It's been a long time since...

Time is relative, and in the whisky industry you are reminded so regularly.

In a world where years and decades define the product, 20 months is no time at all. But even so, I was surprised on a recent trip to Islay to be described as the new editor of this magazine on no less than three occasions.

In fact I have now edited a third of all editions of this magazine, and at Issue 42 I will become the longest serving editor.

Moving my column to the start of the magazine has freed up the inside back page, and this in turn has given me the opportunity to introduce a new revolving column. Four writers will take turns to provide what I hope will be provocative, funny and at times controversial columns.

First up is one of the United Kingdom's most acclaimed drinks writers, Andrew Jefford. And over the next three issues there will be contributions from celebrated American writer Terry Sullivan, from the irrepressible Nigel Barden, and from the great and in some quarters much missed, John Haydock.

As far as Haydock's concerned I admit to a major U-turn, though I'm safe in the knowledge that when we look back on 2004, mine won't be the biggest turnaround in the whisky industry. It's good to have him back. As I was saying, time is relative. And if the last 20 months have flown by from a personal point of view, it seems that The Macallan forgeries issue has been with us forever.

I spent my very first days here trying to find a cover to illustrate Dave Broom's fake whisky article. The first time I wrote a column in this magazine I felt forced to defend the dir...

• By : Dominic Roskrow
• In : Columnists
• Issue : 40
• Page : 5
• Words : 640