Four masterful Japanese whiskies to seek out December 7, 2011 1. Hakushu 12 year old The Hakushu distillery produces a wonderfully light, floral and zesty whisky that’s distilled at over 2000ft above sea level. The 12-year-old incorporates a subtle, soft smoky note into the mix. A Highball cocktail is one way to appreciate its refreshing qualities. £51.95 www.royalmilewhiskies.com 2. Hibiki 17 year old blended whisky [...]
Cask strength December 7, 2011 BUYING your own whisky direct from a distillery is the stuff of dreams; for a boys’ own adventure, it sits right up there. When you invite the chaps back after a round of golf, what better way to impress than to pour a dram of your very own single malt Scotch whisky. Growing numbers of [...]
Choices for connoisseurs December 7, 2011 BOWMORE TWEED FITTING & TASTING Renowned Islay distillery Bowmore has dreamed up the ultimate gents’ Christmas gift through a collaboration with Savile Row tailoring maestro Malcolm Plews. Customers will be treated to a bespoke tailoring session on the ‘Row, including a made-to-measure jacket using a tweed pattern designed specially for the distillery, followed by a [...]
5 great whiskies for Christmas December 7, 2011 1. UNDER £50: COMPASS BOX SPICE TREE As the name would suggest, Spice Tree has some wonderful notes of festive-influenced spice and fruit, developed from blending together Highland malts, partly matured in French wine-tempered casks. Perfect to go with your Christmas pud. £35.50, www.masterofmalt.com 2. UNDER £100: MACKINLAY’S SHACKLETON REPLICA BLENDED WHISKY After finding a [...]
How to taste whisky December 7, 2011 Use the right glass The popular way to drink whisky is out of a cut-glass tumbler, but this doesn’t actually do the spirit full justice. For getting the best from a single malt, choose a glass with a tulip shape – wide at the bottom with a tight brim. This concentrates the aromas you’re about [...]
Whisky tourism gets sophisticated December 7, 2011 FOR anyone fancing a trip north to whisky’s Scottish heartland, prestige brand the Dalmore is taking the tourist experience to a rather exciting new level. The company has dropped a whopping £1m on souping up its Northern Highlands HQ to include an interactive experience that’s part science museum, part rock concert, part Tron. Amid lasers [...]
Glossary of whisky terms: December 7, 2011 SCOTCH WHISKY: By law, Scotch whisky must be matured for at least three years and a day in oak casks before it can be defined as whisky SINGLE MALT: Single malt whisky is whisky made from three ingredients (malted barley, water and yeast) distilled at a “single” distillery. It is not blended or mixed with [...]
Central bank independence won’t last December 5, 2011 SLOWLY but surely, the case for central bank independence is being undone. It may not look like it, with central bankers being afforded even greater powers than before the recession, but we are probably at the high watermark of their influence and autonomy. At some stage, as it becomes clear that monetary policy has turned [...]
Christmas gift guide December 1, 2011 • Stocking fillers • Gadgets • Ages 16-24 • For men • For women
STAYING COSY December 1, 2011 SPENCER HART SLIPPERS, £550 Bespoke midnight blue velvet slippers with black silk grosgrain trim from the cool kid of Savile Row. www.spencerhart.com UNIQLO CASHMERE SCARF, £24.90 Super-soft, affordable love for your neck. shop.uniqlo.com TOPMAN XMAS SOCKS, £3 Irresistably cute and cuddly. www.topman.co.uk BANANA REPUBLIC RUFFLE TRIM GLOVE, £17.50 Snug, girly and elegant. bananarepublic.gap.eu