Let’s say it like it is : 2018 has been an INCREDIBLE year regarding whisky !!! Friendships were built, whisky trips were insane, exchanges with people were awesome…and of course we founded our own website ?So let’s go with my personal awards, totally biased and unapologetically subjective !
Best Scotch Single Malt : ok, easy one, like really easy one ! Highland Park Orcadian 1970 40 years old. Damn…that was goody good !!!!
Best Canadian whisky : again, easy choice ! Lot 40 Cask Strength 11 years old. Let’s put it that way : Don Livermore is a genius and he creates whisky…enough said ?
Best American whiskey : Four Roses Single Barrel barrel LE 25-4R. I don’t know if it’s the best whiskey in the US, but the price tag is super low, the drink is super good, and I had a lot of fun with this one !
Biggest surprise : Macallan Aera (Taïwan exclusive). Macallan is often criticized for its price tag, its marketing, and its ABV content. I pulled the trigger a bit quickly on this buy, and was expecting a too much diluted drink as it is 40%. But at my surprise, the nose was INSANE, the texture was good, the drink was very good ! Hadn’t taste a 40% whisky that good since I started drinking whisky !
Bottle I’m most happy I opened : Caol Ila 14yo Valinch & Mallet. Single cask from V&M, Sherry aged, slight peat, intense flavours. This is in my top 3 whisky ever, and I have a full bottle at home. What else do you want me to say ?
Most disappointed : Bowmore 15 years old, but Bowmore in general. True I havent’ drink all those fancy editions, but every time I drink a Bowmore, I just have a “meuh” to say. And I really wanna like it : sherry, peat… it just doesn’t seem to do it for me 🙁
Bottle I’m most happy I found : Highland Park Thor. I missed that one for my Valhalla collection, which was something I REALLY wanted to have since I discovered Scotch. And founding my last missing piece at the distillery was kind of a nice wink !
Best Memory : that’s hard to choose from… My visit at Highland Park distillery was a pinnacle, but right after that my journey with Nico and Salim was sooooo cool ! Let’s say both are my best whisky memories from this year.
Best Facebook personality : he is a local legend (like very local), but damn Alexandre Lavoie is something ! He ain’t no expert, he ain’t no big shot, he likes Gold Bar whisky (he’s gonna kill me for that ?), but he is a damn fun and good guy ! A simple Facebook question/post can go to shit because he answered, and it’s damn funny to see the whole ship sink !
Finally but not least, best Instagram personality : Eric AKA Scotch And Time ! Ok, here is a big shot whisky guy, and here is someone super humble and always ready to talk and help ! His events are very cool to watch, his enthousiasm is contagious. Very glad I had the chance to talk a bit with him, and hopefully one day we’ll meet !