Have you tasted a whisky that really impressed you? Perhaps you can share your experience with us.
What was it? When did you taste it and where did you buy it?
After a day or two of hearing from all of you, I’ll tell you about a couple of whiskies that impressed me so far this year.
Hey John,
There have been some really fantastic whiskies that came out this year to share here, but you have covered the majority of them already; Glenlivet 1969, Longrow 18, Bruichladdich PC5 etc.. So I thought that I would share a few that I found that don’t get too much attention; A G&M 1974 29YR Speymalt Macallan and a G&M 1973 33YR Speymalt Macallan. I purchased both on eBay cheaper than I could have bought them and had them shipped from the UK. Both of them were around $200, which I would call a steal for an aged Macallan. My only complaint with them is that they were bottled at 40% and would love to have seen them at say 46%.
Tony
Redbreast 15 year old. It’s an absolutely immense whiskey, pure pot-still, unchill filtered, full of sherry, spice notes, classically Irish.
It’s just such a terrible pity that Irish Distillers have chosen not to release any more of it, focusing instead on the global domination of the bland Jameson instead.
This was released to Europe initially, and I had to source it online in Germany. It truly is a crying shame when one of the greatest ever Irish whiskeys isn’t even to be found in Ireland.
I’ve been branching out this year as well, though. Arran’s output has impressed me, as has Yamazaki’s. And I greatly enjoyed a brief encounter with Buffalo Trace bourbon which has left me keen to explore bourbon more.
John,
I’m one of those who reads religiously but hasn’t written and was inspired by your note on what this blog is missing to join in.
The best whiskey I’ve had this year is the Four Roses Single Barrel I picked up while in New York. Peter Caturani at Park Avenue was kind enough to spend a few minutes discussing it and a second purchase, Parker’s Heritage, as well as some Park Avenue exclusives.
I first had Four Roses Small Batch in Aruba and picked up a bottle of Yellow Label in Paris for julep mixing, thinking both times I needed to visit the old family home in Kentucky more often so I could pick up more Four Roses. Like many things not readily available, the difficulty in obtaining a bottle makes for a more determined search. Dragging my loudly complaining wife around Manhattan in the rain five hours before our flight back to Atlanta for a bottle of bourbon, while trying to explain why Park Avenue is actually on Madison Avenue, qualifies.
The Four Roses SB is my pick of the year, but there are others worth noting.
Also making the best-of list for the year is Wathen’s Single Barrel. Rich, smooth, sweet, I’m happy to hear the Medley distillery in Owensboro is cranking up again. This whiskey deserves more exposure.
From the other side of the pond, Glenrothes 1991 stands out. I tried it at a local restaurant and then went out the next day to search out a bottle. I’d heard much about this expression but had gotten away from Speysides recently in favor of some Taliskers, Highland Parks, and a couple of Cambeltowns (nice to hear some stirrings there again). This Glenrothes brought this region back into focus for me.
I also picked up a bottle of Yamazaki 18yo this year after it became available in Georgia. I’ve had some Nikka whiskies previously (a Taketsuru 17yo picked up duty free flying through Japan back in 2000 remains a very nursed favorite) but the complexity and uniqueness of the Yamazaki 18yo made a spectacular and unexpected first experience with the Suntory portfolio.
I’ve tried some beautiful ryes, one excellent Canadian, and some nice Irish this year. So difficult to pick just one.
Defining the best whisky i’ve tasted this year is not an easy task honestly. I would prefer most memorable because i have a few bottles of my favorite whisky that in my opinion is the best Whisky ever made and several of my friends have opened bottles as well. I tasted a 50 year old Macallan that i thought while not as good as the LE Springbank 25 year, i felt will stick in my head for i probably will never be able to try that whisky again. I also felt that the Jameson Rarest Reserve 2007 opened my eyes That Irish Whiskey has the potential to hit the “Classic” status. I’ve been happy with Irish Whiskey but i never found a truly Magnificent bottle until this release.
SMWS bottling 29.67, 16 year Laphroaig double matured in a sherry butt (UK bottling)…absolutely superb. I would love to try the 29.64 18 year old American bottling and compare…
Category:
Canadian (best overall): 40 Creek 3 Grain.. WOW.. and
Crown Royal Cask 16. Both awesome.
Bourbon/US: Hudson 4 Grain Bourbon Whiskey – Tuthilltown Spirits.
Scotch: BenRiach 16 yr Sauternes Finish
Either of the Canadians are my favorite though this year.
Much to my surprise, one of the youngest distilleries in Scotland produced my favorite pick for 2007. The Arran Tokaji Aszu Wine Cask, bottled at 55%, is stunning. It’s a “limited edition” of 7320 bottles & happily I have three. Can’t wait to try this years Sassicaia finish.
Cheers!
High West Rendezvous Rye. Such a treat! It took a bit of work to get hold of a bottle in Indiana, but it was well worth the effort. Bold and spicy nose, but so sweet and smooth on the tongue.
The Compass Box Whisky Canto Cask #46. The best non-peated, non-sherried, and non-Springbank I have ever had in house. A bargain too, especially at cask strength. It reminds me of the Scott’s Selection Glen Elgin that I tried at Whiskyfest a few years ago, not so surprising, since there probably is some Glen Elgin in the Cask #46.
I must say that I agree with practically all of your comments. Sadly, a lot of these whiskies are no longer produced, on their way out, or very hard to get (Forty Creek Three Grain, Redbreast 15, Longrow 18, etc.).
Any other favorites? I’ll post up a few of my own tomorrow.
Earlier this year I had my first taste of good scotch, 15yr Bruichladdich I believe, since then I’ve been hooked and I’ve tried close to 20 different varieties from local pubs and specialty liqueur stores.
I’ve managed to try samples from all six of the classic regions and by far my favorite so far has been the Glenmorangie Nectar D’or; bold, complex, delicious, and long finish.
By far the best whisky I’ve had this year has been the Kirkland Signature 19-year-old Single Malt Scotch from Macallan Distillery (Item #235674; production: 780 cases; 80 Proof) as found at the Costco on Hartspring Lane, Watford, Herts, England. Admittedly, I bought a stash of this a little while back which I’ve been bringing back in installments, so I have no idea on proper availability anywhere. At roughly $65 (give or take, given the exchange rate) this was a real bargain too!
This full bodied deep-amber colored whisky is both complex and balanced. It has an intriguing nose of something akin to dried currants, something vaguely floral, and with distinct wafts of a sweet spiciness (almost cinnamon-like, but better) and subtle smoke. On the palate, I get velvety smooth, rather elegant notes of spice, citrus-fruit zest, sweet sherry (but NOT overly sherried), a sort of racy or spicy ginger sensation, caramel, honey, and all with subtle traces of peat and oak in the background. The finish is long and absorbing, and richly rewarding — with a heightened interplay of spice, citrus zest, toffee and pleasingly subtle wood notes.
A great dram!
This is a difficult question for me to answer because this has been a year of whiske(e)y explorations beyond my previous concentration on bourbon. I have to agree with most of the comments above, including (a surprise for me) the Costco Kirkland Signature 19YO from Macallan.
If I had to choose, my top two are Compass Box Whisky Canto Cask #46 and the 2007 Release of Parker’s Heritage Collection (122.6 proof). I think Parker’s might just be the winner by a nose (or dram).
nunc est bibendum,
John
Top 5 in no paticular order:
Parker’s Heritage 122.6
Willett Single Barrel Bourbon 25yr
Wild Turkey American Spirt
Buffalo Trace (experienced it for the first time this year)
Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Zinfindel Finish
Hands down: The Highland Park 21 that I heard about right here on your blog, John. The travel retail distribution kept it out of my Glencairn glass for a few weeks longer than if I could have just ordered it through Beltramo’s, but that’s life. I have another bottle “on order” when a friend is returning from Japan via SFO this weekend.
The usual culprits:
Lagavulin 21
Karuizawa 1971
Longrow 18
and five more surprising ones:
Canto Cask 37
Auchentoshan 31 yr (1973)
Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist (2008 bottling) an already great whisky going even more stellar
Flaming Heart 2nd edition
Cutty Sark 25
Had some other grand ones but the above where mainly gotten this year while others not mentioned was already in stock
The very best whiskies I’ve tried this year were released ages ago so don’t count (Glen Garioch 1971 for Samaroli, White Horse bottled 1958, Ardbeg 1965 Cadenheads), but of the newish stuff Karuizawa 1971, Lagvulin 21 and Ardbeg Renaissance are my faves. The lagavulin 1993 bottled for this year’s Feis Ile is excellent as well.
I also adore the new Single Malts of Scotland releases of Rosebank 1991 and Bunnahabhain 1979, but I have to declare a conflict of interest there as my company bottles them. Of our competitors in the UK, Berry Bros & Rudd have bottled some great stuff from Bruichladdich and Port Ellen this year.
OK here of a few of my favorites I have tasted in the last year to 18 months in no particular order.
40 YO Highland Park
G&M Private Collection Balblair 1973
Ardbeg Renaissance
Balmenach 1975 (but you better like sherry)
Bruichladdich PC-5
Auchentoshan 12 YO
Serendipity (Ardbeg and Glen Moray)
G&M 17 YO Glen Esk
Some of the releases within the past year that have impressed me include Both Black and White Bowmores, Ardbeg Renaissance, Parker’s Heritage Collection 27 yr. old bourbon, High West Rendezvous Rye, Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve, Redbreast 15 yr old, and The Last Drop blended scotch. And while over in Scotland, I really enjoyed Cutty Sark 25, which is not yet available in the U.S.
Please continue posting up some of your favorites. I think all the other blog readers will find them useful. — John
SMWS-A 29.64= Laphroaig 18/89-08, 54.6%, refill sherry
SMWS-A 76.48= Mortlach 21/85-06, 57.%
&
my YEAR’S BEST (so far)= PC6, 61.6%. by a coot’shair I
like 6 better than either (US or UK version of) PC5= my
whisky of th’year for ‘07. with these marvelous monsters
Jim McEwan proves himself a true MASTER DISTILLER.
what with his superior song & dance talents, who knows:
Bruichladdich may be on it’s way to th’lofty regions.
Have to agree with the Canto Cask 46 (I am sure all the others were equally impressive). On the American front I was extremely surprised and pleased with Michter’s US1 Small Batch Unblended American Whiskey. Very very smooth. Maybe a little sweet for some, but this got me through the summer. Aging bourbon in a bourbon-soaked cask and then not being able to call it bourbon. God bless America. Still, good stuff.
PS – based on a few posts, I think I am finally gonna have to bite the bullet and join the SMWSA. I have been putting it off for too long.
Canto Cask was definitely a good whisky. SMWS has a good pipeline of whisky, and the review panel is very knowledgeable.
I would agree with Harvey that PC-6 is excellent and I have tasted the PC-5 bottled in the UK and its also wonderful but I also really like the US release – Awaiting PC-7!!!
Too hard to say what was my absolutele favorite, but I’ve liked all the Willets this year. The biggest surprise for me was the Buffalo Trace Experimental 6yo Cab Franc. After the debacle with the WR Sonoma Cutrer, I was pessimistic. But it was extremely well done. They took a big risk and got a big payoff, and I hope they continue the collection.
Best whiskies?
I have to say that the Japanese whiskies made a very strong impression on me, in particular the Karuizawa 1971 and the Yoichi 1991 for La maison du whisky.
From the Scottish side, I have been impressed by the Lagavulin 21 YO, the Glen Garioch 1988 Sherry from James McArthur and the (expensive) Auchentoshan 1965 and the Caol Ila 1974 from Signatory.
So many whiskies, so little time…
What an impressive list so far! I wish that we could get more of these limited edition bourbons into Nebraska, i feel left out!
Some of my favorites: Highland Park 40, all four of the 12 and 18 year old cask strengh components of the Glenfiddichs (PLEASE bottle these for sale, Ian!), PC5, Benromach Traditional, Old Pulteney 1969 35 yo G & M, the 1989 12 yo Talisker that Navarro kindly shared with us, and the Ardbeg Renaissance.