97
Saint Magdalene 19yo 1979/1998 (63.8%, UD Rare Malts)96 Ardbeg 25yo 1975/2000 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 702 Bottles)
96 Bowmore 1965 (50%, OB, Bottled 1980's, Italy, 'Pizzeria Malt')
96 Glendronach 25yo 1968/1993 (43%, OB, 100% Sherry)
96 Springbank 12yo 100 Proof (57.1%, OB, Imported by Samaroli, Early 1980's)95 Ardbeg 1976/2002 'Feis Ile'
(55.6%, OB, Bottled for 2002 Islay Festival)
95 Ardbeg 1967/1995 (53,2%, Signatory Vintage, Dark Oloroso Cask #574)
95 Ardbeg 29yo 1973/2002
(51.4%, Douglas Laing Platinum, 137 Bottles)
95
Brora 31yo 1972/2003 (49.3%, Douglas Laing Platinum, 221 Bottles)
95 Glenfarclas 25yo (43%, OB, Frattina Import, Bottled +/- 1979)
95 Glen Garioch 29yo 1968/1997 (57.7%, OB, Cask #7)
95
Lagavulin 16yo 'White Horse' (43%, OB, 100cl, Bottled +/- 1990)
95 Laphroaig 31yo 1974/2005 (49.7%, OB for La Maison du Whisky, 910 Bottles)
95 Port Ellen 21yo 1982/2004
(50%, OMC, DL 414, 420 bottles, Full sherry)94 Aberlour Glenlivet 8yo (50%, OB, 75cl, Square Bottle, Small Cork, 1950's?)
94 Ardbeg 24yo 1975/2000
(50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 713 Bottles)
94 Ardbeg 27yo 1973/2000
(50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 240 Bottles)
94 Brora 22yo 1972/1995
(58.7%, Rare Malts, sample Luc Timmermans)
94
Brora 29yo 1972/2001 PSII (59.6%, Douglas Laing Platinum Selection II)
94 Brora 30yo '2004' (56.6%, OB, Bottled 2004)
94 Highland Park 36yo 1967/200X (49.7%, OB / The Whisky Exchange, C#10252)
94 Laphroaig 10yo 'Original Cask Strength' (57.3%, OB, Green Stripe, +/- 2000)
94 Macallan 'Coilltean' 1992/2004
(55%, Samaroli, Ccask #8518, 420 bottles)
94 Port Ellen 23yo 1979/2003 (46%, Wilson & Morgan, Butt #6769)93 Ardbeg 1974 'Provenance'
(55.6%, OB, Bottled 1990's)
93 Ardbeg 1967/1995
(53,7%, Signatory Vintage, Pale Oloroso Cask #575)
93
Ardbeg 28yo 1972/2000 (50.1%, Douglas Laing / Alambic, 234 bottles)
93 Ardbeg 28yo 1972/2001 (49,5%, Douglas Laing OMC, 222 Bottles)
93 Ardbeg 30yo 1967 (50.3%, 100.6 Proof, Signatory Vintage)
93
Bowmore 'Black' 1964/1993 (50%, OB)
93 Brora 30yo (56.6%, OB, 2004 Bottling)
93 Brora 32yo 1970/2002 Platinum III (58.4%, DL Old & Rare, 297 Botttles)
93 Glen Garioch 1971/1988 (59.6%, Samaroli, 2280 Bottles)
93
Glen Grant 1969/2004 (46%, Berry Brothers, Cask #1773)
93 Glenlivet 1971/2003 (55%, Berry Brothers, Cask #6447)
93 Highland Park 17yo 'No Vintage'
(43%, OB, James Grant, Green dumpy, 1970's)
93 Highland Park 1980/2004 (58%, OB / Park Avenue Liquors NY, C#7366, 75cl)
93
Laphroaig 10yo 'Original Cask Strength' (57.3%, OB, Red Stripe, +/- 2005)
93 Ledaig 30yo 1974/2005 (48.7%, Signatory, Sherry Cask #3223, 208 bottles)
93 Miltonduff 1966/1990 (61.4%, Antica Casa Marclesi Spinola, 75cl)
93 Port Charlotte 2001/2005
(61.4%, Gordon Homer, Bloodtub # R23, 39 Bottles)
93 Port Ellen 22yo 1978/2000 C/S (60.5%, UD Rare Malts)
93 Port Ellen 22yo 1982/2004 (61.1%, OMC for PLOWED, C#740, 240 Bottles)
93 Talisker 20yo 1981/2002
(62%, OB, Sherry Casks, 9000 Bottles)
93
Tomintoul 37yo 1966/2003 Rum Finish (52.8%, DL Platinum, 201 Bottles)92 Aberfeldy 1975/2001 (57%, Cadenhead's, Sherry Hogshead, 228 Bottles)
92 Ardbeg 6yo 1998/2005 (56.2%, SMWS 33.57, Sherry Gorda)
92
Ardbeg 21yo 'Committee' (56.3%, OB, Bottled 2001)
92
Ardbeg 1966/1987 (46%, Moon Import 'The Birds', Oak Cask #2443, 264 Btl.)
92 Ardbeg 29yo 1972/2001 'Ardbeggeddon'
(48.4%, DL Old Malt Cask for PLOWED)
92 Ardbeg 1967/1997
(52,2%, Signatory Vintage, Dark Oloroso Cask #1138)
92 Ardbeg 1972/2004 (45,3%, OB for Germany, Bourbon Cask #861, 216 Bottles)
92 Bowmore 22yo 1965
(43%, The Prestonfield, Sherry cask #47)
92
Braes of Glenlivet 15yo 1979/1995 (60%, SigV, Butt #16040, 1200 Bottles)
92 Brora 30yo 1972/2003 'Broraggeddon' (50.8.%, Douglas Laing OMC, 201 Btl.)
92 Dalmore 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1977, 75cl)
92 Glenfarclas 38yo 1966/2004 'Nectar of the Gods' (42,3%, WMag, Cask #6461)
92 Glen Garioch 21yo 1965/1986 (43%, OB)
92 Glengoyne 19yo 1986/2005 Ewan's Choice
(51.5%, OB, Sherry Punch. #441)
92 Glengoyne 37yo 1967/2005 (47.6%, OB, Sherry Butt #975, 246 bottles)
92 Highland Park 40yo 1958/1998
(44%, OB)
92 Inchgower 24yo 1980/2005 (60.4%, Adelphi, Cask #14152)
92 Isle of Jura 5yo 1999/2004
(60.6%, OB for The Whisky Exchange, Cask #19)
92
Lagavulin 16yo 'White Horse' (43%, OB, 70cl, Bottled late 1990's)
92 Lochside 35yo 1966/2002 (51.3%, Premier Malt, Cask #7541)
92 Longmorn-Glenlivet 1971/1999 (57.8%, Scott's Selection, Sherry Casks)
92 Longrow 1987/2001 (45%, Samaroli, Cask #123)
92 Macallan 25yo 1976/2001 (50%, Silver Seal, Single Barrel)
92
Royal 'Green' Brackla 27yo 1975/2002 (59.7%, TWE, C#5471, 204 bottles)
92 Talisker 50yo 1955/2005 'Secret Stills'
(45%, Gordon & MacPhail, C#1312)
92 Tomintoul-Glenlivet 38yo 1966/2004 (52% JWWW Gentle Noses, Cask #5260)91 Ardbeg NAS 'Committee'
(55.3%, OB, vatting, Bottled 2002)
91 Ardbeg 10yo 1993/2004
(50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 338 Bottles)
91
Ardbeg 1990/2003 (46%, G&M Symposion, Sherry cask #3133)
91 Ardbeg 17yo 1974/1992 (43%, SigV, Cask #2026, 2400 Bottles)
91 Ardbeg 1976/2004 (51,4%; OB for Feis Isle '04, Sherry Butt #2398, 504 Btl.)
91 Balvenie 32yo 1968/2000 Vintage Cask (50.8%, OB, Cask #7294, 180 Btl.)
91 Bowmore 38yo 1964
(42,9%, OB, Oloroso cask, 300 Bottles)
91 Brora 30yo 1972/2002 (46.6%, DL OMC for Germany, 204 Botttles)
91 Brora 30yo '2003' (55.7%, OB, Bottled 2003, 3000 Bottles)
91 Caol Ila 12yo 1978/1990
(65,5%, Cadenhead's Dumpy, D. 10/78, B. 10/90)
91
Glendronach 20yo 1970/1990 (56%, Signatory Vintage, Casks #513-518)
91 Glenfarclas 1959/2002 (46%, OB, Historic Reserve #1, 240 Bottles)
91
Glen Garioch 29yo 1968 (53.7%, OB, Cask #627, Hogshead)
91 Glen Garioch 36yo 1967/2003 (55.5%, Douglas Laing Platinum)
91
Glengoyne 15yo 1989/2005 'Duncan's Choice' (55.7%, OB, Sherry C#1204)
91 Glengoyne 19yo 1985/2004 'Summer'
(52.6%, OB, Cask #608)
91 Glen Grant 1970/2001
(55%, Berry Brothers, Cask #1035)
91 Highland Park NAS
(70 Proof, G&M Licensed Bottling, Saint Patrick Label)
91 Highland Park 21yo 1959/1980 (43%, OB, J. Grant Dumpy)
91 Jura Whisky 3yo 1999/2002 (60.7%, OB for Japan, Cask #92, 447 bottles)
91 Lagavulin 12yo (43%, OB, Green Label, Bottled Early 1980's)
91
Lagavulin 1979 DE Double Matured (43%, OB, Distiller's Edition)
91 Laphroaig 15yo 1985/2000 'Laudable' (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 318 Bottles)
91 Macallan 18yo 1970/1988 (43%, OB, 5cl)
91 Macallan 18yo 1976/1995 (43%, OB)
91 Macallan 30yo 1971/2002 'Vintage' (56.4%, OB, Cask #4280)
91
Mortlach 50yo 1936/1986 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail)
91
Port Ellen 19yo 1982/2001 (59.5%, The Bottlers, Cask #573)
91 Saint Magadalene 24yo 1978/2002
(50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 504 Bottles)
91 Springbank 35yo 1968/2003 (46%, Berry Brothers, 3 Casks)
91 Springbank 35yo 1970/2005 (59.5%, The Whisky Fair, Bourbon, 120 Btl.)
91 Strathisla 1967/2003
(54,3%, G&M for Barmetro 35th Anniversary, C#2063)
91 Talisker 14yo 1979/1993 (64.3%, Cadenhead's)90 Aberlour NAS A'bunadh (59.6%, OB, No Batch Number)
90 Ardbeg 13yo 1990/2004 (55%, OB, 1140 Bottles for Japan)
90
Ardbeg 1977/2001 (46%, OB)
90 Ardbeg 25yo 'Lord of the Isles' (46%, OB, First Bottling)
90 Ardbeg 26yo 1974/2001 (50%, DL OMC, D 9/1974, B 2/2001, 252 Btl.)
90 Ardmore 18yo '500 Years of Scotch Whisky' (51.4%, James MacArthur)
90 Ardmore 21yo 1979/????
(50%, Douglas Laing OMC 0345, DL266, 11/1979)
90 Ayrshire (Ladyburn) 1975/2005 (48.9%, Wilson & Morgan, Cask #3376)
90 Balvenie NAS (40%, OB, 3cl miniature, Bottled 1970's?)
90 Brora 19yo 1982/2001
(50%, Silver Seal, Sherry Casks, 240 Bottles)
90
Brora 23yo 1981/2005 (61%, Duncan Taylor, Cask 1425, 542 Btl., DTC-5/104)
90 Brora 29yo 1971/2001 (50%, DL Old Malt Cask, 6/1971 / 4/2001, 258 Btl.)
90 Brora 30yo 1972/2003 (47.4%, The Whisky Shop, D 3/72, B 2/03, 220 Bttl.)
90 Bunnahabhain 34yo 1968/2002 'Auld Acquaintance'
(43.8%, OB)
90 Caol Ila 12yo 1992/2005
(46%, Whisky Galore)
90 Caol Ila 15yo
(57%, Bulloch Lade, 75cl, Orange label)
90 Caol Ila 21yo 1975/1997 C/S (61.3%, UD Rare Malts)
90 Caol Ila 25yo 1979/2004 (61.2%, Bl'adder / Sun Favourite, C#5334)
90 Clynelish 13yo 1990 (59.3%, Blackadder Raw Cask, C#3593, Sherry Finish)
90
Clynelish 28yo 1976/2004 (46%, Murray McDavid Mission IV, 600 bottles)
90 Dailuaine 31yo 1973/2005 (47.8%, The Whisky Fair, C#14739, 204 bottles)
90 Glenfarclas 30yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
90 Glen Garioch 29yo 1968/1997 (55.9%, OB, Cask #629)
90 Glengoyne 32yo 1972/2005 (48.7%, OB, White Rioja cask #985, 328 bottles)
90 Glenlivet 28yo 1975/2003
(54.1%, Signatory, Cask #5719, Bottled 19/6/'03)
90 Glenlivet 29yo 1963/1992 (52.8%, Signatory Vintage, Cask#s 269-270)
90 Highland Park 19yo 1959
(43%, OB, Black Label, Ferraretto Import Milan)
90
Highland Park 1974/1998 'Online Tasting' (52.6%, OB, 228 Bottles)
90 Highland Park 38yo 1966/2005 (42.4%, Duncan Taylor for The Whisky Fair)
90 Highland Park 1902 (39,8%, Berry Brothers & Rudd, Bottled circa 1952/1953)
90 Invergordon 1964/2005 (47.1%, Adelphi, Cask #57637)
90 Lagavulin 12yo Cask Strength Special Release
(58%, OB, Bottled 2002)
90 Lagavulin 12yo Cask Strength Special Release (57.8%, OB, Bottled 2002)
90 Laphroaig 'Tamifroyg' NAS (49%, Regensburger Whisky Club, Bottled 2006)
90 Laphroaig NAS 'Quarter Cask'
(48%, OB, Bottled +/- 2005)
90
Laphroaig 10yo 'Unblended' (43%, OB, Bottled Late 1970's)
90 Laphroaig 11yo Port Wood Finish (60%, SigVint 'Straight from The Cask')
90 Laphroaig 13yo 1991/2005 (59.1%, SMWS 29.40)
90 Laphroaig 16yo 1987/2004 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 312 bottles)
90 Laphroaig 1976 (43%, OB)
90
Laphroaig 31yo 1974 (49.7%, OB, 910 Bottles, Sherry casks)
90 Ledaig 31yo 1973/2004
(54.8%, Chieftains, Sherry cask #1710, 114 bottles)
90 Longmorn 1974/1985 (60.8%, Samaroli, 600 Bottles)
90 Longrow NAS 1973 (46%, OB, Small Caps Label)
90 Longrow 16yo 1974 (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
90 Macallan 10yo '100 Proof' (57%, OB, USA Bottling, Bottled +/- 1997)
90 Macallan 12yo 1990/2003
(57.5%, W&M C/S, Sherry Butt #8748, 637 Btl.)
90
Oban 32yo 1969/2002 (55.1%, OB, from 13 European Casks, 6000 Bottles)
90 Port Charlotte 2001/2004 (67.3%, Private Bottling, Cask #286, 336 bottles)
90 Port Ellen 27yo 1978/2005 (52.3%, DL for The Whisky Fair, 198 bottles)
90 Scapa 25yo 1975/2001
(50%, DL Old Malt Cask, 438 Bottles)
90 Springbank NAS 'House & Tree Label' (46%, OB)
90 Springbank 21yo (46%, OB, Bottled 2000)
90 Springbank 1966/1998 'Local Barley' (54.4%, OB, Bourbon, D 2/66, B 8/98)
90
Talisker 19yo 1980/2000 'Tactical' (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 348 Bottles)
90 Talisker 1955/1993 (53.6%, G&M Cask Series, Cask #1310, 1311, 1257)
90 Tamdhu 1961/2000 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail's)
90 Tamnavulin 37yo 1967/2005 (46.7%, Duncan Taylor, C#1018)
90 Tobermory 32yo 1972/2005 (49.5%, OB, 1710 Bottles, Brown/Purple Label)
90 Tomatin 1968/2001 (40%, G&M Connoisseurs Choice)
. |
BATCH VARIATION
During phase 1 of my mission
(1997-2001) I kept a complete
'Best-to-Worst List' that contained
all the single malts whiskies that I
had seriously sampled until then,
ranked according to their scores.
This approach seemed to make
sense when I first started out.However, as I proceeded on my
virtual journey through Scotland
I became haunted by a growing
suspicion... While my senses grew more acute,
I discovered more and more cracks
in the facade of some 'official' old
friends like Lagavulin 16yo and
Talisker 10yo. I found that there's
no such thing as 'the' Lagavulin 16yo
or 'the
' Macallan 12yo. I had to accept
the fact that official bottlings like
Talisker 10yo or Edradour 10yo
can change over time. In fact, that discovery shouldn't
have surprised me as much as it did.
After all, the conditions that shape
this year's Oban 14 or Balvenie 12
may be slightly different from those
that influenced last year's stock.
Since a lot of official bottlings are
produced year after year after year,
the stillmen will have to use
different casks for each batch,
while trying to make exactly
the same whisky as last time.
A nearly impossible task... The phenomenon I've described
is known as 'Batch Variation'.
And let me tell you it makes the
life of a malt maniac a lot harder.
You never know if the next bottle
of Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength
you love so much will be just as
lovable as the last one you tried. As far as I'm concerned, a malt is
only as good as its latest bottling.
What do I mean by that? Whenever I tried several different
batches of the 'same' official
bottling that showed a difference
between them I've ranked that
bottle in my Hit List according to
rating for the last bottling I tried.
These bottles are printed BOLD. So, I've tried several different
versions of all the bottlings that
are printed bold in the Hit List.
You can find a full listing of all
the different batches I've tried
by clicking on the name of the
malt in the column at the left.
This will take you directly to
an overview in my Track Record.
Whenever I sampled just one
version of a malt clicking on
the name will take you to a
tasting report for that malt.So, on to the contents of the list.
It all starts with...
LEADERS OF THE PACK This Hit List used to show all the
single malts I tried, ranked from
best to worst. However, keeping
the list up-to-date took more and
more time as my 'malt mileage'
grew. In fact, it become simply
unmanageable when I passed
the 500 malts mark. So, I've
severly trimmed the bottom
end of the list some time ago.These days, a single malt has to
score at least 90 points to earn
itself a 'secure' spot at the top
of the list. With a lower score
a malt will eventually fade away
into obscurity - bottles that were
released more than five years
ago will be increasingly difficult
to find, so unless a bottle is
VERY special and desireable,
listing it would be fairly pointless.
So, I didn't. Many of the malts that end up
in the upper segment of this Hit
List are single cask bottlings - or
at least limited releases. Therefor
batch variaton won't be a problem
with these malts. Finding a bottle
might be, however. Especially the
older bottlings that were released
in the 1980's or '90's have mostly
drunk - but there may be a dusty
bottle hiding away on a shelf
someweher, you never know.
However....
CAVEAT EMPTOR Be careful when you find a bottle
that just looks to good to be true.
It could very well be... On the Malt Maniacs Fake Alert
page you can find an overview of
suspected and confirmed fakes.
There you can see when and where
it's advisable to be extra careful.
Shopping on eBay is always risky!
AFFORDABILITY Unfortunately, many of the top
class malts at the left will cost you
a pretty penny. That's why you will
usually find a lot of more mundane
malts in my drinking collection.The
Bang-for-your-Buck List offers
a selection of relatively affordable
recent releases. Not all of them are
quite as spectacular as the malts on
the left, but the quality/price ratio
is excellent. And you can actually find
a few bottles with prices below 100
Euro that end up in the upper echelon
of this Hit List - the Laphroaig 10yo
Cask Strength being a prime example.
That being said, those on a budget
might be better off scrolling down for
a bit for more affordable single malts.
PERSONAL OPINIONS
Obviously, these scores just reflect
my own, purely personal opinion.
It is entirely feasible that your tastes
are different from mine. Just compare
your scores with mine and find out... If you discover that your tastes are
indeed different from mine, check out
the matrix for an overview of opinions
of 11 other malt maniacs. You should
be able to find at least one other malt
maniac with similar tastes. If you can't
it would probably be best if you would
switch to soft drinks from now on...
|
89 Aberlour Abunad'h Batch #11
(59.8%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
89
Ardbeg NAS 'Uigeadail' (54.2%, OB, Bottled 2003)
89
Benriach 28yo 1976/2005 (56.9%, Signatory, Cask #9442, 426 Bottles)
89 Bruichladdich 35yo 1968/2004 'Legacy III' (40.7%, OB)
89 Clynelish 1972/2002 (46%, Dundeil / Berry Brothers, Cask #14307)
89 Glenfarclas 1983/2001 Family Reserve Edition #4 (46%, OB, Sherry Cask)
89 Glenfarclas 33yo 1970/2003
(46%, OB for LMW, sherry, Cask #2022)
89 Highland Park 25yo (50.7%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
89 Macallan 12yo 1990/2003
(57.5%, Wilson & Morgan, Cask #8748)
89
Springbank 35yo 1969/2004 (58.5%, Adelphi, Cask #149)88 Ardbeg 17yo (40%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2003)
88 Bunnahabhain 36yo 1966/2003 (40.7%, Peerless, Cask #4874, White Port)
88 Caol Ila 12yo 1991/2004 (50%, DL OMC, Cask #879, 860 Btl., Sherry Finish)
88 Caperdonich 30yo 1972/2003
(50.1%, Hart Brothers Finest Collection)
88 Glenfarclas NAS '105' (60%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2004)
88 Glengoyne 31yo 1972/2004
(57.9%, OB, Cask #2968)
88 Glenrothes 1990/2002 (46%, Wilson & Morgan, Sherry Wood)
88
Lagavulin 16yo 'Port Ellen' (43%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2003)
88 Linkwood 19yo 1985/2005 (60.6%, Dewar Rattray, C#4543, 233 Bottles)
88
Tomatin 37yo 1965/2003 (47.2%, Hart Brothers, Dist. 11/'65, Bottl. 5/'03)87
Aberlour NAS A'bunadh Batch #9 (60%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
87 Balvenie 21yo Port Wood Finish
(43%, OB, latest version +/- 2004)
87 Bruichladdich NAS 'Infinity' (55.5%, OB, Bottled 2005)
87 Bunnahabhain 24yo 1979/2003 (45.7%, Cadenhead Authentic Coll., Bourbon)
87
Glenfiddich 31yo 1973/2004 (48.9%, Cadenhead, Bottled April 2004, 186 Btl.)
87 Highland Park 19yo 1985/2005 (54%, Signatory, Cask #2911, 296 bottles)
87 Inverleven 1989/2003 (45%, G&M, new bulky bottle, La Maison du Whisky)
87 Mortlach 16yo
(43%, Flora & Fauna, Bottled +/- 2002)
87 Talisker NAS '175th Anniversary' (45.8%, OB, Bottled 2005, 60,000 Bottles)
87 Talisker 18yo (45.8%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)86
Aberlour NAS A'bunadh Batch #8 (60.2%, OB, Bottled +/- 2002)
86 Caol Ila NAS 'Cask Strength' (55%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2004)
86 Caol Ila 1992/2002
(50%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, Extra Strength)
86 Glenfarclas 15yo (46%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2004)
86 Highland Park 18yo
(43%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2005)
86
Lagavulin 1988/2004 Distillers Edition Double Matured (43%, OB)
86 Laphroaig 15yo (40%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2004)
86
Macallan 30yo 'Fine Oak' (43%, OB, Bottled 2004)
86
Oban 20yo Natural Cask Strength (57.9%, OB, Bourbon Cask, Bottled 2004)
86 Port Ellen 24yo 1979/2003 3rd Annual Release (57.3%, OB, 9000 Bottles)
85 Benromach 22yo Port Finish
(45%, OB, 3500 Bottles, Bottled 2005)
85 Caol Ila 12yo 1990/2003 (46%, Whisky Galore)
85 Clynelish 1989/2003 (46%, Wilson & Morgan, Marsala Finish)
85
Convalmore-Glenlivet 26yo 1977/2003 (46%, Cadenhead, Sherry)
85 Glenfarclas 25yo (43%, OB, Latest version Bottled +/- 2005)
85 Laphroaig 10yo (40%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2005)
85 Macallan 25yo 'Fine Oak' (43%, OB, Bottled 2004)
85 Mortlach 12yo 1989/2002 Sherry Cask (43%, Coopers Choice)
85 Talisker 10yo
(45.8%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2005)
85 Talisker 1989/2002 Distillers Edition (45.8%, OB, TD-S: 5DP)
. |
AVAILABILITY Batch variation is a 'problem'
that is related mostly to official
bottlings, but there's another
nasty little issue that affects
both OB's and IB's: availability.
Single cask bottlings and special
editions are released in limited
quantities by definition. With only
a few hundred bottles available,
stocks of the really good stuff
(which is the topic of this Hit List)
will disappear quite rapidly from
the shelves of liquorists around
the world. That's why I decided to 'trim' part
of this Hit List. It used to contain
all malts I tried since 1997, ranked
from best to worst. But after passing
the 500 malts mark I realised that
the list was growing to big for its own
good. Many of the malts on there
were no longer available anywhere,
so listing them was a tad futile...
I figured that any single malt would
need a score in the 90's to earn itself
the eternal glory that comes with the
permanent position at the top part
of my Hit List. Single malts scoring
90 points or more stay on my Hit List
forever. They are worth hunting down
at any price, whatever the obstacles.
(Well - almost...) When it comes to the malts that I
feel are (highly) recommendable
(i.e. malts scoring in the 80's), I've
removed the older bottlings that are
not widely available anymore. You
may be able to find the odd bottle
of Ben Nevis 15yo 1977/1993 (Cad)
or Pittyvaich 21yo 1976/1998 (SigV)
on a dusty shelf or at an auction,
but the odds are slim. I'll list 10 of
the most recent bottlings for each
score in the 80's. That means this
segment of my Hit List contains
100 recommendable single malts
that are relatively widely available. This new approach helps me with
the 'calibration' of my scores too.
I use this Hit List a lot whenever
I'm not quite sure how I want to
rate a new malt. I often have a
general idea, but looking over
the list and comparing the malt
with others scoring in the same
range helps me to pin it down.
Given that tastes and preferences
can change over time it might be
best if I used other recently tasted
malts as 'benchmarks' instead of
whiskies I sampled a decade ago.
That makes sense, doesn't it? |
84
Aberlour 16yo Double Cask Matured (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
84 Bruichladdich 20yo 'Flirtation' Second Edition (46%, OB, Bottled 2004)
84 Cragganmore 10yo 1993/2004 (60.1%, OB, European Oak, 15000 Bottles)
84 Glenfiddich 30yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2005)
84 Glen Garioch 16yo 1988/2004
(54.4%, Uisquebaugh Society, D. 18/4/1988)
84 Glengoyne 15yo Scottish Oak (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2005)
84 Glengoyne 17yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
84 Glenrothes 1972/2004 (43%, OB)
84 Lochside 1981/2004 (46%, Berry Brothers, Casks #610/613)
84 Springbank 10yo 100 Proof
(57%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)83
Aberlour 16yo Double Cask Matured (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
83 Balvenie 1991 'PortWood' (40%, OB, Bottled 2004)
83 Bunnahabhain 6yo 1997/2003 (59.4%, SMSW 10.56, April '97, October '03)
83 Caol Ila 12yo (43%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2005)
83 Edradour 10yo 1993/2004 Sauternes Finish
(57.2%, OB, C#04/11/3, 444 Btl.)
83 Glenkinchie 12yo Limited Edition (58.7%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
83 Glengoyne 15yo 'Scottish Oak Wood Finish'
(43%, OB, Bottled 2005)
83 Glenlivet 34yo 1968/2002
(45.9%, Peerless, Sherry Cask #1579, 218 Bottles)
83
Glenrothes 1979/2002 (43%, OB)
83 Tomintoul 27yo
(40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2005)82 Aberlour 15yo 1988/2003
(50%, Douglas Laing OMC, DL REF 875, 306 bottles)
82
Balvenie 12yo 'DoubleWood' (40%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2004)
82 Bruichladdich 17yo 'XVII' (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2002)
82 Caol Ila 18yo (43%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2004)
82 Clynelish 1989/2003 (46%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, Marsala Finish)
82 Dailuaine 1975/2003 (46%, Berry Brothers, Cask #5539)
82 Glengoyne 12yo C/S (57.2%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2005)
82 Glenlivet 12yo American Oak Finish (40%, OB, Duty Free)
82 Macallan 12yo 'Sherry' (40%, OB, Bottled 2004)
82 Tomatin 25yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2005)
81 Aberlour 1994/2005 (46%, Berry Bros, Casks #8847-8850)
81 Arran NAS Marsala Finish
(56.9%, OB, Bottled 22/10/2004)
81 Balvenie 1989 'Port Wood' (40%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2004)
81 Bladnoch 14yo 1989/July 2003
(53.6%, Cadenhead Auth. Coll., Bourbon)
81
Bruichladdich 14yo 1984/2003 (46%, MMcD, MM 1689, 440 Bottles)
81 Caol Ila 23yo 1978/2002 (61.7%, Rare Malts)
81 Glenmorangie 10yo 'Cellar 13' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2001)
81 Longmorn 15yo (45%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2001)
81 Macallan 18yo 'Fine Oak' (43%, OB, Bottled 2004)
81 Mannochmore 11yo 1991/2003 (60.2%, Signatory, Cask #16587, 596 Btl.)
80 Arran NAS 'Grand Cru Champagne Cask Finish'
(58.8%, OB, Bottled 2005)
80 Cardhu 22yo 1982/2005
(57.8%, OB, 3000 Bottles)
80 Clynelish 14yo
(46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
80 Glenfarclas 12yo (43%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2005)
80 Glenfiddich 21yo Havana Reserve
(40%, OB, +/- 2003)
80 Glenlivet 16yo Nądura
(48%, OB, Bourbon, Bottled +/- 2005)
80
Glenmorangie NAS 'Artisan Cask' (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
80 Glenlivet 18yo (43%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2003)
80 Glen Scotia 14yo (40%, OB, Latest version bottled +/- 2002)
80 Old Pulteney 17yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2005)
. |
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? I won't go into all the details of
my rating system, but in order to
interpret these ratings you should
know that I use a 1 - 100 scale that
includes other drinks like blends,
bourbons and cognacs as well. Most single malts I've tasted score
between 60 and 90 points, while
blends tend to score between 10
and 80 points. This means that in
my system the average single malt
scores higher than the average blend.
Here's a rough guide to my scores: 01-10: Truly disgusting.
11-20: Varying degrees of awfulness.
21-30: Barely drinkable.
31-40: Aspires to be mediocre.
41-50: I'll drink it, but reluctantly.
51-60: Quite drinkable.
61-70: A reasonably enjoyable drink.
71-80: Very nice indeed, thank you.
81-90: Wonderful! Top totty.
91-100: The stuff of legends.
Basically, it means that I don't
really care all that much for the
malts that score below 70 points.
There are simply too many good
alternatives on the malt market.
For me personally, the price I have
to pay for a bottle is an important
factor. Especially in the 'average'
segment my shopping behaviour
is largely determined by the
'
Bang-For-Your-Buck' value
I expect from a bottle.Click HERE
for more info about my
personal rating system or visit the
Malt Maniacs Matrix for an overview
of scores by a dozen other maniacs.
Visit the Deviant Drams section for
my ratings for blends, bourbons,
vatted and 'foreign' malts.I receive a lot of e-mails with
comments on these ratings.
Some people agree (which is nice),
some people disagree (which is nice
as well, for where would we be if we
all agreed with one another, eh?) Nevertheless, I'd like to stress
once more that these ratings
reflect my own, purely personal
preferences. They might come in
handy if your tastes happen to
be similar to mine, but make sure
to check out some malts I dislike
as well if you want to be as smart
as you think you are. Just do a H2H
of a Lagavulin 16 and a Loch Dhu 10
some time to find out... |
