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Whisky Magazine Issue 23

Whisky Magazine Issue 23

Whisky Magazine Issue 23

In this issue - Iain Henderson - Ben Nevis - Eau-de-vie stills - Moonshine - Vatted Malts tasting

Published June 2002

From the editor
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 festival...
June 2002, Issue 23, page 5

The pipes are calling
Michael Jackson gets away from it all
June 2002, Issue 23, page 7

Moments, whatnots and wheelbarrows
Dave Broom gets a round. Kind of
June 2002, Issue 23, page 8

Iain Henderson: a life less ordinary
Dave Broom talks to Laphroaig's legendary – and now sadly retired – Distillery Manager about the highs and lows of his career and life
June 2002, Issue 23, page 18

Throwing copper
Ian Wisniewski investigates the effect this enigmatic metal has on the finished product - whisky
June 2002, Issue 23, page 28

Covert operations
Dave Broom decides it's high time for Inver House Distillers to spill the beans
June 2002, Issue 23, page 32

Shining example: Junior Johnson, NASCAR and John Q Law
Scott Longman looks behind a modern American hero to find he casts a more interesting shadow than most
June 2002, Issue 23, page 36

Happy hunting grounds - Mystery Visitor goes to Speyside
Shrouded in an enigmatic air, Whisky Magazine's undercover visitor centre guru checks out four of Speyside's finest
June 2002, Issue 23, page 44

Frontier spirit (Oddbins)
A drinks retail pioneer, Oddbins stands head and shoulders above many other UK chains for the way it approaches and sells Scotch – like a fellow whisky lover. Tom Bruce-Gardyne finds out more
June 2002, Issue 23, page 48

Ben Nevis
Ian Buxton peeks behind the scenes at one of Scotland's most enduring distilleries
June 2002, Issue 23, page 52

The French touch
Whisky Magazine's food expert Martine Nouet invites you to try a touch of Scottish fare – in Paris
June 2002, Issue 23, page 56

From Eau-de-Vie to Uisge Beatha
Alex Kraaijeveld looks at the growth of alternative distillers worldwide – and he likes what he sees
June 2002, Issue 23, page 60

Hugh Leonard: everything but the kitsch
Jefferson Chase takes a look at the Irish author and playwright's whiskey references within his acclaimed work
June 2002, Issue 23, page 77

Haydock hits out
Some say ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going'. So John Haydock stays right where he is
June 2002, Issue 23, page 82

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

Compass Box Eleuthera
Blended Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 8 Hold your glass to your ear and listen to water lapping against the tarred boat hull.

Whisky Magazine - Editors Choice - Winner

Talisker 28 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.30% 8 More medicinal than other versions. If matched with oysters, add barbecued sausages as the French do in Marennes-Oléron.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Chieftain's Choice Glencadam 1985, 16 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 8 Graceful and characterful. To be sipped on a midsummer starlit night. A true dancing dram.

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Signatory Glen Grant 1976
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.20% 8 So like an armagnac. Sherry at its best. At its peak. Why not with foie gras and a fig compote?

Whisky Magazine - Recommended - Winner

Signatory Port Ellen 1978
Single Malt - Scotland - 59.00% 8 More body and richness than the '79. Still not a great warrior but a hearty fisherman.

Adelphi Clynelish 12 Years Old, Cask 3280
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.20% 7 Pungent and vibrant but lacks the beautiful Clynelish style.

Ballantine's 12 Years Old, Pure Malt
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 Elegantly restrained. An excellent pure malt for socialising.

Cadenhead's Bladnoch 1989, 12 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 56.30% 7 A neat, summery comforter. Perfect dram for hillwalkers.

Cadenhead's Dumbarton 1969, Sherry Wood
Single Grain - Scotland - 51.20% 8 Bossily buoyant. Loses in delicacy what it gains in flavour and texture. Miles away from the Lowlands.

Chieftain's Choice Brora 1982, 19 Years Old, Sherry Butt
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 Pure mastered (and mastering) Oloroso style. But where is the spirit contribution?

Chieftain's Choice Scapa 1985, 16 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 7 Rich and generous. Again, overwhelming distillery character.

Clan Campbell 8 Years Old
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 6 To stimulate a sweet tooth when served with a fruit cake.

Glenmorangie 1991, Sauternes Wood Finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00% 7 Not easy to evaluate what sauternes casks have brought in. An extra sweetness maybe but no particular sauternes aromas. Appreciable bottling strength.

Gordon & MacPhail Ardmore 1987
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 Very elegant and fragrant. As an apéritif with melon, basil and Parma ham.

Gordon & MacPhail Glentauchers 1990
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 6 Sherry influence calls the tune. Water calms the flavours down.

Gordon & MacPhail Inverleven 1986
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 6 Light, straightforward. Delicacy without mannerism. Keep it for a romantic candlelit dinner.

Gordon & MacPhail Pride of Islay 12 Years Old
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 More Islay character on the nose than on the palate. A good appetite-teaser.

Gordon & MacPhail Pride of Orkney 12 Years Old
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 Very fragrant on the nose but more restrained in the mouth. Needs time to perk up.

Gordon & MacPhail Pride of Strathspey 12 Years Old
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 Good introduction to Speyside's generosity. Especially if served with a crème brûlée.

Gordon & MacPhail Pride of the Lowlands 12 Years Old
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 Disappointingly on the wood side. For those who like it oaky!

Johnnie Walker 15 Years Old, Pure Malt
Blended Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 8 Neat, characterful and witty. Keeps the woody tones in the back.

Knockdhu 23 Years Old Limited Edition
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.40% 8 A classic friendly Speyside, well balanced and enjoying its maturity.

Living Cask Volume XI
Blended - Scotland - 57.00% 7 A loud lad whose tone needs softening.

Lombard Anchor Bay
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 A satisfying, nourishing, clean malt. But where is the bay?

Lombard Golden Harvest
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 6 Too young? Or a restricted vatting? Not very exciting.

Lombard Smoking Ember
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 A ‘love it or hate it' islander. Bold and uncompromising. And so charming.

Signatory Caol Ila 1981 Cask Strength
Single Malt - Scotland - 62.50% 7 Quite sharp at the beginning then gradually softening. Fruitier than previous Signatory bottlings. Very sensitive to dilution.

Signatory Glenturret 1985
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.40% 7 Original bunch of flavours that Towser and her descendants would have enjoyed.

Signatory Port Ellen 1979
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 7 A rather pleasant dram but a paler version of Port Ellen.

Signatory Tormore 1989
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 7 Wood has the word in the finish. An assertive Speysider to enjoy after dinner.

Authors this issue

 

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