2013 in review - The good and bad

2013: Japanese whisky becomes more accessible in Australia.

The good: Whisky Nikka from the Barrel - points for good value. The bad: Talisker Storm - I had so much hope for this release.

I thought Talisker Storm was great. Talisker turned up to 11! That being said, the best bottle I opened this year, was Redbreast 12 year old Cask Strength (batch B1/12) at a healthy 58.6%abv.

I was disappointed with a bottle of Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 Year Old. it was nothing special and had a somewhat off putting finish. For the price, I would have been happy with other blended malts like Suntory's Hibiki 12, the discontinued JW Green Label, or Spencerfield Spirits oddly named but tasty Sheep Dip!

Best I tried this year: Glenmorangie Signet. A friend of my got it, and he gave me a dram. It was amazing!

Worst? Did not really have any bad experiences. How about that!

Best of 2013:
Balvenie 30, Highland Park 25 (50.7% release), HP 30, Four Roses 125th anniversary Limited small batch. Ardbeg Supernova, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel proof, Glenmorangie Signet and Nikka Yoichi 20.

Worst of 2013: Koval Four Grain, Woodford Reserve Masters Sweet mash, Jim Beam Black, Glenfarclas 10, Tomatin 12, Basil Haydens and Wild Turkey Rare Breed.

This past year I tried over 150 different whiskies and these are the highs and Lows.

Thanks for sharing guys!

@Maltmark not a fan of the Rare Breed? I haven't tried it yet, but I'd heard some decent reviews of it. That's a shame.

For me, 2013 was probably the first year that I really immersed myself in the wonderful world of whisky. I tried close to 50 different single malts. Some were memorable, some weren't and in some cases I think the setting made all the difference. I don't have a single stand out, but here's my list.

Best of 2013: Gordon & MacPhail 1979 Port Ellen and Glendronach 1978 33 year old single cask (from an Oloroso puncheon). These rate at the top for me not because they're rare, not because they're old (older than I) and not because they're expensive, but because they were genuinely fantastic.

Until I tried these, I honestly don't think I really understood the concept of a truly complex whisky. Wave after wave of evocative aromas and flavours made these incredibly memorable drams for me - the kind of experience I'm not sure if or when I'll experience again. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Other honourable mentions go to the Adelphi Liddesdale batch 5 (21 year old Bunnahabhain) which I shared with my father at a whisky fair. Also, SMWS 73.60 'Watching the Monaco Grand Prix from a roof terrace'. As an F1 fan the name of this really struck a chord with me and made me smile, as did the lovely 24 year old Aultmore inside the bottle.

Least favourite of 2013 would have to go to the Auchentoshan 12 year old. It could have just been the setting, but I struggled to find anything about it that I liked.

Most surprising of 2013: For me it's a tie between the Powers John Lane 12 year old Irish whiskey (amazingly flavoursome and elegant) and Kilchoman's Machir Bay (I've tasted young whiskies before, but wow).

As the year closes off I'm putting Springbank 10 yo and Balvenie 12 Sig as my top choices from my cabinet. Springbank floored me and the Balvenie gets a spot here as well for the surprising chewiness I found in this straight forward yet delicious Speysider. (Can't say that about other spey'ers I've tried)

Good - Springbank 15 is my understated gem of the year. Tried a couple of excellent indie Clynelish bottles which might just be my distillery of the year. Started discovering good Bourbon and American whiskey, (particularly Eagle Rare 10 and Blanton's Gold) and might venture more that way in 2014. Most poignant though was Bowmore 25 - an excellent whisky but the last drink I had with my Dad and I get emotional just looking at the bottle now, (tribute review posted in September).

Bad - Agreed that Talisker Storm was not all it was cracked up to be. I tried a dreadful Inchmurrin last Spring. And I can't believe I'm saying this but the Bowmore 15 Darkest I tried tonight was just not what I remember, (it was always a personal favourite in years gone by).

Oh, and I'll also add my biggest disappointment of the year: Caol Ila 14YO Unpeated Sherry Cask. I found it overpriced and insipid.

Oh, I need to add one more to the best list - a 1973 40 year old single cask Balvenie, hand drawn by David Stewart. Truly unique.

I don't think I've had a particularly bad experience in 2013 with respect to Whisky.

In terms of highlights, my discovery of (or rather, introduction to) bourbon, particularly Booker's, was definitely one of them. My recent serendipitous discovery of the original (?) Amrut cask strength in miniature form and subsequent tasting and sourcing of more would be another.

A'Bunadh 44 was a winner, and increasing my knowledge of Whisky was a lot of fun.

@MacBaker62 Maybe the bottle of Talisker Storm that I had was an off-batch. The first tasting of it at the Whisky Live 2013 Melbourne was good. The bottle I bought after that, not so good.

This was the year that I discovered Bruichladdich and PC. I know they’re in style right now, but they’ve earned it through adherence to quality and clever marketing, so I say good for them. Also, I’m always happy to shell out my hard-earned dollars on Kavalan Solist and Willett Family Estate releases. In terms of go-to drams that get points for consistency; there’s HP12, Bunnahabhain 12, A’bunadh, and Lahp 10. I’ve revisited all of these several times throughout this year and they were always affordable, reliable, and unfailing.

On the down side this year was the year that Johnnie Walker Gold 18 yo was visibly phased out in favour of the Reserve here in Taiwan. I can't comment on the Reserve, I haven't tried it yet, but I am sad to see the 18 yo go. Luckily some bottles are still up for grabs, but it's getting pretty hard to find in shops these days.

The nicest surprise for me this year was Benriach. I had 2 single casks, each of which was uniquely excellent. They were my first from this distillery, and I couldn't be happier.

The Good? The biggest positive whisk(e)y finds for me this year have been Corsair Quinoa Whiskey and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Quinoa I call "The New Rye", a quasi-grain fully capable of carrying a whole new class of whiskeys. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is, if it is continued, made a regular addition and more available, a totally worthy "Booker's Class" new affordable barrel strength bourbon. Wonderful news for American-whiskey lovers.

The other HUGE find for me this year has been that an addition by volume of no more than 5% of wood-aged, e.g, 8 YO or more, rum (young Gosling's 151 is also woody enough to work well) will resuscitate to good drinkability soured out bourbons, ryes, and bourbon-aged malt whiskies. I now have many old bottles which are once again very enjoyable which I had feared that I would have to throw out.

Two other very positive development recently: 1) in the last couple of years the Canadian distillers are putting out an increasing number of high quality products. This is a good time for the quality of Canadian whisky, within Canada, that is. 2) new US distilleries are popping up at a pace almost too fast to keep track of. At current rates of expansion (which I do not expect), there could in 30 years time be more malt whisk(e)y distilleries in the US than in Scotland.

The bad? 1) the disappearance of aged stocks of Scottish malts, coinciding with the rise of No Age Statement Scottish Malts, 2) the increasing scarcity of the US premium products, including the disappearance of aged stocks of US bourbons and ryes 3) the beginning of absurd pricing of US premium products, even in the US, 4) the continuing degradation in the quality of Scottish sherried malts, as a group; happily with some distilleries maintaining high standards, 5) most of the most desirable Canadian whiskies are available only in Canada, and 6) the Canadian distillers still adamantly refuse to take the incredibly simple step of GREATLY upping the quality of their product lines by selling a few products at 50% ABV or higher.

The good: Kilchoman Manchir Bay 2013, one of my favorite drams this year, Talisker Port Ruighe, I changed my mind on Ardbeg, it is indeed a great distillery and I got a bottle of Old Pulteney 1990 (distilled the year that I was born), I will post my notes very soon. Tamdhu was relaunched under new management (I'm sure the guys from Glengoyne wil turn this into a class act), Wolfburn filled its first casks, the Adelphi distillery has its stills and will probably start it's production in the near future and the good and kind people of ChivasBrothers brought Glen Keith back to life. And Benriach Co. bought Glenglassaugh.

The bad: the price of the special releases from Diageo this year: bottles like Port Ellen and Brora (reopen that distillery you lazy sods!) have become pure collector's items that most likely will end up on an investors shelf. Mortlach will become a luxury brand and the Glendronach 15yo revival only seems to increase in price

The good: discovering Connosr and all the wonderful people and resources that this website has to offer. I do not mean to sine anyone out because truly everyone's help has been phenomenal. @Victor has helped to introduce me to a whole new world of American bourbons which are my first great love in whiskey and there were so many premium products that I was unfamiar with. I thank everyone on Connosr for posting reviews which I some day hope to do when I feel knowledgeable enough to contribute significant and not sound like an newb:).

The bad: One time my glass ran out of whiskey and that kinda sucked.

Contribute significantly* ......still wish we could edit posts haha

Best and most surprising: Amrut 100 (exploding with exotic flavors)

Worst: Glenrothes Select Reserve (flat and sharp in the throat)

@Victor It is a worrieng developement...

@PeatyZealot Jeez, worrying