We’ve tried and recorded in excess of 1000 whiskies between us, since starting our ‘The Whiskey Chaps’ tasting journey (and many more prior to that). The vast majority of those whiskies (whisky, whiskey and bourbon) that we try will fall into the nice or very nice category (there are a few that we would say are ‘bad’, but I’m not going to mention them here).
Conversely, there are a handful of whiskies that have been truly memorable. These are the whiskies that, throughout the tasting experience, have proved to be as near to perfect (for us) as it gets: nose, flavour, balance, nuance brand story etc.
Those that have made it into our all-time ‘whiskey top 10’ are listed below (this is a fluid list (pun intended!)).
These are our top 10 whiskies of all time!
| Position | Whisk[e]y |
|---|---|
| 1 | anCnoc 24-Year-old 46% ABV |
| 2 | Wemyss Malts Untold Riches (Bunnahabhain) 28-year-old 49.1% ABV |
| 3 | Kilkerran 8-Year-old CS (2021) 56.9% ABV |
| 4 | Longrow Red 11yo Pinot Noir 53.1% ABV |
| 5 | Waxhouse Release 004 (Cotswolds STR Cask) 54% ABV |
| 6 | GlenAllachie 10-Year-Old Cask Strength Batch 6 57.8% ABV |
| 7 | Glen Scotia 14-Year-old Tawny Port Festival Release 2020 52.8% ABV |
| 8 | A.D. Rattray Bunnahabhain 2009 66.7% ABV |
| 9 | Little Brown Dog – Benrinnes 2012 Single Cask 55.4% ABV |
| 10 | Ben Nevis 11 Year Old (2010) Dràm Mòr Cask 195 54% |
| List compiled by @whiskeychap |
Special mention: Shenks Honestead 2020, anCnoc 18-Year-Old, Cotswolds Bourbon Cask, A. D. Rattray Warehouse Collection 7yo Glenallachie, SPEY Tenné.
| Position | Whisk[e]y |
|---|---|
| 1 | anCnoc 24-Year-old 46% ABV |
| 2 | Jameson Black Barrel Cask Strength 60% ABV |
| 3 | Bushmills 16-Year-Old 40% ABV |
| 4 | Strathisla 12-Year-Old 40% ABV |
| 5 | Bladnoch 14 Year-Old 46.7% ABV |
| 6 | Cù Bòcan Creation #3 46% ABV |
| 7 | Glen Scotia 14-Year-old Tawny Port Festival Release 2020 52.8% ABV |
| 8 | Bushmills SMWS 51.17 54.6% ABV |
| 9 | Highland Park 12-Year-Old SMWS 4.260 61.3% ABV |
| 10 | Hazelburn 10-Year-Old 46% ABV |
| List compiled by @stillsurreal |
You don’t have to pay silly money for good whiskey, and nor should you! Below is a list of some of the best value readily available whiskies, in our opinion:
| Position | Whisk[e]y | Price (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ledaig Rioja Cask Finish – Sinclair Series 46.3% ABV | £32 |
| 2 | anCnoc 12-Year-Old 40% ABV | £30 |
| 3 | Wild Turkey 101 50.5% ABV | £30 |
| 4 | Three Ships 12-Year-Old 46.3% ABV | £40 |
| 5 | Redbreast 12-Year-Old 40% ABV | £43 |
| 6 | Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old 46.3% ABV | £40 |
| 7 | Ardbeg 10-Year-Old 46% ABV | £40 |
| 8 | Black & Gold 11-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey 45% ABV | £60 |
| 9 | Old Perth Cask Strength Blended Malt 58.6% ABV | £42 |
| 10 | Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky 46% ABV | £28 |
| List compiled by @whiskeychap |
Special mention: Dingle Single Malt (£50), Green Spot (£43), Laphroaig Quarter Cask (£43), Maker’s 46 (£40) and Four Roses Small Batch (£31).