In the latest in our series of pieces from guest writers, John Haydock– the master – is back
Readers of Whisky Magazine will be delighted to learn that my recuperation from the trauma of my ‘Quite Possibly the 10 Best Malt Whiskies in the World’ masterclass at the inaugural Baghdad Whisky Live (“well,” as my old industry chum Rupert mused, “you have to admire them for their chutzpah”) is al...
The Last Word
from Issue 43 published on 23/10/2004
It’s not often you get to see inside the secret life of John Haydock
Whisky Magazine’s Jocasta Eatwell writes:
Few men have brought as much fame and fortune to the Scottish whisky industry than John Haydock, that writer whose words bring so much pleasure to drinkers all over the world.
But who is this man?
But for the power of his pen, silent and reclusive, a mode...
An acidic finish
from Issue 35 published on 17/11/2003
Is the great John Haydockrattled? It would seem so. Here he goes on the defensive and answers his critics
Readers of Whisky Magazine will by now be only too sadly aware of the war of words and media misinformation that has broken out surrounding the latest edition of the definitive malt whisky biography – Haydock forever changes.
I claim, as is my right, these hallowed pages (not some other so-called ‘...
An acidic finish
from Issue 34 published on 5/10/2003
Ever wondered about the demands of being a whisky superstar? John Haydockoffers his answerphone contents up for scrutiny
You don’t have to be a world-famous whisky superstar like yours truly to need an answerphone, but when you are, it sure beats the hell out of having to accept a Mannochmore Martini when you know that somewhere there’s a Longmorn Lombomba on offer – if you get my drift.
Just try to imagine all my tr...
An acidic finish
from Issue 32 published on 13/7/2003
John Haydockcongratulates himself on discovering the secret behind current whisky-naming trends
I’m still recovering from a grossly unjustified attack I received at the hands of several of my whisky-writing colleagues at the recent ‘Best of the Best’ (sic) tasting. True, I may have got my blends confused with my bourbons, and my Irish with my Islays, but these are errors that anyone, no matter...
An acidic finish
from Issue 30 published on 7/4/2003
John Haydockreflects on his many past and present glories
People often ask me, “John, what is it that motivates you to continue to aspire to the very highest levels of achievement in the world of whisky writing, after all these heady and glorious years?”
“Is it”, they ask, “the luxurious first-class round-the-world travel at others’ expense, the five-star...
An acidic finish
from Issue 28 published on 16/1/2003
John Haydock id rather sharply reminded of hid 'contractual obligations' to whisky Magazine
From P. T. Ale, The Archiestown Office of Messrs Sparge,
Badger & Joe:
Dear Mr Haydock,
Further to our earlier conversations, it is with regret that I must write to you to remind you of your strict obligations with respect to certain clauses in your contract with Whisky Magazine.
1) Humour: under ...
An acidic finish
from Issue 27 published on 16/11/2002
Flying in the face of controversy, John Haydock takes on the establishment with his new book
As my Editor has chosen to reject my latest offering, on the grounds that ‘it’s too difficult for you’, I offer by way of a stop-gap alternative an excerpt from my latest forthcoming publication, Haydock’s Lazy Lexicon of Scotch. I have chosen to give you the letter ‘F’, for no other reason than it ...
An acidic finish
from Issue 26 published on 16/10/2002
John Haydock, Whisky Magazine's new columnist, hops aboard the "tasting-note gravy train" to join his whisky writing chums on a rather profitable journey.
For whatever reason I’ve never managed to embark the tasting-note gravy train that so many of my eminent whisky-writing colleagues manage to ride so prosperously on. I know it’s not easy – spending all your waking hours tasting the contents of parcels of whisky that are sent gratis to your door by f...
The Last Word
from Issue 16 published on 16/6/2001
