Whisky Magazine 61

Buffalo Trace Exclusive Bar Exams Premium Bourbon Ballantines

Editor's Word On the road to Louisville Mid terms,football games and musicians, Rob Allanson takes a voyage of discovery in to bourbon country

By Rob Allanson

Musings with Michael Jackson Up close and personal When Michael Jackson left The Streets of Sinners, what happened to his drinking?

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom African aspirations Dave finds whisky and hip hop go well together in the Rainbow Nation

By Dave Broom

People The bourbon question In this round table we asked two prominent members of the bourbon industry and Whisky Magazine readers about the future...

News The big five Iconic distillery releases its latest antique collection

Production Rising spirits Bourbon is not only continuing its growth in profitability but is carving out a new premium image for itself. Dominic...

By Dominic Roskrow

Production Roll out the barrel The Blue Grass Cooperage is one of the major barrel making companies in the United States, Rob Allanson took a tour

By Rob Allanson

Production Out from behind bars Let 10 young bartenders loose in bourbon country and it'll get messy. But as Dominic Roskrow reports, when it\rcame to...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Two's company (Ballantines) Ballantine's is one of the world's top blends but it is in need of a dose of loving and who...

By Dominic Roskrow

Whisky & Culture After dinner heaven Cigar whiskies to go with a good smoke have become popular,we have a look at some of the best.

By Rob Allanson

Travel Inverness and beyond We look at the region of Speyside round about Inverness

By Rob Allanson

Whisky & Culture Americana at its best Are we getting old or is it really the case that most of the great album music is coming from...

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events Live around the World Three packed shows,three cities – Whisky Live spreads the gospel bringing the world's best whiskies to South Africa and Holland

Food Whisky's jewel Amber at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre has established itself as a class act. Now it's taking whisky and...

By Dominic Roskrow

Whisky & Culture Short and sweet Jefferson Chase looks at a career defining moment

By Jefferson Chase

News That's amore Kate Ennis looks at why the Italians have such a passion for whisky

By Kate Portman (nee Ennis)

Awards & Events The cream of the crop Every year Whisky Magazine holds the Icons of Whisky, the international awards recognising the very best in the whisky industry

By Rob Allanson

Bars Comfy Bumpkin London's newest gastro-pub has created a relaxing,home from home atmosphere where drinkers can\rfeel comfortable experimenting with whisky,as Kate Ennis discovers

By Kate Portman (nee Ennis)

News A quick word please Ian Buxton uncovers some of the less heard whisky quotes

By Ian Buxton

Travel Retail Norwegian whisky paradise Joe Bates Gardermoen shops offer taxed locals whisky paradise

By Joe Bates

Production The buck stops here Ian Wisniewski looks at the challenging role of distillery managers

By Ian Wisniewski

Cocktails Blood and Sand Ian Wisniewski looks at a silver screen classic cocktail

By Ian Wisniewski

Production The C Words In the latest in his series defining whisky terms Dominic Roskrow looks at the letter C

By Dominic Roskrow

Rob AllansonRoll out the barrelThe Blue Grass Cooperage is one of the major barrel making companies in the United...

Joe BatesNorwegian whisky paradiseJoe Bates Gardermoen shops offer taxed locals whisky paradise

Dave BroomAfrican aspirationsDave finds whisky and hip hop go well together in the Rainbow Nation

Ian BuxtonA quick word pleaseIan Buxton uncovers some of the less heard whisky quotes

Jefferson ChaseShort and sweetJefferson Chase looks at a career defining moment

Michael JacksonUp close and personalWhen Michael Jackson left The Streets of Sinners, what happened to his drinking?

Kate Portman (nee Ennis)Comfy BumpkinLondon's newest gastro-pub has created a relaxing,home from home atmosphere where drinkers can\rfeel comfortable experimenting...

Dominic RoskrowOut from behind barsLet 10 young bartenders loose in bourbon country and it'll get messy. But as Dominic...

Ian WisniewskiBlood and SandIan Wisniewski looks at a silver screen classic cocktail

Ardbeg
Airigh Nam Beist, 1990, 16 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: A welcome addition to the range.

Overall score

8.5

Berrys' Own Selection
1992

ABV 46%

Comments: Tight and hard to love.

Overall score

7.5

Berrys' Own Selection
1992

ABV 46%

Comments: Pleasant enough malt, but a little unexciting.

Overall score

7.2

Berrys' Own Selection
1980

ABV 46%

Comments: Cracking whisky led by an intense relationship with its sherry cask.

Overall score

8.2

Chieftain's
Aged 26 Years, Rum Finish

ABV 48.5%

Comments: The rum acting as a cover for what you suspect is a whisky which suffered from being in a tired cask.

Overall score

7.4

Chieftain's
Aged 24 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Elegant and highly individual. Takes no prisoners.

Overall score

8.4

Chieftain's
Aged 13 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Bristling with all those flavour spikes that make the Peat Freaks grin. Like a mint choc chip and peat ice cream.

Overall score

8.4

Compass Box
Limited Release

ABV 48.9%

Comments: Delicious combination of intense sweetness with moreish smoke.

Overall score

8.3

Dun Bheagan
Aged 11 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Insubstantial.

Overall score

7.4

Glen Moray
Signature Malt 1989, 16 Years Old

ABV 57.6%

Comments: A little sour for me.

Overall score

7.2

Glenfiddich
Aged 21 Years, Gran Reserva

ABV 40%

Comments: Delivers more than expected. Seems a bit bland at start but it displays an attractive array of aromas and flavours on time. The rum influence is under control.

Overall score

8.1

Gordon & MacPhail
1948

ABV 40%

Comments: 1948? Amazing. Has retained a refined almost raffish air and though frail is not overwooded.

Overall score

8.5

Gordon & MacPhail
1968

ABV 40%

Comments: A ghost-like dram almost too elusive to grasp.

Overall score

8.3

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection
1990, Demerara Rum Finish

ABV 45%

Comments: A bit puzzling at start. Seems somewhat austere and restrained. Then releases sweet notes. Is it an effect of the rum finish?

Overall score

7.8

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection
1990, Vintage Rum Finish

ABV 45%

Comments: Hang on! Is that a single malt with a rum finish or a good rum matured in a bourbon cask? An exemplary phagocytosis or a magical trick. But we wanted whisky!

Overall score

7.2