Contents
p5
I have been reaquainting myself recently with an old literary favourite of mine from many years ago through the joys of the internet, who knew the digital revolution could be so fun?
Garrison Keillor...
By Rob Allanson in the section
From the Editor
p8
Faked single malt whisky has once again been making headlines in recent months,we look at what has been going on
The first questionable bottle was an ‘1856, John McWilliam’ bottling of Macallan which was originally part of the Christie’s New York sale (see issue 69). This bottling was one of the allegedly 19th c...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Whisky Fakes
p9
http://www.whiskyfun.com/war.html
Having been duped, he began to dig a little deeper. On e-Bay he discovered a faker’s paradise where you can buy old bottles, old labels, even capsules and empty cart...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Whisky Fakes
p11
In the first of a series of guest columns,we ask Chivas Brothers’ Douglas Cruickshank about everyday life at the distillery. Last year Douglas celebrated 40 years in theScotch industry by being appointed operations director for Chivas Brothers responsible for all Scottish operations from distillation through to bottling for the world’s no.2 Scotch whisky company. He lives opposite Glenallachie Distillery,near Aberlour in Speyside.
The Scotch industry is doing well at the moment. For the second year running we are set to chalk up an all time high in terms of bottles shipped from Scotland. That’s a good thing. We are opening dist...
By Douglas Cruickshank in the section
From the still
p13
Davetakes a look at the United Kingdom market and finds himself wondering if the glass is
half full or half empty
The middle of January, when this is being hacked out, is apparently the most depressing time of the year. While at no point wishing to conform to stereotypical behaviour patterns, I can see why. The b...
By Dave Broom in the section
A dram with Dave Broom
p15
Following months of scrutiny,much debate and exhaustive rounds of voting, we finally reveal the cream of the crop in the whisky world.
Please see http://www.whiskymag.com/awards/icons_of_whisky/ for full results.
The Icons mark a highlight in the whisky calendar and 2008 is no exception with the quality of companies entering the awa...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Icons of Whisky 2008
p22
In the second of three features asking ‘what is Irish whiskey? ’Dave Broom gets caught up in Cooley
Now, mind your head!” Just as well he said that. The roof beams could have delivered a nasty crack to the skull as we wander further into the gloom, the sonorous voice of the guide almost drowned out ...
By Dave Broom in the section
Irish Whiskey
p26
A distillery’s year comprises more than four seasons,with the addition of an annual silent season.But while nature’s seasons happen quite naturally,the silent season requires a lot of planning.Ian Wisniewski explains why.
It’s called the silent season but that’s the wrong name for it, as it’s a very busy season.
“Silent just means that you’re not producing spirit,”says Alan Winchester of Chivas Brothers.
In fact, the...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Whisky Production
p30
Gavin D.Smith investigates the lost fortunes of Glasgow’s other distillery.
Littlemill distillery stood on the north bank of the River Clyde at Bowling, 12 miles from Glasgow, and just a short distance from Auchentoshan.
However, the contrast in recent fortunes of the two di...
By Gavin D. Smith in the section
Lost distilleries
p31
In the latest in his series on whisky terms,Dominic Roskrow addresses part one of a two part look at the letter P, and makes sense of peat,phenols and PPMs
Whisky is defined as a spirit made with grain, yeast and water only, and a single malt whisky as one made at one distillery using only malted barley,water and yeast.
With the exception of allegedly f...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Glossary
p32
Joe Bates heads tothe Indian subcontinent tolook atSri Lanka’s main airport.
Demand for Scotch whisky across the Indian subcontinent is booming as never before.Duty-free stores across the region have been experiencing record sales as local travellers lucky enough to have dispo...
By Joe Bates in the section
Travel retail
p34
Now you can find both of John Rose’s superb articles about collecting whisky in one place. In collections,he looks at some of the latest bottles to come up at auction. In questions,he fields your enquiries
GLENMORANGIE MOUNT EVEREST
Distillation Glenmorangie Distillery,Coy,Tain,Rossshire.
1993.Bottled by the proprietor, 70 cl
Strength 46 % Vol
Presentation Label signed by the distillery manager
and Rebe...
By John Rose in the section
Collector's corner
p35
I wonder if you could help me with a small problem I have regarding a bottle of whisky I purchased in 1989. It’s a bottle of 25 year old Aberlour Vintage 1964 in a teak lockable box. On the label it s...
By John Rose in the section
Questions and Answers
p36
Once rich in distilleries, Ireland has few left and only one permits visitors. So whisky tourists have to work domainly with museums. Great country to do it though.
No matter how much you might love Irish whiskey, there’s no escaping the fact there is a palpable sadness over the whiskey industry there.
With the exception of Jameson, an increasingly cosmopolitan ...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Visitors guide
p40
The Glenrothes is one of Scotland’s biggest distilleries but is an enigmatic one too,its doors generally closed to visitors and its malts relatively unknown.Dominic Roskrow visited it.
Iam halfway up a stairwell in semi darkness and all I can smell is…how can I put this politely – horse dung.
In front of me is Ronnie Cox, Whisky Magazine’s Scottish Ambassador of the Year.Behind me ...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Distillery Focus
p44
So you'd like to invest in Whisky? Ian Buxton reports
It’s a good plan. After all, you know something of the subject, you enjoy the product and whisky’s prospects look exceptionally good. So what do you do?
There are three routes with, as you might expe...
By Ian Buxton in the section
Whisky issues
p47
For the first time Whisky Magazine decided to honour the Indian whisky industry as part of the Icon awards. We report on the event.
There were an impressive number of entries for the regional Icons from India, announced at a gala event at The ITC Maurya, New Delhi, during the build up to the coveted Icons of Whisky Awards held in ...
By Rob Allanson in the section
whisky matters
p48
Charles K. Cowdery looks at the buzz created by the limited editions market.
Recently, limited edition bottlings have become a staple of American whiskey producers. Many of these releases – such as Buffalo Trace’s George T.
Stagg, Four Roses Barrel Strength, Parker’s Heritage...
By Charles K. Cowdery in the section
American Whiskey
p52
Ted Bruning visits the distilleries making waves in Brittany.
Imagine a rugged foreshore with seals cavorting on a rocky outcrop a couple of hundred yards out to sea. The clouds are low and gunmetal-grey; there’s a spatter of tepid drizzle; and steam drifts slug...
By Ted Bruning in the section
World whisky
p56
Kate Ennis discovers that whisky can be the spice of life
Malts go to India Classic Malts Selection whiskies paired with the snack food of Northern India created by Benares Restaurant Aloo Chaat on Pappadom (potato crostini with ginger and mint chutney) and ...
By Kate Ennis in the section
Whisky and Food
p75
Jefferson Chase looks at another home grown literary giant
One of the hallmarks of contemporary crime fiction is its liberation from the detective. Having been raised on Marlowe and Sam Spade, and countless inferior copies, writers today realise the last thin...
By Jefferson Chase in the section
Nightcap
p76
Ian Wisniewski talks with Christine McCafferty,Diageo’s archive manager
IAN Can you tell me the history of the archive?
CHRISTINE It started in 1990 when what was then United Distillers decided to create an archive of the historical material of the brand companies and di...
By Ian Wisniewski in the section
Chat
p78
email the team editorial@whiskymag.com
Star letter - Let’s band together
I particularly liked the article “Loaded” that appeared in Issue 68. Having been a malt enthusiast for a while, I can completely relate to “Kate” who was mentioned ...
By Rob Allanson in the section
Forum
