The whiskies listed on this page are the best that I've tasted. The measure of "best" is, necessarily, subjective. I'll like to think that I've an appreciation for a fairly wide range of whiskies, and this list here tries to capture that. Basically, what I've found really impressive and to my liking.
To add more confusion into the subjectivity, the whiskies listed here are the ones that have "scored" the highest in my personal list of scores - basically arbitrarily assigned numbers/grades. Unlike sites that break down their scores into different categories for appearance, nose, palate and finish, I give a general score that reflects overall quality, with 10 being out of this world, and 1 being, well, you're really better off just drinking water. In my opinion, of course. For the record, the Crown Royal North Harvest gets a 3 from me. It's better than water, but not by much.
This is a growing list, so new whiskies will appear here as I taste them, and some may disappear as I find things that are better. For example, I initially had Talisker 18 on this list, but after comparing it with the other whiskies, I felt that maybe it was more 8.4 than an 8.5.
As I said, this is all subjective experience. But anyhows. This is for those who want a quick sense of what I feel are the best.
The whiskies that appear here score an 8.5 and above.
Do note that this list does not take price into consideration. For the most "bang for buck" whiskies, check out this other page! (Which is not up yet)
Hall of Famers:
9.5 - 10
Port Ellen 30, for VomFass: Fattest texture, great growing minerality, deep, balanced smoke. And of course, legendary provenance. Cheap at $1800.
Springbank 16 'Local Barley' 2016: Astounding development of flavours. Unbelievable complexity and harmony.
Craigellachie 31: This one was a really good Speyside in an older style. Smoky, slightly sulphurous, rubbery, yet sweet, fairly rich and complex.
9 - 9.4
Highland Park 24, Flowing Feature by Samaroli: Wonderful texture reminiscent of the Port Ellen, with all the classic Highland Park flavours. Good development revealing layers of flavours.
The Auld Alliance Irish Single Malt: Amazing mixture of fruits, with the pink guava standing out as a major surprise. The freshness of the fruits in a whisky that is 27 years old is really something, and it's probably the first time I've had a whisky that marries age, wood, and fresh fruits together to such a degree of harmony.
Laphroaig 32: The Laphroaig 32 was great - an accomplished whisky that demonstrated both the strengths of an Islay, and the power of the sherry cask. A great marriage between the two to add great depth. Worthy of being the capstone on the 200th anniversary of the distillery!
Talisker 25, 2007 edition: Great smoke and pepper. This is what made Talisker great, and heights of which they have not scaled recently. Hard to find too, considering that it was bottled 10 years ago.
Inchgower 16, by Douglas Laing's Old Malt Cask: This is great. The nosing isn't the most sophisticated, but the body and finish aren't many steps behind the Craigellachie, which is almost double the Inchgower's age. Complex, big, powerful, with some subtle notes - this is the full package.
Glendronach 15 'Revival': A discontinued whisky. Highland Sherry bomb. For a long time, this was the most value-for-money whisky around. Richly sherried, complex, deep, hints of chocolate, leather, spice, etc. Loses out to the Inchgower, in my opinion, purely because of strength.
Balvenie 30: The Balvenie 30 was sweet, rich, and subtle all at once.
Lagavulin Distiller's Edition: My favourite sherried Islay apart from the super-premium Laphroaig 32, and it loses to the Laphroaig 32 by just a little bit. That is a great accomplishment for a whisky half the age. At just slightly over $200, I think this is fairly value for money too.
Kilchoman 2008 Vintage: Another great offering from Kilchoman. Peaty and fruity at the same time, the cask has done a great job at maturing the whisky. Expensive if you look at the age, but value for money if you focus on quality.
8.5 - 8.9
Taketsuru 21 - A blended malt that takes Miyagikyo and Yoichi, and turns them into greater than the sum of its parts. Sweet, slightly smoky, plum, fruity, and a slight soy sauce taste all at once. Develops nice lemon notes after leaving in the bottle for a while.
Hakushu 18: The Hakushu 18 will always have a special place in my heart. It is perhaps the whisky that best displays what I think are typically Japanese characteristics
Springbank 12 Cask Strength: I like the strength and raw power of the distillate in this. The ginger notes are really fun too. I would think that this one is closer to 9 than it is to 8.5, and it currently sits at about 8.9. We'll see if it opens up more with a bit more time...
Yamazaki 18: Good, former World Whisky of the Year, as awarded by World Whisky Awards. Smooth, well made sherried whisky with a great finish. Not worth the money, mind, but great. My preference is still for Hakushu though - more uniquely Japanese.
Ichiro's Malt, Chichibu, For the Tokyo International Bar Show: This was great for the elegance of the French oak cask used.
Glenfarclas 40 years (Family Cask for Silver Seal): Aged sherry. A wonderful showcase of what an old sherried whisky can do. Glenfarclas is often regarded as one of the iconic sherried whiskies - this one adds to the case.
Springbank 10 year old "100 Proof": Yet another Springbank that I like! What stands out for this is the long and tasty finish. The stuff that comes before the finish were pretty good too!
Kavalan Solist Sherry: One of my favourite single cask sherried whiskies to date. Great, but the spice development in the Inchgower 16 higher up this list edges this Kavalan by a bit.
Clynelish 18 Single Cask for Auld Alliance: Clynelish is good stuff. Complex stuff. Maritime, smoky, oily, and still fruity. Closer to an older style of whisky, perhaps?
Springbank 18: This is good and pretty big. More classy than the 12, but it feels like a few more years would impart it even more greatness. Feels like its on the cusp of leaving behind its teenage energy for a more refined, adult, gentlemanliness. Which is what being 18 is all about.
Ben Nevis 19 Single Cask for Auld Alliance: Big and fat, with a complex development, yet still retains its highland colours.
Lagavulin 8: Anniversary bottling at affordable price, and great young whisky all round.
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