Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that Whisky Santa was good to you.

2015 comes to a close, so it’s time for my Top 10 Favorite Whiskies of 2015. But first of all, we need some preliminaries, just so we are all on the same page:

It goes without saying, but I have by far not reviewed every single whisky that have come out in 2015. So I have missed out on some really great whiskys. I know this. But I am perfectly fine with that, given the fact that I run this blog on my spare time, besides my studies and part-time job, and have limited resources at my disposal. With all that being said, I still managed to review 160 whiskys this year, which is not too shabby in my books. And that brings me directly to my next point.

For the sake of simplicity, I didn’t only include bottlings that were released in 2015. Every bottling was eligible to make it on the list, regardless of its actual release, as long as I have reviewed it in 2015, and regardless of its type: single malt, blend, bourbon, rye or whatever – it didn’t matter, as long as it was a whisky of some sort. The only limitation was that a distillery can be represented only one time, in order to make it as diversified as possible.

One last thing. Please keep in mind that this list is just my very personal opinion. I didn’t simply pick the rarest, oldest or most expensive whiskies nor the ones with the highest ratings. I just went through my notes and thought to myself “OK, if I really, really wanted to buy ten whiskys for my cabinet, regardless of availability and price, which ten would I chose?”. So hard decisions had to be made, but after some back and fourth, I am confident that I picked the ten best of 2015:

 

10. The Six Isles 10 Years Old Petrus Gaia Finish ( 2003 / 2014) – 90 points

Yes, there are indeed some superb blends out there, and this is one of them. This Blended Malt (or Vatted Malt in the good old days) is made of six different single malts, each one from one of the whisky producing Scottish islands, and was finished in wine casks from the Pertus Gaia vineyard in Bordeaux. The strong smokiness on the one side and the soft sweetness on the other side go well along with each other. Pretty much the best of both worlds.

 9. Aultmore 2007 (A. D. Rattray) – 90 points

Young single malts can be great as well, as shown by this truly great Aultmore. Different for sure and not the expected young sherry bomb, but very, very complex for its age.

 8. Dalmore 1990 (Cadenhead ‘Wood Range’) – 90 points

Rum finishes can be pretty tricky, and quite frankly, I didn’t expect that Dalmore and rum casks can work so well together. Oh boy was I wrong! This wonderful dram clicks (almost) all the right buttons for me. 

7. Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel – 91 points

Deep and rich, yet very accessible. Nothing is overpowering, everything is in the right place. A truly well-balanced bourbon of subtle elegance, named after the now passed away Elmer T. Lee, a true icon and pioneer in the world of bourbon whiskey. 

6. Clynelish 1996 ‘Single Cask Seasons – Spring 2015′ (SV for Kirsch Import) – 92 points

I am still not sure if this a typical spring-like whisky but, whatever the case, its a pretty excellent dram. A stunning combination between fruitiness, spiciness and waxiness.

5. Ben Nevis 1991 (SV ‘The Un-Chillfiltered Collection’) – 92 points

Robust and complex, even a bit maverick if you will – a text book example of  a great Ben Nevis.

4. KAVALAN Ex-Bourbon Oak – 92 points

To me, hands down, the best Single Malt from Kavalan I had so far. Just one gorgeous combination between first-fill bourbon casks and Kavalan’s signature exotic fruitiness.

3. Glenfarclas 1981 Port Pipe Edition – 93 points

It doesn’t have always to be sherry! No doubt, Glenfarclas also knows how to make port matured whisky. A highly pleasant and harmonic single malt with the right amount of complexity. Extraordinarily good!

2. Balcones Brimstone (BRM 14.8) – 95 points

Brimstone is made from 100% Blue Corn like other whiskys from Balcones, too. In a distinctive process not the grain but the whisky itself is smoked using sun-baked Texas scrub oak. This whisky rolls over you like an uncompromising bulldozer but in a extremely satisfying way. No prisoners taken! 

1. Laphroaig 2001 Old Particular Feis Ile Bottling 2015 (Douglas Laing) – 96 points

Douglas Laing’s first ever Feis Ile Bottling, a 14 Years Old Laphroaig from a refill butt, combines all the features of a classic Laphroaig with a rich sweetness for the extra “oomph”. An Absolutely brilliant and outstanding bottling and my personal favorite of 2015.

 

What were your whisky highlights of 2015? Comment below, let me know! And don’t forget, new episodes will come out on January 7th. Happy New Year!