Whisky Magazine 6

Islay tasting Travels in Speyside & Kentucky Talisker Bourbon uncovered

Editor's Word

Musings with Michael Jackson Mordecai's Macallan Which whisky wins the bookish prize? Self's Laphroaig, Black's Glenfiddich 18 ...or Michael Jackson's Bellow Bourbon?

By Michael Jackson

Column A little taste of heaven Why Jim Murray is talking to the phoenix

By Jim Murray

People My dark mistress (Ralph Steadman) The artist and former wild man Ralph Steadman enjoyed a 30 year old love affair with whisky. It was brilliant...

By Jane Slade

Distillery Focus The big malt of Skye (Talisker) Powerful but elegant, Talisker is a prince among whiskies. Margaret Rand went over the sea to discover what makes the magic

By Margaret Rand

Bars Toasting New York The Big Apple has some star whisky bars as tried and tasted by Dave Broom

By Dave Broom

Food Festive Food

Bars Double identity The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is riding high again with a trendy new bolt-hole in central London. Margaret...

By Margaret Rand

Travel Voyage to the Western Isles Andrew Jefford took the slow boat around Scotland's most famous distilleries and discovered that malt whisky is the best antidote...

By Andrew Jefford

Distillery Focus Lessons with the cask force (Bowmore) Making whisky is all about rolling up your sleeves and getting down among the peat as Dave Broom found out...

By Dave Broom

Production Bourbon uncovered Gary Regan & Mardee Haidin Regan guide us through the process of whiskey-making American-style

By Gary Regan

History Fit for kings Noble qualities created Chivas Regal, the 'Chieftain's Tipple' and royals' favourite. Charles MacLean explores the history of the Chivas brand.

By Charles MacLean

Distillery Focus Kentucky where the good times roll There's nothing like a heady blend of sunshine, history and great hospitality to create a great drink, as Marcin...

By Marcin Miller

Distillery Focus The Splendour of Speyside Nature and native cunning have nurtured the distillery industry on the banks of the Spey. Tom Bruce-Gardyne took a trip...

By Tom Bruce-Gardyne

Dave BroomLessons with the cask force (Bowmore)Making whisky is all about rolling up your sleeves and getting down among the peat...

Tom Bruce-GardyneThe Splendour of SpeysideNature and native cunning have nurtured the distillery industry on the banks of the Spey....

Michael JacksonMordecai's MacallanWhich whisky wins the bookish prize? Self's Laphroaig, Black's Glenfiddich 18 ...or Michael Jackson's Bellow Bourbon?

Andrew JeffordVoyage to the Western IslesAndrew Jefford took the slow boat around Scotland's most famous distilleries and discovered that malt...

Charles MacLeanFit for kingsNoble qualities created Chivas Regal, the 'Chieftain's Tipple' and royals' favourite. Charles MacLean explores the...

Marcin MillerKentucky where the good times rollThere's nothing like a heady blend of sunshine, history and great hospitality to create...

Jim MurrayA little taste of heavenWhy Jim Murray is talking to the phoenix

Margaret RandDouble identityThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society is riding high again with a trendy new bolt-hole...

Gary ReganBourbon uncoveredGary Regan & Mardee Haidin Regan guide us through the process of whiskey-making American-style

Jane SladeMy dark mistress (Ralph Steadman)The artist and former wild man Ralph Steadman enjoyed a 30 year old love affair...

Aberlour
21 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: 11 years ago I tasted some 10 Years Old Aberlour and wasn't too impressed. It has matured through well but not all the kinks have been ironed out, especially towards the finish.

Overall score

7.5

Adelphi
13 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Interesting, but not typical.

Overall score

7.8

Adelphi
11 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A curiously insipid bottling.

Overall score

6.8

Adelphi Port Ellen
1975, 24 Years Old

ABV 59%

Comments: Seems to have faded slightly with age.

Overall score

8.0

Ardbeg
17 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: I admit to being a little biased here as I did have a hand in putting this whisky together. But I must say I adore it for its wonderful balance.

Overall score

8.8

Ardbeg
1976, Distillery Manager's Choice

ABV 56%

Comments: Real Ardbeg peatiness and smokiness.

Overall score

9.3

Ardbeg
Provenance, 1974, 24 Years Old

ABV 55.6%

Comments: Rich and creamy, with huge flavour development.

Overall score

9.4

Black Bottle
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A delicious, appetising, new expression of Black Bottle. As a blend, it is a star.

Overall score

9.0

Bowmore
Darkest

ABV 43%

Comments: Not that dark - just tawny. Whisky in its mid teens, I would say, but from superb sherry casks.

Overall score

8.8

Bowmore
Legend

ABV 40%

Comments: A light, young version, at a competitive price.

Overall score

7.5

Bowmore
17 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A quite delicious version but not anything like the heavier, more complex 17 Years Old of old.

Overall score

8.3

Bruichladdich
10 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: This dram has changed in recent years; less silky and more malt sharp but very easy going.

Overall score

7.3

Bruichladdich
15 Years Old, (JBB Bottling)

ABV 46%

Comments: An easily drinkable yet satisfying malt. Has definitely benefited from the extra five years.

Overall score

7.8

Buffalo Trace
American Straight Bourbon

ABV 45%

Comments: Big, moody, uncompromising and complex beyond belief. One of the world's great whiskeys.

Overall score

8.0

Bunnahabhain
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Appetising and remarkably refreshing.

Overall score

7.5

Cadenhead's
9 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Youthfully powerful. Almost raw flavours, without being in any way spirity. Many Islay-lovers enjoy their whiskies young. This is a robust example.

Overall score

7.8

Caol Ila
15 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A wonderful aperitif. Smoked fish to follow?

Overall score

8.3

Finlaggan
15 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: As a single, it must come from one of the Islay distilleries. Reminds me of Port Ellen, but there is surely not enough stock of that?

Overall score

8.4

Glenmorangie
12 Years Old, Millennium Malt

ABV 43%

Comments: A charming and excellent single malt offering untold complexity in the layers of flavours.

Overall score

8.0

Glenmorangie
Original

ABV 40%

Comments: For my money the best Glenmorangie I have yet come across: complexity beyond belief. Truly outstanding.

Overall score

8.5

Gordon & MacPhail
1969

ABV 53.5%

Comments: Shows that this whisky can handle some age and sherry.

Overall score

8.4

Gordon & MacPhail
1989

ABV 40%

Comments: One of the most enjoyable Bunnas I've tasted though missing that breathtaking freshness.

Overall score

7.8

Gordon & MacPhail
1981

ABV 62.7%

Comments: Can't put my finger on it: it's okay, but a bit boring and passionless for a Caol Ila.

Overall score

7.5

Hart Brothers
23 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: For its age, not at all woody, but lacking in roundness. The flavours seem to be coming apart.

Overall score

7.3

Ileach
Single Malt

ABV 40%

Comments: Like Finlaggan, this must come from one of the Islay distilleries. It seems bigger, more rounded, but less assertive, than Finlaggan.

Overall score

7.5

Islay Mist
Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV 40%

Comments: A distinctively Laphroaig-led blend, even though that distillery and this blend are now owned by separate companies.

Overall score

8.8

Lagavulin
16 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A true classic in every sense that offers breathtaking depth.

Overall score

9.6

Lagavulin
1979 Distillers Edition, Pedro Ximenez Finish

ABV 43%

Comments: A big improvement on the first version with much more fruit, body and intensity. Beautiful.

Overall score

9.3

Laphroaig
15 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: I do enjoy the big peat, but something is out of sync here. Enjoyable but ultimately disappointing.

Overall score

8.5

Laphroaig
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A gentle giant.

Overall score

8.8

Murray McDavid
1979, Bourbon Barrel

ABV 43%

Comments: One to forget.

Overall score

6.8

Murray McDavid
1979, Sherry Cask

ABV 43%

Comments: For an allegedly light malt, the flavours sing through but, as the dark colour suggests, there really is too much wood.

Overall score

7.5

Murray McDavid
1989

ABV 62.7%

Comments: On the light side, but with some delicacy and complexity.

Overall score

8.0

Murray McDavid
1987

ABV 40%

Comments: Both the name and the medicinal character suggests the distillery of origin.

Overall score

8.5

Rare Malts Selection
1978, 20 Years Old

ABV 60.9%

Comments: An expressive, arousing, version of this fine malt.

Overall score

8.8

The Macallan
1948 Select Reserve

ABV 43%

Comments: Paler in colour and lighter in body, but what a palate...great Speyside whiskies once tasted like this.

Overall score

8.0

Whisky Magazine 6

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