Whisky Magazine 71

Best Whiskies in the World 2008 Wonderful wood Old Bourbon Lost Distilleries Travel Retail

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Editor's Word Welcome to Whisky Magazine

By Rob Allanson

News Glenglassaugh returns

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events Big Sight Tokyo One of Whisky Live's most impressive members of the family hit new heights this year and Rob Allanson was there...

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events Whisky Live Auckland New Zealand is the latest country to embrace Whisky Live and it did so with style. Dominic Roskrow went down under.

By Dominic Roskrow

Awards & Events Maturing nicely The world's premier whisky event rolled into the English capital for the 8th time,bring with it some of the best...

By Rob Allanson

A Dram with Dave Broom Havana nights Dave explores the delights of Cuba, its wonderful rum and a changing culture

By Dave Broom

Awards & Events World Whiskies Awards 2008 This year's competition saw more than 200 whiskies do battle over three tasting rounds for the coveted titles of the...

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events World's Best Whisky Liqueur Wild Turky American Honey

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events World's Best Grain Whisky Compass Box Hedonism

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events World's Best New Release Glenrothes 25 Years old

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events World's Best Blended Malt Whisky BLUE HANGER 30 YEARS OLD

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events World's Best Blended Whisky Suntory Hibiki 30 years old

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events WORLD'S BEST AMERICAN WHISKEY George T.Stagg

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events WORLD'S BEST SINGLE MALT WHISKY YOICHI 20 YEARS OLD

By Rob Allanson

Production Adventures in wood Ian Buxton looks at some innovative uses for casks and washbacks when the whisky industry has finished with them.

By Ian Buxton

Production Walk the line What happens on the bottling line is often overlooked when discussing the production process. But there's far more to it...

By Ian Wisniewski

History Silent all these years Gavin D Smithinvestigates the fortunes of Glen Grant No.2 distillery,also known as Caperdonich

By Gavin D. Smith

Production How to prove it In the latest in the series on whisky terminology we look at the letter P – and the proof system.

By Rob Allanson

Travel Retail Turkish delight Joe Bateschecks out the huge duty free store at Istanbul's Atatürk airport

By Joe Bates

Ask the Expert Ask the expert

By John Rose

Travel A country beyond kentucky Think American whiskey and you think Kentucky. But across the United States there are other options – including the biggest...

By Rob Allanson

Distillery Focus Welcome to Islay's gentle soul It calls itself the gentle malt of Islay,but Bunnahabhain is much more than just that.Dominic Roskrow braved\rthe last blast of...

By Dominic Roskrow

News The Italian job Gavin D Smith heads to Speyside to discover what's going on at Glen Grant

By Gavin D. Smith

Production How old is too old? Charles K. Cowdery looks at the best ages for whisky and bourbon.

By Charles K Cowdery

Production Blending the blues

By Ian Buxton

Food Sliced, diced and matched with malt Dave heads to one of the world's most famous fish markets to discover how Japanese seafood works with Scotch malt whisky

By Rob Allanson

Whisky & Culture Tales from the noose

By Jefferson Chase

People The most important part of any business is the people

By Ian Wisniewski

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

By Rob Allanson

Rob AllansonGlenglassaugh returns

Joe BatesTurkish delightJoe Bateschecks out the huge duty free store at Istanbul's Atatürk airport

Dave BroomHavana nightsDave explores the delights of Cuba, its wonderful rum and a changing culture

Ian BuxtonBlending the blues

Jefferson ChaseTales from the noose

Charles K CowderyHow old is too old?Charles K. Cowdery looks at the best ages for whisky and bourbon.

John RoseAsk the expert

Dominic RoskrowWelcome to Islay's gentle soulIt calls itself the gentle malt of Islay,but Bunnahabhain is much more than just that.Dominic...

Gavin D. SmithThe Italian jobGavin D Smith heads to Speyside to discover what's going on at Glen Grant

Ian WisniewskiThe most important part of any business is the people

Compass Box
Limited Release

ABV 50.1%

Comments: Nothing neutral about this - a real character.

Overall score

8.2

Connemara
1992, 15 Years Old

ABV 50.5%

Comments: The nose tells more than the palate. An additional touch of sweetness to balance the spices would make all the difference.

Overall score

7.7

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
19 Years Old

ABV 57.4%

Comments: The distillery character is dominated by the sherry one. And the high strength makes it even more blatant.A drop of water eases it a little.

Overall score

7.8

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
27 Years Old

ABV 51.9%

Comments: Splits into its (often contradictory) component parts.Lacks balance and coherence

Overall score

7.4

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
16 Years Old

ABV 55.5%

Comments: One more example of unbalanced oakiness. That sensation of nosing and tasting oak juice is notvery exciting.

Overall score

7.8

Duncan Taylor
Cask No. 5517

ABV 50.2%

Comments: That rare commodity...a mature grain. Snap it up quick the industry is in short supply!

Overall score

8.5

Duncan Taylor
1979, 28 Years Old, Cask No. 3583

ABV 54.4%

Comments: Mature. A great start!

Overall score

8.2

Eagle Rare
17 Years Old

ABV 45%

Comments: A still beautiful dram but it seems to have lost some muscles with the time. The nose remains intriguing and rich.

Overall score

8.1

George T. Stagg
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV 72.4%

Comments: Too high a strength. Water tones the alcohol down but enhance the bitterness as well

Overall score

7.7

Greenore
15 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Shy character that doesn't give much away.

Overall score

6.8

Greenore
8 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: The most typically 'grainy' of the bunch and rather dull.

Overall score

6.7

Highland Park
Artist Edition 1988

ABV 46%

Comments: A refreshing dram,quite balanced with a definite spicy character. To be enjoyed with a curried dish

Overall score

7.7

James MacArthur's Old Masters
Sincere Grain

ABV 58%

Comments: Good spirit, but an average whisky.

Overall score

7.3

Leinburn
Single Malt Speyside

ABV 43%

Comments: Nothing wrong with it but hardly exciting.

Overall score

6.8

Sazerac
18 Years Old

ABV 45%

Comments: Great balance between the sour and the sweet.

Overall score

8.0

The Glenrothes
1978 Vintage Malt

ABV 43%

Comments: Strange fellow with an austere halo. Seems unable to jump out of its oaky frame. It needs time to open up.

Overall score

8.3

The Single Malts of Scotland
Aged 15 Years

ABV 46%

Comments: Good aperitif whisky. Lulls you into a false sense of security then hits you on the finish.

Overall score

8.0

The Single Malts of Scotland
Aged 25 Years

ABV 54.7%

Comments: Lovely balance. Great everyday dram.

Overall score

8.1

The Whisky Fair
1992, 15 Years Old

ABV 56.4%

Comments: Is that a young whisky? It gives an impression of greenness and something unripe. Water is a must.

Overall score

7.7

The Whisky Fair
1984, 22 Years Old

ABV 0%

Comments: A well structured old lad but it seems to have lost some vigour. The palate is still vivid but the nose is weakening

Overall score

7.8

The Whisky Society
1994

ABV 57%

Comments: A classic Islay. Full of smoke,soot and tar.

Overall score

7.8

The Whisky Society
1992

ABV 58.5%

Comments: Great balance . Aperitif or with (sea)food.

Overall score

8.1

The Whisky Society
1992

ABV 52.6%

Comments: Fiery. Lacks balance and character. Water cuts the edges but does not improve the aroma delivery.

Overall score

7.5

Tomintoul
1976 Vintage

ABV 40%

Comments: A big initial impact then a slow gentle falling away.Worth a look.

Overall score

8.2

William Larue Weller
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV 58.95%

Comments: A fierce bourbon. A (too) long maturation has hardened the palate. Too bad as the nose promised roundness.

Overall score

7.8

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Whisky Magazine 71

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