Favourite Whiskies of 2014: It’s the end of another exceptional year of whisky tasting and believe me when I say we’ve tasted some truly great stuff this year. With that in mind, we thought we’d recap on some of our favourite drams tasted in 2014. We would also like to say thank you to all of our followers for reading our tasting notes and thoughts on the whiskies/whiskeys we’ve tasted in 2014. We now look forward to another fantastic year of whisky tasting in 2015 – see you there!
BOWMORE 15YO LAIMRIG ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
We’ve tasted a fair few Islay scotches this year but this one really took our breath away. Aged in ex-sherry casks, this Bowmore Laimrig is not overly sweet and has a beautiful milky texture with just the right amount of peat. Read the full tasting notes
CAOL ILA 12YO ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
Another Islay scotch that required me to adjust my expectations, simply because of what came before it – which we shall get to – but admittedly this scotch was everything I thought it would be. Smooth, sweet, peaty and well-balanced. In fact it had maturity beyond its years. Read the full tasting notes
CRAIGELLACHIE 23YO SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
Craigellachie, like many other distilleries, has spent its life providing the filling for blends. But Dewar’s have embarked on project called Last Great Malts, of which Craigellachie is apart. This Craigellachie from the expressions we tasted is arguably the best of the lot. It’s rich, meaty, sweet, and smoky. Read the full tasting note
GLENFARCLAS THE FAMILY CASK SINGLE MALT SCOTCH (1995 RELEASE IX)
When we tasted this earlier in the year we made reference to a comparison that was fitting to this scotch. “If Patek Philippe made Scotch, this would be the end product” it is that good! The Family Casks are a unique collection of the best single casks from the distillery’s warehouses. Just two words can sum up this scotch, depth and balance but you have to read and experience this dram to fully understand. Read the full tasting notes
LAGAVULIN 1997 DISTILLERS EDITION ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
Didn’t I say we tasted a fair bit of Islay scotch this year? Hailing from one of the oldest Islay distilleries in Port Ellen, the Lagavulin Distillers Edition expression undergoes a second, or double, maturation in casks that have previously held a fortified wine. Why did it make the list? The balance of the peat and Pedro Ximinez sherry cask is just perfect! Read the full tasting notes
NIKKA WHISKY FROM THE BARREL JAPANESE WHISKY
Made from matured malt and grain whisky, that has been married and then re-casked to create a rich harmony of distinctly different whiskies. “From the Barrel” is exactly what is says on the bottle, it is whisky that has been bottled up directly from the re-casked barrel. Probably the best blended whisky we reviewed this year. Read the full tasting notes
THE BALVENIE 25 YEAR OLD SINGLE BARREL TRADITIONAL OAK SCOTCH
This Balvenie Single Barrel is matured for 25 years exclusively in American oak – adding subtle spices and rich honeyed sweetness. This drop is literally Christmas in a dram! So well-balanced and consistent from nose to finish and in my opinion it is the best from the single barrel Balvenie range. Read the full tasting notes
BUNNAHABHAIN 18 YEAR OLD ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
Remember I said we’ve tasted a fair few Islay scotches this year? Well, this one was one of the best and unfortunately preceded the Caol Ila 12 we mentioned above. We were truly surprised by how warmingly sweet it was but yet still had the perfect balance that made ones taste buds tingle and yet it still had room for peaty undertones – it was truly, great Islay goodness! Read the full tasting note
AULTMORE 12 YEAR OLD SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
A little further up the list we mentioned the Last Great Malts project, well this is another from the Dewar’s offering that usually ends up in blends and referred to as the icing on the cake, simply because it is that good! The Aultmore 12yo has some consistently, beautifully balanced notes that will surprise you. Read the full tasting notes
BALBLAIR 1983 VINTAGE HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
Hailing from the oldest working distillery in the Highlands, Balblair’s vintage range is said to have been timed to perfection. Every year distillery manager, John MacDonald, tastes, judges and selects straight from the cask. This 1983 was just so good; it really couldn’t be left off our list. Read the full tasting notes
