Best Single Malt Whisky 2024

[@Gwhisky]

Such a banger, that Ledaig. Great pick, buddy! 🔥

[@whatsthepoint170]

Hey Phil, love your list. My personal list is not budget friendly but it is what it is. My actual whiskey of the year is a Glendronach Oloroso 2011 single cask which we hand bottled at the distillery. It actually tasted even better at home than at the distillery which is a shocker. For anyone who plans on going to Scotland, do not skip Glendronach on your visit! And bring some bottles back. If we’re talking shelf bottles, I’d pick Talisker 18. If you want that rich coastal character, it can’t be beat in my opinion.

[@JeffWhisky]

A strong bunch of runners up and I am never stop yelling about my love for that last bottle, a bargain banger which has recently been available in the UK for £30! Cheers for an awesome year Phil

[@jbar6284]

Hey Jeff, Gav @GavsDrams has the slappiest shirt off your back.😉 ... just in case you mist it.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

It's fantastic value! Price has to play a big part in my list, and it does it well

[@caskstrength7629]

@@FirstPhilWhisky what’s expensive for someone could be cheap for someone else. So that’s hard to tell.

[@McIntyresMalts]

Also, an absolute winner on your whisky of the year mate. Probably the best value, bang for buck whisky I have had in a long time.

[@tonybonymacaroni657]

I've had 4 bottles of the Rioja Cask this year. I like the 10 as well. I've got a bottle of the Ledaig 18 for Christmas day. Can't wait.

[@chentim1751]

Solid lists, nice ledaig pick, great value. my picks: Ledaig 10,18 Benromach 12 vintage Ancnoc 18, 24 Killerran 12,16 Merry Christmas to Phil, thanks for the great information all year round!

[@SchmiddiAlive]

Fell in love with the Ardmore 12 Portwood. Colored, yes, but 46% and non chill filtered, and its a taste bomb. Vanilla, dark berries, charred orange and peat with the longest finish ive ever had on a 12yo whiskey! Cant recommend it highly enough. Try it out for yourselves!

[@jezhellewell7690]

Great picks & fantastic delivery! Completely agree agree with your #1. Ridiculous value for money & beautiful.

[@ThisAndThat-l4p]

Thanks to those who find and make us aware of great value/quality bottles. Out of those, Classic Laddie, Campbeltown Loch, Arran 10, Glen Scotia Double Wood are my favorites. If i can find, I'd like to try Maclean's Nose next. I am personally Boycotting any bottle that is priced over $100 USD. I am talking to you Springbank 10 at $99! Merry Christmas.

[@noahboyd694]

Thanks for your videos Phil! I started my whisky journey last year with some friends, but have progressed to some real “bangers” this year thanks to your suggestions. Cheers!

[@McIntyresMalts]

Some great whiskies in here mate, good variety that should please everyone!

[@frankydankytanky]

I got into smokey whisky just over a year ago and since then I pretty much have only bought smokey whiskies. My whisky of the year is the Ardbeg Uigeadail. Blows my mind every time i sip it.

[@andynelson5864]

Always loved Uigeadail. Permanent shelf stuff. Have you tried Ardbeg's Corryvreckan? Definitely not as much a wallet-friendly price tag, but...just WOW!

[@whiskywhereabouts]

Great picks, and that #1 is great. It's crept up in price here in the US, but I've still had it outperform much pricier whisky in blind flights. Cheers!

[@IronZombie27]

My favourites from the year are inline with yours Phil. I've discovered Campbeltown malts, Kilkerran 12 and Glen Scotia Victoriana are home runs for me. Aultmore 18 is really up there as well, and one that really surprised me was the new release Ancnoc Peatheart! Cheers to you and a Merry Christmas!

[@Gobi_Unchained]

Tell you what. If you are a fan of wine influenced whisky. The Ben Nevis 10 Cabernet Franc from Cadenheads is so flipping tasty! Cheers for the list! Some yummy stuff on there.

[@adaskog]

I would go with Glencadam 10 this year, as it is my 'go to' for the last few months. Exceptionally good value whisky with the fruity and malty flavors

[@bluesmanen1]

A really great list, I've had all of them, and all of them are graet value drams...Cheers and Happy New Year

[@christophriedweg7922]

This year, some of the whiskies i really enjoyed are Glen Scotia 15, Kilchoman Loch Gorm and Craigellachie 17

[@mormorgranat]

Ok ok, now I have to get that damn Rioja cask finish. Some of my favorites that I tried for the first time 2024: Bunna 12 CS Redbreast Lustau Springbank 10 Ledaig 10 Talisker 8 special ed I will open Bunna 14 Feis Ile and Port Charlotte 10 before the year ends though, so we will see if the list changes :) Cheers

[@heisenbergguy7772]

My 2024 Scotch whisky of the Year is Glen Scotia 15. My 2024 Bourbon of the Year is Town Branch Overproof.

[@BaWBarmy]

Brilliant pick Phil. Loved the Rioja Cask from my first taste and then add to the fact that it is not expensive, infact it's dirt cheap, under £40 in the UK. Great Choice

[@dominikgarbauer6883]

Actually two for me: The Ledaig 18, what a great, complex whisky. And an irish one called Slate. A friend gifted it to me after he bought it in Ireland.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Great shout!

[@jasonwhite745]

Early on my whisky journey and came across your channel this year Phil - thanks for helping me find some quality drams and here’s to 2025!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

That's great to hear - Great to have you watching Jason!

[@Tim0Tum0Tom]

Great content as always Phil. For me it has to be Campbelltown loch. Affordable and available here in Australia. Runners up are Kilchoman Senaig (tried for the first time this year) and glenallachie 12. I look forward to trying the ledaig sometime soon. Merry Christmas.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Tim! Merry Christmas

[@francescocomunale8195]

absolutely love the ledaig sinclair series! Recently bought a second bottle because its so good for its price

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

The price is so good! Value plays a big part for WOTY for me.

[@tilodinter8041]

That's a real good one. My favourite is the Deanston Bordeaux... allways a wow. But it stands right next to the Ledaig Rioja. For a good reason!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Good choice!

[@whistlestopwonders]

Very good pick for WOTY, the value is also incredible. Genuinely think it gets the balance of sweet and smoke perfect. Like some kind of caramalised coating on BBQ meat. Amazing.

[@whiskyweekenddram]

Ledaig is the best Islay whisky indeed. 🙌 for me my pick would be an IB from a bourbon cask. But this Sinclair is also a great pick. Slainte

[@Altosax449]

My favourite is Ledaig 18 but their Rioja is fantastic as well.

[@hordeum-vulgare]

Good on ya, my Kiwi cobber. Here is my top ten for 2024 (not in order): Kilkerran CS Batch 8, 2022; Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 6; Blair Athol 7 YO 2014 (The Whisky Cellar, Series 4); Speyburn 18 YO; Isle of Raasay Cask Strength, 2024; GlenDronach ‘Revival’ 15 YO (i.e. 2015 - the old one, actually 19 YO); {Caol Ila} North Star ‘The Islay Star’ 9 YO; Royal Brackla ‘Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish’ 12 YO; Wire Works ‘Full Port’ (England); Suntory Hakushū 12 YO (Japan).

[@kevinnordby4808]

Great picks Phil!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Kevin!

[@KevinOhlin]

Solid choices all around and a great dram for WOTY, I really enjoyed their 9 year Bordeaux cask as well this year. For my top whisky this year it's impossible to pick favorites amongst all the incredible whisky I've been fortunate enough to try, but the ones that come readily to mind are the Glen Scotia Malts Fest 2023 (11 year peated white port finish), the Bruichladdich 2013 Bere Barley, and the Ardnamurchan 10th Anniversary.

[@gregmoran5462]

Great review as always. My favourite this year was Bunnahabhain 18. Also visited the distillery which made it extra special.

[@briancopple4238]

After the shout out on SLB I started watching your channel, really enjoy your content. I’ve been into bourbon a long time and it’s time to spread my wings and try some scotch!

[@peterwilcox7188]

Merry Christmas Phil here’s to more great whisky in 2025 🥃🥃

[@tomjones925]

I love the tone you’ve struck with this channel, accessible with great production value, informative and never pretentious. Just wondering what your thoughts are on Ardnamurchan? I may have missed it but I haven’t seen a review of their spirits yet on here.

[@frankopdam8728]

Milroy’ s soho selection 6 year campbeltown 59.1%-what a great whisky

[@janpaulvanderhoeven]

Check, check, check, check,check… nice one Phil no need to rush to the store. Gottem all!

[@NZDave]

Surprised with your WOTY, didn’t get along with that at all. Personally went for Speyburn 18. Amazing value, deep, engaging flavour….for now anyway.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I still need to try the Speyburn 18 😮

[@thecrystallibrarian]

I found Speyburn this year ... for the criminal price of 22 USD in the suburb I live in. I've had to take a break from Scotch and my husband is loving my peaty Islay collection. Sigh.

[@EmanuelePanni1983]

Ledaig is such a good one!

[@SimonneNZ]

The only one I haven't tried out of those is the GlenGarioch 12. Agree, the others are all great whiskies and your top 2 are both really good value. My Scotch of the year is Ardnamurchan Paul Launois, with Benromach Cask Strength as runner up. The Ardnamurchan PL has been a front runner all year. I only recently purchased the Benromach and thought it might take the lead but comparing the two side by side, I prefer the Ardnamurchan. However, there was one whisky which topped the Ardnamurchan, my overall Whisky of the Year is a local one, the Pokeno Prohibition Porter. Cheers!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

That Pokeno is great right! Great picks Simonne!

[@bannedcommander2932]

I adore the Ledaig Sinclair Series because it tastes very similar to the Ledaig 18 but costs about 60% less. Still, if price isn't an issue, the 18 should take the cake over the Sinclair Series.

[@jaime_hi-meh_not_jay-mee7095]

Kilkerran 12 is one of my top 12-yos! The others I have yet to try. My WOTY is Amrut Portonova. I know, not widely available and can be pricey. I got mine for around $75, but I think it’s well worth it.

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

Kilkerran is amazing, the heavily peated and 16yo are even better than the 12yo. My favorite scotch this year is the Springbank 12 cask strength.

[@NickDV007]

Got /had all of the ruuners up and think that the GG12 is a great value and much underrated bottle. As for the Ledaig, looks like I'll have to give it a go! Thanks for sharing, have a great Xmas 🥃🥃

[@kunalgill2511]

Two surprise whiskies blew my mind this year, the Bowmore 10 Aston Martin. I really thought it would be a fad to up the price and I don’t really enjoy the regular 10 so much. Ended up finishing a bottle with a friend, all neat. Superb. The other one is even better: the BenRiqch Peated Quarter Cask. What a self-assured dram that is. Calm, collected, balanced, easy but enjoyable without making you feel like it’s a big deal. Even though it is!

[@hanggo24]

The hazelburn 15 Oloroso is just special, old perth px defo bang for your buck type and a peated kilkerran aged in bourbon cask simply delicious and still is cheaper. And i heard, dunno if it's true that kilchoman is releasing a unpeated malt izzit true? If that has become a trend then we'll see an unpeated laphroaig or ardbeg soonn?!??

[@NeverEmptyBottle]

Those are some beautiful whiskies. Most of those I haven’t tried yet because I usually go with what I know but I like putting this on the spectrum for both newbies and experienced.

[@thomasrogers3008]

1. Arran Quarter Cask - Knocks the 10 out the park imo. 2. Sanaig 3. Glenfarclas 15 4. Ledaig 10 5. Ardnamurchan AD 5. Machir Bay

[@MatijaGrcic]

Ledaig is great and Deanston is always in stock at our home.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

So good right!

[@aneriparikh9527]

Absolutely love the Ledaig Sinclair! ❤

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Great video as always

[@IainBruce83]

I really enjoyed a few Aussie and NZ whiskies, but the stand out over all including Scottish, was the Backwoods 4yo Rye bottled by SCN

[@josephjvr6509]

brilliant pick. That stuff is so good. and cheap,.....crazy.

[@christophercutajar7656]

I suggest you try the glenallachie 15yrs old finished in sergio himenez cast. My top of this year 👌👌

[@chrisinnes2128]

I'm really getting into the lowland whiskys this year

[@ashtonsigler7185]

Hey Phil, I love your videos. I think the new edits are appropriate and still stick true to how you used to do it. However I get headaches due to the videos being so jumpy going from reel to reel. Maybe slow them down or not have as many cuts.

[@francogiaccone329]

Arran 10. 2nd pick would be Kilkerran 12

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Hard to argue with your number one or any of your runners up.

[@WhiskyLock]

Solid, solid choice 👍You get so much for your money with that one. Cheers 🥃

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Absolutely! Thanks mate and for all your great videos this year

[@andynelson5864]

Have you tried Kilchoman's more robust cask strength Sanaig, yet? Curious to hear your thoughts. Steroidal Sanaig. Lovely!

[@possdiddly7078]

Definately need to get some of that benromach.

[@johnvanderborght6800]

Never seen the Ledaig Rioja in the wild in the US or Scotland. I like the Ledaig 10 so I’d love to find one.

[@joylessofficial1779]

Its going for £27 at Tesco in Scotland just now. I bought one yesterday!!

[@leehaseley2164]

In beer, funky flavours would come from an infection/co-feementation with lactic acid bacteria or wild yeast such as Brettanomyces. Could this be the case with a whisky, and it carries over through the distillation?

[@philipmrch8326]

Gwhisky did you dirty last video. But you didn't do it back. You need to get your revenge! 😂

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I think I might need to fight him him in the boxing ring like other KZbinrs do

[@philipmrch8326]

@FirstPhilWhisky good idea

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

I still haven't seen this Ledaig anywhere around NYC.

[@5368791q]

Me gusta comprar a la vez dos expresiones bastante diferentes de la misma Destileria para probar las diferencias. Cuales serian tus recomendaciones de kilkerran (glengyle) y de Glenda scotia??? Prefiero sabores y perfiles ahumados/fuertes antes que suaves. El único requisito es que nunca compro nada por encima de 100 euros Gracias

[@kellywellington7122]

I can confirm all his picks. They're all in my liquor cabinet...Prolly much likely due to his earlier reviews. That or Jif.

[@supervenomas9211]

Do we have any idea about the age statement window. Although I know it's officially a non-aged statement whiskey. Any insights?

[@caskstrength7629]

For me Ardnamurchan no matter Which one 👌

[@PaulGiannandrea]

GlenAllachie 12/15 (either one). They both slap hard and provide the drinker with an experience that’s just luxurious

[@rob_66]

Just got a 12 for christmas 👍🥃

[@elliot_grooves]

For people in ABC states, how do you find some of these more niche scotches? My local stores all have the most basic Scotch selections and I can never find anything super interesting or unique

[@Dear_Beloved]

Order online or travel somewhere and check a bag/ship

[@NicStride]

Damn Phil, why you gotta hit me with all this enthusiast stuff that costs actual money, where was the Glenlivet 12 and Jamesons? How about 'best cheap blend of the year that isn't Famous Grouse', what is this, a channel for connoisseurs? People who like interesting things? Let me tell you, Phillip, some of us are basic bitches with no money. I'm mostly kidding but also maybe a "supermarket special" kinda video would be cool, because I don't see any of these bottles unless I go to an actual cellar/fancy wine and spirits shop, and I always gotta clutch my wallet extra hard whenever I go into those because I can't help but drool at bottles which cost almost as much as my rent, haha. Gonna be on the lookout for that Glen Garioch. The Ledaigs still scare me slightly. :D

[@janmodin3154]

Glenturret 12

[@blakestavness1795]

Best affordable scotch is got to be Torabhaig 2nd chapter cask strength. Compared against Ardnamurchan cas and absolutely destroyed it. Best of the year is bellechin 17 in burgundy casks.

[@leonardgrij3142]

Bunnahabhain 12 CS 2023 60,1 %!!!!

[@Basics72]

The Sinclair Series has been available at Tesco in the UK for £27 in store for a few weeks. Utter bargain

[@brukuns]

Beginners list. These are all good whiskies. But whisky of the year? None of them, ever, unless you put some restrictions for the choices.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Restrictions are value and availability.

[@brukuns]

@@FirstPhilWhisky Got it...

[@1stMemberEver]

It's actually Ledaig Rioja Cask Finish, Sinclair series

[@KingKoin88]

The Campeltown map looked like u had too much booze n cocaine, needs viagra next 😂

[@ccuellar6212]

Really unimpressed with this years whiskey-tubes selections across the board.

[@Whiskyfan519]

I refuse to refer to benromach as the springbank of anything, regular releases at 46 and then we'll talk. Quit cutting corners

[@prestonakin6618]

A real whisky geek is NOT drinking malt whisky 🤮

[@Doggieman1111]

Bro lose all the stupid sherry cask stuff

[@JohnPlant-y8o]

😢

[@jasonj8246]

what whiskey would you recommend at a 100-200 range ?

[@annabelplahuta]

PC10 acnoc 18 arran 10 Deanston 12 Glendronach 15 Ardnamurchan (try a single cask if you can) Bunnah 12/18 and Cask Strength Kilkerran 12 Anything from Compass Box Yellow Spot Glen Scotia 15 (or a special release from them) Morris Muscat Talisker 10 Wild Turkey 101

[@Cezary_The_FLY_Mucha]

Yes Phil I think the same about Lediag. BAGGER STUFF🔥⚡🌪️ MY WHISKY PICK FOR 2024 IS KILKEREN HP batch 10 :hand-pink-waving:

[@Implosionstechnologie]

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