Tasting and scoring whisky is quite personal, and the same whisky can appeal less or more at different moments. Keep that in mind while going through this ranking of some of the best whiskies I’ve tried.
I once started with a 90+ list, but by now I’ve had so many glorious drams that it had to be reduced to a 92+ list. Everything above this score is excellent, it means a whisky was able to make my day.
97
Laphroaig 15 yo 1967 (46%, Cadenhead 1982, Sherry Wood, dumpy bottle)
Port Ellen 12 yo (59%, James MacArthur, dark version for Scoma, 75 cl)
96
Brora 30yo 1972 (49,7%, DL Old & Rare Platinum 2003, 222 btl.)
Glen Grant 21 yo (70° proof, G&M 1960’s, securo cap)
Longmorn 39 yo 1969 (58,9%, G&M ‘Book of Kells’ for JIS 2009, #5298)
95
Ardbeg 36 yo 1973 (44,7%, Douglas Laing Platinum 2009, 78 btl.)
Ardbeg 32 yo 1974 (52,5%, OB for LMdW 2006, cask #3309, 109 btl.)
Brora 30yo 1976 (55,1%, DL Platinum 2007, cask #0041, 104 btl.)
Brora 30 Year Old (56,6%, OB 2004, 3rd release, 3000 btl.)
Brora Triptych 48 yo 1972 ‘Elusive Legacy’ (42,8%, OB 2021, 300 btl.)
Glenfarclas 21 yo (43%, Grant Bonding Co for House of Sobel, 75 cl)
Glen Grant 67 yo 1953 ‘Mr George Legacy’ (59,4%, G&M 2021, sherry butt #4209)
Karuizawa 42yo 1967 (58,4%, OB 2009 for LMdW & TWE, cask #6426)
Karuizawa 48 yo 1964 (57,7%, WealthSolutions 2013, #3603, 143 btl.)
Laphroaig 1964 (43%, Berry Bros & Rudd 1981, 75 cl)
Lochside 32 yo 1966 (61,2%, SMWS 1998, ref. 92.7, 224 btl.)
Longmorn 37 yo 1972 (51,3%, Whisky Agency 2010, 231 btl.)
Macallan 1955 (80° proof, OB +/- 1973, Campbell Hope & King, 75 cl)
Mortlach 35 yo 1936 (43%, G&M CC for Pinerolo Import 1972, 75 cl)
Port Ellen 31 yo 1978 ‘10th release’ (54,6%, OB 2010, 3000 btl.)
94
Ardbeg 28 yo 1972 (50,1%, DLfor Alambic Classique 2000, 234 btl.)
Ardbeg 29 yo 1972 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC 2001, sherry finish, 432 btl.)
Ardbeg 31 yo 1974 (51,8%, OB 2006, bourbon cask #5666, 168 btl.)
Ardbeg 32 yo 1974 (53,5%, OB for Italy 2006, bourbon cask #3328, 76 btl.)
BenRiach 34 yo 1976 (48,2%, OB for Taiwan 2011, cask #3033, 216 btl.)
Bowmore 32y 1968 ‘Anniversary edition’ (45,5%, OB 2001, 1860 btl.)
Brora 29 yo 1972 (59,5%, Douglas Laing Platinum 2002, 240 btl.)
Brora 30 yo 1972 (46,6%, Douglas Laing OMC 2002, 204 btl.)
Brora 30 Years (55,7%, OB 2007, 6th Edition, 2958 btl.)
Brora 32 Years (54,7%, OB 2011, 10th Edition, 1500 btl.)
Brora 35 years (48,1%, OB 2012, American oak, 11th release, 1566 btl.)
Brora 38 Years 1977 (48,6%, OB 2016, 15th Annual release, 2984 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 34 yo 1968 ‘Auld Acquaintance’ (43,8%, OB 2002, 2002 btl.)
Caol Ila 50 yo 1968 (52,5%, G&M Private Collection 2018, 190 btl.)
Clynelish 32 yo 1974 (58,6%, The Whisky Fair 2006, bourbon, 266 btl.)
GlenDronach 43 yo 1968 (48,3%, cask #1, distillery sample)
Glen Garioch 1972 (43%, OB for Oddbins, single cask, 1990’s)
Glen Grant 66 yo 1948 (46,6%, G&M for WealthSolutions 2014, cask #1369)
Glen Grant 1954 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail 2012)
Glengoyne 26 yo 1969 (63%, Cadenhead 1996, Chairman Stock)
Glengoyne 40 yo 1972 (55,5%, MoS 2012, sherry hogshead, 12044, 254 btl.)
Glenugie 12 yo 1980 (59,8%, Cadenhead 1992, sherry cask)
Highland Park 34 yo 1971 (53%, OB for Binny’s Chicago, sherry butt #8363)
Irish single malt 23 yo 1991 ‘Maria label’ (54,6%, Daily Dram 2015)
Isle of Jura 18yo 1972 (55,5%, SMWS 1991, ref. 31.4, 75 cl.)
Karuizawa Vintage 45 yo 1967 (59,6%, OB Taiwan 2012, Aqua of Life, #2725)
Karuizawa 30 yo 1981 (55,8%, for LMdW, sherry butt #162, 584 btl.)
Karuizawa 31 yo 1981 (62,8%, OB 2012, Sakura series, #158, 45 btl.)
Karuizawa 50 Years (65,2%, Elixir Distillers for Plastic Oceans)
Laphroaig 10 yo (91,4 US Proof, OB 1968, The Carlton Company)
Ledaig 42 yo Dùsgadh (46,3%, OB 2015, 500 btl.)
Longmorn 23 yo 1969 (61,2%, G&M Cask 1993, cask #3721 & 5297 btl.)
Longmorn 35 yo 1976 (53,6%, Perfect Dram 2011, bourbon, 187 btl.)
Macallan 1954 (80° proof, Rinaldi import, late 1960s, sherry wood)
Macallan 60 yo Lalique (53,2%, OB 2011, Lalique decanter, 400 btl.)
Port Ellen 15 yo 1974 (64,5%, Sestante 1990)
Port Ellen 35 yo 1982 (55,1%, Signatory Vintage 2018, refill sherry #2040)
Speyside Region 43 yo 1973 (49,2%, The Whisky Agency ‘Good Vibes’ 2016)
Speyside Region Malt 40 yo 1975 (50,6%, Sansibar 2016, 435 btl.)
Springbank 21yo (46%, OB mid 90’s, jagged parchment label)
Springbank 30 yo 1972 (57,8%, Chieftain’s 2002, butt #410, 576 btl.)
GlenDronach 1972 (54,8%, OB 2009, oloroso cask #719, 474 btl.)
Port Ellen 28 yo 1979 7th release (54,7%, OB 2007)
93
Ardbeg 24 yo 1965 (54,4%, Cadenhead for Sestante +/- 1990, dumpy)
BenRiach 35 yo 1975 (51%, OB for Asta Morris 2011, cask #7227, 236 btl.)
BenRiach 1976 #3558 (47,4%, OB for The Whisky Fair 2009)
BenRiach 34 yo 1976 (42,1%, OB for Shinanoya 2011, cask #3029, 139 btl.)
Brora 35 years old 1977 (49,9%, OB 2013, 12th Annual release, 2944 btl.)
Brora 37 Year Old (50,4%, OB 2015, 14th Annual release, 2976 btl.)
Brora Triptych 38 yo 1982 ‘Timeless Original’ (47,5%, OB 2021, 300 btl.)
Bruichladdich 15 yo ‘Mayflower 80’ (43%, OB for Samaroli 1980, 1000 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 43 yo 1968 (46,5%, The Whiskyman 2011, 120 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 46 yo 1969 ‘Eich Bhana Lir’ (41,8%, OB 2017, 198 btl.)
Caol Ila 1969 (54,6%, Gordon & MacPhail for Meregalli 1986, Celtic label)
Caol Ila 30 yo 1982 (52%, Coopers Choice 2013, #4721, 275 btl.)
Caperdonich 38 yo 1972 (58,4%, Whisky Agency 2011, 145 btl.)
Caperdonich 38 yo 1972 (53,6%, Duncan Taylor RoR 2011, #7460, 160 btl.)
Clynelish 12y (57%, G&M 1980’s – Ainslie & Heilbron)
Clynelish 32 yo 1971 (54,2%, Malcolm Pride ‘Premier Malts’ 2003, #2704)
Clynelish 38yo 1972 (45,8%, Whisky Agency ‘Private Stock’ 2010, 134 btl.)
Coleburn 47 yo 1972 (62,4%, G&M ‘125th Anniversary’ 2020, refill puncheon #3511)
Emerald Isle 24 yo 1991 (57%, Speciality Drinks 2016, cask #8583)
Glen Garioch 29 yo 1968 (57,2%, OB 1997, hogshead #625)
Glen Garioch 32 yo 1971 (44,6%, OB, hogshead #2041 for Taiwan)
GlenDronach 39 yo 1972 (49,9%, OB 2011, oloroso cask #712, 466 btl.)
Glenfarclas 58 yo 1953 (47,2%, WealthSolutions 2012, #1674, 400 btl.)
Glenfarclas 1954 (46,7%, OB 2014, plain butt #1259, 453 btl.)
Glenfarclas 1968 (51%, OB 2009, Family cask #699, Lindores)
Glenfarclas 1968 (49,7%, OB 2010 for Thosop, cask #702 & 5240)
Glenfarclas 1968 (47,5%, OB 2011, Manzanilla cask #697, 133 btl.)
Glenfarclas 1968 ‘My Tribute’ (54,4%, OB 2012, cask #5241, 175 btl.)
Glenglassaugh 39 yo 1972 (57,5%, OB for Germany 2012, #2896, 516 btl.)
Glenglassaugh 39 yo 1972 ‘Massandra’ (53,3%, OB 2012, sherry cask, 328 btl.)
Glengoyne 42 yo 1972 (45,2%, MoS Warehouse Diamonds 2015, #15037)
Glen Grant 65 yo 1950 (59,3%, G&M for WealthSolutions 2015, cask #2747)
Glen Grant 62 yo 1956 (51,7%, G&M ‘Mr George Centenary’ 2019, cask #4455)
Glen Grant 40 yo 1959 / 1997 (48,9%, Whisky Club Austria 2007, 22 btl.)
Glen Keith 40 yo 1970 (45,1%, Whisky Agency Landscapes 2010, 215 btl.)
Glen Keith 40 yo 1970 (47,9%, Malts of Scotland 2011, #6042, 163 btl.)
Glen Moray 30 yo 1959 (40%, Dun Eideann 1989, ref. 84/611-1, 75 cl.)
Glen Ord 16 yo ‘Manager’s Dram’ (66,2%, OB 1991, refill cask)
Highland Park 40 yo 1967 (47,1%, John Scott’s 2007, cask #6687, 168 btl.)
Highland Park 21 yo 1972 (56,5%, Cadenhead Authentic 1994, sherrywood)
Irish single malt 23 yo 1991 (47,4%, Daily Drams 2014, peated)
Irish single malt 24 yo 1991 (48,2%, The Whiskyman for LWS 2015)
Karuizawa 35 yo 1977 (65,9%, OB 2012, sherry butt #4010, 427 btl.)
Karuizawa 33 yo 1981 (54,5%, OB for LMdW 2014, cask #152, 566 btl.)
Karuizawa 28 yo 1983 ‘Noh’ (57,2%, No.1 Drinks 2012, #7576, 571 btl.)
Karuizawa 1983 Nepal Appeal (59%, OB for TWE 2014, #3557, 50 btl.)
Karuizawa 29 yo 1984 (56,7%, OB for Norway / Sweden, #7802, 577 btl.)
Lagavulin 21 yo 1985 (56,5%, OB 2007, first fill sherry, 6642 btl.)
Lagavulin 23 yo 1992 ‘Casks of Distinction’ (55,7%, OB 2016, Boyao Zhao)
Lagavulin 1995 ‘Feis Ile’ (54,7%, OB 2014, sherry butts, 3500 btl.)
Lagavulin 21 yo 1997 (56,6%, Select Cask for Europe 2018, cask #0001)
Lagavulin 25 yo (51,7%, OB 2016, 200th Anniversary, sherry, 8000 btl.)
Laphroaig 1976 (43%, OB 1996, 5.400 btl.)
Longmorn 46 yo 1965 (51,8%, G&M for Limburg 2011, first fill sherry #370)
Mortlach 58 yo 1954 (43%, G&M ‘Rare Vintage’ 2012, first-fill sherry #494)
Old Pulteney 40 yo (51,3%, OB 2012, 493 btl.)
Port Askaig 34 yo 1983 (49,7%, Elixir Distillers 2018, ex-bourbon, 180 btl.)
Port Ellen 22 yo 1978 (60,5%, Rare Malts)
Port Ellen 37 yo 1978 ‘16th release’ (55,2%, OB 2016, 2940 btl.)
Port Ellen 28y 1979 (53,7%, Norse Cask Selection 2007, 277 btl.)
Port Ellen 27 yo 1982 (57,3%, Whisky-Fässle 2010)
Port Ellen 26 yo 1983 (54,6%, DT RoR 2010, cask #674, 282 btl.)
Redbreast 25 yo 1991 (53%, OB for LMdW 2016, Oloroso #42972, 624 btl.)
Redbreast ‘Dream Cask’ 31 yo 1985 (46,7%, OB 2017, butt #41207)
Speyside Region 1973 (46,9%, TWA ‘Art Nouveau Ladies’ 2017, sherry butt)
Speyside Region 43 yo 1973 (47,7%, Maltbarn 2016, 149 btl.)
Speyside Region 43 yo 1973 (47,4%, TWA for TWE 2017, refill sherry, 568 btl.)
Speyside Region 44 yo 1973 (49,6%, Mancarella 2017, 90 btl.)
Speyside Region 44 yo 1973 (48,8%, Maltbarn / Shinanoya 2017, 249 btl.)
Speyside Region 44 yo 1973 (51,6%, ALOS Butterflies 2017, 372 btl.)
Speyside single malt 40 yo 1975 (51,3%, Sansibar 2015, Fino sherry, 425 btl.)
St Magdalene 18 yo 1964 (40%, G&M brown label 1983, 75 cl.)
Springbank 15 yo 1964 (45,7%, OB for Samaroli 1979, sherry, 360 btl.)
Springbank 33 yo 1970 (54,4%, Adelphi 2003, sherry cask #1622)
Springbank 23 yo 1995 (48%, WhiskyNerds 2018, sherry cask #63)
Strathisla 48 yo 1963 (51,8%, G&M for The Whisky Fair, sherry butt #576)
Talisker 40 yo 1978 (50%, OB ‘Bodega series’ 2018, Amontillado, 2000 btl.)
Teeling 27 yo 1991 (49,8%, OB for TWE 2018, sherry cask #6838, 180 btl.)
92
Ardbeg 13 yo 1974 (40%, G&M Connoisseurs Choice +/- 1988)
Ardbeg 15 yo 1973 (43%, Sestante 1988, 75cl.)
Ardbeg 1998 (54%, OB 2009, Cask #1189, Feis Isle 2009, 252 btl.)
Ardbeg 23 yo 1991 (48,9%, Hotel Bero 2014, MoS 14054, 185 btl.)
Ardbeg 31yo 1975 (53,7%, OB 2006, cask #1378, 453 btl)
Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25 yo (46%, OB 2007)
Auchentoshan 40 yo 1965 (41,6%, OB 2006, 200 btl.)
Banff 37 yo 1971 (53,3%, Dead Whisky Society 2008, cask #633, 565 btl.)
Ben Nevis 34 yo 1975 (63%, Prestonfield 2009, #7439, 146 btl.)
BenRiach 38 yo 1970 (49,1%, OB 2009, PX finish, cask #1035)
BenRiach 1976 #3550 (46,2%, OB for The Whisky Fair 2009)
BenRiach 36 yo 1976 (43,1%, Usquebaugh Society 2012, #3031, 124 btl.)
BenRiach 33 yo 1977 (45,7%, OB for Asta Morris 2011, cask #9119, 175 btl.)
BenRiach 32 yo 1978 (48%, OB for Asta Morris 2011, sherry #7037, 79 btl.)
BenRiach 32 yo 1979 (47,3%, OB for Asta Morris 2012, #8507, 192 btl.)
Bowmore 37 yo 1968 (43,4%, OB 2006, bourbon oak, 708 btl.)
Brora 20 yo 1975 (60,75%, Rare Malts 1996, 20 cl.)
Brora 24 yo 1977 (56,1%, Rare Malts 2001)
Brora 40 yo 1978 (49,2%, OB ‘200th Anniversary’ 2019, 1819 btl.)
Brora Triptych 43 yo 1977 ‘Age of Peat’ (48,6%, OB 2021, 300 btl.)
Bruichladdich 1970 (44,2%, OB 2002, 4200 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 40 yo (41,7%, OB 2012, 750 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 43 yo 1967 (40,5%, Whisky Agency 2010, 139 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 41 yo 1968 (40%, MoS 2010, hogshead #12291, 164 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 43 yo 1968 (43,8%, Whisky-Fässle 2011, Whiskybase)
Bunnahabhain 40 yo 1973 (50,6%, Archives 2013, butt #3463, 156 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 40 yo 1973 (48,5%, The Whiskyman 2013, 155 btl.)
Caol Ila 15 yo ‘Manager’s Dram’ (63%, OB 1990, sherry cask, S.M.D. staff)
Caol Ila 31 yo 1984 (54%, Maltbarn 2015, bourbon cask, 68 btl.)
Caol Ila 33 yo 1984 (52,8%, G&M Connoisseurs Choice, refill sherry)
Caol Ila 1996 (58%, OB 2009, Cask #19313, Feis Isle 2009)
Caol Ila 35 yo (50.9%, Single Malts of Scotland ‘Director’s Special’ 2020)
Caperdonich 40 yo 1972 (49%, The Whiskyman & QV.ID, black label, 65 btl.)
Clynelish 22 yo 1989 (53,5%, Thosop 2012, bourbon barrel, 138 btl.)
Clynelish 31 yo 1972 (57,8%, SMWS 2004, 26.33)
Clynelish 33 yo 1973 (54,5%, Signatory 2007, refill butt #8915, 399 btl.)
Clynelish 37 yo (46%, TWE 10th Anniversary 2009)
Dallas Dhu 35 yo 1979 (54,4%, Cadenhead Cask Ends 2014, bourbon)
Dalmore 35 Year Old (40%, OB 2016, 5000 btl.)
Duncan Taylor 70th Anniversary Malt 41 yo 1967 (46,3%, 2008)
Emerald Isle 26 yo 1989 (59,2%, Speciality Drinks 2016, cask #16244)
Fettercairn 50 yo 1966 (47,9%, OB 2018, ex-bourbon barrels + Tawny Port)
Glenfarclas 42yo 1966 (44,4%, SMWS 2008, 1.146, 76 btl.)
Glenfarclas 40 yo 1971 (52%, OB Silver Seal 2011, cask #148, 473 btl.)
Glen Elgin 20 yo 1997 (55,7%, G&M Connoisseurs Choice, 602 btl.)
Glen Garioch 21 yo 1965 (43%, OB mid 1980s, light vatting)
Glen Garioch 21 yo 1973 (43%, OB for Duggans Distillers NY 1995, 75 cl.)
Glen Grant 36 yo 1972 (56,3%, Duncan Taylor for Whisky Fair 2009)
Glen Grant 39 yo 1972 (48%, Whisky-Doris 2011, #11395, 163 btl.)
Glen Grant 39 yo 1972 (53,2%, TWA Perfect Dram 2011, 119 btl.)
Glen Grant 40 yo 1972 (51,6%, Maltbarn 2012, sherry cask, 49 btl.)
Glen Moray 26 yo 1966 (43%, OB 1992, 255 btl.)
GlenDronach 38 yo 1972 (51,5%, OB 2010, sherry #718, 396 btl.)
GlenDronach 29 yo 1989 ‘Kingsman Edition’ (50,1%, OB 2020, 3052 btl.)
Glengoyne 30 Year Old (46,8%, OB 2017, 6000 btl.)
Glengoyne 31 yo 1972 (56%, OB 2003, sherry cask #2970, 510 btl.)
Glenrothes 39yo 1969 (42,7%, Duncan Taylor Lonach 2008)
Glenugie 27yo 1982 (50%, DL OMC 2009, cask #5040, 216 btl.)
Glenugie 32 yo 1977 ‘Deoch an Doras’ (55,48%, OB 2010, 500 btl.)
Glenury Royal 23 yo 1971 (61,3%, Rare Malts 1995)
Highland Park 30 yo 1988 (49,7%, Signatory Vintage 2018, #755, 220 btl.)
Irish single malt 27 yo 1989 (45%, TWA & Eiling Lim 2016, barrel, 177 btl.)
Irish single malt 27 yo 1989 (45,5%, Maltbarn 2016, barrel, 211 btl.)
Irish single malt 27 yo 1989 (48,2%, Archives 2017, barrel, 186 btl.)
Irish Single Malt 30 yo 1989 ‘The Ash Tree’ (48,1%, TWCC 2020, rum barrels)
Irish single malt 26 yo 1990 (49,3%, Maltbarn 2017, barrel, 114 btl.)
Irish single malt 27 yo 1990 (51,3%, TWA & TWE 2017, 150 btl.)
Irish single malt 28 yo 1990 (48,4%, The Whisky Agency 2018, barrel)
Irish single malt 22 yo 1991 (48,6%, Eiling Lim 2014, 116 btl.)
Jura 30 yo 1990 (46,33%, Thompson Brothers 2020, refill hogshead #5310)
Karuizawa 42 yo 1970 (64,3%, 2012, sherry butt #6177, 326 btl.)
Karuizawa 1976 Noh (63%, No1 Drinks 2009, cask #6719)
Lagavulin 15 yo 1979 (59,2%, The Syndicate 1995, single cask)
Lagavulin 21 yo 1991 (52%, OB 2012, first fill sherry, 2772 btl.)
Lagavulin 30 yo 1976 (52,6%, OB 2006, 2340 btl.)
Laphroaig 28 yo (44,4%, OB 2018)
Laphroaig 32 yo (46,7%, OB 2015, 5880 btl.)
Ledaig 31 yo 1973 (47,8%, Chieftain’s 2004, sherry hogsheads #1711-1712)
Littlemill 23 yo 1990 (51,2%, Whisky-Fässle 2014, hogshead)
Littlemill 24 yo 1990 (50,6%, Maltbarn 2014, 158 btl.)
Lochside 46 yo 1965 (52,3%, Adelphi 2011, #6778, 499 btl.)
Lochside 37 yo 1981 (48,6%, The Whisky Agency 2018, butt)
Lochside 37 yo 1981 (50,7%, Gene’s Dram 2018, sherry butt #766, 210 btl.)
Longmorn 42 yo 1967 (53,1%, G&M for Japan 2009, #3342, 162 btl.)
Longmorn 43 yo 1967 (52,6%, G&M for Japan 2010, #753, 393 btl.)
Longmorn 35 yo 1975 (44%, Nectar of the Daily Drams 2010)
Longmorn 35 yo 1976 (53%, Thosop, bourbon barrel, 134 btl.)
Miltonduff 37 yo 1971 (40%, Duncan Taylor Lonach 2008)
Mortlach 1959 & 1960 (40%, G&M 1986, Royal marriage)
Nikka Yoichi 1991 (58%, OB 2009 for LMdW, cask #129374)
Nikka Taketsuru 35 yo (43%, OB 2008, 1000 btl.)
Old Speyside 43 yo 1973 (47,8%, Eiling Lim 2016, Fino cask, 118 btl.)
Port Askaig 33 yo (50,3%, Elixir Distillers for Impex 2018, 115 btl.)
Port Ellen 16 yo 1969 (40%, G&M Connoisseurs’ Choice +/- 1985)
Port Ellen 9th release 30yo 1979 (57,7%, OB 2009, 5916 btl.)
Port Ellen 27 yo 1982 (53%, Daily Dram 2010)
Port Ellen 28yo 1982 (57,5%, Whiskysite.nl / QV.ID 2010, 136 btl.)
Port Ellen 26 yo 1983 (53,5%, Thosop 2009, cask #221)
Port Ellen 28 yo 1983 (58,9%, Malts of Scotland 2011, 267 btl.)
Port Ellen 28 yo 1983 (55,5%, Old Bothwell 2011, cask #230, 179 btl.)
Port Ellen 27 yo 1983 (55,5%, The Whiskyman 2011, 120 btl.)
Port Ellen 28 yo 1983 (55,5%, Silver Seal 2011, cask S1462, 60 btl.)
Port Ellen 27 yo 1983 (55,6%, TWA Private Stock 2010, 96 btl.)
Port Ellen PE1 (58,7%, Elements of Islay 2009)
Redbreast 30 yo 1989 (57,2%, OB for TWE 2020, Port cask #38635)
Secret Highland Malt 36 yo 1983 (51,2%, Sansibar for DeinWhisky.de 2020)
Speyside Region 1973 (52%, Sansibar ‘Chinese Mask’ 2016, 240 btl.)
Speyside Region 43 yo 1973 (46,5%, Liquid Treasures 2017, 120 btl.)
Speyside Region 43 yo 1973 (47,8%, Eiling Lim 2016, 118 btl.)
Speyside Region 43 yo 1973 (51,6%, Mancarella 2017, 50 btl.)
Speyside Region 43 yo 1973 (46,5%, Archives 2017, cask #9, 120 btll.)
Speyside Region 43 yo 1973 (46,8%, Archives 2017, cask #8, 107 btl.)
Speyside Region 44 yo 1973 (49,4%, Archives 2017, 348 btl.)
Speyside Region 45 yo 1973 (53,2%, Maltbarn, 299 btl.)
Speyside Region 41 yo 1975 (46,9%, ALOS ‘Birds’ 2016, 230 btl.)
Speyside Finest 1975 (46,9%, Beacon Spirits 2016, 54 btl.)
Speyside Region 40 yo 1975 (55%, TWA ‘Good Vibes’ 2016, Fino)
Speyside region 41 yo 1975 (48,7%, Maltbarn 2016, sherry cask, 159 btl.)
Speyside Region Malt 41 yo 1975 (47,4%, Whisky-Fässle 2016, Fino)
Springbank 27 yo 1991 (46,4%, The Whisky Agency 2018, hogshead)
Springbank 21 yo 1996 (58,1%, WhiskyNerds 2017, cask #471, 180 btl.)
St. Magdalene 1965 (40%, G&M Connoisseurs Choice, late 1980s)
Strathisla 49 yo 1960 (53,2%, G&M for The Whisky Fair 2010)
Strathisla 40 yo 1977 (48,5%, G&M ‘Book of Kells’ for TWE 2017)
Strathmill 37 yo 1974 (44,4%, Daily Dram 2011)
Talisker 30 yo (53,1%, OB 2009, 3000 btl.)
Talisker 41 yo 1978 (50,7%, OB 2019, Manzanilla, 2000 btl.)
Teeling 24 yo (46%, OB 2016, 5000 btl.)
Teeling 26 yo 1987 Vintage Reserve – Gold (46%, OB 2014, Batch 1)
Tomatin 36 yo 1976 (49,3%, Whiskyman for Fulldram 2012, 103 btl.)
Tomatin 32 yo 1981 (42,3%, OB 2014, Oloroso sherry butt #001, 405 btl.)
Unicorn 30 yo 1988 (53,6%, CWS China 2018, Oloroso butt #22)
Oldest whisky
Some of the oldest whiskies I sampled were over 60 years of age…
Glenlivet 74 yo 1949 (49,3%, G&M ‘Private Collection’ 2023, cask #11)
Glen Grant 70 yo 1948 (48,6%, G&M ‘Private Collection’ 2018, cask #2154)
Glen Grant 70 yo 1952 – Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (52,3%, G&M 2022, cask #381)
Glen Grant 67 yo 1953 ‘Mr George Legacy’ (59,4%, G&M 2021, cask #4209)
Glen Grant 66 yo 1948 (46,6%, G&M for WealthSolutions 2014, cask #1369)
Glenlivet 64 yo 1954 (41%, G&M ‘Private Collection’ 2018, cask #1412)
Glen Grant 64 yo 1957 (56,1%, G&M ‘Mr George Legacy’ 2021, cask #3438)
Glen Grant 65 yo 1950 (59,3%, G&M for WealthSolutions 2015, cask #2747)
Glen Grant 62 yo 1956 (51,7%, G&M ‘Mr George Centenary’ 2019, #4455)
Glenfarclas 60 yo 1954 (46,7%, OB Family Cask #1259, 453 btl.)
The Macallan 60 yo Lalique IV (53,2%, OB 2011, 400 btl.)
Master of Malt 60 Years Old (42,2%, Master of Malt 2014)
However some other whiskies took me even further back in time…
A Mortlach 1936 by Gordon & MacPhail bottled in 1972, and Macallan 1936 G&M ‘Stenciled flowers’.
Also, Glen Grant 21 yo (G&M 70°proof) distilled at the end of the 1930’s.
And the Haig Gold Label bottled in the 1940’s.
The oldest spirit I’ve ever tried is the Prunier Cognac Fins Bois 89 yo ‘Lot 1931’ – a stunning cognac which still showed plenty of freshness.
Most expensive whisky
Some of the most expensive whiskies sampled to date… Obviously these were the original prices – the value of some even increased further over the years.
Karuizawa 50 Years (65,2%, TWE, 2 btl.) – € 112.000
The Dalmore 50 Years (40%, OB 2017, 50 btl.) – € 60.000
Brora Triptych 1972 / 1977 / 1982 (OB 2021, 300 btl.) – € 35.000
Glen Grant 70 yo 1952 – Queen Elizabeth II (52,3%, G&M 2022) – € 23.500
Karuizawa Ambassadors’ Collection (59,1%, OB 2019, 2 btl.) – € 20.000
Glen Grant 70 yo 1948 (48,6%, G&M 2018) – € 21.000
The Macallan 60yo Lalique IV (53,2%, OB 2011, 400 btl.) – € 20.000
Glen Grant 66 yo 1948 (46,6%, G&M for Poland 2014) – undisclosed
Karuizawa 48 yo 1964 (57,7%, OB for Poland 2013, cask #3603) – € 10.000
Highest ABV
Hardly a record worth mentioning, but the award goes to a 1 year old Bielle rum bottled at a whopping 74.5% ABV. Eat that, George T. Stagg…