I tasted 194 new whisky expressions in 2016 (most of them during my Speyside/Highlands tours, London whisky festivals and my business trips in Europe) Last year I had the chance to visit 16 distilleries in total: Glen Garioch, BenRiach, Benromach, Strathisla, Glen Moray, Glenfarclas, Glen Spey, Cardhu, Macallan, Tobermory, Oban, Talisker, Glen Ord, Balblair, Glenmorangie, The Dalmore. Below you can see Meleklerin Payi Top 20 Whiskies 2016 and the winner is Strathisla 1965 by Gordon & MacPhail. For the first time in the last 3 years I don’t have a Japanese whisky in my Top 20. Once again Kavalan found a spot in my top 20. Here I just give list with my scores, my full tasting notes are in my article in Turkish

Meleklerin Payi Top 20 Whiskies 2016

20 – Caol Ila 18

Score: 90

19 – BenRiach 15 PX Finish

Score: 90

18 – BenRiach Cask Strength Batch 1

Score: 90

17 – Glenfarclas Family Casks 1991

Score: 90

16 – Murray MacDavid Bowmore 26

Score: 90

15 – Jura 1984

Score: 90

14 – GlenGarioch Wine Cask Matured

Score: 90

13 – The Golden Age Blend

Score: 91

12 – Laphroaig Brodir

Score: 91

11 – Bunnahabhain 25

Score: 91

 

10 – Aberlour A’bunadh Batch 56

Score: 91

9 – Glenmorangie Finealta

Score: 91

8 – Balblair 90 Vintage (2nd Release)

Score: 91

7 – The Dalmore Constellation 45 – 1966

Score:92

6 – Kavalan Solist Amontillado Sherry

Score: 92

5 – Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserve

Score: 92

 

4 – Gordon&MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Ledaig 16

Score: 93

3 – Balblair 99 Single Cask (1712)

Score: 93

 

2 – The Macallan M

Score: 94

 

AND THE BEST WHISKY OF 2016

1 – Strathisla 1965

Score: 95

 

Other noteworthy whiskies of 2016

(this list has no particular order, they are the ones that I scored in the range of 80-90)

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SCOTLAND

• Johnnie Walker Red Rye Finish
• Scapa Glansa
• Johnnie Walker Green Label 2016
• Johnnie Walker Island Green
• Macallan Rare Cask
• Chivas Regal Ultis
• Lagavulin 8
• Millburn 18 1995 Bottling: 87
• Ailsa Bay
• Kininvie 23
• Compass Box Oak Cross
• Compass Box 3 Year Old Deluxe Whisky
• Glenfiddich 15 Distillery Edition
• Royal Brackla 21
• Bowmore Mizunara
• Benriach Septendecim 17
• Old Pulteney 21
• Old Pulteney 35
• Cambus 40
• Tomatin 18
• Mortlach 18
• Talisker 25
• Singleton of Glen Ord 15
• Glenmorangie 15 Sauternes Wood Finish
• Linkwood 37
• Cambus 40
• Bunnahabhain Ceobanach
• Glendronach 14 Virgin Oak
• Highland Park 21
• The Macallan 12 Double Cask
• The Macallan Rare Cask
• Ledaig 18
• Glenkinchie Distillers Edition Amontillado
• Murray McDavid Laphroaig 14
• Murray McDavid Mystery Malt
• Chapter 7 Invergordon 43
• Lagavulin 12
• Tomatin Legacy
• The Balvenie 1509 Batch 2
• Benromach Sassicaia
• Springbank 16
• SMWS 36.79
• SMWS 29.169
• SMWS 55.25
• The Glenlivet Peated Cask Finish
• Glenfiddich Project XX
• Jura Tastival
• Rare Old Highland Mlat Whisky – Whyte & Mackay
• Kilchoman Sauternes

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WORLD

• Yoichi Sherry & Sweet (Japan)
• Miyagikyo Fruity & Rich (Japan)
• Komagatake Cask Strength (Japan)
• Komagatake Rindo (Japan)
• Paul John 1906 Single cask (India)
• Rampur Select (India)
• Kavalan Solist Ribbon Series (Taiwan)

IRELAND

• Teeling Revival
• Teeling Vintage Reserve 21
• Yellow Spot 12
• Connemara Cask Strength

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USA

• Westland Peated Single Malt
• Wild Turkey Rye
• Jack Daniels Sinatra Century
• Knob Creek Single Barrel

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