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Whisky Glossary : Malt

Whisky Glossary and Definitions

Unlike wine, for example, whisky is not really about mystification, but it does bring its own jargon. Any unusual terms you are likely to come across are described and defined in this section.

 
 

Issue 111 Out Now

Whisky Magazine Issue 111

Kentucky, Louisville, Benromach

 

Malt

Any grain which has been made to germinate, and then been dried to arrest growth.


With this issue Whisky Magazine celebrates its first anniversary. The birthday party will be held in New York because this issue also marks our arrival in the US, the largest consumer of whisky and wh...

October 1999, Issue 6, page 5


While oak ageing is an historic tradition, wood management is a far more recent discipline. The benefits of oak ageing have long been appreciated, rather than understood, but it's only since the 1970s...

August 2002, Issue 25, page 59

100 Greatest Distilleries to Visit
Our team of writers around the world give you the distilleries you should visit.

December 2011, Issue 100, page 30

100 Greatest Whisky People
We highlight the people who have left a lasting legacy on the whisky world over the years.

December 2011, Issue 100, page 16

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50 not out
In these times when both job security and loyalty are so often at a premium, it seems remarkable that one man has worked for the same company for 50 years. Even in the Scotch whisky industry, where f...

January 1970, Issue 84, page 8

A balance of tradition and efficiency (Speyburn)
Deanston Distillery is something of a hidden gem. Ian Buxton visited it

April 2006, Issue 55, page 26

A barrel of laughs
Brian Hennigan chuckles his way through a rich supply of Scottish whisky humour

August 2002, Issue 25, page 18

A big hand for gambling nights
Social poker nights both at home or at style bars and clubs have been the fad trend of 2005 – and whisky has been the drink of choice. Rob Allanson reports

January 2006, Issue 53, page 18

A bourbon thoroughbred
Stuart Maclean Ramsay was totally sedcued by Kentucky's smallest distillery, which uses Scottish copper pot stills and a rare method of distillation.

December 1999, Issue 7, page 30

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 all their own way.Dominic Roskrow looks at the new wave of world whisky

September 2007, Issue 66, page 18

A brave new world
Using his knowledge and passion for wine,whisky maker John Hall is creating one of the most iconic Canadian brands, Rob Allanson went to find out why.

November 2007, Issue 67, page 45

A Brecht of stale air
Dave Broomon the worrying trend towards ruthless discounting

June 2005, Issue 48, page 12

A Bridge Further
Whisky chef Martine Nouet looks at some extreme pairings

March 2012, Issue 102, page 57

A Canadian Feast
Martine Nouet heads north for a challenging pairing

March 2011, Issue 94, page 52

A captivating cocktail
Ian Wisniewski looks at the Atholl Brose

June 2006, Issue 56, page 25

A Case for Blends
Gavin D. Smithis a regular contributor to Whisky Magazine and the author of more than a dozen books about whisky, along with several on beer and Scottish history. He is also contributing editor of www...

September 2011, Issue 98, page 13

A case of Norwegian wood
Martin Moodle conducts his annual survey on what's hot - and good value - in the duty free shops of the world

August 2002, Issue 25, page 56

A China crisis?
Dominic Roskrow considers what the long term effects of an increased demand for whisky might be

March 2006, Issue 54, page 5

A choice dram
Tom Bruce-Gardyne meets one of single-cask bottling's real success stories, as Lorne Mackillop and his Mackillop's Choice label go from strength to strength

May 2002, Issue 22, page 48

A City of Secret Spots
Davin de Kergommeauxgoes searching in Taipei for some excellent bars

December 2012, Issue 108, page 46

A class of their own
Tom Bruce-Gardyne looks into the story of the Haig empire

October 2002, Issue 26, page 48

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

April 2008, Issue 71, page 38

A cure for hiccups
Robin Laing takes a gentle stroll with his friend through Speyside

November 2004, Issue 44, page 34

A day in the life... (Richard Paterson)
Dave Broom follows JBB's Richard Paterson on a typical working day and learns much about blending, showbiz and living life at full pelt

July 2001, Issue 17, page 20

A Decade of Challenges
Martine Nouetheads to Sweden to find out what has been happening at the country's foremost distillery

February 2012, Issue 101, page 34

A decade of words
To mark our 10th anniversary we decided to dig into our archives and bring some of the wittiest, incisive and often poignant words from our two columnists, starting the late, great Michael Jackson.

November 2008, Issue 76, page 14

A different beast
Canada's whisky industry is a pale imitation of what it once was. But if you're thinking of visiting its distilleries be prepared for a lot of travel – its few remaining distilleries are spread righ...

September 2007, Issue 66, page 32

A distillery seeped in history (Clynelish)
Ian Buxton travels North of Inverness to the remote distillery at Clynelish

July 2005, Issue 49, page 34

A distillery well off the beaten track (Tomatin)
Our mystery visitor made the long trek to Tomatin and found a distillery not geared up for the tourist or casual visitor

November 2004, Issue 44, page 17

A dream of a distillery (Arran)
Our Mystery Visitor travels to Arran

November 2003, Issue 35, page 42

A drop of the soft stuff
Ian Wisniewski assesses the effect of the water used in whisky production and as mixer on the drink we love

October 2002, Issue 26, page 52

A family affair
Charles Maclean visits inverarity Vaults a family company which has already earnt quite a reputation for the quality of its whiskies

December 2000, Issue 13, page 48

A family affair
John Lamond examines the history of this independent distillery

July 2002, Issue 24, page 52

A Family Affair
Connosr.com is a social network site for whisky enthusiasts. We spoke to Pierre about the rise and rise of one of the web's best sites

April 2011, Issue 95, page 31

A fishy tale
In the latest in an occasional series of matching whisky with food, Dave Broom compares and contrasts some sushi-whisky combinations

October 2003, Issue 34, page 61

 

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Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 9 Years Old, Millennium Malt
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.10%
9 Frighteningly good. Godzilla is alive and well and living in Campbeltown.

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

BenRiach 30 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
9 Soft, subtle and not overwooded. Just shades it over the 25yo this time.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Glengoyne 2000 AD
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
9 Delicious example of maltiness in a whisky. I always enjoy Glengoynes very much, but they invariably leave me wanting a little more.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Highland Park 1970, 4.73
Single Malt - Scotland - 52.50%
9 Not as sophisticated as the distillery bottlings, but robustly salty, earthy and peaty. Good characteristics, but in this bottling they mask the maltiness and sherry character. I wonder whether all is...

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

BenRiach 21 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 56.70%
8 Reveals a rich profile by a succession of aromatic layers. Alcohol is perfectly tamed.

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

Glengoyne 32 Years Old, Single Cask
Single Malt - Scotland - 48.70%
8 Complex, old, not perfect, but good darned fun!

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Yamazaki 1979, Japanese Oak Cask, 119.2
Single Malt - Japan - 57.40%
8 A breakfast malt? Splendidly complex, with Japanese oak adding that extra touch of distinctiveness.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

BenRiach Heredotus Famosus Pedro Ximinez Finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
8 Fantastic balance and richness of character.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

BenRiach 25 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
8 Another killer from Mr Walker's warehouse. Distillery of the year for me.

Glengoyne 37 Years Old, Sherry Butt
Single Malt - Scotland - 47.60%
8 Sweet, filling, rich and satisfying. An impressive afterdinner drop.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Yamazaki, 10 Years Old, 119.3
Single Malt - Japan - 56.20%
8 A surprising amount of peat in this usually very delicate malt.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society The Sting of a bee 42.5 1973 33 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 48.50%
8 Very satisfying.A beautiful bourbon cask maturation. Superb to match with a cheesecake or lemon meringue pie. But the sting of the bee must be blunt,I did not feel it.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

BenRiach Maderensis Fumosus Madeira Finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
8 Great balance. When Madeira works it really works!

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

Bunnahabhain 1968 Auld Aquaintance, Hogmanay Edition
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.80%
8 A brilliantly sunny winter's day; a walk by the sea in late afternoon; a dram at dusk. Still Bunnahabhain, but so different.

Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
8 An appetising islander. On the sweet side. Bring the langoustines and the scallops.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 116.12 Yoichi 21 Years Old
Blended Malt - Japan - 54.20%
8 Ah Yoichi..it's Ardbeg in Hokkaido.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 26.7 An Absolute Cracker
Single Malt - Scotland - 54.50%
8 Tastes old.Superb. Refined and complex. Still so lively and fresh. Hard to leave…

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 1972 Birthday Bottle
Single Malt - Scotland - 54.60%
8 Lovely chestnut colour. Soothing. After dinner and in front of a log fire. A touch woody, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Old Fettercairn, 37 Years Old, 94.3
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.10%
8 An elegant, elderly chatelaine.

Bunnahabhain 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.30%
8 On the oak side but with depth and distinction.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

BenRiach Authenticus Peated Single Malt 21 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
8 Another region-buster and a good one too.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Bunnahabhain 35 Years Old Limited Edition
Single Malt - Scotland - 44.90%
8 You'd never guess this was 35. Great life, balance and bags of character. A beauty.

BenRiach Solstice 15 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
8 A somewhat lurid colour, but this is an extremely sound and stylish BenRiach with an integration not often seen in finished whiskies.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 64.15 Mannochmore 15 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.10%
8 Multifaceted and fascinating.

Bunnahabhain 1963
Single Malt - Scotland - 42.90%
8 The Islay origins become more obvious the more mature Bunnahabhain is. This one would be comfortable in distant Cathay or in Tokyo or even 42nd Street.

Bunnahabhain 1968, The Family Silver Vintage Reserve
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
8 Because it is less aggressive than some of its neighbours, Bunnahabhain is often regarded as not being a proper Islay malt. This proves it can be.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Hakushu 1981, 21 Years Old, 120.1
Single Malt - Japan - 60.70%
8 A very enigmatic malt. Lighter in body but drier and more assertive in flavour than Yamazaki. A digestif.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Yamazaki 1980, White Oak Cask, 119.1
Single Malt - Japan - 50.90%
8 Elegant, and more flavoursome than Suntory bottlings I think.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Yamazaki 1991, 11 Years Old, 119.5
Single Malt - Japan - 62.20%
8 Saves all the action for the finish. Very appetising.

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Yoichi, 116.1
Single Malt - Japan - 56.60%
8 A whole sequence of flavours emerges in this vintage. These are flavours I have found before in Nikka whiskies, but they have not been especially evident elsewhere in this flight.

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Yoichi, 116.4
Single Malt - Japan - 64.90%
8 Lots happening. Nice interplay of elements.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

BenRiach Arumaticus Fumosus Dark Rum Finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
8 A constantly shifting but balanced mix of sweetness and smoke and distillery character.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

BenRiach Importanticus Fumosus Tawny Port Finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
8 Worth a look.

BenRiach 16 Years Old 1995 Cask 7164
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.30%
8 This whisky is oak dominated. Too much for me as we have lost the distillery character, but the nose is expressive. Beware of water, it kills it.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 7.51 Longmorn Sweet, Rich & Fruity 1984 26 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.40%
8 Balanced and fine. Worth a look.

 

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