Least favoured whisky of 2013

[albo]

Yes it's the Ying to the best whisky of 2013's Yang.

It may be that the whisky was rank (I'm looking at you SMWS and some of your shameful sherry casks) or it was a disapointment considering what you were expecting (The boy on one of the stalls at the Edinburgh Whisky Festival badgered me into trying a Bourbon which he said tasted like bacon frazzels, which he assured me was a good thing - It did indeed taste like the afore mentioned crisps, though it really, really, isn't a good thing in any way shape or form). Even the OP 21 which Jim Murray voted whisky of the year a coupe of years back was a disapointment, a very good whisky to be sure, but whisky of the year? REALLY?

Anyway this year once again it goes to my friends at the SMWS this time round the award goes to 4.181 - A Muscle Man From Orkney - A 16yo Highland Park ex sherry, which I was really looking forward to, as it's quite rare for the SMWS to get an ex sherry HP, they seem to have several ex bourbon HP's. However, as with so very many SWMS sherry casks, this one was awful and rank with sulphur and sadly undrinkable. My father, who I previously thought was unable to detect sulphur, hated it also which is saying somehting.

[bifter]

SMWS are probably the worst culprits when it comes to sulphur, perhaps because they've actually attempted to make a virtue of it. As they have persisted I assume they must be making good money but can it be good for business in the long run or for their reputation? Knowing what I know I have only encountered a couple of sulphured SMWS drams this year, a Mortlach and a PC, and they could have been worse.

Also, some of the growing gamut of NAS drams are, truth be told, just a little too strident and/or immature for my liking (and that's coming from me ). If I took money into account the Macallan Gold would be in the dog house whereas the Ardmore Traditional Cask might be forgiven some imperfections. However I think the worst example is Talisker Storm, especially given the price, and it is my least favoured whisky of the year.

So NAS are my favourite and least favourite whiskies - a mad world, my masters.
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"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[rlemkin]

My nomination goes to a sample of Isawa 10 year old. Smelt like straw covered with ammonia... tasted like it too.
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Wee whisky rants and reviews

[Alexppp]

[drPete]

Macallan Gold - a £10 supermarket whisky
Talisker Port Hoo-ha - just dreadful in every sense
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Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

[Quaich1]

This is an interesting category. There have been some single malts I have tried this year which didn't equate with my expectations going in. I wouldn't say they are the worst I have ever had but there was something missing or alternatively something there that I could have done without. In the latter category would be Glenmorangie Lasanta. I have come to the conclusion after some"revolving door" thought on this one, that it in the end does have a sulphur problem. The finish "finishes" it for me. I will not buy another bottle of it unless they resolve this issue. In the former category, I agree with Dr. Pete that the Macallan Gold though quite drinkable does not measure up to what I expected in the end considering price. Probably the worst whisky that I have had this year is Caperdonich Over 11 Years, Provenance. It has the most lovely nose but the palate and finish do not compute. I have tried it a number of times now and this is my final conclusion. It leaves a bad bitter taste in my mouth in the end, something that rarely happens to me during tasting. I think the only times I have enjoyed it was when I paired it with something quite sweet which really rather than bringing out the positive features of the dram just masked the bad ones.
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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)

[Big Mac]

I cant say i have anything to add here, all my my purchases these days are considered before buying and may not be the outstanding drams some reviews say but they certainly havent disappointed me so i wouldnt like to list any here as being a poor dram as i honestly havent had a poor dram in the past year. What has changed in the last year, indeed the last few years is the quality for your money but that change is worldwide due to the increasing demand for premium stuff and the limited amount available to supply this demand.

I have tasted the new no age statemnet Taliskers, of which the Dark Storm being my favorite closely followed by the Storm and i didnt find the Port Ruighe to bad either like some, thats taste for you, very individual but none of them match up to the existing range of 10, 18 and 57 North for quality for money.

The Macallan Gold was a bit of a disappointment to me being a big Macallan drinker, not quite a fine or a sherried oak but the rest of the new range was superb although i am no fan of this no age statement trend, when they want to charge big bucks they should declare the age.

[Archer]

My big mistake of the year was buying a bottle of the new Glengoyne 18 as i enjoyed the old Glengoyne 17, the 18 was a little sulphur tainted and that combined with its high price has put me off Glengoyne.

[Alexppp]

[5-12-1908]

Being unable to drink this year.......IM GUTTED!!!

Although I have added a few bottles to the collection
Next year....I'll be drinking again....in moderation. God its been hard. (Although im doing that cancer uk no drinking January....will it never end!)

But I have looked at the Macallan Lalique and would like to think I would have turned my nose up at such pretentious an offering.

[Big Mac]

[newhey]

Glenmorangie Lasanta. Horrible sulphur ridden mess. Smelt of stink bombs, taste of rotten eggs. Can't believe they had the nerve to sell this awful stuff. I also had the misfortune of trying a sample of Cu Dubh, just burnt caramel with a slight Whisky odour. Fowl stuff.

[Genuine Risk]

Auchentoshan 27 year old single cask from master of malt. Could in fact be the worst whisky I have ever had, tried decanting, adding water, adding coke etc nothing worked. Down the drain it went. They also released an Arran that was pretty bad as well although that was from the Boutique-y whisky range.

I also had a Dailuaine from whisky broker which was way to sweet for me but it found a good home.
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Putting the func in dysfunctional.