The Whisky Report - May 2016

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In this premiere issue: World Malts from A to T. Special feature: Balblair vertical. Themed tastings: Sherry oloroso, Pedro Ximenèz & oloroso, Port wine casks, Red wine casks and Sauternes casks.

In the News section we present World Malts from A to T. Mostly Scottish ones with the odd Irish pure pot still-dram. We got some nice stuff to recommend. But if you want a bottle of Glengoyne Teapot Dram (95p) you have to go to the distillery. Balvenie’s two Tuns might be easier to find. Or the superb Craigellachie 1999 from Douglas Laing, and Taiwanese Kavalan’s vinho barrique (all 93p). There are some beauties with dim noses but stunning palates like Octomore, Jura Tastival and anCnoc Rutter. Or both Ardmore casks with a mere 19p on the nose but 23p on taste (Wm Cadenhead and D. Laing). The point is, don’t stop at the big number, read the NTAC in full and check out the actual tasting notes. Then decide if you want the liquid.

The Balblair vertical is one of the most comprehensive screenings ever of this magnificent Northern Highlands distillery. Many bows to manager John Macdonald and blender Stuart Harvey for sharing archive samples with me. You must pick up the 2004 sherried 10-year at Travel Retail next time.

We love doing themed tastings at Whisky & Bourbon Magazine. Here’s a pick of available drams from sherry and port casks and white sauternes and red wine barrels. You will have lots of fun going through these different sections. There are plenty of true gems to be had from these extreme wood types. Get out there and savour some magnificent whiskies!

The Whisky Report Magazine Description:

The Whisky Report is produced by Whisky & Bourbon – Scandinavia's leading whisky magazine. The magazine’s Chief Test Coordinator Henrik Aflodal is the prime contributor to The Whisky Report. Mr Aflodal is Scandinavia’s leading expert with 30 years’ experience of whisky.

ONE THOUSAND WHISKIES. That’s how many drams we will have in our first year. All’s blind, of course. For us it’s all about taste, no fancy label shall mislead our honest opinion of every single whisky. Whisky & Bourbon Magazine is fiercely independent, we never second-guess a given score. Good stuff deserves attention despite its origins, either it comes from one of the big guys or an independent bottler you’ve never heard of. We will never sample everything, no one can, the global whisky scene is changing too fast. But we will be there when it happens. We’re not print, our strength is that the Report is a digital publication. When a new whisky launches and enters the shops you can read about it on Whisky-Report.com. In short, our reviews are based on whisky sold right now. And the samples come directly from the distilleries.

You’ll get this digital PDF report at least four times a year. In between we do special minority reports (whenever we got material that needs quick attention). As an open-handed service to our subscribers we will collect all material once a year and do a lavish “bible”, a printed yearbook looking back to all that’s passed. Accuracy is vital to us. We take our research into every whisky serious. Info on cask and age variation comes directly from the source. We even check market availability and recommended price for you. Along with our reviews you should have all the necessary info to make a sound buying-decision. Apart from the news section in each issue we look at various themes and often focus on a select distillery. And when it’s relevant, we look back and compare fresh editions with predecessors to demonstrate development/evolution in character.