Whisky Magazine 78

Icons of Whisky 2009 Edradour Bill Lumsden Three Glens Evan Williams The Dalmore

Buy this issue

Editor's Word Welcome to Whisky Magazine

By Rob Allanson

News spy We bring you the news,show reviews and Dave's look at the whisky world.

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events India impresses We report from the latest event in the Whisky Live family.

By Rob Allanson

A Dram with Dave Broom Convert a friend Dave encourages us to embark on a year of education,whisky style.

By Dave Broom

Awards & Events Icons of Whisky 2009 Following months of debate,scrutiny and several\rexhaustive rounds of voting,we finally reveal who has topped the Whisky Magazine charts.

By Rob Allanson

People The renaissance man Dave Broom talks innovation,metabolic pathways and obscure Scottish rock bands with Glenmorangie's head of distilling & flavour creation,Dr Bill Lumsden.

By Dave Broom

Production The green revolution With green issues firmly on the agenda,how eco-friendly have malt whisky distilleries become? Ian Wisniewski finds out.

By Ian Wisniewski

History Rural delights Gavin D Smith looks at the huge distilling complex at Bandon.

By Gavin D. Smith

People King of the blog In the latest in our series celebrating some of\rwhisky's lesser known personalities,Dominic Roskrow talks to Kevin Erskine,founder of\rthescotchblog.com.

By Dominic Roskrow

Travel Retail A sense of place Joe Bates finds a warm welcome in Sweden

By Joe Bates

Bars Journey's end Whisky Magazine's barfly Kate Portman discovers\ran oasis of whisky at the end of the line.

By Kate Portman (nee Ennis)

Travel Heading south In the latest in our series of places to visit we look at Southern Ireland.

By Rob Allanson

Distillery Focus A question of soul Edradour may be small but it's perfectly formed and as it starts to bottle malt distilled under its current owners,...

By Dominic Roskrow

People Heather's blooming success Liza Weisstuch discusses whisky,music and why talking is a good thing with Glenfiddich's Heather Greene.

By Liza Weisstuch

Tastings Raising the standard Glenfiddich,The Glenlivet and Glenmorangie are\rthree of the biggest selling malts in the world but does familiarity breed contempt? Dominic\rRoskrow suggests...

By Dominic Roskrow

History The long view Does history hold the key to future brand development? Ian Buxton puts on his white gloves and has a delve around.

By Ian Buxton

Food Patriotic Pairings Kate Portman looks at the marriage between Scottish food and whisky

By Kate Portman (nee Ennis)

Whisky & Culture Spirited words Jefferson Chase circumnavigates the globe with this latest tome.

By Jefferson Chase

Ask the Expert Ask the expert Now you can find both of John Rose's superb\rarticles about collecting whisky in one place.\rIn collections,he looks at some of...

By John Rose

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

By Rob Allanson

Rob AllansonspyWe bring you the news,show reviews and Dave's look at the whisky world.

Joe BatesA sense of placeJoe Bates finds a warm welcome in Sweden

Dave BroomThe renaissance manDave Broom talks innovation,metabolic pathways and obscure Scottish rock bands with Glenmorangie's head of distilling...

Ian BuxtonThe long viewDoes history hold the key to future brand development? Ian Buxton puts on his white...

Jefferson ChaseSpirited wordsJefferson Chase circumnavigates the globe with this latest tome.

Kate Portman (nee Ennis)Patriotic PairingsKate Portman looks at the marriage between Scottish food and whisky

John RoseAsk the expertNow you can find both of John Rose's superb\rarticles about collecting whisky in one place.\rIn...

Dominic RoskrowA question of soulEdradour may be small but it's perfectly formed and as it starts to bottle malt...

Gavin D. SmithRural delightsGavin D Smith looks at the huge distilling complex at Bandon.

Liza WeisstuchHeather's blooming successLiza Weisstuch discusses whisky,music and why talking is a good thing with Glenfiddich's Heather Greene.

Ian WisniewskiThe green revolutionWith green issues firmly on the agenda,how eco-friendly have malt whisky distilleries become? Ian Wisniewski...

Bunnahabhain
Darach Ur

ABV 46.3%

Comments: A well constructed dram but a bit stiff. I wish the alcohol was better mastered. A drop of water rounds it up a little but tends to add bitterness as well.

Overall score

7.7

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
1976, 31 Years Old

ABV 49.4%

Comments: Old, yet balanced and still filled with vigour. Recommended.

Overall score

8.6

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
1976, 32 Years Old

ABV 55.4%

Comments: Doesn’t do it for me I’m afraid.

Overall score

7.1

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
1973, 34 Years Old

ABV 52%

Comments: Good but delicate.

Overall score

8.1

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
1998, 9 Years Old

ABV 54.4%

Comments: Areal charmer.

Overall score

7.7

Dewar Rattray Cask Collection
1991, 17 Years Old

ABV 60%

Comments: Poor. “British sherry” finish?

Overall score

6.1

Douglas Laing Old & Rare
1974, 34 Years Old

ABV 58.3%

Comments: Sherry bomb lovers will like this, but a little too much for me.

Overall score

7.6

Evan Williams
Single Barrel 1999 Vintage

ABV 43.3%

Comments: An old bourbon with a good proportion of rye in the mashbill? The floral nose is enticing.

Overall score

8.1

Glencadam
1983 25 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: The palate has more to deliver than the nose. But oak prevails too much.

Overall score

8.1

John McDougall's Selection
18 Years Old

ABV 53.3%

Comments: Faulty for me.

Overall score

6.9

Master of Malt
15 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Why bottle a 15 Years Old single cask at 40%?

Overall score

7.5

Master of Malt
12 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Recession whisky?

Overall score

5.8

Old Malt Cask
1991, 17 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Water diminishes it, so I’d leave well alone.

Overall score

7.3

Old Malt Cask
1990, 18 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: For completists only.

Overall score

7.4

Old Malt Cask
1992, 16 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: The beast of Dufftown does it again.

Overall score

8.5

Scapa
16 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A little bit of a let-down after a superlative nose.

Overall score

7.6

Single & Single
2000, 8 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: It’s little more than good new make.

Overall score

6.9

Single & Single
1991, 16 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Ethereal but somehow charming.

Overall score

7.3

Single & Single
1976, 31 Years Old

ABV 47.1%

Comments: There was so little in these last three samples that it’s hard to truly discern the whisky’s real qualities (or to retaste it, as is normal practise).

Overall score

7.6

Speciality Drinks
50 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Extraordinary.

Overall score

8.5

Tamnavulin 1991 15 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: The nose is not appealing. But the taste is interesting. Water improves the nose but not the palate.

Overall score

7.5

The Dalmore
50 Years Old

ABV 52%

Comments: An old whisky which has stayed too long in wood. It was certainly beaming a good 10 years ago.

Overall score

8.1

The Famous Grouse
Blended Malt 37 Years Old

ABV 47.6%

Comments: You have got to like oaky whiskies. A lot of rich notes and complexity but the oak is too prominent for me. It should have left its cask earlier.

Overall score

8.4