Lowlands | Malt and Oak: Whisky Tasting Notes | Whisky Guide | Whisky Blog - Part 4

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.

Cadenhead’s Bladnoch 23 – Lowlands from the Old Guard

By Michael Bendavid | September 15, 2014

Cadenhead’s Bladnoch 23 – Lowlands from the Old Guard

Bladnoch is a Lowlands distillery that had been closed in 1938 and has been changing hands since. Brought back into operation in 1956 it changed ownership five times, ending up in Diageo’s predecessor’s hands and was later sold to the current owner Raymond Armstrong on the condition that the distillery not produce more than 100,000…

Bladnoch, Cadenhead's, Scotch Single Malt, Whisky Tasting NotesBladnoch , Bourbon Barrel , Cadenhead's , Diageo , Independent Bottlers , Linger , Lowlands , Nose , One Quick Dram , Palate , Single Malt , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Whiskey , Whisky , Whisky Blog , Whisky Guide , Whisky Tasting Notes

One Quick Dram: St. Magdalene (Linlithgow) 28 Years Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask

By Michael Bendavid | May 27, 2014

One Quick Dram: St. Magdalene (Linlithgow) 28 Years Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask

In that accursed year of 1983, 10 distilleries were mothballed, never to return to production. Among them are the legendary Brora and Port Ellen, but the eight others include two I was especially curious about: St. Magdalene (Linlithgow) and Dallas Dhu. I set out to taste both of them during this trip to Berlin, and …

St. Magdalene, Whisky Tasting NotesIndependent Bottlers , Lowlands , Palate , Scotch Whisky , Sherry , Single Malt , St. Magdalene , Tasting Note , Tasting Notes , Whisky