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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.

Flaming Heart 15th Anniversary Edition – Compass Box’s Newest Malt Blend

By Michael Bendavid | October 28, 2015

Flaming Heart 15th Anniversary Edition – Compass Box’s Newest Malt Blend

Compass Box’s fifth incarnation of the Flaming Heart is out, in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the company. One of the really nice things about Compass Box is that quality is king. Expressions will be discontinued if the right whisky can’t be sourced, as is clearly evidenced by the company’s list of limited releases…

Caol Ila, Clynelish, Scotch Single MaltCaol Ila , Clynelish , Compass Box , Dailuaine , Independent Bottlers , Linger , Nose , Palate , Peat , Scotch Whisky , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Teaninich , Whiskey , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes

One Quick Dram: Spice Tree by Compass Box

By Michael Bendavid | June 16, 2014

One Quick Dram: Spice Tree by Compass Box

While reviewing the Oak Cross vatted malt expression by Compass Box, I talked about the toasted cask ends from Sessile Oak used by the Compass Box. Originally, John Glaser used internal staves to line the inner surface of the barrels. The SWA declared this technique to be illegal, and Spice Tree was pulled from the…

Whisky Tasting NotesClynelish , Compass B , Dailuaine , Linger , Nose , One Quick Dram , Palate , Scotch Whisky , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Teaninich , Vatted Malt , Whisky

One Quick Dram: Compass Box Oak Cross

By Michael Bendavid | June 7, 2014

One Quick Dram: Compass Box Oak Cross

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be reviewing some vatted malts I’m tasting as part of the writing of a bigger post on vatted malts in general. Some of these, like the Compass Box expressions, are official samples sent to me by the bottlers, and some tasted from my collection as well as…

Whisky Tasting NotesBourbon Barrel , Clynelish , Compass Box , Dailuaine , Highlands , Independent Bottlers , Linger , Nose , Oak Cross , One Quick Dram , Palate , Scotch Whisky , Speyside , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Teaninich , Whisky