This is my own whisky ranking. I'm an endorser and enthusiast of drinking whisky.
For comparison, I added a professional opinion of Jim Murray, well-known author of Whisky Bible.
My rating:
10 - whisky heaven
9 - excellent
8 - perfect
7 - very good
6 - worth to try
5 - nothing special
4 - drink if you got nothing else
3 - terrible
2 - better than shit
1 - shit
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Bushmills Black Bush
age: not specified
kind: singlemalt
region: Ireland
strength: 40%
website: www.bushmills.com
price: 19-21€ (70cl)
Jim Murray’s rating: 91/100
my rating: 7/10
notes: only a bit worse than Bushmills Classic but still tasty, nice and smooth.
Fettercairn 1824
age: 12 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland
strength: 40%
price: 29-31€ (70cl)
Jim Murray’s rating: 69/100
my rating: 5/10
notes: really low rate by Jim Murray and that’s true. nothing special. for that price you can get Auchentoshan Classic. that’s much better choice.
Monkey Shoulder
age: not specified
kind: blended
region: Scotland
strength: 40%
price: 31-33€ (70cl)
website: www.monkeyshoulder.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 79.5/100
my rating: 8/10
notes: very interesting blended whisky created by David Steward - renown malt master - responsible also for my 2011 #1 - Balvenie Golden Cask. beautiful smell and taste. that’s what i like - vanilla and fruits, rich and smooth.
no difference. it’s the same whisky.
Famous Grouse
age: not specified
kind: blended
region: Scotland
strength: 40%
price: 17-19€ (70cl)
website: www.thefamousgrouse.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 89/100
my rating: 6/10
notes: smells strange but tastes interesting with toffee and caramel. interesting budget option.
Glenfiddich 15
age: 15 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Speyside
strength: 40%
price: 43-45€ (70cl)
website: www.glenfiddich.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 94.5/100
my rating: 8/10
notes: the best in Glenfiddich family. much better than 12yo and 18yo. a lot of honey and vanilla.
Glenfiddich 18
age: 18 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Speyside
strength: 40%
price: 52-54€ (70cl)
website: www.glenfiddich.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 95/100
my rating: 7/10
notes: a bit smoky. better than Glenfiddich 12 but still no excitement. though the price is almost doubled.
Glenfiddich 12
age: 12 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Speyside
strength: 40%
price: 28-30€ (70cl)
website: www.glenfiddich.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 85.5/100
my rating: 6/10
notes: nice but no excitement.
Chivas Regal 18
age: 18 yo
kind: blended
region: Scotland
strength: 40%
price: 53-55€ (70cl)
website: www.chivas.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 73.5/100
my rating: 5/10
notes: smells like spice for a chicken. really. nice but for this price i expect something better than chivas 12yo
Knockando 12 (1997)
age: 12 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Speyside
strength: 43%
price: 38-40€ (70cl)
website: www.malts.com
Jim Murray’s rating: not rated
my rating: 7/10
notes: 1997 is not rated by Jim Murray but 1994 is 86/100, 1995-71,5/100 and 1996-76/100. it’s as good as 18 yo Knockando so there’s no point to overpay for older one. shiny and light. typical Speyside.
Laphroaig
age: 10 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Islay
strength: 43%
price: 28-29€ (70cl)
website: www.laphroaig.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 90/100
my rating: 4/10
notes: for real endorsers of islay destilled whisky. it’s far from from Bruichladdich Waves or Caol Ila. Smells terrible and tastes even worse.
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
age: 12 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 46%
price: 38-40€ (70cl)
website: www.glenmorangie.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 92/100
my rating: 8/10
notes: pepper, fruits and spice. good choice though far from Glenmorangie Original.
Jameson
age: not specified
kind: single malt
region: Ireland
strength: 40%
price: 16-18€ (70cl)
website: www.jamesonwhiskey.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 95/100
my rating: 7/10
notes: nice surprise. my Father told me a lot of bad words about Jameson. He’s wrong imho. But Bushmills Classic is better.
Glenmorangie Lasanta
age: 12 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 46%
price: 38-40€ (70cl)
website: www.glenmorangie.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 68.5/100
my rating: 6/10
notes: one word - disappointment. Jim Murray is right - “very unimpressive indeed”. Yes it is, thought it’s much better than most of blended whiskies.
Benromach Traditional vs. Speyburn 10
Benromach Traditional
age: not specified
kind: single malt
region: Scotland
strength: 40%
price: 33-35€ (70cl)
website: www.benromach.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 86/100
Speyburn 10
age: 10 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland
strength: 40%
price: 29-31€ (70cl)
website: www.speyburn.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 82/100
and the winner is … Speyburn 10
Benromach Traditional - my rating: 6/10
Speyburn 10 - my rating: 8/10
notes: Speyburn is what I like. fruity, smooth and clean. Benromach has too much peat for me. not my style. verdict was easy.
