Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024

“Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024”

As you all know the purpose of Best Shot Whisky Reviews is to give my personal opinion on Whiskies from all around the world. As it's important to maintain my independent position, I'm not engaged in any commercial activity. But, as I have done over the last 10 years, I would like to make an exception to be able to share with you the new edition of The Malt Whisky Yearbook by Ingvar Ronde that has been released every year since 2005. 

As always, the Malt Year Book is packed with highly interesting stories, this time amongst others about Australia (The New Whisky Power House), Whisky Evolution, The Succession Conundrum of Scotch Whisky, Oxidation, Back to the Future (The Revival of Tradition) and the Relevancy of Heritage. The writers include Neil Ridley, Joel Harrison, Ian Wisniewski, Andrew Derbidge, Johanne McInnis and Kristiane Sherry.

The most important part of the book remains the detailed description of Scottish and Japanese Distilleries & slightly shorter presentations about Single Malt Whisky Distilleries from the rest of the world. All in all, a total of 821 Malt distilleries are presented with updated facts.

And there's much more such as a new item called The State of Whisky featuring  a number of Whisky icons, a presentation of 150 of the best Whisky Shops in the world, a comprehensive summary of the past whisky year and an entire chapter about the world's most important independent bottlers.

Whisky Statistics, Best Whisky Web Sites (including Best Shot Whisky Reviews 😃), Distilleries per Owner, Closed Distilleries & New Distilleries and Maps complete this Book that also contains more than 500 color photos and over 200 Tasting Notes.

Year after year, this book not only manages to inform you in depth about the Malt distilleries all over the world but it also gives you solid background info that gives you an idea of the state of today's Whisky market. That's basically all you need if you want to buy one book on Whisky. And that applies to both Whisky enthusiastics and people that work in the Whisky industry.

On top of that, this book is certainly not expensive for what it offers (US$ 20) and is sold in Whisky Shops, International Book Stores, Distillery Visitor Centers and of course at the editor's website:

Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024

I wish you lots of fun with the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024!

Cheers!

Jan

GlenDronach 1993 Master Vintage

Dear Whisky Friends,

Today is a very special moment for me and Best Shot Whisky Reviews. After some time in Europe with our family there I'm back in Brazil and ready to write Review # 1000. I never thought I would reach this number when I started back in November of 2011. I thought it would be nice to look back at Review # 1 where I reviewed the Johnnie Walker Red Label. I've learned a lot about Nosing and Tasting Whisky since then! Here it is: 

=================================================

Review # 1

Country: Scotland

Brand: Johnnie Walker Red Label

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age:   Around 8 Years

Alcohol: 40%

Colour: Light Amber

Nose: Grain, a light Malty Sweetness, a bit of Peat and Islay Smoke (Caol Ila) and lots of young Grain Alcohol.

Taste: Rough, Some Smoke, Burns a bit on the tongue. Very faint Vanilla.

Finish: Sharp, Hot and Spicy (Pepper). Your mouth becomes very dry after a short while.

Rating: 76 

Nose: 20 – Taste: 19 – Finish: 18 – Overall: 19

General Remarks: Whilst a little Water eases the burning sensation, it kills the blend completely.

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good

Conclusion:  Hard to explain why this is the world’s most popular blended whisky. It shows what good marketing can do. Save a bit more and go for the Black Label. What a difference! As for Red, preferably on the rocks or for mixing.

Jan van den Ende                                                                    November 7, 2011

=================================================

But that was then and this now! For Whisky Review # 1000 I have selected a very special Whisky that I tasted for the first time at the distillery back in 2017. It was probably the best Distillery Visit and Tasting Session out of all those we experienced during our Whisky trips in 2014, 2017 and 2019! I'm really looking forward to have a look at this 25 Year old GlenDronach!

I would like to thank all Whisky friends that have made Best Shot Whisky Reviews their point of reference. More than 4.5 million page views since 2011. Who could have thought that! The famous whisky writer Ingvar Ronde made me the greatest compliment possible. He wrote that "he liked my honest reviews" and also that "if Jan thinks a whisky is not good he will tell you". Of course I realize that personal taste is strictly subjective. You might love a Whisky that I don't like. But after 1000 Reviews I can at least tell you if the new made spirit and casks used where of good quality and if maturation time was sufficient. I'm really looking forward to continue writing my reviews and I hope you will continue to read them!

Cheers!

Jan

=================================================

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

Whisky Review # 1000

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands

Brand: GlenDronach 1993 Master Vintage - Bottled 29-01-2019

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky 

Age: 25 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48.2% (On or around Cask Strength)
Maturation: A mix of Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso casks from Spain

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 400-800 (November 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 It can't be cheap of course but it is too expensive!
Buying Advice: 😐 Good Single Malt but so is the better priced Allardice 18

Colour: Dark Mahogany (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Please be sure to give this GlenDronach enough time in the glass before Nosing as it opens up slowly. There's a bit of Sulphur around but nothing to get worried about. The Nose is mostly Sweet but not annoyingly so. There are also Sour, Salty and Mineral notes. The Oak is noticeable but does not overwhelm, leading me to believe that probably mostly (2nd) Re-Fill casks were used for maturation. Christmas is in the Air as Christmas Cake, Dried Fruit, Spices and Nuts lead the way. The Alcohol is well-integrated. Well-Matured Rum and Brandy come to mind as well. I like it!

Main Aromas:

Toasted Barley, Molasses, Caramel, Dried Fruit such as Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots, Plums and Figs, Mixed Nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Walnuts), X-Mas Cake, Marzipan, Chocolate, Espresso, Polished Old Leather Upholstery, Oak, Earth, Nutmeg, Cloves, Cinnamon and Mint/Menthol.     

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Yeast, Wax, Vanilla, slightly Sour Mulled Wine, Dunnage Warehouse, Salted Meat, Prune Jam, Tobacco, Soy Sauce, Dark Berries, Citrus, Green Apple, Pepper, Garam Masala and Ginger.    

Palate:

It basically follows the Nose but in a less balanced way. The Alcohol, Oak &  Spices are stronger now and threaten the Fruit. The Palate is mostly Bitter-Sweet with some Salty, Sour and Mineral notes for balance. Quite Dry. I was expecting more to be honest!

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Molasses, Caramel, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Plums, Figs & Prunes, Marzipan, Nougat, Mixed Nuts, Seville-Orange, X-Mas Cake, Oak, Dark Chocolate, Leather, Earth, Soy Sauce, Black Tea, Espresso, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves, Garam Masala and Menthol/Mint. 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Wax, Vanilla, slightly Sour Mulled Wine, Dried and Salted Meat, Dried Herbs, Dunnage Warehouse, Tobacco, Iron, Dark Berries, Cinnamon and Ginger.    

Finish:

Long, quite Tannic, slightly Hot and Dry. Sweet at first but with developing Bitter & Sour notes towards the end. The Alcohol is more noticeable now and so is the Oak.I find Toasted Barley, Molasses, Caramel, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates, Figs, Sultanas & Prunes, Mixed Nuts, Dark Cocoa, Oloroso Sherry, Orange Liqueur, Black Tea, Espresso, Soy Sauce, Tobacco, Leather, Oak, Iron, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg,  Garam Masala, Ginger, Cinnamon and Menthol. The Finish is the less interesting part of this GlenDronach.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that eases the Alcohol and the Sharp notes in general. I also get some Fresh Stone Fruit on the Nose now. The Finish becomes even longer with lots of Tannic notes and Menthol. It's certainly worthwhile to experiment with a little Water in this case.

Rating: 8 (********)

Nose: 8.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but quite Tannic and Oaky.

Conclusion:

GlenDronach was founded in 1826 by James Allardice in Forgue, Aberdeenshire. It changed hands various times before being acquired in 2016 by Brown Forman. The core range consists of the 12 Years, the 15 Years Revival, the 18 Years Allardice and the 21 Years Parliament. We visited the distillery in May 2019 and we had an unforgettable time there. I will treasure this memory for always. A very nice Tour and a tasting that included the whole range of the distillery plus some extras. Great! I can only fully recommend a visit!

The casks for the 1993 Vintage were selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie. It must be said that various of the best 1993 casks have been released over the years as Single Cask editions.

I specially selected this GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 to be my Review # 1000. I bought it especially for this purpose at the distillery in 2017. I tasted a 25 Years there that blew my mind & I expected this Master Vintage to be very good as well. I am a bit disappointed though with this 25 Years edition. It's a good Single Malt of course but it's a bit of a one track pony. I quite like the balanced nose but the Dry Palate and Finish are hijacked by Tannic Oak and loads of Spices. It's a nice after-dinner Whisky to be enjoyed under the Christmas Tree. But it's not exceptional and it should be at this price level!

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                 November 30, 2023

Tormore 16 Years

 

“Wood I Lie To You”

Whisky Review # 999

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Tormore

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Batch #: Unknown

Age: 16 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48%
Maturation: Unknown. I presume a mix of American Oak (Bourbon + Sherry)

Chill Filtration: No

Price: Around US$ 90 (August 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Okay
Buying Advice: 😐 Not quite my style as Wood and Spices dominate but...

Colour: Amber with shades of Orange  (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Be sure to give this Tormore sufficient time in the glass before Nosing as it opens up rather slowly. The nose is a mix of Sweet, Sour and Musty notes with Malt, cooked Fruits and Orange leading the way. Quite Creamy.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Cooked Apples & Pears, Dried Fruit like Figs, Raisins, Plums, Apricot & Banana, Orange Marmalade, Dusty Casks, Peanut Butter, slightly Sour Red Berries, Cinnamon, Ginger, Paprika powder and Leather.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Mixed Nuts, Grass, Forest Floor, Floral Perfume, Wet Rocks, Wet Newspaper, Artificially-Flavoured Candies (Nectarine, Melon, Pineapple), Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cardamom and Aniseed.

Palate:

Bitter-Sweet, Creamy and slightly Hot. Heavy Cask influence. The Fruit is still there but Malt, Cask and Spices start to take the upper hand. Quite Dry & slightly Meaty.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Malted Barley, Vanilla, Mixed Chocolate, Nuts and Nut Shells, Orange, Pear, Red Apple, Dried Fruit like Raisins & Plums, Red Berry Liqueur, Dusty Casks, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Cardamom and hints of Leather and Tobacco.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Butterscotch, Resin, Coconut, Yogurt with Tropical Fruit Flavour, Coconut, Cinnamon, Aniseed, Licorice, Wet Rocks, Grapefruit, Stale Espresso and Varnish.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Creamy, Bitter-Sweet and quite Dry. Oak and Spices are in control by now. I also find Toasted Malted Barley, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Nuts and Nut Shells, Coconut, Dusty Oak, Red Apple, Orange, Red Berry Liqueur, Cocoa and Coffee, Dried Herbs, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom and Cloves.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water sort of kills this Tormore.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion:

Tormore is certainly a relatively new distillery and was founded in 1958 by Schenley Int. Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard) acquired the distillery in 2005 when it took over Allied Domecq. It is located in Grantown-on-Spey (Morayshire). The distillery has a production capacity of 4.8 million litres. Most of the Tormore Spirit is used in Blends like Ballentine's, Long John, Cream of the Barley and Chivas. The core range merely consists of the 14 and 16 Years. Surprisingly, Chivas sold Tormore in 2022 to Elixir Distillers. The new owners (Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh) plan to refurbish the distillery and construct a Visitor Centre. I'm convinced they will also try to position Tormore globally as a valid Single Malt and not just as an (important) component of Blended Whisky.

The first batch of this Tormore was released in 2014 but I have no information as to what Batch I'm reviewing today. Most batches have matured in Ex-Bourbon casks but I'm pretty sure that the Batch I'm tasting right now matured in both Bourbon casks and sherry-infused American Oak.

I've had some independent well-matured Tormore malts in the past and rather liked them because of their character although they perhaps overstayed their time in the casks. The latter might be true for this 16 Years as well as Wood and Spices are quite dominant on the Palate and in the Finish. But I don't find that character here in the same density. It's rather dull actually. It's Malty, Creamy and Powerful what makes it perfectly suitable as a Blended Whisky component. But on a stand alone basis this Tormore 16 years does not convince me. The price level is okay though so if you like the Aroma and Flavour profile you should try it out.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                        August 10, 2023

Waterford Ballymorgan Edition 1.2

“Unfinished Sympathy”

Whisky Review # 998

Country: Ireland 🇮🇪

Region: South-East

Brand: Waterford Ballymorgan Edition 1.2

Type: Single Malt Irish Whisky - Single Farm Origin Series - 30.000 Bottles

Age: 4 Years (2016 - 2020)

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50%
Maturation: Mixed Barrels (See Conclusion)

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 55-70 (August 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Borderline okay
Buying Advice: 😐 There's potential here but it's just too immature

Colour: Pale Gold (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Please give the Waterford a little time in the glass before Nosing to avoid the initial waft of Varnish. With that out of the way you clearly get the Virgin Oak, present in most West-European whiskies. The Nose is Young with various Bakery notes. Lots of Toffee and Vanilla as well as some Sweet and Sour Fruity notes. Not bad but rather underdeveloped. The Alcohol is noticeable but not as strong as you would expect in view of the high ABV.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, German Butter Biscuits, Toffee, Vanilla, Yeast, Bread Dough, Apple-Filled Pastry, Hay, Dusty Track, White Chocolate, Dairy, Sour Berries, Fresh Herbs, Cinnamon and Ginger.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Treacle, Farmyard, Floral Perfume, White Port Wine, Artificially-Flavored Candies (Orange, Lemon, Banana), Slivovitz, Varnish, Sweet Tropical Fruit Salad, Oak and Pepper.

Palate:

Young, Thin and slightly Hot. The Cask and its Spices come to the front. It's like soaking White Bread in New Make Spirit and cover it in Spices. It's not bad but it tastes like a semi-finished product.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Toffee, Vanilla, Dough, Yeast, Fruit-Flavored Candies (Orange, Green Apple, Lemon, Banana, Pear), Sour Berries, Grapefruit, Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves, Nutmeg and Licorice.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Sugary Honey, Caramel, Floral Perfume, Slivovitz, Milk Chocolate, Leather, Tobacco, Fresh Herbs, Cinnamon and Aniseed.

Finish:

Middle-Long, quite Hot & a little on the Thin side. Sweet at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the Dry end. The potential is there but this Spirit is very Young & clearly requires some additional Cask time. I find Toasted Barley, Caramel, Vanilla, Toffee, Resin, Varnish, Pastry, Sour Berries, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Floral Perfume, Dusty Track, Bounty Candy Bars, Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Mint, Licorice and Cloves. Slightly stale Espresso after a while.

Drinking Advice:

A little Water helps to control the Alcohol of course and that's a plus. On the minus side you lose a lot of the Flavours. A few drops can't hurt but don't overdo it.

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 6

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay but way too Young.

Conclusion:

The Waterford distillery is located in the town that bears the same name and was founded in 2014 by former co-owner of Bruichladdich, Mark Reynier. The current production capacity is one million litres. Waterford seems to specialize in organic & biodynamic whisky using local products whenever possible. The Single Farm Origin Series are made with Barley produced on a single farm. In the case of the 1.2 I'm reviewing today the barley was produced by Robert Milne in the County Wexford.

The 1.2 Edition matured in the following very interesting cask combination: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Casks (37%), Virgin US Oak (20%), French Oak (23%), Fortified Sweet Wine-Vin Doux Naturel (23%).

The Waterford Distillery took a lot of effort to create something special here. They took Single Farm Barley and matured the Spirit in a variety of casks of good quality. They gave it everything but...Time! Four years is simply not enough and the Virgin Oak and Hot Spices are in full control. And that's a pity because I feel that the full potential of the Fruity Waterford Spirit is there. It just needs to be left alone for at least 12 Years. I really hope to be able to taste a fully matured Waterford in the near future.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                         August 3, 2023

Tomatin 2007 (Gordon & MacPhail Discovery)

“So Many Casks So Little Time”

Whisky Review # 997

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands

Brand: Tomatin 2007

Matured & Bottled By/For: Gordon & MacPhail - Discovery Series - Bottled: 2018

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: Almost 11 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: First-Fill Ex-Bourbon casks

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 50-60 (July 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay
Buying Advice: 😑 It's okay but not more than that

Colour: Light Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

It's like walking into a Bakery. Dough, Grain, Yeast, Sugar and Butter are all there. It's a Young Spirit by all means and the Alcohol is slightly noticeable. The Nose is not bad and the casks are of good quality. There's some Fruit in the background but all in all it's a bit forgettable.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, German Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Bounty Candy Bars, Dough, Yeast, Apfel Strudel, Banana Ice Cream, Floral Perfume, Cigar Box and Grass.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Lemon, Nectarine, Poire Belle Helene, Cashew Nuts and Peanuts, Cinnamon and Mint.

Palate:

Young, Light but Creamy and mostly Sweet. Nothing that really calls my attention I'm afraid.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Apfel Strudel, Banana Ice Cream, Bounty Candy Bars, Pine Nuts, Grass, Cigar Box, Cinnamon and Pepper.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Demerara Sugar, Buttered Toast with some Marmalade, Nectarine, Lemon, Pineapple, Floral tones, Herbs, Ginger and Mint.

Finish:

On the Short side and rather Thin despite a Creamy mouthfeel. Mainly Sweet but with some light Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. Easily the weakest part of this Tomatin. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Vanilla, Buttered Toast, Honey, Nuts Candy Bars, Warm Apple Sauce, Peanut Butter, Pineapple on Heavy Syrup, Floral tones, Fresh Herbs, Lemon, Cigar Box, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Menthol and Pepper. A little Hot in the aftertaste.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Tomatin.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Conclusion:

Tomatin was founded in 1897 by the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company. In 1985 the distillery went into liquidation and was bought in 1987 by Takara Shuzo Co. and Okara & Co, both from Japan which was quite remarkable at that time. In fact, Tomatin was the first Scottish distillery that became fully owned by Japanese companies. Currently the shares are being hold by Takara Shuzo (81%)  Marubeni (14%) and Kokubu (5%). Tomatin has always been a distillery that produced large quantities of Spirit for Blends but in the last 15 years they started to concentrate on producing and marketing Single Malts as well. As a result, the production decreased from well over 10 million litres in the 1970's/1980's to around 1,8 million litres in 2022. They still produce Blends as well though. (Antiquary, Big T and the Talisman). Today's Single Malt core range includes the NAS Legacy, the 12, 18, 30 and 36 years. In 2016, new packaging and bottles were introduced for the entire core range.

I'm a big fan of Gordon & MacPhail and I was looking forward to taste this Tomatin but I have to say that I'm rather disappointed with this Highland Whisky. The idea of the Discovery Series is to let people get acquainted with the most used Cask-types at an affordable price. As such this Tomatin works. The casks are of good quality and the Vanilla shines highlighting the Ex-Bourbon casks. But as a whole it's a rather Thin and uneventful Single Malt that would have benefited from more time in the casks. I know that it would have become more expensive but still....

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                         July 24, 2023