Whisky Magazine 48

Happy Birthday Johnnie Walker Highland Park Whisky Cocktails Jack Daniel's barbecue challenge Bruichladdich Best whisky websites

Buy this issue

Editor's Word Getting a taste for it

By Dominic Roskrow

Musings with Michael Jackson The fire next time Michael Jackson on the campaign trail

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom A Brecht of stale air Dave Broomon the worrying trend towards ruthless discounting

By Dave Broom

Awards & Events The whisky of Oz

By Dominic Roskrow

Awards & Events Whisky Live made its New York City debut

By Dominic Roskrow

Awards & Events The walk of life A team from Whisky Magazine completed nearly 50 miles of the Speyside Way to raise money for Make Poverty History....

By Dominic Roskrow

People All in the mix Some whisky enthusiasts are naturally suspicious of whisky cocktails. But do they provide a platform from which to attract new...

By Dominic Roskrow

History Go Johnnie go (Johnnie Wallker) Johnnie Wallker is 200 years old. Ian Buxton looks at the history of a whisky icon

By Ian Buxton

Distillery Focus Proud to stand alone? (Bruichladdich) Bruichladdich reopened some four years ago and has been trail-blazing ever since. Ian Buxton visited it

By Ian Buxton

Distillery Focus Walk on the wild side (Highland Park) Producing whisky in the middle of the North Sea is one long struggle but the results make it worthwhile. Dominic...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Kid's stuff, or the stuff of dreams? (Aberfeldy) In our visitor centre round up we weren't altogether complimentary about Aberfeldy. Our Mystery Visitor takes issue with that view

By Mystery Visitor

News Hung, drawn... and quartered? Allied is rolling out its quarter cask range after the success of Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Dave Broom was given a...

By Dave Broom

Food Success comes from running a tight Chip The Ubiquitous Chip is celebrating 30 years at its current location and throughout whisky has been key to its success....

By Dominic Roskrow

Whisky & Culture Out at the frontier In Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx' view of cowboys is unconventional and controversial. Jefferson Chase reports

By Jefferson Chase

Cocktails Causing a stir The second annual Cocktail Challenge took place at Whisky Live in London. Dominic Roskrow reports

By Dominic Roskrow

Places Whisky on the move Joe Bates on what to look for when in transit

By Joe Bates

News Spirits in the air A few issues back we looked at the best whisky company websites. Here Richard Jones hunts down other whisky information sites

By Richard Jones

Places Gardener's world David Gardener of Nickolls and Perks in Stourbridge has big plans for whisky. Richard Jones reports

By Richard Jones

News Throw another drink on the barby Each year Jack Daniel's holds a World Championship Barbecue and all sorts of enthusiasts attend. Peter Krass went along

By Peter Krass

Cocktails The sazerac Hailed by its fans as the first cocktail, the sazerac courted controversy because of one ingredient -absinthe. Ian Wisniewski looks...

By Ian Wisniewski

Production Promise, you're a miracle Only a couple of distilleries use Golden Promise, but they swear by it. Ian Wisniewski explains why

By Ian Wisniewski

Joe BatesWhisky on the moveJoe Bates on what to look for when in transit

Dave BroomHung, drawn... and quartered?Allied is rolling out its quarter cask range after the success of Laphroaig Quarter Cask....

Ian BuxtonProud to stand alone? (Bruichladdich)Bruichladdich reopened some four years ago and has been trail-blazing ever since. Ian Buxton visited it

Jefferson ChaseOut at the frontierIn Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx' view of cowboys is unconventional and controversial. Jefferson Chase reports

Michael JacksonThe fire next timeMichael Jackson on the campaign trail

Richard JonesGardener's worldDavid Gardener of Nickolls and Perks in Stourbridge has big plans for whisky. Richard Jones reports

Peter KrassThrow another drink on the barbyEach year Jack Daniel's holds a World Championship Barbecue and all sorts of enthusiasts attend....

Dominic RoskrowThe whisky of Oz

Mystery VisitorKid's stuff, or the stuff of dreams? (Aberfeldy)In our visitor centre round up we weren't altogether complimentary about Aberfeldy. Our Mystery Visitor...

Ian WisniewskiPromise, you're a miracleOnly a couple of distilleries use Golden Promise, but they swear by it. Ian Wisniewski...

Balblair
Aged 16 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: An attractive character. Too much sweetness on the palate though.

Overall score

7.9

Balblair
Aged 38 Years, Limited Edition

ABV 44%

Comments: A pure beauty. Absolutely beaming on nose and palate. The best a sherry cask can offer.

Overall score

9.2

Berrys' Own Selection
1973

ABV 43%

Comments: Just seems a little unformed. Not holding all its parts together.

Overall score

7.3

Cadenhead's
Aged 15 Years

ABV 57.5%

Comments: Quite a light character for a Highland malt. Water helps but still a bit rough. Even on a frosty morning!

Overall score

7.3

Chieftain's
1981, Aged 23 Years, Sherry Finish

ABV 46%

Comments: This is decent, just slightly dull.

Overall score

7.5

Clynelish
14 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: A lovely dram. Well balanced. Water cuts the edges off. Peaceful.

Overall score

7.9

Dun Bheagan
1975, Aged 28 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Better on nose than palate where it's just tipping over into the woody stage. Good though.

Overall score

7.9

Duncan Taylor
35 Years Old

ABV 0%

Comments: A dessert whisky? Bring on the crème brulée.

Overall score

8.2

Glen Ord
Aged 12 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: A well-balanced dram. Nothing lacking, nothing too much. Just pleasant.

Overall score

7.7

Glenmorangie
Rare Aged 30 Years Old, Oloroso Cask Finish

ABV 44.3%

Comments: A classic complex mature whisky where the wood has not taken over.

Overall score

8.5

Glenmorangie
Artisan Cask

ABV 46%

Comments: A malt to make peace with the whole world. Soothing, graceful, satisfying.

Overall score

8.2

Glenmorangie
Burr Oak Reserve

ABV 56.3%

Comments: A malt disguised in rum! Very surprising but not less exciting for that.

Overall score

8.6

Glenmorangie
Speakeasy

ABV 58.4%

Comments: A frisky wee beastie.

Overall score

7.6

Gordon & MacPhail
1966

ABV 40%

Comments: Another which picks up well on the palate.

Overall score

7.8

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection
1951

ABV 42%

Comments: For all the interest on the nose this is not a great drinking experience.

Overall score

6.5

James MacArthur's Old Masters
1990, 14 Years Old

ABV 58.8%

Comments: No maturation.

Overall score

7.0

Matisse
Aged 12 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: Decent balance. A light session dram.

Overall score

7.7

Old Malt Cask
1992, Aged 12 Years, Rum Finish, Bottled for Park Avenue Liquor Shop

ABV 50%

Comments: Good balance between heavy phenols and sweet creamy oak. A long, generous, palate filler.

Overall score

8.4

Old Pulteney
Aged 17 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: A complex, paradoxical individual for complex individuals.

Overall score

8.7

Old Pulteney
Aged 12 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: Forget about the first nose and enjoy that luscious exotic profile. But no water, thank you.

Overall score

8.1

Speciality Drinks
36 Years Old, Cask 10252

ABV 49.7%

Comments: The oak has enveloped what was there before.

Overall score

8.2

Teaninich
Aged 10 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: The opposite of its lush companions. A poet on a wobbly bicycle (Norman MacCaig?) I like its perversity. Regional style? Pah!

Overall score

7.8

The Cooper's Choice
1991, 13 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Well balanced if just a little oaky.

Overall score

8.1

The Dalmore
Aged 21 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: An assertive character, with a pleasant crisp feel on the palate. The dram to take on long forest walk. Invigorating.

Overall score

8.3

The Dalmore
Aged 12 Years, Black Pearl

ABV 40%

Comments: A rich sweet and fairly deep dram.

Overall score

7.7

The Dalmore
1973, Aged 30 Years, Gonzalez Bypass

ABV 42%

Comments: A beautiful and complex nose, palate starts right then the elegant spiciness.

Overall score

8.4

The Dalmore
Cigar Malt Reserve

ABV 43%

Comments: Oak calls the tune but does not drown out the choir. A classic afterdinner dram.

Overall score

7.8

The Glenlivet
12 Years Old, First Fill Sherry Cask

ABV 40%

Comments: Attractive, versatile.

Overall score

7.8

The Glenlivet
Nadurra, 16 Years Old

ABV 48%

Comments: Delicate to the point of reticence.

Overall score

7.6

See another issue

Please select

Please select
189
188
187
186
185
184
183
182
181
180
179
178
177
176
175
174
173
172
171
170
169
168
167
166
165
164
163
162
161
160
159
158
157
156
155
154
153
152
151
150
149
148
147
146
145
144
143
142
141
140
139
138
137
136
135
134
133
132
131
130
129
128
127
126
125
124
123
122
121
120
119
118
117
116
115
114
113
112
111
110
109
108
107
106
105
104
103
102
101
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

Whisky Magazine 48

See another issue

Newsletter