Happy New Year! Let’s go over 2024 once again and make a list of our personal highlights before we start a new year of whisky reviews.
Last year I reviewed 572 bottlings, this year the number has increased once more, to 602 reviews. We’re breaking the 600 barrier for the first time: it’s clear that our session size is growing, most of the days we’re reviewing two drams or more.
Best new whisky in 2024
When going through the highest scoring drams of the past year, it isn’t the Gordon & MacPhail winning streak we’ve seen in previous years. The award for best new whisky goes to the Karuizawa 50 Years. Also on the podum, there are three whiskies and one cognac:
- Karuizawa 50 Years – Marriage 1965 + 1972
- Famille Cabanne Lot 19.10 (The Whisky Jury)
- Glen Grant 1958 ‘Mr George Legacy’ (Gordon & MacPhail)
- Springbank 24 Years 1999 (Westie Sponge)
- Lagavulin 1991 Cask of Distinction #2500
Then a total of 18 drams reached 92 points, that’s still a very high score. Some of them were definitely premium whiskies, like the GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 12, the Cragganmore 1985 Cask of Distinction or the G&M Recollection III series.
Obviously also smaller independent bottlings like the Glen Moray 32 Years (Whisky Sponge) or the Secret Islay 1989 (The Whisky Jury). The list even included a great Blended Malt.
When taking into account the price, then the Port Charlotte 2003 Islay Sponge, Port Charlotte 2003 Acla Selection and Ben Nevis 1996 TTOW deserve a special mention. These were truly outstanding and they allowed you to buy a bottle AND keep both kidneys. Future classics that are relatively affordable.
Favourite other spirits in 2024
Lots of great cognacs this year, from different bottlers, although it seems some of the sources that were booming five years ago are now running dry. Apart from the outstanding Cabanne 19.10, a couple of them followed closely with 92 points:
- Mauxion Lot 45 – Bons Bois
- Mauxion Lot 36 – Borderies (for Passion for Whisky)
- Laurichesse Lot 75 – Grande Champagne (Malternative Belgium)
- François Voyer Lot 19.20 – Grande Champagne (Malternative Belgium)
The same level could also be found in rum.
TDL is still my bang-for-your-buck suggestion in rum. Think of the TDL 2009 (The Whisky Jury for Gene) or the TDL 2009 (The Roots) for instance, which were also excellent.
Best value whisky in 2024
When looking at value for money, my aim is to find a whisky that scores 90 points or more for less than € 250. Not an easy task these days, but I had these favourites:
- Ardmore 25 Years 1997 (Marriage of Casks)
- Longmorn 1998 (G&M for Kirsch Import)
- GlenAllachie 2009 cask #900609 (The Whisky Exchange)
Then there is also the Laurichesse Lot 75 cognac (again) and the armagnac Laballe 1991 (Journal des Kirsch) which stood out in this price category. Or rums like the HD 2013 and The Duo Chapter #2, both from The Whisky Jury.
When looking at widely available bottlings (90 points or slightly less), my favourites were:
- Lagavulin 12 Year Old (2024)
- Hazelburn 15 Years Oloroso (2023)
- Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2013
- Waterford Cuvée Koffi
Whisky blog statistics
I believe we’ve lost around 15% of our visitors this year. In times of cookie blocking, bot traffic and data thrown out for the sake of visitor privacy, some of that is simply due to inadequate tracking.
On the other hand, let’s not beat around the bush: Scotch whisky exports were down 18% in the first half of the year – and probably even more by the end of the year. Rare whisky (single malts – basically our area of interest) plummeted by 34% in value. It’s time to admit people are becoming less interested in whisky, bored by the endless stream of hollow ultra-premium releases and disgraceful pricing for essentially mediocre expressions. This translates to websites about whisky, no doubt.
When looking at the visitor locations, the UK still has the largest share (around 20%), with the US showing roughly the same number. Canada has taken the third spot (6%) for the first time. Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium (each around 5%) complete the podium. Then further down there is a strong visitor base in Australia and Asian countries like Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. Thanks everyone for the loyal following.
For some reason we had a record number of hits on our Aultmore 12 Year Old review. A review from 2017, mind you. Maybe there was a campaign that I wasn’t aware of, linking to my website? After that, the Special Releases 2024 overview was visited a lot. The most popular new reviews (published in 2024) were the Hibiki Japanese Harmony and Lagavulin 12 Year Old (2024).
A personal message…
For the first time in 16 years, I expect a significant time-out in 2025.
A couple of weeks ago I got the news that I have a cholesteatoma, a cyst inside my middle ear. It invades my ear and destroys the mastoid bone surrounding the ear. While in itself non-cancerous, it is definitely destructive so it needs to be taken out (mid February). At the same time my ossicles will be replaced as these have been worn out as well.
Obviously this is delicate surgery, with many critical nerves (including optic nerves and my biggest fear… taste nerves!) passing through the middle ear. Let’s just hope these won’t be affected. I’m in good hands, but still I’m facing at least 2 months of social quarantaine, just to make sure I won’t be picking up (other) infections. This also means no alcohol for some time.
I know it’s a cliché, but I wish you good health, as it is simply the prerequisite for all nice things in life.