlivet
1983, Cellar Collection French Oak Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: Balances sweet and savoury. Next time though make it unchillfiltered!

Overall score

8.2

The Glenturret
1972, Limited Edition

ABV 47%

Comments: I tried two samples and five glasses. The soap was still there.

Overall score

7.1

The Glenturret
1980, Limited Edition

ABV 55.2%

Comments: More rounded, and longer, than the 1972.

Overall score

8.5

The Macallan
Replica 1876

ABV 40.6%

Comments: A bit young and one-dimensional. Quite disappointing.

Overall score

8.1

The MacPhail's Collection
30 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: An old bugger, but the character still shines through the sherry.

Overall score

8.5

The MacPhail's Collection
30 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Just enough oak for structure. A real surprise for a distillery which can often be pretty bland.

Overall score

7.8

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
119.1 – Prunes and mentholated teak oil, 1980, 22 Years Old, White Oak Cask

ABV 50.9%

Comments: A little bigger, but slightly duller than 119. 2.

Overall score

8.2

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
119.2 – A night at the opera, 1979, 24 Years Old, Japanese Oak Cask

ABV 57.4%

Comments: A breakfast malt? Splendidly complex, with Japanese oak adding that extra touch of distinctiveness.

Overall score

8.8

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Whisky Magazine 35

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