Joyful New 12 months! Let’s go over 2024 as soon as once more and make a listing of our private highlights earlier than we begin a brand new yr of whisky critiques.
Final yr I reviewed 572 bottlings, this yr the quantity has elevated as soon as extra, to 602 critiques. We’re breaking the 600 barrier for the primary time: it’s clear that our session dimension is rising, a lot of the days we’re reviewing two drams or extra.
Finest new whisky in 2024
When going by means of the best scoring drams of the previous yr, it isn’t the Gordon & MacPhail profitable streak we’ve seen in earlier years. The award for greatest new whisky goes to the Karuizawa 50 Years. Additionally on the podum, there are three whiskies and one cognac:
Then a complete of 18 drams reached 92 factors, that’s nonetheless a really excessive rating. A few of them had been positively premium whiskies, just like the GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 12, the Cragganmore 1985 Cask of Distinction or the G&M Recollection III collection.
Clearly additionally smaller impartial bottlings just like the Glen Moray 32 Years (Whisky Sponge) or the Secret Islay 1989 (The Whisky Jury). The listing even included an excellent Blended Malt.
When bearing in mind the value, then the Port Charlotte 2003 Islay Sponge, Port Charlotte 2003 Acla Choice and Ben Nevis 1996 TTOW deserve a particular point out. These had been actually excellent they usually allowed you to purchase a bottle AND hold each kidneys. Future classics which are comparatively reasonably priced.
Favorite different spirits in 2024
A lot of nice cognacs this yr, from completely different bottlers, though it appears a number of the sources that had been booming 5 years in the past at the moment are operating dry. Other than the excellent Cabanne 19.10, a few them adopted carefully with 92 factors:
The identical stage is also present in rum.
TDL continues to be my bang-for-your-buck suggestion in rum. Consider the TDL 2009 (The Whisky Jury for Gene) or the TDL 2009 (The Roots) as an example, which had been additionally wonderful.
Finest worth whisky in 2024
When taking a look at worth for cash, my purpose is to discover a whisky that scores 90 factors or extra for lower than € 250. Not a straightforward activity nowadays, however I had these favourites:
Then there’s additionally the Laurichesse Lot 75 cognac (once more) and the armagnac Laballe 1991 (Journal des Kirsch) which stood out on this worth class. Or rums just like the HD 2013 and The Duo Chapter #2, each from The Whisky Jury.
When taking a look at extensively accessible bottlings (90 factors or barely much less), my favourites had been:
Whisky weblog statistics
First the excellent news: primarily based on Google Analytics, this web site obtained round 700.000 guests in 2024. In response to SEMrush information this places us within the top-3 of review-oriented whisky web sites (not counting communities or press launch rehashers), after Whiskyfun and Malt Assessment.
Then again I imagine we’ve misplaced round 15% of our guests this yr. In occasions of cookie blocking, bot visitors and information thrown out for the sake of customer privateness, I’m positive a few of that’s merely as a consequence of insufficient monitoring.
Nonetheless, let’s not beat across the bush: Scotch whisky exports had been down 18% within the first half of the yr – and possibly much more by the tip of the yr. Uncommon whisky (single malts – principally our space of curiosity) plummeted by 34% in worth. It’s time to confess persons are changing into much less excited by whisky, bored by the limitless stream of hole ultra-premium releases and disgraceful pricing for basically mediocre expressions. This interprets to web sites about whisky, little question.
When wanting on the customer areas, the UK nonetheless has the most important share (round 20%), with the US displaying roughly the identical quantity. Canada has taken the third spot (6%) for the primary time. Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium (every round 5%) full the rostrum. Then additional down there’s a sturdy customer base in Australia and Asian nations like Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. Thanks everybody for the loyal following.
For some motive we had a document variety of hits on our Aultmore 12 12 months Previous evaluation. A evaluation from 2017, thoughts you. Possibly there was a marketing campaign that I wasn’t conscious of, linking to my web site? After that, the Particular Releases 2024 overview was visited so much. The most well-liked new critiques (revealed in 2024) had been the Hibiki Japanese Concord and Lagavulin 12 12 months Previous (2024).
A private message…
For the primary time in 16 years, I anticipate a major time-out in 2025.
A few weeks in the past I obtained the information that I’ve a cholesteatoma, a cyst inside my center ear. It invades my ear and destroys the mastoid bone surrounding the ear. Whereas in itself non-cancerous, it’s positively harmful so it must be taken out (mid February). On the identical time my ossicles will likely be changed as these have been worn out as properly.
Clearly that is delicate surgical procedure, with many crucial nerves (together with optic nerves and my largest concern… style nerves!) passing by means of the center ear. Let’s simply hope these received’t be affected. I’m in good fingers, however nonetheless I’m going through at the least 2 months of social quarantaine, simply to verify I received’t be selecting up (different) infections. This additionally means no alcohol for a while.
I do know it’s a cliché, however I want you good well being, as it’s merely the prerequisite for all good issues in life.
