Tastings Latest
Taster biographies
Phoebe Calver
As editor of American Whiskey Magazine and deputy editor of Whisky Magazine, Phoebe splits her focus between the US and ‘global’ whisky scenes. She is also co-host of Whisky Live TV and a global whisky taster for this title.
Christopher Coates
A member of the team since 2013 and a keen whisky drinker long before that, Christopher was appointed as editor of Whisky Magazine in 2020. Beyond this, he is a keen photographer and chair of judges for the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky.
THE PROCESS
• All samples are blind tasted, with ABV, country/region and style the only information disclosed
• Samples are tasted individually over a two-week period
• Tasters work to tasting and scoring guidelines in order to assess samples consistently
• The top-scoring sample is awarded Editor’s Choice
• Samples receiving scores of 16.5+ receive a Recommended award
Benromach
Contrasts: Cara Gold Malt
GORDON & MACPHAIL
ABV: 46.0%
Style: Single Malt
Region: Speyside
Price per bottle:
Bottling: Distillery
Availability: UK, EU, Worldwide
SCOTLAND
Phoebe
Nose: Bright and floral, heather honey, elderflower cordial drips in there. Then dried papaya, toffee pennies, a hint of banana and malted milk biscuits.
Palate: Mellow imperial leather soap note, with yellow jelly babies, herbal sage notes and some cedar wood. A hint of raisin appears, with honey, toffee and nutmeg.
Finish: Medium length with heat lingering, more sage and raisin.
Comments: The whisky is like playtime and I like it. It has a little bit of everything, but delicately balanced.
8.2
Christopher
Nose: Freshly mown lawn, lemonade, Victoria sponge and a medicinal hint of plaster bandages. Subtle almond and butter icing, with banana bread.
Palate: Intense notes of baked apple and cinnamon, with sweet and buttery puff-pastry twists. Rather strudel-esque. There’s stewed raspberries and pears in there too, with plenty of brown sugar. Delicate spice, especially nutmeg, is rounded out by a little liquorice and clove.
Finish: Medium-long. A touch chalky.
Comments: All the aromas of a childhood summer garden party.
7.9
