A new elite in Russia is demanding the world’s very best products, quality single malt among them. Marcin Miller reports
It’s 1.20am on a Thursday in October. A party of four, we shake the snow off our boots and check in our coats at Prado, one of Moscow’s most chic style bars.
I am astounded that we are considered fortunate to get a table, in the early hours, midweek. That’s the way it is in the capital city of one ...
Whisky Travel
from Issue 53 published on 12/01/2006
This year’s Speyside Festival was a great success. Marcin Miller was there
Visiting a distillery gives you greater understanding of the meaning of whisky. Attending a festival gives you that to the power of 10 or more. How? Contextually, culturally and exclusively, that’s how.
Reading about a trek someone else undertook is fine. But it’s not the same as lacing up your boo...
Whisky Events
from Issue 40 published on 4/6/2004
Nothing lasts forever. Look at the England rugby team’s unbeaten record at Twickenham (fortunately, I couldn’t watch Ireland break England’s
winning streak as I was at Whisky Live). Look at Cardhu Pure Malt.
Well, another constant coming to an end is my tenure at Whisky Magazine. It is with a tear ...
From the Editor
from Issue 39 published on 1/5/2004
Spring: the season of fecundity, rebirth and renewal. And, of course, Whisky Live in London. The merry-go-round begins again. Today London and, in two weeks time, whisky events in San Francisco and Copenhagen. Then comes the season of festivals on Speyside and on Islay.
Spring: the season of fecundity, rebirth and renewal. And, of course, Whisky Live in London. The merry-go-round begins again. Today London and, in two weeks time, whisky events in San Francisco and Copenhagen. Then comes the season of festivals on Speyside and on Islay.
Those who read the magazine ...
From the Editor
from Issue 38 published on 7/4/2004
Oddly enough, unlike the 1,000 or so visitors, I did not get the opportunity to taste much at Whisky Live in Tokyo (see review pages 16-17). However, those precious few whiskies I did manage to sample were fascinating.
Oddly enough, unlike the 1,000 or so visitors, I did not get the opportunity to taste much at Whisky Live in Tokyo (see review pages 16-17). However, those precious few whiskies I did manage to sample were fascinating.
The Dave Broom Suntory Masterclass was extraordinary for many reasons: I was a P...
From the Editor
from Issue 37 published on 23/2/2004
The fifth Whisky Live in Japan not only attracted a sell-out crowd, but it was a major success too. Marcin Miller reports
Whisky Live in Japan attracted more than 1,000 visitors as it celebrated its fifth year – and a host of other anniversaries.
The event opened with a welcome speech from the British Ambassador, Sir Stephen Gommersall, at the VIP reception.
The Ambassador took the opportunity to mix with many repres...
Whisky Live
from Issue 37 published on 23/2/2004
Welcome to a landmark issue. A milestone. When Whisky Magazine was launched there were many blinkered sceptics – you know who you are – who asked “what on earth will you find to write about? Is there enough to regularly fill a magazine?”
Welcome to a landmark issue. A milestone. When Whisky Magazine was launched there were many blinkered sceptics – you know who you are – who asked “what on earth will you find to write about? Is there enough to regularly fill a magazine?”
Well, with the combined support of our loyal readers and the ...
From the Editor
from Issue 36 published on 28/12/2003
Five years, my brain hurts alot; five years, that's all we've got..."
Five years, my brain hurts a lot; five years, that’s all we’ve got…”
When David Bowie manically sang his way through the opening track on the classic Ziggy Stardust album, few would have given him much more than five years. Nobody would have entertained the possibility that the album would triumpha...
from Issue 36 published on 28/12/2003
This will be the last time I refer to the Ardbeg-sponsored Islay half marathon. Until next year's race, that is. Although it would not be unfair to
suggest that the word 'race' is too strong a term for my approach to the run.
Thank you to all my sponsors whose generous donations will help many peop...
The Miller's Tale
from Issue 35 published on 17/11/2003
Last Thursday I met two men who had bought distilleries in the last month: Michael Beamish and Leonard Russell. For me they represent the
joyful polarity of the whisky industry.
Michael was on time and looked immaculate. He had travelled to Edinburgh from Perthshire for an 8.30am meeting and was bu...
The Miller's Tale
from Issue 34 published on 5/10/2003
The Islay-Jura ferry wasn’t working.
The Islay-Jura ferry wasn’t working. My party and I thought it best to leave it a while. Clearly, we wouldn’t make the midday crossing. Anticipating that it be a while before the ferry was running again, we decided to head back to the south end of the island and visit the Kildalton distilleries. We...
The Miller's Tale
from Issue 33 published on 25/9/2003
As I write, the football season in the UK has just come to a close. Which prompts me to ask a question. Is Highland Distillers to whisky what
Manchester United are to European football’s Champions League? Diageo is Real Madrid. Its attacking heart comprises Raul (Cragganmore: great all-rounder with ...
From the Editor
from Issue 32 published on 13/7/2003
Thank you to everyone who exhibited and attended Whisky Live. And to the Whisky Magazine team who contributed to making it such a fantastic
event. It was the biggest ever and a sell out.
There were, of course, many highlights you can read about on pages 21 to 23. I’d love to tell you more about wha...
The Miller's Tale
from Issue 31 published on 9/6/2003
One aspect of the readership of Whisky Magazine that I have never fully appreciated is that so many of you are excellent proof-readers.
What was intended as a light-hearted joke – or, as regular Whisky Forum contributor Iain has it, a little bit of mischief – and to put the
new editor under a littl...
The Miller's Tale
from Issue 30 published on 7/4/2003
Another fascinating 12 months in the world of whisky, then. The trend for small independents buying distilleries from large multinationals goes on. Announcements of new smaller-scale distilling projects continue apace. The number of whisky tasting events is multiplying. And James Bond is still drink...
The Miller's Tale
from Issue 29 published on 24/3/2003
Whisky Live Japan goes from strength to strength and is getting weirder as it does so. Marcin Miller mixes it with Tokyo’s finest
A good cocktail is all in the shaking, as one Tokyo bar owner took great delight in explaining to me during my recent visit to Japan.
Exactly the same ingredients, shaken in the same quantities but in different ways, can either come together in a delightful marriage, greater than the sum of its par...
Whisky Events
from Issue 29 published on 24/3/2003
Listening to another overlong speech at The International Wine & Spirits Competition Dinner, a desperately unoriginal thought struck me. How about organising a classification of Scotch single malt whisky distilleries? Not merely by geography, nor indeed by flavour profile, but into divisions. You kn...
The Miller's Tale
from Issue 28 published on 16/1/2003
Marcin Miller visits Colin Scott, Master Blender at Chiva Brothers to learn about the subtle art of alchemy
Let’s avoid the stuff you all know about already. The stuff about blending being the backbone of the industry, that blending accounts for up to 95% (estimates vary) of total whisky sales and so on. You know all that because you read Whisky Magazine and we take every opportunity available to remind y...
Whisky Production
from Issue 27 published on 16/11/2002
At last this year’s worst kept secret in whisky can be revealed. Andrew Symington has purchased Edradour Distillery from Chivas Brothers. The major frustration of publishing is that of schedules and deadlines. At the risk of sounding smug, Whisky Magazine was closer to this deal than
anyone else (as...
From the Editor
from Issue 26 published on 16/10/2002
Regular readers of this magazine are no doubt aware that, if they have the cash to hand, there are distilleries out there simply waiting for a decent offer.
This has manifested itself in several well-documented distillery purchases, of which Ardbeg and Bruichladdich are but two. At the time of wr...
From the Editor
from Issue 25 published on 16/8/2002
Should you be scanning the illustration on the cover of this issue looking for your home country, please don’t take offence if it is not there. It’s a cartoon and does not, therefore, bear excessive geographical examination. Similarly, don’t take offence if the caricature is unjust – that’s the whol...
From the Editor
from Issue 24 published on 16/7/2002
Marcin Miller joined a very select number of invited guests for the ultimate Macallan tasting.
Without a hint of exaggeration, this was the most remarkable tasting of The Macallan ever staged. Ulf Buxrud, the deferred consumer (see Whisky Magazine Issue 21), wanted to celebrate his 60th birthday. What better way to toast this landmark than by opening some of the very rarest bottles from his a...
Whisky Tasting
from Issue 24 published on 16/7/2002
There is no doubt that the glass you use has an effect on the appreciation of the spirit therein. Marcin Miller investigate further.
Why do we make life so difficult for ourselves? Why couldn’t we just have one whisky and seven different glasses? That is what most people would have done. But no. That would have been too easy. This tasting featured seven different glasses and five different whiskies. This was done because we all k...
Whisky Tasting
from Issue 24 published on 16/7/2002
Spring is here. It must be as the various Distillery Managers, Master Distillers and Master Blenders have been dusted down after their winter hibernation in preparation for the first round of festivals and events. First stop was Whisky Live, London in March (see pages 22 to 27). Thence a migration t...
From the Editor
from Issue 23 published on 16/6/2002
In Issue 20, Pip Hills argued, with some passion, the case for Scotch being a cultural product. Surely the government will be doing whatever it can to support and energise the industry? At the time of writing, The Scottish Affairs Select Committee has issued a report calling for ‘the end of tax disc...
From the Editor
from Issue 22 published on 16/5/2002
Marcin Miller particpates in setting a whisky record in Sweden's beautiful capital Stockholm
Well, rather than being broken, a record was established for the biggest ever whisky tasting on 24th November 2001 at The World Trade Centre, Stockholm. A staggering 1210 people tasted five whiskies: three Islays, an Orkney and an Irish whiskey.
The tasting was the brainchild of Angela Forsgren d’O...
Whisky Events
from Issue 21 published on 16/2/2002
Tokyo was host ot Whisky Live Japan 2001-and Marcin Miller was there to report on the festivities
Following the success and the positive feedback regarding last year’s event, the scope of Whisky Live Tokyo 2001 was far broader: it boasted an opening seminar tasting of five whiskies, a closing seminar tasting of five whiskies, 12 Masterclasses in between and a massive 29 exhibitors in the open ta...
Whisky Events
from Issue 21 published on 16/2/2002
You are male, in your early 40s. You are married with two children and have a household income of over £50,000 ($80,000) per year. You have visited distilleries in Scotland. You always read Michael Jackson’s column, the news section, distillery pieces and the tastings. You would like to see more cov...
From the Editor
from Issue 20 published on 16/12/2001
As has been mentioned before in the pages of Whisky Magazine, the appreciation of whisky is a convivial pursuit. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than on adventures such as the Classic Malts Cruise. Take a hundred yachts of all shapes and sizes, fill them with four to five crew and a skipper, ens...
From the Editor
from Issue 19 published on 16/11/2001
For us whisky enthusiasts, there are few places we'd rather be than on Islay during the whisky festival (see Dave Broom's diary, pages 20-22).
I had the good fortune to stay on the island as a guest of Society. This on-line organisation encourages and enables members to visit the island. Cruciall...
From the Editor
from Issue 18 published on 16/9/2001
The Keepers promote the goodwill of the industry and honour those who have made a significant contribution to it
On the last day of April, the Spring banquet of The Keepers Of The Quaich took place at Blair Castle, hereditary seat of the Duke of Atholl. This bi-annual shindig is the opportunity for the Scotch whisky industry to honour those who have been actively involved in the promotion of Scotch on the worl...
From the Editor
from Issue 17 published on 16/7/2001
Marcin Miller evaluates the inaugural Whisky Magazine Live and comes to the conclusion that if you missed it, you missed out
Finally, the dust has settled. All the hours of preparation that went into Whisky Magazine Live paid off as approximately 400 visitors attended the inaugural event at The Churchill Inter-Continental Hotel in London’s Portman Square.
The event was solely about tasting and appreciating whisky. The e...
Whisky Live
from Issue 17 published on 16/7/2001
Why the best of the best? We have tasted our way through over 300 whiskies in the last couple of years. However, we have relied almost exclusively on two very authoritative palates. I felt it would be of enormous interest to take a selection of the highest scoring of these whiskies, divide them into...
From the Editor
from Issue 16 published on 16/6/2001
Mrcin Miller explores Edinburgh's five star attraction that seeks to increase awareness of Scotlanad's whisky heritage
The vast majority of tourists who come to Scotland don’t travel any further north than Edinburgh and, therefore, don’t make it to the distillery visitor centres that are found in the rest of the country. To cater for those unadventurous types who don’t head further north, The Scotch Whisky Heritage ...
Whisky Travel
from Issue 16 published on 16/6/2001
Marcin Miller explains the objective of the Best of the Best tasting and how the 47 whiskies were selected, categorised and scored.
The objective of the Best of the Best Tasting was to come up with a consensus of opinion. The scoring scale is based on that used in the magazine: marks are awarded out of ten and a score of five out of 10 indicates that what has been sampled is, in fact, whisky. The whiskies were selected from the ...
Whisky Awards
from Issue 16 published on 16/6/2001
You’ll notice a small change in the leader column this issue: the picture next to it is not of The Walrus of Whisky, Charles MacLean, though he continues in his capacity as Editor-at-Large.
I’ve just organised a whisky tasting in three continents. For all three events we ended up using wine glasses...
From the Editor
from Issue 15 published on 16/4/2001
Marcin Miller talks to author Ian Rankin, 'the hottest name in British crime fiction', a whisky enthusiast with a gift for finding good bars
Two years ago Ian Rankin’s Black and Blue won The Macallan Gold Dagger, the annual international crime writing award. “That is when things really took off, sales quadrupled. Everything clicked.” He is now the hottest name in British crime fiction.
Ian Rankin is bright, welcoming and affable. Three...
Whisky Interview
from Issue 15 published on 16/4/2001
Whisky Magazine Live is to be launched very soon, intended to give you, the whisky enthusiast, the opportunity to taste many great whiskies. The event will also give you the chance to enjoy to speaking to the producers, blenders and distillers who create the drink that gives us all so much pleasure....
Whisky Live
from Issue 14 published on 16/2/2001
Marcin Miller talks to Owsley Brown Frazier, former Vice Chairman of the Brown-Forman Corporation, and finds him calmly enjoying his retirement
The large corner office occupied by Owsley Brown Frazier exudes an air of harmony, as does the man himself. Unflustered and unhurried since his retirement in June, he gives an impression of a man at peace with himself. This is understandable given that he personally owns (together with two of his co...
Whisky Dynasty
from Issue 14 published on 16/2/2001
Marcin Miller captures the spirit of the Far East, where Scotch malt whisky is revered and there is no indigenous whisky publication to indulge the passion of the many Japanese Malt enthusiasts
For many years, the Far East has been regarded as an area in which Britain’s fifth biggest export, Scotch malt whisky, is revered. Many whisky producers have attempted to seduce the Japanese with exclusively packaged products appealing to the high-spending enthusiasts and collectors looking to indul...
Japanese Whisky
from Issue 14 published on 16/2/2001
Marcin Miller catches up with some of the key figures in the world of bourbon during the Gala Dinner of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival
Once again, Bardstown took centre staged for this year's Festival as whiskey enthusiasts poured into Kentucky from all around the world. A highlight of this year's Festival was the Bourbon Heritage Panel chaired by the enthusiastic and impressive Mike Veach (UD archivist and published whiskey histor...
Kentucky
from Issue 13 published on 16/12/2000
The distinctly 'non-horsey' Marcin Miller dons his wellies in Pitlochry for a spot of whisky fuelled equestrianism.
The showcase for the best of Scottish equestrianism is the Bowmore Blair Castle International Horse Trials. Nothing prepares you for it. To the non-horsey of us, the idea of equestrianism, and particularly three day eventing, suggests the painfully one-dimensional fictional world of Jilly Cooper. Th...
Whisky Days Out
from Issue 13 published on 16/12/2000
You can feel the tension ease from your shoulders as you are met at Inverness airport. A representative assists you in the normally stressful business of removing your baggage from the uncluttered conveyor belt. That sets the tone for the remainder of your sojourn. Nothing is too much trouble.
Some...
Great whisky hotels
from Issue 11 published on 16/9/2000
Over 60 guests attended Whisky Magazine’s inaugural reader dinner for an exceptional tasting of a range of Aberlour single malts. Marcin Miller was there
Whisky magazine’s first sponsored reader dinner was held at London’s premier restaurant, Novellis EC1 and attended by Michael Jackson, Whisky Magazine’s constultant editor, David Boyd, master blender at Campbell Distillers who produce Aberlour and Georg Riedel, designer of the world’s finest selecti...
Whisky Events
from Issue 8 published on 16/2/2000
Marcin Miller receives an education in whisky detection
How much do you know about whisky? I mean really know. Indeed, how much do you know about yourself? I don’t mean that Freudian couch business -– rather how good is your ability to evaluate what your senses are telling you? Every person’s nose has idiosyncrasies, by being aware of what they are you l...
Whisky School
from Issue 8 published on 16/2/2000
Young entrepreneur Keir Sword is going places with Scotch. Marcin Miller met up with him at his shop on Edinburgh’s famous thoroughfare
Keir Sword – you can’t forget a name like that in a hurry – thrives on change and the special buzz that only seizing a daring opportunity can bring.
Three years ago he took over Royal Mile Whiskies, situated on Edinburgh’s legendary street. Set up in 1991 by Ken and Ian Taylor, Keir had previously ...
Great whisky retailers
from Issue 8 published on 16/2/2000
There’s nothing like a heady blend of sunshine, history and great hospitality to create a great drink, as Marcin Miller discovered
I'm not sure about you, but travelling around in the air-conditioned luxury of a Chrysler Voyager, driving past signs proudly advertising 'The most awesome fleamarket in the world', admiring the yard art while listening to Tom Waits' Mule Variations playing on WFPK Radio all makes for a pretty good ...
Distillery Focus
from Issue 6 published on 16/10/1999
