Contents
p5
Mid terms,football games and musicians, Rob Allanson takes a voyage of discovery in to bourbon country
I recently took my first trip out to Kentucky.
Bourbon is having such a good run with sales rocketing and the industry straining to keep up with increased demand.
My visit coincided with several big...
By Rob Allanson in the section
From the Editor
p11
When Michael Jackson left The Streets of Sinners, what happened to his drinking?
In much the way that some people wear a monogrammed handkerchief in their top pocket to remind themselves who they are, some magazines carry under their title a slogan that sounds like a job descripti...
By Michael Jackson in the section
Musings with Michael Jackson
p12
Dave finds whisky and hip hop go well together in the Rainbow Nation
It has been a year of confounded expectations, (this, it must be said at the outset, is A Good Thing). Case in point.
Benriach, which came out of nowhere with a series of remarkable whiskies. The res...
By Dave Broom in the section
A dram with Dave Broom
p14
In this round table we asked two prominent members of the bourbon industry and Whisky Magazine readers about the future of bourbon.
Panel
Chris Morris Woodford Reserve CM
Julian Van Winkle Old Rip Van Winkle JW
Jonathon Di Blasi Bergen, Norway JB
Troy Egan Victoria, Australia TE
Christopher Watkin Lincolnshire UK CW
Q:How ...
By in the section
Whisky Debate
p17
Iconic distillery releases its latest antique collection
Whiskey fans rejoice! Buffalo Trace Distillery’s 2006 Antique Collection has been launched and it features some stunning whiskey.
This year’s collection boasts a new edition—Thomas H.
Handy, uncut a...
By in the section
American Whiskey
p18
Bourbon is not only continuing its growth in profitability but is carving out a new premium image for itself. Dominic Roskrow reports
You don’t expect to find a top Kentucky distiller conducting tastings on a Saturday afternoon in a sprawling shopping mall on the edge of Louisville. Mind you, until relatively recently you wouldn’t h...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
American Whiskey
p20
The Blue Grass Cooperage is one of the major barrel making companies in the United States, Rob Allanson took a tour
Opening the door to the work floor and you get hit with this wall of noise and a great smell of oak.
The Blue Grass cooperage is an exceptionally busy place churning out high quality American white o...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Whisky Production
p23
Let 10 young bartenders loose in bourbon country and it’ll get messy. But as Dominic Roskrow reports, when it
came to the business end of the trip, our boys delivered
In Kentucky the racing folk have an expression: the money, they say, is in the lovin’. The expression refers to the thoroughbred race horses that have made the State one of the most famous horse-racin...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
American Whiskey
p26
Ballantine’s is one of the world’s top blends but it is in need of a dose of loving and who better for that than the French? Dominic Roskrow reports
The way in which French drinks giant Pernod Ricard picked up a raft of new brands from Allied last year, assimilated them in to its company portfolio and has set about giving them a polish has been ru...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Distillery Focus
p32
Cigar whiskies to go with a good smoke have become popular,we have a look at some of the best.
It is one of those classic silver screen moments. The bar doors flap closed behind him and the dusty clothed baddie enters the bar ready to pick his fight.
A chiselled jawed and weather beaten Eastwo...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Whisky and Cigars
p34
We look at the region of Speyside round about Inverness
Every whisky enthusiast knows the importance of the Speyside region to the production of Scotch single malt whisky. And even quite casual whisky drinkers know of the iconic distilleries at The Glenliv...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Visitor Guides
p39
Are we getting old or is it really the case that most of the great album music is coming from older guys? Our man looks at Golden Smog’s Another Fine Day
Well what the hell was all that about? 2006 – a year when British bands produced some of the best power pop singles you’re ever likely to hear but the great albums all came from the American pensioner...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Whisky and Music
p40
Three packed shows,three cities – Whisky Live spreads the gospel bringing the world’s best whiskies to South Africa and Holland
There is a huge transformation process taking place in South Africa. Together with newfound freedom and the opportunities it presents, South Africans, in all their rainbow colours, are discovering the...
By in the section
Whisky Live
p44
Amber at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre has established itself as a class act. Now it's taking whisky and food pairings to new heights. Dominic Roskrow reports
It’s one thing putting on an expensive and elitist whisky dinner and matching specially-sourced food with the finest whiskies. But it’s quite another to do so and pitch it at a wider audience.
When A...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Whisky and Food
p47
Jefferson Chase looks at a career defining moment
Zz Packer is an African-American woman whose career took off in 2000 when, as a virtual unknown, she landed her story in no less than New Yorker magazine.
“Opportunities,”my father says after I bail ...
By Jefferson Chase in the section
Whisky Literature
p48
Kate Ennis looks at why the Italians have such a passion for whisky
The sharply tailored Armani suit, the Rolex watch, the Ferrari sports car… not forgetting the Gucci sunglasses, of course.
The Italians are renowned for their instinctive style and good taste and ‘Fa...
By Kate Ennis in the section
Whisky in Italy
p50
Every year Whisky Magazine holds the Icons of Whisky, the international awards recognising the very best in the whisky industry
There are only really three things that are important in the whisky business,people, product and place.
With these things you get the passion,craft and history behind every drop of the good stuff.
T...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Icons of Whisky
p52
London’s newest gastro-pub has created a relaxing,home from home atmosphere where drinkers can
feel comfortable experimenting with whisky,as Kate Ennis discovers
Walk past newly opened Bumpkin, a stylishly rustic looking bar and restaurant in London’s fashionable Notting Hill area, and you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just another one of those identikit gas...
By Kate Ennis in the section
Whisky Spotlight
p53
Ian Buxton uncovers some of the less heard whisky quotes
On publication of his novel, The Hippopotamus, people kept giving Stephen Fry toy hippos.
“It is really very kind of them,” said Fry, “but I have decided that my next book will be called 18 Year Old ...
By Ian Buxton in the section
Whisky Spotlight
p55
Joe Bates Gardermoen shops offer taxed locals whisky paradise
Norway suffers from some of the highest alcohol prices in the world so it comes as no surprise to learn the locals have an almost religious devotion to duty-free shopping. They track down bargains whe...
By Joe Bates in the section
Travel retail
p56
Ian Wisniewski looks at the challenging role of distillery managers
It takes various professions to provide us with malt whisky, starting with the farmers who grow the barley, the maltsters and the peat cutters.
That’s before any of the distillery team become involve...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky production
p59
Ian Wisniewski looks at a silver screen classic cocktail
While some cocktails are the result of sheer creativity, and so can happen at any point in a bartender’s career, other recipes are inspired by specific events at a particular time. The blood and sand ...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Cocktails
p74
In the latest in his series defining whisky terms Dominic Roskrow looks at the letter C
Barley, yeast and water may be whisky’s raw ingredients and the skill of the whisky maker and distiller may be crucial in placing the foundations of a great single malt. But it is two c words which st...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Understanding whisky
