In this issue - Best of the Best - Champions of Whisky 2005 - Icons of Whisky - Glen Gant - Adelphi - Distillery buy-out two years on
Published March 2005
What a mix up
When is a blend, not a blend? When it's a vatted malt.
March 2005, Issue 46, page 3
Call me a cab
Michael Jackson goes a few rounds by taxi
March 2005, Issue 46, page 13
In the wrong car park?
Tokyo you expect the unexpected - most of the time
March 2005, Issue 46, page 14
Limburg Whisky Fair 2005
In just three years, the Whisky Fair at Limburg in Germany has established a good reputation and continues to attract excellent visitor numbers.
March 2005, Issue 46, page 15
Treat us with respect
How should the industry react over the issue of responsible drinking?
March 2005, Issue 46, page 16
In search of the world's best whiskies
This is the third time we have held the Best of the Best. But as Dominic Roskrow reports, this is the biggest and most ambitious attempt yet to find the world's best whiskies
March 2005, Issue 46, page 18
Industry 'Oscars' honour the heroes of whisky
The Icons of Whisky recognise the people and companies that have made the biggest contribution to the world of whisky. Dominic Roskrow explains how the winners were chosen
March 2005, Issue 46, page 26
Nothing wrong with Old Fashioned values
In the latest of his series on classic cocktails, Ian Wisniewski looks at the Old-Fashioned
March 2005, Issue 46, page 31
Unique name, Major distillery (Glen Grant)
Ian Buxton visits the picturesque and constantly surprising Glen Grant distillery in Speyside
March 2005, Issue 46, page 34
Wright On
The Wright Wine Company doesn't do exactly what it says on the tin. Richard Jones investigates
March 2005, Issue 46, page 40
One for the tourists... (Tullibardine)
Tullibardine is a distillery crossed with a shopping centre. Can it keep whisky fans happy without alienating the general public? Our man had a look
March 2005, Issue 46, page 42
Meet the awkward squad
The basic process of making whisky is similar throughout the world. But there are always some who have to be different. Dave Broom meets the misfits
March 2005, Issue 46, page 44
The rise of the independents
A couple of years ago there was a spate of takeovers of Scottish distilleries and independent buyouts. What happened to them? Ian Buxton investigates
March 2005, Issue 46, page 48
Whisky à la carte in Belgium
Whisky dinners are becoming increasingly popular in Belgium. Martine Nouet meets a chef passionate about malt on the plate
March 2005, Issue 46, page 52
Travelling in style
Joe Bates provides a guide to the best duty free purchases and looks at the best stores to buy from. This issue: World of Whiskies
March 2005, Issue 46, page 55
Days when they were kings
Jefferson Chase takes a nostalgic trawl through Robert Penn Warren's political classic
March 2005, Issue 46, page 57
Jack of all trades (Duncan Buie)
He's here, he's there... it's not easy to pinpoint what Duncan Buie does. But Richard Jones has a go
March 2005, Issue 46, page 59
Badge of quality in safe hands (Adelphi)
Adelphi distillery, the top-of-the-market independent bottler, has been bought by a couple of landowners in Argyll. Charles MacLeanlooks at the company's history and asks the new owners about their pl...
March 2005, Issue 46, page 63
Women of High Spirits
Some of the best whisky makers and blenders are women. Charles Cowdrey met some of them at a special roadshow.
March 2005, Issue 46, page 66
Respect your elders
While it doesn't follow that older is necessarily better, great older whiskies are rare and to be respected. Ian Wisniewski reports
March 2005, Issue 46, page 80
Shake it up...maybe
This issue BBC Radio London DJ and all-rounder Nigel Barden looks at cocktails
March 2005, Issue 46, page 90
Glenfiddich 1991 Vintage Reserve
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
8 Gentle. Accessible. Enjoyable.
Springbank 1975 Limburg Whisky Fair
Single Malt - Scotland - 49.20%
8 Astonishingly citric.
Berry's Best Orkney, 14 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
8 Intense salt. Very slight iodine.
Berry's Own Selection Glen Elgin 1975
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
8 By today's standards, an unusually peaty Speysider.
Blue Hanger 25 Years Old, Second Release
Blended - Scotland - 45.60%
8 The nose suggests a winter warmer, but the palate performs as a summer refresher.
Cooper's Choice Glen Grant 1977 27 Years Old, Sherry Cask
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
8 A Speysider with a rich chestnut colour, plenty of aroma and lots of flavour. Makes a change from the dumbed-down and the terminally delicate.
Longmorn 15 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 45.00%
8 A rewarding marriage of weight and elegancy.
Angus Dundee Glencadam 15 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
7 A very unusual whisky. I liked it, but it would benefit from a firmer malty middle to support the interesting component flavours.
Ardbeg 1980 Kildalton
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.60%
7 Where's the peat-smoke? Not very Islay.
BenRiach Curiositas peated malt, 10 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
7 A Speyside? The most Islayish of all the Speysides I have ever tasted. Interesting as a freak even if wood toughens the whole profile a little.
BenRiach Over 12 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7 Herbal in the dry way. Leaves a bitter grassy note in the finish. I'd rather have a cup of tea.
BenRiach Over 20 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7 Muscular. Welcome in a blizzard but don't expect Mozart when you are likely to get Wagner.
Berry's Own Selection Auchentoshan 1983
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
7 Subtle aromas and flavours, but beautifully composed.
Cadenhead's Benromach 1976, 27 Years Old Authentic Collection
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.10%
8 The nose promised more smoothness. Quite an austere character on the palate but with a lot of class.
Connoisseur's Choice BenRiach 1981
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7 The bourbon cask influence is obvious. A refreshing dram but simplistic. Water ruins it.
Cooper's Choice Caol Ila 1990, 14 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
7 A middleweight Islay malt.
Dewar Rattray Benriach 15 Years Old, Cask Collection
Single Malt - Scotland - 59.90%
7 Quite an energetic guy which needs water to be tamed. A classic light Speysider, lacking elegance though.
Dewar Rattray Bowmore 15 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 52.90%
7 Some of the classic Islay elements are there, but discordant. Not well rounded.
Dewar Rattray Cask Collection Strathmill 15 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 63.50%
7 Whatever its age, this whisky is full of youthful vigour.
Douglas Laing Benrinnes 1990 14 Years Old, Single Cask Sherry Finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
7 Beautifully full flavoured whisky. Manages to be both elegant and robustly expressive. Very appetising.
Douglas Laing Mortlach 1992 12 Years Old, Sherry Finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
7 Urbane. Austere.
Gordon & MacPhail Ardmore 1990
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7 A pleasant dram, especially with a splash of water but lacks nerve and buoyancy.
Gordon & MacPhail Benromach 1980
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.60%
7 A wake up dram. Not a great deal of complexity but an enjoyable fruitiness to make you think of springtime.
Linkwood 12 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7 A strange fellow. As if all was delivered in a dash. Then the finish seems to never end.
Old & Rare Platinum Millburn 34 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.90%
7 Luxurious. An adult taste.
Old Masters Ledaig 14 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 56.10%
7 The aroma promises more than the whisky delivers.
Royal Salute The Hundred Cask Selection
Blended - Scotland - 40.00%
7 Robust, rather than complex. A sustaining, sweetish, restorative.
Scott's Selection Ardmore
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.10%
7 Not a model of subtlety but a well-knitted character, in the light heavyweight category.
The Glenlivet 1964 Cellar Collection
Single Malt - Scotland - 45.10%
7 After that sensuous aroma, the palate is subtle to the point of reticence. Still interesting.
Whisky Fair Isle of Jura Cask 144
Single Malt - Scotland - 61.30%
7 A lot happening. A very lively whisky.
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