Contents
p5
The whisky industry seems to be rising to the challenge of attracting new drinkers while keeping the experts happy says
Dominic Roskrow
In the distillery focus in this issue, Ian Buxton describes how Glengoyne has introduced a half day tour which includes a blending class and the chance to make your own blended whisky.
It costs £100 ...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
From the Editor
p11
Michael Jackson contemplates not so old age
Will you still love me when I’m 64? By the time you read this, I will be. In fact, since I wrote those two sentences, I am.
At the beginning of the year, I noted in my diary, alongside a certain date...
By Michael Jackson in the section
Musings with Michael Jackson
p12
Dave Broom has a hairy experience in Moscow
Tatiana looked concerned. That in itself was not surprising. She had a spirits competition to organise, foreign guests to herd, dinners to arrange, tastings to mastermind. But that wasn’t what was on ...
By Dave Broom in the section
A dram with Dave Broom
p16
Tax stamps are being introduced for bottles of British spirits. In this issue we ask a panel whether they think they are a good idea
Panel
Simon Coughlin, Bruichladdich (SC)
John Glaser, Compass Box (JG)
Euan Shand, Duncan Taylor (ES)
David Williamson, Scotch Whisky Association (DW)
Q. From a producer’s point of view are the...
By in the section
Whisky Debate
p18
There’s a real sense of purpose on Speyside at the moment, reflected by its rapidly developing Spirit of Speyside Festival.
Dominic Roskrow reports
Put it down to the eight outstanding whiskies we’d had to taste and judge, the fact that the dinner was served late or that the generally amenable ambience, but Alex Salmond couldn’t stop beaming.
Th...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky Events
p20
The Star in the East is beginning to rise.And if the markets of China,India and Russia perform anywhere near to their potential,they could change the world of whisky forever.Richard Jones reports
It’s hardly front page news that the economy in China is doing pretty well at the moment.
Well actually it is. On the 19th April 2006 The Independent reported the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao...
By Richard Jones in the section
Whisky Trends
p25
Ian Wisniewski looks at the Atholl Brose
Various classic recipes can be attributed to bartenders inspired by a special event, a particular customer, or just their own natural creativity.
Atholl Brose came to prominence when one Scottish ari...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Cocktails
p26
Glengoyne,close to Glasgow and not quite Lowlands or Highlands,is a charming but under-rated distillery. Ian Buxton returned there 30 years after he first visited it
Imust confess an unnatural fondness for Glengoyne. It was, after all, the very first distillery I ever visited and, as that happened during my first and, so far, only honeymoon, it left quite an impre...
By Ian Buxton in the section
Distillery Focus
p31
American literary journals have kept alive some of the best traditions of independent writing. Jefferson Chase reports
This time round I’d like to pay tribute – and draw attention – to an underappreciated American institution: literary journals.
Subsisting on small budgets, often in affiliation with universities, the...
By Jefferson Chase in the section
Whisky Literature
p33
Justifiably famous for its range of Irish whiskies, the Pot Still in Gloucester is also a haven for lovers of single malts, unusual spirits, liqueurs and bottled beers. Richard Jones reports
When Chauncey Olcott and George Graff wrote the lyrics to When Irish Eyes Are Smiling in 1912 they left the world in little doubt that the ‘sweet lilting laughter’ of anyone of Emerald persuasion is a...
By Richard Jones in the section
Whisky Spotlight
p34
Gillian Howell is a rarity – a female whisky distiller.Another example of how Welsh distillery Penderyn is different. Richard Woodard reports
I don’t think it’s stretching the truth to suggest that whisky tends to be a maledominated world.
You don’t need to be Germaine Greer to see that women are, shall we say, rather underrepresented in t...
By Richard Woodard in the section
Whisky Spotlight
p36
Whisky cocktails are at the forefront of a cocktail revolution.Sally Toms reports
Like it or not, cocktails are back in style.
Many believe that whisky cocktails are a fantastic way of attracting new drinkers, and during recent years the industry has begun to recognise this and pu...
By Sally Toms in the section
Whisky Cocktails
p40
Gaugers were the hated excisemen who hounded whisky smugglers in the 18th and early 19th century. And Malcolm Gillespie was one of the most wretched and tragic of all. Ian R Mitchell tells his story
The exciseman, or gauger as he was known in the Scots vernacular, was probably the most hated figure in Scotland 200 years ago. This dislike was given a humorous slant in our national bard Robert Burn...
By Ian Mitchell in the section
Whisky history
p43
Few bands have captured the exuberance of drinking whiskey in the way The Pogues have. Lew Guthrie III looks back to their first two albums
When The Pogues burst on to the music scene at the end of the punk era, nobody could make head nor tail of them.
Fronted by a toothy pug-eared drunk and their ranks swollen by a bunch of sweaty boist...
By Lew Guthrie III in the section
Whisky and Music
p44
Spicy food works well with whisky.Martine Nouet visited La Porte des Indes for a special Indian food and whisky tasting
Britain is certainly the European country which has established the most refined tradition of Indian cuisine, for obvious historical reasons. No wonder London boasts some of the best addresses featuri...
By Martine Nouet in the section
Whisky and food
p47
Joe Bates looks at the solid duty free store in Helsinki
Store focus: Helsinki If your travels take you to the modern and compact Helsinki-Vaanta airport and you have time on your hands, head towards Gate 28. You’ll find the airport’s biggest duty-free shop...
By Joe Bates in the section
Travel retail
p48
The Lowlands distilleries are surprisingly varied and highly satisfying.Caroline Dewar reports
You might think there isn’t a lot to say about the Lowlands as a whisky area. There may be only three main distilleries here and this part of Scotland often seems ignored outside of Glasgow and Edinbu...
By Caroline Dewar in the section
Visitor Guides
p52
Whisky Live events are now held across the world and are attracting new drinkers
When Whisky Live was launched in Japan and then London some six years ago nobody behind the events could have envisaged that it would spawn similar events across the world.
Belgium this year hosted a...
By in the section
Whisky Live
p54
Whisky Live London attracted a new audience this year. Rob Allanson reports
Whisky Live London moved to a larger venue this year and attracted more people than ever before.
With more than 2,000 people passing through the doors, it has become the biggest show of its type held...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Whisky Live
p55
Whisky Live Belgium was held for the first time recently and it attracted 2,000 visitors
After two successful Belgian Whisky Festivals, the first official Whisky Live Belgium took place in the stylish Salon de L'Harmonie in Verviers and was judged a great success.
About 2,000 visitors we...
By in the section
Whisky Live
p57
Amazingly, Japan’s Whisky Live event is now in its sixth year
The sixth Whisky Live! in Tokyo earlier this year saw record numbers of exhibitors and participants, with close to 3,000 people attending on the day.
Signs that the recent boom in Japan’s domestic ‘s...
By in the section
Whisky Live
p59
Whisky Live New York is establishing itself as a major date in the Big Apple diary. Roddy Martinereports
With Tartan Week 2006 in full swing throughout the United States of America, the celebrated Tavern on the Green in Manhattan's Central Park became the glitzy venue for the second Whisky Live New York....
By Roddy Martine in the section
Whisky Live
p60
Anyone who read Issue 53 on Great Whisky Bars of The World will know that Whisky Magazine rates The Highlander Inn in Craigellachie pretty highly. Richard Jones discovers what makes this humble looking bar such a haven for whisky lovers
‘There can be only one!’ declared Christopher Lambert in the cult 1986 film Highlander, somewhat misleadingly given the subsequent sequels (three) and television series (two).
Perhaps if you were bor...
By Richard Jones in the section
Whisky Spotlight
p62
Kilning might seem to be a standard practice,but it has a large bearing on the whisky-making process. Ian Wisniewski reports
Kilning may seem an entirely practical function, in order to dry the barley once it has germinated. However, maintaining a consistent regime requires considerable skill, and not only to optimise the y...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Production
