Whisky families, Mackmyra, Buffalo Trace, A drinker's guide to London and much more...
The Balvenie 10 Years Old, Founder's Reserve
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
8
The most honeyish of Speyside malts?
The Balvenie 15 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.40%
8
A very interesting whisky, but the distillery character is better served with a dash of sherry.
The Balvenie 15 Years Old Single Barrel
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.40%
8
Certainly robust. Perhaps a little harsh?
The Balvenie 17 Years Old Rum Cask
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
7
Poised and balanced.
The Balvenie 17 Years Old Sherry Oak
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7
Good but the oak has leaned a little too heavily on the expressiveness of the whisky.
The Balvenie 17 Years Old, New Wood
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
7
Attractive in the glass, with a pleasant nose, rich in dessert notes, but is let down by a slight astringency in the palate.
The Balvenie 1968
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.80%
8
Tasting from the cask resulted in slightly different descriptors whereas these notes were based on a sample sent to Whisky Magazine.
The Balvenie 1970 Vintage Cask
Single Malt - Scotland - 44.60%
9
Extraordinarily distinctive. All the characteristics I expect in Balvenie, but I have never experienced them in such a concentrated intensity.
The Balvenie 1972 Vintage Cask
Single Malt - Scotland - 49.40%
9
The ultimate dessert dram. Beautifully composed.
The Balvenie 1972 Vintage Cask
Single Malt - Scotland - 47.30%
8
This oozes class and, for me, is streets ahead of everything else in this group.
The Balvenie 21 Years Old PortWood
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
9
The full, honeyed, richness of the malt combines beautifully with what seems to be a generous kiss of port.
The Balvenie 25 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.90%
8
A very sophisticated malt. Beautifully combined flavours.
The Balvenie 25 Years Old, Single Barrel
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.90%
8
Seemed a little lighter all round than I remember.
The Balvenie 30 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 47.30%
8
This expression wears its years well.
The Balvenie Double Wood
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
0
A class act and a finish which works.
The Balvenie Islay Cask, 17 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
8
Reminiscent of the days when Speysiders were peatier.
The Balvenie PortWood 1989
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
7
Not the depth of the PortWood 21 Years Old, but thoroughly enjoyable.
The Balvenie PortWood 21 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
8
This expression beautifully highlights the qualities of The Balvenie as a whisky that is full of rich flavours yet gentler and less robust than, for example, Glenfarclas or The Macallan.
The Balvenie Roasted malt Aged 14 Years
Single Malt - Scotland - 47.10%
8
Give this time and you'll find a delicious dram.
The Balvenie Rum Wood
Single Malt - Scotland - 47.10%
7
A disappointment after the class of the 1972.
The Balvenie Rumwood 14 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 47.10%
8
A rich whisky which has taken some exotic and sensuous notes from the rum. Stiffens up on the finish.
The Balvenie Signature
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
8
Best neat and further proof of Balvenie's premier league status.
The Balvenie Tun 401 Batch Two
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.60%
8
A drop of water really brings this whisky together.
The Balvenie Vintage Cask 1967
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
9
A beautifully balanced classic Speyside whisky.
MADEIRA RELEASE
David Stewart, The Balvenie malt master, has released a new limited edition from The Balvenie Distillery, a 17 Years Old single malt finished in Madeira casks.
Matured in traditional oak and finished...
July 2009, Issue 81, page 7
Largesse flows at Dufftown
Whisky Magazine readers revelled in true highland hospitality when they were entertained at a William Grant and Sons special lunch.
September 2000, Issue 11, page 50
Ask the expert
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 enqu...
September 2008, Issue 74, page 36
Signature craft
Ian Buxton meets the man behind Balvenie's style
June 2008, Issue 72, page 22
First Class
Whisky Magazine's Michael Jackson teamed up with a panel of fellow experts to assess the new Balvenie vintage cask
September 2000, Issue 11, page 43
Fashion Invasion
Joe Bate reports on how whiskey arrived in style at Belfast City.
July 2010, Issue 89, page 36
More than chocolates
Joe Bates heads to the land of confectionary to discover some whisky gems
October 2008, Issue 75, page 34
50 not out
In these times when both job security and loyalty are so often at a premium, it seems remarkable that one man has worked for the same company for 50 years.
Even in the Scotch whisky industry, where f...
January 1970, Issue 84, page 8
A sense of place
Joe Bates finds a warm welcome in Sweden.
February 2009, Issue 78, page 34
French flair
Joe Bate shops across the Channel to check out the latest shopping opportunities
November 2007, Issue 67, page 53
Inspirational distilling
The VIP tour of Balvenie is quite arguably the best Scotland has to offer. Our man indulged himself.
January 1970, Issue 84, page 40
A single malt for the purists (Balvenie)
Once just William Grant's ‘other' Dufftown distillery, Balvenie is starting to build a big reputation for itself. Ian Buxton went to pay homage
February 2004, Issue 37, page 42
Collector's corner
Distillery representative for whisky Magazine John M Rose presents another selection of collectible whisky
December 2003, Issue 36, page 46
Ask the expert
I would like your help with the value of a bottle of The Balvenie I purchased a few years ago in Scotland. It is a Vintage Cask 1951 hand bottled at the distillery 7th November 1996 from Cask 1236. It...
July 2009, Issue 81, page 72
Conval-no-more
In the latest of our series Gavin D Smithlooks at the history behind Convalmore
September 2007, Issue 66, page 35
Asia loves Macallan
Jonny McComick reflects on three very different whisky sales
July 2011, Issue 97, page 82
Whisky sales take off at Colombo airport
Joe Bates heads tothe Indian subcontinent tolook atSri Lanka's main airport.
February 2008, Issue 70, page 32
Sweet temptations
Chocolate and Whisky have been a classic combination for many people, Rob Allanson talks to the latest convert.
January 2009, Issue 77, page 54
The 21st Century's 100 Greatest Bottles
Jonny McCormick looks at the top 100 single malt whisky bottles auctioned this century
December 2011, Issue 100, page 24
The biggest and the best (Glenfiddich)
Home of the biggest malt whisky distillery in Scotland and the world's best-selling single malt, Glenfiddich Distillery has consistently produced whisky that consumers can't get enough of. David Stirk...
June 2001, Issue 16, page 28
Barrels of innovation
Ian Wisniewski looks at how companies are pushing the boundaries with casks
April 2007, Issue 63, page 62
A spirited event
James Millard explains why the Speyside Whisky Festival is a mean contender in the whisky event stakes
August 2002, Issue 25, page 26
The best Scotch malts in the world
Compiling a top 90 best Scottish malts list is as ambitious a project as this magazine has ever undertook. Dominic Roskrowdescribes how it was done
May 2004, Issue 39, page 22
The quiet men
Dave Broom talks to Davied Stewart, the unassuming yet innovative force shaping the William Grant's portfolio, and long-term colleague, Whisky Records controller Eric Robertson
October 2002, Issue 26, page 44
From the editor
Is it possible to compile an objective hierarchy of malts?
February 2000, Issue 8, page 5
Welcome to Whisky Magazine
Well by the time you read this the presents will have been well and truly opened, those socks have probably shrank in the wash already, batteries have gone flat on those all important purchases and we...
January 2009, Issue 77, page 5
Singapore spirit
DFS stages luxury spirits extravaganza at Singapore airport
June 2011, Issue 96, page 33
Maltster and servant
A keen collector of first-hand information on whisky, Martine Nouet had the fantastic opportunity to make a whisky-lover and -writer's dream come true: work in the Glenfiddich and Balvenie distillerie...
December 2001, Issue 20, page 32
Of questionable taste
A mystery flavour, a grand tasting and French chemists- all involved in Gary Regan's whisky adventure.
December 2000, Issue 13, page 70
Smooth operators
The glass of whisky in my hand is a pale, straw gold with the faint aroma of pears. Its flavour is gentle, understated and above all smooth. So smooth that someone, after probably at least a bottle, w...
February 2000, Issue 8, page 54
The wonderful world of whisky
Welcome to our new section, World of whisky.
These pages aim to take a less reverent look at the world of malts and to highlight some of the strangeness that all plays a part in making the subject suc...
September 2003, Issue 33, page 20
For your pleasure
Jonny McCormick encourages you to
delve into your private collection.
September 2010, Issue 90, page 74
WORLD'S BEST SINGLE MALT WHISKY
YOICHI 20 YEARS OLD
April 2008, Issue 71, page 23
With the angels
Ian Wisniewski looks at evaporation and how it varies
April 2006, Issue 55, page 56
In the heartland (Speyside)
Speyside falls in to two halves:that reached by flying in to Inverness,and that reached from Aberdeen.In this issue we take the Aberdeen route.
January 2008, Issue 69, page 36
Working on the malt line
What are the advantages of commercial maltsters, and why do some distilleries still have their own floor maltings? Ian Wisniewski reports
May 2004, Issue 39, page 57
Icons of Whisky 2009
Following months of debate,scrutiny and several
exhaustive rounds of voting,we finally reveal who has topped the Whisky Magazine charts.
February 2009, Issue 78, page 15
Olympic big
Joe Bates heads to Beijing to see how this destination's duty free store.
November 2008, Issue 76, page 35
The online bidder
Jonny McCormick reports on the Italian collection sold by Christie's, London
December 2010, Issue 92, page 74
Taken by storm
We report from the recent Shanghai show
July 2009, Issue 81, page 10
Whisky on the Web
New technology is being adopted by whisky companies. Richard Jones goes surfing
January 2005, Issue 45, page 38
Class acts
The Masterclasses gave visitors the chance to explore the world of whisky more fully. Brigid James picks some highlights
June 2003, Issue 31, page 22
Whisky magazine live
Whisky Magazine Live is to be launched very soon, intended to give you, the whisky enthusiast, the opportunity to taste many great whiskies. The event will also give you the chance to enjoy to speakin...
February 2001, Issue 14, page 30
Still in league with the devil
Michael Jackson continues the saga of a tasting at Philip Pullman's house
May 2004, Issue 39, page 11
The essential guide to Speyside bars
David Stirk is 'entertained in a truly Scottish manner' during his five-day whistle stop tour of Speyside allowing him to bring you the definitive guide to Speyside's best bars
April 2001, Issue 15, page 48
America - the stave
Ian Wisniewski looks at how the bourbon barrel influences the taste of whisky
November 2005, Issue 52, page 64
Iconic status
The search starts again to find the cream of the crop in the whisky world. In the second round of voting our focus turns to the USA.
December 2011, Issue 100, page 6
The case for throwing things
Michael Jackson makes an exception for the Emperor of Japan.
December 2000, Issue 13, page 7
Respect your elders
While it doesn't follow that older is necessarily better, great older whiskies are rare and to be respected. Ian Wisniewski reports
March 2005, Issue 46, page 80
Are regional labels a dodgy area?
How important is regionalism to the character of whisky, and can broad generalisations be made? Ian Wisniewski considers
November 2004, Issue 44, page 56


