Contents
p5
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 Co...
By Marcin Miller in the section
From the Editor
p10
Michael Jackson journeys to the heart of darkness
Acounterblast to J.K. Rowling? Philip Pullman has taken off like a runaway train, and the engineer is still stoking. The firebox is an inferno.
Pullman writes about daemons. “Shameless blasphemy,” sn...
By Michael Jackson in the section
Musings with Michael Jackson
p12
Dave Broomon why all that’ s old isn’t necessarily good
A trifling 420 million years ago a millipede crawled out of the North Sea onto Stonehaven beach. No doubt its poor wee teeth were chattering. Have you ever had a dip in the North Sea?
As far as I can...
By Dave Broom in the section
A dram with Dave Broom
p14
The latest figure to reach a milestone in the whisky industry is Glen Moray’s, distillery manager Edwin Dodson, who is celebrating 40 years service.
The latest figure to reach a milestone in the whisky industry is Glen Moray’s, distillery manager Edwin Dodson, who is celebrating 40 years service.
With nearly 30 years at Glenmorangie he joined Gle...
By in the section
Whisky Competitions
p14
Organisers of Limburg’s Whisky Festival 2004 have pulled out all the stops to try and better the enormous success of last year’s festival and a major attraction is the launch of a special bottling of the difficult to find malt – Croftenegea.
Organisers of Limburg’s Whisky Festival 2004 have pulled out all the stops to try and better the enormous success of last year’s festival and a major attraction is the launch of a special bottling of ...
By in the section
Whisky Competitions
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The Icons of Whisky mark a step up for Whisky Magazine. Formerly known as the Whisky Academy and decided by an editorial panel, they are now decided by reader votes. Here we present the winners
Ask any celebrity which awards mean the most to them and they’ll tell you that it’s the ones decided by the general public. It’s all well and dandy
being chosen for an honour by your peers, they’ll sa...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Icons of Whisky
p24
Jefferson Chase looks at the special relationship between whisky and Hollywood
A lot of golden spirit has flowed across Hollywood’s silver screens in the 100-year-plus history of commercial motion pictures.
Whisky has been played for laughs and for tears. It’s been knocked back...
By Jefferson Chase in the section
Whisky and Film
p29
Dale DeGroff’s new book is the bridge between the tradi tional world of whisky and the trendy High Street cocktail bar. Dominic Roskrow explains why
When international drinks celebrity and writer Dale DeGroff started championing whisky as an ingredient in cocktails late last year, his intercession was as welcome as it was fitting.
He is known as ...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Profile
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In a new series we ask a panel of experts to debate a controversial subject
The Panel
Dale DeGroff,
International drinks consultant and writer
Colum Egan,
Master distiller, Bushmill’s
Roy Evans,
Sazerac
David Stirk,
Cadenhead
Dr Barry Walsh,
Chief blender, Irish Distille...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Debate
p32
The Midleton distillery in Cork is the engine room of Irish Distillers and it’s like no other distillery on earth. Dominic Roskrow reports
Talk about whisky from islands off the west coast of Scotland and you tend to think Islay, Skye, Mull and Jura.
The biggest western isle of them all is starting to make some serious waves when it com...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Irish Whiskey
p40
Welcome...
Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? And over the last 12 months boy, has the whisky industry been having fun.
It’s been rubbing off on others, too, and since we last met in London, whisky has be...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Live
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Ian Buxton braves the ghosts and investigates the roots of lowland malt Glenkinchie
It’s hard to believe that just 15 miles from Edinburgh Castle you can find a real live distillery.
I left the city behind and seemed to move to a more timeless place as I passed through the rolling E...
By Ian Buxton in the section
Distillery Focus
p54
Jefferson Chase takes Drew Barrymore’s advice (really!) and buys a cheap copy of Tim Sandlin’s Sorrow Floats
I bought Tim Sandlin’s Sorrow Floats from my local used bookshop for two reasons. I was intrigued by the idea of an apparently successful novelist from Wyoming, who previously worked as an elk skinner...
By Jefferson Chase in the section
Whisky Literature
p58
Scottish whisky and Spanish sherry have long had a special relationship. But as the pursuit of better quality intensifies, the link is becoming stronger. Dominic Roskrow reports
We’re standing in a large outbuilding that is part farmyard barn and part concrete warehouse. It’s gloomy inside. High up in the walls small square windows allow streams of sunlight to pierce the semi...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Trends
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Ian Wisniewski looks at the effects of different filling and bottling strengths
Choice is a wonderful thing, and that includes malts bottled at a comprehensive range of alcoholic strengths. This can be an important part of a
malt’s credentials, as well as influencing the flavour ...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Production
p75
Salt is the first of a new trend – High Street whisky bars. In the first of a new review series
Dominic Roskrow visits it
Let’s face it, these days the main streets of most major cities aren’t the most welcoming places when it comes to going out for a drink.
You have three basic choices; the fashion bars, full of people...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Spotlight
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In tabloid speak we need to strike while the iron’s hot and make hay while the sun shines. Dominic Roskrow looks at how whisky is enjoying life as a media darling
Once upon a time a journalist on a regional afternoon newspaper would start his or her day by arriving at the office at dawn and calling the emergency services for a list of road accidents, fires and ...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Highland Clearances