Contents
p5
Judging by the conversations I’ve been having at Whisky Live London and New York the ‘blended malts’ debate is going to run and run.
In this issue the Scotch Whisky Association has replied to my edit...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
From the Editor
p11
In California, Michael Jackson takes a stand
My name has been in the papers every other day since you and I last met. Not so much ‘in’ as ‘all over’. Allegations of ever weirder behaviour.
Serious crimes against children. I used to laugh it off...
By Michael Jackson in the section
Musings with Michael Jackson
p12
Dave Broom considers the case for clear, characterless, grappa-like whisky...
My three and a half year old won’t eat chicken... or pasta. To be honest, she won’t eat lots of things. “I don’t like it,” she says, to which we reply “but if you’ve never tried it how do you know?”
...
By Dave Broom in the section
A dram with Dave Broom
p14
Whether you are bemused, confused, excited or delighted, share your views and opinions with other Whisky Magazine readers.
Winning letter
The best letter in each issue wins a bottle of Berry’s Blue Hanger 25 year old. Always impeccably turned out, just like the gentleman it is named after, Berry’s Blue Hanger offers soft ...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Letters to the Editor
p15
Whisky Live Glasgow will be held for the second time on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th September, 2005.
And this year’s event will not only be more ambitious than last year, but will embrace other aspe...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Events
p18
Inevitably this issue’s debate looks at labelling and the use of the words ‘blended malts’
The Panel
Dave Broom, Contributing editor, Whisky Magazine (DB)
John Glaser, Compass Box (JG)
Martine Nouet, Regular Whisky Magazine contributor (MN)
Erkin Touzmohamedov, Russian writer (ET)
Ricky Chr...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Debate
p20
It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago public access to a distillery was rare. Now many offer tours or tastings and they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated. Dominic Roskrow reports
Later this year Whisky Magazine will publish its 50th issue and we’ll be taking a look at how the industry has changed in that time.
Almost certainly among the scores of new and successful launches a...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Distillery Focus
p24
The Speyside Festival starts April 28th. To mark the event Michael Jackson visits the region and considers its boundaries
To say that something is taken for granted can imply that perhaps it shouldn’t be. Can I take it that you are familiar with the geography of famous drinks? Yes? Hand on heart? So, how about using the ...
By Michael Jackson in the section
Whisky Travel
p30
The Islay festival starts on May 27th. We decided to host a pre-festival dinner on the island and invited all the distilleries. Dominic Roskrow reports
On the face of it spending March 17th – St Patrick’s Day – on the Scottish island of Islay isn’t the most obvious thing to do. But there is some method in such madness. For while the Emerald isle is n...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Events
p33
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning is a grainy reflection of working class life as it used to be in the British Midlands. Jefferson Chase looks at the role alcohol plays in this classic
One of the things about being male is that there are so many different ways of getting in trouble.
Curiously enough, most of these disasters seem to occur in conjunction with alcohol, at precisely th...
By Jefferson Chase in the section
Whisky Literature
p34
Elsewhere in this issue we’ve looked at four distilleries a couple of years after they were given a new lease of life. Here Ian Buxton updates in tow new faces
There’s something of a renaissance going on amongst small distillers. Not only have a number of Scotland’s distilleries passed back into private hands, but a few brave pioneers are starting out from s...
By Ian Buxton in the section
Distillery Focus
p38
Gillian Bell of Caledonian Connoisseur is pioneering whisky and food pairings with our very own Dave Broom. Dominic Roskrow spoke to her
If ever a person was suited to the term ‘going with the flow’ it’s Scottish on-line food and whisky retailer Gillian Bell.
Her career path over the last two years is either the result of a series of ...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky and Food
p42
Dallas Dhu is a distillery musuem. But does it have any soul left? The Mystery Visitor went to the eerily deserted site
Dallas Dhu styles itself a ‘historic distillery’ – quite fittingly, as it is in the charge of Historic Scotland.
Better known for its castles and heritage sites this government agency seems an unlike...
By Mystery Visitor in the section
Mystery Visitor
p44
Inverallan Scotch Malt Whisky is using the Internet to promote whisky and Scottish water across the world. Eluned Price reports
If you don’t happen to live in God’s own country – and few of us do – the chances of being able to taste the best Scottish malt whisky as it should taste will be slim. If you take your whisky neat tha...
By Eluned Price in the section
Whisky Trends
p48
Not all liqueurs are over sweet and unpalatable. And some should even justify a place in your drinking repertoire. Ian Buxton reports
Liqueurs – love them or hate them, no genuine whisky lover would let them pass their lips. Right? Well, wrong actually. In the course of researching this article I’ve had to think again and, if not ex...
By Ian Buxton in the section
Whisky Trends
p51
Whisky and cola? Ian Wisniewski takes us in to unchartered waters
It’s like a rite of passage. We grow up drinking cola, accompanied by ice and lemon, but after reaching legal drinking age we can enjoy it with some other, more adult accompaniments.
As a universal m...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Cocktails
p52
Charles K Cowdery explores a Canadian distillery that can lay claim to making a true small batch bourbon – and a quality one, too
In American whiskey circles, the term ‘small batch’ has been generously defined to cover any whiskey selected, bottled and sold in small batches. In most cases, there is nothing ‘small’ about the way ...
By Charles K. Cowdery in the section
Canadian Whisky
p64
Ian Wisniewski looks at whether the trend for organic proucts has a place in the world of malt whisky
Helping to make the world a more beautiful and sustainable place by drinking organic malt whisky is an evocative concept, with a few pioneering distilleries making this dream become a reality.
Althou...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Production
