This is always our favourite articles to write each year. The Top 10 is something we first began way back in 2009 and within it we celebrate the finest new whisky releases of that calendar year. Our first selection crowned Benromach 10 years old as our inaugural Whisky of the Year. However, some time ago we decided to no longer give a top prize.
Instead, each of the ten whiskies on our list is a winner in its own right and for differing reasons. With the Covid-19 pandemic now a distant memory, the whisky world (and real world) has returned to some sort of normality with some excellent releases. It is always difficult to select just ten to be honest, given that we have sampled 130+ whiskies this year. Probably more, haha.
As with all Top 10 selections, the choices are subjective. Everyone will pick a different set of whiskies to feature and that is what makes the industry so interesting and diverse. Our only criteria was that each whisky was released during the year.
What would you pick as your favourite whisky of 2024? Here is our Top 10 in alphabetical order.
Aberfeldy | 21 Years Old Malbec Cask Finish
This whisky was this year’s addition to the Wine Cask Collection from the Highland distillery. It was created by Stephanie Macleod, the award-winning Malt Master for Aberfeldy. Each bottling sees a collaboration with a different winery around the world – in this case it was with Finca Ambrosia, an organic winery located in the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina. The finish in their French oak ex-Malbec casks has contributed to a wonderful flavour profile that includes notes of milk chocolate, dried cranberry and caramel plus hints of espresso, vanilla fudge and freeze dried raspberries.
Ardnahoe | Inaugural Release 5 Years Old
It is always exciting to taste the first ever whisky from a new distillery and discover what they are all about. Back in the Spring we had the pleasure of doing just that for Ardnahoe from the famous whisky island of Islay. Owners Hunter Laing resisted the urge to bottle something at three years old, instead waiting a further couple of years. And the extra wait was worth it. The result is a whisky that feels much older. Expect classic Islay peat smoke wrapped around notes of golden syrup, apple tart, hazelnut praline and crystalised ginger. A triumph and such a promising inaugural bottling.
Bruichladdich | 30 Years Old
This rare bottling from early in the year was one of the oldest ever to be released by the Islay distillery. It was released simultaneously with an 18-year-old expression and both went into the core range. The Bruichladdich 30 years old is made using whisky distilled in the early 1990s, which was an unstable and uncertain period for the distillery – it would later be mothballed in 1994 with no production taking place for seven years. Expect a luxurious mix of dusty wood spices, caramelised apple, candied lemon and vanilla essence with hints of candlewax, chamoix leather and old cigar box. Fabulous.
Bushmills | 15 Years Old Cognac Cask Finish
Another permanent addition to the ever-expanding domestic core range from the Northern Irish distillery of Bushmills, and one that pushes the triple distilled single malt in a different and ultimately delicious direction. A 14-year initial maturation in first-fill and re-fill ex-bourbon barrels has been followed by a 12-month finishing period in ex-Cognac brandy casks from France. Notes of green apple, fresh honeycomb and bitter orange peel mingle with golden syrup, raisins and gentle warming wood spices. Another fantastic whiskey created by Alex Thomas, the Master Blender for Bushmills.
Cù Bòcan | Creation #6
The sixth bottling in Creations Series from the peated Highland single malt brand of Cù Bòcan (pronounced koo-bock-un). The series uses unorthodox cask combinations to create unique flavour profiles – in this case it is 9-year-old ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry cask matured whisky and 10-year-old ex-Jamaican rum cask whisky, which are then married together. This limited edition shows characteristics of golden syrup, crystallised pineapple, rum soaked raisins, gingerbread and milk chocolate. These sit alongside hints of plum and caramelised peach. Everything is wrapped up in gentle, savoury peat smoke.
Fettercairn | 16 Years Old (2024 Edition)
The Highland distillery of Fettercairn had its 200th birthday this year and revamped their domestic and travel retail ranges to celebrate. One of the key decisions was to make the previously-annual limited edition 16 Years Old expression a permanent addition. This new bottling sees 100% maturation in ex-bourbon casks and is described as ‘the epitomy of Fettercairn’ by owners Whyte & Mackay. Luscious notes of peach, fresh coconut and vanilla pod are complimented by white chocolate, grilled pineapple and cocoa powder. An elegant and sublime single malt.
Hibiki | 40 Years Old
This oldest ever expression from the award-winning Japanese blend of Hibiki was one of the true highlights of the year. Not really a ‘whisky for everyone’ given the rarity and £33k price tag, but it could not be ignored. The quality is sublime and the blend is collated from some of the oldest maturing whiskies that The House of Suntory have. This includes old Yamazaki and Hakushu single malts plus Chita single grains distilled between 1979 and 1983. Expect notes of white peach, apricot and manuka honey married with orange blossom, gingerbread and baked apple. Pure class.
Roseisle | 12 Years Old Origami Kite II
The inaugural bottling from the Speyside distillery of Roseisle was released in 2023 and got an honourable mention in our Top 10 last year. The Origami Kite II is the second ever bottling and was released this Autumn, again at 12 years of age and as part of owner Diageo’s Special Releases programme. The marriage of first-fill and re-fill ex-bourbon casks served up a real treat. Baked apple, vanilla toffee and delicate orange blossom notes lead the way and are well supported by further notes of marzipan, heather honey and pinches of ginger, cinnamon and cocoa. An absolute cracker.
Wild Turkey | Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8 Years Old
A special commemorative edition from the Kentucky bourbon brand of Wild Turkey. The limited edition saw the achievement of Jimmy Russell, the legendary former Master Distiller at Wild Turkey and Bourbon Hall of Famer, reaching the staggering landmark of 70 years service and celebrated in liquid form. It is bottled at 101 Proof (50.5% ABV) to mirror the best-selling core bourbon from the brand and created by Russell’s son and grandson, Eddie and Bruce Russell, using hand-selected barrels from Jimmy’s favourite rickhouses. Sweet, fruity and spicy. This is a proper sip and savour bourbon.
Wire Works | Bourbon Barrel
The Bourbon Barrel is the second permanent bottling in the Wire Works core range of single malts, which are produced at the Derbyshire distillery of White Peak. The brand are at the forefront of the thriving English whisky scene and this release cements this position in our view. This lightly peated gem uses 100% first-fill ex-bourbon casks from the Heaven Hill distillery in Kentucky and the result is exquisite. It has a distinct old school feel and exhibits notes of green apple, vanilla custard and apricot jam. Add in further notes of milk chocolate, fudge and honey and you have a real winner.
Honourable Mentions
Each year we always struggle to narrow down our selection to just 10 whiskies – there are simply too many delicious whiskies out there. The 10 above are what we feel are the most balanced and flavoursome with many ‘sip and savour’ gems in there. Many other excellent whiskies made the short list, but not quite the final cut. Some of these deserve and honourable mention.
First up is the fabulous Caol Ila Ambrosial Feast 11 years old, which like the Roseisle above came from this year’s Diageo Special Releases. This offered an intrigued glimpse into the rare unpeated style that is occasionally produced at the Islay distillery. The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie took the brave step to reinvent a classic by increasing the age of there cornerstone single malt by two years – the result was the sumptuous Glenmorangie The Original 12 years old.
A real treat saw us invited to the launch of the Glenallachie 35 years old – the oldest bottling from the Speyside distillery at the time – and meet Billy Walker, the legendary Master Distiller at Glenallachie. The whisky exhibited such decadence that can only be created with lengthy maturation in quality ex-sherry casks. Our final honourable mention goes to The Singleton of Glendullan Deep Forest Riches – this sits atop The Gardens of Abundance Collection travel retail range launched by the brand in early Autumn.
