Contents
p5
When you think of poker, what is the dominant image before you?
I ask because when we were discussing the cover story, one of the team talked of smoke-filled rooms, male only events where the players...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
From the Editor
p11
What happens when you have a Mass at the mash-tun?
Saints alive! A classic beer vaporises... and now there’s a Samichlaus spirit.
The priest had a glint in his eye, and was warming to his theme: the role of St Nicholas as the patron saint of bakers, ...
By Michael Jackson in the section
Musings with Michael Jackson
p12
South Africa provided Dave Broom with a whisky magic triple whammy
It is hard to define what constitutes a great whisky moment.
They just sneak up on you. Suddenly the drink in your hand isn’t just an accompaniment, rather everything flows from it. It is place, peop...
By Dave Broom in the section
A dram with Dave Broom
p14
We recently asked for nominations for our ‘great whisky bars of the world’ award. On the opposite page is the list of the first recipients. Here Damian Riley Smith reports on one of the best
Cape Town lives up to every visitor’s preconception; it is magnificent, stunning, exciting. And while you can experience all these sensual experiences at different points and times throughout the city...
By Damian Riley-Smith in the section
Great whisky bars
p15
A couple of issues ago we launched a new scheme to honour the world’s best whisky bars. Here are the first recipients – congratulations to them all
Albannach, London, England
Altona, Bergen, Norway
Atheneum Hotel, London, England
Auld Alliance, Paris, France Talbott Tavern
Bascule Bar, Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
Bishops Arms, Helsi...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Great whisky bars
p16
We recently teamed up with The Glenlivet for a readers’ evening to discuss the world of whisky. We asked them about the future
Chairman
Dominic Roskrow, Editor, Whisky Magazine
The participants
Pieter Badenhorst (PB) Teacher,Waltham Cross, 29
Svat Buchlovsky (SB) Consultant, Basingstoke, 52
Brendon Humphreys (BH) Development...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Debate
p18
Social poker nights both at home or at style bars and clubs have been the fad trend of 2005 – and whisky has been the drink of choice. Rob Allanson reports
Think of poker and it stirs up images of either suave casinos or dirty smokefilled back rooms: the tuxedoed Monte Carlo high life of James Bond, or seedy, salacious danger-tinged impromptu card school...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Whisky Trends
p24
Jura makes no economic sense. But when it comes to putting quality before profit it stands like a beacon. Ian Buxton made the long journey
Burning money is boring. Official.
Famously (or should that be notoriously?), musicians and art pranksters the KLF burnt a million quid on Jura in August 1994. In cash. There were bundles of 50,000 s...
By Ian Buxton in the section
Distillery Focus
p28
What happens to United States Presidents after they leave office? The first one made whiskey. Charles K. Cowdery reports
Mount Vernon is George Washington’s estate in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. It is America’s most-visited historic home. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, which owns the estate...
By Charles K. Cowdery in the section
American Whiskey
p30
The mystery visitor turns his sights on iconic Lowland malt Auchentoshan. Surely he won’t savage that, too?
Apparently the Editor has been getting complaints. Some distilleries have felt that recent reviews have been a trifle harsh, unfair even.
But I haven’t been asked to hide my claws, and they haven’t e...
By Mystery Visitor in the section
Mystery Visitor
p32
The Speyside region is getting its act together and making life easier for the visitor. Here Dominic Roskrow reports on its changing face. And on page 34 we provide the complete visitors’ guide to the region
Speyside might boast the largest number of distilleries in one region anywhere in the world but boy, at times in the past it sure didn’t feel like it.
There’s always been something fragmented about t...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Visitor Guides
p34
In each issue of Whisky Magazine this year we will look at a whisky region from a tourist’s point of view. First up, Speyside
Some might consider Speyside to be the epicentre of malt whisky production and it can claim to have the greatest geographical concentration of distilleries anywhere in the world.
Depending on where y...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Visitor Guides
p37
Lew Guthrie III on Southern Rock Opera by Drive-By Truckers – an epic concept album on the life and times of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Being a heavy rock fans has always presented a moral dilemma for anyone with a social conscience. Too often chauvinistic or downright sexist, politically insensitive and sometimes reactionary and righ...
By Lew Guthrie III in the section
Whisky and Music
p38
A new elite in Russia is demanding the world’s very best products, quality single malt among them. Marcin Miller reports
It’s 1.20am on a Thursday in October. A party of four, we shake the snow off our boots and check in our coats at Prado, one of Moscow’s most chic style bars.
I am astounded that we are considered for...
By Marcin Miller in the section
Whisky Travel
p42
Jamie Forbes is Albannach’s young, gifted and enthusiastic bar manager, and he’s bringing malt whisky to a younger audience. Rob Allanson spoke to him
As he settles into one of Albannach’s comfortable sofas, and talks to you about his passion for whisky, you realise that the future of whisky is safe in this 22-year-old Scotman’s hands.
Jamie Forbes...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Whisky Profile
p44
If you visit Islay you have to try the cooking of Mary McKecknie and the outstanding visitor centre at Ardbeg Distillery. Richard Jones reports
A visit to a whisky distillery anywhere is always a memorable experience, but there are some that are more anticipated than most.
In many cases, it is the quality of the whisky that arouses the expec...
By Richard Jones in the section
Whisky and Food
p47
After reading this disturbing Scotland-based offering from Christopher Brookmyre you'll never look at school reunions the same way again says Jefferson Chase.
If you’re looking for an inventive excuse not to attend your next class reunion, then Christopher Brookmyre’s One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night is your source. A winner of the Critics’ First Blo...
By Jefferson Chase in the section
Whisky Literature
p48
With Glen Grant up for sale it’s timely to look at the man behind the distillery. Iain Russell reports
Major James Grant was the archetypal Victorian laird. Short in stature and stocky of build, he dressed for most occasions in his Grant tartan kilt and Glengarry bonnet.
He spent long hours fishing on...
By Iain Russell in the section
Whisky History
p50
Ian Wisniewski on a winter favourite
Before cappuccino, espresso, latte and macchiato became part of our daily vocabulary, the ultimate choice was an Irish coffee rather than anything Italian.
An inspired combination of Irish whiskey, c...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Cocktails
p52
The new Whisky Exchange shop at London’s Vinopolis is part of a new project that shows how grape and the grain can make a harmonious blend. Kate Ennis reports
For fans of renowned mail order website The Whisky Exchange the news that proprietor Sukhinder Singh has opened a retail shop in central London will be music to the ears.
Before now, experiencing Suk...
By Kate Ennis in the section
Whisky Trends
p54
Glencairn Crystal is playing a major role in promoting dedicated whisky glasses. But as Dominic Roskrow reports, there is more to the company than that
Question:What do British actor Leslie Grantham, American superstar Kelsey Grammer and the folk behind Glencairn Crystal got in common?
Answer: They have all been very successful, and they have all be...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Spotlight
p55
Joe Bates with the latest from travel retail
Store focus.
Edinburgh Airport.
Edinburgh airport finally has the whisky offer it deserves. Earlier this year BAA opened a World of Whiskies shop in shop at the airport’s main World Duty Free store, ...
By Joe Bates in the section
Travel retail
p58
In the last issue we looked in depth at bourbon casks. Here Ian Wisniewski considers how sherry ones perform
It was entirely due to practicality that sherry casks became a staple choice for maturing malts. Sherry was originally shipped in casks from Jerez to the United Kingdom, principally the ports of Brist...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Production
