The Tasty Drams of 2016

There was far less dramming compared in 2016 to previous years. Not that I’m complaining. As a family it has been an unforgettable year. I’m getting back into a more normal blogging rythm and have a few ideas for 2017. So watch this space.

The end of the year means the traditional "my favourite whiskies of the year". And according to my Facebook feed I'm already a tad late with my list. But anyway... The whiskies featured on this list aren’t necessarily reviewed on the website. Sometimes it was just a whisky I tasted at a festival. And it might not be the best whisky ever but most certainly there's an unforgettable memory attached to it.


Less dramming means that the list isn’t as extensive as I hoped. For example I only tasted one whisky from the Lowlands and one single grain. Picking a "winner" wasn’t that hard for those categories.

The Tasty Drams of 2016



So, without further ado, here are my tasty drams of 2016!

Overall winner



Strathisla 1953 (Gordon & Macphail distillery label) - tasting notes
runner-up: Benromach 35 - tasting notes


Irish of the year



Chapter 7 Irish single malt 1999 (rum cask) - tasting notes
runner-up: The Irishman 12

Islay of the year



Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 - tasting notes
runner-up: Lagavulin 8

Islands of the year



Signatory Vintage Jura 1989 cask #30717 - tasting notes
runner-up: The Whisky Mercenary Ledaig 2007 - tasting notes

Highlands of the year



Wemyss Malts Glen Garioch 1989 “Fallen Apples” - tasting notes
Runner-up: Clynelish 14 - tasting notes


Speyside of the year



Benromach 35 year old - tasting notes
Runner-up: Mortlach 1954 (Gordon & Macphail distillery label) - tasting notes


Lowlands of the year



Auchentoshan Three Wood
Runner-up: none

Grain of the year



Clan Denny Cameronbridge 1991
Runner-up: none


World whisky of the year



Amrut Single Malt
runner-up: Nikka All-Malt


Blend of the year



Douglas Laing Yula 21 - tasting notes
runner-up Wemyss Malts Spice King Batch Strength 01 - tasting notes


Single cask of the year



Strathisla 1953 (Gordon & Macphail distillery label) - tasting notes
runner-up: Benromach 1974 cask # 1583  - tasting notes


NAS of the year



The Glenlivet Cipher - tasting notes
runner-up: Douglas Laing Rock Oyster Cask Strength - tasting notes


Worst whisky of the year (Avoid them!)



Fujikai 10
runner-up: John Swift Scotch Whisky



That's it for this year folks. My picks are very subjective (and not always consistent -> Speyside of the year and single cask of the year could have been the same whiskies.) Happy new year! Drink well and wisely.

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