What are your top ten whiskies?

[whiskynig]

Happy new year to you all.
I was having a discussion with a good pal of mine and we were trying to name our definitive top ten whiskies.
This is currently mine, and it might change tomorrow, and some of the reasons are personal, but as I cannot find a similar thread on the forum, I wondered what the response would be from the rest of you.
Here goes:

1)Linkwood 15, the original yellow and black label.
2) Rosebank 12 yo flora/fauna. No brainer.
3) Highland Park 15, pound for pound in my book the best of the bunch.
4) Glenfiddich 15. Ditto above.
5) Dalmore 12 year old. Brings back many fond memories
6) Bunnahabhain 12. Again, pound for pound, beats the other ages. Just shaded over Ardbeg 17 due to cost.
7) Clynelish 14. Would have chosen a Brora but I am on a budget.
Glenfarclas 21. Again, good memories, and in my opinion the best of the Glenfarclas family.
9) Pittyvaich 15 flora/fauna-If you can still get it.
10) Glenfiddich 30. If I am going to overspend it might as well be on this one.

Look forward to hearing the rest.

[dramtastic]

Hey Whiskynig,

Funnily enough I have thought about this exact question many times but found myself going here's my top 10 but what about.........

Just too hard to answer.

But seeing you have posted this I will try and answer as ambiguously as possible : )

Top 10(every day drams) They are all under AUD$100, which is cheapish here in Australia.

Tali 10
Longrow CV
Nadurra
Laph QC
Balveinie DW
Laga 16
Aberlour 10
Nikka Whisky From The Barrel
Yoichi 12
JW Green
BNJ

Top 10 ultimate, the absolute best I've tried so far, cost no object.

Yoichi 20 OB 52%
The Cask Of Yamazaki 1993 Heavily Peated #3Q40040
Suntory Owners Cask Bar Hermit Tokyo Sherry Butt 58%
The Cask Of Yamazaki 1990 Sherry Butt 61%
The Hakushu SM Aged 15 Years 58%
Talisker 18
OMC Macallan 21YO 1995
OMC Bladnoch 15(forgot the year)
Karuizawa Rouge Cask #5021 Chateau Mercian Reserve 63%
HP 30

Top 10/11/12 that could have made it on either list but I didn't have room.

Karuizawa 1992 62.8%
Yoichi 15
Nikka Pure Malt Black
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 21YO
Yoichi Single Cask 10YO From The Distillery #1BI14B 61%
Balblair 97
Springbank 15
Hart Brothers Springbank 11 1995 Portwood Finish
a'bunadh
Chichibu Golden Horse SM 12Yo 56%
Balvenie 15 SB
Ichiro's Malt the Game 61.1%

Top 10 I would like to try in the future

Laga 21
Springbank 21
Longrow 18
Yoichi Vintage Cask 1988 20YO CS
Karuizawa 1967 CS
Karuizawa 1981 CS Japan release
Karuizwa 1986 CS Japan release
The Cask Of Hakushu 1989 Sherry Butt CS
The Cask Of Hakushu 1993 Heavily Peated(I have this but haven't opened)
Suntory Owners Cask Icons Of Whisky Shinanoya 1995 Sherry Butt CS(also owned but not opened)

and no doubt with my oldtimers disease I've forgotton something!

[dramtastic]

Oh and the top 1 I would substitute one of the Karuizawas for in top 10 I would like to try.....

Yamazaki Vintage 1984

[pmullin]

Sticking to readily available drams:

1. Lagavulin 16
2. Mortlach 16 F&F
3. Talisker 18
4. Highland Park 18
5. Macallan 18
6. Aberlour 16
7. Balvenie PortWood 21
8. Caol Ila 18
9. Bowmore 18
10. Yamazaki 18

Note that the order is fairly arbitrary. These are all in my opinion great drams, and my particular favourite at any given time would vary.

[MoreDalmore]

Back in august last year I put up my top 10 as a poll but as since then quite a lot of different whiskies got my attention that top 10 has changed considerably.
So here is my top 10 at the moment ( which I expect will see some majour changes again this year!! )

1. Aberlour double cask matured 16
2. Glenmorgangie Quint Ruban
3. Bowmore 18
4. Talisker 18
5. Highland Park 18
6. Balvenie Double Wood 12
7. Dalwhinnie 15
8. Aberlour 18
9. Auchentoshan Three Wood
10. The Dalmore 15

On my to buy list the first couple of months this year :
Ardbeg ( either Uigeadail,Airigh Nam Beist or Corryvreckan ( or 2 of these ), Yamazaki 18, Glengoyne Shiraz finish.

[lockejn]

In no particular order:

Teacher's Highland Cream
Yamazaki 12
Oban 14
Talisker 10
Clynelish 14
Speyburn 10
Old Pulteney 12
Caol Ila 12
Glenfarclas 12
Highland Park 12

I could pretty easily turn this into a top 15 or so before any significant gap in appreciation develops.

McCarthy's 3
Redbreast 12
Lagavulin 16
Dalwhinnie 15
Laphroaig 10

[johan brugge]

I'm not going to answer this one. It's just too difficult. I do have a nr. one though, the Lagavulin 21. All the rest comes second. Like MorDalmore mentioned, my top list has also changed a lot. A lot times it depends on the mood I'm in.

[corbuso]

[quote="dramtastic"
OMC Macallan 21YO 1995[/quote]

A typo somwhere `

[MacDeffe]

Here's my top ten of ready avilable whiskies that's also affordable (in no particular order) :

Balblair 97
Ardbeg 10
Lagavulin 12yr cask strength
Bladnoch 8yr cask strength
Talisker 10
Highland Park 12
Glenmorangie Artisan Cask (discontinued thou)
Arran Peacock
Springbank 100 proof 57.5%
Tomatin 18yr 46%

Top 10 whiskies I ever tasted and can remember :


Ardbeg 21yr
Ardbeg PING 1
Bunnahabhain Auld Acquintance
Tamdhu 42yr Dewar bottled for the Canadian market
Benromach 1949 55yr
Morthlach 1938 60yr Gordon and MacPhail
Rechlerich Norse Cask 1964 40yr (Glenfarclas)
Port Ellen Norse Cask 1983 25yr
SMWS 72.15 23yr MiltonDuff
A handbottled Glenmoraqngie I once bottled at Glenmorangie

That was th first 10 that came into my mind, but I attended quite a few fairs and tastings and have probably forgotten something

Macdeffe

[ClubSmed]

This is what I am thinking at this moment though, of course, it may change at any point. I can actually feel it changing as I am writing it!

1. Lagavulin 16
2. Laphroaig Cairdeas 2009
3. Invergordon 37yo Bladnoch bottling
4. Dalmore 12 yo (1996) Connoisseur Collection
5. Highland Park 18
6. Aberlour Abundah
7. Penderyn NAS
8. Poit Dubh 12
9. Amrut NAS
10. Yamazaki 12

[dramtastic]

[quote="dramtastic"
OMC Macallan 21YO 1995

A typo somwhere ` [/quote]



Oops, that'd be 1985!

[Knolly]

Here are my top ten picks (two lists).

Currently regularly available whiskies (not in order):
Lagavulin 16
Laphroaig Cask Strength
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Ardbeg Coryvreckan
Benriach 21 Authenticus
Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte) PC7 (and prior, the 3D)
Talisker 18
Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or
Aberlour A'bunadh
Glendronach 15yo Revival

"Not Normal" Whiskies (in order from my favourite at the top)
Lagavulin 21
Ardbeg Provenance
Tullibardine 1966 World Cup
Longmorn 1973 34yo G&M Cask
Laphroaig 27yo CS
Ardbeg 1975 OB
Ardbeg 1977 OB
Port Ellen OMC Old and Rare
Port Charlotte Blood Tub
Laphroaig 30yo

[biglads]

My top 10 Official Bottlings (in alpha order)

Benrinnes 15 (Flora & Fauna)
Bunnahabhain 18
GlenDronach 15
Glenfarclas 21
Glenlivet Nadurra
Highland Park 18
Lagavulin DE
Springbank 15
Talisker 10
Yamazaki 18

My tastes seem to have moved towards sherried whisky and away from the peat lately. A few years ago I'm sure Ardbeg and Laphroaig would have made that list.

[Megawatt]

Some nice lists here. For mine I will only count the ones I've purchased, not something I tried once at a bar.

Talisker 18
The Yamazaki 12
Alberta Premium Limited Edition
Cragganmore 12
The Arran Malt St. Emilion finish
Lagavulin 12
Glenkinchie 1992 Distillers Edition
Knob Creek
Longmorn 15
Redbreast 12

The best that I've tried but haven't purchased:

Lagavulin 16
The Famous Grouse 30
Ardbeg 10
Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine

[v1p]

1. Lagavulin 16 (my fav single malt - I have also tried DE but the original is much better)

2. JW Blue Label (my fav blend)

3. Caol Ila 12 (beautifully spiced & balanced - I have also tried DE but the original is much better)

4. JW Gold Label (silky harmony)

5. Talisker 10 (classic island malt - I have also tried DE, Laphroaig 10, Laphroaig QC, Ardbeg 10, Bowmore 12, etc. but T10 beats them all)

6. JW Black Label (classic blend - I have also tried Green but it's not my kind of thing)

7. Highland Park 18 (too sweet/sherried to be higher in my TOP)

8. Redbreast 12 (my fav irish whiskey - much better than Jamesons, Bushes, Dews, etc.)

9. Maker's Mark (my fav american whiskey - much better than Jacks, Jims, Roses, etc.)

10. JW Red Label (my fav low cost drink - much smokier than Ballantine's, Grant's, Teacher's, etc.)

But that's just my taste!

[Jarppa]

TOP 10

1.Ardbeg 10
2.Ardbeg Uigeadail
3.Lagavulin 16
4.Laphroaig 10 CS
5.Caol Ila 12
6.The Glenlivet Nadurra (48%)
7.Aberlour A´bunadh (batch 22)
8.Talisker 10
9.Maker´s Mark
10.Old Pulteney 12

[Kim]

My supermarket Top 10.

01.Laphroaig 10
02.Laphroaig QC
03.Ardbeg 10
04.Talisker 10
05.Highland Park 12
06.The Glenlivet 12
07.The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood
08.Aberlour 10
09.Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength
10.Bunnahabhain 12

[The Third Dram]

My Top Ten to date follow. Note that I elected to knock Highland Park 18 Year Old (would have been No. 11) and Lagavulin 16 Year Old (No. 12) off the 'podium', even though they were equally deserving, as other 'representatives' from these two distilleries made the list.

Ardbeg 25 Year Old Old Malt Cask, Distilled 1975
Ardbeg 1977
Bowmore 25 Year Old
Brora 21 Year Old Rare Malts Selection, Distilled 1977
Glenfarclas 25 Year Old
Highland Park 25 Year Old (either the 53.5% or 50.7% releases)
Lagavulin Distillers Edition, Distilled 1980 & Bottled 2000
Macallan 18 Year Old, Distilled between 1971 & 1977
Port Ellen 20 Year Old Rare Malts Selection, Distilled 1978
Talisker 18 Year Old

[jazz lover]

Ardbeg Provenance
Ardbeg 77
Lagavulin 21
Springbank 65 fresh sherry 35 yr.
Springbank 12 yr. double dark 100%
Bruichladdich 1970 44.2%
Mortlach 22 yr. Rare Malts
Highland park 25 yr. 53.5%
Glenfarclas 31 yr. 1974
Talisker 20 yr. Sherry U.S bottle

[blacksabb]

In no particular order:

Teacher's Highland Cream
Yamazaki 12
Oban 14
Talisker 10
Clynelish 14
Speyburn 10
Old Pulteney 12
Caol Ila 12
Glenfarclas 12
Highland Park 12

I could pretty easily turn this into a top 15 or so before any significant gap in appreciation develops.

I'm a little surprised that you would have an inexpensive blended whisky (Teachers) along with those other fine single malts. I might have to just try it myself to see what it's like.

I see you rate Yamazaki 12yrs as one of your favourites. That blew me away and for me was an instant repeat buy.

[lockejn]

I'm a little surprised that you would have an inexpensive blended whisky (Teachers) along with those other fine single malts. I might have to just try it myself to see what it's like.

I see you rate Yamazaki 12yrs as one of your favourites. That blew me away and for me was an instant repeat buy.

I think Teacher's is definitely worth trying. The only caveat is I find it doesn't follow other whiskies very well. It has to be the only, or at least the first, drink of the night. But it's awfully hard to beat the value proposition.

I find most blends to be unpleasant. Much of the JW line is OK to good, J&B Rare is OK, Isle of Skye is not terrible - but those are about the only ones I'd bother with. Teacher's is above them all, I think. If it cost as much as the other single malts on my list it might not have a place, but it would still be close.

[hyperfuji]

at the moment these are the 10 that i keep coming back to

1) laphroaig 10 cask strength
2) ardbeg corryvreckan
3) lagavulin 12
4) aberlour abunadh
5) glendronach 1968
6) ardbeg beisty
7) springbank 18
murray mcdavid littlemill bruichladdich 18
9) plowed benriach 23
10) hibiki 12

[hyperfuji]

In no particular order:

Teacher's Highland Cream
Yamazaki 12
Oban 14
Talisker 10
Clynelish 14
Speyburn 10
Old Pulteney 12
Caol Ila 12
Glenfarclas 12
Highland Park 12

I could pretty easily turn this into a top 15 or so before any significant gap in appreciation develops.

I'm a little surprised that you would have an inexpensive blended whisky (Teachers) along with those other fine single malts. I might have to just try it myself to see what it's like.

I see you rate Yamazaki 12yrs as one of your favourites. That blew me away and for me was an instant repeat buy.

got a yama 12 on the way, my first bottle, cant wait to open it up.

[MoreDalmore]

Back in august last year I put up my top 10 as a poll but as since then quite a lot of different whiskies got my attention that top 10 has changed considerably.
So here is my top 10 at the moment ( which I expect will see some majour changes again this year!! )

1. Aberlour double cask matured 16
2. Glenmorgangie Quint Ruban
3. Bowmore 18
4. Talisker 18
5. Highland Park 18
6. Balvenie Double Wood 12
7. Dalwhinnie 15
8. Aberlour 18
9. Auchentoshan Three Wood
10. The Dalmore 15

On my to buy list the first couple of months this year :
Ardbeg ( either Uigeadail,Airigh Nam Beist or Corryvreckan ( or 2 of these ), Yamazaki 18, Glengoyne Shiraz finish.

This was my top 10 but since then it indeed changed !!

It now looks more like this :

1. Talisker 18
2. Lagavulin D.E. 1991 - this is indeed an amazing whisky !
3. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
4. Bowmore 18
5. Highland Park 18
6. Springbank 11 Madeira Wood - my latest buy and it's great!! I intend to post my tasting notes on this one later after a few more drams.
7. The Dalmore 18
8. Aberlour 18
9. Ardbeg Corryvreckan ( I also had the Uigeadail but I liked the Corry much better ! )
10. Auchentoschan Three Wood

I had a bottle of Aberlour DB 16 a month or so ago and although it is still a great whisky it was not as good compared to the others here as I expected so it's out! And the Springbank is so new it could rise to a higher position still; it's that great!

18 is surely a fine age for whisky and still afordable to me!!

[Drammed]

Speyside SMW
Islay SMW
Highlands SMW
Cambelltown SMW
Vatted Malts
Bourbon
Tennessee Whiskey
Blended malts
Irish
Canadian

[Deactivated Member]

Ardbeg Uigeagail.
Lagavulin 12 CS.
Ardbeg 10.
Rollercoaster.
Abunadh batch 20.
Lagavulin 16,
Bladnoch 18 55%,
Corryvreckan.
Braeval OMC 12 ( ? ).
Caol Ila NCS.

Wait a minute, I've changed my mind....

[Maccy]

Attempt No 1:

1 Highland Park 18
2 Longmorn 16
3 Glenlivet Nadurra
4 Lagavulin 16
5 Talisker 12
6 Old Pulteney 12
7 Aberlour A'Bunadh - batch 20
8 Linkwood 12
9 Ardbeg 10
10 Strathisla 12

and then again.......