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Whisky Magazine 38

Icons of Whisky Jerez New York's Dale DeGroff Old Whiskies special tasting

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Editor's Word The Miller's Tale Spring: the season of fecundity, rebirth and renewal. And, of course, Whisky Live in London. The merry-go-round begins again. Today...

By Marcin Miller

Musings with Michael Jackson DrinkswiththeDevil MichaelJacksonjourneystotheheartofdarkness

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom Millipede raises question of age Dave Broomon why all that' s old isn't necessarily good

By Dave Broom

Awards & Events The voice of the people The Icons of Whisky mark a step up for Whisky Magazine. Formerly known as the Whisky Academy and decided by...

By Dominic Roskrow

Whisky & Culture Hollywood's golden age: Whisky in the movies Jefferson Chase looks at the special relationship between whisky and Hollywood

By Jefferson Chase

People All fired up about whisky Dale DeGroff's new book is the bridge between the tradi tional world of whisky and the trendy High Street cocktail...

By Dominic Roskrow

People Young at heart? In a new series we ask a panel of experts to debate a controversial subject

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Smooth operators The Midleton distillery in Cork is the engine room of Irish Distillers and it's like no other distillery on earth....

By Dominic Roskrow

Awards & Events Whisky Magazine Live Welcome...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Edinburgh's old haunt is in fine spirit (Glenkinchie) Ian Buxton braves the ghosts and investigates the roots of lowland malt Glenkinchie

By Ian Buxton

Whisky & Culture Fun and fatality are the mark of Sorrow Jefferson Chase takes Drew Barrymore's advice (really!) and buys a cheap copy of Tim Sandlin's Sorrow Floats

By Jefferson Chase

News Arelationshipthat'sonfire ScottishwhiskyandSpanishsherryhavelonghadaspecialrelationship.Butasthepursuitofbetterqualityintensifies,thelinkisbecomingstronger.DominicRoskrowreports

By Dominic Roskrow

Production Give me strength Ian Wisniewski looks at the effects of different filling and bottling strengths

By Ian Wisniewski

Bars Hiding out from the High Street hell Salt is the first of a new trend – High Street whisky bars. In the first of a new review...

By Dominic Roskrow

News Hold the front page... In tabloid speak we need to strike while the iron's hot and make hay while the sun shines. Dominic Roskrow...

By Dominic Roskrow

Michael JacksonDrinkswiththeDevilMichaelJacksonjourneystotheheartofdarkness

Marcin MillerThe Miller's TaleSpring: the season of fecundity, rebirth and renewal. And, of course, Whisky Live in London....

Jefferson ChaseFun and fatality are the mark of SorrowJefferson Chase takes Drew Barrymore's advice (really!) and buys a cheap copy of Tim Sandlin's...

Ian BuxtonEdinburgh's old haunt is in fine spirit (Glenkinchie)Ian Buxton braves the ghosts and investigates the roots of lowland malt Glenkinchie

Ian WisniewskiGive me strengthIan Wisniewski looks at the effects of different filling and bottling strengths

Dominic RoskrowAll fired up about whiskyDale DeGroff's new book is the bridge between the tradi tional world of whisky and...

Dave BroomMillipede raises question of ageDave Broomon why all that' s old isn't necessarily good

Ardbeg
Lord of the Isles, 25 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: All of Ardbeg's uncompromising directness with extra complexity.

Overall score

8.5

Brora
Aged 30 Years, Limited Edition

ABV 55.7%

Comments: Exuberant interplay of sweet and dry flavours, pivoted on a firm malt background.

Overall score

8.9

Cadenhead's
26 Years Old

ABV 51.1%

Comments: This has dried out to a point where it is aggressive and unbalanced.

Overall score

7.2

Chieftain's
Aged 35 Years, Single Cask Sherry Butt

ABV 54.2%

Comments: Big and rich, but where's the whisky?

Overall score

7.9

Connoisseur's Choice
1975

ABV 40%

Comments: Again, rather dried out. Lacks roundness and structure.

Overall score

7.4

Connoisseur's Choice
1975

ABV 40%

Comments: A rich beast of a dram from another often overlooked still.

Overall score

7.8

Cragganmore
29 Years Old

ABV 52.5%

Comments: At this age, more complex and elegant than ever. No obvious sherry.

Overall score

8.7

Craigellachie Hotel of Speyside
2003 Single Cask Bottling, 1982, 21 Years Old

ABV 57.7%

Comments: Decent balance, but very nervy.

Overall score

7.8

Dalwhinnie
29 Years Old

ABV 57.8%

Comments: Seems reluctant to open.

Overall score

7.7

Dewar's
Signature

ABV 43%

Comments: A very sound, approachable and pretty classy blend.

Overall score

7.8

Douglas Laing
16 Years Old (Bottled for the Limburg Whisky Fair)

ABV 56.1%

Comments: At first, I did not recognise this as a Laphroaig. Then I thought that age must have muted its attack, but 16 is scarcely venerable. Can a whisky be an old fogey?

Overall score

8.8