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5 Whiskies I REGRET Buying..
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- čas přidán 16. 03. 2024
- Have you ever purchased a whisky you thought you loved, only to regret buying it further down the line? Well, we’ve all been there, and in today’s video, I am going to talk about some of my biggest whisky regrets. Hopefully, you can learn something from my mistakes so you don’t end up wasting your hard-earned money like I did, and let me know if you made any of the same mistakes I did!
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Disclaimer: This video is only a reflection of my personal opinion and perspective.
I've never regretted any so far. It's all been a learning curve for me to find out what style of whisky I prefer. Only regrets I've had with whisky is not trying some sooner before prices went up. Those that I don't like become cocktails or drank with a mixer
A year ago, I would've argued that I missed out on Lagavulin 16 (which I tried too early in my journey to really appreciate). Now I know better :D
I started my journey pretty recently, fell in love with primarily Islay whiskeys. Got a lot of Bruichladdich, Kilchoman, Bunna, Laphroaig, Ardbeg at home that are amazing. One of the most expensive I got was Lagavulin 16, and to me it doesn’t even compare to the others. It’s getting so much love but I’m starting to suspect it’s a nostalgia thing for most.
I completely agree, I bought one and will never buy another. The eight year old is much better
I'd agree and I can understand totally. Almost the same here. There are better options way cheaper like the Coal Ila 12. Secret tip. Buy the Illeach Cask Strenght. It's coloured but I suspect Lagavulin in this no name Islay single malt. Cheers bud
Completely agree. I've had 3 or 4 bottles. The first was amazing, but every bottle after it was significantly inferior.
@@theras18Ileach CS is excellent!
Try a Berry Bros. & Rudd Williamson. Which is in fact an unchill filtered Laphroaig which tastes fantastic! 😀
I have started my whisky journey with Aberlour 14. I went on a tasting event and I felt in love with it. I bought one. It took me a year to finish that bottle. During that year I have tasted a lot of other whiskies. I will never buy Aberlour 14. Lagavulin 16 also doesn't live up to it's name anymore. Especially at that price. Grest video!
1. Sullivans Cove ex Tawny $400
2. Furneaux Sawyers Bay ex Tawny $220
3. Dalgety IB Craigallachie 12 $140
4. Laphroiag PX cask $180
5. Divergence PX cask $215
Tasmanian whisky will get ya. Never pay more than 200. Even then, it better be good. I had a Spring Bay Sherry cask recently. Great quality casks. Ok price, $190. 700ml bottle.
I’d pay over $200, but probably only for Overeem or Heartwood now. Although I’ve got two Fannys Bay bottles that are amazing, a Hillwood that’s incredible and a Callington Mill that’s also tasty.
But a lot of others are way over priced for the quality you get.
Callington Mill is going to be doing big things, great barrels, good liquid, 700ml, 46%+ and under $200.
The new recipe for the Starward 100 Proof is incredible too, well worth the $150 asking price. It’s so succulent
Another vote for Laphroaig PX cask. Horrible.
Lagavulin 16, hands down.
It’s not even close.
I’m a black coffee, smokes & cigar kinda of guy.
For many years, i thought whiskey was ‘meeeeh’.
Then i tasted Laphroaig Quater Cask, and i was sold. Found the ‘10’, and with that, found my ‘go to’.
Everybody said, try Lagavulin 16. Most disapointed i have ever been with a whiskey.
I’d take a Laphroaig or Ardbeg 10 over it any day …and it would be cheaper.
I like the Lagavulin 8 much better than the 16
Lagavulin 16 is perfection in its style. It’s just a shame it goes for about 175$ in Canada.
@@MisterNiner
Same problem here.
For the money, i prefer Laphroaigh 10 instead
...or if i want to spend the extra money, then Ardbeg 10 beats them both by a mile :)
My regrets from my collection ; Macallan 15 Double Cask , Balvenie 12 Doublewood, Dalmore Cigar Malt , Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve , Jura 18 and Amrut Fusion
Amrut Fusion ? It's so difficult to get in most parts in India as it gets sold very quickly
I agree with you on the Jura 18. Such a disappointing whisky. Thankfully when I had it I got the mini bottle in Scotland so I didn’t buy a big one.
I was thinking of buying the Dalmore Cigar Malt. Why did you not like it? What about it wasn't good?
@@chriswicecarver3715 the bottle i have has a very strong tannin taste and a heavy funk taste. Also i think it is overpriced
I've only really been into whisky for around 2 years now and have to agree about Lagavulin 16. I don't dislike it, but I don't think it's as good as I anticipated. It's not a patch on the Lagavulin 8. However it's also not my biggest regret. Step forward Laphroiag Select. 40% ABV, chill filtered and coloured. I love smokey/peated whisky but Laphroiag has never been my favourite and the Select is my least favourite of the Laphroiag releases I have, fortunately it's cheap but thats it's only redeeming feature.
Still producing great videos Phil. More power to ya.
Thanks Phil. Went a a Regional W&S whisky night in Wellington years ago. We tasted 6-8 Bowmore's from the 12 up to a 21 as well as the theme whiskies such as Legend. There were probably 25 of us and we rated the 12 the best of the bunch. Since then I have bought a 12 every couple of years and I have to say it has definitely lost its appeal. On the other hand I'm working my way through a bottle of 105 and its as good as its ever been to my palate! Keep up the good work!
I'm in the beginning of my whisky journey and I actually bought the Aberlour 12 from your recommendation - and I absolutely LOVE it.
I haven't really regretted any of purchases as for now, but there are some that I will not be replacing.
I don't think I will be replacing the Dalwhinnie 15 - it's a nice dram, but in my country it just doesn't match the price range it's in...
Agreed
Normally i´m not into these 'oh how bad this whisky is'- lists, but i thought okay, i like that Phil, let´s hear what he has to say and in the end i couldn´t agree more with you.
Benromach - YES!! It´s so good and so rich, it works younger, it works at 43%, even the slight filtration seems to be helpful with this ultrarich, malty destillate, which is just very, very good as it´s presented. So before you buy a 21 year old, go buy the kiln dried oak, the bordeaux cask finshed one and the 15 year old and you´ll not regret you now spend 10 Euro more or something compared to one bottle of 21 but marvel at these three absolutely fantastic whiskies. They need to stop pumping out one good contrast bottle after the other as my shelf starts to look like an arsenal scarf.
My Bowmore 12 is the Jura 10. I love my Highland Parks, my Arrans, my Ledaigs and my Taliskers especially, I´m really into this Island stuff, but i have no idea why that one was made and under no circumstances i`ll finish the bottle i have open. I will not give it to a friend of mine. Maybe to someone homeless. If he looks unfriendly. No, i won´t, that´s not right. I´ll drop it on toast to make the chicken drunken like we did as kids. That´s what it´s good enough for. .
The argument about young destilleries being forced to sell too early because of financial pressure, risking their reputation that way. Very true. I experienced that as well and for the same reasons you mentioned i won´t write with which destillery. I´ll just go back there when they had more time and give a better review then hopefully.
Aberlour Abunadh Batch 78 is to me what the latest Glenfarclas 105´s have been to you. It´s just not good, not well made from my point of view. I use it to spirit up other disappointments, like the biggest one i bought last year:
My "Aberlour 14" is the Glenlivet 18 bottled at 40% abv. Whoever is responsible for the decision to water that whisky down so very much should live out the rest of his days alone at St. Helena or in Guatanamo. It´s a crying shame what they´ve done to what could have been a great dram. It´s just a bad business decision as long as they care for the opinion of whisky lovers. If they sell to the business lounge or something like that mainly, okay, if it works for them, but the whisky is bad without any good reason. When they are able to sell this for 85€ why not going for 99€ and give us the 46% instead? I´m sure there are many whisky lovers out there who´d appreciate that greatly. Is that really a whisky that needs the price comparison without being compared by the abv? I mean, who is buying this stuff anyway? And all that is no big company problem at all. When you look at Glenmorangies Quinta Ruban for example, where they kept it at healthy 46% but gave it two more years time to keep the quality even with maybe a bit less good casks - they got a truly great whisky as a result, offered for a surprisingly low price that i´ll keep buying forever, as long as it stays that good.
SLB bourbon turned me on to your channel. I’m a bourbon guy just getting into scotch. Bought many high dollar bourbon bottles only to be disappointed. Appreciate your candid comments. Going down an Ardbeg rabbit hole currently. Loving the peat and can’t wait to explore more distilleries. Thanks again.
My biggest regret was the Teeling small batch. I love Irish whiskey and rum finished single malts and thought I’ll give it a try. Haven’t purchased anything from Teeling since.
I totally agree..
I bought Teeling single grain... probably won't buy any Teeling again
Been meaning to try the Teeling Single Pot Still whiskey as I've heard good things about it.
I got the Rum finished version several years ago at an airport but it has grow on me since its been open, first few pours hated it but has got better since its been open which am glad as its a litre bottle! Not sure i would buy other Teelings though even with it getting better bit too light finish for me.
Thankfully I decided to buy some 50ml bottles of both Teeling and writers tears products… not for me either, though I have had some of the Teeling 21 which was actually fantastic, and the writer’s tears cask strength was decent
Completely agree regarding the Loch Lomond, some of the later Macallans did not quite match its price range, cheers 👍
Great video Phil! I find my regrettable bottles are the
-glenallachie 10 batch7
-mortlach 14
-tamdhu 15
-glenturret 12
-dalmore 12 (gift)
- glendronach 12/15 (gifts)
Perhaps that means I do not enjoy sherried whiskies but I honestly did enjoy my deanston 10 PX, M classic cut 2018, SB15, and glenallachie 12.
I bought Dalmore 12 when I was starting to get into scotch because of its apparent popularity, the marketing, and the awesome bottle design. A couple of years later, I haven't made much of a dent in the bottle. First of all, it's rather expensive for a 12 year, but I also find that it lacks the body and character that and I find in cheaper oloroso options like the Glenfiddich 12 (also an early purchase). The liquid isn't bad by any means, and I'm sure that their more premium options are worth a try, but thanks to this channel and other resources, I've had better knowledge for my latest purchases. The artificial coloring and chill filtering is also a turn-off.
I remember trying Penderyn when it first came out and it was very young, but the consensus was it will be great in a few years time. I defiantly agree with what your saying about releasing whiskeys early, and to try them again later, as Penderyn has developed a long way and has some wonderful bottles.
I'm less than 2 years into the journey. My regrets were primarily in the first few months and thankfully have been limited in number, in large part due to channels like yours, Ralfy, Aquavitae, etc., that gave me better insight into what to buy. But there were a few that, for me, were complete misses, Such as:
Highland Park 12 - hated the burnt rubber finish, gave the bottle away. In fact, I quickly learned peat, in general, isn't my thing....yet.
Auchentoshan 12 Year - absolutley bland and watery, not sure I'd even like it at higher ABV
Old Pulteney 12 - Didn't hate it, but just didn't connect with it. Maybe if it was 46% I'd feel differently
Green Spot - I do not get the hype for this one
Russell's Reserve 10 Year - When I wasn't sure if I'd trend towards Bourbon or Scotch, this was a major pivot on the road away from Bourbon towards Scotch. This is maybe the worst of the bunch, tasted like nail polish remover to me and I gave it away. In fact. most Bourbon I have tried has had that solventy aspect to it, in comparison to what I would call the more refined profile of unpeated Scotch.
Luckily, most of the aforementioned were fairly affordable mistakes, but one that I actually like, but is a "value regret" because I think it costs twice as much as it should ($105 USD in my area) is Tobermory 12. If this was a $60 whisky, it'd be a regular on my shelf.
Cheers!
Glad I could help limit those regrets!
Old pulteney 10 is really good, do try . I was pleasantly surprised.
1. Knockando 18 - I thought it would be nice to have a 18 year old single malt from Speyside for a very affordable price of 60 euros. Well, this does NOT taste like a 18 year old whisky at all. It has this very sharp woody note to it. I would recommend to save up for a Glenfiddich 18 or An Cnoc 18, very smooth and complex flavors for an also very affordable price.
2. Lagavulin 16 - just because of the price/quality ratio. It is not that well rounded for an older whisky, and also because is aged for 16 years, it has lost a lot of its peat. I would much rather recommend you Laphroaig 10, better in every dimension. It has a nice smooth and well-rounded character, with a very unique iodine / band aid note. Also, this one is also a lot more peaty.
3. Johnnie Walker 18 Years The Ultimate - being an fan of Johnnie Walker I thought this would be a great dram, especially since this one is the one with the oldest age statement in their core range. but this one is very boring and mellowed down unfortunately. I would much rather recommend the Johnnie Walker Green 15 Years, since it’s a blend of single malts and starting from a little higher ABV. Also, it’s cheaper!
4. Arran 10 - way too young for me, quite an alcohol burn for a very one dimensional tasting whisky. Yes it’s 46% ABV, has natural color and a strong taste, but the harshness and the lack of complexity did it for me. I would rather recommend Highland Park 12 or Glenfiddich 12 for the samen price. Very unique tasting and friendly whiskies.
Completely agree about the Knockando 18. I got a friend to pick up a bottle when he was on holiday in France, as it wasnt expensive. Its very boring and tastes far more youthful than 18 years.
Arran 10 is overrated indeed, deanston 12 is better and in my area only 4eu more.
GF105 I've bought for 29 euro/1L - so no regrets
If we are talking about taste only - my "regrets", up to now, are: dublin liberties oak devil, glen moray sherry cask finish, auchentoshan 12, Lidl Queen Margot
In a category price/like ratio - Macallan 12*** and ... Springbank 10
Thanks for sharing, Phil.
For me: none.
Might have bought several whiskies that turned out not to be to my liking, so what?
1. Now I know, so don't buy it again.
2. There's always other people that do li,e it, so I shared it and made friends (or at least good contacts).
Slàinte mhath
Lovely stuff as usual! Glenfiddich 18 is one of my regrets. Don’t feel it is really much better than the 12 that partially started my journey and it is definitely not worth the 4x higher price.
All of the Connemara Irish Whiskies I have the NAS, the 12 and the Cask Strength and kept hoping they’d get better and more like an Islay whisky but they’re all horrid.
1. Nobushi
2. Chivas Regal 12
3. Aberlour 12 40% abv
4. Aberlour 12 48% abv
5. Arran Barrel Reserve (great smell but bitter finish, buy the 10yo instead!)
6. Campbeltown Loch 40%
7. Lagavulin 16
8. Compass Box Orchard House (bitter finish, really don’t understand the hype around it)
9. Jameson
10. Singleton 12
(in random order btw)
I have only started about 4 years ago and quickly got into Cask Strength. I found that for some distillery’s where I did not really like the OB, I found IB Cask strength offerings amazing. So , I decided to give an IB bottling of a JURA a try.. Heavy Acetone like they used a very wide CUT. Horrible.
I recommend the Lochlea Cask Strength if you can find it. Very nice, a good Spring dram
Could be an unpopular opinion but I think my biggest whisky regret was the kilchoman machir bay. Not really sure why I just have not been able to get into it. And my second biggest regret might be the arran amerone finish. It’s a great whisky but I’ve got to be in a pretty specific mood to want to reach for it.
Loved the video. Millstone peated PX cask. A real stinker for me.
Agree on Lochlea. The Fallow second crop is still too young. I thought the heavier casks would help to cover the age, but it is not properly integrated and a bit disjointed. Should've gone for one of the young Lagg whiskies if I wanted something from a new distillery.
Ardbeg 10
Macallan double cask
Auchentoshan American oak
Glenallachie 12
Lagavulin 8
Isle of Raasay
Blantons
Still Austin
Johnnie Walker black
Sounds like you don’t like scotch
Lol, I could see why you'd think that, but this is out of a collection of 70 bottles.
Raasay and Lagavulin are way too young for the price. The Macallan and Blantons flavor are too thin to justify their price imo. Glenallachie is a fine whiskey. But it was my first sherry bomb, and I'm rarely in the mood for it. I love islay whiskeys, but for some reason, the ardbeg 10 just doesn't do it for me (but I absolutely love the uigeadail).
I also love in Canada, where the price of liquor is already pretty high. The feds introduced an escalator tax on alcohol a few years back where there is a yearly tax increase. So as things stand, it is becoming easier and easier to feel buyers remorse
Totally agree on Bowmore 12. Got it as birthday gift from my wife and now we get divorced :D it is flat, unpleasantly bitter and not complex at all.
Number 2 is the Clynelish 14. I was excited to try its famous waxiness, and got striked with it at once in a disastrous wrong way. Not my story at all - should have tried the cheaper version. Lesson learned - never start with the 'premium' stuff.
#3 is Glenfarclas 105 as well - way too sharp for me, not a speysider I have expected at all.
And #4 are wine casks whiskies generally - not my tale at all.
Up until now I (only) dream of pouring down the sink but a couple of (much too commercial and unsatisfying) purchases: Highland Park 12 Old Viking Honour and Monkey Shoulder. Some bottles have been a bit overexposed and - although being very good drams - haven't really matched my expectations, such as: Compass Box Orchard House, Craigellachie 13 or Glenfarclas 15. I-might-be-wrong.
Some of the worst whiskeys I tried turned into good bottles after they sat around for 8 -12 months opens and sparingly drank from. One of the best examples I can think of this was Hankey Bannister that I picked up a 750ml for 8.99 and was rough, when opened but oxidized nicely over 8 months allowing for more of the caramel flavor to be forefront and the peat died down significantly but was still present enough to be noticed.
Aberlour 18, was fine but not exciting or complex plus comes in .5l bottles. Not worth the price. Glenallachie 18 was also underwhelming compared to the 10, 12 and 15.
Agree about the GF105, regretted buying that and the 25. Don't buy any Glenfarclas anymore. Like most, my last Lagga 16 did not compare to earlier bottles and cost way more. Talisker 18 is also not doing it, but that was a gift I regret asking for. No more Diageo bottlings for me. 😢
Forgot one :) Arran 17. Not a bad whisky but it was pricey and in no way matched the 18 which I was hoping it would.
I can definitely relate to this. I loved the Aberfeldy 12 y/o and thought that the 21 y/o would be better. This unfortunately was a mistake.
I don’t pay more than 150 for anything alcohol related. Just my cap I understand the process and that these distilleries take chances with the aging of whisky but I just can’t justify the cost. I do drink scotch but I’m more of a bourbon and rye guy. I am trying to expand my scotch journey by buying some peated scotch. I enjoy the Lagavulin 16 but it has to be either the last drink or the only drink cause peat just wrecks my palate. Looking for lighter peated options. So far I don’t have any regrets on bottles yet so hopefully that continues. Enjoy!!
I bought the glenmorangie 12 the lasanta and i didn't like it as much as my other whiskies like the dalwhinnie 15 or the glenfidich 12, also it too expensive.
I also bought the benromach 21 for a sale price due to how much I’ve been liking the rest of there core range but felt a little disappointed and not sure what to think of older whiskeys as more often then not they are not always worth the big leap in price 10-16 is been my fav age of range cheers
I really have to say that I had my issues with the Bowmore 12 but I started to like it after a few tries. I bought it in July 2023 for the first time and if this video would have came out a few months earlier I would totaly agree with this choice. 😂
#3 on your list made me gasp. I really enjoy that one and it’s improved with time in the bottle for me.
Highland Park 12 for me is a regret. It’s one I’m forcing myself to get through to make room in the cupboard.
I visited Kingsbarns 1 month before they bottled their first barrels. Great spirit but for me they are selling it far too high in price, especially as they are keeping their running costs ticking over by selling gin. I’m back up there in 6 weeks so will probably be popping in again…
For sure the Bowmore 12 even though I didn’t have much expectation it was really flat.
The biggest disappointment was the Dalmore King Alexander III, a friend of mine paid 250€ for that bottle and it was bearly ok…
Admittedly as an American, I drink primarily bourbon. Bourbon has a problem with distributers making certain mass produced whiskies quite unavailable, so when you do see them, their secondary price is marked up like crazy. The first time I ever bought a bottle of standard Buffalo Trace bourbon, I paid $40 US for it, when its MSRP is around $27, all because of the hype. I don't necessarily regret it, but now I know that a lot of whiskies are not worth their secondary market upcharge. I'm pretty stern about not paying too much over retail price for a whiskey for this reason. But I've also never spent more than $80 on a single whiskey (which was an Ardbeg Uigeadail, and I definitely don't regret that, it's delicious). Once I up my price range, I'll probably start to have more regrets
That's so weird. In france i can get buffalo trace for 29€ and i even bought a couple of weller 12 for 45€ last year (now it's 80€ though)
I was on kick for speyside scotch for awhile, but when I got Cardhu 12 I found utterly underwhelming, it lacked any definition in the taste profile it wasn't rich like other speysides or smooth or smokey it was just bitter and iodine taste.
I regret buying the Laphroaig Cairdeas '23. 100 quid for a NAS whisky that was heavily hyped but turned out to be "nice" at best.
I also was not a fan of Lochlea our barley. The early core range bottle of Cotswolds I got was outstanding for comparison. They are similar in age and use the same cask types. Cheers
Here are some of my regrets over the last couple of years:
Waterford Gaia 1.2
Wormtub secret Speyside
Cadenheads An Orkney 6yo
Glenrothes whisky maker’s cut
Glenturret 12yo (I’m probably the only one)
Glenmorangie Palo Cortado
Deanston 12 Oloroso
I don't regret that many of the whiskies I've bought. Even if I don't think they were that good, they were valid points on my whisky journey. However, I am with you on the Bowmore 12. Wish I had tried this first before buying a whole bottle. The other one I regret is the Lagavulin 16. I paid $152 for it, (on special reduced from $158) and it just isn't worth that. I also saw it on special earlier this year at $140 so that makes me regret it more. One that I am not sure about is the Deanston 18. This is one lots of whisky enthusiasts have raved about. My first few drams out the bottle were not that great. Fortunately, I revisited the bottle after leaving it for a few months and it has improved. Still not rave worthy yet but hopefully it will keep improving. Cheers!
Ive enjoyed all the bottles of whisky at this stage. The only disappointment was Laphroaig 10. I thought it should be much better than it was. I enjoyed the taste. It just wasn't complex or surprising, like all the other peated whisky's. Oops just remembered Glen Grants 10, not good either.
I've only had one really bad experience. North Star Blair Athol 16 year old. Matured in a refill sherry cask, finished in a first-fill oloroso. I swear there was 25% sherry leftover in the finishing cask. I paid for sherry-finished whisky, not whisky-finished sherry. This is my only IB single cask experience and it has made me wary of taking another risk, but I know there are many gems out there.
Hi Phil, I’ve regretted buying some bottles over the years (fortunately not too many) but that’s part of the journey I suppose.🤷♂️🤔. As always an excellent video, slàinte Phil.
1. SmokeHead
2. Glenmorangie 10 -- Bland and just alcoholic
3. Bushmills PX
4. Macallan 12 NEw Color Collection - Doesnt live up to hype
I’ve found every MacAllen to be quite uneventful and lackluster however I really only like heavily peated scotch now so everything else comes up short
I got into whiskeys thru a crazy pal who was so into it and kept throwing samples at me. I started with the sherried ones. Which was so-so until bunna 12 came into my life, which got me really interested. However, i discovered peated whiskeys and spirit-forward whiskeys and realized yeah, sherried whiskeys are not for me. (Except for bunna12😅) so my biggest regret is royal brackla 12 cuz it's just not for me.
I attend 2-3 times a year whisky-festivals. And I usually only buy there my whiskies and only after I have tasted them. This helps to avoid buying stuff you regret afterwards. Although in some rare cases I might end up with a bottle that tastes at home very different then what I remember it from the festival. Usually these are bottles I tasted at the end of the festival when each dram is tasting better then the previous one. ☝️ be careful there.. 😂
Great advice!
Bowmore 12 was the first Isle whisky that I liked. I had a bottle of Laphroig and hated it. But after the Bowmore I have loved every other Isle that I’ve tried. But I never went Bach to the Bowmore.
1. Glenlivet 21
2. Glenfiddich 18
3. Jura Superstition
4. Singleton 15
5. Balvenie Port Wood
Glenallachie 11 year Port Wood. Saw a great review that made it seem exactly up my alley, so I went out of my way to hunt for in on a trip to Europe. Got it home and it has a really nasty sulfur note on the mid-palate. Like almost makes me gag. Not sure if there’s any way to save it, but really don’t want to drain pour it after the trouble it took to get it.
My taste is pretty wide.. I Love Laphraoig cask strength, Deanston 12/18, Glen Garioch 12 and Craigellachie 13... but i kind of regret buying Bunna 12. I know everyone raves about the Bunna. But for me it just had this over spiced and lingering sour tone on the finish that I never got on with. Luckily not an expensive regret, but im just kind of sad given all of the love it gets.
Amrut cask strength
For me after touring the globe with some really nice Japanese whisky Canadian and US Rye, French Swiss absinth, Belize Fiji rum I thought let's go to India
That amrut is still dusting my shelf after nearly 10 years of possession, can't throw it away nobody is going for it, it's just a trophy to remind me that money can be thrown away on expensive spirits
What an excellent video. Great back stories, and picks. I really enjoyed Lochlea. Yep, young, but I resonate with their core range. I have not had a modern Glenfarclas 105. I think I need to as, I have enjoyed many in the past. Thanks for the list, and the exceptional video. Cheers!
The 105 is one of my favourites. I have it on good authority used to be around 10 - 11 years old, and although it was a bit rough and ready but this was part of its charm. However, unfortunately, you are right, it isnt as good as it used to be.
As you suggested, I am pretty sure Glenfarclas is using younger whisky. I would say it is maybe 8-9 years old. Further, maybe, in the past, it was top-dressed with some older whisky to give it more depth. If so, this has been severely curtailed.
To top it all off, as prices have steadily crept up, it is no longer the great deal it was in the past.
My fix has been to replace the 105 with the Aberlour A'bundh - cask strength, a sherry bomb, more refined and consistent and, in a similar price range.
You saved me from bowmore, I was thinking of trying it out 😅 I am bit disappointed with Arran bodega, cause I loved Arran 10 and I was expecting too much from it.
Arran 10 is amazing 😊... I have the bowmore 15 and it's way better than the 12, if you're still planning on one. Totally avoid that Aston Martin stuff they put out though, that it downright crappy.
@@vacateistheword ah ye saw it thought it was too expensive
The Laphroaig Select, guess I should have researched the opinions on that beforehand;
The Ledaig Rioja Cask - still giving it some thought but so far it's no match for the 10 yo;
Interestingly enough the Glenfarclass 10 was a disappointment when I first popped it, but with some time and oxigen in the bottle it greatly improved
I also dont like the bowmore 12 that much anymore, the 15 or some other batches are just way better.
The whisky I regret the most is the talisker parrley. A cognac cask is just not it for talisker. But I rly like the 10 year old or the Port ruighe.
The 15 is amazing in my opinion, which other batches of bowmore have you tried and do you recommend? Looking to buy a new bowmore
@@francescocomunale8195 the 18 year old is really good aswell and pretty affordable for an 18 years old.
I also tried some destillery exclusives (12 years old Sherry cask and some others) when I was on Islay, so I cant tell if some of them are in the core range now.
But to be honest if you like peaty whisky from islay I would recommend anything from kilchoman (machir bay, sanaig, Loch gorm)! 👍🏻
@@JannesSchl thanks mate! Will keep that in mind!! 🥃
My most recent regret was getting a Poit Dhubh 12 bottle; in Canada, it goes for about 100+$ and it was pretty brutal and ok at best. Would’ve bought it in the 60-70$ range.
Excellent video for your thoughtful comments/reasoning/explanations, Phil.
Like some others I have a few regrets, but mostly it's a matter of trying and learning. My main regret is Clynelish 14, because of batch variation. I believe it can be a great distillery/distillate, but the bottle I bought is just so bland/non-expressive, and it hasn't improved with ~2 years open/being left alone in hope of some change, and others have also noted issues with its batch variation. Maybe I built up my hopes for it too much, but. So I wouldn't write off that distillery or even necessarily that bottling, because there are allegedly very good batches, but it can be so hit-and-miss and that's gutting. Actually, the fact that they're releasing such poor batches means it can't be a "great" distillery, as there should be better quality-control.
I have been considering Inchmurrin 18 but have resisted because other reviews have suggested it's over-oaked and they prefer the fruitiness of the Inchmurrin 12--which I also like a lot. Farmy I usually like; sulphury not so much; planky is unpleasant. But I haven't tried Inchmurrin 18 so am only guessing.
I suppose though, most bottles I regret buying, because I've tried over 80 whiskys now and there's only 3 of them that I'd buy multiple bottles of again, that are both good and affordable. All the nice stuff I'm happy to get a dram at the pub and move on to the next new one to try. I want to finish a bottle in a week, and here in oregon there's more flavorful microbrew beer than you could keep up with trying the wide range of recipes, so scotch just doesn't compete on value. Value rankings for me go Naked Malt and then The Sexton for Sherry Cask, and Suntory Toki for bourbon cask, paying no more than 35 and are usually at 30 bucks. Yah I've had Arran 10 and Highland Park dark origins I rank some of my favorite, but I'd still rather have 3 bottles to enjoy whenever instead of just 1 I'd feel guilty opening often.
Also agree with the Glenfarclas too
Thanks for another great video! Totally tracking with your other picks, but my wife and I both love the Lochlea Our Barley. When anyone comes over for drinks and asks about Lowlands Scotch, it's our go to pick. But I'll never buy another Bowmore 😅
I regret Lagavullin 16 cuz was my first taste to peated ones and kind scare my out of them 😅
My most recent regret was sadly Bunna 12. Loved my first bottle. Liked my second bottle. But my third and newest bottle tastes like sulfur and bitter sherry funk. The Bunna 12 CS on the other hand, is divine. Wonder if the regular 12 is decreasing in quality because the better casks are going towards the annual CS batches 🤔
I bought one last year and it was excellent.
@@Soldano999that’s great! they are some of the best whiskies around when you get a good bottle.
Don't regret anything, but some I have expected more from and others I blind bought and blew my mind. This will upset some but Rare Breed has an aftertaste that I flat out don't like, it feels to me like an old sweet carrot, and Sanaig was hoping there would be more sherry on the pallet but I find it mostly ashy...I know I know, I'm hoping spending more time with them will make me appreciate them more. These are just a preference of mine, and subjective. I don't consider them bad, just not to my liking compared to others.
Only two I've kind of regretted buying - Tamdhu Distinction and Douglas Laing's The Epicurean. The first one just tasted weird to me, very one dimensional, and the second one was kind of overly grassy and herbaceous (but not in a way that resonated with me). I didn't particularly like the Thomson Manuka Smoke either (I do like the Two Tone though), but that was just a sample bottle, and was free so who cares!
My biggest regrets so far have been high profile bourbons. I'm not sure if I'd call all of them regrets, but definitely letdowns. In no particular order:
1. Blanton's Straight From the Barrel...Overwhelming cherry flavors. One-dimensional, very hot (I'm used to high proof also)
2. Booker's bourbon. It was a 2016 edition (can't remember which one). Very harsh, left a film on my teeth. Haven't opened 4 other older bottles since due to the experience.
3. George T. Stagg 2017. Paid a bit too much at ~$400 in 2018. Expected something exceptional, but didn't actually enjoy until it spent quite a while opening up (~1-2 years).
4. Stagg Jr., several batches. Another cherry bomb. I just don't get the hype. Will trade all my other unopened batches for something different.
5. 1792 Full Proof Store Picks. All have been overly hot messes. Pure pepper on my palate.
Enjoyed watching, thanks for sharing. Agree on the Bowmore 12 - however the Bowmore 15 I really love, always in my single malt collection.
My top 6:
4 of which I haven't even opened yet, so it's buyer's remorse: Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso (I was in a foreign country and regret not picking something else over it), Dalmore 12 and Port Wood, Cragganmore DE (all 3 were bought early in my journey). Honorable mention to AnCnoc 12.
2 of which I can't seem to finish: Auchentoshan 12, Bowmore 12. Honorable mention to Aberlour 12.
All in all, I consider all of those to be beginner whiskies, so I've learned and hardly ever make those mistakes nowadays.
I bought a Glendronach 12 to compare to Aberlour 12 a year of so ago. Instead of a Sherry bomb, I got a sulphur bomb. I don’t know if I got a bad bottle, but it is undrinkable for me.
Yep, same happened to me. Aberlour 12 is much better.
I thought I had already posted on this but seeing as it's a newer video I must not have lol
Biggest regrets in order
1. Bulleit bourbon
The only bottle I've ever given away, thin, uninteresting.
2. Waterford sheestown 1.2
Fell in love with the story, whisky tasted like dry rolled oats nothing else going for it
3. Classic laddie
1st approach blew my mind as it was the first unpeated Islay I had ever had, after that it devolved into a baby vomit nose that I can't get past.
4. Buffalo trace
Perfectly solid whisky, massively massively overrated, not worth the effort in hunting for it.
5. Ardbeg Wee beastie
Just an unnecessary addition to the main lineup. Similar to an oa but not as refined, not good enough to offset the cost difference between the 10.
Honorable mentions
Matsui mizunara
very strange unique whisky but difficult to enjoy often
Loch lomand 18
just feels cheap and not very inspiring for an 18.
Woodford reserve double oaked
200 different flavour notes my eye. Beautiful nose, finish and palate completely lacking any substance.
Another great topical video, Phil! I've had a few regrets: every Lagavulin 16 after the first (2 or 3 bottles), every Teeling I've tried (core range), Kilchoman Loch Gorm (I love the Sanaig) and Rock Island Sherry edition.
I'm done with Lagavulin 16. Their recent bottlings are terrible and the price went up.
Kinda agree on Kilchoman, prefer the Sanaig
@@jamiec4000 Awesome and considerably cheaper.🥃👍
best whisky channel
I get those farmy notes on Campbeltown whisky. Springbank is not my jam.
Some of the whiskey I have regrets about are Johnny walker red label,The Glenrothes 12, and McClelland’s highland. My go to whiskey is Glenfiddich 14,15, glenmorangie lasanta, The Balvenie 12 sherry cask, and The Balvenie 14 Caribbean cask
Speyburn 10 Travel Exclusive. Before making the mistake of buying this from a Duty Free shop I wasn't even aware it's possible for the distillate to carry over the yeast flavor from the wash. Well, this one does and boy is it overwhelming.
First bottle of Bowmore 12 I tried didn’t do it at all. It has this awful thick peppery aftertaste that didn’t do it for me at all!
I tried a second 3 years later, much nicer, less pepper and it’s like a thinner Laphroig 10. Enjoyed that bottle from start to finish.
The third bottle ( when I get it) will be the decider. I don’t k ow if the whisky changed or my tastebuds did?
There have been a few that I have disliked initially but became a fan by the last third of the bottle.
Only bottle that I disliked to the end was Bladnoch Ember cask.
I'm currently not liking the Deanston Tequila Cask, but only part way through that bottle.
I was given a bottle of Nikka from the Barrel as a present. It had great reviews so I was really looking forward to trying it. I was hugely underwhelmed on my first few tries, so much so that I went back through all the reviews I had read, as I just could not square what I was tasting with what others were saying about it.
I remember thinking I was so glad I hadn’t bought it myself, as all I could taste was the ethanol, (I drink a lot of CS whisky and bourbon so am very used to high ABV spirits).
Interestingly, when I eventually went back to it a few months later, (with zero expectations), the whisky had transformed! The flavours had opened up, the ethanol had faded and it was a completely different drink which I very much enjoyed. 🙂
I know a neck pour can be very different from the rest of the bottle once the spirit has reacted with the air and had time to open up, but I’ve never had a whisky change so much as the Nikka before or since.
So in the end, no regrets at all! 😂
That happens a lot with young whiskies. I always leave them one month after opening it before my second dram. Works well with irish whiskies too.
@@Soldano999 good shout.
Funny you should reference Irish whiskies. You’ve just reminded me that despite its very good reputation, I was also underwhelmed by the Red Breast 12 upon sampling a fresh crack dram.
I took a leap of faith however and purchased a bottle of Red Breast 12 Cask Strength, which happily didn’t disappoint. However, as you say, it has noticeably improved over time. 🙂
Great post, mate. I felt the Nikka Coffey Malt change dramatically after I had opened it up and let it rest . Couldn't believe it was the same drink.
Don’t have many regrets…especially in scotch. Most of my regrets involving paying up for stuff. My biggest regret is an Elmer T Lee that I paid over retail for. I didn’t pay full secondary (so I thought it was a decent “deal”) but I didn’t love it. For what I paid I should have. I’ve also since found them for a normal retail price. If I had bought my open one at that price I wonder if I would have different feelings about it 🤔
Lagavulin 16, unfortunately, because it’s been Diageo’d. The fundamental quality of the underlying distillate is still outstanding but the presentation (bottled at a flacid 43% abv) and price point push it into the regret column for me. Obviously it’s not bad whiskey. But for the price it’s just not worth it.
Tomatin cask strength. It was my first cask strength i ever bought and it just tasted like rotten apples and vinegar. I tried using it for a scotch and soda, and it ruined the soda.
I havent bought another tomatin since.
like some Tomatin very much, but they are hit and miss!
Redbreast 12. I wish i had brought the cask strength.
Why regret? You can still buy it.
Redbreast 12 was one of my better buys! I recently purchased the 15 and have not been enjoying it as much as the 12.
Its not cheap in NZ. I would have rather brought the cask strength from the start@@lgiraldo2587
@@warrenhurley5787interesting. I feel the 12 didn't quite have the punch with flavor. I was thinking maybe the cask strength would solve that. It a good to get informative insights into different whiskey. As i am a newbie. Plus i am enjoying American bourbon's. Some of which have a higher Abv. Thanks for your insight
I've not tried the inchmurrin but i have tried lomond 18 and that was a really good whiskey, it's really easy to try as well because they sell the 18 in 5cl and 20cl bottles
Agree with you on that Lochlea.... Will check them again when they are 10 years age statement
Being new to this tasting malarky I have found that I sometimes taste something and am disapointed but try it a few weeks later and really like it. And vice-versa. Taste buds, mood and some other stuff must be at play. Am thinking of buying some older, more expensive whiskeys now so I might end up 'more' disappointed in future. :)
Aberlour 12 yo double cask was very disappointing for me.
Now... almost 30 years and approximately 1000 bottles later I have to say my biggest regret is the first one that got me started.
That was a Laphroaig 10 by the way.
Age can be deceiving. I also think how much you pay for a whisky will in some degree affect how much you enjoy it.
At first i thought it would be "none" because of all the resources I have (friends, internet reviews, knowledge of my own palate) that lead me to informed decisions about my purchases, but then I thought wayyyyy back and remembered one:
Redemption Rye.
I loved Redwood Empire's Emerald Giant, and had another rye (forget which) that was the same 95/5 MGP distillate. I figured another rye with the same distillate would be just as good without taking to account the other variables like barrels, age, climate and blending. That stuff was pure dill and I abhor dill. It has made me appreciate the work of a skilled blender and look for other things when I want to purchase a whiskey.
Glen Grant 15. Neck pour promised so much, but that was as good as it got
Your First Whisky, I had the exact same sentiments about the Glenfiddich 21 Gran Reserva 21. Your words you used to explain it were exactly what I was thinking.
I have about 80 whiskeys, and honestly i don't regret any of them. there are some that ""i dont like"" but I just find them to be different, and they contribute to developing my palate.
Early in my journey I got an Auchentoshan American oak on clearance and hated it!
So did I
Thanks for the heads up. The Auchentoshan Three Wood is black currant and caramel delight. The closest thing I know to the retired Balvenie*17*Doublewood. I’ll not stray from this one until hearing favorably about other Auchentoshan expressions.