Your best whisky of 2013

[albo]

Afternoon all,

This is now my anual thread (Well I did one last year and I'm doing one again now) to ask what your personal whisky for the year 2013 was? We know Jim Murray has given his award, the malt maniacs gave out a few awards too, but what about you personally which whisky would you rate as the best you have tried in 2013?

It could just be a favourate distillery bottle, or something old and rare you managed to get a sample of. Whatever was your whisky highlight of the year and why.

There are a number that stand out for me this year.

I tried the new Balblar '90 which has been recently released and that was great.

I've tried a couple of cracking SMWS Port Charlottes too which really satisfy the peat freak in me.

Last year I think I gave my nod to the Balblair 73 which I sampeled again this year and once more it was excellent.

I tried the Old Pulteny 30 which was great but sampleled at a whisky exibition so probably wasn't given the chance it should have been to shine. And a Talisker 30 at the same place.

Lastly I picked up a bottle fairly recently of SMWS Glen Moray 25yo which for me was outstanding.

So what was the winner, if you were to strip money out of this, then I'd go with the Balblair 73, however, as I have the nod to that last year and I'm a frugal sort.

So the winnder is...

Balblair 73. I just love it!

Edit to say, I missed out of here a 70s Brora I had in January of the year, that would actually run the Balblair close, very close, it's the first Brora I've tried and I was impressed.

[bifter]

Like you I tried the Balblair 75 this year, plus the 83, 90 and 03. The 75 is still the best of the bunch for me.

I also tried most of the Balvenie range this year, including 12 Doublewood and Single Barrel, 14 Caribbean Cask (overated?), 17 Doublewood, 21 Port Wood and the Tun 1401 Batch 8. The Tun 1401 wins hands down of that little lot.

Then there was the Glenmorangie Cask Masters event, all three were great but I agree with the result of the vote that the Manzanilla finish, to be called Taghta (IIRC), was the best.

The SMWS have knocked out some fine whiskies this year including those stellar CIs and some great Glen Grants, and a quite amazing Macallan sherry bomb probably the best of the bunch - 24.124.

I've had a few Whisky Broker releases this year including a lovely 20yo Longmorn but the best by far was a first fill ex-bourbon 14yo Springbank, in fact probably the best single cask malt as I've tried this year.

The highlights of various events or purchases include Highland Park 30, OP 30, SWE 21yo blend (better than the 25), Dewars Signature, Kavalan Solist Bourbon, Laphroaig 10 CS004. I have to admit Talisker 30 was a huge disappointment

So it's quite a formidable field but I think my favourite this year has to be the Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 8. I take a dim view on NAS whiskies generally but this just goes to prove they can be fantastic!
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"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[drPete]

Tun 1401 8, together with the Tali 20 (the 82 release), the sample of Balvenie 83 I had recently was pretty fine too.
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Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

[Quaich1]

I have had the opportunity in 2013 to purchase (and i did a lot of that) and sample/ try a wide variety of single malts both through my own whisky adventures and at my single malt scotch club.

I have enjoyed greatly a number of fine single malts but the following stood out to me:

Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams 48.8%abv

Benriach 18 Year 56.7%abv

Laphroaig Cardeas 2012 Feis Isle 13-21 Yr. 51%abv, 220 bottles (30 imported to Canada)

Bowmore The Devil's Cask, 56.9%abv

Caol Ila Distiller's Edition-Moscatel 43%abv


I have to say that my pick of the year is Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams. The reason-It appeals to me in everyway. It's not a typical expression from this distillery. It is full of surprises and the trip between nose, palate and finish left me impressed with its balance and complexity. I have spoken about being enamored with this one before.
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"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[Diademo]

Best of 2013 (15 days left!):

Regular production:
Tomatin 30
(second: Glenfarclas 30)

Limited Edition:
GlenDronach 1989 - 22yo (PX Puncheon #5475 - Batch 7)
(second: Craigellachie 1994 - 18yo Cadenhead's (Small Batch)

[Alexppp]

No contest for me, the best I've tried this year is a tie between the Glenfarclas Family Cask 1968 and the Family Cask 1979. Both of them are outstanding for different reasons, the '68 was a sherry bomb with amazing depth and a finish that goes on forever, the '79 was a lot subtler and lighter. It was matured in fourth or fifth-fill cask but it was clearly a cask that still had a lot to give.

Among the regular production whiskies I'll stick with Glenfarclas and go for the 30 year-old. Also the Balvenie Caribbean Cask was a great discovery.

[Big Mac]

I will have to think about this one, there have been a few.

[Brent CA]

I still consider myself new to Scotch malt whisky but in the past year i have discovered some amazing whiskies and if i was to pick one from them it has got to be Ardbeg Uigeadail, the balance of peat and sherry combined with the bottling strength makes this whisky the best i have tasted to date.

[Bookie]

The whisky which i tried for the first time this year that really stands out for me was the Highland Park 25 year old.

[Archer]

I was impressed with the new Macallan Sienna this year and the Bowmore the Devols Casks was excellent.

[5-12-1908]

I visited the Bladnoch Distillery and bought a 25yo bottle (apparently it is technically from the previous owners) but I cant drink.
I have cherished, cuddled and sweet talked this bottle....I intend to open it on feb 1st!
Although not the best tasted this year.....I have cherished it more than any other....if that counts?

[James T]

I cant say i have a single favourite but there are a few bottles i have had this past year which have been superb:

Highland Park 25 year old
Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Red Wine Cask Finish
Benriach 17 Solstice 2
Bowmore The Devils Casks
Balvenie 17 Doublewood
Benromach 25 year old
Glenlivet Alpha
Dalwhinnie 25 year old 2012 special release
Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Port Ellen 27 year old

And my award for best newcomer or to put it another way best new distillery core range bottling goes to Kilchoman Loch Gorm which i have been drinking tonigh, this really is coming of age nicely

[Quaich1]

I've already postd my favorite and best scotch of 2013 but I failed to mention a very special dram I had the opportunity of trying this year from an unopened bottle which will likely rate as one of my favorite scotches of all time-

Bunnahabhain 37 Year, Malt Trust, Single Barrel, Cask#12423, bottle#154, 45.5%abv. in a rosewood Lacqueur box.

**Actually I had 2 large pours of it.

_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[whisky_rob]

Dram I most enjoyed - Glenfarclas 1983 Family Casks release X
Best discovery of the year - Glenlivet 12 First Fill

[slaintefloor]

BBR's Blue Hanger 2nd, 4th and 6th release .. in that order