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About Me

When not nosing, tasting, drinking and reading about malt whisky, I own one of Israel's premiere boutique coaching practices, specializing in small businesses and executive teams.
Trained in the law, I was an international law attorney and took part in Israel's peace negotiations with the Palestinians, as well as representing my country at the UN for parts of the negotiations on the implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Later I was appointed to the military bench.
My favorite thing, other than whisky, is teaching.
You can contact me through the social media buttons above or by email: michael(at)maltandoak.com, replacing the (at) with an @.

Statement of Integrity and Guidelines

Malt and Oak is an independent whisky blog, offering my own views, opinions and news from the world of malt whisky.
These are my guidelines:

1. All whisky reviews published are of whiskies I have personally tasted and noted. Guest bloggers only write about their own personal tastings.

2. With the exception of official whisky samples, I accept no consideration whatsoever from any distillery, bottler, distributor, drink company or store for my opinions.

3. I maintain strict impartiality and objectivity in tasting all whiskies, not least when tasting official samples. Any review of official whisky samples sent to me will be so noted in the post.

4. I will accept invitations to tastings, events and official visits, and full disclosure will be made on any tasting notes and articles resulting from these events or visits.

5. Any sample received over 30 ml in volume is shared with fellow whisky bloggers. In any event, no sample larger than 100 ml will be accepted.

6. No advertisements promoting specific brands will be accepted.

7. I will answer any inquiry by my readers as quickly and as fully as possible.

8. Should I give a link purchase the reviewed whisky, it will be given free of any commercial interest. The link given will always point to cheapest selling price I found on the web. No commission is paid, nor any other consideration given, for such link.

9. As of July 2017, I serve as Douglas Laing’s Israel brand ambassasdor. As such, I will obviously not be posting reviews of Douglas Laing products.

Yula II – 21 Years Old Island Malt – Douglas Laing (52.3%)

By Michael Bendavid | November 14, 2016

Yula II – 21 Years Old Island Malt – Douglas Laing (52.3%)

Yula is a celebration of the traditions of the islands around Scotland, much of which is Norse. While reviewing the first Yula, the 20 year old, I brought the full story which you can read here. I will say, however, that Yula is deeply connected to the story of the formation of the islands. The…

Douglas Laing, Limited Edition, Scotch Vatted Malt, Whisky Tasting NotesBlended Malt , Douglas Laing , Independent Bottlers , Islands , Islay , Linger , Malt Blend , Nose , Palate , Peat , Tasting Note , Vatted Malt , Whiskey , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes

Yula Princess or Goddess of Islay – Island Malts

By Michael Bendavid | December 5, 2015

Yula Princess or Goddess of Islay – Island Malts

As my readers know, I’m intrigued by malt blends (vatted malts), and you really don’t get to see too many of them that were aged for 20 years. Douglas Laing has started a series of three very limited expressions of Island malts. This blend is made of paeated Island malts and is the first in…

Douglas Laing, Independent Bottling, Scotch Vatted Malt, Whisky Tasting NotesBlended Malt , Douglas Laing , Independent Bottlers , Islands , Islay , Linger , Malt Blend , Nose , Palate , Peat , Tasting Note , Vatted Malt , Whiskey , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes