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 served as Whisky Magazine’s Scotch whisky editor before being appointed as editor in 2020. In 2022, he was named editor-at-large and now writes a regular column for this title, in addition to his role as a blind taster. He is also chair of judges for the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky competitions.
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
Benriach
The Smoky Ten
BENRIACH DISTILLERY
ABV: 46.0%
Style: Single Malt
Country: SCOTLAND
Region: Speyside
Price per bottle:
Bottling: Distillery
Availability: UK, USA, EU
Phoebe
Nose: Lovely bright coconut macaroons, with a thin layer of dark chocolate on the bottom. Bright grassiness and warming gingery dry smoke.
Palate: Delicate desiccated coconut and then warming winter spices, stem ginger, sweet smoke and syrupy peaches and cream with digestive biscuit crunch.
Finish: The digestives and peaches and cream linger for a lovely smooth finish.
Comments: I love anything that plays in the arena of sweet and smoky, so this is right up my street and so well done.
8.3
Christopher
Nose: Delicate wood smoke and dried pineapple pieces. Leather, liquorice and cedar. Camp Coffee (chicory) and fruity barbeque sauce. Stewed pears with cinnamon. Strawberry jam on scones. Blood orange. Pan-fried fish. Honey-roasted peanuts.
Palate: Full bodied. Fresh apricot, stewed green apples and pears, Russian honey cake, blood orange juice, candied citrus peels, and white chocolate-coated cashew nuts.
Finish: Medium-long, on the honey cake.
Comments: Absolutely delicious. Complex and constantly evolving.
8.6
The Art of the Blend
First Fill Oloroso Sherry Blended Malt
ABW LIMITED
ABV: 58.8%
Style: Blended Malt
Country: SCOTLAND
