Top 10 Whiskies of 2019

This post is about the Top 10 Whiskies I tried over the course of 2019, all just fantastic. I thought it would be fun to just check and see what I enjoyed most over the course of the year. It has to do with when I took notes on them, not when they were released. These are not in any particular order. Ledaig 10 Caol Ila 12 2006 Signatory Vintage Ledaig 12 Present Future Octomore 7.2 Octomore 9.3 Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017 Port Charlotte 10 Connemara 12 Kilkerran Heavily Peated Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare Port Ellen

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 1

This was recommended to me on two different reviews based on the fact that I like peat. This is my first Campbeltown that I’ve had more than a glass of so I’m excited for that. I’ve been looking into trying more from that region as the reviews I’ve been reading seem really in line with what I like. Let’s see how much merit those recommendations had. Also, I’ve seen at least one reviewer give an SMWS name, so I’m going to start trying that for kicks, at least when I’m feeling creative.

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 1, Campbeltown Single Malt, 59.3% ABV

Minutia: This particular batch contains distillate matured in 55% ex-Bourbon barrels and 45% ex-Sherry casks. There’s no age statement but I’ve seen around the web that this batch is a bit over 3 years old. 

Color: Deep copper, 1.0.

Nose: Earthy smoke, a funk in that vein, bready, ethanol, vague apple, sometimes banana-ish. A candy-like fruitness develops after a while.

Taste: Oily, vegetal, smoky, hot, maritime salt.

Finish: Bigger smoke, an earthy quality, maybe more of an earthy smoke rather than distinct flavors. Medium.

I was I love with this from the first pour, if I’m being honest. Every aspect of it appealed to me. To me, this goes down as easily as a 40% whisky, with the flavor of 60%. It’s a pretty dangerous pour as you just want more as you go. I liked it so much I wanted to keep it around for a while, but that’s going to be tough. Assuming as they get closer to the final product, it will get better, that is going to be a staple for me. I’m satisfied with this to not go out of my way to try the future “in progress” batches (love that Glengyle is doing that with their Kilkerran expressions, by the way) unless there’s something unique about a batch like a finish or something, but if I see them in a store I’ll be buying them.

Score: 92

SMWS Name: A familiar welcome to a novel home