So for context, in my market I know the importer and distributor for springbank and bunnahabhain. Both are my favourite distilleries, just can't get their likeness elsewhere.

However it's ridiculous how the sb 12cs is being sold for 370usd First hand... and the bunnahabhain 30 for 1200 usd.

I know that the whisky market is op right now but come on, the price is so high from the direct importer and seller? Buying it and paying 50usd tax from master of malt or the online shops globally is cheaper.

Didn't see a post about it, so thought I would create a post for the 2024 OSWA winners. See:

https://www.oswa.co.uk/oswa-winners-2024

As some of you know, the way the awards work is that Whisky YouTubers nominate whiskies in each of the categories and the winner is then chosen by public vote from the nominations. However, people can also write in their own choices for the categories, which is how the "People's choice" winners are chosen. In addition, three-time award winners in any category ("Trifecta winners") are disqualified, but people can still write those names in (and did).

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1. Best Value Single Malt

Winner: Kilkerran 12

People's choice: Arran 10

Trifecta winner: Arran 10

2. Best Blended Whisky

Winner: Thompson Bros 6 year old TB/BSW

People's choice: McLean's Nose

3. Best Blended Malt Whisky

Winner Campbeltown Loch

People's choice: Campbeltown Loch

4. Best Non-Malt Whisky

Winner: Redbreast 12 Cask Strength

People's choice: Wild Turkey 101

5. Best Distillery

Winner: Ardnamurchan

People's choice: Bruichladdich

Trifecta winner: Springbank

6. Best New Distillery

Winner: Isle of Raasay

People's choice: Isle of Raasay

7. Best Independent Bottler

Winner: Thompson Bros

People's choice: Signatory Vintage

Trifecta winner: Signatory Vintage

8. Best World Whisky

Winner: Wild Turkey Rare Breed

People's choice: Wire Works Bourbon Cask

9. Best Scotch Whisky

Winner: Bunnahabhain 12 Cask Strength

People's choice: Springbank 12 Cask Strength

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What do you think?

New to the world of scotch, and have only tried Black Label. I recently purchased some Gold Label Reserve to enjoy around Christmas with my brother, but I want to hear other people’s opinions on their favorite blends. Thanks!

Hello lads. I collect whiskey and I already have the Macallan Rare Cask 2023 and I seen the 2024 popped up on the shelf. Is each year different? Worth a buy?

When I first had Bowmore 12, it honestly wasn’t my favorite and I almost wrote off Bowmore altogether, but then I discovered there was a 15 for not too much more and I am very glad I gave it a shot. It’s very good.

(I might circle back to the 12 to give it a fair shake. I’m sure it’s not bad. Not sure why it didn’t resonate with me like the 15.)

Nose: There’s smoke and salt but it’s a little subtler than others. Chocolate covered raisins. Strangely, modeling clay and pencil shavings? A little bit of spice on the end.

Palate: Brine. Chai spice. Pepper. Dark fruits, more chocolate. It’s oily. Not too sweet. What I imagine cherry extract would taste like. Figs. And of course… oak. Mellow oak.

Finish: Cold sea water. Cinnamon sticks. Dry wood, warm tobacco, smoked nuts. At the very end, spice… and back to the sea water.

Overall: Rich, nuanced, plus the beautiful color. (The color is kind of irrelevant, but also not.) It’s really good. Good mouthfeel. Perhaps not the most complex, but there’s still a lot going on.

I’d give it a 88/100.

The next one on my list is the Ardbeg 10!

Has anyone successfully branched out from scotch to another spirit. I love my scotch, peated/unpeated, young/old, love it all.

I'm looking for another equally deep and complex world of spirits. Thinking cognac, tequila, Irish whiskey, bourbon, and sake. I've enjoyed each, but can't seem to find another spirit that has the same level of research/variety available as scotch. I just don't really know where to start...

Of course I know it’s all preference.

But I’m really craving a “christmas whisky.” I’ve had the Glendronach 15 before and LOVED it, especially due to how rich and dark it tastes. It gives me real christmas vibes. It is however £80.

I’ve never tried Bunnahabhain 12 before, but I love scotch and know I’ll like it. I’m more wondering will I get my “christmas” kick with that bottle, or should I really just spend extra money for what is one of my favourite bottles?

Store by me has a sale on Glen Scotia 18 for $100 after tax. The Victoriana is also the same price after tax.

I heard great things about the Victoriana but mixed on the 18. For 100, should I try the 18?

This thread is the Weekly Discussion Thread and is for general discussion about Scotch whisky.

The idea is to aggregate the conversations into sticked threads to make them easier to find, easier to see history on, easier to moderate, and keep /new/ queue tidy.

This post is on a schedule and the AutoModerator will refresh it every Friday morning. You can see previous threads here.

This is the weekly recommendations thread, for all of your recommendations needs be it what pour to buy at a bar, what bottle to try next, or what gift to buy a loved one.

The idea is to aggregate the conversations into sticked threads to make them easier to find, easier to see history on, easier to moderate, and keep /new/ queue tidy.

This post will be refreshed every Friday morning. Previous threads can been seen here.

I’ve had this bottle for a while (as you can tell). It’s a strong one, good neat or with ice. The Offerman editions have each been interesting in their own way. I’m hoping to find the latest Caribbean Rum Cask Finish in the near future! But, back to the Charred Oak Cask…

Nose: As always, there’s smoke; it’s damp and mellow smoke, if that makes sense. Moss. Cherry cordials and fruit cake. Fig Newtons.

Palate: Immediately, it’s super sweet. Spun sugar. Chocolate, maybe, with some dark fruit jam. Plus, the same Fig Newtons from before, but lighter this time around.

Finish: Bitter and spicy, but in a good way. Maybe some tobacco? Fresh cut grass. Moss. And, of course, more oak. Warm embers.

Overall: It’s solid. It’s punchy. It’s definitely not subtle. If you like oaky, peaty, smoky whisky, this is it. Maybe not very complex, but I’m not disappointed by any means.

I’d give it an 88/100.

The next one on my list is the Bowmore 15!

Obviously each whisky has its own taste, but most stuff out of the same distillery has stuff in common (Springbank funk, for example)

Another example being that, having tried a few from both brands, I enjoy the general flavor profile of Laphroaig significantly more than Ardbeg (not that Ardbeg isn’t very good in its own right)

Is there a word for this?

Ardnamurchan rum cask

55°

Nose: funk, peach, vanilla sponge cake, dried bananas

Mouth: tobacco, funk, molasses, coconut

Aftertaste: faint hay, thin ash, fleeting funk

I think rum cask is not doing ardnamurchan a favor. It flirts with ardna's unique funk but leaves it too curtailed in the end. It's like a teenage romance- starts with a youthful passion but ends in a forgettable puff.

7/10 (in a good way)