Whisky Magazine 66

How glass affects your taste Rise of small stills Tamnavulin Woodford Reserve Canada guide

Editor's Word Fond Memories Rob reflects on the events of the last couple of months

Column An industry mourns The whisky world has paid tribute to one of its biggest supporters – Michael Jackson–long time Whisky Magazine contributor, author,...

By Rob Allanson

Musings with Michael Jackson Sparring and surviving In his final column before his death,Michael looks back at his time in India and the rise of a nation...

By Michael Jackson

A Dram with Dave Broom The heart of the matter Dave lets us in on part of his tasting regime

By Dave Broom

News Dram Beating

By Rob Allanson

News Raising the roof

By Rob Allanson

News In brief

By Rob Allanson

News New era

By Rob Allanson

News Kilchoman on offer

By Rob Allanson

News More experiments

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events The ultimate dinner Andrew Derbidge pulls up a seat at a very prestigious Ardbeg meal

By Rob Allanson

Column A brave new world The world of whisky may well still be dominated by the big five traditional producers,but they're no longer having it...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Northern soul (Old Pulteney) Pulteney takes some getting to but there's plenty to fall in love with if you make the effort. Dominic Roskrow reports

By Rob Allanson

News Things hotting up In the two-part investigation Dave Broom examines the potential effects of global warming on the scotch whisky industry. Part 1...

By Dave Broom

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

By John Rose

Travel A different beast

By Rob Allanson

History Conval-no-more In the latest of our series Gavin D Smithlooks at the history behind Convalmore

By Gavin D. Smith

People “Customers are often time rich and cash rich” Fraser Dunlop Rob Allanson talks to Fraser Dunlop,head of liquor,tobacco,food and tax free items for World Duty Free

By Rob Allanson

Distillery Focus Small Stills Ian Buxton looking at the rising phenomena of distilling spirit from the comfort of your armchair,shed or garage.

By Ian Buxton

Food La via Allegra Seafood and whisky have often been tipped as near perfect partners, but at Jura Lodge this love match is intensified....

By Rob Allanson

News Through the looking glass Can the shape and quality of the glass really make a difference to the enjoyment of whisky? And will whisky\rfollow...

By Richard Jones

Whisky & Culture Divided Communities Jefferson Chasedelves into a novel set in Northern Ireland at the height of the Second World War

By Jefferson Chase

Distillery Focus Return of the Big Tam Gavin D Smithlooks at the comeback of a Speyside classic

By Gavin D. Smith

Production Innovative times By launching a wood finish bourbon Kentucky's Labrot & Graham is merely honouring a long tradition of innovation at the...

By Rob Allanson

Travel Retail Expanding Copenhagen Joes Bates looks at the new Scandinavian store

By Joe Bates

Production Fresh Crop Ian Wisniewski looks at how companies are developing new barley varieties

By Ian Wisniewski

News At the helm Whisky and sailing goes well together,as Rob Allanson found out when he took to the high seas with the Bunnahabhain crew

By Rob Allanson

Production The Tennessee question In the latest in our series looking at whisky terminology,Dominic Roskrow considers the letters k and l\rand in particular The...

By Dominic Roskrow

Rob AllansonAn industry mournsThe whisky world has paid tribute to one of its biggest supporters – Michael Jackson–long...

Joe BatesExpanding CopenhagenJoes Bates looks at the new Scandinavian store

Dave BroomThings hotting upIn the two-part investigation Dave Broom examines the potential effects of global warming on the...

Ian BuxtonSmall StillsIan Buxton looking at the rising phenomena of distilling spirit from the comfort of your...

Jefferson ChaseDivided CommunitiesJefferson Chasedelves into a novel set in Northern Ireland at the height of the Second...

Michael JacksonSparring and survivingIn his final column before his death,Michael looks back at his time in India and...

Richard JonesThrough the looking glassCan the shape and quality of the glass really make a difference to the enjoyment...

John RoseAsk the expertJohn Rose fields more of your questions

Dominic RoskrowThe Tennessee questionIn the latest in our series looking at whisky terminology,Dominic Roskrow considers the letters k...

Gavin D. SmithReturn of the Big TamGavin D Smithlooks at the comeback of a Speyside classic

Ian WisniewskiFresh CropIan Wisniewski looks at how companies are developing new barley varieties

Buffalo Trace Experimental
Collection Chardonnay, 6 Years Old

ABV 45%

Comments: The wood is simply too aggressive for the spirit.

Overall score

7.7

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection
Chardonnay, 10 Years Old

ABV 45%

Comments: The nose is great, the palate a huge let down. I'm all for experiments but this hasn't worked.

Overall score

7.4

Cadenhead's
12 Years Old

ABV 58.3%

Comments: A very refreshing dram, most enjoyable for a summer evening (one can dream!). The alcohol is more aggressive on the palate.

Overall score

7.5

Cardhu
Special Cask Reserve

ABV 40%

Comments: The first nose is not promising then the sweet maltiness wraps it in a more pleasant dress. You've got to have a taste for sweet drinks.

Overall score

7.7

Cradle Mountain
Double Malt Whisky

ABV 46%

Comments: Esters galore and another that’s just too young.

Overall score

6.0

Dewar Rattray
11 Years Old

ABV 59.9%

Comments: This just hasn't been allowed to mature out. The result being it's harsh and all over the shop.

Overall score

5.7

Dewar Rattray
16 Years Old

ABV 57.9%

Comments: An old fellow on the oak side but with elegancy.

Overall score

8.2

Dewar Rattray
16 Years Old

ABV 52.5%

Comments: That baby needed to be cradled in oak a few more years. It can hardly mutter a few aromas. Or is it just a maturation in a tired cask?

Overall score

7.0

Dewar Rattray
11 Years Old

ABV 59%

Comments: It's a cad pursuing an innocent girl. The big bad wolf after little Red Riding Hood.

Overall score

7.9

Duncan Taylor
C3490 Cask Strength, Aged 37 Years

ABV 49.7%

Comments: A wonderful nose, a dash of water cuts the edges. Complex and harmonious.

Overall score

8.4

Four Roses
Barrel Strength Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon, 15 Years Old

ABV 52.1%

Comments: A teasing nose but a dour profile on the palate. Too old? Bad wood? Water enhances the spices and masks the sourness.

Overall score

7.9

Glenkinchie
12 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: A huge leap in quality from the old 10 Years Old.

Overall score

7.5

Laphroaig
Vintage, Aged 17 Years

ABV 50.3%

Comments: A perfect example of the 'tough guy with a tender heart'

Overall score

8.9

Mackmyra
Preludium 03

ABV 52.2%

Comments: A theme emerges...

Overall score

5.9

Mackmyra
Reserve Swedish Oak Finish

ABV 58.5%

Comments: Another let-down. Lacking in coherence.

Overall score

7.0

Mackmyra
Preludium 04

ABV 53.3%

Comments: If you want to build a new distillery you have to be willing to take the financial hit of waiting until the whisky is ready.

Overall score

6.4

Mackmyra
Preludium 05

ABV 48.4%

Comments: May develop with time.

Overall score

6.9

Mackmyra
Single Cask Swedish Oak Finish

ABV 56.5%

Comments: More than just acceptable.

Overall score

7.4

Old Malt Cask
1993, Aged 12 Years, Rum Finish

ABV 50%

Comments: All rather insubstantial but attractive enough though.

Overall score

7.4

Springbank
Rum Wood, 16 Years Old

ABV 54.2%

Comments: Almost as if it is still coming together.

Overall score

7.9

Springbank
Vintage, 10 Years Old

ABV 55.2%

Comments: A strange character. Hard to grab. The palate reveals an interesting sweetness but the finish disappoints.

Overall score

8.3

Stranahan's
Colorado Whiskey

ABV 47%

Comments: This just hasn’t been allowed to mature out. The result being it’s harsh and all over the shop.

Overall score

5.7

Sullivans Cove
Bourbon Maturation

ABV 60%

Comments: Showing some promise. Might develop with age.

Overall score

6.7

Sullivans Cove
Port Maturation

ABV 60%

Comments: It sticks to the tongue and you can't get rid of it.

Overall score

6.7

Teerenpeli
Single Malt Whisky

ABV 43%

Comments: Another infant that should still be tucked up at home in its barrel rather than being allowed to wander the streets. I blame the parents myself.

Overall score

6.5