Whisky Magazine 58

Independent Bottlers Challenge Setting up your own distillery World of the whisky ambassador Royal Lochnagar...

Editor's Word Here's to a bright whisky future Dominic Roskrowis leaving the building. Here he says goodbye after four years as Editor

By Dominic Roskrow

Musings with Michael Jackson A question of choice Michael Jacksonponders the age old question of what's your favourite

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom There to be broken Dave finds a high flying attitude to malt whisky at altitude

By Dave Broom

People Looking to the future In this issue we look at how other spirits have far more flexibility to experiment and are therefore able to...

By Rob Allanson

Production Road runners Whisky ambassadors travel the world promoting whisky. The ideal job? Martine Nouet went to find out

By Martine Nouet

News Beware bargain barrels Just when you thought you'd heard the end of whisky investment scams, Ian Buxton says the true story will be...

By Ian Buxton

News Grand designs There are numerous financial risks involved in establishing a new malt whisky distillery. But how do you make sure...

By Richard Jones

Distillery Focus On her Majesty's service (Royal Lochnagar) Royal Lochnagar is an iconic distillery that ticks all the whisky lovers' boxes. Ian Buxton visited it

By Ian Buxton

People Captain Fantastic On his last day as Editor of Whisky Magazine,we sat Dominic Roskrow with a special whisky and let him speak...

By Dominic Roskrow

Travel A slice of heaven Ireland doesn't have a lot of distilleries but what it has are all worth a visit. Iorwerth Griffiths reports

By Iorweth Griffiths

Food A right pair Is whisky really suited to food? Ontario-based writer Andrew Coppolino finds out

By Andrew Coppolino

Whisky & Culture Too much monkey business Jefferson Chase on how drink can bring the animal out

By Jefferson Chase

Distillery Focus Gorilla in the Mist Canada's blends are respected across the world,William M.Dowd found out why they're so good.

By William M Dowd

Cocktails Ahead by a neck Ian Wisniewski saddles up for a challenging cocktail

By Ian Wisniewski

History Ghosts in the works Ghosts are a common feature in whisky distilleries. Robin Laing goes in search of some of the most famous onces

By Robin Laing

Ask the Expert Ask the expert John Rose answers another selection of our readers' letters

By John Rose

Distillery Focus Arran adventure Dave Broom is writing a book on distillery-related walks. Here he confronts Goat Fell

By Dave Broom

Travel Retail Vodka takes a back seat Joe Bates looks at Kiev airport and brings the latest news from travel retail

By Joe Bates

Production Foreshots and Feints The quality of a new make spirit is crucial to making good whisky. Ian Wisniewski delves deeper into the process

By Ian Wisniewski

Rob AllansonLooking to the futureIn this issue we look at how other spirits have far more flexibility to experiment...

Joe BatesVodka takes a back seatJoe Bates looks at Kiev airport and brings the latest news from travel retail

Dave BroomArran adventureDave Broom is writing a book on distillery-related walks. Here he confronts Goat Fell

Ian BuxtonOn her Majesty's service (Royal Lochnagar)Royal Lochnagar is an iconic distillery that ticks all the whisky lovers' boxes. Ian Buxton...

Jefferson ChaseToo much monkey businessJefferson Chase on how drink can bring the animal out

Andrew CoppolinoA right pairIs whisky really suited to food? Ontario-based writer Andrew Coppolino finds out

William M DowdGorilla in the MistCanada's blends are respected across the world,William M.Dowd found out why they're so good.

Iorweth GriffithsA slice of heavenIreland doesn't have a lot of distilleries but what it has are all worth a...

Michael JacksonA question of choiceMichael Jacksonponders the age old question of what's your favourite

Richard JonesGrand designsThere are numerous financial risks involved in establishing a new malt whisky distillery. But...

Robin LaingGhosts in the worksGhosts are a common feature in whisky distilleries. Robin Laing goes in search of some...

Martine NouetRoad runnersWhisky ambassadors travel the world promoting whisky. The ideal job? Martine Nouet went to find out

John RoseAsk the expertJohn Rose answers another selection of our readers' letters

Dominic RoskrowCaptain FantasticOn his last day as Editor of Whisky Magazine,we sat Dominic Roskrow with a special...

Ian WisniewskiForeshots and FeintsThe quality of a new make spirit is crucial to making good whisky. Ian Wisniewski...

80 Strong
Kentucky Straight Bourbon

ABV 40%

Comments: All very light and clean and highly quaffable, but just lacks a little mid-palate depth.

Overall score

7.5

Auchentoshan
Aged 18 Years, Oloroso

ABV 55.8%

Comments: An underrated malt. Check it out.

Overall score

7.4

Benromach
Organic

ABV 43%

Comments: The 'organic' bit feels like first-ism to me, and not as important as the 'virgin oak' part. The first new oak malt that has worked for me.

Overall score

7.6

Berrys' Own Selection
1975

ABV 54%

Comments: This is a big mean mother whose youthful charms have been lashed into submission by oak.

Overall score

7.7

Berrys' Own Selection
1996

ABV 57%

Comments: Distinctive, and not the usual Caol Ila, and Talisker fans should find this one fun.

Overall score

7.8

Berrys' Own Selection
1989

ABV 46%

Comments: A clean session drink.

Overall score

8.2

Bowmore
1990, Aged 16 Years

ABV 53.8%

Comments: The keynotes are the intense floral and a meaty sherryness, which aren't my favourite flavours in a whisky, but I can see this being popular with many.

Overall score

7.6

Cadenhead's World Whiskies
Aged 12 Years

ABV 65.3%

Comments: Has bags of intensity, but lacks quality, balance and integration.

Overall score

6.7

Cadenhead's World Whiskies
10 Years Old

ABV 59.6%

Comments: A strange fellow. Unusual earthiness close to mustiness but an enticing teaser with refreshing rusticity.

Overall score

7.3

Dewar Rattray
24 Years Old, Single Cask

ABV 52.3%

Comments: Decent enough, and the palate is lovely, but somehow you expect more after 24 years in the cask.

Overall score

8.2

Distillery Select
2000, Organic Single Highland Grain

ABV 45%

Comments: Split into spirit on one side and wood on the other.

Overall score

7.2

Douglas Laing Old & Rare Platinum Selection
Aged 28 Years

ABV 48.2%

Comments: Have this without water. Hinting at complexity.

Overall score

8.1

Duncan Taylor Rare Auld
1978, 27 Years Old

ABV 52.8%

Comments: More in line with the first two. The most 'grainy' on show.

Overall score

7.2

Duncan Taylor Rare Auld
1979, 26 Years Old

ABV 59.5%

Comments: Has this grain whisky matured in a rum cask? Intensely rum-like. The cereal profile is somewhat masked on the palate.

Overall score

8.3

Duncan Taylor Rare Auld
1979, 26 Years Old

ABV 62.3%

Comments: A real character with well integrated elements. Oak speaks up but in a well-educated manner. Can certainly make a solid backbone in an old blend.

Overall score

8.0

Duncan Taylor Rare Auld
1965, 40 Years Old

ABV 50.3%

Comments: An interesting profile. Well matured. The butyric note on the nose does not echo on the palate.

Overall score

8.1

Duncan Taylor Rare Auld
1973, 32 Years Old

ABV 59.3%

Comments: Wood speaks loud especially on the palate. The sherry influence is there. A finish or a full maturation? Hard to say but that whisky has definitely had a flirt with sherry.

Overall score

7.3