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!
Ha ! Called it ! Dude, It’s a hard one to beat….my Laphroaig 16 is almost gone, and I’m kind of freaking out ‘cause I’m having a hard time finding it anywhere ! Looking forward to your Sanaig review….Ive heard great things. Cheers and Merry Christmas Ash !
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!
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!!
Nice! You had many to choose from this year. Is Laphroaig 16 discontinued though? Have yet to try a higher age Laphroaig but it is my favorite peated Islay thus far (the 10 cs), and I would like to try an older, perhaps a little sherry influenced version so thinking of trying the Lore next. I disliked their PX travel edition unfortunately. I don't like the meaty peat of Ardbeg and Lagavulin as much, though haven't tried that many. As for my pick, I have to wait for Christmas before deciding this years favorite Islay whisky, as I will open that 14-year Bunnahabhain Feis Ile then. It will have to compete with the Bunna 12 CS for the top spot. Cheers
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
My would be Port Charlotte 10. I think this year i also had Laphroaig select, qc, 10 which i really liked, ardbeg 8,5 , caol ila 12, kilchoman machir bay, ileach cast strength. Most of them i tried at festival. Maybe i like port Charlotte most cause i have my own bottle so i spent more time with it. Great whiskey pile you got there 💪
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!
The Final Four are real Bangers Ash. You cant go wrong with any of them. Just bought my Bunna 12CS 2023 for £62 at BF week. Didnt try it yet but it could be easy my Islay WotY2024. Laphroaig 16 was my WotY last year. I've been surprised how good and different this Laphi is. Still got more less half a bottle but i plan to buy another one because i heard some rumour this going to be discontinued. At the moment availability is low and price jumped up to over £100 Cheers and Slàinte 😁🥂🥂🥂🙋♂️
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
Great to see Laphroaig in there. I can't get the 16 year in Canada. I have to settle for a Bunnahabhain Staoisha 8 year for my favorite Islay this year. Merry Christmas. Slainte Mhath.
Not had the Laphroaig 16, but do love a Laphroaig! Personally I love the independent bottlings of ‘Williamson’ (Laphroaig!) from Master of Malt or the CS edition from Berry Bros. Beautiful stuff! And my favourite of the year I would say. Not cheap though.
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 😁
Whiskies I really enjoyed in 2024. Port Charlotte 18, Lagavulin 12 special release, Laphroaig Elements 2.0, Black Arts 11.1. My first time putting Corryvreckan vs Uigeadail head to head. Both are wonderful but this time around, Uigeadail by a hair.
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
My top 3 of this year is Kilchoman Loch Gorm, Bunna 18 and Port Charlotte SC 2012 (all older bottles I was saving for a special occasion). All of them are expensive but well worth it. I especially miss the PC Cask Exploration series. Never liked Laphroaig enough to try their older stuff. I think Islay as a whisky region is on a steep decline and has been for a while now. Thanks to stiff competition from Tobermory, Benromach, Talisker etc. there is no longer a monopoly on good peated whisky, and the salty/coastal character is constantly underutilized, relying on overpriced special expressions to carry the region. This is not sustainable and I hope they change direction soon. Ardbeg needs to stop focusing on BS priced special releases and get its core range in order, while Bowmore and Laphroaig need to wake up. Bunna and Kilchoman are the forerunners right now but even they face stiff competition.
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!
Kilchoman Sanaig cask strength for me.
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!
Ha ! Called it ! Dude, It’s a hard one to beat….my Laphroaig 16 is almost gone, and I’m kind of freaking out ‘cause I’m having a hard time finding it anywhere !
Looking forward to your Sanaig review….Ive heard great things. Cheers and Merry Christmas Ash !
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!
Loved the backwards aproach. I have not had your pick, but sounded really good. 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
Yeah I'm not surprised Ash, that one is an absolute banger of a whisky!
Apparently it’s getting discontinued according to the comments! Need to pick up a second, mines almost out 😅
Nice! You had many to choose from this year. Is Laphroaig 16 discontinued though? Have yet to try a higher age Laphroaig but it is my favorite peated Islay thus far (the 10 cs), and I would like to try an older, perhaps a little sherry influenced version so thinking of trying the Lore next. I disliked their PX travel edition unfortunately. I don't like the meaty peat of Ardbeg and Lagavulin as much, though haven't tried that many.
As for my pick, I have to wait for Christmas before deciding this years favorite Islay whisky, as I will open that 14-year Bunnahabhain Feis Ile then. It will have to compete with the Bunna 12 CS for the top spot.
Cheers
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
I called it too. Laphroig... plus 16yrs in the cask-- I can't wait to try this.
Nice one! It’s really good stuff 👌 Merry Christmas! 🎄
My would be Port Charlotte 10. I think this year i also had Laphroaig select, qc, 10 which i really liked, ardbeg 8,5 , caol ila 12, kilchoman machir bay, ileach cast strength. Most of them i tried at festival. Maybe i like port Charlotte most cause i have my own bottle so i spent more time with it. Great whiskey pile you got there 💪
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!
The Final Four are real Bangers Ash. You cant go wrong with any of them. Just bought my Bunna 12CS 2023 for £62 at BF week. Didnt try it yet but it could be easy my Islay WotY2024. Laphroaig 16 was my WotY last year. I've been surprised how good and different this Laphi is. Still got more less half a bottle but i plan to buy another one because i heard some rumour this going to be discontinued. At the moment availability is low and price jumped up to over £100
Cheers and Slàinte 😁🥂🥂🥂🙋♂️
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
Great to see Laphroaig in there. I can't get the 16 year in Canada. I have to settle for a Bunnahabhain Staoisha 8 year for my favorite Islay this year. Merry Christmas. Slainte Mhath.
Merry Christmas! 🎄 🎅 🥃
Not had the Laphroaig 16, but do love a Laphroaig! Personally I love the independent bottlings of ‘Williamson’ (Laphroaig!) from Master of Malt or the CS edition from Berry Bros. Beautiful stuff! And my favourite of the year I would say. Not cheap though.
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 😁
Whiskies I really enjoyed in 2024. Port Charlotte 18, Lagavulin 12 special release, Laphroaig Elements 2.0, Black Arts 11.1. My first time putting Corryvreckan vs Uigeadail head to head. Both are wonderful but this time around, Uigeadail by a hair.
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
Laphroaig Elements 1.0 is my favorite this year. I just picked up the Laphroaig Elements 2.0 yesterday and haven't opened it yet.
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 🥃
My top 3 of this year is Kilchoman Loch Gorm, Bunna 18 and Port Charlotte SC 2012 (all older bottles I was saving for a special occasion). All of them are expensive but well worth it. I especially miss the PC Cask Exploration series. Never liked Laphroaig enough to try their older stuff.
I think Islay as a whisky region is on a steep decline and has been for a while now. Thanks to stiff competition from Tobermory, Benromach, Talisker etc. there is no longer a monopoly on good peated whisky, and the salty/coastal character is constantly underutilized, relying on overpriced special expressions to carry the region. This is not sustainable and I hope they change direction soon. Ardbeg needs to stop focusing on BS priced special releases and get its core range in order, while Bowmore and Laphroaig need to wake up. Bunna and Kilchoman are the forerunners right now but even they face stiff competition.
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!