Maybe a negative video, but it's not like you're shitting on the little guys trying their hardest. These brands are phoning it in and focusing on maximising profits, so they're fair game to take a bit of flak.
my favorite from The Balvenie is still the Single Barrel 15yo Sherry Barrel. Okay, the price tag is quite increased during the last few years. But I purchased many bottles until 2019 (before the pandemic started) and put them to my secret stash. So I cannot complain about Balvenie until the last day of my life. 🙂
The tun 1401 series were all pretty great but I can't think of anything truly great that they've bottled in the last decade or so and their core range is pretty boring. They're all drinkable but not great.
As a fan of the 18 year Jura (love the wine cask finish, and it’s only $100 and change), my friend got me the Sevenwood. Buzzed right through it. Jura gets a lot of flack in places like Reddit, but for price point, it is quite good.
@@rhythmorientedJura is quite decent for the price. Their 12 year is very cheap here in Sweden for what you get. It's my goto camping whisky since it comes in a 350ml bottle here. I've tried their 18 year old red wine finish but found the oxidized wine flavor to be a bit too strong.
Laphroig is a love/hate thing for people - the flavor either fits your palate or it doesn't. Personally, I LOVE it and always have an open bottle on hand. And I'm glad that it doesn't get the bs-hype that drives the price up on sub-par products from bigger names. It is my #1 Islay choice by far, and maybe because of the love (hype) it DOESN'T get, it saves me $20 a bottle. I'll take that every day. I was gifted a bottle of Jura in 2022 and a bottle of Auchentoshan way back in 2007. I didn't care for the Jura; the Auchentoshan was a solid pour, but that was 17 years ago so not relevant to what they produce today. I find the rest of the list exceptionally easy to avoid.
@@Gwhisky I had two bottles of QC that were absolutely delicious but bought a new one recently that comes in a new packaging and it is a completely different thing. All the stuff that makes Laph what it is feels tamed to a minimum and its just a boring peated whisky, I was extremely dissapointed and wonder if more people had the same experience, earning it that spot.
@TH3HY3N4 I had a similar experience. I felt it was not as intense as it used to be. Interestingly, it became better when I added a bit of water (maybe brought it down to 45/46%). Before (imo), it deteriorated when I added water. So it has to be different, I guess.
I wouldn't put Laphroaig on this list as they do actually produce some very interesting whisky such as their annual release of the 10 Year Old Cask Strength. I also would not include Glen Moray as, despite their cheap budget price, I personally do not find their whisky in any way bland. I actually really enjoy the malty house style. Their First-Fill Non-Chill Filtered Signature editions are something quite special. Primarily aimed at the Travel Retail market, they are available in certain local markets. Well worth checking out.
Im Scottish and work for a smaller distillery and I agree to a degree in your review. Over here in the UK every one of what you have shown (in their lower statements are supermarket malts. Dalmore (and Patterson) in general is something I will not put past my lips, I despise it and all they stand for, that and macallan are 'airport duty free bottles" . You can put it in a full chrystal decanter wrapped in the rarest wood but it's still laughed at within the industry
@@dannyfrog for me it's the massive over use of E150 colouring; ever noticed how dalmores bottles from least expensive to more expensive get darker in colour? It's a psychological thing, darker is richer therefore worth more, alongside that the whole using the rarest glass and wood for packaging,selling 'airport only' expressions. The other thing is they say there are only 100 bottles of this or 10 bottles of that, as someone in the industry let me tell you there will be 500+ more bottles held back.
@@dannyfrog it's a personal opinion of mine, if you enjoy them then please do enjoy them!! In other news, a friend brought round a almost full bottle of Lagavulin 12 yr old 2020 special release last night...if you ever see it in a bar GRAB A DRAM!!!!
Great list! I would check out the Tomintoul 14. It’s naturally presented and all ex-bourbon. It’s pretty affordable (at least in my area) at 100 CAN. Cheers!
Geoff, my friend, I have been watching your channel (and @Maltdaddy's too) for a while and really appreciate your honest sharing. Normally I would prefer to remain quite to express my opinions openly on social media. However this time I must give you a big thumb up for your boldness and honesty as I could 't agree more with those names on the list in this episode. They totally deserve it (including Laphroaig and of course its holding company Suntory). Bravo Geoff !!!
i mean, every enthusiast probably buys the Laphi 10 CS or the other higher abv bottlings, so dont get why laphi is here, also glen moray? really? a great 18y old that is well affordable. Aberlour i totally understand, the decline in the abunadh series is painful to watch
Probably my favourite whisky topic. Love taking a big fat log on Diageo. They would happily move production of Lagavulin and Talisker to Nigeria tomorrow if the SWA allowed it.
A good one 😂And sadly, you’re not even joking, they would do it in a heartbeat if the SWA allowed it. The sad thing is Lagavulin and Talisker are (were) two of my favourites, I love their house style. Lagavulin was my first whisky love, so I take it very personal how Diageo is trying everything in their power to castrate those beautiful whiskies .. Unfortunately, both are strong brands with a very loyal customer base, so they get away with a lot of shite.
@@justinafuchs2619 it goes to show how terrible some of these brands are when there’s no Diageo included. I would love it if the Islay Feis Ile committee took a hard line with Jura and kicked them out of the festivities for consistently undermining the reputation of scotch. It would not surprise me to learn that Jura sells more bottles in Scotland than the rest of Islay distillers combined. Cheap and nasty trumps expensive and exquisite every time.
@@justinafuchs2619 I still enjoy Lagavullin 16, but I agree that Talisker is out of control. The 10 was one of my favorites at its price point even a few years ago, but the new ones are unrecognizable. Their no-age bottlings are in shambles, and even the last few drams of 18 were thoroughly underwhelming.
@@ardstrum I couldn’t agree more with you, the latest bottles of Talisker 10 were unrecognisable, and it was one of the very best at this price point. Talisker 18 once was a giant, my favourite 18 year old. Now it’s only a shadow of its former self and they sell it for double the money. I still enjoy Lagavulin 16, but it’s not what it used to be. I just can’t help myself comparing it to the older ones I had, and it leaves me disappointed every time.
Jeff that was the best work you have done so far. Placing Macallan at #3 was perfect. They deserve to be at that spot. They are one producer who knows nothing about marketing and brand placement.
Laphroaig and Aberlour were surprising. Agree with much of the list, but I have to admit I actually like Bowmore and Macallan. I have to find them on sale to pull the trigger, but for me, personally, when you can get them for a deal, they can make good drams.
Jack Daniels is probably better than all of these ironically. Their single barrel and single barrel rye are pretty good and cheap. Jim Bean makes very good bourbon too under different names.
@@DayKlight yes i keep hearing good things about the Barrel Proof, it but it's hard to find in Europe unfortunately for some reason. Which is weird because Jack Daniels products are litterally everywhere.
@@Soldano999 really? its quite available online, you can check out drankdoszjin , netherland shop that sends to whole europe, also german sites have it in stock.
My wife and I like Glenrothes. I would say if you can still find the Whiskey Makers Cut it is worth a look. We like everything we have had from them. Are they the best whiskey ever? No, but they are good pours for when you are looking for something straightforward. My wife especially reaches for the 12 a lot and she doesn’t shy away from cask strength stuff.
Bought some of those brands in the early 2000s, where they still were very good price/quality. Nowadays it is hard to find good quality for a reasonable price.
As fairly new to the real whisky, I admit that initially I liked Jura and Glenfiddich. It wasn't till I tried Laphroaig quarter cask that I realized I've been misled. But Jura is often discounted at my market. Jura Journey for 20 euro. This is completely passable single malt for people that are not into real whisky. Put up this bottle for consumption when you have friends over and they will like it a lot. And for 20 euro it's a good offer
I like Jura, although it’s frustrating as it could be so much more. I had an IB by Gordon & MacPhail a few years ago that was one of my all time favourites. It has a good distillate that just gets messed around too much. They need to look at what Raasay and other smaller island distilleries are doing, take advantage of its history, and go for more integrity presentations.
Bowmore was the scotch I started drinking in the mid ‘90s when I lived in Scotland, and at the time the 12YO was 25 bucks, and so I still have a soft spot for it, although now I live in the US the $60 sticker price for 12YO Bowmore feels outrageous.
It can't be the same whisky any more. The industry has gotten so busy and messed up that almost nothing tastes as good as it used to. I suspect all the good barrels are going into the premium bottlings that can never be widely marketed.
Super fun video, Geoff! Common across all things , enthusiasts tend to have biases, both justifiable and unjustifiable ones. So here I have my personal opinions, not so much on the list, but more on the biases. Bad in terms of bang for the buck and straight up inferior product are justifiable biases. (Although, as long as family members keep buying me Macallan, I'll keep drinking it!) Being too popular is not a justifiable bias. This one probably has to do with enthusiasts being snobby.... Having weaker specs is not a justifiable bias. As much as an enthusiast prefers stronger specs, another consumer may prefer weaker specs. Also, bottles with weaker specs could be the gateway for many consumers who eventually become snobby enthusiasts. Unwillingness to move beyond entry-level is not a justifiable bias. Distilleries are businesses. If a distillery finds a part of the market that is profitable to it, who's to tell it otherwise? Last I heard, McDonald's and Starbuck's are mega companies making huge profits. More power to them! But then again, without these eccentric biases, there wouldn't be any enthusiast...... Slainte!
Fair points, buddy. To be fair this isn't designed as a commentary on the industry as a whole. I understand, as do my Patrons, that it's about making money and that mass appeal whiskies aren't for us. This video is just relaying what brands my Patrons don't buy. I think that since I asked an enthusiast demographic, it makes sense that they avoid low specs. I don't think too much popularity played much of a role in their answers. Cheers. Still living that Cairdeas btw! 🙏🥃
@@nickbrice8497 if you ever get the chance to try the Island Green label, definitely do it, its their duty-free version of Green Label but its much bolder than the regular, you can usually find it on cruise ship bars and such
I would add Highland Park to the list. Their age stated whiskies are too pricey and they have way too many underwhelming NAS selections. On top of that, their whisky tour was the worst one that I have ever been on.
IMHO, of all the major single malts, Highland Park has fallen the farthest. Their 12yo was my go-to malt for years, but around the time they began the viking theme marketing, all their standard bottlings went flaccid. Last year I was fortunate enough to find an independent single cask bottling that was excellent (Single Malts of Scotland 12-year-old Orkney 56.4% ABV) and that ranks as one of the best whiskys I've ever tasted. So good HP is still being made, just not so much by HP themselves.
I agree with most of this list, except for Balvenie. True, the specs do not always look great, and they are more on the expensive side. However, they had/have some great whiskies as well. The 17yo double wood was fantastic (despite poor-looking specs), and the 18yo px (travel retail) is even better and has perfect specs: no color, non-chill filtered, 48.7% abv. Except for its price, I cannot imagine a whisky enthusiast not loving it.
8 of 10 whiskies in this list are the ones most available in my market and that sucks haha. Thankfully, we have 3 excellent online whisky sellers that have the good ones.
For me Laphroaig and Ardeg are the best and I would love to try some Lagavulin. I own and have tried other whiskeys, some scotch, some irish, japanese, taiwanese and some others. I find Islay is the best whisky for me. Love the peat.
You can add Cardhu to that list. I’m spanish, it was the biggest selling whisky of the world and it’s a below average whisky made for a new and snob market
I'd flip Jura and Macallan. At least Jura isnt ridiculously priced and seem somewhat self aware..."Oh, you want crappy 10 year old scotch?...Sure thing, we'll charge you almost nothing for it."
Glenrothes has the maker's cut. 48% and NCF. Decent sherry bomb. I heard they are discontinuing it but if you can find it, it's worth a shot. Bowmore has the vault series which I like. Jura has some decent stuff (superstition and 18) although a lot of bad. I also, secretly like some of the special release Dalmores but don't like to admit it lol
A new Aberlour bottling popped up at a local shop that’s non chill filtered and 46% ABV. Aberlour Casg Annamh. Have you come across it by chance? Would appreciate a review if that bottle is available to you.
Wow! There are a few surprises! I kind of expected Glenmorangie and Glenfarclas to be on there, as well. But I can see the arguments for all of these brands to be o this list. The good news is: besides all those dubious mass-market brands, there is also a lot of really good stuff! (see OSWA)
Tomintoul releases a heavily peated whisky called Old Ballantruan and it's excellent. Lovely floral peat profile, very unique. Aberfeldy has announced their moving their range up to 46% so one to watch
Aberfeldy isn't easy to drink in my opinion, because it tastes... well, not great. Something like Glen Grant is just as easy to find, just as cheap, just as light, but it just tastes better. If a guest of mine is not really into whisky, I pour them Glen Grant 10. It's one thing to make whisky for the masses, it's another to make bad whisky. There are few whiskies that are worse though, like the Singleton of Dufftown. I don't even remember tasting Balvenie. I don't want to. The prices are insane and I really don't believe it's worth it. On the other hand, something like Glen Morey (many of their expressions) is worth the money. Which is not a lot.
Hello Geoff, I remember a Time when some Juras where delicious. They where called Prophecy and Superstition. The Specs where good and it was fairly priced. Miss those Times. Rest of the List i totally agree. Glenrothes lost a lot Reputation when they removed the Vintage for a standard Age notice. So was Balblair which is not mentioned on your List here.😅 Thanks for sharing your Patpals Opinions i your unique Way. Greetings from Germany 😎 🤘
is there a reason you keep mentioning below 46% other than that being an indicator of chill filtering? you mention these things seperately too, so I wasnt sure.
The level of alcohol is also an indicator of the intensity of flavour. Typically within scotch, we (arbitrarily?) decided that 46% is a good cut-off because it suggests, though not guarantees, no chill filtration, and it also offers up a more substantial set of flavours. 🥃
Some interesting news about Aberfeldy, it's planned to go up to 46% for the core range in the future, cask strength versions can be great too. Jura is definitely a whisky that shines with high strength or in IBs had some really great one's, there's an interesting character there that seems to get blended out with the core range and low strength OBs to make it as inoffensive as possible. Apparently Jura is the highest selling single malt here in the UK though and seems to always be on discount in the supermarkets in lots of different versions, all quite underwhelming.
Great list Geoff, totally agree with them. You'd be surprised at Jura's numbers because in 2020 it became the best selling whisky in the UK and it still was the best in 2022! Some people buy it for sure, don't know why though 😅
Tried a couple single casks at the whiskyfair from Tomintoul and they were great😋😋 1997 tawny port you should try. Bowmore is one of my favourite distillery. Best visit of all distilleries on Islay. Bowmore Frank Quitely series is amazing😋😋😋😋
Agree with the bulk of these! Maybe ad the McClelland’s line, and Glenlivet (even though I never give Glenlivet due and never consider them when m shopping but every time I have one it’s generally pretty alright whisky) Don’t mind Glenrothes though. Don’t buy a lot but I think it’s decent stuff.
Thanks for sharing Geoff. Up front: doubt how many surprises there are (for me) After seeing the list: kind of a surprise as I would have expected one other brand: Tamnavulin For me counts that on the list there are 2 (nr 8 and nr 4) I do check out if it is an IB. Slàinte mhath
Glenfiddich make nice whisky. The 18 year old is great. Sure it would be nice to have it at 46%abv ncf, but if it tastes good at 40% cf then what's the problem?
That 11th place is harsh for sure. I'm in sync with virtually everything you said and those ten are not showing up on my shelf except..... Bit with the suprises at #11 I'm curious as to the next 10. Official bottles that are worthy but create zero FOMO. C'mon man, Caol Ila is more attractive than Laphroaig??? Benriach gets less hate than Balvenie? I got no problem with negativity, there are more than 50 brands represented at my local shop and aifting through the weak and colored stuff makes shopping a bit easier
The Glenrothes 16 yr 2001 won our Champion of Champions club final in 2022 (all tasting winners throughout the year are brought back for a final shootout). Might be worth a shout if you can find it 😊
As for Jura, right now the Bourbon Cask goes for £22 here and there's none left on the supermarket shelf... So I can see them being "successful" commercially if in not much else.
glenlivet has good bottlings, the illicit for example, also house style is nice. im always getting roasted and green hazelnuts with the illicit for example, yummy
No problem with a lot of the list but I will have to re-explore my liking of the older Macallans (18, 25, 30). I disagree wholeheartedly with the Laphroaig however. My number one on this list would be Glenlivet. I have had all of these and many more but have always hated the Glenlivets that I have tried. Is there something wrong with me?
I agree with most on your list Geoff. I know you had a disclosure on the list being for OBs but what about IB's for at least a couple of these? I have heard good things about the IBs doing good things with those distilleries liquid.
I remember not that long ago Bowmore putting out Tempest, Devils Cask and Laimrig annual releases for $100 and change Cad. I filled my bar with backups and am down to a heel of Devils Cask and 1 last batch 4 Laimrig. When they are gone, I will never buy another Bowmore.
Agree on Laphroaig. Jura, I think, has potential. I owned a bottle of 12 yo Jura and I liked the coastal flavors and minerality, but the aroma was so weak, no matter how I rolled the glass I could only get a faint scent out of it. Not sure if it’s low ABV or. chill filtration to blame or something more serious going on with their distillate and casks.
How the hell is Jura #1? Its relatively cheap where I am. I dont expect it to be amazing but for $30-40 bucks it does a lot more than a lot of things in its price range.
Can't argue about any of the brands here, in general. But as you say, some of them make quite good whisky, for example Glenfiddich 15yo Distillery Edition at 51%abv, a great dram
Like most snobs, they focus on stories and not taste and then hate on successful brands. They love to say they found something that you don’t have. I’m going to stand up for the Macallan, I love it and so do a lot of other people. What ever specs you can come with, is secondary to the taste. Yes it’s overpriced, however I can’t think of any luxury goods that are not. FYI for all you snobs that have a bottle of Macallan sittting on your shelf, that you’re too High Falutin to drink send it my way. I don’t even care if it’s opened. Duck tape the top and send it my way. 😊
As expected, a common theme here is low strength, chill filtration, and added color. I don't see a good reason for added color in single malts, though I can understand it in blends. It removes an important piece of information - the color of whisky tracks with the age and the type of casks. I suspect that many brands add color to visually mask the weakness of the casks that they are using. Lighter colored whisky isn't always flavorless; sometimes it leans more into the malt and (if present) the peat. Added color isn't allowed in bourbon, and it is a type of whisky that is widely popular with casual drinkers and enthusiasts alike. If bourbon can have this sort of broad success without allowing any additives, then I would think that single malt Scotch could too. Though whisky enthusiasts might not like it, low strength and chill filtration have their purposes. I'm sure most of us got started with these whiskies, and if the more potent, less filtered ones had been our starting points, then we might have had a harder time getting into it. What is weak and watery to us now was smooth and friendly to us back when we were still getting used to spirits. We have simply outgrown these whiskies. Not everybody becomes an enthusiast; some people remain occasional and casual drinkers, and these mild whiskies work for them. This audience is likely much larger than the small but vocal enthusiast community. The big brands are all about growing their market share and making money, so it makes sense that they would tailor their product to this less adventurous audience. Also, some of these brands have an appealing house style even if it isn't presented as well as it could be, and some enthusiasts will enjoy partaking of them every now and then. The other day, I revisited the single malt that got me started a very long time ago - Glenlivet 18. While the 12-year retains some robust flavor despite the watering and filtration, the 18-year is thin and lifeless. It's especially disappointing compared to the Signatory cask strength Glenlivet 16 in my collection. However, I think it would be great for a beginner; it is smooth and inoffensive, which is precisely what new whisky drinkers need. The main problem is that it is an 18-year and is priced as such, and there are plenty of smooth and inoffensive whiskies that are a lot less expensive. There is one thing that I like about Jura. The whisky is rather middle-of-the-road and doesn't have anything interesting to distinguish it, but the bottle is well designed. It is an ergonomic bottle. It is easy to grasp, and it doesn't slip out of the hand. The other day, when I had a pour from my bottle of Rock Hill Farms bourbon, which has an aesthetically pleasing but very awkward bottle, I though about how much nicer it would have been if it had been shaped like a Jura bottle. But Rock Hill Farms is better whisky, and in the end, that is more important. I'll end this long comment with a few thoughts on some brands. I agree on Bowmore - it has potential that is seldom realized. Bowmore was my first Islay single malt, and I'll always have a soft spot for it, but I'll look for independent bottlings. I found an inexpensive off-brand anonymous Islay single malt with an age statement over 30 years. From the flavor profile, I think it could be Bowmore, though Islay peat likely goes through a lot of change in three decades, so I can't be certain. Whatever it is, I like it. It has a fascinating mix of floral, soapy, and medicinal notes. Macallan has a good house style, but it is not presented well; the 12-year smells wonderful, but it tastes like a glass of water that sat next to a glass of whisky. Glenfiddich is mild and inoffensive. I like to keep a couple mild and inoffensive whiskies around to use as warm-ups or palate cleansers. The next time I need one of those, Glenfiddich would be a possible choice. Independent bottlings are the way to go with many of these brands, if they are available. I have a Signatory Glenrothes, which is wonderful. I have a Cadenhead Caol Ila, which is also wonderful. (Caol Ila is one that whisky enthusiasts tend to find lackluster, but it commonly turns up in high quality independent bottlings. Those are worth seeking out.) I would love to find an independent Macallan, but they don't often turn up, and when they do, they are costly. An independent Dalmore would be nice too, but I haven't seen one.
Great list. I Didn't think about this list. I agree with maccalan, balvenie and dalmore they are too expensive. Never tried Jura or bowmore, but negative reviews keeps me away from them. I think Glenfiddich is alright sipping whiskey.
As a whisky bar owner, not one of these surprises me. And it's true, nobody drinks Jura. What is surprising not on your list is Cardhu. Shocked in fact. Great (and funny) list as always. Keep it up!
I have an around 8 year old bottle of Balvenie Double Wood. Every time I give it another try, it is a disappointment. I do enjoy Glenfiddich every once in a while though - reminds me of my grandpa who drank it in the '80s. He was a truly gentleman of taste, like yourself.
I have a few renowned brands in my cabinet, Springbank, Kilkerran, Bunnahabain, Kilchoman to name a few. Now my wife, who enjoys a very occasional Scotch, fecking hates all of those “enthusiast” brands but loves a Jura. Why ? Because it’s smooth and inoffensive. If I tell her “but, but it’s chill filtered and coloured !” she just looks at me blankly and says “huh ? so what? “. I guess she knows what she likes and who am I to tell her she’s wrong.
Hi there. Glenrothes, interesting. The OBs I've had in my glass weren't to bad, but I had a few stunning IBs. Jura has the same problem for me like Dalmore, the cask influence is way too strong, as well as the flavour the casks are infusing into the whisky.
Jura ...Completely agree .... My whiskey club has blind tastings ...and I can pick it almost every time ... don't like it and it comes in last almost every time. Quite like the Balvinie Double wood but don't buy it now as it's doubled in price.
4 different iterations and the complete house style is something our whole whiskey club agrees on is not what we like .... which is about the only thing we agree on
The Glenrothes Maker's Cut is actually a pretty good dram. Give it a shot. Haven’t tried any of the other OB in the core range. But, I must admit that I like the bottles.
I’ve had 5-6 cask strength Juras (bought at the distillery over the years and all peated) and they were phenomenal. But the duty free stuff is boring, I agree.
Pretty much agree with the whoIe list. Some exceptions: I do have a bottle of Bowmore 18 on hand regularly, still a fav. I bought a bottle of Jura 'Tide' 21 for just around $200 from a vendor clearing it out in Alberta. At that price its a fantastic whiskey, has that very prounced coastal quality. However, at the over $400 CAD at the LCBO in Ontario its a for sure pass.
Jura does have some good offering in the past such as the 16 and Prophecy. I wouldn't touch their new bottlings though. Aberlour A'bunadh is the only Aberlour I will buy while Glen Moray has it place in the affordable section.
How good is Prophecy? I actually have access to this bottle and could buy it. So far, I’ve avoided a Jura entirely, so I wouldn’t know what I’m getting into.
Regarding Tomintoul, I can say that there was once an integrity bottling of Tomintoul back in the early 2000s (their old bottling style), the original Tomintoul 14, which was Non-Chill-Filtered, Natural Colour, bottled at 46% and the brain child of former owner of the Whisky Castle shop in the village Tomintoul, namely Mike Drury. It began as almost a whisky store exclusive but eventually became part of the core range. The first few batches were absolutely wonderful. Once you tastes this then you really understood just how bland the rest of the range was, with their overuse of E150a being the least of it. Over the next few years I noticed that the Tomintoul 14 was becoming paler and paler until bottlings from 2016/7 were almost clear with a slight green tinge. The taste had also lost a lot of its richness. Then in 2018, with the new bottling style, something subtle changed with the label. The whisky suddenly looked brown and dark and the statement of "Natural Colour" on the right hand side of the label was replaced by the statement "High Strength". For me, it lost its status after that. There are some custom to order cask limited and private releases as well as some single cask editions of Tomintoul out there, which are actually integrity presented well made whisky. However, they are over priced.
Really surprised to see Jura at #1. I've only ever tried their Journey whisky which is aged in bourbon barrels and it has this really nice coffee finish that even carries over when mixed.
Agree with your patrons. Not surprising to see Macallen and Jura in the top 3. There are quite a few on this list that I haven't bothered to try for the same reasons you mentioned, low specs and/or overpriced. The Bowmore 12 was a disappointment. I quite liked my bottle of Glenfiddich 12 which I bought at the start of my whisky journey, but I wouldn't buy another bottle. Cheers!
Very interesting! from this list, I love Dalmore and Macallan. I agree Macallan is overpriced, but some of their releases are very good and I like how “creamy” they are. I have a lot to learn on identifying colored ones, but Dalmore Cigar Malt is one of my favorites. I would include Glenmorangie in this list and Grant. Maybe even Glenlivet. Glen Moray should be in there too. Anyway, I’m learning a lot about whisky’s and this was great learning for me!
Glenrothes has a strong floral taste which I despise; however, it is unique among single malts I've tried, and some will probably like it. How did Johnny Walker and a plethora of bottom shelf stalwarts miss the list?
I have 5 OB Balvenies, only 2 of them over 43%; 2 OB Tomintouls both 40%; 4 OB Glenfiddichs 40-43% (was 5 until quite recently); 5 OB Aberfeldy; only 1 OB Dalmore 43%, but I wouldn't mind more; and 2 OB Jura 1 43%. Unlike your patrons, I generally prefer lower proof, chill-filtered whiskies and I couldn't care less about e150a (except in Loch Dhu proportions!). I have 14 OB Laphroaigs and have been a registered Friend since 1996! I also have 3 OB Glen Morays and 2 OB Aberlours. I think the only ones listed that I dislike are Bowmore (post 1964) and Auchentoshan. I would have included Bruichladdich (specifically unpeated since Jim McEwan & Mark Reynier ruined it; Port Charlotte and Octomore have enough peat to cover the 'baby sick'!).
You are so right about Aberfeldy. Imagine this: I will never buy Aberfeldy but I would any day, eyes closed, buy dewars white label, Dewars 12, 15, 18, 21, Japanese smooth etc. Personally, I am a huge fan of Dewars but Aberfeldy, NO WAY. sorry for being rude.
Aberfeldy 12 is the one I take a pour off of whenever something bad happens to DJTrump. I mark the bottle with the date and event and I'm on my 2nd bottle now. I want to celebrate but not with a fantastic single malt. Also I wanted one that won't make me gag and it's priced OK here.
I've just got that Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, liked it. Also just got the Aberlour 14, liked it as well. Got a great deal on a Dalmore 18 a while ago and honestly don't see the appeal. So 3 out of 13, not bad 😂
I really enjoy Aberlour. But in my defense I’ve never tried the original 12. I have the casg annamh which is a higher proof and is amazing in my opinion. Also surprised by laphroaig but to each their own.
heh... funnily enough no.10 and no.1 were my top bottom whiskies. Glerothes select reserve was one of the first bottles I got when I started my whisky journey and Jura 16 was given to me as a present... both very unimpressive.
Almost all Glenrothes are matured in pretty mediocre Ex-Sherry casks. There is one expression however, where they seem to have taken a bit more care. In some markets it's called "Alba Reserve" an other markets it's called "Bourbon Cask Reserve". This release is pretty expensive (around £50), for what is a NAS Ex-Bourbon Barrel matured 40% abv release, but it happens to be really tasty. Creamy vanilla caramel fudge biscuits with apple strudel. Very well made whisky. If you see it on special offer then well worth the purchase.
There was a time I loved Balvenie Doublewood. Quality has plunged over the past decade (or maybe my taste has changed?) and price has gone through the roof in the past 3 years here in Canada. I’ll never buy it again. Still love their Week of Peat. Totally agree on macallan - not worth it. Dalmore ugh. Laphroaig Cardeis ugh - quarter cask and lore I like. I have a few unopened laphroaig IBs that I’ll get to some day. Haven’t tried most of the rest on your list, I suspect for a reason lol. I’ve heard the Jura 18 is ok, but haven’t tried it. Totally agree with your OB vs IB assessment. I’ll buy an IB when I can get it without too much thought and am rarely disappointed.
It strikes me quit odd that anyone would measure a worth of a drink by "specs" such as whether it was chill-filtered, coloured and what kind of ABV it carries. If a drink tastes good it tastes good doesn't matter whether it's a 40 degree or fiftyseven.
Agree. It's relevant info because it speaks directly to intensity. But it's only one of many indicators of quality. Plenty of lower ABV whiskies are still excellent if the flavours are good.
I received a free bottle of MacAllan as my introduction to sherry cask Scotch so I can never really hate them although I don't remember the last time I paid for it
Tomintoul 14 years old is really good. The only with craft specs out of their lineup. I’ve tried 10, 16 and 21 y.o. Tomintoul and the 14 y.o. blows them out of the water.
Maybe a negative video, but it's not like you're shitting on the little guys trying their hardest. These brands are phoning it in and focusing on maximising profits, so they're fair game to take a bit of flak.
Well said!
Good list. I don’t agree with Balvenie. The double wood is still a decent dram and the TUN 1401 is one of the best NAS I’ve ever had.
my favorite from The Balvenie is still the Single Barrel 15yo Sherry Barrel. Okay, the price tag is quite increased during the last few years. But I purchased many bottles until 2019 (before the pandemic started) and put them to my secret stash. So I cannot complain about Balvenie until the last day of my life. 🙂
The tun 1401 series were all pretty great but I can't think of anything truly great that they've bottled in the last decade or so and their core range is pretty boring. They're all drinkable but not great.
@@darlsbarkley3493 I had the 30 YO at the distillery. It wasn’t boring :)
@@cato451 For the price they're charging, the standard Balvenie should be bottled at a higher ABV.
I love Jura, having a 10y to give guests that dont know anything is wonderful
As a fan of the 18 year Jura (love the wine cask finish, and it’s only $100 and change), my friend got me the Sevenwood. Buzzed right through it.
Jura gets a lot of flack in places like Reddit, but for price point, it is quite good.
In bourbon, we call that "Buffalo Trace." 🤣
ふむ😕 グレンマレイが忘れ去られている？
I have the Road and I used it for cocktails over drinking neat.
@@rhythmorientedJura is quite decent for the price. Their 12 year is very cheap here in Sweden for what you get. It's my goto camping whisky since it comes in a 350ml bottle here. I've tried their 18 year old red wine finish but found the oxidized wine flavor to be a bit too strong.
What’s wrong of having negative comments on something we love, telling the truth opinion is why I come back here, good job Jeff!
Laphroig is a love/hate thing for people - the flavor either fits your palate or it doesn't. Personally, I LOVE it and always have an open bottle on hand. And I'm glad that it doesn't get the bs-hype that drives the price up on sub-par products from bigger names. It is my #1 Islay choice by far, and maybe because of the love (hype) it DOESN'T get, it saves me $20 a bottle. I'll take that every day. I was gifted a bottle of Jura in 2022 and a bottle of Auchentoshan way back in 2007. I didn't care for the Jura; the Auchentoshan was a solid pour, but that was 17 years ago so not relevant to what they produce today. I find the rest of the list exceptionally easy to avoid.
Agreed, and their current Caerdeas offering is spectacularly good.
@@mikeryan8412 Laphroaig 10 needs to be bottled at a higher strength, like Ardbeg.
You, me, and Ron Swanson. I love it.
Don’t know why Laphroaig would make the list at 11. Yeah, the Select and the 10 is 40 or 43%, but pretty much every other release is 48% or higher.
Where I live, the Quarter Cask is consistently available at similar prices to Glenfiddich 12.
48%, solid peated value rivaling Ledaig 10
Quarter Cask is solid stuff! 🥃
@@Gwhisky I had two bottles of QC that were absolutely delicious but bought a new one recently that comes in a new packaging and it is a completely different thing. All the stuff that makes Laph what it is feels tamed to a minimum and its just a boring peated whisky, I was extremely dissapointed and wonder if more people had the same experience, earning it that spot.
The Laphroaig 10 CS and the 16 are perma shelf status for me.
@TH3HY3N4 I had a similar experience. I felt it was not as intense as it used to be. Interestingly, it became better when I added a bit of water (maybe brought it down to 45/46%).
Before (imo), it deteriorated when I added water. So it has to be different, I guess.
I wouldn't put Laphroaig on this list as they do actually produce some very interesting whisky such as their annual release of the 10 Year Old Cask Strength.
I also would not include Glen Moray as, despite their cheap budget price, I personally do not find their whisky in any way bland. I actually really enjoy the malty house style. Their First-Fill Non-Chill Filtered Signature editions are something quite special. Primarily aimed at the Travel Retail market, they are available in certain local markets. Well worth checking out.
My god. You are spot on from no.4 to no.1. I thought I was crazy. Thanks for the validation.
Im Scottish and work for a smaller distillery and I agree to a degree in your review. Over here in the UK every one of what you have shown (in their lower statements are supermarket malts. Dalmore (and Patterson) in general is something I will not put past my lips, I despise it and all they stand for, that and macallan are 'airport duty free bottles" . You can put it in a full chrystal decanter wrapped in the rarest wood but it's still laughed at within the industry
Just curious as to why the dislike for Dalmore? Macallan I understand.
@@dannyfrog for me it's the massive over use of E150 colouring; ever noticed how dalmores bottles from least expensive to more expensive get darker in colour? It's a psychological thing, darker is richer therefore worth more, alongside that the whole using the rarest glass and wood for packaging,selling 'airport only' expressions. The other thing is they say there are only 100 bottles of this or 10 bottles of that, as someone in the industry let me tell you there will be 500+ more bottles held back.
@Rosco0754 makes sense. I have 2 bottles of Dalmore, a 12 year and 15 year. The color change is significant.
@@dannyfrog it's a personal opinion of mine, if you enjoy them then please do enjoy them!!
In other news, a friend brought round a almost full bottle of Lagavulin 12 yr old 2020 special release last night...if you ever see it in a bar GRAB A DRAM!!!!
@Rosco0754 I will do that! I'm just now getting into scotch. One thing I do not care for is the peaty flavored scotches.
So TRUE about glenfiddich 12 and bowmore. They need to work on the nosing and taste
Glenfiddich 12 is horrible indeed!
Great list! I would check out the Tomintoul 14. It’s naturally presented and all ex-bourbon. It’s pretty affordable (at least in my area) at 100 CAN. Cheers!
Actually that was the only one that really impressed me before, and it's been like 10 years. Just ordered a new one! 🥃
@@Gwhisky Nice! If you are a fan of that subtle fruity and malty style it’s a good one.
Geoff, my friend, I have been watching your channel (and @Maltdaddy's too) for a while and really appreciate your honest sharing. Normally I would prefer to remain quite to express my opinions openly on social media. However this time I must give you a big thumb up for your boldness and honesty as I could 't agree more with those names on the list in this episode. They totally deserve it (including Laphroaig and of course its holding company Suntory). Bravo Geoff !!!
Good list. I agree that Laproaig and Aberlour appearing in joint 11th seems harsh. I love the A’bunadh and enjoy the Laproaig QC and 10yr CS.
You can jack up the 10 with a splash of quarter casq.
@@krisverding3908 How can you taste it in there? I put a few drops of QC into whiskies that bore me (like the last A'bunadh bottle I bought).
i mean, every enthusiast probably buys the Laphi 10 CS or the other higher abv bottlings, so dont get why laphi is here, also glen moray? really? a great 18y old that is well affordable. Aberlour i totally understand, the decline in the abunadh series is painful to watch
Probably my favourite whisky topic. Love taking a big fat log on Diageo. They would happily move production of Lagavulin and Talisker to Nigeria tomorrow if the SWA allowed it.
😂😂😂
A good one 😂And sadly, you’re not even joking, they would do it in a heartbeat if the SWA allowed it.
The sad thing is Lagavulin and Talisker are (were) two of my favourites, I love their house style. Lagavulin was my first whisky love, so I take it very personal how Diageo is trying everything in their power to castrate those beautiful whiskies ..
Unfortunately, both are strong brands with a very loyal customer base, so they get away with a lot of shite.
@@justinafuchs2619 it goes to show how terrible some of these brands are when there’s no Diageo included.
I would love it if the Islay Feis Ile committee took a hard line with Jura and kicked them out of the festivities for consistently undermining the reputation of scotch.
It would not surprise me to learn that Jura sells more bottles in Scotland than the rest of Islay distillers combined.
Cheap and nasty trumps expensive and exquisite every time.
@@justinafuchs2619 I still enjoy Lagavullin 16, but I agree that Talisker is out of control. The 10 was one of my favorites at its price point even a few years ago, but the new ones are unrecognizable. Their no-age bottlings are in shambles, and even the last few drams of 18 were thoroughly underwhelming.
@@ardstrum I couldn’t agree more with you, the latest bottles of Talisker 10 were unrecognisable, and it was one of the very best at this price point. Talisker 18 once was a giant, my favourite 18 year old. Now it’s only a shadow of its former self and they sell it for double the money.
I still enjoy Lagavulin 16, but it’s not what it used to be. I just can’t help myself comparing it to the older ones I had, and it leaves me disappointed every time.
Jeff that was the best work you have done so far. Placing Macallan at #3 was perfect. They deserve to be at that spot. They are one producer who knows nothing about marketing and brand placement.
Laphroaig and Aberlour were surprising. Agree with much of the list, but I have to admit I actually like Bowmore and Macallan. I have to find them on sale to pull the trigger, but for me, personally, when you can get them for a deal, they can make good drams.
Was at an airport recently. Most of these brands were sold there! Together of course with Jack Daniel’s, Johnny Walker and Jim Beam
Jack Daniels is probably better than all of these ironically. Their single barrel and single barrel rye are pretty good and cheap.
Jim Bean makes very good bourbon too under different names.
@@Soldano999 JD single barrel is indeed good stuff!
@@Soldano999 especially the JD single barrel cask strength, i like it even more than Elijah Craig CS.
@@DayKlight yes i keep hearing good things about the Barrel Proof, it but it's hard to find in Europe unfortunately for some reason.
Which is weird because Jack Daniels products are litterally everywhere.
@@Soldano999 really? its quite available online, you can check out drankdoszjin , netherland shop that sends to whole europe, also german sites have it in stock.
My wife and I like Glenrothes. I would say if you can still find the Whiskey Makers Cut it is worth a look. We like everything we have had from them. Are they the best whiskey ever? No, but they are good pours for when you are looking for something straightforward. My wife especially reaches for the 12 a lot and she doesn’t shy away from cask strength stuff.
Glad to hear you guys enjoy it! I quite like the Maker's Cut myself! 🥃
Bought some of those brands in the early 2000s, where they still were very good price/quality. Nowadays it is hard to find good quality for a reasonable price.
As fairly new to the real whisky, I admit that initially I liked Jura and Glenfiddich. It wasn't till I tried Laphroaig quarter cask that I realized I've been misled. But Jura is often discounted at my market. Jura Journey for 20 euro. This is completely passable single malt for people that are not into real whisky. Put up this bottle for consumption when you have friends over and they will like it a lot. And for 20 euro it's a good offer
Got the Jura pale ale cask for £20 with a free glass, for the price, for the glass, no complaints, just drink it outside on sunny evenings
I like Jura, although it’s frustrating as it could be so much more. I had an IB by Gordon & MacPhail a few years ago that was one of my all time favourites. It has a good distillate that just gets messed around too much. They need to look at what Raasay and other smaller island distilleries are doing, take advantage of its history, and go for more integrity presentations.
Bowmore was the scotch I started drinking in the mid ‘90s when I lived in Scotland, and at the time the 12YO was 25 bucks, and so I still have a soft spot for it, although now I live in the US the $60 sticker price for 12YO Bowmore feels outrageous.
It can't be the same whisky any more. The industry has gotten so busy and messed up that almost nothing tastes as good as it used to. I suspect all the good barrels are going into the premium bottlings that can never be widely marketed.
Super fun video, Geoff!
Common across all things , enthusiasts tend to have biases, both justifiable and unjustifiable ones. So here I have my personal opinions, not so much on the list, but more on the biases.
Bad in terms of bang for the buck and straight up inferior product are justifiable biases. (Although, as long as family members keep buying me Macallan, I'll keep drinking it!)
Being too popular is not a justifiable bias. This one probably has to do with enthusiasts being snobby....
Having weaker specs is not a justifiable bias. As much as an enthusiast prefers stronger specs, another consumer may prefer weaker specs. Also, bottles with weaker specs could be the gateway for many consumers who eventually become snobby enthusiasts.
Unwillingness to move beyond entry-level is not a justifiable bias. Distilleries are businesses. If a distillery finds a part of the market that is profitable to it, who's to tell it otherwise? Last I heard, McDonald's and Starbuck's are mega companies making huge profits. More power to them!
But then again, without these eccentric biases, there wouldn't be any enthusiast...... Slainte!
Fair points, buddy. To be fair this isn't designed as a commentary on the industry as a whole. I understand, as do my Patrons, that it's about making money and that mass appeal whiskies aren't for us. This video is just relaying what brands my Patrons don't buy. I think that since I asked an enthusiast demographic, it makes sense that they avoid low specs. I don't think too much popularity played much of a role in their answers. Cheers. Still living that Cairdeas btw! 🙏🥃
@@Gwhisky that’s why at the end of my comment above, I salute these opinions as the very foundation of what make their authors true enthusiasts!
@@Gwhisky , again, this was a one of a kind fantastic video, both in terms of the idea and the content.
Grant, Bell, Chivas Regal, Dewar's & J&B
And soda
insert office thank you meme
How did Johnnie Walker not make this list, it's literally a joke of a whisky
their good whiskeys are over priced. The cheap ones are really bad.
It’s because most people know that JW is not great, however, I do actually like their Green Label and their Island Green Label even more
@@Pursuedwinter I'd agree the Green Label is the exception, I recently bought a bottle on offer and was pleasantly surprised.
@@nickbrice8497 if you ever get the chance to try the Island Green label, definitely do it, its their duty-free version of Green Label but its much bolder than the regular, you can usually find it on cruise ship bars and such
@@nickbrice8497 the going joke is that Green label is better than Blue label.
I would add Highland Park to the list. Their age stated whiskies are too pricey and they have way too many underwhelming NAS selections. On top of that, their whisky tour was the worst one that I have ever been on.
IMHO, of all the major single malts, Highland Park has fallen the farthest. Their 12yo was my go-to malt for years, but around the time they began the viking theme marketing, all their standard bottlings went flaccid. Last year I was fortunate enough to find an independent single cask bottling that was excellent (Single Malts of Scotland 12-year-old Orkney 56.4% ABV) and that ranks as one of the best whiskys I've ever tasted. So good HP is still being made, just not so much by HP themselves.
@@paulm749 I have 3 IB from the SMWS and all of them are excellent
Yes! A shite whisky indeed
@@paulm749 I enjoyed the pre-Viking Highland Park 10 and 12, but since the rebrand it's kinda bland, and definitely not worth the premium price.
I like Highland Park.
I agree with most of this list, except for Balvenie. True, the specs do not always look great, and they are more on the expensive side. However, they had/have some great whiskies as well. The 17yo double wood was fantastic (despite poor-looking specs), and the 18yo px (travel retail) is even better and has perfect specs: no color, non-chill filtered, 48.7% abv. Except for its price, I cannot imagine a whisky enthusiast not loving it.
8 of 10 whiskies in this list are the ones most available in my market and that sucks haha. Thankfully, we have 3 excellent online whisky sellers that have the good ones.
For me Laphroaig and Ardeg are the best and I would love to try some Lagavulin. I own and have tried other whiskeys, some scotch, some irish, japanese, taiwanese and some others. I find Islay is the best whisky for me. Love the peat.
You can add Cardhu to that list. I’m spanish, it was the biggest selling whisky of the world and it’s a below average whisky made for a new and snob market
I'd flip Jura and Macallan. At least Jura isnt ridiculously priced and seem somewhat self aware..."Oh, you want crappy 10 year old scotch?...Sure thing, we'll charge you almost nothing for it."
Didn't Jura go out of business for a few years?
Glenrothes has the maker's cut. 48% and NCF. Decent sherry bomb. I heard they are discontinuing it but if you can find it, it's worth a shot. Bowmore has the vault series which I like. Jura has some decent stuff (superstition and 18) although a lot of bad. I also, secretly like some of the special release Dalmores but don't like to admit it lol
A new Aberlour bottling popped up at a local shop that’s non chill filtered and 46% ABV. Aberlour Casg Annamh. Have you come across it by chance? Would appreciate a review if that bottle is available to you.
Bought a jura 14 only because of on sale, never had it before love it.
Wow! There are a few surprises!
I kind of expected Glenmorangie and Glenfarclas to be on there, as well. But I can see the arguments for all of these brands to be o this list.
The good news is: besides all those dubious mass-market brands, there is also a lot of really good stuff! (see OSWA)
Very true! There are always other options! 🥃
Ye I thought for sure Glenmorangie would be on there. But I disagree on glenfarclas, one of my personal favorites is their 15 actually.
@NizzeNys I always hear such praise about the Glenfarclas 15, but it's never been available in the US.
Yep, I guessed Jura would be at the top/bottom. What about Scapa?
Wasn't even in the vote at all, interestingly. 🥃
I had the pleasure of enjoying the first pour of a 1979 18 year old Glenrothes.
It was really good.
Apparently, Jura is the best selling single malt in the UK. Selling more that Glenfiddich and Glen Livet.
Wow, that’s a surprise 😮
I just looked it up and Jura was in 5th place behind Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, and Talisker.
Tomintoul releases a heavily peated whisky called Old Ballantruan and it's excellent. Lovely floral peat profile, very unique.
Aberfeldy has announced their moving their range up to 46% so one to watch
I'll definitely be watching Aberfeldy if that's the case. Had no idea about that! 🥃
Me neither. I’ve tried their tasting flask set of 12, 16, 21. And all three are quite passable but not worth a repurchase.
Aberfeldy isn't easy to drink in my opinion, because it tastes... well, not great. Something like Glen Grant is just as easy to find, just as cheap, just as light, but it just tastes better. If a guest of mine is not really into whisky, I pour them Glen Grant 10. It's one thing to make whisky for the masses, it's another to make bad whisky. There are few whiskies that are worse though, like the Singleton of Dufftown.
I don't even remember tasting Balvenie. I don't want to. The prices are insane and I really don't believe it's worth it.
On the other hand, something like Glen Morey (many of their expressions) is worth the money. Which is not a lot.
Hello Geoff,
I remember a Time when some Juras where delicious. They where called Prophecy and Superstition. The Specs where good and it was fairly priced. Miss those Times.
Rest of the List i totally agree.
Glenrothes lost a lot Reputation when they removed the Vintage for a standard Age notice. So was Balblair which is not mentioned on your List here.😅
Thanks for sharing your Patpals Opinions i your unique Way.
Greetings from Germany 😎 🤘
The Jura Superstition was my gateway whisky. Fondly remembered.
I totally agree with the list, with the exception of Laphroaig.
Very nice and important video! I'm not surprised by the top three at all. To the extent that whisky matters, it's important to know what to avoid!
Excellent list. Totally feel the same. Thanks for bringing some peace of mind.
is there a reason you keep mentioning below 46% other than that being an indicator of chill filtering? you mention these things seperately too, so I wasnt sure.
The level of alcohol is also an indicator of the intensity of flavour. Typically within scotch, we (arbitrarily?) decided that 46% is a good cut-off because it suggests, though not guarantees, no chill filtration, and it also offers up a more substantial set of flavours. 🥃
Some interesting news about Aberfeldy, it's planned to go up to 46% for the core range in the future, cask strength versions can be great too.
Jura is definitely a whisky that shines with high strength or in IBs had some really great one's, there's an interesting character there that seems to get blended out with the core range and low strength OBs to make it as inoffensive as possible. Apparently Jura is the highest selling single malt here in the UK though and seems to always be on discount in the supermarkets in lots of different versions, all quite underwhelming.
I was also expecting Glenlivet, Highland Park and maybe also Talisker.
So was I.. but Macallan
Great list Geoff, totally agree with them. You'd be surprised at Jura's numbers because in 2020 it became the best selling whisky in the UK and it still was the best in 2022! Some people buy it for sure, don't know why though 😅
Yeah that's been mentioned a few times here. I guess cheap price and easy drinking. I guess they're doing something right! 🥃
Tried a couple single casks at the whiskyfair from Tomintoul and they were great😋😋
1997 tawny port you should try.
Bowmore is one of my favourite distillery. Best visit of all distilleries on Islay.
Bowmore Frank Quitely series is amazing😋😋😋😋
Bowmore Frank.. looks affordable.. :P
Tomintoul is actually not bad. Not an impressive brand overall, but I love the standard 14, actually. 🥃
@@shaddepadde paid 250-300 euro for the 22y and the 23y😬
Agree with the bulk of these! Maybe ad the McClelland’s line, and Glenlivet (even though I never give Glenlivet due and never consider them when m shopping but every time I have one it’s generally pretty alright whisky)
Don’t mind Glenrothes though. Don’t buy a lot but I think it’s decent stuff.
I was waiting for Glen Moray to show up during the whole video! LOL
Shame for bowmore! But totally fair considering most OBs. They deserve it! Cheers
Thanks for sharing Geoff.
Up front: doubt how many surprises there are (for me)
After seeing the list: kind of a surprise as I would have expected one other brand: Tamnavulin
For me counts that on the list there are 2 (nr 8 and nr 4) I do check out if it is an IB.
Slàinte mhath
Glenfiddich make nice whisky. The 18 year old is great. Sure it would be nice to have it at 46%abv ncf, but if it tastes good at 40% cf then what's the problem?
That 11th place is harsh for sure. I'm in sync with virtually everything you said and those ten are not showing up on my shelf except.....
Bit with the suprises at #11 I'm curious as to the next 10.
Official bottles that are worthy but create zero FOMO.
C'mon man, Caol Ila is more attractive than Laphroaig???
Benriach gets less hate than Balvenie?
I got no problem with negativity, there are more than 50 brands represented at my local shop and aifting through the weak and colored stuff makes shopping a bit easier
The Glenrothes 16 yr 2001 won our Champion of Champions club final in 2022 (all tasting winners throughout the year are brought back for a final shootout). Might be worth a shout if you can find it 😊
I'll be on the lookout. Don't think I've seen it around in my market though. Cheers! 🥃
As for Jura, right now the Bourbon Cask goes for £22 here and there's none left on the supermarket shelf... So I can see them being "successful" commercially if in not much else.
My father used to like Jura, it was his favorite whisky. Then I opened a bottle of Craigellachie 13 for him. He hasn't bought another bottle since.
Surprised Glenlivet didn’t make the cut. Definitely on my 10.
glenlivet has good bottlings, the illicit for example, also house style is nice. im always getting roasted and green hazelnuts with the illicit for example, yummy
No problem with a lot of the list but I will have to re-explore my liking of the older Macallans (18, 25, 30). I disagree wholeheartedly with the Laphroaig however. My number one on this list would be Glenlivet. I have had all of these and many more but have always hated the Glenlivets that I have tried. Is there something wrong with me?
Recently I had a SM called as Glenturner in Dubai. Another uninformed purchase. Was a sad one. Anything to share on that brand
I agree with most on your list Geoff. I know you had a disclosure on the list being for OBs but what about IB's for at least a couple of these? I have heard good things about the IBs doing good things with those distilleries liquid.
I remember not that long ago Bowmore putting out Tempest, Devils Cask and Laimrig annual releases for $100 and change Cad. I filled my bar with backups and am down to a heel of Devils Cask and 1 last batch 4 Laimrig. When they are gone, I will never buy another Bowmore.
I agree, Tempest was the best Bowmore ever…..
Agree on Laphroaig. Jura, I think, has potential. I owned a bottle of 12 yo Jura and I liked the coastal flavors and minerality, but the aroma was so weak, no matter how I rolled the glass I could only get a faint scent out of it. Not sure if it’s low ABV or. chill filtration to blame or something more serious going on with their distillate and casks.
How the hell is Jura #1? Its relatively cheap where I am. I dont expect it to be amazing but for $30-40 bucks it does a lot more than a lot of things in its price range.
But what could it be? I’ve had great ib Juras that show how poor the ob stuff is
Can't argue about any of the brands here, in general. But as you say, some of them make quite good whisky, for example Glenfiddich 15yo Distillery Edition at 51%abv, a great dram
Like most snobs, they focus on stories and not taste and then hate on successful brands. They love to say they found something that you don’t have. I’m going to stand up for the Macallan, I love it and so do a lot of other people. What ever specs you can come with, is secondary to the taste. Yes it’s overpriced, however I can’t think of any luxury goods that are not. FYI for all you snobs that have a bottle of Macallan sittting on your shelf, that you’re too High Falutin to drink send it my way. I don’t even care if it’s opened. Duck tape the top and send it my way. 😊
Glenrother Whiskymakers cut seems to be a good version from that distillery (Ralfy endorsed it as well)
Yes that was mentioned in a follow-up video where I suggested a few good bottles from the brands mentioned here. 🥃
@@Gwhisky ahh i see!
Good to know and thanks for the quicker-than-light reply 😁
Jura 19y/o The Paps is a very nice whisky. Good price good quality.
As expected, a common theme here is low strength, chill filtration, and added color. I don't see a good reason for added color in single malts, though I can understand it in blends. It removes an important piece of information - the color of whisky tracks with the age and the type of casks. I suspect that many brands add color to visually mask the weakness of the casks that they are using. Lighter colored whisky isn't always flavorless; sometimes it leans more into the malt and (if present) the peat. Added color isn't allowed in bourbon, and it is a type of whisky that is widely popular with casual drinkers and enthusiasts alike. If bourbon can have this sort of broad success without allowing any additives, then I would think that single malt Scotch could too.
Though whisky enthusiasts might not like it, low strength and chill filtration have their purposes. I'm sure most of us got started with these whiskies, and if the more potent, less filtered ones had been our starting points, then we might have had a harder time getting into it. What is weak and watery to us now was smooth and friendly to us back when we were still getting used to spirits. We have simply outgrown these whiskies. Not everybody becomes an enthusiast; some people remain occasional and casual drinkers, and these mild whiskies work for them. This audience is likely much larger than the small but vocal enthusiast community. The big brands are all about growing their market share and making money, so it makes sense that they would tailor their product to this less adventurous audience. Also, some of these brands have an appealing house style even if it isn't presented as well as it could be, and some enthusiasts will enjoy partaking of them every now and then.
The other day, I revisited the single malt that got me started a very long time ago - Glenlivet 18. While the 12-year retains some robust flavor despite the watering and filtration, the 18-year is thin and lifeless. It's especially disappointing compared to the Signatory cask strength Glenlivet 16 in my collection. However, I think it would be great for a beginner; it is smooth and inoffensive, which is precisely what new whisky drinkers need. The main problem is that it is an 18-year and is priced as such, and there are plenty of smooth and inoffensive whiskies that are a lot less expensive.
There is one thing that I like about Jura. The whisky is rather middle-of-the-road and doesn't have anything interesting to distinguish it, but the bottle is well designed. It is an ergonomic bottle. It is easy to grasp, and it doesn't slip out of the hand. The other day, when I had a pour from my bottle of Rock Hill Farms bourbon, which has an aesthetically pleasing but very awkward bottle, I though about how much nicer it would have been if it had been shaped like a Jura bottle. But Rock Hill Farms is better whisky, and in the end, that is more important.
I'll end this long comment with a few thoughts on some brands. I agree on Bowmore - it has potential that is seldom realized. Bowmore was my first Islay single malt, and I'll always have a soft spot for it, but I'll look for independent bottlings. I found an inexpensive off-brand anonymous Islay single malt with an age statement over 30 years. From the flavor profile, I think it could be Bowmore, though Islay peat likely goes through a lot of change in three decades, so I can't be certain. Whatever it is, I like it. It has a fascinating mix of floral, soapy, and medicinal notes. Macallan has a good house style, but it is not presented well; the 12-year smells wonderful, but it tastes like a glass of water that sat next to a glass of whisky. Glenfiddich is mild and inoffensive. I like to keep a couple mild and inoffensive whiskies around to use as warm-ups or palate cleansers. The next time I need one of those, Glenfiddich would be a possible choice. Independent bottlings are the way to go with many of these brands, if they are available. I have a Signatory Glenrothes, which is wonderful. I have a Cadenhead Caol Ila, which is also wonderful. (Caol Ila is one that whisky enthusiasts tend to find lackluster, but it commonly turns up in high quality independent bottlings. Those are worth seeking out.) I would love to find an independent Macallan, but they don't often turn up, and when they do, they are costly. An independent Dalmore would be nice too, but I haven't seen one.
Great list. I Didn't think about this list. I agree with maccalan, balvenie and dalmore they are too expensive. Never tried Jura or bowmore, but negative reviews keeps me away from them. I think Glenfiddich is alright sipping whiskey.
As a whisky bar owner, not one of these surprises me. And it's true, nobody drinks Jura. What is surprising not on your list is Cardhu. Shocked in fact. Great (and funny) list as always. Keep it up!
I was surprised that one didn't show up, too! 🥃
I have an around 8 year old bottle of Balvenie Double Wood. Every time I give it another try, it is a disappointment. I do enjoy Glenfiddich every once in a while though - reminds me of my grandpa who drank it in the '80s. He was a truly gentleman of taste, like yourself.
I have a few renowned brands in my cabinet, Springbank, Kilkerran, Bunnahabain, Kilchoman to name a few. Now my wife, who enjoys a very occasional Scotch, fecking hates all of those “enthusiast” brands but loves a Jura. Why ? Because it’s smooth and inoffensive. If I tell her “but, but it’s chill filtered and coloured !” she just looks at me blankly and says “huh ? so what? “. I guess she knows what she likes and who am I to tell her she’s wrong.
Hi there.
Glenrothes, interesting. The OBs I've had in my glass weren't to bad, but I had a few stunning IBs.
Jura has the same problem for me like Dalmore, the cask influence is way too strong, as well as the flavour the casks are infusing into the whisky.
Jura ...Completely agree .... My whiskey club has blind tastings ...and I can pick it almost every time ... don't like it and it comes in last almost every time. Quite like the Balvinie Double wood but don't buy it now as it's doubled in price.
Try the new Jura Perspective 16yr old. This will change your mind about Jura.
4 different iterations and the complete house style is something our whole whiskey club agrees on is not what we like .... which is about the only thing we agree on
I like Aberfeldy. It’s a nice very cheap single malt to stock the bar with as a first warm up dram.
The Glenrothes Maker's Cut is actually a pretty good dram. Give it a shot. Haven’t tried any of the other OB in the core range. But, I must admit that I like the bottles.
Interesting. I've enjoyed many, many single malt scotches. The Jura 21 Tide Time is one of my favorites.
I should try that one. 🥃
i kinda actually like aberfeldy! esp for price too. I can find it on military posts for like $30ish. its pretty dope
I’ve had 5-6 cask strength Juras (bought at the distillery over the years and all peated) and they were phenomenal. But the duty free stuff is boring, I agree.
Pretty much agree with the whoIe list. Some exceptions: I do have a bottle of Bowmore 18 on hand regularly, still a fav. I bought a bottle of Jura 'Tide' 21 for just around $200 from a vendor clearing it out in Alberta. At that price its a fantastic whiskey, has that very prounced coastal quality. However, at the over $400 CAD at the LCBO in Ontario its a for sure pass.
Jura does have some good offering in the past such as the 16 and Prophecy. I wouldn't touch their new bottlings though.
Aberlour A'bunadh is the only Aberlour I will buy while Glen Moray has it place in the affordable section.
How good is Prophecy? I actually have access to this bottle and could buy it. So far, I’ve avoided a Jura entirely, so I wouldn’t know what I’m getting into.
@@eviltrain24 46% abv. Rich, bold, spices, heavily peated, slightly briny, sweet. robust and engaging.
@@eviltrain24 Good for the money. Heavily peated, BBQ meat, sherry sweetness, good amount of spices, bold, robust and quite long finish.
Regarding Tomintoul, I can say that there was once an integrity bottling of Tomintoul back in the early 2000s (their old bottling style), the original Tomintoul 14, which was Non-Chill-Filtered, Natural Colour, bottled at 46% and the brain child of former owner of the Whisky Castle shop in the village Tomintoul, namely Mike Drury. It began as almost a whisky store exclusive but eventually became part of the core range. The first few batches were absolutely wonderful. Once you tastes this then you really understood just how bland the rest of the range was, with their overuse of E150a being the least of it.
Over the next few years I noticed that the Tomintoul 14 was becoming paler and paler until bottlings from 2016/7 were almost clear with a slight green tinge. The taste had also lost a lot of its richness. Then in 2018, with the new bottling style, something subtle changed with the label. The whisky suddenly looked brown and dark and the statement of "Natural Colour" on the right hand side of the label was replaced by the statement "High Strength". For me, it lost its status after that.
There are some custom to order cask limited and private releases as well as some single cask editions of Tomintoul out there, which are actually integrity presented well made whisky. However, they are over priced.
Really surprised to see Jura at #1. I've only ever tried their Journey whisky which is aged in bourbon barrels and it has this really nice coffee finish that even carries over when mixed.
Agree with your patrons. Not surprising to see Macallen and Jura in the top 3. There are quite a few on this list that I haven't bothered to try for the same reasons you mentioned, low specs and/or overpriced. The Bowmore 12 was a disappointment. I quite liked my bottle of Glenfiddich 12 which I bought at the start of my whisky journey, but I wouldn't buy another bottle. Cheers!
Very interesting! from this list, I love Dalmore and Macallan. I agree Macallan is overpriced, but some of their releases are very good and I like how “creamy” they are. I have a lot to learn on identifying colored ones, but Dalmore Cigar Malt is one of my favorites. I would include Glenmorangie in this list and Grant. Maybe even Glenlivet. Glen Moray should be in there too. Anyway, I’m learning a lot about whisky’s and this was great learning for me!
Glenrothes has a strong floral taste which I despise; however, it is unique among single malts I've tried, and some will probably like it. How did Johnny Walker and a plethora of bottom shelf stalwarts miss the list?
I have 5 OB Balvenies, only 2 of them over 43%; 2 OB Tomintouls both 40%; 4 OB Glenfiddichs 40-43% (was 5 until quite recently); 5 OB Aberfeldy; only 1 OB Dalmore 43%, but I wouldn't mind more; and 2 OB Jura 1 43%. Unlike your patrons, I generally prefer lower proof, chill-filtered whiskies and I couldn't care less about e150a (except in Loch Dhu proportions!). I have 14 OB Laphroaigs and have been a registered Friend since 1996! I also have 3 OB Glen Morays and 2 OB Aberlours.
I think the only ones listed that I dislike are Bowmore (post 1964) and Auchentoshan.
I would have included Bruichladdich (specifically unpeated since Jim McEwan & Mark Reynier ruined it; Port Charlotte and Octomore have enough peat to cover the 'baby sick'!).
Yeah man, that’s just…your opinion
You are so right about Aberfeldy. Imagine this: I will never buy Aberfeldy but I would any day, eyes closed, buy dewars white label, Dewars 12, 15, 18, 21, Japanese smooth etc. Personally, I am a huge fan of Dewars but Aberfeldy, NO WAY. sorry for being rude.
You're just being honest. Cheers! 🥃
Aberfeldy 12 is the one I take a pour off of whenever something bad happens to DJTrump. I mark the bottle with the date and event and I'm on my 2nd bottle now. I want to celebrate but not with a fantastic single malt. Also I wanted one that won't make me gag and it's priced OK here.
I've just got that Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, liked it. Also just got the Aberlour 14, liked it as well. Got a great deal on a Dalmore 18 a while ago and honestly don't see the appeal. So 3 out of 13, not bad 😂
I really enjoy Aberlour. But in my defense I’ve never tried the original 12. I have the casg annamh which is a higher proof and is amazing in my opinion. Also surprised by laphroaig but to each their own.
heh... funnily enough no.10 and no.1 were my top bottom whiskies. Glerothes select reserve was one of the first bottles I got when I started my whisky journey and Jura 16 was given to me as a present... both very unimpressive.
Almost all Glenrothes are matured in pretty mediocre Ex-Sherry casks. There is one expression however, where they seem to have taken a bit more care. In some markets it's called "Alba Reserve" an other markets it's called "Bourbon Cask Reserve". This release is pretty expensive (around £50), for what is a NAS Ex-Bourbon Barrel matured 40% abv release, but it happens to be really tasty. Creamy vanilla caramel fudge biscuits with apple strudel. Very well made whisky. If you see it on special offer then well worth the purchase.
There was a time I loved Balvenie Doublewood. Quality has plunged over the past decade (or maybe my taste has changed?) and price has gone through the roof in the past 3 years here in Canada. I’ll never buy it again. Still love their Week of Peat. Totally agree on macallan - not worth it. Dalmore ugh. Laphroaig Cardeis ugh - quarter cask and lore I like. I have a few unopened laphroaig IBs that I’ll get to some day. Haven’t tried most of the rest on your list, I suspect for a reason lol. I’ve heard the Jura 18 is ok, but haven’t tried it. Totally agree with your OB vs IB assessment. I’ll buy an IB when I can get it without too much thought and am rarely disappointed.
It strikes me quit odd that anyone would measure a worth of a drink by "specs" such as whether it was chill-filtered, coloured and what kind of ABV it carries. If a drink tastes good it tastes good doesn't matter whether it's a 40 degree or fiftyseven.
Agree. It's relevant info because it speaks directly to intensity. But it's only one of many indicators of quality. Plenty of lower ABV whiskies are still excellent if the flavours are good.
I received a free bottle of MacAllan as my introduction to sherry cask Scotch so I can never really hate them although I don't remember the last time I paid for it
Tomintoul 14 years old is really good. The only with craft specs out of their lineup. I’ve tried 10, 16 and 21 y.o. Tomintoul and the 14 y.o. blows them out of the water.
Yeah I had that one 10 years ago and liked it. After this list I ordered a new 14 because I think I should come back to it. Cheers! 🥃