Whisky Magazine 44

Whisky from Wales Cornwall and Brittany Balblair Distillery Blended whisky tasting Chicago bars Amber restaurant

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By Dominic Roskrow

Musings with Michael Jackson Prince of the road Michael Jackson crosses paths with HRH Charles

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom Cape of great hope A writer in every port or a port in every writer? Davie Broom visits Cape Town

By Dave Broom

Distillery Focus A distillery well off the beaten track (Tomatin) Our mystery visitor made the long trek to Tomatin and found a distillery not geared up for the tourist or...

By Mystery Visitor

People That was the year that was This month's round table looks back at the past year and looks forward to the year ahead

News Celtic Cousins - Reviving part of Welsh culture The Welsh Whisky Company is in business and impressing whisky experts with its product. Charles MacLean visited it

By Charles MacLean

News Celtic Cousins - A bit of Cornish spirit The Celtic fringe of Britain has a long tradition for some of the world's finest whiskies. Ireland and Scotland have...

By Jamie Smith

News Celtic Cousins - Made in Bretagne Martine Nouet looks at the whisky industry in Northern France – and plots its Celtic roots

By Martine Nouet

Awards & Events Bardstown remembers Booker This year's Kentucky Bourbon Festival was the first since the legendary Booker Noe passed away. But as Dominic Roskrowreports, he...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Distiller making a spirit of the air (Balblair) Ian Buxton visits Balblair

By Ian Buxton

Travel A cure for hiccups Robin Laing takes a gentle stroll with his friend through Speyside

By Robin Laing

Whisky & Culture Smoking out the spirit of Islay Andrew Jefford's Peat Smoke and Spirit is the best whisky book published this year. In this extract, he writes about...

By Andrew Jefford

News Making all the right moves As ways of making drinking a cerebral pastime, whisky chess takes some beating. Alex Kraaijeveld explains how it works

By Alex Kraaijeveld

Food Amber gets the green light Amber is the new restaurant at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, and unsurprisingly whisky features high on its agenda. Martine...

By Martine Nouet

Whisky & Culture A stranger back to the future Time's Arrow is a lifetime journey in reverse. And of course,anything so perverse is food and drink to Jefferson Chase

By Jefferson Chase

News Whiskey works in the windy city Chicago has its fair share of whiskey bars. Scott Longmantakes a tour

By Scott Longman

People Feet firmly on the ground (Mary O'Shea - Heathrow) In the latest in his series, Richard Jones talks to Mary O'Shea, who is a whisky consultant at Heathrow Airport

By Richard Jones

Production Are regional labels a dodgy area? How important is regionalism to the character of whisky, and can broad generalisations be made? Ian Wisniewski considers

By Ian Wisniewski

Column Thirst for knowledge Guest writer Andrew Jefford smokes out the truth on the issue of peat in whisky

By Andrew Jefford

Dave BroomCape of great hopeA writer in every port or a port in every writer? Davie Broom visits...

Ian BuxtonDistiller making a spirit of the air (Balblair)Ian Buxton visits Balblair

Jefferson ChaseA stranger back to the futureTime's Arrow is a lifetime journey in reverse. And of course,anything so perverse is food...

Michael JacksonPrince of the roadMichael Jackson crosses paths with HRH Charles

Andrew JeffordThirst for knowledgeGuest writer Andrew Jefford smokes out the truth on the issue of peat in whisky

Richard JonesFeet firmly on the ground (Mary O'Shea - Heathrow)In the latest in his series, Richard Jones talks to Mary O'Shea, who is a...

Alex KraaijeveldMaking all the right movesAs ways of making drinking a cerebral pastime, whisky chess takes some beating. Alex Kraaijeveld...

Robin LaingA cure for hiccupsRobin Laing takes a gentle stroll with his friend through Speyside

Scott LongmanWhiskey works in the windy cityChicago has its fair share of whiskey bars. Scott Longmantakes a tour

Charles MacLeanCeltic Cousins - Reviving part of Welsh cultureThe Welsh Whisky Company is in business and impressing whisky experts with its product. Charles...

Martine NouetAmber gets the green lightAmber is the new restaurant at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, and unsurprisingly whisky features...

Dominic RoskrowBardstown remembers BookerThis year's Kentucky Bourbon Festival was the first since the legendary Booker Noe passed away....

Jamie SmithCeltic Cousins - A bit of Cornish spiritThe Celtic fringe of Britain has a long tradition for some of the world's finest...

Mystery VisitorA distillery well off the beaten track (Tomatin)Our mystery visitor made the long trek to Tomatin and found a distillery not geared...

Ian WisniewskiAre regional labels a dodgy area?How important is regionalism to the character of whisky, and can broad generalisations be made?...

Bailie Nicol Jarvie
8 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A pleasant drink with an interesting freshness. Leaves a burning sensation with a spirity feel back in the throat though. No reason to get excited.

Overall score

7.7

Benromach
1969

ABV 40%

Comments: An old-fashioned whisky for an old-fashioned winter's evening. Wins points for being cuddly rather than complex.

Overall score

7.5

Black Bottle
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: An uncompromising Islay blend. Washes along sea fragrances. But reveals a sweet nature on the palate. Grain and malt are well married. A good cure for Islay-sickness.

Overall score

8.3

Chivas Regal
18 Years Old Gold Signature

ABV 40%

Comments: More lifted than others of this age. Just has the edge in terms of complexity and balance.

Overall score

9.0

Compass Box

ABV 40%

Comments: A refreshing dram. Straightforward, clean. No complexity but it does not boast sophistication. Simplicity and natural are also great qualities.

Overall score

8.1

Compass Box

ABV 46%

Comments: A monster? As compared to earlier creations from the same house, but don't expect mass hysteria on Park Avenue.

Overall score

8.3

Cutty Sark
Imperial Kingdom

ABV 40%

Comments: A big, sweet-hearted giant.

Overall score

8.4

Dewar's
Signature

ABV 43%

Comments: Broader than most. Great blending of old, mature whiskies.

Overall score

7.8

Douglas Laing
Aged 20 Years

ABV 50%

Comments: Confusing. Lightness of nose is contradicted by strident palate. It promises a lot but doesn't deliver.

Overall score

8.2

Duncan Taylor
1988, Aged 16 Years

ABV 56.1%

Comments: Great balance and brilliantly structured. More please.

Overall score

8.3

Duncan Taylor
1965, Aged 38 Years

ABV 50.1%

Comments: I wasn't surprised to learn this was a single grain whisky.

Overall score

7.3

Glen Moray
1986 Commemorative Bottling

ABV 64.4%

Comments: Reminiscent of a slightly flabby Australian chardonnay.

Overall score

7.6

Gordon & MacPhail

ABV 40%

Comments: A delicious rounded session blend.

Overall score

7.5

Ian Macleod
8 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Nose and palate seem to be flattened by excess of sickly sweetness.

Overall score

6.9

James MacArthur's Old Masters
1992, 12 Years Old

ABV 56.1%

Comments: Quite assertive for Bladnoch. Not keen on the papery character. Quality of wood?

Overall score

7.9

Langs Select
Aged 12 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: A light, refreshing and aromatic blend. To be enjoyed with light food such as seafood salad or trifle. No water please.

Overall score

7.4

Matisse
Aged 12 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: Quite a complex blend but it takes time to deliver. Well-balanced. Again it would have displayed more at a higher strength.

Overall score

7.7

Old Malt Cask
Aged 17 Years, Rum Finish

ABV 50%

Comments: Good complexity, weight and mouthfeel but lacking balance.

Overall score

7.8

Pendleton
Aged 10 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: Good nose but doesn't really deliver.

Overall score

7.4

Royal Salute
Aged 21 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: A classic example of the understated, elegant approach of the old Chivas blends.

Overall score

8.6

The Arran Malt
Rum Cask

ABV 58.5%

Comments: Extremely accomplished whisky. Isle of Arran continues to impress.

Overall score

7.9

The Famous Grouse
Finest

ABV 40%

Comments: A beautifully mingled aromatic palette. But this whisky would have delivered more character if bottled at a higher strength.

Overall score

7.4

Whyte & Mackay
15 Years Old, Select Reserve

ABV 40%

Comments: Oak is better expressed on the palate than on the nose. Will please sweet tooth. Very drinkable but lacks the distinction of the older expressions.

Overall score

7.7