Whisky Magazine 54

Icons of Whisky 2006 Islay & Jura guide Grain whisky Bourbon's future Cask strength Higlanders Deanston

Editor's Word A China crisis? Dominic Roskrow considers what the long term effects of an increased demand for whisky might be

By Dominic Roskrow

Musings with Michael Jackson Royal Return On the Queen's yacht,Michael Jackson is back in Leith and heading for Islay

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom A world all of its own Whisky Live Tokyo has just taken place.Dave Broom tries to make sense of it all

By Dave Broom

People All up for grabs? Are premium bourbons better positioned to snap up new drinkers, or can Scotch and American whiskey both flourish side by side?

Awards & Events The best year yet This year's Icons of Whisky were the toughest yet. Drawing up the shortlists was a nightmare.And the voting in nearly...

By Dominic Roskrow

Places Norman's Wisdom It may be ‘compact, cosy and bijou' , but The Lincoln Whisky Shop is now packed to bursting with unusual...

By Richard Jones

Ask the Expert Ask the expert In a new series John Roseanswers some of your most commonly asked questions

By John Rose

Distillery Focus A forgotten gem (Deanston) Deanston is the least-known of Perthshire's six remaining distilleries. Ian Buxton visited it

By Ian Buxton

Whisky & Culture A troubled troubadour Ryan Adams has produced a huge volume of great music. Lew Guthrie III casts his eye over it, particularly last...

By Lew Guthrie

Distillery Focus You what? Our Mystery Visitor thinks he has been unmasked so he's taking a break. Here he recalls some of the stranger...

Travel Whisky paradise In the latest in our series on visiting distilleries Caroline Dewar looks at Islay and Jura

By Caroline Dewar

Food A not so auld Did our Mystery Visitor really call Speyside a catering desert? Martine Nouet reports on a restaurant

By Martine Nouet

Whisky & Culture Dante's inferno... Jefferson Chase on an extreme independent novel that rode in through the back door

By Jefferson Chase

History A reluctant whisky hero? (Bill Smith Grant) Bill Smith Grant wasn't meant to inherit The Glenlivet. But as Iain Russell reports, his bold business decisions once he...

By Iain Russell

Production Don't go against the grain Despite views to the contrary,grain whisky can be pretty sensational - and great value for money.

By Robin Laing

Bars Elements of success Glengorm Castle is becoming a remote whisky paradise. Rob Allanson visited it

By Rob Allanson

Travel Retail Dubai's whisky paradise Joe Bates with the latest from travel retail

By Joe Bates

Production Are we running out Probably not, says Charles Cowdery, but supplies are as tight as they have been in many years

By Charles K Cowdery

Cocktails Rob Roy Ian Wisniewski on the nearest thing Scotland has to a national cocktail

By Ian Wisniewski

Bars Australia's best kept secret? (Fidel's) Fidel's in Melbourne is giving Australia's finest city a taste of true luxury – but don't tell anybody. Naren Young reports

By Naren Young

Production All in the mix Ian Wisniewski explains how oxidation affects maturation

By Ian Wisniewski

Rob AllansonElements of successGlengorm Castle is becoming a remote whisky paradise. Rob Allanson visited it

Joe BatesDubai's whisky paradiseJoe Bates with the latest from travel retail

Dave BroomA world all of its ownWhisky Live Tokyo has just taken place.Dave Broom tries to make sense of it all

Ian BuxtonA forgotten gem (Deanston)Deanston is the least-known of Perthshire's six remaining distilleries. Ian Buxton visited it

Jefferson ChaseDante's inferno...Jefferson Chase on an extreme independent novel that rode in through the back door

Charles K CowderyAre we running outProbably not, says Charles Cowdery, but supplies are as tight as they have been in...

Caroline DewarWhisky paradiseIn the latest in our series on visiting distilleries Caroline Dewar looks at Islay and Jura

Lew GuthrieA troubled troubadourRyan Adams has produced a huge volume of great music. Lew Guthrie III casts his...

Michael JacksonRoyal ReturnOn the Queen's yacht,Michael Jackson is back in Leith and heading for Islay

Richard JonesNorman's WisdomIt may be ‘compact, cosy and bijou' , but The Lincoln Whisky Shop is now...

Robin LaingDon't go against the grainDespite views to the contrary,grain whisky can be pretty sensational - and great value for money.

Martine NouetA not so auldDid our Mystery Visitor really call Speyside a catering desert? Martine Nouet reports on a restaurant

John RoseAsk the expertIn a new series John Roseanswers some of your most commonly asked questions

Dominic RoskrowThe best year yetThis year's Icons of Whisky were the toughest yet. Drawing up the shortlists was a...

Iain RussellA reluctant whisky hero? (Bill Smith Grant)Bill Smith Grant wasn't meant to inherit The Glenlivet. But as Iain Russell reports, his...

Ian WisniewskiAll in the mixIan Wisniewski explains how oxidation affects maturation

Naren YoungAustralia's best kept secret? (Fidel's)Fidel's in Melbourne is giving Australia's finest city a taste of true luxury – but...

Adelphi
1995, 10 Years Old, Cask 12783

ABV 59.3%

Comments: This delivers on palate rather than nose. Oak is just a little hard though.

Overall score

8.0

Adelphi
1964, 11 Years Old

ABV 47.1%

Comments: Best on its own or one cube of ice.

Overall score

7.9

Balblair
Aged 38 Years, Limited Edition

ABV 44%

Comments: An enticing expression of old age. Forever young! With elegance and style.

Overall score

9.0

Bunnahabhain
18 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A very rich nose is slightly let down in the palate. On the whole, it's respectable enough.

Overall score

7.3

Bunnahabhain
25 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A bold spirit, tempered by well-timed maturation. A little flat to be truly great.

Overall score

7.8

Craigellachie Hotel of Speyside
1976 (bottled for Craigellachie Hotel)

ABV 57.6%

Comments: Rich and viscous and packed with flavour. Develops some elegance with water.

Overall score

7.9

Dewar Rattray
1964

ABV 51.3%

Comments: While it might not have the complexity of the best malts here it's a cracking example of a mature grain.

Overall score

8.2

Dewar Rattray
1993, 12 Years Old

ABV 55.1%

Comments: Complex, subtle and interesting, but not a dram to stay at home for. Go out, have fun!

Overall score

7.6

Dewar Rattray
1984, 20 Years Old

ABV 54%

Comments: More appealing in the mouth than the nose would suggest, and benefits from water.

Overall score

7.5

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
1990, 19 Years Old

ABV 61.8%

Comments: Not quite enough interaction between wood and spirit.

Overall score

7.4

Douglas Laing
1979, Aged 26 Years (bottled for The Whisky Fair)

ABV 57.2%

Comments: Should have been taken out of the cask a few years back. Easy to say now of course.

Overall score

8.3

Edradour
Aged 11 Years, Straight from the Cask Burgundy Finish

ABV 57%

Comments: Not to my taste. Only useful as a weapon in hand-to-hand combat.

Overall score

6.7

Glengoyne
Aged 37 Years, Single Cask Sherry Butt

ABV 47.6%

Comments: Luxuriant without decadence. Aristocratic.

Overall score

8.7

Glengoyne
12 Years Old, Cask Strength

ABV 57.2%

Comments: Greater depth and apparent maturity than you'd expect from a 12 Years Old.

Overall score

7.7

Glenmorangie
'Truffle' Oak Reserve

ABV 60.5%

Comments: A superb fruity expression, with a summery aromatic profile. Water makes it even more sensuous. Definitely morish.

Overall score

8.8

Gordon & MacPhail
1990, Cask Strength

ABV 55.8%

Comments: Jim Beam, will you PLEASE do what Allied failed to and release Ardmore as a single malt? It's criminal this distillery isn't better known.

Overall score

7.9