The Best 20 Whiskies from Islay
Whisky or Whiskey? Who cares!? But what does define a great whisky? Why some whiskies stand over the rest? What makes a dram the best?
So hard questions... but let me make some ideas clear: older doesn't mean better and more expensive usually doesn't mean better neither. So, this list of delightful bottled pleasures is crafted by using the rating I have assigned to each of them when I have tasted them.
I, over all, love young peated whiskies, mid-age sherried monsters, old bourbon casks whiskies and very old grain whiskies. So, don't get surprised if the list shows this personal preference. You can find whisky recommendations list for a community-built list of best whiskies. Help us improve it even more by recommending your favorite whiskeys.
Without more delays, here is the list of the best Drinks available right now. You may want to see this list with all-time best whiskeys.
The Best 20 whiskies from Islay
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88
Ardbeg Renaissance
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“The best most fantastic peated whisky that I have had in a lot of time...”
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88
Ardbeg Still Young
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Simply awesome, mind blowing. Forget Supernova, Uigeaidail or whatever. This is Ardbeg!”
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88
Bunnahabhain 40 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Mindblowing subtlely good! This is bottled perfection. I need this”
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88
Laphroaig 27 Year Old Oloroso Cask (2008 Release)
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Heaven exists! And I am really happy this bottle is sold out because I would have had to buy one no matter the price.”
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88
Port Charlotte 25 years old Burns Malt #1271
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“( Just checking right now how much this cost... because definitively I need one! )”
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87
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Really like Ardbeg promised: it is a whirlpool of whisky. Don’t forget your life jacket.”
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87
Ardbeg Supernova SN2010
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“An awesome release. More complex than Ardbeg 10 years old, definitively hotter and more earthy. If you are in the peat wave do your best to get one.”
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87
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“A great dram. One of the best Ardbegs I have tried that has still a reasonable price. It is more complex than Ardbeg 10 years old and has no trace of vanilla.”
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87
Bowmore 18 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“The peat on this truly Islay malt lives together with a delicious citrus freshness altogether with some great notes of cocoa and nuts. Thirsty already?”
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87
Bowmore 27 year 1982 The Octave
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Amazing whisky! A masterpiece. Something remind me of Master of Malt Bowmore bottling. Love this stuff.”
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87
Bunnahabhain 1988 / 24 Year Old / Sherry #2800 / Signatory Islay Whisky
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Oh my! Oh my! This Bunnahabhain is matured to perfection and it could make you think you are drinking something ten years older. Get one now”
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87
Bunnahabhain Drm An Stireadair - Feis Ile 2014
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Lightly peated they said! Muahahahaha fantastic stuff! A pity it is so hard to grab a bottle of this for a reasonable prize”
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87
Caol Ila 18 Year Old / TWE Retro Label Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Oh my God! Fantastic Caol Ila! It has been much like the first time I tasted Peat Monster. A life-changing experience”
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87
Lagavulin 16 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“This Lagavulin is a superb Islay whisky with its amazing peat complexity. Really one of the best bang for the buck single malts out there.”
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87
Laphroaig 32 years old
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Fantastic dram but to be fair I was expecting something in the line of Laphroaig 27 years old but better... I have to taste that dram again...”
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87
Octomore 02.2 Orpheus
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Bruichladdich isn’t lightly peated anymore. Very similar to the 02.1 release. This Orpheus has an extravagant pink color and the same peat punch than 02.1, slightly more fruity and delicious.”
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87
Octomore Edition 02.1
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Splash! Peat! Splash! More peat! Splash! Octomore! Peat, sea, Islay, awesome whisky from Bruichladdich at an incredible peat level of 140ppm.”
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87
Port Ellen 6th release 27 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Even after eight great whiskies this Port Ellen stands over them. Peat-astic!”
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86
Ardbeg 17 Year Old 1994 - Mission (Murray McDavid)
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Sublime nose! Greatly well aged Ardbeg whisky with all its peat muscle still there.”
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86
Ardbeg 18 Year Old 1993 - Mission (Murray McDavid)
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Oh my! Such peat explosion! A great Ardbeg that is even better than some of the distillery cask strength expressions.”
What do you think?