September 30th, 2011

Have you seen the History Channel show on Whiskey?

John Hansell

A couple years ago, the History Channel featured a one-hour show titled “Whiskey.” It is part of their popular series called Modern Marvels. They’ve run the show again several times since then. I mentioned it here before for two reasons:

  • It’s a very entertaining and informative show that I think will appeal to both the novice and seasoned whisky enthusiast.
  • I’m interviewed several times during the show. (Let that be a warning to you…)

If you still haven’t had a chance to see it, or if you would like to watch it again, you can now catch it on Hulu. I’m including the link here. They excluded most of the commercials (thankfully), so the show is only about 45 minutes.

Check it out.  One bit of advice: having a whisky in your hand while watching it only enhances the pleasure!

Category: Bourbon,Canadian whisky,Distillery Tours,Irish whiskey,Media,Microdistilleries,Scotch whisky,Tennessee whiskey,Travel Tags: , , , , , 20 Comments

September 28th, 2011

Do you participate in whisky auctions?

John Hansell

If so, we would like to hear from you for an upcoming story we are considering. We’re interested in both buyers and sellers. If you’ve done both, that’s a plus. And if you’ve participated in one of the New York auctions, it’s also a plus. Please email our Managing Editor, Lew Bryson (lew@lewbryson.com) if you would like to participate and possibly be interviewed.

The nice thing about whisky auctions is that they provide a platform for buyers and sellers to legally conduct business. It’s a chance to finally get that bottle of whisky you’ve always been looking for. It also provides an opportunity for whisky enthusiasts, who are struggling in this terrible economy, to sell some extra bottles they have to help make ends meet.

So, let me throw it out to all of you.  Have you bought or sold at a whisky auction? If so, which auction? Were you happy with the results? Why or why not?

Category: Auctions,Whisky collections 40 Comments

September 20th, 2011

Malt Advocate magazine is now The Whisky Advocate magazine

John Hansell

Welcome to The Whisky Advocate! We changed the name to more accurately reflect what we are all about: whisky. After years of considering a name change, we felt now was the time to make it happen: celebrate 20 years of Malt Advocate, and then begin anew as The Whisky Advocate.

We didn’t just change our name. We completely redesigned the magazine. We made it bigger in both size and length. We improved its visual appeal, making it easier to look at and read. We don’t just want you to read about cool places like Campbeltown, we want you to feel like you are there—touring the distilleries, visiting the pubs, meeting the people, and enjoying the scenery. A picture really can be worth a thousand words, and we now have some great photographs and artwork to accompany the text.

Speaking of text, that’s what’s really most important to us. With this new issue, we’ve expanded our pool of outstanding whisky writers. We’re digging deeper into every topic to make our writing even more stimulating. In addition to learning more about whisky, we want to change the way you think and feel about whisky.

As you already know by reading this blog, we have also expanded our number of whisky reviewers and their reviews. In this issue, we have 81 reviews, spanning ten different countries. We may be based in the United States, but our reach is now truly global.

Join me in raising a dram! Here’s to the next 20 years of celebrating whisky—and delivering all there is to read about, and think about, right to your doorstep!

Slainte!

John

P.S. We also updated our website to reflect the new name and re-design. Have a look here.

Category: The Whisky Advocate Magazine 119 Comments

September 20th, 2011

Review: Balblair 1995

John Hansell

Balblair 1995, 46%, $80 (1 liter)

The latest Balblair release is a 1995 vintage expression, exclusive to global travel retail outlets. Matured in second-fill bourbon casks, Balblair 1995 is non-chill filtered and naturally colored. Initially very fruity on the nose, with peaches and carnations, icing sugar on bonbons, then a faint sprinkling of black pepper. Stewed fruits on the early palate, full and confident, with developing spices and brittle toffee. Relatively lengthy in the finish, with dark chocolate and soft oak. —Gavin Smith

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 91

Category: New Releases,Reviews,Scotch whisky,Writers Tags: 7 Comments

September 19th, 2011

Review: Longmorn 16 year old

John Hansell

Longmorn 16 year old, 48%, $110

Longmorn may be slightly better known than some, but it’s still pretty much a cult whisky — with a huge following in Japan, where every whisky bar seems to have multiple expressions. This bottling shows it in its lushest guise, with masses of caramelized soft fruits, banana, cream toffee, and chocolate. The palate shifts between raisin and plum. Elegant. —Dave Broom

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 89

Category: New Releases,Reviews,Scotch whisky,Writers Tags: 38 Comments

September 16th, 2011

Review: Amrut Portonova

John Hansell

Amrut Portonova, 61.2%, $125

This release is a port version of Amrut’s Intermediate Sherry — a sort of port pipe sandwich. The spirit is matured in both unused casks and bourbon casks, then spends a few months in port pipes, and then returns to bourbon casks. The result is a Pink Floyd show of a whisky: vibrant, colorful, complex, and nearly too much. A blackcurrant and wispy, smoky nose gives way to an intense and bittersweet mix of chili, blackcurrant, oak, damson, dark chocolate, and peat. Astounding. —Dominic Roskrow

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 92

Category: Indian whisky,New Releases,Reviews,Writers Tags: 20 Comments

September 15th, 2011

Review: Hazelburn 12 year old

John Hansell

Hazelburn 12 year old, 46%, $80

Following on from the earlier 8 year old expression of this triple distilled Campbeltown malt, the 12 year old first appeared in August 2009 and nicely illustrates the developments brought about by its continuing maturation. Rich on the nose, with a clear sherry influence, along with toffee, marzipan, apricots, and milk chocolate. This is a substantial and well integrated dram, with malt, almonds, cocoa, and spice on the palate, while the long, spicy finish offers more chocolate, soft fruits, and coffee. —Gavin Smith

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 87

Category: New Releases,Reviews,Scotch whisky,Writers Tags: 12 Comments

September 14th, 2011

Review: St. George’s Chapter 11 (cask strength)

John Hansell

St. George’s Chapter 11 (cask strength), 59.7%, £65

St. George’s hits pay dirt! The competition is fierce for young, big, oily, heavily peated whiskies: Kilchoman, Connemara Turf Mor, BenRiach Birnie Moss. This, though, is good enough to mix it in that sort of company. The peat growls like a Harley-Davidson, punches pepper and peat throughout, but best of all, it flicks licorice and hickory kisses just like a real life Laphroaig. Chapter 11 isn’t quite in that league yet…but it’s certainly moving in the right direction. —Dominic Roskrow

(Currently not available in the U.S.)

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 87

Category: English whisky,New Releases,Reviews,Writers Tags: 16 Comments

September 13th, 2011

Review: Mortlach 16 year old

John Hansell

Mortlach 16 year old, 43%, £41

With worm tubs and a fiendishly complex partial-triple distillation, Mortlach has adhered to an old style of making whisky — and older, richer, darker flavors. Big and bold, it is at its best in ex-sherry casks. The nose is meaty (think gravy/beef stock) with fig, raisin, and molasses. In the mouth it’s concentrated, with good grip and a savory sweetness. A cult malt. —Dave Broom(Not currently available in the U.S.)

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 91

Category: New Releases,Reviews,Scotch whisky,Writers Tags: 26 Comments

September 12th, 2011

Review: Compass Box Great King Street, 43%, $45

John Hansell

Compass Box Great King Street, 43%, $45

After a series of esoteric and expensive releases, Compass Box has decided to bring it all back to the people with a blend — and how! The journey sets out as we might expect; all sweet vanilla ice cream, stewed pear tart, and peach melba, but then a wave of spice and white pepper provides an unexpected but delightful twist. It’s like Spice Tree meets Hedonism…Spiconism if you like. —Dominic Roskrow

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 91

Category: New Releases,Reviews,Scotch whisky,Writers Tags: 40 Comments

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