Scotch Whisky of the Year 2023

Talking about my Scotch of the year. This list is comprised of all of the Scotch Whisky that I reviewed in 2023. All good options, but which was my favorite that I reviewed this year? Let's get into it!
00:00 - Intro
00:12 - Aberlour A'Bunadh
00:50 - Deanston Virgin Oak
02:05 - Talisker 18
03:11 - Ardbeg Heavy Vapors Committee Release
04:48 - Glenmorangie Nectar D'or
05:39 - Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo
06:45 - Laphroaig Cairdeas 2023
7:57 - Single Barrel Picks
08:35 - Compass Box Orchard House
09:15 - Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011, 2012, 2013
10:42 - Whiskey of the Year
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[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Single Barrel Releases! www.whiskeydicpicks.com

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

The Aberlour is one of my favorite whiskies. Absolutely amazing.

[@jquinlan]

Love my Deanston VO🥃🥃

[@WhiskyLock]

Great list and bold choice for #1. It's great whisky for sure but probably not something I'll buy ever again due to the new price. I also like Nectar D'Or a lot. Beautiful easy drinking dram. Cheers

[@Adrian802]

I saw A Tale of Tokyo when I was in Japan, and thank goodness I skipped it. It's just When do they ever learn that one can't just pour liquid inside a Mizunara cask and expect miracle in a short time frame. Suntory learned it the hard way because when they did mizunara barrel samples back in the 1950s, it didn't taste good at all. It took almost 18+ years of barrel aging until the flavor starts to show itself.

[@archietyler6759]

Awesome list Bill!!! Happy New Year to you and the family!!!

[@swinnyhepton123]

No mention of the outrageous price hiking Diageo have been guilty of with the Talisker 18? Perhaps it's less of an issue on the other side of the pond but it more less doubled in price inexplicably here in the UK seeing it drop off many whisky fans must-buy lists

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I actually didn't know that about the Talisker 18. Over here we have crazy tax hikes so I attributed the higher price to that

[@christianrausis7665]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionary In Switzerland : 210 CHF (250 dollars or 196pounds) Are they kidding us? I'll never buy it again.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Thats INSANITY

[@swinnyhepton123]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionary Yep, it went from approx £90 to around £175 - £180 overnight pretty much

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

In Italy 🇮🇹 the same my last purchase in 2022 was 93 euros now it is always above 185 euros and peaks at about 199 euros for the same product. That is a bit much … like their special releases which are mostly good but 220 euros for a cs NAS Mortlach is a little much. Diageo has some excellent whiskies but they don’t really care about enthusiasts in my opinion. Take cake and happy new year 🥳 cheees 🥃 SF.

[@stevesayer3239]

Good selection Bill.

[@WhispyWoods.]

Nice list. Cheers 🥃

[@jarrettmcgregor1001]

Love to you Paige. I look forward to following your adventures this year. Best wishes 🤎

[@djbeacon6895]

Bill, great wide ranging list. I thought my favorite would be finally getting my dream bottle, the Springbank Local Barley 10 year. As great as it was, it was soundly beaten by a huge surprise, Longrow Red 15 year Pinot Noir. So well balanced with malt, peat, funk and sweet red fruits. Cheers!

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I neeeeeed to get a Longrow this year. I've done myself a disservice not getting my hands on one

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Interesting choice. Cheers

[@mr.valinch]

Good selection, thank you for the video! Tal 18 is imho WAY too expensive now, for what it deliveres (heavy coloured and chill-filtered). I love it too tastewise, but ignore it since it is simply a rip off! There are so much alternatives out there, fairly priced and craft presented. All the best for 2024! Cheers!

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Thats a really fair point. I didn't reali,e the price had increased as much as it did

[@AlexDraut]

Talisker 18 is still $170 in Ohio, but basically sold out. Even at that price, it's still under $10/year for scotch and is fantastic. I would stick to a Buy It if you like peated and maritime scotch.

[@customer9845]

I agree about Ardbeg special releases but I must say I really enjoyed the Ardbeg BizarreBQ

[@davidschweibold256]

Great pick! Wish I could find it, and I’ve looked at several stores around my area, but glad to know it’s a buy when I see it. Happy New Year! I was surprised you didn’t pick the first whisky you talked about.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

That was my #2 choice. That or the Islay Barley 2013

[@christianrausis7665]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionary I prefer the Bere Barlay, but it's good.

[@davidschweibold256]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionaryanything Bruichladdich puts out is typically a hitter.

[@saiprasanth4950]

I do follow your channel since a long time and my bad if you already did and my missed dalmore 12 ,15 or 18. If not, Is that on your list. I am very excited to know what your tounge does when you taste this whiskey. especially the dalmore 15. Looking forward though. Thanks for the whiskey of the year 2023

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I have the 12 on my shelf. But haven't reviewed it yet. I'll add it to the short list!

[@LeonScheppink]

Solid list. Was quite fond of the Nectar d'Or but have you tried the Glenmorangie Palo Cortado finish? Now that was a pleasant surprise for me.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Not yet! I'll need to find it

[@jamescostigan3721]

Nice review. For me, it's probably the A'Bunadh (got a new bottle for Christmas) with the Islay Barley 2013 in 2nd, largely because I prefer unpeated, so I haven't tried the Talisker. I have 2 favorite Irish in my stock and I'm curious to see if and where they land in the next review.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

What Irish are they? I'm just curious

[@christianrausis7665]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionary tasted yesterday for the first time the excellent Redbreats 12 years Cask Strength.

[@jamescostigan3721]

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength & Powers John's Lane. I've enjoyed others, but they were more of a "Try It", such as Knappogue Castle 12, the various Redbreast viariations (Lustau, PX & Tawny Port), most of the Teeling core range, and the other offerings from Powers (Gold, Irish Rye and Three Swallow). Powers Three Swallow is a borderline "Stock It" for me. It is affordable and flavorful. Inerested in trying Dingle, if I find it in a restaurant some day. Same for RB21.@@TheWhiskeyDictionary

[@WhiskyWars]

Very interesting list! The talisker 18 is just a little bit too pricey for me but I’ll be keeping an eye out for the islay barley 2013, cheers! 🔥

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Absolutely. I didn't realize the Talisker 18 has such a high price everywhere else

[@fidenciomuro4742]

Happy New Years!!! Again haha

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Happy New Years to you too! Again!

[@andrewj8920]

Thanks for another enjoyable video! One thing that caught my attention was your comment about a 'hold card' or some such thing that gives you limited access to certain releases. I've never heard of something like this in the UK - how does that work?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

It's like a punch card you get for spending money at a liquor store. When it gets all of its punches, you get a card that lets you purchase allocated stuff. Rewards store loyalty

[@justwhisky]

Talisker 18 @ $135 in New Hampshire. $150 in Rhode Island Cheers 🥃

[@metalbrock57]

I went looking for either the Talisker 18 or Glenfiddich 18 small batch for my birthday this past weekend. Unfortunately the liquor store had neither. So I opened up my scotch wish list on my phone and, thanks to my wife, called an audible and bought two less expensive bottles instead: the Bowmore 15 and Lagavulin 11 (Offerman edition). Not a bad backup plan, right?

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Good choices, and happy birthday

[@johnzajac9849]

For saying the word, Abunadh, try ahh-boo-NAD.

[@WhiskyJason1]

and I thought the whiskytuber community wanted to "boycott" the Talisker 18 due to the terrible price increase this year - good whisky though!!

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Anyone else getting a screechy voice woman on a Vivatrol drug add on all the WhiskyTube videos lately ? Anyway Happy New Year Bill

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Wow, that's pretty specific

[@warrenhurley4148]

The Heavy Vapours was definitely a low point and disappointment for me as well but the "BizarreBQ" special release was really tasty and a close cousin (or sibling) of the Wee Beastie. I think Ardbeg tries to release too many of these different "special edition" whiskies.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Totally agree