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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.

The Three Headed Hound of Diageo-Singleton of Dufftown 12

By Michael Bendavid | January 24, 2015

The Three Headed Hound of Diageo-Singleton of Dufftown 12

In Greek mythology, Cerberus was a three headed dog who was charged with guarding the entrance to the underworld so the living don’t come in and the dead don’t escape. In the world of whisky, it’s Diageo’s three headed Singleton brand, trying to be the ‘go-to’ entry level whisky (and beyond) without investing in distillery…

Core Range, Dufftown, Official Bottling, Scotch Single MaltDiageo , Dufftown , Linger , Nose , Palate , Scotch Whisky , Sherry , Single Malt , Singleton of Dufftown , Speyside , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Whiskey , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes

One Quick Dram: Pittyvaich 20 Cask Strength Whisky Tasting Notes

By Michael Bendavid | July 28, 2014

One Quick Dram: Pittyvaich 20 Cask Strength Whisky Tasting Notes

Pittyvaich is one of those almost secret closed distilleries as it didn’t even get through two decades of operation, as it was built in 1974 and mothballed in 1993, only to be demolished in 2002. It was an exact replica of the Dufftown distillery (producing Diageo’s Singleton of Dufftown) and once Arthur Bell & Sons…

Official Bottling, Pittyvaich, Scotch Single Malt, Whisky Tasting NotesBourbon Barrel , Cask Strength , Closed Distilleries , Diageo , Dufftown , Linger , Nose , One Quick Dram , Palate , Pittyvaich , Scotch Whisky , Single Malt , Speyside , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Whiskey , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes