Great list! Reviewers tend to be too kind, so honesty is really appreciated. I may have bought the Balvenie, so thanks for steering me away from it. Bowmore could be such a fantastic distillery, but it’s really disappointing the stuff they put out. Definitely one for the IBs. Cheers, Wade!
On the other hand, I'd like to point out the best promissing improvements in term of quality single malts. Scapa, Jura (yes, Jura! it sounds crazy) and Glenglassaugh. The first two have chosen the right path: 46 degrees, no chill filtration and no weird casks in their new range! Aleluia!
Love these kind of videos. Everything we taste is subjective and we learn by sharing. I see and take no offence to anyone’s opinion. I think disappointment and being underwhelmed can make it the worst vs it tasted bad. Great job Wade. Cheers mate.
Hah fun video Wade, I can see your point on every one of them. For Lindores though I would recommend you try some of their 'cask of Lindores' releases to see some nice cask play but yeah the standard expression is underwhelming for sure. Thanks for the list and the great video, cheers brother 🥃
Thank you brother! I never write off an entire distillery based on one (or even three) bad expressions. I'm sure every distillery is capable of producing great whiskey. They just comes a point of dimension returns where I stop checking after more misses than hits. Hope you're well my friend happy New Year.
I had an older 50mL miniature of the Hakushu 12 and I didn't mind it. I also found the Lindores to be OK, but it needs more age. I didn't mind the Slyrs, but I can see why people have problems with it. I gave up on Bowmore OBs a while back. And I've given Balvenie its final warning! Cheers, Wade.
Love it. You cant just lick up, you gotta kick down as well XD Also, not holding back on the adjectives - good job. I'm saving money by the minute here. Cheers and happy new year to you
Thanks for sharing Wade. Interesting turn on the best of... videos that are more widely made. Have not tried any of them, so no comment from me on the individual expressions. Slàinte mhath
Hah I noticed Select Scotch Whisky went all in on Slyrs this year and promoted it in every email flyer. Then I noticed it started seeing bigger and bigger discounts! Your review would explain the discounts 😂
AGREED x 100 ! ......... THIS is better than the Best of . . . more interesting and cheaper-er-er-er ! ( Have not bought a single Balveeneer since 2001 ! )
I recently finished a bottle of Port Charlotte, which is so wonderfully strong that I think that it could grow hair on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Clyenlish 14 is the same price in Japan as Yamazaki 12…basing opinions on value based on price is about as flawed as it gets. We have some of the biggest gouging wholesalers in the world. You tell me how Yama 12 goes from 180 on the street in Japan to over $500 here. Only two things apply, transport, taxes and wholesalers and transport is minimal in comparison so rule that out. Americans are buying Yama 12 in total wine for 125US a bottle we are over 500!
@@Scarebus_Driver How else would you have an opinion on value without considering price 🤔 $180 is still too much for a watered down 12 year old whisky. Clynelish 14 is about $110 - $120 AUD.
@ look i agree but your comparing the price not fairly. I could of bought a bottle of Yamazaki 12 and Hakashu in total wine in Dallas two weeks ago for 128USD each. My local Dans has Yamazaki 12 for $539 AUD. So how can you review a whisky whose price varies so massively and base a specific conclusion on that when talking to an “international” audience. Sure a review to Australians fine but your being taken seriously now with an overseas audience your review is immediately useless as your basing a conclusion on a specific Australian situation. When reviewing Springbank where its AUD retail is 6 times its retail price should we base our conclusions on its retail price ie great whisky or its AUD retail ie overpriced and average value? I think my points clear the only fair determiner is taste in rating a whisky as prices fluctuate hugely and if your appealing to an international audience then determining a rating based on AUD prices to me is clearly flawed for an international audience. Springbank is great value to someone living in Campbeltown but it is overpriced unobtanium for someone in Australia. How do you fairly review any whisky when including price? I cant see how you can as price will poison the well of flavour which surely is how you review a whisky? This guarantees consistency in reviews and ALL whisky is judged on its merits. We all know price is a factor but being the biggest variable how do you take any reviewers opinion seriously when a review is tainted by a local influence?
The quality of Beam-Suntory's Japanese product v cost has been plummeting over the past few years. It's now at the point where I look at it the same way in a bottle shop the way I do Sullivans Cove - Sullys is a great product, but for the same cost I can buy multiple bottles at a similar price point that are more enjoyable. Japanese whisky in general is at the same level for me at this point, and will continue to be until sufficient aged stock is available (and the hype dies down a bit) that the price point is reduced.
I would go so far as to say the majority raised their prices unreasonably. I can appreciate age statement bottles raising their prices as aged stock supplies are reduced, but non aged statement brands like Hibiki harmony, hakushu distillers reserve, Nikka coffey ($158 at liquorland as recently as March this year, before coming back down to $80 in July as an example) are being priced at a level that can only be described as a blatant cash grab.
@ i love hibiki harmony (precisely the masters select) but a NAS blended whisky for 90 usd it’s qualified as armed robbery. Even worse here in Argentina where you can’t get it for less than 180 usd
Balvenie 15 Madeira Cask may be overpriced but it's not that bad. Unless newer batches have gone to shit that is. The one I tried is a bit older and it was pleasant enough.
We're all different I guess. I have enjoyed other Madeira cask whisky before, this one was the worst one I have tried. Admittedly it could have been a bad batch.
I love whisky trash reviews. It makes such a pleasant change to the endless worship of all things whisky. Hakushu 12 is an odd one because it seems to me the only reason for inclusion is that it's a rip-off and far too expensive for what's in the bottle - Ermmm, welcome to the world of whisky. That accusation can certainly be leveled at the Lindores Abbey. I actually forgot I had that bottle but you've reminded me and I completely agree with your estimation. Bowmore; Need I say more? Dude, seriously, Bowmore is garbage now and always falls into the not worth it category. Oh, my God: Ditto Balvenie. Choose any bottle in the range for failing to justify its price by a county mile. I would never buy that Slyrs because I can't think of a reason why. Decent whisky ain't cheap and there's a lot of good stuff out there. If I risk blowing money on NAS stuff I better get hear some good things about it.
@@McIntyresMalts I haven´t tried to much german whisky, but we still got some interesting stuff :D Slyrs is sadly one of the most well known distilleries here in Germany. St. killian is probably the one to try though!
Balvenie had got it right with the 15 year Sherry cask and then discontinued it. I will never buy another Balvenie again, price versus quality is a joke.
The only one that has made me stand up and pay attention was the Balvenie Double Wood 17. That was the one that made me go “oh okay there is something here.” Shame it’s gone now.
@@caskstrength7629 the 15 single barrel sherry is discontinued from what I have heard and the price for the Caribbean cask is way overpriced in my market.
Week of Peat 14 Year ... the only Balvenie I like but really rate this bottle. A bit thin and not terribly complex but beautiful flavors and balance for my palate.
Everything officially bottled by Bowmore that I've had has been very disappointing. I know people who actually rave about it but I think it's so overrated. Japanese whisky is living off it's past reputation and has been for years. I also found the Indri whisky that everybody else seemed to like to be interesting for two pours then a mixer at best. Cheers Wade, much more fun than a best of list.
Great list! Reviewers tend to be too kind, so honesty is really appreciated.
I may have bought the Balvenie, so thanks for steering me away from it. Bowmore could be such a fantastic distillery, but it’s really disappointing the stuff they put out. Definitely one for the IBs. Cheers, Wade!
You may enjoy the Balvenie 15 Sheldon, it just didn't work for me man. Hope you like it more than I did and Happy New Year brother!!
Thanks so much for your honesty opinions! Happy new year
Of course my friend! Happy New Year 🥳
Honesty 👍
Will always get it on this channel my friend!
On the other hand, I'd like to point out the best promissing improvements in term of quality single malts. Scapa, Jura (yes, Jura! it sounds crazy) and Glenglassaugh. The first two have chosen the right path: 46 degrees, no chill filtration and no weird casks in their new range! Aleluia!
@@nicolasmaligner8753 I just bought the Glenglassau! Love it.
Love these kind of videos. Everything we taste is subjective and we learn by sharing. I see and take no offence to anyone’s opinion. I think disappointment and being underwhelmed can make it the worst vs it tasted bad. Great job Wade. Cheers mate.
Thank you my friend!
Hah fun video Wade, I can see your point on every one of them. For Lindores though I would recommend you try some of their 'cask of Lindores' releases to see some nice cask play but yeah the standard expression is underwhelming for sure. Thanks for the list and the great video, cheers brother 🥃
Thank you brother! I never write off an entire distillery based on one (or even three) bad expressions. I'm sure every distillery is capable of producing great whiskey. They just comes a point of dimension returns where I stop checking after more misses than hits. Hope you're well my friend happy New Year.
Great list Wade! Balvenie is brutal for pricing and has been mediocre for a while. One of the worst offenders in my market.
Glad others are seeing it too 🥃
Great video! And it was great getting to say hello to you at the Washback Bar in November.
Hello my friend! Was a wonderful experience at Springbank wasn’t it?!
I had an older 50mL miniature of the Hakushu 12 and I didn't mind it. I also found the Lindores to be OK, but it needs more age. I didn't mind the Slyrs, but I can see why people have problems with it. I gave up on Bowmore OBs a while back. And I've given Balvenie its final warning! Cheers, Wade.
Haha I like the way you worded that!
Agreed on the Bal 15 .... even the die hard fan deserted the bottle. Left it to the angels.
Leave it to the Devils! 😈
Love it. You cant just lick up, you gotta kick down as well XD Also, not holding back on the adjectives - good job. I'm saving money by the minute here. Cheers and happy new year to you
Haha sharing it for the good of our community and our wallets!
100% yes on that Balvenie Madeira bottling. Awful, awful whisky at a bonkers price.
Thanks for sharing Wade.
Interesting turn on the best of... videos that are more widely made.
Have not tried any of them, so no comment from me on the individual expressions.
Slàinte mhath
Slàinte mhath 🥃
Dalwhinnie 15 for me was Rubbish!
Happy new year 🎉 wade to you and family!!!
🥃👍
Cheers mate! Happy New Year to you and yours too 🎉
Hah I noticed Select Scotch Whisky went all in on Slyrs this year and promoted it in every email flyer. Then I noticed it started seeing bigger and bigger discounts! Your review would explain the discounts 😂
I commend them for bringing in something different and expanding the range of single malts available to us, it's just a shame it didn't work out.
AGREED x 100 ! ......... THIS is better than the Best of . . . more interesting and cheaper-er-er-er ! ( Have not bought a single Balveeneer since 2001 ! )
Interesting, personally haven't had that many disappointments this year.
When I tried 200+ whiskies in a year it's easy to find 5 bad ones 😉
I recently finished a bottle of Port Charlotte, which is so wonderfully strong that I think that it could grow hair on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Great stuff isn’t it 😁
you made me so wanna try the worst #1 😂
😂😂
Hey mate,
Regarding #5, would you say that Yamazaki 12 has the same problem?
For the price of one, I can get three bottles of Clyenlish 14 instead.
I wouldn't purchase for the exact same reason as the Hakushu 12.
Clyenlish 14 is the same price in Japan as Yamazaki 12…basing opinions on value based on price is about as flawed as it gets. We have some of the biggest gouging wholesalers in the world. You tell me how Yama 12 goes from 180 on the street in Japan to over $500 here.
Only two things apply, transport, taxes and wholesalers and transport is minimal in comparison so rule that out.
Americans are buying Yama 12 in total wine for 125US a bottle we are over 500!
@@Scarebus_Driver How else would you have an opinion on value without considering price 🤔
$180 is still too much for a watered down 12 year old whisky. Clynelish 14 is about $110 - $120 AUD.
@ look i agree but your comparing the price not fairly. I could of bought a bottle of Yamazaki 12 and Hakashu in total wine in Dallas two weeks ago for 128USD each.
My local Dans has Yamazaki 12 for $539 AUD.
So how can you review a whisky whose price varies so massively and base a specific conclusion on that when talking to an “international” audience.
Sure a review to Australians fine but your being taken seriously now with an overseas audience your review is immediately useless as your basing a conclusion on a specific Australian situation.
When reviewing Springbank where its AUD retail is 6 times its retail price should we base our conclusions on its retail price ie great whisky or its AUD retail ie overpriced and average value?
I think my points clear the only fair determiner is taste in rating a whisky as prices fluctuate hugely and if your appealing to an international audience then determining a rating based on AUD prices to me is clearly flawed for an international audience.
Springbank is great value to someone living in Campbeltown but it is overpriced unobtanium for someone in Australia.
How do you fairly review any whisky when including price? I cant see how you can as price will poison the well of flavour which surely is how you review a whisky?
This guarantees consistency in reviews and ALL whisky is judged on its merits.
We all know price is a factor but being the biggest variable how do you take any reviewers opinion seriously when a review is tainted by a local influence?
The quality of Beam-Suntory's Japanese product v cost has been plummeting over the past few years.
It's now at the point where I look at it the same way in a bottle shop the way I do Sullivans Cove - Sullys is a great product, but for the same cost I can buy multiple bottles at a similar price point that are more enjoyable. Japanese whisky in general is at the same level for me at this point, and will continue to be until sufficient aged stock is available (and the hype dies down a bit) that the price point is reduced.
The hype is dying. But it’s crazy how some bottles of japanese raised their prices irreasonably
I would go so far as to say the majority raised their prices unreasonably.
I can appreciate age statement bottles raising their prices as aged stock supplies are reduced, but non aged statement brands like Hibiki harmony, hakushu distillers reserve, Nikka coffey ($158 at liquorland as recently as March this year, before coming back down to $80 in July as an example) are being priced at a level that can only be described as a blatant cash grab.
@ i love hibiki harmony (precisely the masters select) but a NAS blended whisky for 90 usd it’s qualified as armed robbery. Even worse here in Argentina where you can’t get it for less than 180 usd
Balvenie 15 Madeira Cask may be overpriced but it's not that bad. Unless newer batches have gone to shit that is. The one I tried is a bit older and it was pleasant enough.
We're all different I guess. I have enjoyed other Madeira cask whisky before, this one was the worst one I have tried. Admittedly it could have been a bad batch.
Don't need 5 to hit my worst whisky of the year - Shinobu Newborn Single Malt. Absolutely vile.
Thanks for the tip, will definitely avoid!
Hakashu/Yama/Hibikis age statements are all overpriced due to supply. But man are they good. Hopefully the price goes back down in another 5 years.
Here's hoping!
I love whisky trash reviews. It makes such a pleasant change to the endless worship of all things whisky. Hakushu 12 is an odd one because it seems to me the only reason for inclusion is that it's a rip-off and far too expensive for what's in the bottle - Ermmm, welcome to the world of whisky. That accusation can certainly be leveled at the Lindores Abbey. I actually forgot I had that bottle but you've reminded me and I completely agree with your estimation.
Bowmore; Need I say more? Dude, seriously, Bowmore is garbage now and always falls into the not worth it category. Oh, my God: Ditto Balvenie. Choose any bottle in the range for failing to justify its price by a county mile. I would never buy that Slyrs because I can't think of a reason why. Decent whisky ain't cheap and there's a lot of good stuff out there. If I risk blowing money on NAS stuff I better get hear some good things about it.
Good to hear from you Welsh! Hope all has been well mate 🥃
Hey there. I´m a German and Slyrs is really awfull for me aswell...
Interesting to hear the thoughts from a local too
@@McIntyresMalts I haven´t tried to much german whisky, but we still got some interesting stuff :D Slyrs is sadly one of the most well known distilleries here in Germany. St. killian is probably the one to try though!
@@PSNeko Thanks for the tip!
Balvenie had got it right with the 15 year Sherry cask and then discontinued it. I will never buy another Balvenie again, price versus quality is a joke.
The only one that has made me stand up and pay attention was the Balvenie Double Wood 17. That was the one that made me go “oh okay there is something here.” Shame it’s gone now.
The Balvenie single barrel 15 sherry and the 14 caribbean cask are not bad I think.
@@caskstrength7629 the 15 single barrel sherry is discontinued from what I have heard and the price for the Caribbean cask is way overpriced in my market.
I think Balvenie is the most overrated distillery out there. I hate it
@@saboteur68 And Balvenie is overpriced!
Overrated is the perfect way to describe them.
Then id say you just havnt had a good Balvenie…
@@Scarebus_Driver What would you recommend?
Week of Peat 14 Year ... the only Balvenie I like but really rate this bottle. A bit thin and not terribly complex but beautiful flavors and balance for my palate.
Everything officially bottled by Bowmore that I've had has been very disappointing. I know people who actually rave about it but I think it's so overrated. Japanese whisky is living off it's past reputation and has been for years. I also found the Indri whisky that everybody else seemed to like to be interesting for two pours then a mixer at best. Cheers Wade, much more fun than a best of list.
Glad you enjoyed it my friend! Still will release a "best of" list too for contrast.
Bowmore is toilet. Surprised you expected anything different?
I was optimistic