Whisky Magazine 65

Rye rebound Blood Brothers Teacher's Americas whisky heartland Barbecues Woman in whisky

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Editor's Word A Love Supreme Rob takes a quiet night with a jazz legend to reflect on what whisky can mean

By Rob Allanson

Musings with Michael Jackson Continuing education Michael looks back at the early days of his education in Edinburgh's finest

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom A passing fancy Dave delves into a glamorous world of Highland gatherings, fast drams and racy women

By Dave Broom

People Taking ownership With the whisky industry becoming increasing part of large global corporations we decided to look at\rhow ownership is viewed by...

By Rob Allanson

Travel Happy trails Rob Allanson takes an educational trip through America's whiskey heartland

By Rob Allanson

News On the rebound Rye is on the rise again,William M.Dowd looks at what's hot out there at the moment

By William M Dowd

People “The optimism in the industry at the moment is sensational” Campbell Evans Ian Wisniewski talks to Campbell Evans,The Scotch Whisky Association's director of government and\rconsumer affairs

By Ian Wisniewski

History Rosebank Distillery: A grievous loss In the latest of our series Gavin D Smith looks at the history behind Rosebank

By Gavin D. Smith

Distillery Focus Alike in dignity (Ardmore and Glendronach) Ardmore and Glendronach have much in common but at the moment their experiences are very different.\rDominic Roskrow visited both

By Dominic Roskrow

Travel A special corner (South and East Highlands) The region known as The Highlands covers a huge and disparate area. So in this area we focus just on...

By Dominic Roskrow

Food Lighten up (Barbecues) Whisky can be a great summer drink – and it can work well with the barbecue. Dominic Roskrow gets the...

By Dominic Roskrow

Whisky & Culture Celluloid dreams Ian Buxton dusts off the film canisters to discover a lost world

By Ian Buxton

Whisky & Culture In the Buff (David Sedaris) Jefferson Chase looks one of America's notable writers

By Jefferson Chase

Whisky & Culture Whisky's muse Robin Laing is whisky's muse.He's recorded three CDs of whisky songs and has just completed a quite excellent book on...

By Dominic Roskrow

Production Personality traits Ian Wisniewski investigates distillery character versus maturation character

By Ian Wisniewski

Travel Retail Business traffic drives whisky business at Frankfurt Joe Bates reports from one of Europe's largest airports

By Joe Bates

History The one that got away Ian R Mitchell tells some tales of the Donside illicit whiskymakers.

By Ian R Mitchell

People Managing Dalmore (Andrew Scott) Gavin D Smithmeets the man behind the classic Highland malt

By Gavin D. Smith

People Driven women Caroline Dewar meets the women behind the whiskies

By Caroline Dewar

Production The heart of the matter In the latest in the series on whisky terms,Dominic Roskrow looks at the letters H,I and J

By Dominic Roskrow

Rob AllansonTaking ownershipWith the whisky industry becoming increasing part of large global corporations we decided to look...

Joe BatesBusiness traffic drives whisky business at FrankfurtJoe Bates reports from one of Europe's largest airports

Dave BroomA passing fancyDave delves into a glamorous world of Highland gatherings, fast drams and racy women

Ian BuxtonCelluloid dreamsIan Buxton dusts off the film canisters to discover a lost world

Jefferson ChaseIn the Buff (David Sedaris)Jefferson Chase looks one of America's notable writers

Caroline DewarDriven womenCaroline Dewar meets the women behind the whiskies

William M DowdOn the reboundRye is on the rise again,William M.Dowd looks at what's hot out there at the...

Michael JacksonContinuing educationMichael looks back at the early days of his education in Edinburgh's finest

Ian R MitchellThe one that got awayIan R Mitchell tells some tales of the Donside illicit whiskymakers.

Dominic RoskrowA special corner (South and East Highlands)The region known as The Highlands covers a huge and disparate area. So in this...

Gavin D. SmithManaging Dalmore (Andrew Scott)Gavin D Smithmeets the man behind the classic Highland malt

Ian WisniewskiPersonality traitsIan Wisniewski investigates distillery character versus maturation character

Benromach
Peat Smoke

ABV 46%

Comments: Fresh and frisky. A welcome body warmer.

Overall score

7.5

Berry Bros. & Rudd
Irish Malt

ABV 40%

Comments: Ominously pale and initial suspicions were proved correct. This has been bottled way too young.

Overall score

6.4

Berrys' Own Selection
1985

ABV 46%

Comments: A good example of a little seen distillery.

Overall score

8.0

Bruichladdich
Redder Still, Cask Strength

ABV 50.4%

Comments: A plump fruity number.

Overall score

7.5

Bushmills
10 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Lovely nose (once again). . Lacks a bit of depth (once again).

Overall score

7.7

Bushmills
16 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A touch slick and a little one-dimensional.

Overall score

7.8

Bushmills
Original

ABV 40%

Comments: Gives the impression of needing time to grow into itself.

Overall score

7.3

Bushmills
Black Bush

ABV 40%

Comments: Beautifully balanced.

Overall score

8.2

Bushmills
Aged 12 Years, Distillery Reserve

ABV 40%

Comments: Moreish!

Overall score

8.4

Bushmills
Aged 21 Years, Madeira Finish

ABV 40%

Comments: A whiskey with complexity, character and some age to it.

Overall score

8.3

Connemara
Peated Single Malt

ABV 40%

Comments: There's real substance here. Well-integrated.

Overall score

7.9

Dewar Rattray
37 Years Old

ABV 54.4%

Comments: The alcohol bite is assertive, on the nose as on the palate. And water does not make it much more palatable.

Overall score

7.5

Duncan Taylor
1965, 40 Years Old

ABV 49%

Comments: Want to get bourbon drinkers into whisky, give 'em grain! Maybe not 40 Years Old grain but it could be the way in.

Overall score

7.9

Duncan Taylor
1981, 25 Years Old

ABV 56.5%

Comments: Lacks balance.

Overall score

7.3

Glen Moray
Mountain Oak, The Final Release

ABV 58.6%

Comments: More of a whisky spread than a drink. For those with a sweet tooth.

Overall score

7.8

Glengoyne
1972

ABV 46%

Comments: The nose promised smoothness, the palate delivered dry oakiness. Water cuts the edges but enhances bitterness and spices.

Overall score

7.6

Islay Mist
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Needs water to open the nose, but the palate is rather simple.

Overall score

7.5

Islay Mist
17 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A pleasant autumnal dram. Good balance, a bit tottering on the palate. But that can be forgiven.

Overall score

8.1

Kilbeggan
Aged 15 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: The luxurious nose raises expectations that the palate can't quite match.

Overall score

7.6

Kilbeggan
Finest

ABV 40%

Comments: An attractive sipper, but only in decent mouthfuls. A good session whiskey...if one is allowed to say that in these moderate times.

Overall score

7.4

Longmorn
Aged 16 Years

ABV 48%

Comments: Great balance and depth. At last! Longmorn gets the bottling it deserves.

Overall score

8.4

The Glenlivet
XXV

ABV 43%

Comments: Just needs a little more in the middle.

Overall score

8.2

The Irishman
70 Superior

ABV 40%

Comments: A promising nose, but doesn't deliver on the palate.

Overall score

7.1

The Irishman
Aged Single Malt

ABV 40%

Comments: Once again the nose offers up hope only for it to be dashed on the palate. It's not so much these are light, it is that they lack substance.

Overall score

7.4