Whisky Magazine 63

Best Whiskies in the World New distilleries Balblair Vintages Kentucky Visitors Guide Whisky and Food...

Editor's Word Weather watching Rob Allanson ponders that eternal question:what's your favourite?

Musings with Michael Jackson Dancing with Donleavy Michael talks about the joys of Irish whiskey and the dangers of method acting

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom New builds and buses Are we coming in to another golden period for whisky – Dave gives his views on the latest news

By Dave Broom

People Out of the box There have been several high profile repackaging of famous brands recently. We are beginning to see\rmore attention paid to bottle...

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events World's best whiskies honoured More than 150 whiskies, three rounds of judging and there can be only five...we reveal the winners

By Rob Allanson

Production Boom time Two new distilleries announced in as many months...are we on the brink of a golden time for whisky? Ian Buxton...

By Ian Buxton

Tastings Tasty trio (Balblair) Inspired by a 4,000 year old Pictish standing stone overlooking the distillery,the new Balblair range is bound to\rset pulses racing....

By Rob Allanson

Whisky & Culture Arcade classics The Arcade Fire are on the verge of superstardom.Lew Guthrie III checks out their credentials and reviews new album The...

By Lew Guthrie

Distillery Focus Cutting no corners (The Macallan) The Macallan is one of the truly iconic distilleries but it is not resting on its laurels. Dominic Roskrow went...

By Dominic Roskrow

Travel Kentucky calling To really enjoy the bourbon experience of Kentucky you must immerse yourself in the character and culture of the state...

By Dominic Roskrow

Food Raising the stakes The Spirit of Speyside Festival has grown in to a major celebration of the region's food and drink. So how...

By Dominic Roskrow

People Dewar's guardian Caroline Dewar meets the latest in the line of Dewar's master blenders

By Caroline Dewar

Whisky & Culture Split personality Jefferson Chase offers us another recent whisky read

By Jefferson Chase

History Gone but not forgotten (Port Ellen) In the latest of our new series,Gavin D Smith delves in to Port Ellen's past

By Gavin D. Smith

Bars Sssshhhh....!! Naren Young packs his library card and is welcomed to one of New York's newest centres of higher learning

By Naren Young

Ask the Expert Ask the expert John Rose fields more of your questions

By John Rose

Distillery Focus A region once again (Campbeltown) Robin Laing packs his bags and heads out to Campbeltown to find whisky production is thriving again

By Robin Laing

Travel Retail The Fair City (Dublin) Joe Bates checks out the latest offers in Dublin

By Joe Bates

Awards & Events It's show time! The greatest shows on earth. We provide an overview of Whisky Live in London and Tokyo

By Rob Allanson

Production Barrels of innovation Ian Wisniewski looks at how companies are pushing the boundaries with casks

By Ian Wisniewski

Production Key processes In the latest in our series looking at the language of whisky, Dominic Roskrow looks at the letters E and F

By Dominic Roskrow

Rob AllansonOut of the boxThere have been several high profile repackaging of famous brands recently. We are beginning to...

Joe BatesThe Fair City (Dublin)Joe Bates checks out the latest offers in Dublin

Dave BroomNew builds and busesAre we coming in to another golden period for whisky – Dave gives his views...

Ian BuxtonBoom timeTwo new distilleries announced in as many months...are we on the brink of a golden...

Jefferson ChaseSplit personalityJefferson Chase offers us another recent whisky read

Caroline DewarDewar's guardianCaroline Dewar meets the latest in the line of Dewar's master blenders

Lew GuthrieArcade classicsThe Arcade Fire are on the verge of superstardom.Lew Guthrie III checks out their credentials...

Michael JacksonDancing with DonleavyMichael talks about the joys of Irish whiskey and the dangers of method acting

Robin LaingA region once again (Campbeltown)Robin Laing packs his bags and heads out to Campbeltown to find whisky production is...

John RoseAsk the expertJohn Rose fields more of your questions

Dominic RoskrowKentucky callingTo really enjoy the bourbon experience of Kentucky you must immerse yourself in the character...

Gavin D. SmithGone but not forgotten (Port Ellen)In the latest of our new series,Gavin D Smith delves in to Port Ellen's past

Ian WisniewskiBarrels of innovationIan Wisniewski looks at how companies are pushing the boundaries with casks

Naren YoungSssshhhh....!!Naren Young packs his library card and is welcomed to one of New York's newest...

Benromach
Sassicaia Wood Finish

ABV 45%

Comments: A success.

Overall score

8.0

Berrys' Own Selection
1989

ABV 46%

Comments: Bizarrely, the nose reminded me of an Argentinian Torrontes. Where's the famed Benrinnes meatiness?

Overall score

7.3

Berrys' Own Selection
1973

ABV 46%

Comments: A ripe dram which seems to have headed across to Kentucky. Big and lush.

Overall score

7.9

Bruichladdich
Aged 15 Years, Limited Edition

ABV 54%

Comments: The nose puts you off, the palate tries to make it up but the result is not exciting.

Overall score

7.7

Bruichladdich
Celtic Nations

ABV 46%

Comments: As a blend of Scottish and Irish whiskies this is certainly atypical, but it works well.

Overall score

8.2

Bruichladdich
Infinity, Second Edition

ABV 52.5%

Comments: Alcohol is perfectly tamed. No burn or tang. A cheery dram for a sunny afternoon.

Overall score

8.5

Caol Ila
8 Years Old, Unpeated

ABV 59.8%

Comments: A straightforward example of a bourbon cask maturation. A bit burning on the tongue for me but some like hot, don't they?

Overall score

7.9

Chieftain's
Aged 24 Years

ABV 59.4%

Comments: Complex stuff going on here. A really rewarding Port Ellen.

Overall score

8.8

Chieftain's
Aged 24 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: One for the palate and not the nose.

Overall score

7.8

Chieftain's
Aged 10 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: For me this has been bottled too early and before the sulphuriness of youth has been fully matured out.

Overall score

7.0

Connemara
Aged 12 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: That lactic note overwhelms nose and palate. Not sure that a dairy whiskey is something to look forward to! Surprisingly, a dash of water makes more palatable.

Overall score

7.7