Whisky Magazine 39

Cask strength Islay tasting Longmorn Classic malts cruise Delilah's

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Editor's Word The Miller's Tale

By Marcin Miller

Musings with Michael Jackson Still in league with the devil Michael Jackson continues the saga of a tasting at Philip Pullman's house

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom All smiles as peace breaks out? Dave Broom wryly observes the surreal lovefest that Whisky Live has become

By Dave Broom

Awards & Events Whisky and history make a perfect blend Gavin D Smith provides an update on the Andrew Usher commemorations

By Gavin D. Smith

Awards & Events Live over London - the biggest show in town Whisky Live London has grown into a major event attracting hundreds of whisky lovers from across Europe

By Dominic Roskrow

Whisky & Culture Searching for perfection perfection The Whisky & Cigar Challenge matches a premium whisky with a premium Cuban cigar to produce the perfect match

By Dominic Roskrow

People Vat is the fuss about? Are vatted malts set to be the success story of 2004? We asked a group of experts

By Dominic Roskrow

News The best Scotch malts in the world Compiling a top 90 best Scottish malts list is as ambitious a project as this magazine has ever undertook. Dominic...

By Dominic Roskrow

Places An offering you can't refuse Luvian's Bottle Shop has built a reputation for fine drinks products. Gavin Smith looks at its whisky offering

By Gavin D. Smith

People Reach for the Skye Caroline Whitfield decided to give up life in the fast lane in London and decided to set up a distillery...

By Tom Bruce-Gardyne

Distillery Focus The backbone of great whisky? (Longmorn) Longmorn is a blenders' favourite. But as a single malt it's both wonderful and frustratingly hard to get. Ian Buxton...

By Ian Buxton

Whisky & Culture The king of tartan noir Ian Rankin's celebrated detective John Rebus is a hard talking whisky man. Jefferson Chase introduces him to a new audience

By Jefferson Chase

Awards & Events A week in paradise The Islay Festival is the highlight of the Scotch whisky year. Martine Nouet looks ahead to this year's activities

By Martine Nouet

News United nations As promised in Issue 36, we asked some experts to cross the usual genre boundaries to see if any combinations...

By Gavin D. Smith

Awards & Events Not altogether plain sailing The Classic Malts Cruise is an annual event held by Diageo, formerly Guinness-UDV. For one person on it, it was...

By Gillian Bell

Bars TemptingSamsoninChicago Why,why,whyDelilah's?Because,saysCharlesCowdrey,it'sacrackingbourbonbar

By Charles K Cowdery

Ask the Expert Collector's corner John Rose provides another selection of collectible bottles

By John Rose

Food Let's go to the salad bar Martine Nouet lightens up for summer

By Martine Nouet

Production Working on the malt line What are the advantages of commercial maltsters, and why do some distilleries still have their own floor maltings? Ian Wisniewski reports

By Ian Wisniewski

Column Any way you want it Dominic Roskrow argues that we should act now to beat the censorship lobby

By Dominic Roskrow

Gillian BellNot altogether plain sailingThe Classic Malts Cruise is an annual event held by Diageo, formerly Guinness-UDV. For one...

Dave BroomAll smiles as peace breaks out?Dave Broom wryly observes the surreal lovefest that Whisky Live has become

Tom Bruce-GardyneReach for the SkyeCaroline Whitfield decided to give up life in the fast lane in London and decided...

Ian BuxtonThe backbone of great whisky? (Longmorn)Longmorn is a blenders' favourite. But as a single malt it's both wonderful and frustratingly...

Jefferson ChaseThe king of tartan noirIan Rankin's celebrated detective John Rebus is a hard talking whisky man. Jefferson Chase introduces...

Charles K CowderyTemptingSamsoninChicagoWhy,why,whyDelilah's?Because,saysCharlesCowdrey,it'sacrackingbourbonbar

Michael JacksonStill in league with the devilMichael Jackson continues the saga of a tasting at Philip Pullman's house

Marcin MillerThe Miller's Tale

Martine NouetLet's go to the salad barMartine Nouet lightens up for summer

John RoseCollector's cornerJohn Rose provides another selection of collectible bottles

Dominic RoskrowSearching for perfectionperfection The Whisky & Cigar Challenge matches a premium whisky with a premium Cuban cigar...

Gavin D. SmithAn offering you can't refuseLuvian's Bottle Shop has built a reputation for fine drinks products. Gavin Smith looks...

Ian WisniewskiWorking on the malt lineWhat are the advantages of commercial maltsters, and why do some distilleries still have their...

Ardbeg
1976, Single Cask Committee bottling

ABV 51%

Comments: A 'no bones about it' Islay whisky, and a fine example of Ardbeg.

Overall score

8.7

Bowmore
Cask Strength

ABV 56%

Comments: A good introductory malt.

Overall score

7.7

Bowmore
Dawn, Port Casked

ABV 56%

Comments: Complex and curious!

Overall score

7.5

Caol Ila
Cask Strength

ABV 55%

Comments: A young cracker. Don't pass this up.

Overall score

8.7

Duncan Taylor
1969, 33 Years Old

ABV 48.7%

Comments: Good balance - has stood up to its cask well, retaining a zest not overwhelmed by age.

Overall score

8.8

Duncan Taylor
1969, 36 Years Old

ABV 40.7%

Comments: Gone, just spent too long in the cask.

Overall score

7.2

Glen Moray
Mountain Oak Malt, Distillery Manager's Choice

ABV 60%

Comments: A robust rendition. One for mountaineers?

Overall score

8.1

Glenmorangie
Tain L'Hermitage, 1975

ABV 46%

Comments: A resounding success. Would make a great, if expensive, Rob Roy.

Overall score

8.8

Gordon & MacPhail
1990

ABV 58.2%

Comments: A very good introduction to Caol Ila.

Overall score

8.0

Gordon & MacPhail
1992, Cask Strength

ABV 62.1%

Comments: Far from the best Glen Scotia, but I have always entertained a sneaky respect for this distillery.

Overall score

7.2

Gordon & MacPhail
1990, Cask Strength

ABV 55.8%

Comments: Starts slowly, and seems uncertain as to where it is going.

Overall score

7.8

Lagavulin
12 Years Old

ABV 56.1%

Comments: Complex, sophisticated heavyweight. The one they all have to beat.

Overall score

9.0

Laphroaig
10 Years Old, Cask Strength

ABV 55.7%

Comments: A fine robust dram with lots happening. Laphroaig at its best.

Overall score

8.3

Old Malt Cask
1982, Aged 21 Years

ABV 50%

Comments: Big European oak influence. A little dry but good.

Overall score

8.3

Old Malt Cask
1987, Aged 16 Years

ABV 50%

Comments: Good balance between sweet/soft and dry/peat.

Overall score

8.2

Old Malt Cask
1991, Aged 12 Years

ABV 50%

Comments: Conclusion: Another perfectly fine Coal Ila, but nothing to blow the mind.

Overall score

8.4

Old Malt Cask
1991, Aged 12 Years

ABV 50%

Comments: A good aperitif. Strangely like a Rockley Still rum.

Overall score

7.5

Penderyn
Aur Cymru

ABV 46%

Comments: Dangos cyntaf eithriadol o dda gan y chwisgi (ifanc iawn) yma. Un i'w wylio, yn sicr. As they say in Wales.

Overall score

7.4

Port Ellen
3rd Release, Aged 24 Years

ABV 57.3%

Comments: Has all of Port Ellen's great length, oiliness (and reserve).

Overall score

8.6

Rare Malts Selection
1978, Aged 24 Years

ABV 54.9%

Comments: The second good Convalmore I have tasted. It was not highly rated in its lifetime, but could win friends now.

Overall score

8.3

Signatory
Vintage 1981, Aged 22 Years

ABV 59%

Comments: Significantly drier than the other Caol Ilas sampled.

Overall score

7.7

Signatory Straight from the Cask
Aged 11 Years, Port Finish

ABV 60%

Comments: Intriguing, but a little too much imposed sweetness for my taste.

Overall score

7.7

Signatory Straight from the Cask
Aged 24 Years, Burgundy finish

ABV 58.8%

Comments: Lots happening here. A complex and highly unusual expression of Port Ellen.

Overall score

8.8

The GlenDronach
Original 12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Avery enjoyable whisky, but somewhat lacking in liveliness.

Overall score

7.8

Vintage Malt Whisky Co.
Cask Strength

ABV 60.2%

Comments: A punchy, deep malt. Good balance.

Overall score

8.7

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Whisky Magazine 39

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