Whisky Magazine 69

Highland Gem Home of Anoc Americas youngest distillers Food matching the Diageo way Bartenders Trip

Editor's Word Welcome to Whisky Magazine

News A fulfilling time Owning your own cask of malt is arguably the ultimate whisky experience. Having selected his cask type Dominic Roskrow travelled...

By Dominic Roskrow

Awards & Events Bigger and better We report from the recent Whisky Live Leiden in the glorious setting of the Pieterskerk

By Rob Allanson

A Dram with Dave Broom Lost in a nation Dave visits the new rebuilt Hanyu distillery and takes in some Japanese culture

By Dave Broom

Production Young Guns Charles K. Cowdery meets the next generation of America's master distillers.

By Charles K Cowdery

Production The Irish question In part one of a three part series, Dave Broom looks at the changing face of Irish whiskey.

By Dave Broom

Whisky & Culture Blazing a trail Liza Weisstuchmeets cocktail writer extraordinaire David Wondrich as he launches his latest tome.

By Liza Weisstuch

Production Taking over returns Ian Wisniewski meets the nextgeneration of Scottish blenders who,like their American counterparts already\rfeatured in this issue,are taking the industry into...

By Ian Wisniewski

History A table of two names (Brora) Gavin D Smith delves into Brora's past.

By Gavin D. Smith

Production The eternal question In the latest in the series on whisky terms Dominic Roskrowlooks at the letters N and O.

By Dominic Roskrow

People Older and better? In this issue we decided to focus on the increasing number of premium aged whiskies that are being released and...

By Rob Allanson

Ask the Expert Ask the expert Now you can find both of John Rose's superb articles about collecting whisky in one place. In collections,John looks at...

By John Rose

Travel In the heartland (Speyside) Speyside falls in to two halves:that reached by flying in to Inverness,and that reached from Aberdeen.In this issue we take...

By Rob Allanson

Travel Retail Small but perfectly formed Joe Bates looks at the delightful London City airport

By Joe Bates

Distillery Focus Fortune comes knocking (Knockdhu) Knockdhu is an oddball distillery that defies categorisation.It's owned by Whisky Magazine Distiller of the Year,Inver House.Dominic Roskrow visited it.

By Dominic Roskrow

News Down the years In an epic tasting we tackle the entire family cask range, Rob Allanson reports.

By Rob Allanson

Cocktails Kings of cocktails To mark the fifth anniversary of its American bartenders' trip Brown Forman picked an elite group to take part in...

By Dominic Roskrow

History Enter the keepers Ian Buxton looks atone of whisky's more influential yet unassuming gatherings.

By Ian Buxton

Food Match Makers Throughout 2007 Diageo has been matching its whiskies with food from countries including Spain and India. For the final event...

By Rob Allanson

Whisky & Culture Laying down the law Jefferson Chase looks at another Scottish born crime writer.

By Jefferson Chase

People Every bar in the world is a natural home for Scotch Whisky Ian Wisniewski talks to Jim Long,international public relations manager at Chivas Bros,based in London

By Ian Wisniewski

Ask the Expert Join the debate email the team editorial@whiskymag.com

By Rob Allanson

Rob AllansonBigger and betterWe report from the recent Whisky Live Leiden in the glorious setting of the Pieterskerk

Joe BatesSmall but perfectly formedJoe Bates looks at the delightful London City airport

Dave BroomThe Irish questionIn part one of a three part series, Dave Broom looks at the changing face...

Ian BuxtonEnter the keepersIan Buxton looks atone of whisky's more influential yet unassuming gatherings.

Jefferson ChaseLaying down the lawJefferson Chase looks at another Scottish born crime writer.

Charles K CowderyYoung GunsCharles K. Cowdery meets the next generation of America's master distillers.

John RoseAsk the expertNow you can find both of John Rose's superb articles about collecting whisky in one...

Dominic RoskrowThe eternal questionIn the latest in the series on whisky terms Dominic Roskrowlooks at the letters N...

Gavin D. SmithA table of two names (Brora)Gavin D Smith delves into Brora's past.

Liza WeisstuchBlazing a trailLiza Weisstuchmeets cocktail writer extraordinaire David Wondrich as he launches his latest tome.

Ian WisniewskiEvery bar in the world is a natural home for Scotch WhiskyIan Wisniewski talks to Jim Long,international public relations manager at Chivas Bros,based in London

Berrys' Own Selection
1974

ABV 46%

Comments: Best neat. Slightly firm but well worth a look.

Overall score

8.6

Berrys' Own Selection
1971

ABV 46%

Comments: A little cramped on the palate but has personality.

Overall score

7.7

Berrys' Own Selection
1974

ABV 57%

Comments: A real shame.

Overall score

6.7

Berrys' Own Selection
1996

ABV 46%

Comments: Judging by the colour (pale chardonnay),has obviously not gained from the cask. Has got all the phenolic spectrum but not much more,especially on the nose.

Overall score

8.2

Berrys' Own Selection
1991

ABV 46%

Comments: A summery whisky. Refreshing. Thirst-quenching.

Overall score

8.4

Berrys' Own Selection
1996

ABV 56.8%

Comments: Another marine fellow. Straightforward,muscular but not assertive. Invigorating.

Overall score

8.1

Berrys' Own Selection
1997

ABV 46%

Comments: The grassy profile of this whisky is too much.

Overall score

7.8

Bowmore
16 Years Old Port Matured

ABV 53.1%

Comments: The palate is not as smoky as the nose. An interesting dram if not completely balanced.

Overall score

7.7

Bowmore
Legend

ABV 40%

Comments: A well-knitted dram,although suffering from being bottled at 40%.

Overall score

8.1

Brora
30 Years Old Special Release 2007

ABV 55.7%

Comments: The nose is off-putting,which knocks the score down, but the palate delivers.

Overall score

7.6

Caol Ila
Unpeated Special Releases, 2007, 8 Years Old

ABV 64.9%

Comments: On the palate,much more like a fruit spirit (Pear Williams) than like a whisky.A bit grainy on the nose.

Overall score

7.7

Caol Ila
Distillers Edition 1995

ABV 43%

Comments: A charming nose which is not fully delivered on the palate. But an excellent dram all together.

Overall score

8.3

Chivas Regal
25 Years old

ABV 40%

Comments: A pleasant dram but flimsy. You tend to forget it as soon as you have swallowed.

Overall score

8.1

Clynelish
Distillers Edition 1992

ABV 46%

Comments: A delicate yet full of character dram. For a relaxing evening watching a documentary on English gardens.

Overall score

8.5

Compass Box
Cask No 46, 10 Years Old

ABV 53.2%

Comments: A subtle dram which keeps on the cereal and fruit side,with a radiant lightness. Alcohol is perfectly mastered.

Overall score

8.1

Compass Box
Cask No 6, 10 Years Old

ABV 53.1%

Comments: A sharp fellow. Strangely enough, appears spirity although the same strength as the previous sample.

Overall score

8.2

Ginkgo
Japanese Blended Malt

ABV 46%

Comments: Lightbodied,but fresh and fragrant. Japanese beginners start here.

Overall score

8.1

Glengoyne
Burnfoot

ABV 40%

Comments: Just a little thin and lacking in substance

Overall score

7.4

Highland Park
Aged 21 Years

ABV 47.5%

Comments: A drier expression of HP from the norm and all the more fascinating for that.Recommended.

Overall score

8.6

Ian Macleod
Island, Aged 8 Years

ABV 43%

Comments: A model of consistency,with the same flavour and intensity,until the finish adds more variety.

Overall score

7.7

Jameson
Rarest Vintage Reserve

ABV 46%

Comments: A perfect integration of oak and fruit. Elegant and well balanced. A festive dram.

Overall score

8.7

Lagavulin
Distillers Edition 1991

ABV 43%

Comments: Compact but abundant.

Overall score

8.5

Lark Distillery
Cask Strength

ABV 58%

Comments: The spirit is good but the cask seems tohaveoverlaid slightly odd aromas.

Overall score

6.6

Lark Distillery
Distillers Selection

ABV 43%

Comments: Decent spirit the oak has added a hard edge. Lacks interaction between oak and spirit.

Overall score

6.9

Mackmyra
Preludium 06

ABV 50.5%

Comments: Seems slightly forced.Just not knitted.

Overall score

7.1

Macleod's
8 Years Old Islands

ABV 40%

Comments: A decent dram. Needs time to settle down and tone the oakiness on the nose down.

Overall score

8.1

Oban
Classic Malts Distillers Edition, 1992

ABV 43%

Comments: An appetizing dram like a dried fruit cake. Rich and malty. A drop of water will be enough to cheer it up. Moreknocks it down.

Overall score

8.2

Old Pulteney
Aged 12 Years

ABV 40%

Comments: Mellow and accessible.

Overall score

7.7

Old Pulteney
Aged 17 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Focused and balanced.

Overall score

8.7

Old Pulteney
21 Years old

ABV 46%

Comments: A two times dram. Fruity sweetness followed by a dry spiciness. The two faces meet up on time.

Overall score

7.9

Rittenhouse
Very Rare, 23 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Just of the edge of too much wood. Age weighs. But the complexity of the nose keeps the profile high.

Overall score

8.5

Smokehead
Extra Rare

ABV 40%

Comments: Strangely lacking in weight in the middle,this either needs to be bolstered a little - or bottled at ahigher strength.

Overall score

7.7

Talisker
25 Years Old, Special Release 2007

ABV 58.1%

Comments: A well balanced dram. With a sweet profile.Has well aged.

Overall score

8.2

Talisker
30 Years Old, Special Release 2007

ABV 50.7%

Comments: Full-bodied and up front.

Overall score

8.5

Talisker
Distillers Edition 1993

ABV 45.8%

Comments: Difficult to taste a Talisker blind ! The strength tells all (though Lagavulin played a trick in this tasting).Thelegendary pepperiness is a memory.

Overall score

7.8