They chose wisely. | Top 10 Island Whiskies Chosen by my Supporters

[@TheSharkPadlock]

A buddy and I are watching your videos, discussing, and having a dram in the meantime. We agree on the Aaran goodness!

[@Gwhisky]

Awesome! Enjoy! 🥃

[@kevinnordby4808]

Lagg and Torabhaig are coming in hot to make this list next year!!

[@SimonneNZ]

My top island distilleries would be Arran, then Tobermory (Ledaig). I really like the Arran Quarter Cask, really good whisky, cask strength and great value for money. When I first opened my Ledaig 10 and Rioja bottles I preferred the Rioja. However, I went back to these recently after not having either of them for about 3 months, now the 10 is coming out on top. They were both opened 17 months ago and now about 1/2 filled. Time and air seem to have thinned out the Rioja a bit. It is still really good though. Cheers!

[@themole2024]

You inspired me. just poured a dram of the classic laddie.

[@teddyballgame25]

I was lucky enough to recently snagged a Highland Park 18 travel edition for less than the std 18. That bottle easily tops this list.

[@Gwhisky]

LOVE that one. 🥃

[@peatbull3426]

My favourite Islands whiskies are whiskies from...Islay. im joking, wait im not 😉. Gr8 list Goeff, wait...your patreons 🤭. Cant complain any whisky from this list. All are good sone very good. Like you my mistery pour is.. surprise, Ledaig 18. Absolutely the Best expression from Islands. Time for another Region Slàinte 😁🥂🥂🥂🙋‍♂️

[@cyrano33]

My favorite Islands Whiskies are Ledaig 18, Highland Park 18, Jura 18, Arran 10, and Talisker D.E., Talisker Limited Edition 2022 Diageo Series.

[@Gwhisky]

Good ones! 🥃

[@ganesankpillay3768]

nice selection - all great

[@redsox367]

Great list, love the Quarter cask and Arran 10. Both the Ledaig are fantastic.

[@jamesj957]

port ri ri.........whatever.....😂 Great list Geoff/Patreons! Cheers!

[@brukuns]

I tried the 21 Rock Island and it was absolutely delicious! I clearly remember tasting wasabi, it was so cool.

[@xxacidmv]

I just picked up the HP Cask Strength No. 3. I still need to open it, but I am a big fan of HP's profile and look forward to it.

[@WhiskyWolf514]

" at number something... Talisker 10"😂😂😂 But honestly my favorite part was and I'm so glad that your "distorted evil counterpart " made a comeback to correct you! Best reoccurring theme on the channel in my opinion 😂😅 Loved the list and honestly I never thought about trying a few like the Talisker Distillery Edition -but now I will probably give it a shot next time I'm in a bar! Thanks for the suggestions and the video buddy, and I made it fairly on time😎 Cheers 🥃🥃

[@Gwhisky]

Hah the DE is good stuff, probably best as a "try before you buy," but I suspect you'll enjoy it. Have you made it back in from the hallway yet? 😉

[@WhiskyWolf514]

@@Gwhisky I'm going out to work for a few hours - so that's my break now 😂👍

[@mve9899]

Im actually quite a big fan of the Talisker Port Ruighe, but I can see why its not for everyone. I do happen to own a Kilchoman special cask strength bottling with a Tawny Port finish. Its like the Port Ruighe, but fuller, richer, peatier and more complex (and about twice as expensive haha).

[@Gwhisky]

Those Kilchoman single cask CS releases can be absolutely amazing. Can't say I've had a port one, though. Yet. Cheers! 🥃

[@TheSveerik]

Love the Patreon lists! Good stuff as always!

[@FABiOTiS]

Good list, patrons! Geoff, you should know you talked me into grabbing a bottle of that Talisker x Parley today. After your last review I wasn’t able to find it, but this was a good reminder and Amazon had for a price too low to pass on. If it’s as good as you say, I might also grab a backup or two while I can. Keep up the good content! 🥃

[@Gwhisky]

That's awesome. Hope you enjoy that Talisker. It's a banger! 🥃

[@lightplays2181]

Good list mr.Geoff ! Cheers !

[@Gwhisky]

Cheers my friend! 🥃

[@davidowen2834]

Hi Geoff.I feel that the islands should be given their own region, but that’s me. Last had the Talisker distillery’s edition in 2015. Arran QC is definitely an excellent value/quality dram, it’s part of my perma shelf the 10 isn’t anymore 🤷‍♂️. And of course Ledaig 10 such a solid dram, need I say more. Good video Geoff. Slàinte 🥃

[@Koby616]

So many Taliskers ❤ i loved talisker 10 and arran 10. Haven't tried ledaig yet 😢thanks for video 📸

[@icemancometh74]

Ledaig is awesome. The 10yo is awesome vakue for money.

[@MatthewMarsh-b6x]

Thanks Geoff, love your content.

[@Gwhisky]

Glad you enjoy it. Appreciate the kind words! 🥃

[@mormorgranat]

Sippin the Wilder seas, and its suddenly on my screen! Brilliant whisky. Please compare it to the DE when you do that review, that you mentioned. Havent tried DE yet. Also, please review Talisker 11 special release if you get the chance. Cheers

[@Du57yx91630n5]

i have that Rock Island Rum finish and first impressions made me think Benriach Curiositas, although i havent poured them side by yet as my Curiositas is quite low(should've bought a couple before it was discontinued). To me the Ledaig 18 reminded me less of an Islay and more along the lines of Ballechin 10 which makes me wonder if Tobermory uses highland peated malt for Ledaig instead. I going to keep my eye out for the Rock Oyster 18. I suggest you try the Murray McDavid Coastal Embrace 18 if have the opportunity.

[@hunamsafee2]

I really need to try the arran 10 i have had many bottles of arran but always grabbed something with the higher proof. So far quarter cask> sherry cask> port cask finish> amaroni finish

[@Koby616]

Interesting. I really enjoyed Arran amaroni

[@hunamsafee2]

​@Koby616 I did too haven't had a bad arran it's just my least favorite of the ones I've tried

[@utoobia]

I did a blind tasting which had PC10 and Ledaig 10 in it. I was surprised how similar they are. VERY similar.

[@steveno7058]

The new PC18 is also very similar to Ledaig 18

[@utoobia]

@@steveno7058 I just picked up 2 bottles of PC18. I expect I will find it overpriced, but I sure hope I like it better than Ledaig 18! I can get that for HALF the price. LOL.

[@umami0247]

Unfortunately other than that Highland I don’t get these in my area. Almost pulled the trigger on a killkoman today but passed for a Rye whiskey I’ve been looking for. Next time and I just hope it’s not overly peated or it’ll take me awhile to drink. Enjoy.

[@lesliemarshall3764]

Raasay and Lagg are excellent up and comers for this list in future. My left field choice is Jura. It’s not what it was a few years ago but the distillate is greatly underrated; it’s such a shame they generally come at 40%. I’ve had IB offerings of Jura that were phenomenal. I wish they would change to a craft presentation to be inline with the newer players, it could be great.

[@peathead4450]

Thanks for sharing Geoff. Fun (or possibly not) fact: no island whisky on the open shelf nor in bunch in the cabinet awaiting for space on the open shelf. Think the conclusion is/ can be that those have fallen from the radar (enough Highland, Speyside, Campbeltown and Islay to enjoy, so no worries regarding that). Slàinte mhath

[@Gwhisky]

Always the pickiest and most particular so-and-so in the comments, and I'm all for it. 😂 Cheers buddy!

[@philipmrch8326]

I heard Ledaig 10 was good so I got one. And I was very impressed! Unfortunately I feel like it loses taste fast over a short period of time.

[@philipmrch8326]

@Gwhisky is that also your experience?

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Damn Arran swept it up! For good reason too but I would've loved to see Lagg there and Torabhaig as well. Cheers Geoff!

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah I think as Lagg and Torabhaig get more distribution and more people get to try them their popularity will grow a lot. In a couple years I'm sure they'll be staples on these kinds of lists. 🥃

[@whatsthepoint170]

First off, this is a cool format with crowdsourcing. I know you mentioned some older bottlings that are worth seeking out (I found old Arran 10 and Arran 14 last week). Are old Glenmorangie bottlings anything special? A dusty store near me has a few and I’ve been debating. On a side note, found a Bowmore 15 Darkest a few weeks ago. It’s been a good month of dusty scotch hunting.

[@Gwhisky]

Glenmo is pretty consistent. I've had some very old bottles of 10, for example, from well before my time. They were good, maybe slightly different, but pretty much the same profile as today's 10s. Oppositely, the Bowmore 15 Darkest, while not brilliant, was better than the sherried 15s of today. Hope that helps! 🥃

[@whatsthepoint170]

@@Gwhiskyyes thank you, that’s good to know! Also interesting how some distillers are able to maintain consistency more that other.

[@philc1884]

Nice list, G. I need to get on those Taliskers. Is there a vid like this for lowlands? I need recs. Cheers!

[@Gwhisky]

No lowland video yet, but I'll be making this I to a series. Thanks for watching! 🥃

[@philc1884]

@@Gwhisky nice, forgot we did Bladnoch 11 last time. Fantastic pour. Maybe Liora, Vinara or Samsara to switch it up? Availability will be a factor.

[@davidjukebox]

hiii, can you do a video for the amateur whiskey drinker who doesn't go through them so quickly about how an "area" ie Spey side translates into a type of whiskey. I don't really get it, owing to having not drunk very many. But it would help when when drinking them to place them in a virtual map in my head and help demystify that cataloguing process. One I do understand is Isla, but hey, that one doesn't leave you guessing.

[@hansvaneenennaam457]

Hi Geoff, really like this concept. Please carry on with it. My favourite Island brand is Ledaig at the moment. Don't know what happens in the future ..... maybe Scapa????

[@Gwhisky]

Those Scapas do seem really promising! And yes, more videos like this to come! What region should be next? 🥃

[@hansvaneenennaam457]

@@Gwhisky Maybe it would be nice to do Speyside. Curious how opinions would be divided on that region.

[@jamesdoolan7966]

Yeh can’t argue… Aaran 10 is a fantastic whiskey.

[@Allouran]

Raasay is well in front of the Talisker 10yo and I’d have the Tobermory 12 easily ahead of it too. Looking at the geography you could easily have Ardnamurchan in this grouping as well… but that’s another story.

[@jaylat4578]

No Scapa? I'm shocked. Lol. I think some of the new kids deserve consideration. Raasay, Torabhaig and Harris are showing a lot of promise. If not now then certainly in a few years.

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah I think once they get more distribution and wider ranges they'll definitely start getting the recognition they deserve. Cheers! 🥃

[@goodriddance86]

You already gave the answer, they are showing a lot of promise....But for a Top 10 list now, their still far away. Their prmomising but still very young whiskies.

[@brukuns]

The Ledaig Rioja can't hold a candle to the 10y.

[@GlenLossie]

The main takeaway from the comment section is that many listeners/watchers don't pay attention because despite your explicit distinction between Islay the region and the term "island whiskies" they still couldn't figure out why Islay whiskies were not on the list: "Where's the Ardbeg?" "How come no Laphroaig?" etc., etc. I happen tp pass through Hong Kong and picked up my first Rock Island, a travel retail bottling at 48% and on sale.

[@joan_b.]

No Lagg or Torabhaig!? 😫

[@Gwhisky]

As those gain more distribution and popularity they'll likely start showing up on these lists. They certainly deserve to! 🥃

[@eviltrain24]

Interesting list. Looks like my tastes don’t completely track with the patreons. I’ve just finished a Rock Oyster and it’s a tad too candy sweet and/or the peat element is too simple to properly counter it. I also still have an Arran The Bothy in the old bottle. I’d have to go back to my notes to remember, but it was disappointing. I would have replaced them with Torabhaig Allt Glean. For a 3 year old expression, it’s astoundingly good 3 year old expression. That said, it’s hard to give a lot of credit to lists for me. The Venn Diagram of number of bottles sold and “best whisky lists” just has too much overlap. It’s hard for newer entrants with more limited market share and limited distribution that are better to make it onto these type of lists.

[@Gwhisky]

That's a fair point. I think each patron's personal list would be more interesting than the amalgamation of all their suggestions. Such is the nature of voting! 🥃

[@_fwd_racecar_]

Speaking of islands, i noticed a lack of japanese whisky on your channel. Is this because they use screwtops instead of corks, so the bottle score is a 2 at best? Or is there a Taiwan vs Japan rivalry, like how Ireland is jealous of Scotland? Or did your twin pewdiepie already do a comprehensive review 6 years ago?

[@Gwhisky]

I don't buy a lot of Japanese whiskies simply because they don't offer the same bang-for-buck that scotch does. Taiwan is among the best and most affordable places in the world for scotch, so that's where my focus and passion lies. I'll be doing a Nikka NAS side-by-side at some point though. Also the Pewdipie thing.

[@markanderson8677]

Where's my Bunnahabhain 12? Uffda.

[@hunamsafee2]

That is an islay distillery

[@andyking894]

Once again, Jura is snubbed at the awards. One day...

[@utoobia]

What are the good Scapa bottlings? I’ve never tried any, in part because it seems to get dumped on by reviewers.

[@cemtuncel1602]

Ledaig 10 and not 18 in the top10??? :)

[@Gwhisky]

When things get voted on it tends to be the more available and affordable bottles that come out on top. Ledaig 18 would be in there for me, too. 😉🥃

[@steveno7058]

The 18 isn’t available in the USA in general

[@FranzG2]

@@GwhiskyI’m pretty sure the original ask of the Patreons was affordable island whiskies.

[@murgh]

I think you just scared me away from ever trying that HP CS. I know my limitations.

[@Gwhisky]

😂😂😂

[@utoobia]

You can always use water.

[@murgh]

@@utoobia I don’t shy away from cask strength, but Klingon warrior women is another story.

[@Gwhisky]

@@murgh Gotta learn to grab life by the forehead ridges, man. 😉

[@murgh]

@@Gwhisky hey, we're not all born daredevil intensity-chasers. Some of us prefer tranquil, safe and pain-free comfort.😇

[@MortAllachie]

I really don’t understand the hype around Arran 10. It’s just fine in my opinion, but I find it kind of boring. The Quarter and Sherry is a whole different ballgame. But I guess I just had too high expectations when I finally bought my first bottle? But still… #1??? I don’t get it 😊

[@jakubhaska3707]

No Ardbeg? Funny list.

[@Gwhisky]

Ardbeg wasn't an option for this list.

[@steveno7058]

Ardbeg is an Islay not an Island

[@jakubhaska3707]

@@steveno7058 Islay is island

[@steveno7058]

@@jakubhaska3707 no it isn’t. Islay is its own region. Island is part of the Highlands region. Go look up Scotch regions

[@ottolees7208]

I really dont get the mass appeal of Arran 10, I had 2 bottles of it and it is hands down the worst whisky on this list, 1st time around it was so bad I was in disbelief, I had 2 of my buddies taste it and they both hated it. 2nd time was okay, but the bottle costs 45 euros here and I can get much better stuff in that price range (Ledaig rioja cask costs the same and is miles ahead flavour wise).

[@_fwd_racecar_]

lots of people like myself, really dont care for lots of peat. offering ledaig instead is like saying german pilzners dont have enough flavor, so here's an irish stout.

[@christianrausis7665]

No Bruichlladdich like Port Charlotte 10 or Bere Barley etc... are you kidding, And no Laphroaig, for example Quarter Cask, or Laphroaig Cask Strength. No Lagavulin, for example Lagavulin 8 , no Port Askaig, no Kilchoman like Sanaig or Loch Gorm, no Ardbeg like Corryvreckan or Uigeadail, it's a joke!!

[@Gwhisky]

Those weren't options. Islay whiskies were off the table for this premise.

[@christianrausis7665]

@@Gwhisky Thanks for the answer. I understand now.