Imperial | Malt and Oak: Whisky Tasting Notes | Whisky Guide | Whisky Blog

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.

Imperial 20 Year Old 1995 Cask 50252 – Signatory Vintage TWE Exclusive (50.8%)

By Michael Bendavid | July 30, 2016

Imperial 20 Year Old 1995 Cask 50252 – Signatory Vintage TWE Exclusive (50.8%)

I’m back from the longest vacation I took since starting the blog, visiting seven different countries and meeting up with quite a few members of the whisky fabric on both ends of the trip – in Copenhagen and in Vienna. It was great meeting you guys, and I look forward to meeting many more members of…

Imperial, Independent Bottling, Scotch Single Malt, Signatory VintageBourbon Barrel , Imperial , Independent Bottlers , Linger , Nose , Palate , Scotch Whisky , Signatory Vintage , Single Malt , Speyside , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes

An Imperial Moment: Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection Imperial 16 Whisky Tasting Notes

By Michael Bendavid | August 6, 2014

An Imperial Moment: Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection Imperial 16 Whisky Tasting Notes

Imperial (of Glenlivet) was a Speyside distillery opened in 1897 by the owner of Talisker and Dailuaine, Thomas Mackenzie. Named Imperial to denote Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee on the throne and became operational just in time for the Pattison’s of Leith crash which caused a wide recession in the whisky industry, prompting its closure for over…

Imperial, Independent Bottling, Scotch Single Malt, Whisky Tasting NotesBourbon Barrel , Cadenhead's , Imperial , Independent Bottlers , Linger , Nose , One Quick Dram , Palate , Scotch Whisky , Single Malt , Speyside , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes