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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.

Two Old Batches of Whisky Meet a Blender…This is NOT the Beginning of a Joke!

By Michael Bendavid | August 27, 2014

Two Old Batches of Whisky Meet a Blender…This is NOT the Beginning of a Joke!

Blended Scotch whisky is not my thing. I’m not a snob, I’ve had quite a few, and will drink blends, but I just don’t really find them all that interesting. Apparently, whereas blends shoot for smoothness, I like the distinct flavors and rough edges single malts and well made vatted malts offer (there’s only one exception…

Compass Box, Independent BottlingBlended Scotch Whisky , Bourbon Cask , Cask Strength , Compass Box , Linger , Nose , One Quick Dram , Palate , Sherry , Speyside , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , The General , Whiskey , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes

One Quick Dram: Whyte & Mackay 30 Year Old Blended Whisky Tasting Notes

By Michael Bendavid | May 16, 2014

One Quick Dram: Whyte & Mackay 30 Year Old Blended Whisky Tasting Notes

Whyte & Mackay 30 Year Old Blended Whisky Tasting Notes (40% ABV) This is a premium blend by Whyte & Mackay, the Glasgow based whisky blender noted both by the colorful Richard Paterson who will kill you if you hold your glass in the palm of your hand, and for changing ownership every five years or so (on average)…

Whisky Tasting NotesBlended Scotch , Blended Scotch Whisky , Blends , Linger , Nose , One Quick Dram , Palate , Richard Paterson , Scotch Whisky , Sherry , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Whiskey , Whisky , Whyte & Mackay