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The laphroaig is still my favourite of the year, I just love it but recently it’s become discontinued and is now £120 not the 85 that it was so I couldn’t choose it over a £50 cask strength aged Campbeltown and it does taste really good too! 🙂 I imagine it’s been done to make way for the very expensive 18 year old (laphroaig) cheers Sertug! Same to you, let’s make 2025 with even better content!

True and now the laphroaig 16 is becoming discontinued according to some comments previously and I’ve just checked and it’s jumped from £85 to 120 so I just couldn’t make it the winner even though I love it. I just can’t do whisky over 100 so I’ll have to find a different laphroaig! Let me know how you get on with benromach, I’ve only had the 10 so far but I really enjoyed it, the 15 should be a big step up 😊 both that and the Arran are fantastic value! Your whiskies of the year really interest me, I’d love to try a better bladnoch and Filey bay isn’t a massive way away from me, I do want to try more English next year. I’ll look out for the STR cask, cheers! Hope you had a great Christmas 🎄

Oooh, interesting. I would personally go the other way with the bunnas, absolutely love the 14, I guess because of the reasons you dislike it, full of red fruit, very sweet. The 12 Cs I really didn't get along with, I wanted the 12 but amped up, but it was a completely different beast. Have you tried the 14 with a drop of water? Really changes the balance of flavours.

@@nicktunney2733 That is interesting yeah. The 14 is juicy for sure, not sure about very sweet though. Found it to be spirity as well. Do you enjoy red wine as well, or was that read wrong? :) The 12 CS I find to be uniquely nutty/almondy which I enjoy greatly. The Bunna saltiness fits very well with that as well, I think. I did try the 14 with water, but only had the neck pour thus far so will give it more chances. Maybe some of the elements I dislike settles down a bit, and hopefully I can enjoy it more

​@@mormorgranat 100% with the nutty/ almond. Making me want to revisit it now 😁. I'm really not a red wine fan (so far anyway), but do love the richer deeper dark fruit of a good port, so I guess that's why it works well for me. Be interested to see how you get on once it's settled a bit. I'm always amazed at the difference between neck pour and a month down the line.

Haha that’s the thing, there’s always more to try! 😅😂 I think you will enjoy the port Charlotte. Interesting! I love unpeated Bunnahabhain but not every cask finish works. Happy new years! And thank you 🙂 more to come from me in 2025

Yeah it’s true, I think it’s market dependant now the Oban, because for £40 in Germany I think it’s really good but not the 80 in the UK

I’ve not tried the 10 but I look forward to hopefully doing so. I believe it’s a big step up from the one I have

Thanks so much Thomas, hope you had a great Christmas! 🎄 I totally agree with your views on whisky but also people having different preferences and also getting differing notes about whisky, it’s the differences that make it so great to talk about! Otherwise it would be boring 🙂

Yes it’s a shame that it’s not 46% non chill filtered for sure, it would definitely take a few more steps forward if that was the case. Hope you had a great day yesterday 🥃

Fair enough! I can certainly see why you like the deanston so much, it’s very Christmassy! Hope you had a great day yesterday 🙂

Yes I agree, that’s the same as the UK. Oh okay, I must admit, I’ve yet to try a Loch Lomond. Maybe one for 2025 🙂 hope you had a great day yesterday! Thank you, I did!

Yeah that’s the problem Gary, I don’t know why the UK price it so high. I saw it for 65-70 on Black Friday but normally that 70-80 like you say which is a shame! I love the whisky as you know but I couldn’t recommend rushing to the shops and paying 85 it just seems a lot. I think maybe there could be a Boxing Day-new year sale which could be a better time to pick up! 🤞

Thank you so much, they’re very kind words and really appreciated. Merry Christmas! 🎄

Cheers Ian, thank you I really appreciate that. Merry Christmas! Hope you have a great one! 🎄

Merry Christmas Christine! I’m sending you lots of thoughts and prayers 🙏 wishing you a good recovery and a blessed 2025 and I hope you’re spending this Christmas with family and friends! I actually was supposed to move to Asia next month in a new job (5 months waiting) but it got cancelled 2 days ago with no explanation… life I guess! Positivity is key with everything and I know you share the same thinking process ☺️ 2025 will be better for the both of us!

@@WhiskyWarsThank you so much Ash. Oh I hope everything works out with the job you were hoping for. I care. I’m working on health. Peace!!

Thanks for that comparison! I’ve recently heard good things about this whisky too so I will keep an eye out for it next year and buttery star fruit certainly does intrigue me! (I love heavily buttered whiskies too) Yes the deanston 10 is a great one! Heavily cask influenced so I’ve ordered the 12 to see its DNA so to speak. I’ll do a war between them when I’m back in the new year for you but I’d say go for the 10 if you want the baking spiced red fruit! 46% NCF too (if memory serves me right) thank you, Merry Christmas! 🎄

@@WhiskyWars Ok great, I'll probably await the review then

If it’s a good price then I’d say go back! 😁 but I do have to admit, it’s overpriced here in the UK

@@WhiskyWars That's why I put it back. Only OK, and I'm a bit of a bargin hunter!

A man after my own heart! Same here, you have to be really though in todays market 😅

That’s a fantastic idea and congratulations for being so patient and not opening it! Almost there and Merry Christmas! 🎄 🥃

Thanks!

That’s a good question but it’s nice to smell the notes in the whisky that you will hopefully also get on the taste. You do tend to get more notes from the taste but many can pick up some of it in the nose beforehand so it’s a nice warm up/intro 🙂

Haha I await your JW full review 😄 it surprised me I have to say, better than expected but intrigued to see which you find is better. (I’ve only ever had red green and blue) I assume it’s gold or 18 maybe 18! Let’s see!

I could drink these 4 when I’m back nearer new years if you want to remind me nearer the time! And I could give you a better rating 1-4 But from memory I would say, RB then Bushmills/jameson then greenspot especially considering price but I would strongly recommend picking up the redbreast 12 cask strength. I don’t know which market you’re in but in the UK, the cask strength is only about 20% more expensive so I really recommend picking that up and adding water if you want over the standard 12. Hope that helps! The Bushmills 10 and Jameson black barrel go on crazy offers quite regularly though for £25 ish which makes them fantastic for the money. The greenspot is still good but at around £40 it’s not got quite the same value as the others when they’re on offer. If you want sherry the redbreast is your best bet, if you don’t then I would avoid it

@ thank you. I’ve tried RB about 5 years ago but can’t recall it. I do like sherry speyside type but am looking to venture more into the Irish ones just for smoothness. I’ve ordered a bushmills 10 for £24 which I thought was a steal, I’ll pop it open over the Christmas period. Happy holidays!

Great buy! Enjoy 🙂 and Merry Christmas! 🎄

Thanks for letting me know your thoughts! Perhaps I’ll go for the 15 instead but if I get it, I’ll try to remember that sour grape note! The Campbeltown loch is a good one, I have the first batch though which apparently is very different and way less sherry than the ones that came a year later until now so I wouldn’t be able to be too accurate but I did enjoy it although I found it the most similar to the Kilkerren 12 out of the single Malts that I have in that region but the new blend is likely very different from what I hear. Don’t worry about being the odd one out.. honesty is everything, I seem to be in that same boat with regards to the ardnamurchan that I have too so I know the feeling 😅

Haha fair enough! I will hopefully pick up a bottle of the EC barrel proof soon, a lot of people seem to really like it 🥃 Merry Christmas!

@WhiskyWars Merry Christmas, friend! Cheers to you and yours 🍻

That’s good to know! I’ll pick up another of their range next year and give it another go 🙂

Merry Christmas! 🎄 🎅 🥃

I’m really struggling to finish the crested stout if I’m honest with you, I definitely don’t recommend it to people. Merry Christmas! Hopefully you’re drinking something nicer over the holidays

Fair enough! It’s a very popular dram so I’m sure you’re not alone. You can’t really go wrong with their core range they’re all good 🥃

@@WhiskyWars if you're into Irish whiskey, give Yellow Spot a go if you haven't tried it. My personal fave..

Love it! Seems to carry a high price tag but very very tasty. I can see why it’s your favourite. I might try one of their wine finished green spots next year since I’ve not tried those and they’re a little cheaper, probably won’t be as good but worth a try!

@@WhiskyWars most people I know prefer the green spots! Maybe price is a thing, it's why I haven't picked up a red, blue, or gold spot!

Same here although I got lucky and got the blue on a good deal.. really didn’t enjoy it though. Merry Christmas by the way! 🎄🥃

👀

Apparently it’s getting discontinued according to the comments! Need to pick up a second, mines almost out 😅

Thanks, nice to know! I would like to try that one some day, it does sound very tasty!

Nice! 👌 enjoy it, I haven’t tried either but I can imagine just how tasty they must be! That’s a special one to sip on over the festive period 🥃

Totally agree! 👍

Wow! 😮 okay okay you win! I must admit, the black arts is my bucket list whisky. Yeah I totally understand, I think most would agree with you too but we can both safely say they’re both great drams! 👌 Merry Christmas! 🎄 head to heads are so fun to do too

Nice one! It’s really good stuff 👌 Merry Christmas! 🎄

Hahaha you know!! Don’t forget the pigs in blankets too!

Same here! 🥲 some people have commented that it’s becoming discontinued! And I’ve a feeling it could be due to their new 18 being more than twice the price 😭 thank you. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

😂😂😂 it’s nice to share a dram with your partner though, makes it easier to buy more whisky that way too because you can say it’s for her 😂 I think you will! Slightly sweeter and more rounded than the 10. I like to think there’s a crème brûlée note on it! More people seem to prefer the 10 but I really like the select too especially for the price! You’re welcome Koby, cheers! 🥂

Cheers Jon! I think it’s a beauty although a couple people have just let me know that it’s becoming discontinued! 🙁 maybe to facilitate the new 18 coming in at more than twice the price!!

@WhiskyWars I am not sure who is buying at these prices. I love whisky, but it it becoming too hard to bring home better expressions

I totally agree

Oh wow, some tasty stuff right there!! I think you make a good point, there’s other regions producing some amazing peated whisky that definitely gives us more choice and that can only be a good thing for us! Maybe at a slight detriment to the Islay region like you say. Amen with your ardbeg statement I totally agree 👍 cheers!

Oooft now you’re talking! I’ve never tried a Hazelburn but it’s one for my bucket list for sure 👌 Arran 10 just won my island of the year award but I only bought it last week otherwise it very well would have featured in this video! 🙂

Ah that’s a good idea! I’d love to try an independent bottling of laphroaig one day. Exactly but if it’s amazing then for Christmas definitely still worth it 😁

@ oh yes, totally agree there Ash 😁

Ooft now you’re talking! Based on how I’m feeling about the standard Sanaig I bet the cask strength is a real beauty!

@@WhiskyWars it is. It's everything i hoped it'd be, and more.

Uncorked it last night. Superb! Bought and really enjoyed the cask strength Machir Bay, and then I bought a second bottle and enjoyed that one, too. And all along, I, like so many of us who have had Sanaig, wondered "So, if cask strength Machir Bay, why not cask strength Sanaig?" And here it is. And it delivers! Also two pours into the Kilchoman 100% Islay 13th Edition. Absolutely superb!

That’s great to hear!

The port Charlotte is incredible, one of my favourites too! You’ve had some great islays this year. Some of my favourites go to islays in your list 🙂 you’ll love the laphroaig 10 cask strength!

Yes I’ve just had a comment about that but that’s the first I’ve heard about it. I hope it’s not the case but maybe it makes sense now that they’ve released their 18 year old for £100 more!!! I think I’ll do the same and get another bottle of the 16, great value if you compare it to the 18. Over £100? 🫣🤯🥲 what is happening to the market, such a shame but it would back up the rumour that it’s going out

I wasn’t aware of that, as of 1 month ago I saw it available to purchase at the normal price but maybe it will be soon? In that case I may need to buy another bottle! The lore is great and not as fruity as the PX so I do think you’ll prefer it but it does still have a lot of quarter cask that the PX has so that’s something to keep in mind. Oh nice one! Do let me know your thoughts on the 14 year old, I loved the 12 CS so I’d be really interested to know about your 14, I’ve a feeling it will be very tasty, enjoy!

@@WhiskyWars I haven't tried the px in a while, but I remember the taste being mostly oaky and not very good, and the sherry was so separate from the other parts it was really weird. Not integrated. Yeah I'll yell my neck pour verdict of the Feis Ile. And speaking of neck pour verdicts, unfortunately my thoughts on this Talisker 18 has dropped since I raved about it last. Strange how different it has been from the first pour. Now it's a bit less of everything and a bit more alcohol. So now it's only great, and not some amazing thing. So disappointing when you have that amazing first experience. Live and learn