Whisky of the Year 2020
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
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This video represents a personal opinion and perspective only.
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Ralfy is a man of principles and should be applauded as the people's champion.
Congratulations on a successful 10 years Ralfy.
Congrats, Ralfy!
Ralfy, 26 december 2019: "It's tough times ahead."
Oh boy.
“It’s been a weird year, 2019.” Ohhh, Ralfy. Just wait until you see 2020.
Wow ,how prophetic of you then .
Long-time bourbon drinker, I started following you less than a year ago and decided to venture into scotch. After 3 beautiful sherried-scotches, I bought a Deanston 12 and an Arran 10 this month due to your recommendation and glad I did. My whisky journey has become much more enjoyable with fewer "mistakes." Thank you for your approach to principles and providing your honest opinion.
"and that's a fact.. in my opinion" - Ralfy, 2019 😀
Но это не точно
I discovered your channel in 2019 and I'm very glad I did. You have molded the manner in which I evaluate and appreciate spirits, so thank you for that!
Ralfy, you've been my go to whisky resource for 3 years now. I just wish I'd found you sooner. You are appreciated! Best wishes to you in the coming year!
Would have saved us from several bad bottles
Santa brought me a bottle of Colonel EH Taylor single barrel bourbon. And i thought i was naughty this year. Lol
Love the whisky of the year collector's edition presentation case.
You know it is COLD when you can see the whisky tuber's breath! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🥃 🎄 🎅
LOL I can't believe this I poured myself a dram of Deanston 12 before watching this video! What are the odds? :)
Well I did the same yesterday after recommendations from Realty and Roy at Aquavite.
You truly are you're own man Ralfy and it's much appreciated. I have learned so much from you over the years. So thanks. As to your choice, I can't argue with Deanston. High quality stuff.
Just discovered this gentleman today. A man of principles and integrity.....reminds me of my Dad....
Ralfy, thank you for staying true to your roots and putting "us" the viewer first. Your knowledge and unfiltered opinion has enhanced my own personal relationship with whisky. All the best in 2020!
Fantastic Ralfy. Your saving me money now because this one is in the cupboard already. A second bottle no less. Never had a bad Deanston. Thanks Ralfy. Have a fantastic and very Happy New Year.
He's costing me money. LOL I already had the other 2 runners up and currently enjoying this year's whisky of the year. Not stupid money either on the price, about $50
I had seen but never bought Deanston Whisky. As a direct result of this video; eventually !; my
Wife ( Chief Taster due to she won't drive ) and I visited Deanston Distillery, Feb'19 Islay 21 bottles bought, Feb '20 The Highland's 16 bottle's bought, Deanston 12yo, 12yo Madeira Cask Finish 55.6%vol. and
2002 16yo Organic Oloroso Cask Finish 50.6% vol... All I can say is Thankyou Ralfy, what an absolutely fantastically enjoyable visit, the guy's in the Visitor Centre were outstanding, no fawning or blether falseness here Oh No, just brilliant enthusiastic knowledgeable pleasant interested and interesting young Men freely giving of their time and pointer's, on an even and approachable basis, just brilliant. The Deanston Distillery is in my top 2 Distillerie's (out of 16) and the Whisky, well New flavour's definitely, new direction's decidedly , Thankyou once again. Fellow Malt Mate's, if you get chance do yourself a favour, pay them a visit, you won't be disappointed.
Cheers Ralfy. I just discovered your channel and look forward to virtually sharing many more drams with you. Seeing this review brought me back to my honeymoon, when we stopped at Deanston on our drive from Edinburgh to Oban. Wonderful place along with the whisky.
Best wishes to you Ralfy. I bought a bottle of Deanston 12 y.o. last week and have enjoyed it a lot. My liquor cabinet has mostly crafty single malts as I've tried to avoid the big distillers and their hyperbolic, oily marketing. I'm with you on your mission to demand disclosure of ingredients and to provide age statements. Happy New Year, and many more.
I absolutely freaking love Deanston 12 and everything it stands for. So glad you chose it. Couldnt agree more.
Love ya Ralph people appreciate you’re honesty and genuine nature
Great choice! The Deanston 12 is pure nectar. Deanston also do some great cask finishes, like the Bordeaux, but they're rarer than hens' teeth.
Outstanding single malt Ralfy ... my whisky of the year Springbank 10 ... greetings from Germany , Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)
Gino Briele Springbank 10 was my first single malt ever! Merry Christmas and happy New Year:)
Ralfy, i haven’t been tuning in to your videos as much lately, as i’ve recently been going through a bit of a bourbon phase. But i’m very glad i did for this video, it’s brought me up to speed with what you’ve been doing this past year, and i can see you’ve been doing great things. Congratulations on staying true to yourself for these past 10 years. I wish you continued success in the next decade. You are more than just a content creator to our little community - you are a true role model, and dare i say, friend. A man of principle, eloquence, and wit. Slainte!
The older12 yr bottles say “ nothing added but hard work and determination “. There is no added E150. Deanston deserves all the praise it gets...it’s a fantastic, honest distillery making fabulous whisky.
Like many other things, whisky is only the sum total of resources devoted to it. When the industry wanted to expand to meet the boom, the first resource often compromised was time in cask, which is why we saw the rapid expansion of NAS bottlings and suddenly no one wanted to talk about age anymore. Once sales peaked, the next resource under strain, predictably enough, was the supply of quality casks, and all marketing and doubletalk in the world couldn't make it otherwise.
Ralfy never went in for the nonsense, and stood strong against it, while dealing in the cheapest, and rarest, product there is: the simple truth. Congrats on 10 years, Ralfy! Keep the faith.
Speaking the truth, as usual, Malt454.
Great year Ralph. We don't always agree but your consistent presence and advice is VERY APPRECIATED. Happy 2020!
So glad your channel wasn't shut down! Your a man of principles. Congrats on 10 years and cheers to another 10
jesus it look colder in scotland then it does in ontario canada! Thanks for another great year Big Man ! keep it up and all the best in the new year
Just so you know where Ralphy resides, the Isle Of Man, isn't in Scotland, it's a self governing British dependent island in the middle of the Irish Sea between the UK and Ireland. Which probably makes it more interesting! Still cold though! Stay warm!
Benedict Tomczyk-Bowen well he should do and Isle of Man TT whisky ;)
No White Christmas for me Canada most likely has snow now
Ralfy, you warm my heart. A great and wise summary of why I will be tracking down some Deanston 12 year as soon as I can find it here in Texas!
Proud viewer from Canada for a number of years now. Cheers Ralfy. Thank you for all the informative and entertaining reviews over the years.
Visited Deanston Distillery in March this year. Instantly fell in love with it. Took a warehouse tour and in addition to the 12YO, I bought several samples of interesting casks finishes. All were top-class stuff and I felt a "proper distillery" feeling at every moment of the visit and tastings :) Came back with a conviction that this is a seriously overlooked distillery that deserves a lot more appraise. So, what a nice surprise to see Deanston 12 pop out of Ralfy's box :) Couldn't agree more!
You’re a good feller, Ralfy. From ya friend in America, the greatest nation in the history of the world
Ralfy, I have been watching you since around 2011. You have greatly improved my knowledge in whisky. Thank you the time and effort you have put in your channel through the years. Cheers to a Happy New Year!
"That's a fact, in my opinion", is the reason I'm subscribed to this channel. :D
Cant beat speaking your mind and sticking to your boundaries of quality whiskey.
Burning staves that were once in barrels holding Scotch single malt...to confer a marvelously distinctive fragrance ? What a fantastic notion!! Ralfy never fails to amaze. Ten years & going better than ever - onward & upward !
I have always liked your approach Ralfy, for what that is worth, I think we are immersed in a very clear struggle between independent thinkers and producers and those very large, powerful corporate interests on many fronts. Whisky is one such front, but i think this runs deeper than we are aware. From one independent operative to another, I support your outlook Ralfy.
Don't change, Ralfy. We love you the way you are. Even us folks in the Ozarks of northern Arkansas who love our whisky, our whiskey, our bourbon, and our rum!
I was wondering (or secretly hoping) that it might be the Bladnoch 10 which took your fancy, but its production numbers are probably too low and distribution outside the UK market is not yet as developed as it should be, but the distillery’s energetic new Aussie owner will probably get that sorted in 2020. It’s a wonderful dram (got it for Christmas) and enjoyed watching your review of it back in November (the Bladnoch, that is). Still, there’s no arguing with your choice here for WOTY 2020. I love the stuff, too, (WOTY 2020) and have purchased a couple of bottles of it over the course of this year. As there’s no sticker on the bottle indicating the addition of E150a (compulsory here in Germany), we can be sure that there’s no colouring involved. Many thanks, Ralfy, for your continued and fiercely independent reviews. They’re always informative and educational and - whenever you find yourself recalling old Glasgow stories from the past - a right royal good laugh. Here’s a dram to your good health and wisdom in 2020. Cheers!
. . . happy to share the M-moments !
Russell I got the Bladnoch, lucky I live in Australia
Agree....The Bladnoch 10 is a really good bottle... I rate it highly for the price point and integrity of the whisky....
John Williams When I think of the very high price of whisky in Oz I get dizzy! But it's great that John Prior has got it on the market Down Under. Fantastic that you've got access to Bladnoch and can appreciate this wonderful 10yo bottling. I'll be trying one or two of the other Bladnoch releases sometime in the new year. Did you also hear that Prior got hold of Nick Savage (ex-Macallan distillery) as his new Master Blender? Clever move! Cheers.
Andy C Can't agree with you more! I know that Ralfy finds it relatively sweet, but to my palate it's got a fascinating balance of sweetness, sour citric notes and even a tad of menthol and resin on the finish. And that's in addition to the clean barley and subtle vanillas from the ex-bourbon casks. That's damn good complexity for a mere 10 year old. Great to know that you enjoy it as I do. Cheers!
Happy New Year Ralfy! Love your videos. You probably have 400k subs.
Enjoyed the heck out of this video with a nice dram of Laphroaig Quarter Cask and another of Springbank 10. Cheers Ralfy!
Your personal views, values and policies are why I keep watching. Keep up the good work. Happy new year and thank you.
Wonderful speech my friend!!! Im so happy to be apart of yet another exciting year of Ralfydotcom!! I welcome your next 10 years on UA-cam! Happy New Year Ralfy! 😊👍🏾🥃 Slainte!!!!
Thank you Ralfy.
Discovered for myself and visited Deanston distillery just recently this year, by the way, bought some of the core stuff, and of course some of the limited releases, but of course with age statement only! And I totally agree - bottle you picked up for whisky of the year a really worth to be a whisky of the year.
Thank you very much for your videos, and for book you've released - is really worth to read, had a lot of fun, and information, while read it.
Happy new year to you and to your subscribers!
Well done Ralfy
Sending you positive vibes mate from New Zealand.
My oh my... almost bought a bottle last week when I went "whisky shopping"! If only you'd uploaded this video a few days before, Ralfy haha I'll leave it for the next time, then. Happy New Year, Ralfy! You're the man!
Thank you Ralfy!
I bought the Deanston after watching this video and it was fantastic, thank you for all that you do!
Have a wonderful festive period Ralfy. The book is excellent and as always a pleasure to meet you at Hampden again. James
. . . thanks for the comment on my book, appreciated !
I love the room you are in . Where I live in Canada we don't have houses like that.
Thank you Ralfy, I've come late to this party after discovering your Channel earlier this year thanks to a pair of crazy Americans down in Texas who also do whisky reviews and spoke highly of you and your Channel. I hope you had a splendid Christmas and I wish you all the best in 2020. Sláinte! 🥃
agree Deanston 12 is very tasty,thanks Ralfy for you reviews!!
Deanston does state natural color on their website for the 12 year old.
. . . they do, but it should be on the bottle label.
@@thewhiskybothy totally agree, not sure why they wouldn't since it promotes the integrity of their product.
“We shouldn’t have to say what’s not in there.
They should have to say what IS in there.”
That’s how I imagine the conversation going.
John Alcock agreed, but sadly the inclusion of unnecessary “extras” has become the norm rather than the exception and there are no regulations to disclose it.
The German labels do not refer to E150 and those guys usually get it right.
Since I follow your reviews and buy your highest rated bottles...Deanston 12 is already on my shelf! Happy New Year Ralfy!
Love from Taiwan Ralphy. Learned so much from you over the years. Wish u another pleasant decade
Thanks for another year of knowledge Ralfy! Served a bottle of Deanston 15 Organic to our Christmas guests yesterday. I think you are having a wonderful effect on my palate. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year. And throw a couple more staves on the fire, it’s looking cold out there on Man!
Ralfy Marvelous video! i have been subscribed to your channel for over 6-5 years now, i still love watching your videos!, thank you for these videos truly!
Drinking my dram of Glen Moray, I was trying to make sense of all the tastes, smells and reasons we enjoy whiskey. I immediately, was back at the beach, waking up in a tent, eating the oatmeal my friend's Mom gave us, and it all made sense. Slàinte Mhath!
Glad you're still here. Happy New Year!
Oh yes, I purchased your book from Barnes and Noble for $17 Waiting for it to be delivered and looking forward to reading it.
Also just purchased The Glenallachie 10 yr Cask Strength Batch 1 , as well as Ledaig 10 yr. Haven’t opened them up yet.
Looking forward to a wonderful 2020.
Happy New Year to you.
Cheers to 10 more years!
I really like your honesty,Ralfy... I have been a subscriber for more years that I can remember but I am glad you’re still doing this, you never steer me wrong with the whisky I buy from your reviews,Happy New Year
Been loving your reviews for 7 years Ralfy! Thanks for all you do! May you have a joyous and healthy 2020!
Your words came out of your mouth directly into our soul. Thank you for your opinion we cross fingers to see/hear more of you in the same honest way like you made till now (how we able to feel). Your two spirits you mentioned here are the same for us. The Highland one we get an eye on it... have a Good new Year! Martina&Klaus from Germany.
I've been watching you since at least 2010, Ralfy! Keep it up!
Very good choice! I visited the destillery in october and was very satisfied with the tour and the whisky.
I always liked whiskey but when stepped in to your channel you opened up a whole new world for me, and want you thank you for that ralfy. Congratulations on a successful 10 years Ralfy! Cheers!
Thanks for 10 marvellous malt years Ralfy! It’s truly expanded my knowledge and appreciation for intrinsic quality malts. I look forward to many more reviews to come. Cheers!
Picked up one of these today. Looking forward to it. Thanks for choosing bottles that us commoners can get!
You are the best Ralfy! Keep up the great work
I bought that bottle no less than a month ago. Fantastic to see that it's getting so much love.
a very worthy whisky and a great stance you are displaying!
Congratulations on sharing your views with us for 10 years Ralfy :)
And as a result of watching this video last night, I've just ordered myself a bottle of Deanston 12 through Amazon prime.
Slainte.
Ralfy you are a treasure and I will always watch you
Ralfy keep doing what your doing, you are a breath of fresh air.
Always a pleasure Ralphy. Happy New Year.
Thanks Ralphy, for me this year was the year of opening the scotch single malts. I started to discover this World and fell in love with it. And you personally was my Yoda who helped this to happen.
I have being to Deanston distillery. I got an 18 year old. I over looked the 12 year old. Today i havent lol Just ordered mine. Cant wait to compare the two.
I like both but the 18yo is great.
12yo px and 20yo px are also very very good!
@@bean7750 I like the 20 but I've found it a bit too much sulphuric...
nice cosy fire you've got the noo, bothy drying out as well
I tried the old bottling on several occasions and I liked the fresh citrusy taste. A very nice dram, even for summer.
thank you ralfy!!! catching. on a bit late, but i ll be getting me deanston and enjoy the year you ve had in another year!!!
Thank you, Ralfy. I bought this whisky because of your recommendation. Keep up the independent spirit (no pun intended). Regards from Poland.
Ralfy, I guessed your whisky of the year might be the Bladnoch 10 but this Deanston 12 is also an excellent choice.
Thank you Ralfy for giving us the best channel on UA-cam.
Wishing you a great new year.
I have never in my life ever bought a whisky in a bar or pub but if I ever get the chance to meet you and buy you a drink, I'd break my rule for you.
Your good friend from Israel, Reb Mordechai
My personal favorite! I received a Bottle recently for my 60th Birthday ( not my first by the way). Im so happy Deanston was your choice. On a coach holiday to oban last year we passed a sign on the way home pointing to the Deanston Distillery. I nearly jumped up and ask the driver to stop!
sir I found your channel yesterday so I dont know your personality at all but from just what I've seen in the past 24 hours you seem like someone I can trust to give an honest review
Hi Ralfy, thank you so much for all your good advice over the years, have subscribed to your Fitter Philosophy channel, ordered a bottle of the Deanston 12 ( hard to find this bottle in Australia) and also the Springbank 10. Can't wait. All the best for 2020 and the next 10 years on UA-cam. Cheers 😁👍👍
As one who lives a few miles away from Deaston, you are making this too tempting... arrgghhh!
Appreciate your honesty. You are one of my goto’s for recommendations.
One of my standard favorites. I was pleasantly surprised to see it was awarded your acclaim! Keep up the entertaining and informative content sir. It is loved by many, myself included.
Dear Ralfy, thank you for your educational work in the channel !!! Merry Christmas and best wishes to you!
My Deanston 12 year old arrived today because of your recommendation. It’s a knockout whisky and I look forward to learning from more Ralfy reviews and continuing my journey on how to learn to appreciate malt whisky. Thanks Ralfy!
Hi Ralfy, Happy Ten 10 Years. I enjoyed watching your latest video presentation. Well Done Happy Holidays & New Year🍸🇬🇧🇺🇸👍
Happy new year to you too. Great choice for this year’s whisky of the year and for once don’t need to rush out and try a bottle as I always have one open and a stand by. Thank you for another great year of entertaining vlogs.
Belated congrats on 10 years, Ralfy! I'm so glad you've always kept accessibility and value as criteria for your WOTY picks, and Deanston 12 is a great choice. Side note: I must admit I was skeptical/unconvinced when you first introduced the "Integrity Malt" category, but following along on my own malt-journey I've come to realize what a simple, bold, and principled position you've taken. Them that have ears, let them hear.
Side/side note: A few months ago in one of your reviews, you used the phrase "blend-strength" to describe a single-malt bottled at 40% (Old Pulteney 12yo). It seemed casual and off the cuff, but it really caught my ear and arrested me, as I don't think I've heard that exact language before. "Blend-strength"!!! There's something quite elemental and profound in that ....just calling a thing (out) by its rightful name. Honest, but also a bit sharp and ribbing and poking a thumb in the eye of single-malts bottled at the bare minimum abv. It just might be a turn of phrase that - in some small way - helps turn the tide and challenge single-malt distillers to aim higher, towards more craft presentation. Wishing you, and all, a Happy New Year!
Congratulations on a great 10 years! Looking forward to many more reviews and grand moments to share.
Thanks, Ralfy. I’m on my way out to pick up a bottle! As said by so many others, thanks for all that you do for us & a Happy New Year to you, as well. Cheers!
Wow! A Ralfy Whisky of the Year that I actually already have. Awesome! Thanks for everything you do Ralfy!
Ralfy thanks a lot and we will continue supporting your Chanel.
I have a 9 year Deanston fully matured for 9 years in Bordeaux wine casks, bottled at 58.7%. I can't get any more, but with your connections, you should try and grab a bottle. Merry Christmas you munificent magnificent Merry malty malt mate.
I’m very new to the world of finer whiskey and just came across you. After only a couple videos I realize I have much to learn. I’ve always just had shots of Jack or Beam and cokes. I’m to old to drink just to get drunk. I want to enjoy the experience. With that said the first two bottles of “nicer” whiskey I treated myself to for Christmas was a bottle of Suntory Toki and a bottle of Jameson 18 Limited Reserve(delicious).
Ralfy, love your honest informative reviews...keep up the good work and enjoy that new wood stove...well deserved!