The 50 Best Whiskeys in the World
(yes, I know it is all terribly subjective, lol)https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/the-50-best-whiskeys-in-the-world-w211382/
Whiskey drinkers have never had it so good. Over the past decade or so, the number of varieties has exploded, presenting tipplers with a mind-boggling array of options. You can now drink bourbon that’s aged entirely on the ocean, a truly kick-ass rye, or Japanese single malts that beat the Scots in blind taste tests. All this poses a serious—if highly welcome—dilemma: What the hell should I drink? Fear not: Men’s Journal is on the case. In addition to putting our own taste buds to work, we recruited 18 top experts from the wide world of whiskey—writers, bartenders, restaurateurs (and in some cases, all three)—who have collectively sampled over 1,000 bottles. Somehow, we narrowed them down to these 50, most of which can be found at any good liquor store and none of which should fail to please. So whether you’re looking for massive peat smoke for a frigid winter night, an easy weekend sipper on the rocks (or chilling stones), or a budget bourbon for a pitcher of Old Fashioneds, we’ve got the perfect bottle for you.
I pick 3 that I personally recommend, the others are at the link
The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-Year-Old Single Malt
St. John Frizell, owner of Brooklyn cafe and bar Fort Defiance, can’t get enough of this Scotch finished in rum barrels. “It’s surprising how much rum character comes through,” he says. “It’s beautiful Balvenie whiskey, but with graceful notes of almond, lime rind, tropical fruit, allspice, and nutmeg. These are rum punch flavors, straight out of the West Indies.”
Bowmore 15
When Ben Rojo, bartender at Angel’s Share, first got into Scotch whisky, he was drawn immediately to the peat monsters of Islay — stuff his wife claims turns his breath to “bandaids and cigarette butts.” He says his tastes have mellowed a little since then, “but Bowmore 15 is still my security blanket.” It’s got all the hallmark smoke and salinity that he fell in love with, and its tempered with the fruit and caramel of the finishing sherry casks.
Glenmorangie Signet
The mash used to create Glenmorangie Signet is made with a portion of heavily roasted chocolate barley — just like what’s used in stouts and porters. As you might expect the whiskey has notes of coffee and cocoa, but also sweetness of apricot and raisins. In short, the perfect nightcap.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Japanese whisky is now INSANELY overpriced due to global crazed demand, especially the older ones.
EVER,EVER buy from Dekanta (biggest online Japanese whisky seller) they are the biggest rip-off merchants in the business, often double, triple, even quadruple what you pay elsewhere.
two affordable ones (both from Nikka) that are pretty good are
Nikka Coffey Malt
https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/24156/nikka-coffey-malt-whisky
Previously only released as part of single casks, Nikka decided to add their Coffey Malt to their core range in 2014. Distilled in a Coffey still normally used for grain whisky production, the malt is delightfully fruity and spicy.
Mention this bottle to a casual drinker and they might think you are talking about some kind of coffee-flavoured whisky for brunch drinking. So let’s set the record straight. Coffey Malt (produced by Nikka, Japan’s other major distillery besides Suntory) is named after Aeneas Coffey, the Irishman who patented a super-efficient column still in 1830. Coffey Malt is made from 100-percent malted barley that is distilled in a Coffey column still (normally used for grain whisky). It is rich with caramel and vanilla flavours, aged in ex-bourbon casks, and has a nice, oily mouth-feel.
Yoichi Single Malt
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/yoichi/yoichi-single-malt-whisky/
Yoichi is distilled by Nikka at its northern coastal distillery of the same name. The whisky is light and floral with a subtle dose of smoke, which the distillery attributes to the coal-fired distillation method used to produce it. The distillery also mentions a particular briny character, as do many Scottish seaside operations, and you can really taste a bit of saline that plays well with the ripe peach and honeydew notes bursting forth with each deep sniff. Overall, no-age-statement expressions from Nikka are easier to find than age statement bottles from Suntory. As to which is better, the only way to decide is to drink lots of both in one sitting.
The latest Yoichi single malt will replace both the previous NAS release and the remaining age statement whiskies. The change comes as demand continues to stretch Nikka's aged stock, with this new Yoichi Single Malt (made of of whiskies of various ages) aimed at representing this special distillery's direct-coal-heated, peated yet fruity style.
its less expensive and more complex (both are Speysides, my favourite region)
best 25yo scotch value on the market atm (or close if not the best)
Glenfarclas 25 Year Old
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/glenfarclas+25+old+single+malt+scotch+whisky+speyside+scotland
https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/2072/glenfarclas-25-year-old
An all-time classic, Glenfarclas 25yo is the epitome of long-aged sherried Speyside, gorgeously smooth and silkily-textured, with rich, generous flavours of fruitcake, hazelnuts, dried fruit and a hint of dark chocolate and coffee. A thoroughly delightful dram.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenfarclas-25-year-old-whisky/
also a Highland whisky with a very complex profile
The GlenDronach 21 Year Old - Parliament
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glendronach/the-glendronach-21-year-old-parliament-whisky/
https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/15308/glendronach-21-year-old-parliament-sherry-cask
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/the+glendronach+21+year+old+-+parliament
A 21 year old Glendronach released in 2011, and aged in a mix of sherry casks (Oloroso and sweet Pedro Ximenez dessert sherry). The result is really very good indeed. Interestingly enough, this whisky has no political associations. It is, in fact, named "Parliament" after the collective term for a group of rooks - and there is a Parliament of Rooks living in the trees near GlenDronach...
Nose: Soft smoke and lemon juice, cedar wood, apple peel, toasty oak, soft earth, date and walnut cake and a hint of freshly made espresso.
Palate: Golden syrup, soft, juicy raisins, tangy oak notes, peach, cherry blossom, cocoa and honeydew melon.
Finish: Sherry tones lead the finish, with a hint of sulphur, chocolate, luscious fruit and pepper.
On edit, the ones you chose are not nearly as expensive as I assumed.
Aberfeldy 12 is an excellent value
I would drop the extra dosh (not much more) and get the Aberfeldy 16 Years versus the 12yo. A tad richer and more complex.
even better (and actually cheaper)
is the limited edition Aberfeldy 15 Year Old French Red Wine Cask Finish
one of the best bangs for your buck out there
https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/52114/aberfeldy-15-year-old-french-red-wine-cask-finish
If your getting it for a gathering, if such a thing ever exists again, or for for mixing it's fine.
Sweden is its biggest outside small market. Most love it because it is just the scotch that a Swede is supposed to buy (very much a trend for many things here, it can be maddening)
my experience is to introduce them to better scotch (even if it is a blend, of which I am not a real fan) and they quickly see the difference
if you are still hellbent on the Grouse,
this one is far better (and almost the same price)
The Naked Grouse
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/naked-grouse-whisky/
An interesting addition to the Famous Grouse range, this was aged in first fill sherry casks, and is based around malt whisky from Highland Park and Macallan. Packaged very simply, this is a superb value-for-money blend.
Nose: Smooth and oily with notes of cherry compote, buttered granary toast, malt, custard and peach.
Palate: Sherried and thick with notes of sultanas, sticky toffee pudding, raspberry jam, Victoria sponge, custard and crème caramel.
Finish: Medium, with notes of cocoa, oak and just a soupcon of smoke on the very tail.
My wife bought me a single malt Irish Whiskey for Christmas several years back and it was fabulous. 
The Glenmorangie Signet looks very enticing.
Just might need to treat myself over the holidays.
Hubby and I do like to sip on occasion.
Thanks!
Edit: $$$$$$$
Yikes, OK, soooo looks like this one will be saved for a victory like Dems sweeping in November.
And Inauguration Day! 
?quality=86&strip=all
I’m an Islay girl. Although my husband received a bottle of Yamazaki for his birthday that is luscious. Like butter.
dram.
Yamazaki 18 is one of my all-time favourites (so is Hibiki 21) , BUT it is 3 to 5 times (or even more!) more expensive now that it was just 5, 6 years ago. It is madness how much the older Japanese blends and single malts have exploded in price.
My father is a HUGE scotch snob (he has been a dominant force in terms of my wine and spirits knowledge and taste) and always drank Yamazaki 25 from when it first came out in 1999 (when I was 2 or 3 years old and we were in Hong Kong for a few years). I remember him whingeing on 10 or so years ago when it was rising to 400 or 500 (600 to 750 usd or more) quid a bottle, and now it is over 5000, 6000 pounds in most places!)
If you love Islay whiskies and peat monsters
and if you are willing to drop a wee bit more than normal
and are willing to search
I have a great recco (my wife LOVES this, she is the Islay girl (more smoke!!!) I am more of a Speyside girl, but love whisky from all over)
you will NOT be disappointed with this one
Octomore διάλογος (Dialogue) 2008
10 Year Old
https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/45924/octomore-2008-10-year-old?utm_source=twe-aff-core&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=aff-core-4431884
The third limited-edition release of Octomore Ten in an incredibly complex single malt. Incorporating whisky aged for 10 years in casks that previously held port, cognac and bourbon as well as virgin oak casks this single malt has a deep, rich character. The nose holds aromas of chocolate, tobacco and bonfire smoke, with a sweet undercurrent of vanilla and custard. The palate is warm and spicy, with strong notes of mulled wine and tobacco, as well as lashings of peat smoke throughout. The finish is driven by flavours of oak and vanilla, with a lingering hint of smoke.
This Octomore is fun! He is complex and comes with a good portion of various sweet flavors around the corner. The 10 years put the whole thing on the crown. Very clear recommendation from my side. A similarity to the OBA Concept exists.
Colour:
Dark Earl Gray with a sting that goes reddish.
Nose:
Very sweet, stuffy, concentrated Octomore smoke, behind it are directly blueberry pancakes, which then transform into waffles with hot cherries. Some salt and shoe polish. The alcohol is, as always with Bruichladdich, beautifully integrated. After 15 minutes, the oak comes to light. The nose is already a lot of fun, there is definitely more to discover here.
Taste:
Powerful, a flavor explosion in the mouth. Nevertheless, to drink very well undiluted. On the tongue finally show the 10 years of maturation. First, one wonders about the lack of sweetness, but after a few seconds, at the latest when swallowing, the wood gives way to the sweet cargo.
Finish:
Dark berries, salt, licorice. Then it gets drier and slower. Far later you get something like menthol and tobacco.
The finish is of course long and gives you a long time pleasure.
Distillery
Bruichladdich
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
2018 Third Limited Release 167 ppm
Vintage
2008
Bottled
14.12.2018
Stated Age
10 years old
Casktype
Oak
Number of bottles
12000
Strength
56.8 % Vol.
Size
200 ml 700 ml 750 ml
Bottle code
L162911 18/424
Barcode
5055807410878
is Octomore 10 year old - 2008
Octomore 10 Year Old Dialogos
70cl 56.8% abv
https://www.whiskyshop.com/octomore-10-year-old-dialogos#:~:text=This%20third%20limited%20edition%2010,super%2Dheavily%20peated%20at%20167ppm.
another really great series (from different Islay distilleries) is called
Elements of Islay
https://islay.com/
The Ardbeg (for easy to find drams not in this more esoteric series, I love Ardbeg Uigeadail, which is also really affordable) expressions are amazing
especially AR7 and AR10
ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Aged in a first fill Pedro Ximenez Butt, this is classic Ardbeg shrouded in rich sherry creating an impression of rich dark chocolate blended with bonfire smoke.
CORE FLAVOUR
PEAT INFUSED SULTANAS
CASK DETAILS
DISTILLATES FROM THE EARLY 2000’S MATURED IN A PEDRO XIMENEZ BUTT
STRENGTH
56.3%
DISTILLERY
ARDBEG
NOSE
Cigars, Armagnac, rancio and burnt fruit cake. Sticky toffee pudding, dried orange, cinnamon, dates and wood smoke. Honey-glazed smoked chicken breast. A warm, burnt sweetness on the nose with memories of Christmas on a stormy day.
PALATE
Super rich and fruity, powerful and not too dry. Oily and leathery. Lingering salted-caramel toffee and sweet smoke. Demerara Rum cake enjoyed with a glass of old Cognac and a mild cigar.
FINISH
Black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg. Hot toddy and rum-punch mix. An aftertaste recalling classic medicinal flavours.
ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Sweet and smoky, rich yet delicate, the classic contradictions of the distillery that make it so revered are ever-present in the latest Ar bottling.
CORE FLAVOUR
WHITE CHOCOLATE
CASK DETAILS
A VATTING OF TWO BOURBON BARRELS, DISTILLED IN 2001
STRENGTH
52.4%
DISTILLERY
ARDBEG
NOSE
Sweet vanilla and white chocolate mix perfectly with wisps of woody smoke and iodine.
PALATE
More white-chocolate cookies, sweet caramel and orchard fruit (baked pears and apples) sit alongside an intense nuttiness with classic bonfire smoke and charcoal reminding us of this whisky’s origin.
FINISH
Pecan pie and smoked almonds.
