My Top 5 Underrated Whiskies You Shouldn't Ignore!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

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[@Antsey]

My top 5 (I wrote this before watching your video!). 1. Bladnoch 11 2. The Glen Scotias. 3. Loch Lomond 12 4. Compass Box Peat Monster 5. Paul John Brilliance. In Australia the Loch Lomonds and Glen Scotias are exclusive to the Coles owned liquor stores so almost literally only about 50% widely released.

[@Jo3Shm03]

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your videos; not only for the content but also because I find the editing and presentation classy, yet funny and easy to enjoy. Thanks!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks so much! Appreciate that and grateful to have you watching

[@northernninety7]

My top 5 whiskys of any type are: 1. Four Roses Single Barrel 2. Glendronach 18 3. Redbreast 12 4. Wild Turkey 101 5. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

[@Pawlent1y]

So sherrysided ))

[@alexanderfachler1201]

Great video, thanks phil! Edradour is still an overlooked distillery. Their annual signatory 10 release remains my favourite whiskey of all time!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Very good point. Edradour is very over looked! Even by me! 😅

[@mathijsbreedveld4934]

Sold a lot of Aultmore 12 while I worked in a whisky store last year. Kept recommending it because I liked it so much myself. Stellar picks, definitely going to try some.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks mate!

[@johnvuela1211]

Thank you for the video. Sadly Affordable Single Malt has become an oxymoron. Examples everywhere. I.e. Laphroaig Quarter Cask was 23€ in my country in 2019. Now is 51. Thoroughly enjoying your videos, very didactic.

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Happy to say I been enjoying two of these for years. Excellent list Phil. Thanks 🙏 as always for fine videos and honest feedback. Ciao 👋 cheers 🥃S.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks! Appreciate that and glad you enjoy them!

[@spacehopper77]

Just finished an Aultmore 23 yr old, one of the best whiskies I’ve ever drank. I used to live near Aultmore distillery so it also has a sentimental meaning to me which added to the experience. Will need to try the 12.

[@RebeccaEdwardsJamesEdwards]

You picked my favorite underrated Scotch with Loch Lomond. I like that it's a Highland Scotch with some more earthy tastes to it. It's smooth & very enjoyable.

[@jasonwillie9589]

One that a lot of my customers are hesitant about but grow to love is the Old Pulteney 12 year. Great mixture of light flavor and sea salt mixed with pepper, along with fruity notes. Eastern Washington, USA at about $55.99. Great deal, cool pristine white box.

[@nathan.4130]

I agree, Old Pulteney is one of my favorites, I can get it for $44.99 here in Michigan.

[@TheDiamond2009]

Agreed, it’s a friend of mine’s favourite whisky. And he’s not a novice. You can pick it up for less than £30 over here.

[@ashythedon]

The studio/set looks great. Great lighting

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Glad to hear! Thanks!

[@fuzzydunlop1988]

I had the Loch Lomond 12 at Christmas. Really enjoyed it. Had some Bunnahabhain too and a few bottles of Irish whiskey too.

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Solid list Phil, can't fault any of them. I haven't tried the Tormore but I am on the look out now! I would say Glencadam is as a distillery quite underrated, Ballechin 10 or any other expression would also fit in the list in my opinion. Cheers Phil!

[@stevelandwonder4760]

The Longmorn 16 is hard to find in the UK. It is £195 currently at the Whisky Exchange. If you are paying £59 in NZ maybe buy a case before it goes up.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Wow! Why on earth does NZ get it so cheap? I need to find out why that is

[@andrewj8920]

The Longmorn 16 has (I think!) been discontinued and replaced with the 18 in the UK. I wonder if this a case of the older stock still remaining in other markets or of Diageo varying their offerings by market?

[@Rohit_M]

Great take on underrated gems Phil. I went through a bottle of Toremore 14 some 3-4 years ago. It was truly enjoyable. I can only imagine 16 having additional flavor nuances. Good stuff.

[@richardc1945]

Loch Lomond is an affordable daily drinker that is not boring.

[@alphabravo5266]

It is strong too

[@TheRealCoyote]

Hi Phil! Just wanted to give credit where credit is due. As someone who has been drinking whisky more than 20 years (I feel old saying that) and really getting in to it for maybe 15 years, know a lot already. But there is always more to learn, maybe something I didn't know or forgot😂 Not to mention how many distilleries and whiskies there are to taste and buy. So I started watching videos to learn more. And I must say your videos have never disappointed. Less nonsense, more to the point. Great delivery, nice editing and perhaps most importantly you let your passion and personality show. And that is why watch them even if it is on a subject I think I know. I wanna see what you think. I feel like I could sit with you on some comfy leather arm chairs, sipping and talking whisky. Keep it up! Slainte!

[@CarlosOrtiz-zv8fq]

great content, stands out from all the other whisky channels who are just mostly drunkards talking and drinking from their collection

[@DonsBeerReviews]

I had the anCnoc 18yo the other day and it's the best whisky I've tasted so far 😋

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

So good right!

[@bb4726-h5e]

Wasn’t Longmorn 16 discontinued? Someone told me that the youngest OB is 18 years. True?

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I’ve bought 3 in the last year. I hope it isn’t though.

[@evanlitchfield4621]

I just bought one a few months ago.

[@will088]

Can't find it here in UK atm, not for under £100

[@craigroberts5965]

Beautiful video as always, Phil. Thank you

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Craig!

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

I'll add my list just for the heck of it and in no particular order: 5. Scarabus (46% or Batch Strength) 4. Benromach 10 (The Poor Man's Springbank) 3. Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 2. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 1. Tomatin Cask Strength

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Great list. Some good picks here for people who are struggling to get hold of the ones I listed 😅

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@FirstPhilWhisky Thanks Phil.

[@primewhisky]

Your videos are so damn nicely built, great job👍🏻 Totally agree with your list except the Loch lomond, not plessant to drink😬

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Yeah Loch Lomond definitely is a divisive whisky. Thanks!

[@peterfinucane8122]

Loch Lomond also has Inchmurrin and Inchmoan (peated) versions.

[@jackthepickledhound]

The 18 is also the cheapest 18 and literally "smoothed to perfection" I started with the 12 because of the price and then the fact that it's a wild ride really kick started my journey. I just realized the enormous flavor potential. I still have that bottle and really enjoy a dram onc in a while. Hell, I'm finally appreciating my Bunna12 that I wasn't a fan of back then.

[@Dan-hn1lx]

Ben Nevis 10 older bottles and Bladnoch 11 for me but I liked your choices as well also anything Glentauchers.

[@bertrackmunisz1684]

Hallo Phil, trank you for your videos. At 6:41 you mentioned the shape of the pot stills. There is some information on the Website about this. "The uniqueness of Loch Lomond pot stills lies in the cylindrical necks of the stills. Traditionally, the necks of malt stills are open. The Loch Lomond stills contain special still trays in the necks that allow better contact with the cooling alcohol vapor. This makes the process more efficient." These stills can produce alcohol with an alcohol content of up to 90%, while normal stills produce the alcohol with an alcohol content of around 70%. This type of still allows different “flavors” to be captured and emphasized through the range of alcohol strengths that can be captured and discarded. This is much more difficult to achieve with a traditional pot still.

[@davidowen2834]

Excellent video Phil. Haven’t had the Longmorn or the Tormore but the others I can definitely vouch for. Great drams, great stats and good prices. Slàinte Phil.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Slàinte David!

[@budj13]

Great video, Phil. I agree on AnCnoc 18 and in fact also the 24 is an amazing value. I Think the Loch Lomond 12 and Speyburn 15 are staples in my cabinet-- a great daily drinkers at a good price. I don't find Tormore in the USA and have yet to try the Longmorn 16, but that is my big take away and on my shopping list. I think Ledaig 10 would make my under-rated list and Kilchoman's Loch Gorm is so rarely discussed but is one of my very favorites.

[@gptraining89]

The New Zealand market is quite different I think. Living in the Netherlands I usually can get pretty good deals being basically next door. The Longmorn 16 however cost 120 euros at its cheapest online, and the Tormore 16 isn't available at all.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I’m realising from the comments that this must be true. How on earth do we on this side of the planet get better access to some whiskies than you guys 🤷‍♂️🤔

[@chasingneat]

We really like your channel!! We are predominantly bourbon drinkers/collectors. Some day hope to find a scotch we like, either way, you videos are done very well!! Nice work!😀😀

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks! I'm sure you will. Do you like Irish whiskey?

[@lachlanmcneill]

Your channel is getting pretty slick. By which I mean engaging, entertaining and actually useful with character. Cheers to you Phil.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

thanks Lachlan!

[@alehhandro1]

Aultmore 12 is a great dram, worth every penny! Loch Lomond the opposite for me, I wish I could get my money back, badly burnt sugar is the only thing I can smell and taste in it. Possible a bad batch with an E150 overload. Would love to try the rest of them one day. Thanks for the review!

[@ryanmercer600]

Great video, I can feel your enthusiasm

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Ryan!

[@jeremyguerrier8301]

That's a great list Phil thank you for sharing it with us ! As some other people mentioned in the comments Longmorn 16 is much more expensive in Europe. In France the cheapest is around 115€ and currently unavailable :(

[@McIntyresMalts]

Dope list, lots of good stuff on here

[@ujrox666]

Awesome that you are a bit drunk by the end of most videos 🍻 Love your videos man. Im also from NZ CHCH and was covering all your videos with a glass in hand 😊

[@JeffWhisky]

Brilliant as ever buddy! Shamefully I have looked over or never really paid any attention to some of these... better work on that asap! Love that drop "G" on the green Longmore bottle, cracking stuff 🥃

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

I've never seen Longmorn in or around where I live, ditto for Speyburn 15. And regarding Aberfeldy 12, it's 40%, it's sweet, it's got added caramel, and it's chillfiltered, yes, but it's also under $35 and 12 years old and that's something to be commended in 2023, and in the glass ain't half bad; it's a very good beginner's malt.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Good point. At that price point it’s a different equation

[@lucedice2736]

Here in Austria the cheapest you can find the Longmorn 16 is over 120€, why are whisky prices so different across the world

[@JohnsDrams]

Gonna keep banging on about the Old Ballantruan until the heat death of the universe - with you on the Aultmore, it seems to be sold out a lot of places currently though...

[@DileepB]

120 NZD is a great price for the Longmorn 16!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Yeah! I thought all countries got it for around this price

[@aaroncampbell113]

My favourite (see also cheapest) NZ whisky store only currently has 2 of these in stock. I may have to check them out, though the top pick is a little pricey at about $162NZD. The others seem to be insane value given the age statements. While looking at the Loch Lamond I noticed a 12yo peated that I'll probably have to try as well. I do like the peaty ones, from subtle like the Glendronach through to the peat beasts like Octomore.

[@hazydavo]

Longmorn 16 $205 at Dans in Aust atm 😢 looks like you can get some nice bottles for reasonable prices over in Enzed. The other one that’s available here is the Aultmore 12 $110.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Dam. So weird how much cheaper it is over here

[@MitchellAJSlater]

I’m about to grab myself a bottle. Do you think I do the Ancnoc 12, Tamdhu 12, Arran 10 or Aultmore 12?

[@NeilImmortal]

Ancnoc 18 is just an awesome whisky but is still well priced, along with Deanston 18. ❤

[@Dai240888]

i still need to try the ancnoc 18 but for me here it's not that cheap. i had speyburn 18 which is cheaper here in germany and i like it alot. i also think it's as underrated as the speyburn 15. also speyburn belongs to the same group as ancnoc/knockdhu, balblair and old pulteney.

[@NeilImmortal]

@@Dai240888 Not a great fan of the Speyburn 18 TBH. So long as the Ancnoc is under €100 then it is worth having.

[@Dai240888]

@@NeilImmortal very interesting. thanks for the reply. i had the ancnoc 12 which was praised alot, but i could not find myself to like it. maybe i should still try the ancnoc 18 in the future..

[@NeilImmortal]

👍🏻

[@mcgie2002]

Lóve Longmorn!! I deplore it is getting expensive, but some of the older (grassy) expressions i tasted were spec-ta-cu-lar 🥳

[@andyreeves8941]

Managed to pick up a longmorn 23 at auction for £85. I preferred the 18, I think that’s the palo cortado sherry. I’m not sure if it counts as under rated but I actually think Blair Athol should be mentioned. Limited core range, but even the flora and fauna bottle is ace.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Wow what a bottle. Interesting that it doesn’t hold up to the 18 though

[@andyreeves8941]

@@FirstPhilWhisky I wouldn’t say doesn’t hold up as such. Both are excellent. It’s £100 for the 18 and £300 for the 23 at retail. The quality of the 23 is very evident and it’s very good. I think maybe it’s just my preference mixed with the expectation of that extra £200.

[@christophershreiner5114]

I need to revisit Loch Lomond 12. I didn’t care for it the first time I tried it.

[@joakimfv89]

I always think of Cardhu 12 when people talk about underrated whisky. It tastes amazing, great for introducing new people to whisky, not to expensive and yet no one talk about it.

[@sunyboy333]

Longmorn is kind of hard to find and goes for about 180€ in Europe. That's okay for a phenomenal whisky, but idk if just underrated is enough to justify that kind of money.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

It’s so weird we get it for around 67 euros on this side of the planet, when normally it’s Europe that gets better deals than us. Didn’t realise it was inaccessible for major markets like that. I don’t get international markets 🤷‍♂️

[@noobaccasolo]

Tormore 16 is one of my favourite "standard" bottles. It came highly recommended by the head of whisky at my local liquor store, and now it's almost impossible to get, and apparently being phased out to be replaced by the 14. We'll see if it's still the same solid liquid we know from the 16. I sure hope it is, otherwise it's a tremendous loss!

[@kayellai5278]

I have the Loch Lomond 12y, it did not give me an impression compare with Highland Park(The Bear). I am going to take it out again for a try. He said let it oxidize awhile before consuming. I thought one rock would do the trick. Yes/No?

[@crimping1]

I just had a look and I can’t find the Longmorn 16 for under €140.

[@ganesankpillay3768]

Fun to watch. And informative. Cheers 😊

[@Panos1980s]

Hi Phil, just wanted to say that we cant call this whisky underated cause it retails for 160 pounds in the UK.Although it's a great whisky it is very expensive for an average whisky lover.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Wow! Which bottle?

[@olivierbeltrami]

I had a bottle of the Tormore 16 in the mid 2010s and loved it. But I haven’t been able to find a bottle in at least 5 years. Note that the 14yo is nowhere as good as the 16yo (43% as compared to 48% IIRC amongst other things)

[@evanlitchfield4621]

Underrated fot me would be glen Scotia double cask, and glenlivet 15, when it comes to scotch aingle malts. For american its growing, but 10th street distillery from san jose CA is good and will only get better as it gets older

[@christoffersgaard564]

Have you tought of danish whiskey? We have a great selection of rye (stauning whiskey) or Ærø whiskey (aeroe whiskey)

[@brentkasl6510]

What would be your expert value selection if you could have one bottle from each of the Scotch whisky regions?

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

Have you tried glenturret triple wood 2022? I love it.🥃🥃🥃🥃😝🤘

[@tontobb8956]

Lucky Phil loves filling. Gaps Great review

[@CameronWaldon]

Man, the Longmorn 16 is $200-$250 here in Melbourne! How’s it SO cheap over the pond? Are you guys getting Starward now? The Nova is a really good pickup. I managed to get a Divergence PX shipped over from NZ. Unfortunately it missed the mark and isn’t great. But always keen to try more by you guys over there !!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

No ideas how it’s so cheap here. My only guess is that they are owned by Pernod and they also own a lot of NZ vineyards. So maybe they get cheap import costs or something. Yeah I’m not the biggest fan of them, but the whisky is still young though. Cardrona is really smashing it now though, especially whiskies like full flight. Pricey though.

[@CameronWaldon]

Just got the Longmorn 16 for $170 on sale just now. It’s not being imported into Aus any more, that explains the low stock and the high price! Glad I grabbed it now. Awesome re Cardrona, we have some of their stuff here so I’ll grab that next pay cheque!

[@jeremytheoneofdestiny8691]

Talisker 18 is actually one the cheapest 18yo whiskies in my market, $150 USD

[@VinceW187]

Awesome round-up

[@AlReyn]

Pretty sure Longmorn 16 is discontinued. The cheapest bottle I can find in the UK is £180!

[@chaisheng0627]

Longmorn 16/18 and acnoc 18/21 is the best thing in the Whisky world that I discovered last couple of years. Always have 2-3 bottles on the shelf just in case their prices explode

[@lightplays2181]

Good job ! Longmorn 16 is good whisky ) Slainte !

[@Jaydog555]

Tomatin 12 is very good as well. Only 35 dollars a bottle. I like it better than Macmillan 18

[@adamsthoughtsonwhiskey]

I enjoyed the video. Thank you.

[@MordorsMalts]

Unfortunately they are underrated because 4 out of 5 are virtually unobtainable in Australia 😞

[@McIntyresMalts]

The Longmorn 16 and Speyburn 15 are indeed super hard to find, looked hard and managed to find one bottle of each... the only one of each I have ever seen. Aultomore, Longmorn and AnCnoc are easy to get here though.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

It’s crazy that we have easy access to some whiskies here in NZ but you guys in Aussie don’t. Markets are weird 🤷‍♂️

[@McIntyresMalts]

@@FirstPhilWhisky Might need you to ship some over for us mate!

[@Flexhunter308]

Where you buying from in nz?

[@Jason-Evans]

Appreciate the ATLA reference. Cheers!

[@kellywellington7122]

Longmorn 15 is overpriced in my market, as it is not stocked by the state liquor nanny agency. Speyburn 15 has been 'found' in this market. It is stocked, but it is usually sold out. (All you reviewers are doing your best to test the demand to supply ratio and force the prices up.) I'll keep an eye out for the Loch Lomond, as it is in my market. As for the AnCnoc 18, I have the 12 and haven't been impressed enough to pull the trigger on their 18, particularly since I jumped for the Deanston 18 (twice over). Only Aultmore 25 is stocked in my market and it is waaaaaaay out of my price range.

[@johndillon8051]

Are you in North Carolina by any chance?

[@kellywellington7122]

@@johndillon8051 Nope....On the opposite coast. Oregon.

[@customer9845]

I love Speyburn. I am opening up a Speyburn 18 tomorrow for a party and a Speyburn 25 for a BBQ in 2 weeks.

[@leeknowlton7303]

I literally just bought Speyburn 15 yesterday. I really like the Companion Cask so much I bought several back up bottles. The nose is so good.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

So good right!

[@sambrewster8556]

Glen Garioch 12 for me all day.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Oh great call! That could of easily been on this list

[@okmanek69]

Why no timestamps or chapters?

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

Woo hoo! Awesome Phil! 🥃🥃🥃🥃🌏🌏🌏🌿🌿🌿🇳🇿🥝

[@larosa823]

No Islas sad face , I need peat in my life, lots of it

[@ao_qd]

I literally can't find any of these. Haha.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Ha oh no! I assumed that fact I could get them in little New Zealand, the rest of the world would find it no sweat.

[@Gookrak]

Longmorn 16y is definitely NOT good value in eastern EU: 170-ish USD, it's pretty premium..., Aultmore 12 Foggie Moss unavailable, last known price about a 100 USD. Only Tormore 14y is available, no 16y, and even the 14y costs about 85 USD.

[@KrenarKabashi]

Longmorn 16 is 130 euros in Germany not woth the money

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Agree. Not worth it at that price

[@forwork2601]

Great video. You forgot Glenfiddich my Boi

[@sunyboy333]

Glenfiddich, the #1 most sold single malt in the world is underrated?

[@forwork2601]

@@sunyboy333 ya exactly. Glenfiddy is severely underrated.

[@revolvermaster4939]

Glenfiddich ruined the 15 when they sherried it, tastes like fabric softener now.

[@mahmoudali1848]

Glenfiddich over-rated? Here in Canada it is routinely on sale in the flyers of large grocery liquor outlets. The exception is Glenfiddich's 'Fire and Cane', a whisky that uses peated Glenfiddich finished in Carribean rum casks.

[@xiamengbaby]

Where are we supposed to find a 16 year old Tormore that was bottled 10 years ago? Seems like an odd bottle to promote as underrated.

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

First

[@ebadd3468]

Longmorn 15 > 16

[@nachoote260]

Loved the video! One suggestion though: you may want to cut out the memes.

[@whistlestopwonders]

❤qa

[@SebMoellerM]

Please stop talking about Speyburn 15! It’s been my secret weapon for years. I don’t need you to reveal the missile launch-code publicly 😂

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

😂😅

[@lightplays2181]

Speyburn 10 and BO is trash (((

[@yomuthabyotch]

underrated is an overly misunderstood and misused word. perhaps underappreciated is better. its meaning is more straight forward.

[@spacehopper77]

Just finished an Aultmore 23 yr old, one of the best whiskies I’ve ever drank. I used to live near Aultmore distillery so it also has a sentimental meaning to me which added to the experience. Will need to try the 12.