Blissful New Yr! Let’s go over 2024 as soon as once more and make an inventory of our private highlights earlier than we begin a brand new 12 months of whisky evaluations.
Final 12 months I reviewed 572 bottlings, this 12 months the quantity has elevated as soon as extra, to 602 evaluations. We’re breaking the 600 barrier for the primary time: it’s clear that our session dimension is rising, many of the days we’re reviewing two drams or extra.
Finest new whisky in 2024
When going by the very best scoring drams of the previous 12 months, it isn’t the Gordon & MacPhail profitable streak we’ve seen in earlier years. The award for greatest new whisky goes to the Karuizawa 50 Years. Additionally on the podum, there are three whiskies and one cognac:
Then a complete of 18 drams reached 92 factors, that’s nonetheless a really excessive rating. A few of them have been positively premium whiskies, just like the GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 12, the Cragganmore 1985 Cask of Distinction or the G&M Recollection III sequence.
Clearly additionally smaller unbiased bottlings just like the Glen Moray 32 Years (Whisky Sponge) or the Secret Islay 1989 (The Whisky Jury). The listing even included an incredible Blended Malt.
When considering the worth, then the Port Charlotte 2003 Islay Sponge, Port Charlotte 2003 Acla Choice and Ben Nevis 1996 TTOW deserve a particular point out. These have been really excellent they usually allowed you to purchase a bottle AND maintain each kidneys. Future classics which are comparatively reasonably priced.
Favorite different spirits in 2024
A number of nice cognacs this 12 months, from completely different bottlers, though it appears a few of the sources that have been booming 5 years in the past at the moment are working dry. Aside from the excellent Cabanne 19.10, a few them adopted intently with 92 factors:
The identical stage may be present in rum.
TDL remains to be my bang-for-your-buck suggestion in rum. Consider the TDL 2009 (The Whisky Jury for Gene) or the TDL 2009 (The Roots) for example, which have been additionally glorious.
Finest worth whisky in 2024
When worth for cash, my purpose is to discover a whisky that scores 90 factors or extra for lower than € 250. Not a simple job lately, however I had these favourites:
Then there’s additionally the Laurichesse Lot 75 cognac (once more) and the armagnac Laballe 1991 (Journal des Kirsch) which stood out on this value class. Or rums just like the HD 2013 and The Duo Chapter #2, each from The Whisky Jury.
When extensively obtainable bottlings (90 factors or barely much less), my favourites have been:
Whisky weblog statistics
I imagine we’ve misplaced round 15% of our guests this 12 months. In occasions of cookie blocking, bot visitors and knowledge thrown out for the sake of customer privateness, a few of that’s merely as a result of insufficient monitoring.
Then again, let’s not beat across the bush: Scotch whisky exports have been down 18% within the first half of the 12 months – and possibly much more by the top of the 12 months. Uncommon whisky (single malts – mainly our space of curiosity) plummeted by 34% in worth. It’s time to confess persons are turning into much less enthusiastic about whisky, bored by the countless stream of hole ultra-premium releases and disgraceful pricing for basically mediocre expressions. This interprets to web sites about whisky, little question.
When trying on the customer areas, the UK nonetheless has the biggest share (round 20%), with the US displaying roughly the identical quantity. Canada has taken the third spot (6%) for the primary time. Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium (every round 5%) full the rostrum. Then additional down there’s a robust customer base in Australia and Asian nations like Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. Thanks everybody for the loyal following.
For some purpose we had a report variety of hits on our Aultmore 12 Yr Outdated assessment. A assessment from 2017, thoughts you. Perhaps there was a marketing campaign that I wasn’t conscious of, linking to my web site? After that, the Particular Releases 2024 overview was visited rather a lot. The most well-liked new evaluations (revealed in 2024) have been the Hibiki Japanese Concord and Lagavulin 12 Yr Outdated (2024).
A private message…
For the primary time in 16 years, I count on a major time-out in 2025.
A few weeks in the past I bought the information that I’ve a cholesteatoma, a cyst inside my center ear. It invades my ear and destroys the mastoid bone surrounding the ear. Whereas in itself non-cancerous, it’s positively damaging so it must be taken out (mid February). On the identical time my ossicles can be changed as these have been worn out as properly.
Clearly that is delicate surgical procedure, with many vital nerves (together with optic nerves and my greatest worry… style nerves!) passing by the center ear. Let’s simply hope these received’t be affected. I’m in good arms, however nonetheless I’m dealing with at the least 2 months of social quarantaine, simply to verify I received’t be choosing up (different) infections. This additionally means no alcohol for a while.
I do know it’s a cliché, however I want you good well being, as it’s merely the prerequisite for all good issues in life.
