Contents
p5
A thrill ran through the press shortly before Christmas, summed up by The Scotsman’s headline: "Cheaper Whisky As Good As Fine Malts Say Experts" and inspired by a Which? report which had completed a ...
By Charles MacLean in the section
From the Editor
p7
Michael Jackson on the road again, testifies to the magic of malt... and music
Paris. Around midnight. No, it's later: the wee small hours. The dinner is long over, whiskies and all. Robin Laing has poured out the last of his vocal tributes to the water of life. Norma Monro has ...
By Michael Jackson in the section
The Gospel According to Michael Jackson
p8
Jim Murray mourns the loss of Cecil Williams, a man dedicated to whiskey and a much loved friend to the end.
It’s strange how fate will play its quirky little tricks on life. And how often are they unbearably sad. The other day I was talking to my octogenarian neighbour in England who observed that it is alw...
By Jim Murray in the section
The Gospel According to Jim Murray
p16
James Berry examines the growing trend of women drinking whisky, traditionally a male preserve.
You probably think that it’s beyond you to pin her down, that all-evasive female whisky drinker. What exactly is her natural habitat? How does she behave? Can she be characterised? But the fact of the...
By James Berry in the section
Whisky and Women
p20
In the male-dominated world of whisky, the contributuin of women is oftern overlooked. Helen Arthur puts the record straight
A formidable, able tyrant who ruled the family with a rod of iron – and half the countryside as well!” This is how John Bruce Lockhart described his great grandmother Jean in an interview with The Str...
By Helen Arthur in the section
Whisky and Women
p24
Michael Jackson talks to Rachel Barrie, a woman who had childhood dreams of being a ballerina or a concert pianist, but became Glenmorangie's Product Development Leader.
Ambitions? Between the ages of five and ten, I wanted to be a ballerina. From ten to 15, I switched to concert pianist. Then I wised up, I realised that your have to be absolutely exceptional for care...
By Michael Jackson in the section
Whisky and Women
p26
Whisky's longevity can be credited to the efforts of many hard working people. Gavein D Smith lists nine successful women who are currently working hard to secure whisky's future.
BRIDGET ARTHUR is joint-Manager of Vintage Hallmark of St James’s, London’s latest shop dedicated to the sale of quality spirits. It opened last autumn on a site on the corner of Jermyn Street and St ...
By Gavin D. Smith in the section
Whisky and Women
p30
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 speakin...
By Marcin Miller in the section
Whisky Live
p32
Tom Bruce-Gardyne traces the history of Berry Bros. and Rudd through Prohibition, a period that saw the birth of one of themost famous blends in the world, Cutty Sark.
Jack Diamond was not a typical Berry Brothers customer – that much was obvious. For one thing, not many of those who bought their port and claret from this ancient and venerable wine merchant had a qu...
By Tom Bruce-Gardyne in the section
Whisky History
p36
Gary Regan is currently in hog heaven. Critics believe that he desecrated 'precious malt whisky' live on American television, but malt whisky cocktails aren't quite as strange as you may think
It was a cold winter’s night some seven years ago when I got the call. I had gone to bed that evening envisaging a good night’s sleep only to be woken by the shrill tones of the telephone. It was the ...
By Gary Regan in the section
Whisky Cocktails
p38
Gavin D Smith tells the story of Old Pulteney, a beautiful whisky from a 'ginm, windswpt fishing town.'
Some single malts feature illustrations of the distilleries from which they originate on their bottle labels and sleeve packaging, but Old Pulteney prefers a picture of a herring drifter. Pulteney’s o...
By Gavin D. Smith in the section
Distillery Focus
p44
Alex Kraaijevild examines whether there is a correlation between the taste of whisky and distillery location.
Did you know that the regional classification of Scottish malt whiskies and distilleries used today (Lowlands, Islay, Campbeltown, Speyside, Northern Highlands and so on) has its origins in 18th centu...
By Alex Kraaijeveld in the section
Whisky Tasting
p48
Damian Riley-Smith visits the home of Julian Van Winkle III, a nam dedicated to producing quality bourbon and adhering to traditional, family values.
Waiting more than a decade for a bourbon is the exception rather than the rule. Yet for the Van Winkle family it has become their trademark. There is no full production distillery, the 'family' is cur...
By Damian Riley-Smith in the section
Independent Bottlers
p52
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 p...
By Marcin Miller in the section
Whisky Dynasty
p54
Martin Betts recounts a tale of a family company that was on the brink of extinction yet became a significant force in the drinks industry.
When a company is balancing precariously on the edge of oblivion, ready to freefall towards extinction, you wouldn't expect its saviours to be two young men under the age of 35. Despite the displeasur...
By Martin Betts in the section
Whisky Dynasty
p56
Ken Hoskins visits Lousiville's Seelbach Hilton Hotel, where Al Capone gambled away his ill-gotten gains, F.Scott Fitzgerald became so drunk he was physically ejected and Max Allen Jr., Kentucky's legendary bartender, held court.
Whiskey, especially Kentucky’s bourbon whiskey, lost a true champion earlier this year with the passing of Max Allen Jr. The legendary bartender held court at Louisville’s venerable Seelbach Hilton Ho...
By Ken Hoskins in the section
Whisky Travel
p58
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 excl...
By Marcin Miller in the section
Japanese Whisky
p60
Martine Nouet embarks on another culinary experiment with Islay malts, pungent yet sweet whiskies she describes as sharing the same character traits as the lleachs
How many times have I heard my daring culinary experiments, such as cooking a full meal with Islay malts, mocked or ridiculed. “These whiskies are too pungent to allow other flavours to express themse...
By Martine Nouet in the section
Whisky and Food
p64
David Stirk makes a pilgrimage to the heart of Speyside to meet Fiona Murdoch at the Whisky Shop, Dufftown, and collect his medal for visiting this 'obscure corner of Scotland'
Until three years ago, Dufftown, the heart of Speyside and malt whisky country, did not have a whisky shop. It had a kilt maker, seven distilleries, a cooperage and a clock tower but nowhere to buy ui...
By David Stirk in the section
Great whisky retailers
p82
Charles Maclean talks to 'The Perfect Collector', Norman Shelley
CM When did you become involved with whisky?
NS Although I was educated in England, I have lived abroad all my life. My father worked for Shell Petroleum and during my first 21 years on this planet...
By Charles MacLean in the section
Whisky Interview
