Yaasssss! These are the whiskies I reach for the most these days, with the exception of Tobermory perhaps. Used to love that one, now not so much funny how that goes...I would have swapped it our for Clynielish but that's a minor quibble great list. Loving the Laddie on your recommend! Cheers!
@@Gwhisky Nothing like having a bunch of backseat drivers critiquing from the couch after all your hard work lol! Have you tried the other unpeated Bruichladdich expressions like the Islay Barley? Curious about those but they're pretty dear in price up here...
Ben Nevis 10 suddenly appeared on the shelves this week in The Netherlands. I could get my hands on a bottle and I am in love. Unique profile! So glad I bought it although I was a bit afraid it would dissapoint after Ralfy's killed it in his review in 2022. So I'm thinking he must have had a bad batch, a bad day or some other reason he scored it that low. I really like it. Maybe it's because I never tasted the old ones to compare it with. Price is a bit high for a 10 yo also but I'm so glad I have it in my bar now that I am considering buying another one for reserve.
Oh, the smile on my face when you mentioned Oban, Geoff! You might recall, this is the single malt scotch that first got me into it. I had a dram of the 14 at a scotch bar near SFO some time in the mid 1990's; and there, I began my whisky journey. All these years, I have yet to find a whisky that tasted simliar (so the "distinctiveness"). And maybe the fourth or fifth time I went back to it, I noticed the peatiness; but somehow, it didn't bother me (as you might recall that I do not like peatiness). I have bought more bottles of Oban 14 than any other brand of whisky, by a large margin. You had the 10 in a more recent video. It is now on my list. By the way, I might be visiting Taiwan at the end of March. Let me know if there is something hard to find in Taiwan that I could bring for you from the US.
Interesting list Geoff. Loch lomond and Old Pultney would be on my list as well. They are both quite unique in terms of style. Loch lomond with their fermented, oily plastic notes and Old Pultney with their mildly salty fruit jam goodness. And of course Springbank 10/Hazelburn 10 both should be on any distinctive styled whisky list and your mystery pour is absolutely spot on. Looking forward to the rest of your videos.
Great list!, given that distillate driven whisky's is something I'm pretty keen on. The one's I haven't tried are the Tobermory, O.B. Longmorn, and Ardnamurchan. Definitely makes me push these closer to the top of my to buy list. Really really love Oban 14 and I place the Clynelish 14 right alongside it. I would describe both as "quiet" but absolutely no less engaging than louder and more brash products.
Thanks buddy! Tobermory is good stuff, but not a personal favourite. The Longmorn and Ardnamurchan aren't to be missed, though! As for Oban... beautiful stuff. Quite overlooked by some. Have you tried the Diageo Special Releases from them? Incredible whiskies, although they can be quite pricey. 🥃
These are truly unique and really like this list. Part of me thinks Edradour should be on this list but I keep thinking it may be on that Dirty or unique sherry list. I really agree on the Oban selection.
I think there’s a good argument for Clynelish in there. Waxy, savory, mustard. And as long as I’m giving descriptors, it’s been a little while since I had Craigellechie 13, which you and most whiskytubers seem to like more than I did, but I remember it as: sulfuric stewed apples. Glad you continue to sing the praises of Bruichladdich, and I’ve never seen that Laddie 8! In my area, the Islay barley vintage releases are quite affordable.
I'm considering doing a second list of distillate-driven whiskies. Clynelish would fit in nicely! And yeah... Bruichladdich is almost always overshadowed by Port Charlotte, but it's such a beautiful whisky that gets overlooked by a lot of enthusiasts. It can be challenging, admittedly... 🥃
Interesting topic and a great list! I haven't had some of the entries, but I'd suggest other distillate-driven whiskies worth mentioning. Like Springbank, Arran, Mortlach, Ben Nevis. Also Loch Lomond has to be the brand that is maybe most distillate-driven. Each Loch Lomond expression is developed in a way to emphasize the specifics of the different spirits that can be produced on the various stills at Loch Lomond. Edradour albeit being matured mostly from heavy, active ex-sherry and ex-wine casks can also be considered distillate-driven as their new-make spirit is quite heavy and one of the very few that can withstand the bulldozing influence of those active casks. Cheers!
Thank you for another great review. I also like untamed and brawly whiskys that kick me in the nads, so I'm always up for them. We do have Longmorn 16 availlable here in Sweden for little over $73 USD, and that has been on my list for quite some time now. I'll might pull the trigger on that one.
Interesting video Geoff. Do enjoy a young malt matured in a refill bourbon barrel, house style is normally there plus certain cask influence. The Islay barley offerings from Bruichladdich are a good example.Probably also put craigellachie 13 in the dirty list along with Edradour and springbank. Looking forward to this series, slàinte Geoff.
Love lists! To me Aultmore 12 is a beautiful spirit-driven dram. Suggestions: unique dirty whisky is maybe hard to define but Glenlivet 12 Illicit Still has a griminess to it. As for unique peated, try Old Ballantruan or Ballechin. Unique sherried for me is Edradour Caledonia.
Great video. Craigellachie would definitely be up there in the unique for me. Recently revisited the classic laddie on your recommendation. Originally remember it being quite boring but on revisiting its really quite well done for the price. Hazelburn is again rather well executed and is the core range that tends to be easier to purchase. Picked one up recently and although i was lead to believe it was the "least liked" in the core range. I still love the dirty distillate.
I prefer Hazelburn to Longrow, personally. I think it's a beautiful distillate. Beautiful, dirty, and slightly tropical. Nothing else like it! Glad to hear you enjoyed the Laddie. 🥃
Nice twist on more regular types of lists, Geoff. And the itemss on the list themselves are interesting imo. Up front I tried to think of the seven that would make the list. Added the An Cnoc/ Knockdhu myself, but apart from that I had 3 of yours on my list and 2 other went through my thoughts... decent score if you ask me. I thought the coastal character of Pilteney and the metallic character of Ardbeg would have made the list. Slàinte mhath
Pulteney was a consideration, but if we're going for the coastal stuff, I'm more of an Oban guy myself. As for Ardbeg, that would fall into the heavily-peated category, so it might find its way onto a future list! 🥃
@@Gwhisky can see your point. I prefer Pulteney over Oban myself (character and value for monet). Was just mentioning what went through my mind by making my own list.
People love lists. Give the people what they want! MOAR LISTS!!!! I would actually love your opinion on peated whisky tasting notes. I really trust your palette and would appreciate your thoughts, as I have only had a handful of peaters.
All hail the mighty algorithm! Hah yeah the peated list will be a fun one to put together. Still working on it. I'll be putting out a list like this every week until the series is done. Cheers buddy! 🥃
@@Gwhisky 😂 look forward to it! Al Gore Rhythm is my favorite oxymoron! Or is it my favorite Vice President to invent the internet? I’ll let myself out, thank you.
Excellent list, Geoff. So glad you did the non-average, distillate-driven and I can't wait for the dirty ones.😉 Sherry and peated will no doubt also both be good. Might I suggest perhaps a saline, not-necessarily coastal list? Some whiskies may turn up on multiple lists/overlap, but that's fine. Bladnoch 11 sounds intriguing but it's blimmin' expensive here, and a wee taste of Vinaya didn't thrill. I haven't tried Tobermory 12 but was able to get a bottle of Tobermory 10, in part because Jen @TheGrail sang its praises, and I agree with her that it has heaps of character, probably rather more than the 12 that replaced it, at least from others' descriptions. "Manky seawater" is both accurate and a great disservice.🙃
Saline but not-coastal? Cool idea. Might be a hard list to put together, but possible... Bladnoch 11 is a big step up from Vinaya. Yeah the old Tobermory and the new one have nothing to do with each other. I can't say I loved the old release, but I'm going off of a 10-year-old memory there.
Saline but not *necessarily* coastal. What I meant was: saline malts is the theme, many of which, but not necessarily all, are coastal? I'm leaving the door open, rather than extra-restricting your range. Hopefully that makes sense. No, I don't really have specific examples to cite, but just thinking aloud: some reviews of Ballechin claim saltiness despite the peat supposedly being highland (but source unknown). Science says the "saltiness" we perceive is not actual salt in the whisky itself. We know some e.g. Islay whiskies with a salty character were matured in Glasgow warehouses..
Hi Geoff, really like your list concept. Looking forward to what is coming up in the future. Great choice for your number one, I am really starting to like you. Lets conclude with "Oban always delivers" Cheers mate, keep on going!
Really like the idea of this video. I was actually thinking you should come out with a video like this last week. You read my mind! The three word descriptors is a good idea too especially for people that have never tried these. Here's another idea: do a video of classic Glens and how they stack up and what makes them different from each other. Glenmorangie 10, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glencadam, etc
OK Geoff, I have a challenge for you. Maybe a 2024 project. You seem well experienced and have tasted most if not all single malts Scotland has to offer. So never been done by anyone that I know of: rank every working Scotland distillery (approximately 140). Skip the grain guys and stick to single malts. This would be bold and of course controversial, but that's the fun. Be the first ever to take the bold position f ranking every distillery!
Rank how? Alphabetically? Most distilleries produce multiple malts. Are you just looking for an average score for each distillery, or do you want scores for each individual bottling/release? What about batch variation? Some days one feels like drinking malt A, other days one feels like drinking malt B. Some days malt X drinks better than it does on other days. I relish the aromas and flavours of malts. Reducing those to a single numeric value seems pretty meaningless. Each to their own. /shrug/
That seems like quite an undertaking. There are plenty of new distilleries that I haven't tried, and there's a lot of variety in terms of releases from a specific brand. Not only that, quality tends to waver and brands have highs and lows. Also, there are certain brands that I might consider to be on equal footing, and my mood would dictate my preference. I love the idea, but I'm not sure I'm up for the challenge. Too many factors... 🥃
Off topic, but looking forward to today's tasting: • Longrow 8yo - Springbank Open Day Release at the 2023 Campbeltown Malts Festival, and Loch Lomond's Glengarry 12yo (Drammers single barrel pick), distilled in 2010, unpeated, matured in a 1st fill Bordeaux red wine barrel .
That Tobermory 12 is stupid expensive at $90 plus in the Chicago area! I've spotted a 17 year cask strength, , though sherry finished, for only $20 more.
Ben Nevis would have fitted that list too. Distinctive and different, always a bit under the radar due to its supply situation. But there are also plenty of wonderful IBs available.
@@Gwhisky thanks Geoff i know Ben Nevis OB core range. Just asked Christoph above for some IB worth give a try. There are few youngsters IB priced higher than OB 10 so its no point for me. There is also one cheap from Signatory but this one is not praised by reviewers. Cheers 😁👍🥂🙋🏻♂️
I needed this list because I have no real answers. Perhaps Linkwood, Fettercairn, Speyburn are candidates, perhaps Benromach and Raasay are in this distillate driven group and even Caol Ila. But I’m just not sure if they have that qualifying character? Back to you Geoff.
Well this is all subjective, anyway, but I'm happy to give you my take. For me, Linkwood is very unique, although a bit obscure for a lot of people. Love the grassiness. Fettercairn is great stuff, although I don't find it quite as characterful as much of what made it on my list. It's something of a chameleon whisky for me, like Benriach. Speyburn is great stuff, but imo it's a somewhat traditional profile, albeit a very good one. Caol Ila is certainly distinctive, and will likely make it onto future lists! Just my thought! Cheers Michael! 🥃
Nice list. As soon as the video began I thought, "well, he's def gonna have Craigellachie on here." You wear your love of it on your sleeve, as do I. As you are a fan of Oban, I've only ever had Little Bay, which I love, do you think the 14 is really worth twice the price of Little Bay (which is basically the case where I am)? I'll probably look to try it in a restaurant before I put out $75 - $80 for a bottle, but would value your comparative opinion.
That's a tough question. I've had a bottle of Little Bay that I loved, and two that I didn't, so it's never really been very consistent for me. Double? Maybe not. It's about USD $15 more expensive in my market, so between the two I'll take the 14 every time. I don't know about double... 🥃
@@Gwhisky Thanks for the opinion. Yep, there's a store near me in Massachusetts that sells LB for $39.99, but some other stores have it for as high as $65, a lot of stores have it at the $45-$50 range. The cheapest I've seen 14 is $77 and it averages about $80. So that's where I get "~double". That's a steep price for 43%. But I'm still planning to try it, eventually. Cheers!
Oban is so weird for me. I keep getting it recommended, and I have the 14 but I just kinda leave it on the shelf. It’s so boring to me I really can’t see the charm. Also can’t wait for the Dirty list. I know it’s making a lot of noise, but the Victoriana is such a beautiful dirty whisky. I describe it as the dirty mistress who’s taking you for a ride somewhat against your will, but you enjoy every second of it and long for more afterwards. Anyway, great list. Will definitely need to check out Tobermory. Love me some funky rotten fruit 🤤
Yeah Oban isn't for everyone. I recommend the Special Releases. Perhaps seek out a sample or try a dram at a bar as it can be expensive, but they are Oban at its best. Yeah the dirty list will likely be out next week. It'll be a fun one to make! 🥃
@@Gwhisky after this vid, I went back and rewatched your review of the Oban 14, and decided to give it a go again. Y’know what, I actually kind of like it. It’s got this very robust malty maritime note that’s kinda beautiful. Think sea salt caramel with malteasers and orange peel. Not bad 🥃
This topic has gotten stuck in my brain and I have come up with a few candidates : Glen Garioch 12 (more underrated than unique? A bottle I had about 5 years ago had a distinct straw and herbal notes), Michel Couvreur Overaged (a must try), the 2013 Bruichladdich Islay Barley, and that dirty dirty whisky, Ben Nevis.
Hey Geoff, thanks for making a great list of whiskies for me to look for. I am currently considering to buy the hazelburn 10 and I guess there has been a supply and demand issue with the distillery. Thats why the price has been rising, especially in the secondary market and I'm just asking your opinion, at what price is it still acceptable to pay for the hazelburn 10, when I look at the prices online its around $65 USD but almost always out of stock
Curious what you think of The Laddie Eight v. The Classic Laddie. In my market the Eight is typically US$150+ (when you can find it) v. US$50 for the Classic. I've never been able to pull the trigger on the Eight, at that price differential. Am I missing anything just sticking with the Classic Laddie? Cheers.
Sorry mate the 3 I would have said were Ben Nevis 10, Old Pulntey and Clynelish 14 but I've not bought that for a while. Get a grip with Tobermory Geoff its coastal and to good for you matey ;-) Looking forward to the next postings, great work 🙂
I started with peated whiskies - Ardbeg 10 was probably what turned me into a Scotchhead. Explored lots of smokey whiskies and then a bunch of cask-strength sherry bombs, which I also loved. Finally, I discovered that simple, ex-bourbon only Scotch is my favorite type out of all of them!
Yeah but you'd be missing out completley. Peat is great, but it masks almost everything about the distillate, the distillate is what's great, those highly sherried or smoked whiskeys are bordering on liquers.
Thanks for another great list! LOL about your mention of Longmorn Distillers Choice. How it happened to be such a poor stuff? Thanks in advance for your opinion.
It's just very low abv and not nearly as complex or interesting as their older craft presented bottles. It's not bad, just a bit uneventful imo. Cheers. 🥃
I thought you might have mentioned Kilkerran 12. I find it very minelraly and salty. Maybe because it was an earlier version. Perhaps current ones aren’t as much? Anyhow it’s definitely coastal for me. How about Old Pulteney 12 or 15. Ok 17 is discontinued and I haven’t had the 15. Any Scapas, or Balblairs ?
Kilkerran might make an appearance in a future video! OP was a consideration, it's certainly coastal and unique. Balblair makes great whisky, although I don't find it particularly unique. It's a classic profile imo. A good one, though. Scapa... haven't had a Scapa in ages. Not really on my radar these days. 🥃
@@Gwhisky I was looking through my stash list. It’s amazing how many sherried and smoky peated scotches there are in contrast to exclusively bourbon matured bottles I have in my collection. Could you consider making a video naming choices/options for these. It seems to be a minority whisky in comparison to the other styles. It seems like most whiskies now are heavily or minimally peated and/or sherry finished like Craigellachie 13 or say, linkwood 15 or Longmorn 16. Some of the later some people don’t even know they’re sherried. I’d like to know if a long enough list could be made of solely aged in 100% ex bourbon casks. Tobermory, Balblair. Bladnoch, Clynelish, Glencadam are some that come to mind. I wonder if there’s a much longer list to be made. Reviewers don’t really go into this subject much at all.
Problem is it can be a bit blurry. A lot of brands don't say what casks are used. Diageo brands, for example. Many of them might be like Craigellachie with a very gentle sherry influence or like Oban with a very gentle peat influence, and it's simply not disclosed.
@@Gwhisky I just noticed my usual name “Salty Cuban” isn’t showing up? WhTs up with that? It used to be JJmytube. But I changed some time ago. Don’t know what to make of that. But anyhow, yeah it’s Salty Cuban in case I can’t find how to change it for a while. Take care Geoff.
Love your personal and nuanced views on certain whiskies ❤ I wonder what you think of what I’d call the most misunderstood ‘underdog’ whisky: Loch Lomond Single Grain. Yes it is super young but oh so soft, with its weird and very own character, naturally presented and you can pick it up for an incredible €25 in Europe. And: a Single Malt, made from malted barley only, but it’s not allowed to be called like this becomes it is made in a collum still instead of in a pot still.. did I understand that right? Fascinating! Did you ever try?
Thanks so much Simone! I can't say I've tried the LL Single Grain, but it's been recommended to me several times. Definitely one I should check out. Appreciate the kind words! 🙏🥃
Hello my friend, I have a question if you can guide me in the purchase of 3 whiskeys, of these 6 whiskeys I have to choose 3: (1) The Classic Laddie or the Bunnahabhain Stiuriadair? . (2) The Glenfarclas 12 or the Deanston 10? and (3) Auchentoshan Dark Oak or the Glenturret Triple Wood? Thank you very much I await your response and congratulations on your excellent Review's 👏🥃
I can only compare from your first set. I prefer the Classic Laddie to the Bunnahabhain. I've not tried the Deanston 10 or the Auchentoshan Dark Oak, so I can't compare them to other whiskies. Cheers! 🥃
I'm talking about distilleries here, and the bottles are examples. The 14 is the go-to Oban, but I'd recommend the Special Releases over the 14. The main takeaway is that Oban as a distillate is very characterful. 🥃
(( Yes, "Mineralic" is an adjective-word (to be precise), just not yet entered into His Majesty's 36-volume Oxford English Dictionary - but - since it was given birth by one of his Majesty's CHARLES III royal subject, it is under review by the Board for inclusion.. . . hehe... "Mineral" is rooted in LATIN but suffix "-ic" in GREEK, hence one is creating a hybrid-monster here, in place of a more logical "mineralized". But it is born. LOL !)) . . what happens to Lomond and Ben Nevis ??
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Yaasssss! These are the whiskies I reach for the most these days, with the exception of Tobermory perhaps. Used to love that one, now not so much funny how that goes...I would have swapped it our for Clynielish but that's a minor quibble great list. Loving the Laddie on your recommend! Cheers!
Glad to hear you're liking the Laddie, Lewis! Yeah Clynelish deserved a mention here tbh. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky Nothing like having a bunch of backseat drivers critiquing from the couch after all your hard work lol! Have you tried the other unpeated Bruichladdich expressions like the Islay Barley? Curious about those but they're pretty dear in price up here...
Ben Nevis 10 suddenly appeared on the shelves this week in The Netherlands. I could get my hands on a bottle and I am in love. Unique profile! So glad I bought it although I was a bit afraid it would dissapoint after Ralfy's killed it in his review in 2022. So I'm thinking he must have had a bad batch, a bad day or some other reason he scored it that low. I really like it. Maybe it's because I never tasted the old ones to compare it with. Price is a bit high for a 10 yo also but I'm so glad I have it in my bar now that I am considering buying another one for reserve.
It's a beauty. Also really hard to find here in Taiwan, and quite overpriced, unfortunately. It's a brand that won't be ignored in this series. 🥃
Oh, the smile on my face when you mentioned Oban, Geoff!
You might recall, this is the single malt scotch that first got me into it. I had a dram of the 14 at a scotch bar near SFO some time in the mid 1990's; and there, I began my whisky journey. All these years, I have yet to find a whisky that tasted simliar (so the "distinctiveness"). And maybe the fourth or fifth time I went back to it, I noticed the peatiness; but somehow, it didn't bother me (as you might recall that I do not like peatiness).
I have bought more bottles of Oban 14 than any other brand of whisky, by a large margin.
You had the 10 in a more recent video. It is now on my list.
By the way, I might be visiting Taiwan at the end of March. Let me know if there is something hard to find in Taiwan that I could bring for you from the US.
Interesting list. Great mystery pour really like the Hazelburn 10. Looking forward to the Dirty Whiskylist. Cheers!
You can expect it next week. Thanks for watching. Cheers! 🥃
Ben Nevis for me love it!!! I do love the fermented style of Bladnoch as well the 11 does hit that nice spirit driven funk.
Stay tuned... Ben Nevis might make an appearance in later vids! 🥃
@@Gwhisky Always tuned in mate
So glad you are giving Longmorn its due. I fell in love early in my whiskey journey and just keep coming back without disappointment. Great video.
Thanks Alan! Yeah it's quite an overlooked brand with a really interesting house style. 🥃
Interesting list Geoff. Loch lomond and Old Pultney would be on my list as well. They are both quite unique in terms of style.
Loch lomond with their fermented, oily plastic notes and Old Pultney with their mildly salty fruit jam goodness.
And of course Springbank 10/Hazelburn 10 both should be on any distinctive styled whisky list and your mystery pour is absolutely spot on.
Looking forward to the rest of your videos.
Mate bang on I love both LL and OP they are very unique and enjoyable and under appreciated distilleries. Springbank is on the list haha
Keep in mind there are more lists to come. Love the suggestions! 🥃
Great list!, given that distillate driven whisky's is something I'm pretty keen on. The one's I haven't tried are the Tobermory, O.B. Longmorn, and Ardnamurchan. Definitely makes me push these closer to the top of my to buy list.
Really really love Oban 14 and I place the Clynelish 14 right alongside it. I would describe both as "quiet" but absolutely no less engaging than louder and more brash products.
Thanks buddy! Tobermory is good stuff, but not a personal favourite. The Longmorn and Ardnamurchan aren't to be missed, though!
As for Oban... beautiful stuff. Quite overlooked by some. Have you tried the Diageo Special Releases from them? Incredible whiskies, although they can be quite pricey. 🥃
These are truly unique and really like this list. Part of me thinks Edradour should be on this list but I keep thinking it may be on that Dirty or unique sherry list. I really agree on the Oban selection.
You're right... Edradour does deserve a mention. More lists to come! 🥃
I think there’s a good argument for Clynelish in there. Waxy, savory, mustard.
And as long as I’m giving descriptors, it’s been a little while since I had Craigellechie 13, which you and most whiskytubers seem to like more than I did, but I remember it as: sulfuric stewed apples.
Glad you continue to sing the praises of Bruichladdich, and I’ve never seen that Laddie 8! In my area, the Islay barley vintage releases are quite affordable.
I'm considering doing a second list of distillate-driven whiskies. Clynelish would fit in nicely!
And yeah... Bruichladdich is almost always overshadowed by Port Charlotte, but it's such a beautiful whisky that gets overlooked by a lot of enthusiasts. It can be challenging, admittedly... 🥃
@@Gwhisky totally. It’s light and strong at the same time!
Nice list! I knew Craigellachie will be on your list :-)
Sherry and peat and non standard - Balechin Edradour 8.
Good ones! 🥃
As someone who hated Benriach 10 and 12, the smoky versions indeed were unique. Clynelish 14 also seems unique to me for some reason.
Clynelish is definitely unique! 🥃
@@Gwhisky I was going to put in a vote for Clynelish too. Great list. I’d love to see you do a list of peaty Sherried whiskeys.
Benriach smoke season was alright
Interesting topic and a great list!
I haven't had some of the entries, but I'd suggest other distillate-driven whiskies worth mentioning.
Like Springbank, Arran, Mortlach, Ben Nevis.
Also Loch Lomond has to be the brand that is maybe most distillate-driven. Each Loch Lomond expression is developed in a way to emphasize the specifics of the different spirits that can be produced on the various stills at Loch Lomond.
Edradour albeit being matured mostly from heavy, active ex-sherry and ex-wine casks can also be considered distillate-driven as their new-make spirit is quite heavy and one of the very few that can withstand the bulldozing influence of those active casks.
Cheers!
Great suggestions. I've got more lists to come and I didn't want too much overlap. Many of those will be making appearances. Cheers buddy! 🥃
Thank you for another great review.
I also like untamed and brawly whiskys that kick me in the nads, so I'm always up for them.
We do have Longmorn 16 availlable here in Sweden for little over $73 USD, and that has been on my list for quite some time now. I'll might pull the trigger on that one.
Oh that's a good one. It's shot up in price here, sells for about USD $120. Definitely worth $75 imo! Thanks for watching, as always! 🥃
Love the 3 word descriptors Geoff, nice touch 👌
Hah thanks man! 🥃
Edradour would be on my list along with Mortlach, although Edradour will prossibly make the "Dirty" whisky list :) ?
Those might make appearances... 🥃
Great list! Many of those are my favourites! Maybe one missing is Loch Lomond. And Springbank of course
There are more lists on this theme to come. 😉🥃
Thank you very much for your response and the time you dedicate to reading our messages and responding to us, a big hug from Argentina, cheers🥃🥃
It's my pleasure, Sebastian. Thanks so much for watching! 🥃
Once again, you've put together an intriguing list with a unique angle. Well done Geoff!
Thanks so much! 🥃
Interesting video Geoff. Do enjoy a young malt matured in a refill bourbon barrel, house style is normally there plus certain cask influence. The Islay barley offerings from Bruichladdich are a good example.Probably also put craigellachie 13 in the dirty list along with Edradour and springbank. Looking forward to this series, slàinte Geoff.
The dirty list should be done by next week. It's a fun one to put together. Cheers, buddy! 🥃
Love lists! To me Aultmore 12 is a beautiful spirit-driven dram. Suggestions: unique dirty whisky is maybe hard to define but Glenlivet 12 Illicit Still has a griminess to it. As for unique peated, try Old Ballantruan or Ballechin. Unique sherried for me is Edradour Caledonia.
Aultmore is a great suggestion. Glenlivet is a cool choice for the dirty list! 🥃
Great video. Craigellachie would definitely be up there in the unique for me. Recently revisited the classic laddie on your recommendation. Originally remember it being quite boring but on revisiting its really quite well done for the price. Hazelburn is again rather well executed and is the core range that tends to be easier to purchase. Picked one up recently and although i was lead to believe it was the "least liked" in the core range. I still love the dirty distillate.
I prefer Hazelburn to Longrow, personally. I think it's a beautiful distillate. Beautiful, dirty, and slightly tropical. Nothing else like it!
Glad to hear you enjoyed the Laddie. 🥃
Nice twist on more regular types of lists, Geoff.
And the itemss on the list themselves are interesting imo. Up front I tried to think of the seven that would make the list. Added the An Cnoc/ Knockdhu myself, but apart from that I had 3 of yours on my list and 2 other went through my thoughts... decent score if you ask me. I thought the coastal character of Pilteney and the metallic character of Ardbeg would have made the list.
Slàinte mhath
Pulteney was a consideration, but if we're going for the coastal stuff, I'm more of an Oban guy myself. As for Ardbeg, that would fall into the heavily-peated category, so it might find its way onto a future list! 🥃
@@Gwhisky can see your point. I prefer Pulteney over Oban myself (character and value for monet). Was just mentioning what went through my mind by making my own list.
Hi Geoff ! My favorite pited or sherryed whisky , but i love also any good whisky ))) Good list my friend , like ! Slàinte !
Cheers right back at you, buddy! 🥃
Nice! I think Clynelish and Inchgower could also make it in the list. Cheers, mate.
Good ones! 🥃
People love lists. Give the people what they want! MOAR LISTS!!!! I would actually love your opinion on peated whisky tasting notes. I really trust your palette and would appreciate your thoughts, as I have only had a handful of peaters.
All hail the mighty algorithm! Hah yeah the peated list will be a fun one to put together. Still working on it. I'll be putting out a list like this every week until the series is done. Cheers buddy! 🥃
@@Gwhisky 😂 look forward to it! Al Gore Rhythm is my favorite oxymoron! Or is it my favorite Vice President to invent the internet? I’ll let myself out, thank you.
Excellent list, Geoff. So glad you did the non-average, distillate-driven and I can't wait for the dirty ones.😉 Sherry and peated will no doubt also both be good. Might I suggest perhaps a saline, not-necessarily coastal list? Some whiskies may turn up on multiple lists/overlap, but that's fine.
Bladnoch 11 sounds intriguing but it's blimmin' expensive here, and a wee taste of Vinaya didn't thrill.
I haven't tried Tobermory 12 but was able to get a bottle of Tobermory 10, in part because Jen @TheGrail sang its praises, and I agree with her that it has heaps of character, probably rather more than the 12 that replaced it, at least from others' descriptions. "Manky seawater" is both accurate and a great disservice.🙃
Saline but not-coastal? Cool idea. Might be a hard list to put together, but possible...
Bladnoch 11 is a big step up from Vinaya.
Yeah the old Tobermory and the new one have nothing to do with each other. I can't say I loved the old release, but I'm going off of a 10-year-old memory there.
Saline but not *necessarily* coastal. What I meant was: saline malts is the theme, many of which, but not necessarily all, are coastal? I'm leaving the door open, rather than extra-restricting your range. Hopefully that makes sense.
No, I don't really have specific examples to cite, but just thinking aloud: some reviews of Ballechin claim saltiness despite the peat supposedly being highland (but source unknown). Science says the "saltiness" we perceive is not actual salt in the whisky itself. We know some e.g. Islay whiskies with a salty character were matured in Glasgow warehouses..
Hi Geoff, really like your list concept. Looking forward to what is coming up in the future.
Great choice for your number one, I am really starting to like you.
Lets conclude with "Oban always delivers"
Cheers mate, keep on going!
Hah Oban is absolutely beautiful stuff. For me it's always the highlight of the Diageo SRs. Cheers buddy! 🥃
Cool list. Haven't tried any craigeallchie, sadly can't find it. Classic lady cost 52 euros now 😢
Ouch! Classic Laddie is still about €35 here, thankfully. 50 is pushing it!
Really like the idea of this video. I was actually thinking you should come out with a video like this last week. You read my mind! The three word descriptors is a good idea too especially for people that have never tried these. Here's another idea: do a video of classic Glens and how they stack up and what makes them different from each other. Glenmorangie 10, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glencadam, etc
Battle of the Glens. Hah fun idea! 🥃
OK Geoff, I have a challenge for you. Maybe a 2024 project. You seem well experienced and have tasted most if not all single malts Scotland has to offer. So never been done by anyone that I know of: rank every working Scotland distillery (approximately 140). Skip the grain guys and stick to single malts. This would be bold and of course controversial, but that's the fun. Be the first ever to take the bold position f ranking every distillery!
Rank how? Alphabetically?
Most distilleries produce multiple malts. Are you just looking for an average score for each distillery, or do you want scores for each individual bottling/release? What about batch variation?
Some days one feels like drinking malt A, other days one feels like drinking malt B. Some days malt X drinks better than it does on other days.
I relish the aromas and flavours of malts. Reducing those to a single numeric value seems pretty meaningless. Each to their own. /shrug/
That seems like quite an undertaking. There are plenty of new distilleries that I haven't tried, and there's a lot of variety in terms of releases from a specific brand. Not only that, quality tends to waver and brands have highs and lows. Also, there are certain brands that I might consider to be on equal footing, and my mood would dictate my preference. I love the idea, but I'm not sure I'm up for the challenge. Too many factors... 🥃
@@Gwhisky lol. I know that would be crazy to try. Great channel.
@@cato451 Hah thanks man. It's a legit cool idea. 🥃
Off topic, but looking forward to today's tasting: • Longrow 8yo - Springbank Open Day Release at the 2023 Campbeltown Malts Festival, and Loch Lomond's Glengarry 12yo (Drammers single barrel pick), distilled in 2010, unpeated, matured in a 1st fill Bordeaux red wine barrel .
My invite got lost in the mail, did it? 😉
That Tobermory 12 is stupid expensive at $90 plus in the Chicago area! I've spotted a 17 year cask strength, , though sherry finished, for only $20 more.
That's definitely not worth $90. Tbh, it's not a favourite. Characterful stuff, but it deserves an affordable entry-level price tag. 🥃
Ben Nevis would have fitted that list too. Distinctive and different, always a bit under the radar due to its supply situation. But there are also plenty of wonderful IBs available.
There are most lists on the way. Ben Nevis might fit perfectly into one of those... 🥃
Can you recommend any which is step up of standard 10yo 😁🥂🙋🏻♂️
@@peatbull3426 From Ben Nevis? They don't have much of an OB range... the 10 is the go-to. 🥃
@@Gwhisky thanks Geoff i know Ben Nevis OB core range. Just asked Christoph above for some IB worth give a try. There are few youngsters IB priced higher than OB 10 so its no point for me. There is also one cheap from Signatory but this one is not praised by reviewers. Cheers 😁👍🥂🙋🏻♂️
Yeah that's my go to for something bold and spirit driven!!
I needed this list because I have no real answers. Perhaps Linkwood, Fettercairn, Speyburn are candidates, perhaps Benromach and Raasay are in this distillate driven group and even Caol Ila. But I’m just not sure if they have that qualifying character? Back to you Geoff.
Well this is all subjective, anyway, but I'm happy to give you my take. For me, Linkwood is very unique, although a bit obscure for a lot of people. Love the grassiness. Fettercairn is great stuff, although I don't find it quite as characterful as much of what made it on my list. It's something of a chameleon whisky for me, like Benriach. Speyburn is great stuff, but imo it's a somewhat traditional profile, albeit a very good one. Caol Ila is certainly distinctive, and will likely make it onto future lists! Just my thought! Cheers Michael! 🥃
Great list and video Geoff!
Love the idea and looking forward to the continuation of this series with the Sherried and Peated whiskys!
Slainte 🥃
Cheers, my friend. These lists will be fun to make! 🥃
Have had all of those, good pick and the 3 I was going to mention have been already posted
Great list! I love the Oban house style. I never feel like it gets enough play.
One of my favourites!
Nice list. As soon as the video began I thought, "well, he's def gonna have Craigellachie on here." You wear your love of it on your sleeve, as do I.
As you are a fan of Oban, I've only ever had Little Bay, which I love, do you think the 14 is really worth twice the price of Little Bay (which is basically the case where I am)? I'll probably look to try it in a restaurant before I put out $75 - $80 for a bottle, but would value your comparative opinion.
That's a tough question. I've had a bottle of Little Bay that I loved, and two that I didn't, so it's never really been very consistent for me. Double? Maybe not. It's about USD $15 more expensive in my market, so between the two I'll take the 14 every time. I don't know about double... 🥃
@@Gwhisky Thanks for the opinion. Yep, there's a store near me in Massachusetts that sells LB for $39.99, but some other stores have it for as high as $65, a lot of stores have it at the $45-$50 range. The cheapest I've seen 14 is $77 and it averages about $80. So that's where I get "~double". That's a steep price for 43%. But I'm still planning to try it, eventually. Cheers!
For me, only Lagavulin tastes like Lagavulin. I'd have put that on #1. Other than that, Edradour and Glen Scotia have very strong can be indentifiers
There's a peated list on the way...
Eeesh Oban - not for me I’m afraid. Arran, Springbank, Old Pulteney, Glen Scotia, even Glen Spey sits in front.
Balance were pretty spot on 😉😉
Glen Spey, you say. Interesting pick. I can't say I'm too familiar with them. 🥃
Oban is so weird for me. I keep getting it recommended, and I have the 14 but I just kinda leave it on the shelf. It’s so boring to me I really can’t see the charm.
Also can’t wait for the Dirty list. I know it’s making a lot of noise, but the Victoriana is such a beautiful dirty whisky. I describe it as the dirty mistress who’s taking you for a ride somewhat against your will, but you enjoy every second of it and long for more afterwards.
Anyway, great list. Will definitely need to check out Tobermory. Love me some funky rotten fruit 🤤
Yeah Oban isn't for everyone. I recommend the Special Releases. Perhaps seek out a sample or try a dram at a bar as it can be expensive, but they are Oban at its best.
Yeah the dirty list will likely be out next week. It'll be a fun one to make! 🥃
@@Gwhisky after this vid, I went back and rewatched your review of the Oban 14, and decided to give it a go again. Y’know what, I actually kind of like it. It’s got this very robust malty maritime note that’s kinda beautiful. Think sea salt caramel with malteasers and orange peel. Not bad 🥃
Great list, I increasingly find my palate moving more towards these types of whiskeys.
As do I! 🥃
This topic has gotten stuck in my brain and I have come up with a few candidates : Glen Garioch 12 (more underrated than unique? A bottle I had about 5 years ago had a distinct straw and herbal notes), Michel Couvreur Overaged (a must try), the 2013 Bruichladdich Islay Barley, and that dirty dirty whisky, Ben Nevis.
Great choices! 🥃
Hey Geoff, thanks for making a great list of whiskies for me to look for. I am currently considering to buy the hazelburn 10 and I guess there has been a supply and demand issue with the distillery. Thats why the price has been rising, especially in the secondary market and I'm just asking your opinion, at what price is it still acceptable to pay for the hazelburn 10, when I look at the prices online its around $65 USD but almost always out of stock
I'd pay $65 for it no problem. I don't think I'd go over $75-80, which is already pushing it.
Curious what you think of The Laddie Eight v. The Classic Laddie. In my market the Eight is typically US$150+ (when you can find it) v. US$50 for the Classic. I've never been able to pull the trigger on the Eight, at that price differential. Am I missing anything just sticking with the Classic Laddie? Cheers.
That'll be the focus of an upcoming video! Without giving away to much, it certainly is NOT worth triple the price of the Laddie! 🥃
Aultmore 18. Imo distillate driven is more of pure, ex-bourbon. The distillery character is easily lost in sherry or other finished whisky
Aultmore 18 is good stuff! If I extend this list into a second video, that'll have to make an appearance. 🥃
Nice one Geoff! I know you're not a fan but the Ballechin 10 could go under dirty and peaty list and would get my vote :)
Hah you read my mind! 🥃
Sorry mate the 3 I would have said were Ben Nevis 10, Old Pulntey and Clynelish 14 but I've not bought that for a while.
Get a grip with Tobermory Geoff its coastal and to good for you matey ;-)
Looking forward to the next postings, great work 🙂
Hah there are more of these lists to come. Clynelish and OP would definitely have worked! Cheers! 🥃
Once you get into Peated or Sherried whiskies, it becomes very difficult to get past those things, and the distillate becomes less noticable.
Yeah but you're missing the best part
I started with peated whiskies - Ardbeg 10 was probably what turned me into a Scotchhead. Explored lots of smokey whiskies and then a bunch of cask-strength sherry bombs, which I also loved. Finally, I discovered that simple, ex-bourbon only Scotch is my favorite type out of all of them!
Yeah but you'd be missing out completley. Peat is great, but it masks almost everything about the distillate, the distillate is what's great, those highly sherried or smoked whiskeys are bordering on liquers.
Tamdhu batch strength, altmore 12, the laddie, edradour Caledonia, illicit still limited, glenfarclas 105, red breast cask strength
There are more lists to come! 🥃
How about well-done Distinctive alternatively finished scotch malts?
Cool idea! 🥃
@@Gwhisky thanks! Something rthat maybe epresents what each variant is exemplified by. Like your Craig 13 Bas-Arm…
Thanks for another great list! LOL about your mention of Longmorn Distillers Choice. How it happened to be such a poor stuff? Thanks in advance for your opinion.
It's just very low abv and not nearly as complex or interesting as their older craft presented bottles. It's not bad, just a bit uneventful imo. Cheers. 🥃
I thought you might have mentioned Kilkerran 12. I find it very minelraly and salty. Maybe because it was an earlier version. Perhaps current ones aren’t as much? Anyhow it’s definitely coastal for me. How about Old Pulteney 12 or 15. Ok 17 is discontinued and I haven’t had the 15. Any Scapas, or Balblairs ?
Kilkerran might make an appearance in a future video! OP was a consideration, it's certainly coastal and unique. Balblair makes great whisky, although I don't find it particularly unique. It's a classic profile imo. A good one, though. Scapa... haven't had a Scapa in ages. Not really on my radar these days. 🥃
@@Gwhisky I was looking through my stash list. It’s amazing how many sherried and smoky peated scotches there are in contrast to exclusively bourbon matured bottles I have in my collection.
Could you consider making a video naming choices/options for these. It seems to be a minority whisky in comparison to the other styles. It seems like most whiskies now are heavily or minimally peated and/or sherry finished like Craigellachie 13 or say, linkwood 15 or Longmorn 16. Some of the later some people don’t even know they’re sherried. I’d like to know if a long enough list could be made of solely aged in 100% ex bourbon casks. Tobermory, Balblair. Bladnoch, Clynelish, Glencadam are some that come to mind. I wonder if there’s a much longer list to be made. Reviewers don’t really go into this subject much at all.
Problem is it can be a bit blurry. A lot of brands don't say what casks are used. Diageo brands, for example. Many of them might be like Craigellachie with a very gentle sherry influence or like Oban with a very gentle peat influence, and it's simply not disclosed.
@@Gwhisky I just noticed my usual name “Salty Cuban” isn’t showing up? WhTs up with that? It used to be JJmytube. But I changed some time ago. Don’t know what to make of that. But anyhow, yeah it’s Salty Cuban in case I can’t find how to change it for a while. Take care Geoff.
Love your personal and nuanced views on certain whiskies ❤ I wonder what you think of what I’d call the most misunderstood ‘underdog’ whisky: Loch Lomond Single Grain. Yes it is super young but oh so soft, with its weird and very own character, naturally presented and you can pick it up for an incredible €25 in Europe. And: a Single Malt, made from malted barley only, but it’s not allowed to be called like this becomes it is made in a collum still instead of in a pot still.. did I understand that right? Fascinating! Did you ever try?
Thanks so much Simone! I can't say I've tried the LL Single Grain, but it's been recommended to me several times. Definitely one I should check out. Appreciate the kind words! 🙏🥃
@@Gwhisky Cool! Let’s keep experimenting 😃. BTW: there is a peated version, too..
Should try Brazilian matured in local wood like Amburana or Putumuju.
Great list, I’d have had the Ardnamurchan no1
Hah well actually the numbers don't really matter here. Not an order of preference. Thanks for watching, Ryan! 🥃
Hello my friend, I have a question if you can guide me in the purchase of 3 whiskeys, of these 6 whiskeys I have to choose 3: (1) The Classic Laddie or the Bunnahabhain Stiuriadair? . (2) The Glenfarclas 12 or the Deanston 10? and (3) Auchentoshan Dark Oak or the Glenturret Triple Wood? Thank you very much I await your response and congratulations on your excellent Review's 👏🥃
I can only compare from your first set. I prefer the Classic Laddie to the Bunnahabhain. I've not tried the Deanston 10 or the Auchentoshan Dark Oak, so I can't compare them to other whiskies. Cheers! 🥃
Mortlach probably would've made my list...if I still bought Diageo.
...ditto for Benrinnes.
There's a sherried list on the way... 🥃
To make it easier, of those 6 whiskeys that I mentioned, which 3 would you keep or choose to buy?

If I had to choose three whiskies from this list, I'd choose the Longmorn 18, an Oban Special Release, and the Bladnoch 11. But they're all good. 😉
Wait so any of the Obans is #1 or the 14yr?
I'm talking about distilleries here, and the bottles are examples. The 14 is the go-to Oban, but I'd recommend the Special Releases over the 14. The main takeaway is that Oban as a distillate is very characterful. 🥃
And he said the numbers are irrelevant; there is no #1 per se, in this list. It's an enumeration, not a ranking.
Mineralic…is it a word? It is now!!! So is mineralistic and mineralphobia 😁
Your three key words would be "Canadian, dirty, dad jokes".
Hah not wrong. 😂
Sherry is a fortified wine.
Yup!
No kavalan solist, edradour, and kilchoman 😢
Lagg Kilmory
Like Adam named the animals, Geoff called the whiskies ….
sherry pls❤
Hazelburn 10 y.o. i heave in my bar )
It's a beauty! 🥃
Should put down the list in your comments as a quick reference
Peated whiskey is nasty!
(( Yes, "Mineralic" is an adjective-word (to be precise), just not yet entered into His Majesty's 36-volume Oxford English Dictionary - but - since it was given birth by one of his Majesty's CHARLES III royal subject, it is under review by the Board for inclusion.. . . hehe... "Mineral" is rooted in LATIN but suffix "-ic" in GREEK, hence one is creating a hybrid-monster here, in place of a more logical "mineralized". But it is born. LOL !)) . . what happens to Lomond and Ben Nevis ??
Had no idea you were a linguisticist by trade. 😉
Loch Lomond and Ben Nevis might show up in future lists. 🥃
@@Gwhisky ((LOL, no linguist, just nerdy !))