Whiskyfun's No-Awards 2018


December 31, 2018

Whiskyfun's
No-Awards 2018

Strictly no awards, this is just a personal list of the whiskies and malternatives I liked best each and every months this year, for the record. Please note that this year again and most sadly, Angus's scores have not been taken into account, but you may scroll down a bit to check his overall favourites of 2018...


Favourite recent bottling of the month
January 2018	92	Bowmore 15 yo 2001 (55.6%, Signatory Vintage for The Whisky Exchange, hogshead, cask #20117, 233 bottles)
Feb. 2018	92	Caol Ila 2006/2017 (60.2%, Gordon & MacPhail, Cask Strength, first fill sherry butts, casks #306183, 306184, 306186, 306187)
March 2018	92	Teeling 27 yo (41.6%, OB, for Switzerland, Irish, single malt, rum cask, cask #658, 2017)
April 2018	93	Caol Ila 35 yo 1982/2017 (58.4%, Cadenhead’s Small Batch for The Auld Alliance Singapore)
May 2018	92	Ar10 2001/2018 (52.4%, Elixir Distillers, Elements of Islay, bourbon barrels)
June 2018	92	Ben Nevis 21 yo 1996/2018 (52.9%, Cadenhead, Single Cask, hogshead, 210 bottles)
July 2018	90	Bowmore 21 yo 1997/2018 (56.2%, Douglas Laing, Xtra Old Particular, refill hogshead, cask #12539, 317 bottles)
August 2018	92	Teaninich 32 yo 1983/2016 (51.8%, Adelphi, for Paul Ullrich Switzerland, cask #6753, 211 bottles)
Sept. 2018	91	Glenturret 18 yo 1999/2018 (51.6%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseur’s Choice cask strength, First fill Sherry hogshead, cask #690, 265 bottles)
October 2018	93	Rare Ayrshire 44 yo 1974/2018 (53%, Signatory Vintage, 30th Anniversary, bourbon barrel, cask #2606, 122 bottles)
Nov. 2018	92	Unicorn 30 yo 1988/2018 (43%, CWS China, Myths and Legends, First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt, cask #22, 630 bottles)
Dec. 2018	93	Caol Ila 50 yo 1968/2018 (52.5%, Gordon & MacPhail, Private Collection, refill sherry hogshead, 190 bottles)

Favourite older bottling of the month
January 2018	91	Linkwood 22 yo 1972 (54.3%, OB, Rare Malts, +/-1995)
Feb. 2018	93	Brora 1976/1989 (63.6%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, #61.1, 75cl)
March 2018	95	Ardbeg 18 yo 'Special Liqueur' (91.3° US proof, OB, USA, Kraus Import New York, 4/5 quart, 1930s)
April 2018	94	Very Old Fitzgerald 8 yo 1958/1966 (43%, OB, for Germany, Kentucky Straight Bourbon)
May 2018	94	Highland Park (98°proof, John Scott, pure malt, +/-1950)
June 2018	92	Royal Brackla 60 yo 1926/1985 (40%, OB, James Buchanan, for Japan, 60 decanters)
July 2018	92	Balmenach-Glenlivet 14 yo (57.5%, Sestante, +/-1985)
August 2018	--	None
Sept. 2018	--	None
October 2018	85	Pittyvaich-Glenlivet 16 yo 1977/1994(60%, Cadenhead)
Nov. 2018	94	Scapa 1958/1985 (46%, Samaroli, 180 bottles)
Dec. 2018	95	Bruichladdich 25 yo 1958/1984 (92 US proof, Cadenhead Dumpy)

Favourite bang for your buck bottling of the month
January 2018	89	Ben Nevis 10 yo (46%, OB, +/-2017)
Feb. 2018	89	Kilchoman ‘Loch Gorm’ (46%, OB, 2017 release)
March 2018	90	Ardbeg 10 yo ‘Ten’ (46%, OB, +/- 2018)
April 2018	--	None
May 2018	90	Caol Ila 2006/2017 (59.8%, Gordon & MacPhail, Cask Strength, first fill sherry butt, casks 306189, 306191, 306195)
June 2018	91	Kilkerran 8 yo (55.7%, OB, 2017)
July 2018	87	Allt-A-Bhainne 7 yo 2008/2016 (46%, Hepburn’s Choice, 300 bottles)
August 2018	91	Port Charlotte 15 yo 2002/2018 (60.2%, Whisky Broker for Spirit of Islay, refill sherry hogshead, cask #1161, 254 bottles)
Sept. 2018	88	Ben Nevis 7 yo 2010/2018 (48%, LMDW, Artist Collective #2.5)
October 2018	91	Talisker 8 yo 2009/2018 (59.4%, OB, Special Release, first fill American oak hogsheads)
Nov. 2018	89	Ballechin 10 yo (46%, OB, +/-2014)
Dec. 2018	90	Sonoma Bourbon (46%, OB, USA, bourbon, 2018)

Favourite malternative of the month
January 2018	92	Grande Champagne 1835 (42.7%, Jean Grosperrin, Cognac, 2017)
Feb. 2018	92	Domaine de Baraillon 1985/2012 (42%, OB, Bas-Armagnac)
March 2018	91	Hampden <H> 7 yo 2010/2017 (62%, Velier, 70th anniversary, Jamaica, #107, 1679 bottles)
April 2018	91	South Pacific 15 yo 2001/2016 (58%, Cave Guildive, Fiji, bourbon)
May 2018	91	Vallein Tercinier 27 yo ‘Lot 90’ (49.7%, Maltbarn, Grande Champagne, 2018)
June 2018	90	Hampden 10 yo 2007/2018 (64.1%, Hunter Laing for The Whisky Barrel, Kill Devil, Jamaica, 290 bottles)
July 2018	91	Hampden 16 yo 2001/2018 (60.7%, Hunter Laing for The Whisky Barrel, Jamaica, 265 bottles)
August 2018	89	Hampden Estate 7 yo (46%, OB, Jamaica, 2018)
Sept. 2018	93	Bellevue 19 yo 1998/2018 (59.7%, Hunter Laing, Kill Devil, Guadeloupe, 254 bottles)
October 2018	90	Domaine de Baraillon 20 yo (42%, OB, Claverie, Bas-armagnac, +/-2015)
Nov. 2018	92	Enmore 30 yo 1988/2018 (47.9%, Silver Seal, Demerara, 150cl)
Dec.2018	90	Fiji 2009/2018 'FSPA' (63.3%, Old Brothers, 2018)

Serge's overall favourites of 2018...

	< Recent bottling Rare Ayrshire 44 yo 1974/2018 (53%, Signatory Vintage, 30th Anniversary, bourbon barrel, cask #2606, 122 bottles) - WF 93
	Older bottling > Ardbeg 18 yo 'Special Liqueur' (91.3° US proof, OB, USA, Kraus Import New York, 4/5 quart, 1930s) - WF 95

	< Bang for y. buck Kilkerran 8 yo (55.7%, OB, 2017) - WF 91
	Malternative > Bellevue 19 yo 1998/2018 (59.7%, Hunter Laing, Kill Devil, Guadeloupe, 254 bottles) - WF 93

Angus's overall favourites of 2018...

	< Recent bottling Talisker 8 yo 2009/2018 (59.4%, OB, Special Release, first fill American oak hogsheads) - WF 91
	Older bottling > Milton-Duff 100% Malt 13 yo (85 proof, OB, 1950s) - WF 95

< Bang for your buck
Ben Nevis 10 yo
(46%, OB, +/-2017) - WF 89