Whisky Magazine 80

Jim Beam Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Kentucky Guide

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Editor's Word Welcome to Whisky Magazine

By Rob Allanson

News The view from the top

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events Whisky Week: Join the fun Enjoy a week of whisky celebrations throughout Scotland.

By Rob Allanson

Awards & Events First among piers We review the recent Whisky Live New York.

By Rob Allanson

A Dram with Dave Broom Taking a tasting bee Dave discusses language,tasting honey and the art of\rbee keeping.

By Dave Broom

News Coming on song Dominic Roskrow looks at four distilleries that have recently passed a big milestone.

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Weighing the Anker Ted Bruning looks at the latest distillery to open its doors, this time in Belgium.

By Ted Bruning

History Keeper's of the flame Gavin D Smith continues his look at great distillery fires.

By Gavin D. Smith

People A life under sail Dave Broom talks about the ocean wave, true grit,determination and a good drop of malt with one of Britain's most...

By Dave Broom

Production Maturing years Various factors influence the character of the new make spirit during maturation, and determine a malt's final flavour profile, as...

By Ian Wisniewski

History Enduring Irish heritage Gavin D.Smith looks at the legendary home of one of Ireland's celebrated whiskeys.

By Gavin D. Smith

People Blackadder ploughs on In the latest of our series celebrating some of whisky's lesser known personalities,Dominic Roskrow talks to Robin Tucek,owner of independent...

By Dominic Roskrow

Travel Retail Perfectly Prague Joe Bates heads out east to find a surprise in Eastern Europe

By Joe Bates

Bars The lure of the Isle The Editor packs his bags and heads north,to find a gem of a bar.

By Rob Allanson

Travel A state of mind The state of Kentucky offers the whiskey lover a great deal of choice. But there's plenty for the non bourbon...

By Rob Allanson

Distillery Focus Family values The bourbon industry is undergoing a major transformation, and its biggest player isn't going to fall behind. Dominic Roskrow reports...

By Dominic Roskrow

Distillery Focus Distilling revolution Liza Weisstuch looks at some of the new wave of craft distillers who have started to grab the headlines and...

By Liza Weisstuch

Ask the Expert Best buys? Ian Buxton looks at the how and why of collecting

By Ian Buxton

Food The Spice of Life Kate Portman takes her seat at the table for a bit of Eastern delight

By Kate Portman (nee Ennis)

Whisky & Culture Heavy plants crossing Jefferson Chase looks at a ground breaking 50s novel.

By Jefferson Chase

Ask the Expert Ask the expert If you have a question for John,send it to editorial@whiskymag.com or by post to Questions & Answers, Whisky Magazine, St...

By John Rose

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

By Rob Allanson

Rob AllansonWelcome to Whisky Magazine

Joe BatesPerfectly PragueJoe Bates heads out east to find a surprise in Eastern Europe

Dave BroomA life under sailDave Broom talks about the ocean wave, true grit,determination and a good drop of malt...

Ted BruningWeighing the AnkerTed Bruning looks at the latest distillery to open its doors, this time in Belgium.

Ian BuxtonBest buys?Ian Buxton looks at the how and why of collecting

Jefferson ChaseHeavy plants crossingJefferson Chase looks at a ground breaking 50s novel.

Kate Portman (nee Ennis)The Spice of LifeKate Portman takes her seat at the table for a bit of Eastern delight

John RoseAsk the expertIf you have a question for John,send it to editorial@whiskymag.com or by post to Questions...

Dominic RoskrowBlackadder ploughs onIn the latest of our series celebrating some of whisky's lesser known personalities,Dominic Roskrow talks...

Gavin D. SmithKeeper's of the flameGavin D Smith continues his look at great distillery fires.

Liza WeisstuchDistilling revolutionLiza Weisstuch looks at some of the new wave of craft distillers who have started...

Ian WisniewskiMaturing yearsVarious factors influence the character of the new make spirit during maturation, and determine a...

(ri)1

ABV 46%

Comments: A very good bold rye. Tight, spicy, acidic. but balanced.

Overall score

8.6

Alberta
Premium Canadian Rye 25 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Aha! it's Canadian. That explains its amenable nature. A different style.

Overall score

8.3

Ardbeg
Supernova

ABV 58.9%

Comments: Has considerable character. Fresh, young but for peat freaks only.

Overall score

8.5

Delilah’s
15 Year Old, Rye

ABV 50%

Comments: Big and inviting but with a dangerous gleam in the eye. Now who does that sound like?

Overall score

9.0

Duncan Taylor
30 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: Good handling of fragile old stock.

Overall score

8.0

Four Roses
2009 Limited Edition Single Barrel

ABV 0%

Comments: Intriguing.

Overall score

8.1

Glencadam
1978 30 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Good, but for me just lacks the extra layer of complexity to lift it to the next level.

Overall score

8.1

Glenfarclas The Family Casks
Release III, 1959, Cask No. 3227

ABV 50.9%

Comments: A great vintage (!) but too long in cask for me.

Overall score

6.8

Glenfarclas The Family Casks
Release III, 1979, Cask No. 2216

ABV 50.6%

Comments: A buoyant,brisk and charming dram.

Overall score

8.6

Ichiro's Malt
Eight of Hearts 1991

ABV 56.8%

Comments: The nose is as dour as the palate is vibrant and full of life. Very strange.

Overall score

7.8

Ichiro's Malt
Five of Spades 2000 9 Years Old

ABV 60.5%

Comments: A well tamed dram for its strength. Does not release a large array ofaromas but keeps a good balance.

Overall score

7.8

Jim Beam
Rye

ABV 40%

Comments: Lacks personality and complexity.

Overall score

6.5

Laphroaig
25 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: Oak dominates but still allows other notes to express themselves. There is a touch if stiffness which annoys me in this dram. But the peat one can expect from a Laphroaig is hidden.

Overall score

7.9

Penderyn
Sherrywood

ABV 46%

Comments: Young spirit not quite integrated with the oak ..yet.

Overall score

7.3

Penderyn
Rich Madeira Limited Edition

ABV 54.3%

Comments: More of a cocktail than a single malt.

Overall score

6.5

Pikesville
Supreme Straight Rye

ABV 40%

Comments: More well-mannered than Iremember.

Overall score

7.3

Red Hook
Rye

ABV 68%

Comments: A red-haired femme fatale.

Overall score

8.0

Red Stag
Black Cherry

ABV 40%

Comments: What sort of delusional person dreamt this up? Who allowed it to be bottled? Hideous.

Overall score

4.8

Rittenhouse
Bottled-in-Bond, Straight Rye, 2005, 4 Years Old

ABV 50%

Comments: This is a clever, tricksy rye. Worth a look.

Overall score

7.9

Rittenhouse
Straight Rye, 2006, 3 Years Old

ABV 40%

Comments: A solid enough performer,but lacks brio.

Overall score

7.7

Russell's Reserve
Rye

ABV 45%

Comments: A classic rye. Bartenders, this is what you need.

Overall score

8.4

Sazerac
18 Years Old

ABV 45%

Comments: More of a sipper than a cocktail rye.

Overall score

8.4

Sazerac
Rye

ABV 45%

Comments: Balanced and controlled.

Overall score

7.8

The Balvenie
Golden Cask

ABV 47.5%

Comments: A satisfying dram. Very smooth and well-balanced. Oak is melting withfruit. More character without water.

Overall score

8.1

The GlenDronach
Revival 15 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: A palate whisky.

Overall score

8.1

The Glenronach
Allardice 18 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: A port finish? The port or sherry influence is patent. It has conveyed a lot of sweetness, maybe too much. Alongside with oakiness (but a sweet one,nothing astringent).

Overall score

8.2

The Glenronach
Original 12 Years Old

ABV 43%

Comments: Decent dram but seems a tad dolled up.

Overall score

7.9

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
25.46 – Lemonade in a buttercup, 1991, 17 Years Old

ABV 56.1%

Comments: A frisky malt which tastes young. But too angular. Not a very fruitful maturation?

Overall score

7.7

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
27.72 – Harbour-side Harmonies

ABV 57.3%

Comments: Lacks integration.

Overall score

7.1

Thomas H. Handy
Sazerac, Straight Rye Whisky

ABV 63.75%

Comments: One of the first big ryes I tried. Still leaves its impact.

Overall score

8.6

Tomintoul
1995, 14 Years Old

ABV 46%

Comments: Evokes more a watercolour. But it does not have the character of a late Turner though. A very pleasant dram when a need for peace,quiet and comfort.

Overall score

7.8

Van Winkle
Family Reserve Rye, 13 Years Old

ABV 47.8%

Comments: One for a cigar and a long conversation.

Overall score

8.5

Whisky Magazine 80

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