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
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.
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.
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.
Glen Garioch 1797 Founders Reserve
age: not specified
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 47.5%
price: 37-39€ (70cl)
website: www.glengarioch.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 85.5/100
my rating: 7/10
notes: first impression: disappointment. after checking Glen Garioch 8 i looked forward to drink something much better. got no taste, no interesting smell. as well you feel it’s not just a usual malt, but it’s not as good as i expected.
pleas note, it’s almost 48% whisky. sometimes it’s better to add some water to get the real taste, so after it’s much better, more interesting, got more flavours and much fruity in taste.
but Glen Garioch 8 is better.
Highland Park 12 vs. anCnoc 12
Highland Park 12
age: 12 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 40%
price: 35-37€ (70cl)
website: www.highlandpark.co.uk
Jim Murray’s rating: 91/100
anCnoc 12
age: 12 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Speyside
strength: 40%
price: 35-37€ (70cl)
website: www.ancnoc.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 90/100
and the winner is … anCnoc.
ancnoc - my rating: 7/10
highland park - my rating: 6/10
notes: i prefer lighter malts so the decision was easy. highland is destilled on the island - Orkney. smoky, salty (“wali bejcą” - for polish readers). ancnoc is lighter, sweet with taste of honey, even oily in consistency.
next time i should but something less obvious for my ratings.
btw 5cl bottles are great to check the taste.
Glenmorangie 10
age: 10 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 40%
price: 35-37€ (70cl)
website: www.glenmorangie.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 94/100
my rating: 9/10
notes: beautiful smell of flowers and fruits. beautiful taste of vanilla and honey. very light. very smooth. close to whisky heaven.
Glengoyne 10
age: 10 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 40%
price: 33-35€ (70cl)
website: www.glengoyne.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 90/100
my rating: 7/10
notes: good. but not as good as i expected.
Loch Lomond
age: not specified
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 40%
price: 25-27€ (70cl)
website: www.lochlomonddistillery.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 74.5/100
my rating: 5/10
Glen Garioch 8
age: 8 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 40%
price: 30-32€ (70cl)
website: www.glengarioch.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 85.5/100
my rating: 7/10
notes: smooth and light. the owner of this destillery is Suntory - whisky company from … Japan, a producer of renowned Yamizaki single malt
Jura Origin
age: 10 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland (though very close to Islay region)
strength: 40%
price: 30-32€ (70cl)
website: www.isleofjura.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 80.5/100
my rating: 6/10
notes: not so delicate as described and I expected but bottle design - nice and modern comparing to other single malts
Talisker 10
age: 10 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland (Isle of Skye)
strength: 45.8%
price: 36-40€ (70cl)
website: www.malts.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 93/100
my rating: 5/10
notes: stronger and more smoky than Glen Deveron 10, very long finish, too long and lasts until next morning, really.
Dalwhinnie 15
age: 15 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 43%
price: 30-33€ (70cl)
Jim Murray’s rating: 95/100
my rating: 6/10
Aberfeldy 12
age: 12 yo
kind: single malt
region: Scotland, Highland
strength: 40%
price: 30-33€ (70cl)
top deal: 20€ for 100cl bottle - Duty Free Shop on Kiev’s airport
website: www.dewars.com
Jim Murray’s rating: 88.5/100
my rating: 5/10
