Scotch Myth: Is There REALLY a "Best"?

[@jackthepickledhound]

Very good attempt at articulating the impossible. I am looking for the "stranded on a deserted island" "last bottle for the rest of my life". Fortunately I live in the world of plenty and I own more bottles than my liver can ever handle. So I don't need to ever make a real decision about the "best". I am actually quite grateful to WhiskyTube steering me away for any bottles I regret buying. I just think that single malt scotch is the answer to almost every question of thirst, as compared to aperitifs and digestifs and surgery cocktails. There is a scotch for any mood or time of day🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Oh, I am looking for better bottles and trying to avoid poor choices too! Also very grateful for everyone who recommends and takes a moment to say why. Thanks for dropping in, and appreciate the insight!

[@jimreichel1466]

Thank you Jon for your insight and thoughts. I think that using “best“ might not be the best conversation concerning Scotch or any other whiskey. For me, using “favorite“ seems to fit better. As an example, my current favotite Japanese whisky is Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky. It checks all the boxes for me. Some boxes I currently can't explain, I just know I love that whisky. I don't drink enough whiskies each year to have a list. I can, however, have a list of my favorite by category. As I continue on my journey, I can have new favorites. To me that is the joy of having a pour. Slàinte mhath!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

That is a good shift, and would align with some of what I was trying to share. Favourite certainly captures the differences between us, and allows for disagreement, yet understanding these are good dram! Cheers!

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Great topic. The question most asked by people who aren't Whisky nerds is, "whats your favorite (or the best)". It's about the big variety of wonderful things to experience not one being the best. Cheers Jon.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I am so thankful for the variety of wonderful drams out there!

[@Ben_Demon_Hunter]

Absolutely & Always, Jon​@@WhiskyNeighbour & Tim! CHEERS with Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie 🥃 🐺 🥃

[@onewomanswhisky]

Whisky making is, by it's very definition, alchemy...'A seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination'. The 'best' Scotch (for me) is one that enhances a moment or an experience, elevating it into something memorable. And there have been many of these, each of them different, along the way. Thoroughly enjoyed this perspective. Thanks for putting it out there, even though you're not feeling up to snuff at the moment. Hmmm...I see a hot toddy or two in your future 😉 Feel better soon, my friend! "m"e 🇨🇦

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@onewomanswhisky love that perspective and fully agree. The best Scotch I have had has always been in company and now tied to wonderful memories. A hot toddy would be just the thing. And some rest, take care!

[@SeawayWhiskyWire]

Scotch and whisky in general is so subjective. Everything you mentioned plays a role of what is the “Best”. I find mood and season plays a key role in what I want. I lean towards Peat and Sherry but sometimes I just want Sherry or Sherry and Funk…it’s so subjective. That’s why I love it so much. Cheers to you sir. Get well soon.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@SeawayWhiskyWire I think the variety is exciting and a part of why I enjoy the journey!

[@SeawayWhiskyWire]

@@WhiskyNeighbourthat Uggy will cure what ails you…and fast.

[@Rohit_M]

You made some valid points re: Best Jon. My perspective is, what maybe best for deep pockets and fat wallets are often not in the realm of acquiring for many so why even consider those things as best. For me, the best is the experience acquired from a combination of things and in whisky world there are a many as you eluded to. And yes, not all things mentioned by the online world are necessarily best, far from it in some cases. Great discussion topic. I love that Uigeadail btw...two bottles in over the last 2+ years and I see very little variation in the flavor profile.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@Rohit_M Love the connection to experience, certainly impacts how I remember a whisky . Glad you enjoy Ugi as well. Cheers!

[@briansimpson4310]

The best whisky is always the one that is in my glass. Be content with what you have and enjoy every moment. Great video, Jon. You are spot on with all your points. Cheers 🥃

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I so agree, relax, enjoy and share. Cheers!

[@coopertay2166]

I’ve a few high end scotch whiskies,springbank,jw blue,aged single malts etc,but you like what you like,i like jw black neat as much as i like my Laphroaig px cask with a drop of water… it’s all subjective.we seem to be influenced by branding and boutique brands.. i like what I like. Great channel sir

[@coopertay2166]

Just an addendum I should have phrased we like what we like as whisky drinkers

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I agree, and the diversity is fantastic!

[@sowlegwhiskyreview5501]

Great perspective Jon🙂

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thanks, I hope you are doing well my friend. From time to time I see you are still far healthier than I with runs or walks through the country side!

[@sowlegwhiskyreview5501]

@@WhiskyNeighbour Yeah, I still enjoy being active outside🌳 I do however miss going to woods to enjoy a couple of drams, but it just seems too weird without the channel😂 -and I don't miss keeping up with that. I have huge respect for you keeping it going strong and still drop in to catch one of your reviews now and again🙂

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@sowlegwhiskyreview5501 we'll see how the year goes. Last year I added some live interviews, and that helped keep it fresh. I still enjoy talking whisky, it is all the other stuff that is a challenge to find time for. Nice to connect when you do drop in though. Take care!

[@SeawayWhiskyWire]

Save the side by side for a live stream wink😂

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

LOL! Great idea! Do you have both on the shelf?

[@SeawayWhiskyWire]

@@WhiskyNeighbourI currently have the entire Ardbeg core on the shelf!

[@PSNeko]

Love your thoughts! Cheers

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thanks! Hope you are enjoying a good dram!

[@whiskeycolin6078]

Hi Jon, Hope you are feeling better soon! Uigeadail is my favourite scotch to date. Where did you find it on sale? Lol…

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@whiskeycolin6078 BSW in Calgary. Sorry, not close to home

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Absolutely agree Jon! There's always going to be a 'bolder, more expensive, older, richer' whisky out there. As with any joyous thing in life, whisky is better shared and the best whisky is what you have with friends over some nice conversation. Having said that, the Uiegedail and the Corryvreckan come pretty damn close to being the best 😅

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@thewhiskyenthusiast These are some excellent drams! I am glad I can share with friends here and friends across the Internet. Cheers!

[@MrCounselor17]

You are absolute right about their not being a "best" Scotch or best whiskey because of differing tastes. However, I think whiskey makers like to chase that ideal whiskey, even though they will never really find it.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I agree, and I also like to chase the "ideal" whisky. Makes the journey fun! Thanks for sharing your insight!

[@davecashel4007]

Scotch…..to pick a favorite is to say my favorite so far because unless you have had many drams of all made to come to the conclusion of a single one being the best is selling your journey short of wonderful experiences. Sure you can have preferences according to your tastes but remember your palate changes over time and the introduction of something new to you very well might be that next favorite. Thanks Jon, feel better my friend. Cheers.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Totally agree, the journey is full of wonderful experiences, and I hope your journey is long! Thanks for the good wishes. On the mend, just run down. Cheers!

[@rbmelk7083]

Hi Jon! I really like this style of video. I hope you feel better soon, and I also hope you don’t have to be under the weather again to shoot this type of video. Take care:) Brian

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Thanks Brian! I really appreciate the encouragement. It was fun to talk about something I certainly have a few words about and one that I believe is important. Thanks to for the good wishes. Hopefully I'll beat it soon. Cheers!

[@robertzemko6590]

Absolutely, there is no "best" but when it comes down to peated Scotch I have some favorites and that is Octomore 6.3 (not for the faint hearted), Lagavulin 12 - 2017, Kilchoman Sanaig, and Ledaig 19 PX. The Ardbeg Uigie and Corry are certainly runner ups. Cheers and if you have any cask strength peated like the Octomore .3 that should fix that cold of yours!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@robertzemko6590 Certainly favorites! Great list, and yes, any Octomore would certainly help! Cheers!

[@jasonwest9425]

An interesting discussion. 2 thoughts. 1. Another factor that affects “the best”Is the occasion. What is best for a quiet thoughtful contemplation isn’t what I want at a party with friends. 2. I get frustrated with some whiskeytubers obsession with “integrity”. What matters is the taste/nose. Whiskey is a product of the skill of the craftsman, if they use that skill to produce something that gives a beautiful experience that is what matters. And those who aren’t master distillers with the chance to compare the same whiskey with and without those qualities really can’t have any clue whether the natural version would be better. I’ve had integrity bottling I don’t like and bottles that don’t meet any of the integrity criteria I’ve loved. Ok end of rant! lol apologies.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Great thoughts! Totally agree with the impact occasion or just who you are with has on how we experience a dram. I also don't totally disagree with your second point. You'll know that I have shared many drams that are coloured and chill filtered that I still enjoy. I think what I was trying to get at we should be digging into the quality and the craftmanship and the more people are open about the process and what is in the bottle, I believe the better.

[@Watchman999]

I think there are "best" scotches. Dramface has a user driven top 40 distilleries list and they update it regularly. These are distilleries producing "the best" whiskies. Are ALL of the products exceptional? no. But they are doing things better than the rest and they are differentiating themselves with integrity bottlings. And last but not least, these places also produce value for your money which HAS to factor into the definition of best. Is Macallan on that list? no. That's partly because they are highway robbing their customers. If they could get over themselves and start pricing their product more appropriately and start bottling at 46% they could sway the voting public. But no . Slainte Jon. Great topic.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@Watchman999 I appreciate the work Dramface is doing here, and I will continue to share my own "best" which hopefully reflects integrity and also just my preference. I believe these lists have value, I also hope we give ourselves some space to enjoy the dram we have with a friend. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Cheers!

[@chuckandrews5339]

Even if you find an AMAZING bottle, the next bottle might not be. It's always a moving target. It never ends.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I think that's part of the fun too! Well, mostly when the next one is BETTER!