Contents
p5
Today a new malt whisky distillery opened in Wales - the first for over a hundred years. Last week, Tomintoul Distillery was bought by a company of blenders and bottlers whom nobody has ever heard of,...
By Charles MacLean in the section
From the Editor
p7
Michael Jackson digresses democratically
When jazz musician Eubie Blake was congratulated upon his hundredth birthday, he commented: “Had I known I would live this long, I would have looked after myself better.” Shortly afterwards, he died. ...
By Michael Jackson in the section
The Gospel According to Michael Jackson
p8
Jim Murray laments the demise of more distilleries
There is a tradition which says that you can tell the difference between each Scottish distillery just by looking at the individual white-washed warehouses.
On them, written large, are their famous o...
By Jim Murray in the section
The Gospel According to Jim Murray
p16
Jane Slade traces the Prince of Wales' legendary love of Scotch
Prince Charles’ was introduced to alcohol at a rather young age and quite by accident. He was a sea cadet with the naval equivalent of the Territorial Army at Gordonstoun School. It was 1964. He was j...
By Jane Slade in the section
Whisky Interview
p20
Ian Buxton explores the whisky industy's shift from patron to sponsor of visual art.
Fancying himself an artist, whisky baron Tommy Dewar once painted a cow in a meadow and asked a friend for his opinion. ‘The ship seems alright,’ he was told, ‘but I think you have made the sea too gr...
By Ian Buxton in the section
Whisky and Art
p24
In our modern world of television, internet and persuasive advertising products appear, are accepted, flourish or even disappear merely to be replaced by a similar product. However this was not alway the case, writes Malcom Greenwood.
In the Victorian era, the approval of products was a much longer process often requiring a cultural shift or gradual, mental realignment by the consumer. These changes were of course influenced by man...
By Malcolm Greenwood in the section
Whisky Hero
p30
Over 6 million of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whisky were sold last year. Stuart Maclean Ramsay takes a look at this phenomenon on the eve of the 150th birthday of the distillery's founder, Jack Daniel
To celebrate the 4th of July I left behind the fireworks of urban American independence for a fishing trip down the winding Deschutes River in the high desert of Central Oregon. My companions were a S...
By Stuart MacLean Ramsay in the section
Whisky anniversary
p34
Roby Lakatos and his band are redfining Hungarian gipsy music with the help of malt whisky. Ken Hyder reports.
Gipsy influence is everywhere in music. Flamenco and central European classical music would not sound like they do without the tribes who headed west from India. And can you easily think of a Hungari...
By Ken Hyder in the section
Whisky and Music
p36
Dave Broom visits Orkney, the home of Highland Park, and discovers that there is more to this timeless island than exceptional whisky
Orkney is mystical and beautiful. Made up of distinctive flat discs of green, the islands sit in a watery silver light to form a northern floating world - a magical place where the past almost encroac...
By Dave Broom in the section
Distillery Focus
p41
'Win a week's sailing in the Classic Malts Millennium Cruise,' writes Philip Froude, 'too good a chance to let pass by I think and, blow me down, I win!'
Saturday 15th July
Well, the waiting’s over, today’s the day. Carol, my wife, and I are off to claim our prize. Flying to Glasgow via Gatwick gives me an opportunity to gloat at my colleagues at World...
By Philip Froude in the section
Whisky Travel
p42
It's one of the easier whisky trivia questions. Which three Scottish distilleries are allowed to append the word 'royal' to their titles, asks Gavin Smith.
The answer is Royal Brackla, Royal Lochnagar and Glenury Royal, and, sadly, there are no liquid prizes for being correct. All three distilleries date from the first two decades of the 19th century but...
By Gavin D. Smith in the section
Distillery Focus
p50
Philip Hills writes an introduction to the first part of an abridged extract from his fascinatin new book Appreciating whisky
The great Doctor Johnson once said that no man but a blockhead ever wrote - except for money. I take it as a compliment that the editor should think I may be one of the blockheads, since he has asked...
By Pip Hills in the section
Whisky Tasting
p54
The award of a Royal warrant is a hugely prestigious achievement. Elizabeth Walton explains the significance.
Any right thinking person with a preference for Laphroaig’s distinctive, rich flavour finds themself in the very best company. His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, granted Laphroaig his Royal Warr...
By Elizabeth Walton in the section
Royal Whisky
p58
Hundreds of people renning around the Scottish highlands searching for 1000 hidden bottles of single malt? Surely not? Maxwell Macleod decides whteher this is actually whisky myth or legend
First take one thousand bottles of prime Scotch malt whisky, provided free by someone in the industry as an advertising gimmick, and then put them in some remote Highland glen. Then, whisky hidden, yo...
By Maxwell MacLeod in the section
Whisky Days Out
p62
The old Taylor Distillery is getting a new lease of life Paul Harris investigates.
Glenn’s Creek is as picturesque as anything the River Spey has to offer. The fast running waters are just as clear, although the defile is narrower and the lush vegetation overshadows the green waters...
By Paul Harris in the section
Distillery Focus
p66
A freelance writer devoted to whisky, Martine Nouet is also a keen advocate of malt whisky dinners. She runs 'cooking with malt whisky' classes in Paris and wants to promote the blending of whisky with fine food.
Being a frequent traveller to Scotland and always on the look-out for the most charming B & B or country house hotels with genuine Scottish fare, I am always surprised to notice a lack of dishes cooke...
By Martine Nouet in the section
Whisky and Food
p70
Malcolm Greenwood samples the other 'water of life', pure mineral water, in Scotland.
The small village of Blackford, at the base of the Ochil Hills in Perthshire, Scotland, is the headquarters and location of the UK’s largest producer and exporter of natural mineral water. It is water...
By Malcolm Greenwood in the section
Scottish Whisky
p76
Ken Hoskins travels to eastern Europe and puts his feet up in the Be Bop Bar with his new Czech mate.
Who would consider Prague a whisky drinking destination? The only distilled spirit the Czechs are known for is Karlovarska Becherovka, a bitter herbal concoction best left to little old ladies and to ...
By Ken Hoskins in the section
Great whisky bars
p94
Charles Maclean talks to the General Manger of America's oldest (and youngest) distillery.
CM What was the background to the idea?
BC Well, we felt that American distillers had not done all they could to develop connoisseurship amongst their consumers. You only have to look at what Robert M...
By Charles MacLean in the section
Whisky Interview
