5. I don’t buy Japanese whisky 4. I don’t buy Johnny Walker 3. Haven’t bought Talisker in years 2. Not interested in Diageo’s special releases. 1. I only buy Ardbeg core range
Pretty solid list. You asked so I'm sayin' - Ardbeg's core range has gone south. Uigeadail and Corryvrecken are nowhere near what they once were. I bought a bottle of Corryvreckan a couple of years back and thought it was awful. Youthful and hot and that wasn't due to the abv. I also have no time for Talisker any more. It's always been part of my whisky journey but enough is enough. The price of the 18 is ridiculous and the quality of the 10 is slipping. I'm also completely fed up with the orange colour and filtration. Torabhaig is my new go to Skye whisky.
As far as I'm concerned there's that many different whiskys to choose from all over the world it means that we as the consumer have the power to simply pick the best whisky for each person. For example if you are frustrated with Macallan because they are too expensive choose Tamdhu or if Ardbeg 10 isn't what it used to be Ledaig 10 is a great alternative. 👍🏾☺️
I used to enjoy Uigeadail, but the price jumped from $60 when I first started buying it to $100 now. That price puts a bad taste in my mouth. Even the Ten is now $70, which I used to get for $45. We're not talking that many years ago.
I find the Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 acceptable and affordable. I really enjoy the Talisker Parley but only when it is at the marked down offer price. Finally 2 years ago I bought a JW 12 year Blended malt Islay Origin Series at 42 abv. 1 litre for £ 33. It is decent and adds a fantastic contribution when making a home blend. I add Prohibition 50/50 and sometimes a few drops of Madeira. So your list is a curates egg, there is good amongst the bad.
Recently had ardbeg 10 again at a bar, still as delicious as when I had it a few years ago. However when I had the Uigedail, it wasn't particularly good. Very inconsistent but good ardbeg is amazing.
Ardbeg in my opinion can do what they want, Oogie is still at the very top of my list. I haven't tried a single special release, but I am eyeing that recent 14 year...
I bought one bottle of the remade Talisker 10, and it will be my last. Tasted like a somewhat too young peated whiskey, for which I've had better for quite a bit less money. It was drinkable but not very enjoyable for $70, especially when i can get something like a Kilchoman Sanaig for about the same price.
Yeah, I prefer Storm❤ from the Isle of Skye--having not tried the 10, I hear your mention of Sanaig, supposed to be an absolute sherry 💣 ? Gotta try it ! Cheers 🥂 from ETn Smoky Mtns area
Personally, I enjoy Johnie Walker Blue. I don’t buy it often but when I do I’m happy with it. Johnie Walker is actually one of the first brands that got me into Whisky. I’m definitely enjoying exploring different Scotch distilleries out there and am really enjoying it.
In 1973 I was getting JW Black for $4 US from the embassy commissary in Santiago, Chile. Not only a bargain but a great pour because....................there was no other Scotch of any brand available.
6 months ago i didn't buy the talisker 18 for €175,- A few days back i was feeling funky and went to buy it, only to find out the pricetag skyrocketed again towards €235,- and the shop owner said oh this is still the 'old' price.. 😅
I love Talisker 10 and my pallet is not that much trained as to tell the difference between the old and new versions. I still buy it when it is on special. The 18 yo is way out of my budget.
I would like add Glendronach to the list. After sold to Brown forman and removal of NCF from their labels. Its just doesn't taste the same as before, although the price remain affordable.
I read from an alleged insider that GD did remove the NCF label because of legal concerns, but they did not change the filtering process. And I cannot tell a difference between the old and new GD12, which is one of my favorites.
So sorry to hear what Talisker is doing. Have had many bottles over the years but have not purchased any of late.... It was my introduction to Single Malts.
Comments on my personal take of the controversies: Japanese: If I lived in Asia, I probably would take more of a look at it. As it is, my mental capacity is just about enough for me to know my way around European Whiskies. Mind you, there may be the odd Indian, Japanese or Indonesian Whisky finding its way on my shelf - but only as an exotic excursion. I'll not reject it if someone gives it to me, and sometimes it's a good way to expand the palate. But my core is Scotch, Irish and my local German stuff, surrounded by French, English, Italian and other European specimens. Blends: Ideology prevents me from appreciating big corporate blends. I don't know if it is really the experience on the palate or if it is simply the ideology - but there were only two good blends I had up to now: Mc'Lean's Nose and Bart's Blended Whiskey from Loch Ree Distillery. Everything else has, as of yet, seemed forgettable to me. Talisker: Yeah, I kind of went through the pain of saying farewell to my good old friend Talisker. He changed. The friendship, sadly, has ended. Diageo: I already mentioned my adversity to big brands. Also: the just don't cater to me. Pineapple on Pizza - tastes good, it's just not traditional. Ardbeg: I was never an Ardbeg Superfan. Prices bugg me. The Core Range Quality is good. I buy Ardbeg occasionally. Interestingly, I was closer to Talisker than Ardbeg, so that hurt more. Ardbeg - probably a similar process with them, but I watch that more from afar. Not that offended. I talk to Ardbeg when I see him.
I have an odd relationship with JW. I've tasted the core range multiple times over and graded them down in the 70's low 80's, and yet I still would like to have some full sized examples in my whisky closet. I still enjoy them well enough. Geoff, how you do get along with grain whisky's? Feel like you should put something out discussing them as a topic, if not some reviews of them.
A good list Geoff! Many on your list are beyond my budget and from reviews do not live up to their high price tags. When you mentioned your mystery pour, I was thinking a Talisker or a Diageo special release, turns out I was right on both counts. Cheers!
I started my whisky journey with JW. I was stationed in a US base in Germany for a few months. I bought a bottle of the blue label for 120usd, and it was as a welcoming drink for everyone that visited me for the fists time in my new apartment. After that I took a hiatus from whisky. And I don’t remember the taste. So… After that it was the black label that started my whisky journey and I drank it within 2 months. As a noob I then tried the classic supermarket whiskies like Jack Daniels and Canadian Club. Oddly the CC was my favorite. I fell like JW is the gateway into whiskeys. Sure JD is more popular where I live, but it’s mostly drank with cola, so… In the following months I bought the Fujimi blended japanese whiskey, the chivas 12 and the Glenmorangie 10. The Fujimi is like the “real” jasmin tea of whiskeys. A touch of softnes on the tongue. The Chivas was used for coctail experimenting, and the Glenmorangie 10 will allways have a special place in my heart as it openned my eyes to single malts. Ardbeg was soon on my radar for sure. But I can only have an opinion on the Ten and Ugi. The ten was ok, but I like the Laphroaig 10 or even the selection more. The Ugi is an” different beast. Till today my favorite peated single malt. Of the Talisker range I had the storm, which is solid. I used the last dcl for a bbq marinade for ribs😅, but the ten is for sure on my bucket list. The local retailer has it as a special sale offering for 60€, our online retailer for 40€😂. And I am probably the only one who likes the new design more than the old. Why? Because it stands out. What I find controversial is ,that my favorite single malt is from Taiwan. It’s the Kavalan podium. 🥂
Great video! There's some real love-hate tension for the last couple of categories that might be eased a little if there were just more reasonable prices attached ... Cheers!
Thankfully independent bottlers exist and we can find many from Diageo owned distileries at reasonable prices that would be overcharged in a special release or just diluted in a blend.
Great idea for a list Geoff! . I came into the more considered whisky scene too late to buy any quality Japanese whisky for a normal price but I can't deny they have tasty stuff. I do have an affinity towards JW because of everything the brand has done for the whisky world. I do respect them a lot and actually do enjoy most of their releases. I basically stopped buying Talisker, hardly buy any SR but I do enjoy trying them and only buy the Ardbeg specials with my club just to try. Cheers!
Great video and interesting topic my friend! I agree about Johnny Walker, Talisker and also Ardbeg. Not enough experience with the Diagio special releases. As for the Japanese whiskeys well - not the biggest fan anyways 💁 Great stuff and humor as always Buddy, hope you recover fully soon. That tie rocked haha Cheers 🥃🥃🎩
The JW Celebratory Blend at 51% ABV that came out for their 200th anniversary is a very decent blend. I bought a couple of bottles and really enjoyed it. Still have one in the bunker.
I bought an Ardbeg 10 back in 2020 and it was quite good. A few years later I picked up a Corryvreckan and I thought it was awful...especially since I paid $100 US for it. When I want peat I go for Ledaig and Kilkerran...I've tried many bottles of each and have yet to find one I didn't like. If only they'd mature them in peat bogs then I'd be truly happy.
JWR was my first (and accidental) scotch-ish purchase. I literally bought it because I heard the brand a lot. I liked it but Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve set me on my Scotch journey.
Sadly most classic whisky brands seem to go downhill, some with the help of Diageo. It’s all about marketing and overpriced ”limited edition” whiskys catering to more casual whisky fans…
I find Japanese whisky excels at being incredibly light and enjoyable, and I also find that their blends are of a much higher quality than a lot of scotch blends. For that reason I really like things like Hibiki (just a very enjoyable whisky and very good for whisky newcomers). Toki is also incredible in a highball drink.
Johnny walker black is allright by me when I am with friends hanging out. The Talisker 10 is reguarly on offer for around 40 euro where I live, if I am out I'll buy a botlle when it's on sale
Agreed, I don’t want to spend 150-200 euros in a 40% abv whisky which is chill filtered and probably coloured when I could buy a very nicely presented single malt for half the price
I will continue to buy Talisker and the Islay Diageo releases (Talisker again and Lagavulin) mostly to bump up my Smokey stocks. I also get the hate Ardbeg gets, but I’ll continue to buy them for the same reason. If I had the $$$s to buy every release from Islay each year I would. To quote a great man “I’m not just a whisky enthusiast, I’m a financially irresponsible whisky enthusiast”. Great list again Geoff!
To me, every "controversy" is solved by this one simple fact: There is more than enough good whisky in the world that I can't even sample all of it. So I guess I don't see the controversy. If someone loves Johnny Blue (or Talisker or whatever), God bless him/her. Not my concern. I'm good over here. Anyone want a pour of my Ardnamurchan CS?
The Green Label 15yo blended malt is the only JW whisky I'll consider drinking anymore, and it's not as good as it used to be. The last few times I've tried Black it tasted off as though it had been aged in junk casks and the smoke flavor tasted just like that - artificial smoke flavoring. The Gold and Blue are almost entirely flavorless to me. The last Blue I tried tasted as though it had a very small percentage of older whisky that was drowned in young, vodka-like grain spirit. Why people pay a premium for that stuff is a marvel of brand marketing.
Hi Geoff, only one on your list that I buy is Ardbeg, and that’s not often. So much choice and good value whisky out there. Japanese whisky and Diageo special releases way too expensive,Talisker has dropped in quality and haven’t bought a Johnny Walker in years. Awesome list video Geoff. Slàinte
the first two questions, i buy suntory toki, a japanese blend, only if it goes on sale for less than $40, because i prefer the flavor to similar alternatives like bushmills or chivas. -- the problem is many "cheap" blends are pricing themselves the same as entry level single and blended malts, and any grain whisky is never worth paying a premium for.
5 Nikka Yoichi good value in Canada and good whisky 4Johnny Walker Green is the only I ve purchased twice. It's ok, good 3 Purchased a Clynelish 12 special release by mistake at Duty Free, I did not know what my Dirhams were worth till I got home. It was excellent, but I'd never spend that much on it again 2 I Recieved a Talisker 10 as a gift. It was excellent, but I wouldn't pay that much for it myself 1 Love Ardbeg 10 and Wee Beastie. I wouldn't pay the price they're asking for the others
Love the Japanese Toki blend and it's affordable. Not tried JW blue or green yet, it's on my list. I love Talisker 10. I think you're right about Ardbeg churning out too many specials, although I do love Ardbeg. Diageo collections, I only get the Lagavulin ones just to be different 🤣
If you tasted an Uigedail from 2003 or 2004 you will be blown away, it was that good. It went in a completely other direction when stocks diminished. Same for the Corryvreckan i drank a lot the first couple of years, it changed as well and i stopped buying and drinking it. I think the 10 is still solid, changed but is still good. The Diageo Special releases. Not bought a bottle in a long while. Too expensive for what you get. And i think a lot of them are not that special but more for collecting than drinking😢.
Johnnie Walker Blue is the perfect gift for the non scotch drinker you want to know how much you spent on them. I avoid the special editions. Most are pay more for a lesser whiskey. Ive never gotten into Ardbeg bc of what you pointed out. Way to rock the '79 US high school look and hope you get your senses back soon.
Back in 2005 I wish I had had the foresight to buy a case of Nikka 10. I was a bit disappointed by the new version and actually prefer the NAS, which only last year was about 5,000 yen in Japan if one did a bit of searching. Now it is closer to 8,000 yen. Currently, I can only find the Yamazaki 12 in 50ml bottles for 1,500 yen. I probably will still buy the Nikka NAS on occasion but just less often. The Yamazaki Distillery bar, until last year, offered tiny 10ml samples of the 18 for 600 yen which was a bargain. The price has gone up to around 1,300 yen and limited visitors to 3 paid samples the last time I was there. It's no longer worth going, at least for me and I actually live within an hour of visiting.. I would recommend the Nikka Yoichi Distillery up in Hokkaido -- great bar offerings, like cask-strength Nikka 10 matured in wine barrels etc. (at least when I was last there).
I was also initially a little disappointed in the new nikka 10 but after it got past the shoulders and I left it open for a day or two it got noticeably better and now beats my half-finished NAS nikka yoichi in blinds. I have an old bottle of yoichi 15 that of course still beats both
A few others for me... 1) Celebrity bottlings: Sort of similar to what you were saying about the Diageo special releases... it's a lot of pomp. BUT, I've found bottlings like the Offerman editions (Lagavulin) are quite good. 2) MacAllan: I thought for sure it would be in the top 5, if not number 1. SOME of their bottlings are still pretty tasty but the increase in cost (gotta pay for those James Bond product placements somehow!) in conjunction with the decrease in quality has--I'm guessing--completely turned the majority of us off. 3) I'd go even broader with the Diageo point and just say Diageo in general. Lots of tasty stuff but also... F*** Diageo lol!! Mostly weak specs and they consistently jack prices when they purchase distilleries.
I'm somewhat newer to total whisky snobbery - maybe a year and a half since I lost my mind - but I love Talisker and their Limited Release Explorador is outstanding. It's expensive but in this case I would say it's worth it.
I'm a fan of Talisker, but I need to agree with you... the 10 year is not what is used to be. As for Ardbeg... the core range is still fine but again the 10 year are batch so variation is expected. Their latest release on the 13th Sauterne finish is a great product. An for the price I feel that the Wee Beastie is a good entry level.
Merci G !. AS a die-hard Talisker fan, I dont care. Juste bring it. Ardbeg, I buy those and the 13yo and 8yo are wonderful. Totally agree on the 'special relases'. Johnny Walker, I am as snob as you can be on this. Japanease, not to much into those, but the ones I have are great. Diageo, special releases, I check all of them, but only have a couple of them. Totally agree that the subject could go on for hours....Santé du Québec!
On JW- I tried a sample of a Blue from the 2000s and it was very good. I picked up one from the late 90s at auction and am really looking forward to getting it. So my take is, it used to be a lot better. Ardbeg- I think they jumped the shark with their silly releases and I have ignored them for a while now. The one that was the most offensive to me was the 13 year old Anthology at $300 CAN. Nice list! Cheers, Geoff!
I’m based in Scotland and due to that I’m not drinking much Japanese whisky or from anywhere other than Scotland. I’m a bit slow so still journeying through west highland distilleries. In terms of a supermarket bottle Cotswold was great 👍
Ardbeg An Oa had a hint of licorice that I don't taste in the bottle I'm currently sipping. I'm now using it as a replacement for bitters in my bourbon old fashions.
Regarding Talisker, the 18 year old was $180 in my area even before they changed the label and everything else. It wasn't worth it back then, and it's worth even less now. I've just recently had Talisker Skye and really enjoyed it, even though it was the new bottling. Compared to the 10 year, or the recent distiller's editions, it's still great. I'm hoping to get my hands on Surge one of these days.
Johnnie Walker Black label was good whisky for the price a few years ago. Now they have it in a sherry finish, an excellent pour for guests who are not into whisky. The Green label is also worth the money. The blends I drink are a bit different though. White Heather 21, Timorous Beastie 21 and Dewar's 21.
Generally agree on Ardbeg, but (1) I do think the Oogie was better this year than some recent releases, and (2) I have an irrational, guilty love for Bizzare-b-que that probably deserves some ridicule.
Ignorance is bliss on my part, haven’t tried the old Talisker 10 and Ardbeg 10 and all I can say as someone coming in fresh is that they both taste great to me!
Although the Corryvreckan is my favourite and the Uigeadail behind that I do think, in recently times, the 8yo and the 5yo are outstanding. I prefer these over the 10yo.
Controversial?... grapes galore... Think I leave it with that. ... No, I don't. ... I'll just comment on your list: 5. I just don't buy Japanese and leave it to others to cry. 4. Love Johnnie Walker (albeit only to rant about). 3. I don't care about Talisker. I just buy other stuff. Great move (if I may say so) 2. Diageo, great you have put it on spot 4, 3 and now 2. Well done, Geoff, well done. 1. Do love it... and just leave the special stuff for others to cry about. Love the 10 and Corryvreckan. Slàinte mhath
Agree with you Jeff on Diagio special releases. Prices are getting ridiculous but as a. Oban and Taliaker fan I still pick them up as can’t get cask strength iteration’s otherwise
I’m a bourbon drinker who has started to get interested Scotch. I thought I hated Scotch because of Johnnie Walker; haven’t found anything, even up to Blue that I could enjoy. Lately, I’ve been enjoying Ardbeg Committee Releases and Lagavulin Offerman editions. I don’t know if these are considered good but I’ve enjoyed them. Given their prices, I need to find some cheaper bottles to enjoy. Based on several of your latest videos, perhaps that is the Kilchoman Sanaig.
I do enjoy the Johnnie Walker green label, it’s got more going on than quite a few entry level single malts. That’s the one I will always have. The 18 isn’t bad either, but maybe overpriced.
The Ardbeg argument is very valid. Many of the special releases they have brought out over the past few years have been poor quality NAS stuff and really not worth the asking price. I still enjoy the core range and love Uigeadail but again I can say the current releases are not as good as previous versions. I have a 2022 and a 2014 open at the moment and there is a marked difference in quality. Still like the 2022 though. I was surprised that we did not see every whisky snob's favourite whipping boy - Macallan. Generally low ABV and very expensive. But no doubting the quality and I personally love the 15YO Double Cask. 3 years ago I was buying the 12YO Double Cask for around 30 euros in South Africa and now I see it's closer to 80 euros in Europe where I now live. I like it but not enough to pay that sort of premium when I can get other similarly priced whiskies that are undoubtedly better - e,g, Springbank 10 at 65 euros, Edradour Caledonia at around 85 euros, Kilkerran 12 at 65 euros.
5 - I only tried a few Japanese whiskey's, they seemed to be simple and expensive. I only had hibiky harmony, nikka coffee grain or malt can't remember and just a dram of them. I think they cost too much for what they were. 4 - I haven't tried the old Talisker 10, I only had the new Talisker 10 and I really enjoyed it, maybe I wouldn't if had older one if it was better than this new one. Talisker 18 cost like 230€ in my market and I think it's way too much, other 18s cost like 100-130€. 3 - Jonnie walker is ok if you buy cheap ones. Something like 15 one is quite boring and I would rather get something else. Haven't tried the blue one, but the price for it sounds way too big, I think people buy it just to show off, cause many people know their price. 2 - I don't buy special releases, cause of high price tag. 1 - I think the core range is good whiskey, I haven't tried special releases, but they seem to be very expensive. I would add to this springbank, it's like a unicorn for diamonds price. Thanks for video 🎉
I used to work in a liquor store and of the 3 years working there I can count on one hand the number of special release Ardbeg bottles sold. If anyone picked up a bottle it came from the core range.
G, sorry to hear that you caught the “no-smell, no-taste” virus! Hope you get well soon. From what I know, when it comes to medical technology to fight this particular ailment, Taiwan kicks ass. So I assume you’re in good hands. I want to report from California that I’ve seen an uptrend recently in the number of “new” Japanese whisky brands on store shelves. It could be retailers’ way of keeping prices within reason while meeting demand. (I specify “CA”, because having just spent two weeks in Texas, I realized just how different the alcohol culture can be from state to state. Texas is just weird, though.)
There's a lot of new Japanese distilleries on the scene in the last few years, so I don't think it's just California. I've had a few of them, and they're pretty good! That said, they're very expensive for the young age. Loads of potential but I'll wait for the market to even out a bit before I dive too much into the Japanese scene. Cheers buddy! 🥃
The first thing I should mention is that all my buying decisions are based on sale prices and a self imposed budget of $100 Canadian, which converts to about US$74. What this means is that I avoid most special releases and over-priced whiskies. JW: Since I am overseas quite a bit the JW whiskies are often the only quality whiskies around in the absence of single malts, that and the Chivas 12. They have a very useful role to play in the whisky world but for my own part I do not buy the stuff. By the way, at two different JW blind tastings the easiest for people to pick out were the Double Black and Green Label. However, at both tastings, nobody identified the Blue Label. The lesson learned was save your money and buy the Platinum. Talisker: A few years ago, at a whisky tasting, the Talisker 10 fared very well, beating out Compass Box's Peat Monster and the Port Askaig Full Proof. I found it very satisfying. However given it's price these days I will not be buying, partly because I still have a bottle bought from duty free a decade ago and another from 1988 when it was my favourite whisky, together with the Macallan 12, both of which I bought prior to going on my first back-packing trip. Talisker 18? Forget it, though I'm sure it is very good. Ardbeg: Naturally the high price stuff I ignore but the Ardbeg 'Wee Beastie' is a delicious affordable whisky that some critics prefer to the Ardbeg 10 (including Geoff if I recall?). I picked up four bottles when they went on sale for C$60. Japanese: Here the issue is high prices, low abv, poor value for money, and of course not knowing whether some of them are truly Japanese. Truth be told I never buy them. There was an exception last year though when I went through Tokyo airport and found Nikka's Yoichi Grande and Miyagikyo Grande, travel retail single malts bottled at 48% and non-chill filtered. Price was about C$95 each if I recall. Diageo Special Releases: Over-priced and not in my budget. However it doesn't mean I don't have any of those distilleries. Independent bottlers within my budget have allowed me to buy Diageo's Auchroisk, Benrinnes, Blair Athol, Cameronbridge, Caol Ila (not hard because most secret Islays are likely Caol Ila), Dailuaine, Glen Elgin, Glen Spey, Glenlossie, Inchgower, Linkwood, Mannochmore, Strathmill, and Teaninich. It's a big whisky world out there with plenty of choices.
I wish I was into whisky in 2005 when they released Ichiro’s card series. Read an article on it and instantly developed a small obsession with Japanese whisky. But the market quickly became saturated with options having little to no transparency, I completely ignore it at this stage of my drinking purchases. I love JW Blue and several other of their bottling’s (celebratory, swig, directors cut, gold) Talisker was definitely more consumer friendly in the past. Sad face. Diageo special releases are very pretty and sometimes very good, but I don’t shell out for them. Yet. I love Ardbeg. But the special releases are only worth the markup about a third of the time. And their marketing department has become a huge turnoff. The core range is also way downhill. Sad face again. I love pineapple on pizza but when you use bbq for the base it loses the distinction of being pizza to me at that point
Johnnie Walker is interesting, largely because of the blender's puzzle of trying to produce a single product whose variation is designed to be extremely narrow, and always negative. I've received several gift bottles of the blue, which after the first taste I re-gifted the rest. I'm told that the Green 15 is particularly good, but haven't tasted it yet, and doubt I'll make the investment without a qualifying taste. I'm not offended by collector/limited release items, figuring that their addition to Diageo's bottom line might modify the next price change on those they sell to the drinkers. Ardbeg? I've not noted the receding quality of their basic line (the Corryvreckan is a favorite), but I have bought two of their special releases in the past year and haven't found them to be worth the price difference. I wasn't initially impressed by the Wee Beastie 5 yr, but noted it disappeared from my cabinet in a goodly (if not rapid) time.
Whenever I do buy johnny walker, its always the black label, only when its on sale and only if I have a drinking night with friends coming up. Not everyone likes the same style of whisky, so its easier to have a blend with not much character, but all the more smoothness. Its an enjoyable easy sipper (and its great to get drunk on ;))
I'm not a whiskey aficionado. I don't need a challenging whiskey. Bought a bottle of Kikori a few months ago. It was around $45 dollars. It was easy to drink. Give me those soft, rounded whiskies. Do I occasionally enjoy a challenging whiskey? Yes, but not all the time.
Hi Geoff, how's the Talisker 11? It's almost US120 where I am. I liked the discontinued Talisker 57 North and considering if I should go for this. Cheers.
Very interesting list! Dalmore and Macallan would also be controversial around here, as they usually are pending to the high cost and not so much integrity
1. Japanese is good. Yamazaki is great! Overpriced but we have to live! 2. Johnny walker - ugh But I don’t generally like blends. 3. Talisker - generally yuk, but I got a single cask 8 (sherry butt on the Royal Mile) that’s to die for. Only 48 bottles made. 4. Diagio SR - yeah a cash grab, but some are really good! 5. I hate pineapple! Ardbeg - too many special releases and some are “ordinary Ardbeg”. Agreed the core range quality had declined, but it’s all still really good and I keep buying!
I remember getting a Hakushu 12 for under $100 about 8 years ago at Dan Murphys, went in last week its now nearly $400. Nearly fell over. Now i know why
....petty much every whisky brand has gone down a few percentage points over the last 20 years....they are all using the same casks too often and for too long to save money and it shows. So Ardbeg isnt any different than any other distillery in this manner....
Ardbeg. Easy answer. Find a bottle of 10 year old Laphroaig from circa 1995. Buy a current bottle of Laphroaig. Heaven v Shite. By comparison, Ardbeg core range has hardly budged in quality.
Japanese whiskey: how did you not mention the single biggest controversy - they’ve been bottling Scotch and calling it Japanese.
They've been bottling and not distilling Japan based whisky for a while lol
Certainly blending in Scotch was an issue for "Japanese Whisky" but that isn't really relevant since the regulatory change in 2021.
@@allenbt11The rules finally happened?
The small companies are. Suntory and Nikka products are mostly all their own distillate.
Nikka that owns Ben Nevis? That Nikka? Can’t imagine why they bought a Scottish distillery…. LOL.
5. I don’t buy Japanese whisky
4. I don’t buy Johnny Walker
3. Haven’t bought Talisker in years
2. Not interested in Diageo’s special releases.
1. I only buy Ardbeg core range
Pretty solid list. You asked so I'm sayin' - Ardbeg's core range has gone south. Uigeadail and Corryvrecken are nowhere near what they once were. I bought a bottle of Corryvreckan a couple of years back and thought it was awful. Youthful and hot and that wasn't due to the abv. I also have no time for Talisker any more. It's always been part of my whisky journey but enough is enough. The price of the 18 is ridiculous and the quality of the 10 is slipping. I'm also completely fed up with the orange colour and filtration. Torabhaig is my new go to Skye whisky.
As far as I'm concerned there's that many different whiskys to choose from all over the world it means that we as the consumer have the power to simply pick the best whisky for each person. For example if you are frustrated with Macallan because they are too expensive choose Tamdhu or if Ardbeg 10 isn't what it used to be Ledaig 10 is a great alternative. 👍🏾☺️
Talisker 10 is still my go to single malt. I resent the changes but as change is constant I have just accepted it and went with it.
And i hoped macallan would show on number 1 list :-)
I had a nightmare-I was drinking a smooth whisky
I never had the old Ardbeg. But I freaking love the core range. Maybe it's better I never had the "old" Ardbeg
I used to enjoy Uigeadail, but the price jumped from $60 when I first started buying it to $100 now. That price puts a bad taste in my mouth. Even the Ten is now $70, which I used to get for $45. We're not talking that many years ago.
25% us tarrifs
@Chris-de2qc yeah, the prices jumped from the tariffs, but they continued to rise even after the tariffs were nixed. Greed.
I like the Ardbeg core range and the travel exclusive Smoketrails annual release. Have an unopened old Talisker 10, but my favorite is the Dark Storm.
I find the Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 acceptable and affordable. I really enjoy the Talisker Parley but only when it is at the marked down offer price. Finally 2 years ago I bought a JW 12 year Blended malt Islay Origin Series at 42 abv. 1 litre for £ 33. It is decent and adds a fantastic contribution when making a home blend. I add Prohibition 50/50 and sometimes a few drops of Madeira. So your list is a curates egg, there is good amongst the bad.
Recently had ardbeg 10 again at a bar, still as delicious as when I had it a few years ago. However when I had the Uigedail, it wasn't particularly good. Very inconsistent but good ardbeg is amazing.
Ardbeg in my opinion can do what they want, Oogie is still at the very top of my list. I haven't tried a single special release, but I am eyeing that recent 14 year...
I bought one bottle of the remade Talisker 10, and it will be my last. Tasted like a somewhat too young peated whiskey, for which I've had better for quite a bit less money. It was drinkable but not very enjoyable for $70, especially when i can get something like a Kilchoman Sanaig for about the same price.
Yeah, I prefer Storm❤ from the Isle of Skye--having not tried the 10, I hear your mention of Sanaig, supposed to be an absolute sherry 💣 ? Gotta try it ! Cheers 🥂 from ETn Smoky Mtns area
I think its time to make a list of Garbage dumpster fire whisky list 😂
I was expecting a few on this list.
That would be infinitely long
Personally, I enjoy Johnie Walker Blue. I don’t buy it often but when I do I’m happy with it. Johnie Walker is actually one of the first brands that got me into Whisky. I’m definitely enjoying exploring different Scotch distilleries out there and am really enjoying it.
Pineapple on Pizza is my favorite whisky!
In 1973 I was getting JW Black for $4 US from the embassy commissary in Santiago, Chile. Not only a bargain but a great pour because....................there was no other Scotch of any brand available.
JW Black is still arguably the best blended scotch available, imo at least.
@@YoungShag I rally like the JW Green, but here in Colombia where I live it is no longer available. The JW Black and Double Black are good.
6 months ago i didn't buy the talisker 18 for €175,-
A few days back i was feeling funky and went to buy it, only to find out the pricetag skyrocketed again towards €235,- and the shop owner said oh this is still the 'old' price.. 😅
I love Talisker 10 and my pallet is not that much trained as to tell the difference between the old and new versions. I still buy it when it is on special. The 18 yo is way out of my budget.
Same hear really like it, don’t know what it used to taste like but really like it
I would like add Glendronach to the list. After sold to Brown forman and removal of NCF from their labels. Its just doesn't taste the same as before, although the price remain affordable.
I read from an alleged insider that GD did remove the NCF label because of legal concerns, but they did not change the filtering process. And I cannot tell a difference between the old and new GD12, which is one of my favorites.
So sorry to hear what Talisker is doing. Have had many bottles over the years but have not purchased any of late.... It was my introduction to Single Malts.
Comments on my personal take of the controversies:
Japanese: If I lived in Asia, I probably would take more of a look at it. As it is, my mental capacity is just about enough for me to know my way around European Whiskies.
Mind you, there may be the odd Indian, Japanese or Indonesian Whisky finding its way on my shelf - but only as an exotic excursion. I'll not reject it if someone gives it to me, and sometimes it's a good way to expand the palate. But my core is Scotch, Irish and my local German stuff, surrounded by French, English, Italian and other European specimens.
Blends: Ideology prevents me from appreciating big corporate blends. I don't know if it is really the experience on the palate or if it is simply the ideology - but there were only two good blends I had up to now: Mc'Lean's Nose and Bart's Blended Whiskey from Loch Ree Distillery. Everything else has, as of yet, seemed forgettable to me.
Talisker: Yeah, I kind of went through the pain of saying farewell to my good old friend Talisker. He changed. The friendship, sadly, has ended.
Diageo: I already mentioned my adversity to big brands. Also: the just don't cater to me.
Pineapple on Pizza - tastes good, it's just not traditional.
Ardbeg: I was never an Ardbeg Superfan. Prices bugg me. The Core Range Quality is good. I buy Ardbeg occasionally. Interestingly, I was closer to Talisker than Ardbeg, so that hurt more. Ardbeg - probably a similar process with them, but I watch that more from afar. Not that offended. I talk to Ardbeg when I see him.
I have an odd relationship with JW. I've tasted the core range multiple times over and graded them down in the 70's low 80's, and yet I still would like to have some full sized examples in my whisky closet. I still enjoy them well enough.
Geoff, how you do get along with grain whisky's? Feel like you should put something out discussing them as a topic, if not some reviews of them.
A good list Geoff! Many on your list are beyond my budget and from reviews do not live up to their high price tags. When you mentioned your mystery pour, I was thinking a Talisker or a Diageo special release, turns out I was right on both counts. Cheers!
I started my whisky journey with JW. I was stationed in a US base in Germany for a few months. I bought a bottle of the blue label for 120usd, and it was as a welcoming drink for everyone that visited me for the fists time in my new apartment. After that I took a hiatus from whisky. And I don’t remember the taste. So…
After that it was the black label that started my whisky journey and I drank it within 2 months. As a noob I then tried the classic supermarket whiskies like Jack Daniels and Canadian Club. Oddly the CC was my favorite. I fell like JW is the gateway into whiskeys. Sure JD is more popular where I live, but it’s mostly drank with cola, so…
In the following months I bought the Fujimi blended japanese whiskey, the chivas 12 and the Glenmorangie 10. The Fujimi is like the “real” jasmin tea of whiskeys. A touch of softnes on the tongue. The Chivas was used for coctail experimenting, and the Glenmorangie 10 will allways have a special place in my heart as it openned my eyes to single malts.
Ardbeg was soon on my radar for sure. But I can only have an opinion on the Ten and Ugi. The ten was ok, but I like the Laphroaig 10 or even the selection more. The Ugi is an” different beast. Till today my favorite peated single malt.
Of the Talisker range I had the storm, which is solid. I used the last dcl for a bbq marinade for ribs😅, but the ten is for sure on my bucket list. The local retailer has it as a special sale offering for 60€, our online retailer for 40€😂. And I am probably the only one who likes the new design more than the old. Why? Because it stands out.
What I find controversial is ,that my favorite single malt is from Taiwan. It’s the Kavalan podium. 🥂
Great video! There's some real love-hate tension for the last couple of categories that might be eased a little if there were just more reasonable prices attached ... Cheers!
Thankfully independent bottlers exist and we can find many from Diageo owned distileries at reasonable prices that would be overcharged in a special release or just diluted in a blend.
Great idea for a list Geoff! . I came into the more considered whisky scene too late to buy any quality Japanese whisky for a normal price but I can't deny they have tasty stuff. I do have an affinity towards JW because of everything the brand has done for the whisky world. I do respect them a lot and actually do enjoy most of their releases. I basically stopped buying Talisker, hardly buy any SR but I do enjoy trying them and only buy the Ardbeg specials with my club just to try. Cheers!
Hah no need to justify, buddy. I'll grab a Diageo SR, a Japanese whisky, and even an occasional Ardbeg just coz I feel like it. Cheers! 😉🥃
Great video and interesting topic my friend!
I agree about Johnny Walker, Talisker and also Ardbeg. Not enough experience with the Diagio special releases. As for the Japanese whiskeys well - not the biggest fan anyways 💁
Great stuff and humor as always Buddy, hope you recover fully soon. That tie rocked haha
Cheers 🥃🥃🎩
The JW Celebratory Blend at 51% ABV that came out for their 200th anniversary is a very decent blend. I bought a couple of bottles and really enjoyed it. Still have one in the bunker.
Proudly 2 years off any Diageo products. I know they have some good stuff, but I'm not touching them. There's plenty of good whisky to buy.
I bought an Ardbeg 10 back in 2020 and it was quite good. A few years later I picked up a Corryvreckan and I thought it was awful...especially since I paid $100 US for it. When I want peat I go for Ledaig and Kilkerran...I've tried many bottles of each and have yet to find one I didn't like. If only they'd mature them in peat bogs then I'd be truly happy.
So edgy and controversial. Fun as always!
JWR was my first (and accidental) scotch-ish purchase. I literally bought it because I heard the brand a lot. I liked it but Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve set me on my Scotch journey.
Sadly most classic whisky brands seem to go downhill, some with the help of Diageo. It’s all about marketing and overpriced ”limited edition” whiskys catering to more casual whisky fans…
I find Japanese whisky excels at being incredibly light and enjoyable, and I also find that their blends are of a much higher quality than a lot of scotch blends. For that reason I really like things like Hibiki (just a very enjoyable whisky and very good for whisky newcomers). Toki is also incredible in a highball drink.
Johnny walker black is allright by me when I am with friends hanging out. The Talisker 10 is reguarly on offer for around 40 euro where I live, if I am out I'll buy a botlle when it's on sale
The biggest problem with Johnnie Walker Blue is the anemic 40% it’s bottled at. If it was 48% or 50% it would be a winner.
Agreed, I don’t want to spend 150-200 euros in a 40% abv whisky which is chill filtered and probably coloured when I could buy a very nicely presented single malt for half the price
I will continue to buy Talisker and the Islay Diageo releases (Talisker again and Lagavulin) mostly to bump up my Smokey stocks. I also get the hate Ardbeg gets, but I’ll continue to buy them for the same reason. If I had the $$$s to buy every release from Islay each year I would. To quote a great man “I’m not just a whisky enthusiast, I’m a financially irresponsible whisky enthusiast”.
Great list again Geoff!
To me, every "controversy" is solved by this one simple fact: There is more than enough good whisky in the world that I can't even sample all of it.
So I guess I don't see the controversy. If someone loves Johnny Blue (or Talisker or whatever), God bless him/her. Not my concern. I'm good over here. Anyone want a pour of my Ardnamurchan CS?
Yes, please 😁🥂🥂🥂🙋♂️
@@peatbull3426 🥃
@@peatbull3426 🥃
The Green Label 15yo blended malt is the only JW whisky I'll consider drinking anymore, and it's not as good as it used to be. The last few times I've tried Black it tasted off as though it had been aged in junk casks and the smoke flavor tasted just like that - artificial smoke flavoring. The Gold and Blue are almost entirely flavorless to me. The last Blue I tried tasted as though it had a very small percentage of older whisky that was drowned in young, vodka-like grain spirit. Why people pay a premium for that stuff is a marvel of brand marketing.
Hi Geoff, only one on your list that I buy is Ardbeg, and that’s not often. So much choice and good value whisky out there. Japanese whisky and Diageo special releases way too expensive,Talisker has dropped in quality and haven’t bought a Johnny Walker in years. Awesome list video Geoff. Slàinte
the first two questions, i buy suntory toki, a japanese blend, only if it goes on sale for less than $40, because i prefer the flavor to similar alternatives like bushmills or chivas. -- the problem is many "cheap" blends are pricing themselves the same as entry level single and blended malts, and any grain whisky is never worth paying a premium for.
5 Nikka Yoichi good value in Canada and good whisky
4Johnny Walker Green is the only I ve purchased twice. It's ok, good
3 Purchased a Clynelish 12 special release by mistake at Duty Free, I did not know what my Dirhams were worth till I got home. It was excellent, but I'd never spend that much on it again
2 I Recieved a Talisker 10 as a gift. It was excellent, but I wouldn't pay that much for it myself
1 Love Ardbeg 10 and Wee Beastie. I wouldn't pay the price they're asking for the others
great list Geoff, I switched off to Talisker after the price hike on the 18 yo.
Love the Japanese Toki blend and it's affordable.
Not tried JW blue or green yet, it's on my list.
I love Talisker 10.
I think you're right about Ardbeg churning out too many specials, although I do love Ardbeg.
Diageo collections, I only get the Lagavulin ones just to be different 🤣
If you tasted an Uigedail from 2003 or 2004 you will be blown away, it was that good. It went in a completely other direction when stocks diminished. Same for the Corryvreckan i drank a lot the first couple of years, it changed as well and i stopped buying and drinking it. I think the 10 is still solid, changed but is still good.
The Diageo Special releases. Not bought a bottle in a long while. Too expensive for what you get. And i think a lot of them are not that special but more for collecting than drinking😢.
Johnnie Walker Blue is the perfect gift for the non scotch drinker you want to know how much you spent on them.
I avoid the special editions. Most are pay more for a lesser whiskey.
Ive never gotten into Ardbeg bc of what you pointed out.
Way to rock the '79 US high school look and hope you get your senses back soon.
Back in 2005 I wish I had had the foresight to buy a case of Nikka 10. I was a bit disappointed by the new version and actually prefer the NAS, which only last year was about 5,000 yen in Japan if one did a bit of searching. Now it is closer to 8,000 yen. Currently, I can only find the Yamazaki 12 in 50ml bottles for 1,500 yen. I probably will still buy the Nikka NAS on occasion but just less often. The Yamazaki Distillery bar, until last year, offered tiny 10ml samples of the 18 for 600 yen which was a bargain. The price has gone up to around 1,300 yen and limited visitors to 3 paid samples the last time I was there. It's no longer worth going, at least for me and I actually live within an hour of visiting.. I would recommend the Nikka Yoichi Distillery up in Hokkaido -- great bar offerings, like cask-strength Nikka 10 matured in wine barrels etc. (at least when I was last there).
I was also initially a little disappointed in the new nikka 10 but after it got past the shoulders and I left it open for a day or two it got noticeably better and now beats my half-finished NAS nikka yoichi in blinds.
I have an old bottle of yoichi 15 that of course still beats both
A few others for me...
1) Celebrity bottlings: Sort of similar to what you were saying about the Diageo special releases... it's a lot of pomp. BUT, I've found bottlings like the Offerman editions (Lagavulin) are quite good.
2) MacAllan: I thought for sure it would be in the top 5, if not number 1. SOME of their bottlings are still pretty tasty but the increase in cost (gotta pay for those James Bond product placements somehow!) in conjunction with the decrease in quality has--I'm guessing--completely turned the majority of us off.
3) I'd go even broader with the Diageo point and just say Diageo in general. Lots of tasty stuff but also... F*** Diageo lol!! Mostly weak specs and they consistently jack prices when they purchase distilleries.
I'm somewhat newer to total whisky snobbery - maybe a year and a half since I lost my mind - but I love Talisker and their Limited Release Explorador is outstanding. It's expensive but in this case I would say it's worth it.
If you haven't tried Parley X Wilder Seas I highly recommend that
@@jessew7565 I'm up for trying all of their Special Releases at this point - if I can find them!
I'm a fan of Talisker, but I need to agree with you... the 10 year is not what is used to be. As for Ardbeg... the core range is still fine but again the 10 year are batch so variation is expected. Their latest release on the 13th Sauterne finish is a great product. An for the price I feel that the Wee Beastie is a good entry level.
Merci G !. AS a die-hard Talisker fan, I dont care. Juste bring it. Ardbeg, I buy those and the 13yo and 8yo are wonderful. Totally agree on the 'special relases'. Johnny Walker, I am as snob as you can be on this. Japanease, not to much into those, but the ones I have are great. Diageo, special releases, I check all of them, but only have a couple of them. Totally agree that the subject could go on for hours....Santé du Québec!
On JW- I tried a sample of a Blue from the 2000s and it was very good. I picked up one from the late 90s at auction and am really looking forward to getting it. So my take is, it used to be a lot better.
Ardbeg- I think they jumped the shark with their silly releases and I have ignored them for a while now. The one that was the most offensive to me was the 13 year old Anthology at $300 CAN.
Nice list! Cheers, Geoff!
I’m based in Scotland and due to that I’m not drinking much Japanese whisky or from anywhere other than Scotland. I’m a bit slow so still journeying through west highland distilleries. In terms of a supermarket bottle Cotswold was great 👍
I don’t buy Japanese whiskey because it seems overpriced. I’m a value shopper.
I thought for SURE you were going to put Dalmore in this list, with its cherry red coloring!
I have a bottle of JW gold label reserve and i quite like it. It is nothing special but a decent daily sipper
Ardbeg An Oa had a hint of licorice that I don't taste in the bottle I'm currently sipping. I'm now using it as a replacement for bitters in my bourbon old fashions.
Regarding Talisker, the 18 year old was $180 in my area even before they changed the label and everything else. It wasn't worth it back then, and it's worth even less now. I've just recently had Talisker Skye and really enjoyed it, even though it was the new bottling. Compared to the 10 year, or the recent distiller's editions, it's still great. I'm hoping to get my hands on Surge one of these days.
Johnnie Walker Black label was good whisky for the price a few years ago. Now they have it in a sherry finish, an excellent pour for guests who are not into whisky. The Green label is also worth the money.
The blends I drink are a bit different though. White Heather 21, Timorous Beastie 21 and Dewar's 21.
Johnnie Walker Green is actually quite decent with Pineapple Pizza and an Ardbeg Ten.
Very informative!
Thanks! 🥃
Generally agree on Ardbeg, but (1) I do think the Oogie was better this year than some recent releases, and (2) I have an irrational, guilty love for Bizzare-b-que that probably deserves some ridicule.
I love Bizzare-b-que. I drained two bottles and only have one more left. Can't go wrong with a $89.99 special release Ardbeg.
Ignorance is bliss on my part, haven’t tried the old Talisker 10 and Ardbeg 10 and all I can say as someone coming in fresh is that they both taste great to me!
Great video!
Although the Corryvreckan is my favourite and the Uigeadail behind that I do think, in recently times, the 8yo and the 5yo are outstanding. I prefer these over the 10yo.
I stopped buying Talisker in the mid ‘00s. It was losing flavour.
Controversial?... grapes galore...
Think I leave it with that.
...
No, I don't.
...
I'll just comment on your list:
5. I just don't buy Japanese and leave it to others to cry.
4. Love Johnnie Walker (albeit only to rant about).
3. I don't care about Talisker. I just buy other stuff. Great move (if I may say so)
2. Diageo, great you have put it on spot 4, 3 and now 2. Well done, Geoff, well done.
1. Do love it... and just leave the special stuff for others to cry about. Love the 10 and Corryvreckan.
Slàinte mhath
Agree with you Jeff on Diagio special releases. Prices are getting ridiculous but as a. Oban and Taliaker fan I still pick them up as can’t get cask strength iteration’s otherwise
I’m a bourbon drinker who has started to get interested Scotch. I thought I hated Scotch because of Johnnie Walker; haven’t found anything, even up to Blue that I could enjoy. Lately, I’ve been enjoying Ardbeg Committee Releases and Lagavulin Offerman editions. I don’t know if these are considered good but I’ve enjoyed them. Given their prices, I need to find some cheaper bottles to enjoy. Based on several of your latest videos, perhaps that is the Kilchoman Sanaig.
I think the Sanaig is a very decent dram if you enjoy the combination of peat and sherry
I do enjoy the Johnnie Walker green label, it’s got more going on than quite a few entry level single malts. That’s the one I will always have. The 18 isn’t bad either, but maybe overpriced.
The Ardbeg argument is very valid. Many of the special releases they have brought out over the past few years have been poor quality NAS stuff and really not worth the asking price. I still enjoy the core range and love Uigeadail but again I can say the current releases are not as good as previous versions. I have a 2022 and a 2014 open at the moment and there is a marked difference in quality. Still like the 2022 though.
I was surprised that we did not see every whisky snob's favourite whipping boy - Macallan. Generally low ABV and very expensive. But no doubting the quality and I personally love the 15YO Double Cask. 3 years ago I was buying the 12YO Double Cask for around 30 euros in South Africa and now I see it's closer to 80 euros in Europe where I now live. I like it but not enough to pay that sort of premium when I can get other similarly priced whiskies that are undoubtedly better - e,g, Springbank 10 at 65 euros, Edradour Caledonia at around 85 euros, Kilkerran 12 at 65 euros.
Double Dog-Down Darn tootin' right said, G ! ----------------- Ardbeg can ONLY be #2, as #1 MUST be (of necessity) MacAlbert.
5 - I only tried a few Japanese whiskey's, they seemed to be simple and expensive. I only had hibiky harmony, nikka coffee grain or malt can't remember and just a dram of them. I think they cost too much for what they were.
4 - I haven't tried the old Talisker 10, I only had the new Talisker 10 and I really enjoyed it, maybe I wouldn't if had older one if it was better than this new one. Talisker 18 cost like 230€ in my market and I think it's way too much, other 18s cost like 100-130€.
3 - Jonnie walker is ok if you buy cheap ones. Something like 15 one is quite boring and I would rather get something else. Haven't tried the blue one, but the price for it sounds way too big, I think people buy it just to show off, cause many people know their price.
2 - I don't buy special releases, cause of high price tag.
1 - I think the core range is good whiskey, I haven't tried special releases, but they seem to be very expensive. I would add to this springbank, it's like a unicorn for diamonds price. Thanks for video 🎉
I used to work in a liquor store and of the 3 years working there I can count on one hand the number of special release Ardbeg bottles sold. If anyone picked up a bottle it came from the core range.
G, sorry to hear that you caught the “no-smell, no-taste” virus! Hope you get well soon. From what I know, when it comes to medical technology to fight this particular ailment, Taiwan kicks ass. So I assume you’re in good hands.
I want to report from California that I’ve seen an uptrend recently in the number of “new” Japanese whisky brands on store shelves. It could be retailers’ way of keeping prices within reason while meeting demand.
(I specify “CA”, because having just spent two weeks in Texas, I realized just how different the alcohol culture can be from state to state. Texas is just weird, though.)
There's a lot of new Japanese distilleries on the scene in the last few years, so I don't think it's just California. I've had a few of them, and they're pretty good! That said, they're very expensive for the young age. Loads of potential but I'll wait for the market to even out a bit before I dive too much into the Japanese scene. Cheers buddy! 🥃
The first thing I should mention is that all my buying decisions are based on sale prices and a self imposed budget of $100 Canadian, which converts to about US$74. What this means is that I avoid most special releases and over-priced whiskies.
JW: Since I am overseas quite a bit the JW whiskies are often the only quality whiskies around in the absence of single malts, that and the Chivas 12. They have a very useful role to play in the whisky world but for my own part I do not buy the stuff. By the way, at two different JW blind tastings the easiest for people to pick out were the Double Black and Green Label. However, at both tastings, nobody identified the Blue Label. The lesson learned was save your money and buy the Platinum.
Talisker: A few years ago, at a whisky tasting, the Talisker 10 fared very well, beating out Compass Box's Peat Monster and the Port Askaig Full Proof. I found it very satisfying. However given it's price these days I will not be buying, partly because I still have a bottle bought from duty free a decade ago and another from 1988 when it was my favourite whisky, together with the Macallan 12, both of which I bought prior to going on my first back-packing trip. Talisker 18? Forget it, though I'm sure it is very good.
Ardbeg: Naturally the high price stuff I ignore but the Ardbeg 'Wee Beastie' is a delicious affordable whisky that some critics prefer to the Ardbeg 10 (including Geoff if I recall?). I picked up four bottles when they went on sale for C$60.
Japanese: Here the issue is high prices, low abv, poor value for money, and of course not knowing whether some of them are truly Japanese. Truth be told I never buy them. There was an exception last year though when I went through Tokyo airport and found Nikka's Yoichi Grande and Miyagikyo Grande, travel retail single malts bottled at 48% and non-chill filtered. Price was about C$95 each if I recall.
Diageo Special Releases: Over-priced and not in my budget. However it doesn't mean I don't have any of those distilleries. Independent bottlers within my budget have allowed me to buy Diageo's Auchroisk, Benrinnes, Blair Athol, Cameronbridge, Caol Ila (not hard because most secret Islays are likely Caol Ila), Dailuaine, Glen Elgin, Glen Spey, Glenlossie, Inchgower, Linkwood, Mannochmore, Strathmill, and Teaninich.
It's a big whisky world out there with plenty of choices.
I wish I was into whisky in 2005 when they released Ichiro’s card series. Read an article on it and instantly developed a small obsession with Japanese whisky. But the market quickly became saturated with options having little to no transparency, I completely ignore it at this stage of my drinking purchases.
I love JW Blue and several other of their bottling’s (celebratory, swig, directors cut, gold)
Talisker was definitely more consumer friendly in the past. Sad face.
Diageo special releases are very pretty and sometimes very good, but I don’t shell out for them. Yet.
I love Ardbeg. But the special releases are only worth the markup about a third of the time. And their marketing department has become a huge turnoff. The core range is also way downhill. Sad face again.
I love pineapple on pizza but when you use bbq for the base it loses the distinction of being pizza to me at that point
Johnnie Walker is interesting, largely because of the blender's puzzle of trying to produce a single product whose variation is designed to be extremely narrow, and always negative. I've received several gift bottles of the blue, which after the first taste I re-gifted the rest. I'm told that the Green 15 is particularly good, but haven't tasted it yet, and doubt I'll make the investment without a qualifying taste. I'm not offended by collector/limited release items, figuring that their addition to Diageo's bottom line might modify the next price change on those they sell to the drinkers. Ardbeg? I've not noted the receding quality of their basic line (the Corryvreckan is a favorite), but I have bought two of their special releases in the past year and haven't found them to be worth the price difference. I wasn't initially impressed by the Wee Beastie 5 yr, but noted it disappeared from my cabinet in a goodly (if not rapid) time.
Whenever I do buy johnny walker, its always the black label, only when its on sale and only if I have a drinking night with friends coming up. Not everyone likes the same style of whisky, so its easier to have a blend with not much character, but all the more smoothness. Its an enjoyable easy sipper (and its great to get drunk on ;))
You should try the celebratory blend
I'm not a whiskey aficionado. I don't need a challenging whiskey. Bought a bottle of Kikori a few months ago. It was around $45 dollars. It was easy to drink. Give me those soft, rounded whiskies. Do I occasionally enjoy a challenging whiskey? Yes, but not all the time.
Hi Geoff, how's the Talisker 11? It's almost US120 where I am. I liked the discontinued Talisker 57 North and considering if I should go for this. Cheers.
Very interesting list!
Dalmore and Macallan would also be controversial around here, as they usually are pending to the high cost and not so much integrity
No way to Johnnie Walker and I love Japanese whisky!! Cheers Geoff!!!
I just had to pour myself a Diageo Whisky for this episode ... ofcourse a special release! :)
Love me a good SR! 😉
I never tried an older Talisker. Just bought a bottle of the new one. My dad might have an old bottle I can try.
Cannot fault the list. Love the Japanese whisky, my wallet hates it.
Is that lipstick?
Probably not, but so what if it was?
Sure it is! 😊
@@Solinvicti Nothing... Am I not allowed to ask questions?
Maybe he’s got contrast/filters/colour saturation maxed.
Yep. 😘
"enthusiasts" i see what you did there :D
1. Japanese is good. Yamazaki is great! Overpriced but we have to live! 2. Johnny walker - ugh But I don’t generally like blends. 3. Talisker - generally yuk, but I got a single cask 8 (sherry butt on the Royal Mile) that’s to die for. Only 48 bottles made. 4. Diagio SR - yeah a cash grab, but some are really good! 5. I hate pineapple! Ardbeg - too many special releases and some are “ordinary Ardbeg”. Agreed the core range quality had declined, but it’s all still really good and I keep buying!
Hey what about Macallan??
I remember getting a Hakushu 12 for under $100 about 8 years ago at Dan Murphys, went in last week its now nearly $400. Nearly fell over. Now i know why
Drink Scotch/bourbon / indian for the next 10 years and then check back on Japanese whisky, they are just about now getting their act together ;)
The ardbeg shenanigans have made me a Laphroaig fan.
I tried (not bought!) the ‘23 Talisker special release.
Drain cleaner.
as some redditors pointed out months back, "maturing" talisker in "freshly recharred" (AKA most dirt cheap casks on market) is a warcrime
I thought it was ok, but wildly overpriced here at $140. The ‘22 that G has here was very good, and only $94 here.
I started with blends but when I began tasting single malts, I immediately switched to it. Blends offer very poor relation price/quality.
....petty much every whisky brand has gone down a few percentage points over the last 20 years....they are all using the same casks too often and for too long to save money and it shows. So Ardbeg isnt any different than any other distillery in this manner....
Ardbeg. Easy answer. Find a bottle of 10 year old Laphroaig from circa 1995. Buy a current bottle of Laphroaig. Heaven v Shite. By comparison, Ardbeg core range has hardly budged in quality.