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 drinks in the price range
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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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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
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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87
Talisker 35 Year Old - 2012 Release
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“It is always a pleasure to taste such great whisky. Tasted it almost blind ( one from under the counter :P )”
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86
Octomore 5 Year Old / Edition 4.2 / Comus Islay Whisky
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“I could spend the rest of my life drinking this Octomore”
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85
Ardbeg Alligator Untamed Release
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Perhaps the best Ardbeg I have had. Quite delicious complex nose.”
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85
Balvenie Tun 1401 - Batch 2
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“All the lovely Oloroso character of Balvenie with a touch of sweet sherry. SImply gorgeous...if only it wasn't so expensive”
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85
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85
Caol Ila Feis Ile 2010
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“I am really regretting not having attended Feis Ile festival. Gorgeous dram.”
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85
Caperdonich 17 Year Old / The Rare Casks
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Lovely whisky. I like it even more than the last time I tasted it”
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85
Highland Park Loki / 15 Year Old / Valhalla Collection Island Whisky
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“I am happy with the bottle that I have bought. Loki is definitively better than Thor but still I think it has a wrong price tag”
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85
Kilchoman Feis Ile 2013 - Limited Cask Release
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Nice and wild. The way I love my Kilchoman whiskies”
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85
Lagavulin Distillery Only
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Rather interesting dram that you can only taste at the distillery ... or with the chaps of Master of Malt. I prefer though the raw power of the 12 years old.”
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85
Lagavulin Feis Ile 2011
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“This Feis Ile whisky is a sea christened Lagavulin: Laph-gavulin!”
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85
Laphroaig Cairdeas Origin
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“I can't think of a better way of celebrating 18 of Friends of Laphroaig club, of which I am just another proud member! Slainte Mhath friends!”
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84
Antiquary 12 year
Scotland Blended Whisky
“I was expecting something like Chivas 12yo and found instead a fantastic lovely smoky blend. So much spices and such a lovely smoky hug. Quite enjoyable”
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84
Balvenie 21 year Portwood
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Not bad but Balvenie can do a much better whisky than this Portwood”
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84
Ben Nevis 16 years old The Rare Casks
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“I am not Jim Murray but there is sulphur in this whisky and for me it really spoil the fun. It could have been a fantastic whisky”
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84
Bunnahabhain 23 years old The Rare Casks
Scotland Single Malt Whisky
“Nice Bunnahabhain with a small hint of smoke and lots of pepper and spices... it is almost a Talisker”
What do you think?