Whisky Magazine 57

American idols The Highlands The Sma' Still Speyside history Sir Iain Noble Cooley Silent Stills...

Editor's Word Daleks, dogs, drink Rampaging huntsmen,under-achieving daleks,lots of whisky.Whatever's going on, asks Dominic Roskrow

By Dominic Roskrow

Musings with Michael Jackson Come, fly with me In Old Manhattan,Michael Jackson,and cousin Tessa,too…have fun with books,and booze

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom In the midnight hours Dave enjoys a spot of midsummer madness in Orkney

By Dave Broom

People The state of Japan For this issue's round table we hand over to Dave Broom, who recently hosted a live debate in Japan with...

By Dave Broom

Production The name game The names of many American whiskey pioneers are still with us today on the labels they started. Charles K. Cowdery...

By Charles K Cowdery

Production American idols

People Pick and mix Hayseed Dixie mix heavy metal with bluegrass music to novel effect.And as his name implies,the band's frontman Barleycorn ...

By Rob Allanson

People A Noble view point (Sir Iain Noble) In the first of a new series in which we talk to leading business figures, Richard Woodard talks to Sir...

By Richard Woodard

Distillery Focus In the shadow of Mount Fuji (Gotemba) Gotemba Distillery enjoys special status in Japan. Dave Broom visited it

By Dave Broom

Whisky & Culture Man in search of the wrong-eyed Jesus Jim White goes to some pretty out there places,both in his mind and in the American Deep South. Lew Guthrie...

By Jim White

Travel A Highland affair Caroline Dewar takes a stroll through whisky's heartland

By Caroline Dewar

Food Island delights The Ardbeg candelight dinner is becoming an institution. Martine Nouet, who is at the event's core, reports on this year's event

By Martine Nouet

Whisky & Culture Driven round the bend The Last American Hero is an affectionate, whimsical and admiring snapshot of an independent American South. Jefferson Chase reports

By Jefferson Chase

Awards & Events Whisky writing's finest moment Whisky by Aeneas MacDonald is being republished. But who was the writer shielded behind the author's pseudonym? Ian Buxton solves...

By Ian Buxton

People Return of the Mac This issue Ian Wisniewski turns his attention to the simplest of cocktails,the Whisky Mac

By Ian Wisniewski

News Blue is the colour Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a thoroughbred whisky but does it live up to the hype? Ian Buxton got close...

By Ian Buxton

People Irish guys still smiling Ireland's only independent distillery has had a rollercoaster time since it was established at the end of the...

By Dominic Roskrow

Places Celtic tiger Dublin's Celtic Whiskey Shop is driving an interest in Irish whiskeys but Scotch is benefiting too. Iorweth Griffiths reports

By Iorweth Griffiths

Travel Retail The best of blends Joe Bates on the Regency Duty Free, Auckland, New Zealand

By Joe Bates

Travel Still crazy after all these years The small illegal stills of Speyside have been romanticised time and time again. But what was distilling really like way...

By Dave Broom

People Mark of distinction The Harris Whisky Company is the latest company to bring quality whisky to the English market. Dominic Roskrow reports

By Dominic Roskrow

Places Pilgrim's progress The Pilgrim Fathers who left the area for North America via Holland may or may have approved, but the...

By Richard Jones

Ask the Expert Is it a bear or a bull? John Rose with another selection of outstanding collectible bottles

By John Rose

Production It all comes out in the wash Every part of the distillation process is crucial to making good whisky. Ian Wisniewski explains

By Ian Wisniewski

Rob AllansonPick and mixHayseed Dixie mix heavy metal with bluegrass music to novel effect.And as his name implies,the...

Joe BatesThe best of blendsJoe Bates on the Regency Duty Free, Auckland, New Zealand

Dave BroomThe state of JapanFor this issue's round table we hand over to Dave Broom, who recently hosted a...

Ian BuxtonBlue is the colourJohnnie Walker Blue Label is a thoroughbred whisky but does it live up to the...

Jefferson ChaseDriven round the bendThe Last American Hero is an affectionate, whimsical and admiring snapshot of an independent American...

Charles K CowderyThe name gameThe names of many American whiskey pioneers are still with us today on the labels...

Caroline DewarA Highland affairCaroline Dewar takes a stroll through whisky's heartland

Iorweth GriffithsCeltic tigerDublin's Celtic Whiskey Shop is driving an interest in Irish whiskeys but Scotch is benefiting...

Michael JacksonCome, fly with meIn Old Manhattan,Michael Jackson,and cousin Tessa,too…have fun with books,and booze

Richard JonesPilgrim's progressThe Pilgrim Fathers who left the area for North America via Holland may or...

Martine NouetIsland delightsThe Ardbeg candelight dinner is becoming an institution. Martine Nouet, who is at the event's...

John RoseIs it a bear or a bull?John Rose with another selection of outstanding collectible bottles

Dominic RoskrowIrish guys still smilingIreland's only independent distillery has had a rollercoaster time since it was established...

Jim WhiteMan in search of the wrong-eyed JesusJim White goes to some pretty out there places,both in his mind and in the...

Ian WisniewskiIt all comes out in the washEvery part of the distillation process is crucial to making good whisky. Ian Wisniewski explains

Richard WoodardA Noble view point (Sir Iain Noble)In the first of a new series in which we talk to leading business figures,...

Brechin
28 Years Old

ABV 53.3%

Comments: A warm character, just a little too assertive when it comes to oak but so uplifting.

Overall score

7.8

Brora
30 Years Old

ABV 56.3%

Comments: Dour at first then opening up in a delightful way. Take your time to get acquainted with this fellow and you'll like it.

Overall score

7.8

Cadenhead's
Inverleven Stills, 18 Years Old

ABV 57.9%

Comments: A great delicacy but the strength needs to be put down by a good dash of water. But it is not enough to cut all the edges off.

Overall score

8.3

Cadenhead's
31 Years Old

ABV 52.3%

Comments: Not a great aromatic display. A cardboardy touch on the palate. Water soothes alcohol a little while underlining the unidimensional aniseed/minty profile.

Overall score

8.4

Clan Denny
1963, Great Single Grain

ABV 50.2%

Comments: A liquid pudding! Rich and old.

Overall score

8.4

Convalmore
28 Years Old, Cask Strength

ABV 57.9%

Comments: A lot going on in this whisky; can't help thinking about a Mint Julep, though.

Overall score

7.9

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
16 Years Old

ABV 51.3%

Comments: A pleasant summery kind of dram.

Overall score

7.5

Douglas Laing
25 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Somehow, fails to progress into anything really characterful.

Overall score

8.2

Douglas Laing
15 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Uninspiring nose more than compensated for by challenging and surprising palate. Appetising.

Overall score

7.9

Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare
1974, 31 Years Old, Cask 2930

ABV 40%

Comments: Light on the nose, spicy on the palate. A pleasant companion for sushi or raw fish carpaccio. But lacking substance.

Overall score

7.7

Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare
1975, 30 Years Old

ABV 48.1%

Comments: A difficult whisky to pin down. A tricky nose shouldn't distract from a pleasant enough palate.

Overall score

7.5

Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare
1978, 26 Years Old, Cask 1873

ABV 50.1%

Comments: An interesting character. Much sweeter on the palate than expected from the nose. Water brings out an unpleasant cardboardy touch.

Overall score

8.3

Gordon & MacPhail
1968, 43 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Oak is not as prevailing on the nose as on the palate. An exotic profile. Reminds me of Irish whiskey. Interesting richness. Avoid water.

Overall score

7.9

Gordon & MacPhail
1990, 40 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: The nose is appealing but the palate far tougher. Water eases the release of grassy notes. But the aromatic profile keeps shallow.

Overall score

7.4

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection
1973

ABV 45%

Comments: A sherry beast with rubbery horns. A drink to be chewed rather than sipped. It caught me in the right mood and I liked it.

Overall score

8.7

Harris Whisky
Aged 13 Years, Cask 7014

ABV 55.9%

Comments: Some attractive elements but a little clumsy and adolescent.

Overall score

7.7

James MacArthur's Old Masters
1995, 10 Years Old

ABV 58.9%

Comments: An aggressive young punk of a dram: Sid McVicious? It might have a gastronomic application as a marinade for oily fish or perhaps in a dressing.

Overall score

6.5

Michael Collins
A Blend

ABV 40%

Comments: Pleasing, bright, and easy-going. A good gift whiskey, but not one for the new breed of crusading Whiskey Adventurer.

Overall score

8.4

MWBH
15 Years Old

ABV 52.3%

Comments: I was put off by that sour/acidic vinegar note that seemed like a clear fault.

Overall score

7.4

Old Ballantruan
The Peated Malt, Glenlivet

ABV 50%

Comments: A number of surprising, and perhaps contradictory, characteristics that actually come together quite nicely in the end.

Overall score

8.0

Old Malt Cask
Aged 16 Years

ABV 50%

Comments: A pleasant and balanced malt with a definite island character, but given the choice available from this great distillery, it pales.

Overall score

8.3

Port Ellen
1979, 25 Years Old, 5th Release

ABV 57.4%

Comments: A very good balance between nose and palate. An island character with a pleasant earthy background.

Overall score

8.6

The Balvenie
Aged 17 Years, New Wood

ABV 40%

Comments: Attractive in the glass, with a pleasant nose, rich in dessert notes, but is let down by a slight astringency in the palate.

Overall score

7.2

The Cooper's Choice
1980, Sherry Cask

ABV 46%

Comments: I enjoyed it, but I am sensitive to that sulphur/meaty character of certain sherry casks. That finish is a hindrance to the drink, not a help.

Overall score

7.8