12 whiskies I drank over the holidays 

the wit and sarcasm on this channel is much appreciated.

Yeah, Barry.

Shared: Kirkland (Costco brand) 20yr old Highland Sherry Malt was shared along with my one and only Argmagnac, Marie Duffaut Napoleon. ... ... and yes I shared those because they are good but also fairly inexpensive and good for the paupers that have no particular interest in whisky. Sessioned a 27yr Glenburgie from the Thompson Brothers (in my room when no one could possibly find out). Lacking experience with old whisky, I had to sip like 6 other bottles of varying quality and age to help my session review. Although the nose and palate were demurely complex, I wouldn't necessarily recognize that to be notably different/better than many of my younger malts apart from the typical quieting/subduing of the abv and the burn. crystallilne. It was crystalline which not much else can compete with. What was really different was the finish. medium long to long. But it was the clarity of experience that I didn't/couldn't/wouldn't have realized until I drank the other stuff. There was a Blair Athol 13yr I drank the previous night that I remarked as being crystalline that turned into a boor, dirty and unrefined in comparison. Still don't have much old whisky experience but I hope to experience more of them this year and build up a picture of what old whisky can be like. Happy New Year and I hope to see many many for video's to come!

Bunnahabhain 12 Cask Strength and the Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013 were my favorite “new” discoveries in 2023 (both in November). It seems the harder a whisky is to spell, the better it tastes.

Wow! Heres me formally requesting an invite to your place for Christmas 2024! Great vid. Really enjoyed it.

Yeah I bought TWO of the wilder seas: one to drink, one to keep.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Great selection, something in there to please just about everyone

Another great video, Geoff! Looking forward to the review of the Bunna CS 2023

I had Glenlivet 18 (43 abv) and Auchentoshan Sauvignon Blanc Finish

😂, the last part . choosing best friends was great 👍 . I need to learn something here Lol, thank you Geoff.

I’ve been enjoying a 1990s 21 YO CS Bladnoch last few days. Happy New Year Geoff.

Thanks Geoff, a great list… I am enjoying a Classic Laddie with a special cigar tobacco in my pipe after a nice meal. Over the holidays I had a Glenmorangie 14 Quinta ruban port cask, Ardnamurchan Sherry Cask, Benromach 10, Classic Laddie, Glengrant 10, Bowmore 8 (both gifts but rather tasty) Bunnahabhain 12, Deanston 12 and Benriach Smokey 10. Keep up the comedy 🎭 much appreciated! Kindest regards and happy 2024. S.

Happy New Year! Drank a lot of whisky this holiday, volume and quality over 2 weeks. First a shout out to Hopscotch Whisky Bar Liverpool great whisky and even better company. The whisky I enjoyed at Hopscotch (in no particular order). American Whisky: Old Rip 10, Van Winkle 12, Weller 12, T H Handy 2022, Rock Hills Farms, Bomberger's Declaration, Dickel 15 (barrel pick). Scotch: Hazelburn 15 oloroso, Springbank 10 and 15, Thompson Brothers Sutherland Blended Malt, Thompson Brothers Dornoch Cask 49, SMWS Plasticity In Our City (Caol Ila). Adelphi Selection Caol Ila 7 year, Irish: Gold Spot 9. At home: American: Rebel 10, Still Austin CS, Chattanooga 111, Knob Creek SBS (10 year 6 month "Bronson's Potent Sin"), Four Roses Small Batch, Old Forester 100 Rye. Scotch Bladnoch 10, Arran 10, Longrow (NAS), Caol Isla 15 unpeated, Bunnahabhain 12 2023 CS. Hard to pick one, maybe the Dornoch, only 5 years but had a oily, candle wax finish I have never experienced in a whisky before. All the best for 2024!

No visitors, ended up trying to clear the leftovers from 2023. Glencadam 15, Port Charlotte 10, Arran Quarter Cask, Archie Rose Rye limited (Stringybark)

Amazing look for talisker bottle. Didn't knew talisker parley was higher abv than 45,8. I had some basic whiskey's: deanston virgin oak, arran bodega, four roses small batch. Great video, thanks for sharing 😊 👍

Happy new year Geoff, thankful for year of 2023, and look forward to seeing your 2024 review.

Had a campbeltown loch and Ledaig 19 year old. Although I already knew the Ledaig was going to be the star of the show, the campbeltown loch pleasantly surprised me!

Well, I got the flu around 23-24 of December , and, as of today January 1st, I'm still not done with it. So no whisky for me. I guess , given the exceptionally bad timing of this, I feel like throwing my frustration at other people . :)) . On the other hand, Ralfy advices whisky drinkers all the time to take a couple of weeks break from whisky to rest not only our livers, but also our palates, so I'm going to pretend that that's what I'm doing . :))

I was able to try the Lagavulin 8 and Peat Monster at company Christmas party and the Lagavulin 12 2023 at a friend’s house. I liked the Lagavulin 8. Decent budget WOTY pick. On New Years Eve, my wife and I shared drams at home of Compassion Box Spice Tree, Tale of the Forest, Talisker x Parley, and Signet.

Happy New Year! 🎉🥃Slàinte!

I pounded Bells as it was all the budget allowed for, but two days after Christmas, I received my first ever Ardbeg 10 in the post. It was a fantastic present from a friend in America. Thailand has an unbelievable tax on alcohol.

Sounds like a good time to me.

Hi Geoff, that's quite a list you went through during those couple of days. But very nice. Great mystery pour. No complaints from your liver? 🤣 My list is way shorter: Oban 11 y/o, Lagavulin 8 y/o, Glenfiddich 15 y/o, Ben Nevis 10 y/o and Talisker Skye. All the best for 2024!!

Hi from N Ontario and best for New Year 2024. Aside from old favorites, a new whisky I tried over the holidays is Douglas Laing's Big Peat Christmas ed 2023 Sherry Cask Finish. I originally passed on the purchase based upon available reviews but finally purchased a bottle. It is much better than reported and has a significantly pronounced natural orangey color compared to past regular lemon colored Christmas eds. More importantly the sherry finish is noticeable and very pleasing. I would recommend it esp if it can be obtained at a reasonable price. Forget the Ontario LCBO.

Bonne année Geoff. Cool review. I went through the rare & old advent calendar from master of malt during the avent time. Other than that I poured a few japanese whiskies for my family. I just bought this Bunnahabhain CS 2023 (not yet received). I will watch your review closely.Cheers

Happy New Year 2024 Geoff! Your videos are always among the most appreciated, and I'm happy to see a new one already on the first day of 2024. I must say that I really enjoyed the Arran Quarter Cask, which I prefer to the 10 yo, as well as the Laphroaig Quarter Cask which I purchased in Austria for only 33 euros. It is a solid peated whisky, non-chill filtered, with a good 48% ABV, even if on the young side. Unfortunately, it is coloured, but I believe that this policy was adopted not to cheat us expert drinkers, but rather to guarantee uniformity of colour between different batches, so as not to disorientate the inexperienced drinkers. Another good quality/price ratio whisky is Talisker 10yo, even if, in my opinion, the new label version bottlings are different from the previous one, and the quality is slightly inferior. But the whisky that I drank more during the Christmas period was Maclean's Nose Adelphi blended Scotch. I also have a bottle of Nikka Yoichi yet to be opened, but I want to save it for when I'm a little further along in my whisky journey. I am looking forward to your reviews of the Bunnahabhain 12yo Cask Strength and the Talisker x Parley Wilder Seas!

Happy New Year Geoff! Please give Barry my sincere sorry.😆

Opened the Speyburn 18, Lagavulin 8, and Rock Island 14 Sherry Edition over the holidays. All very good. I hope you can review this Rock Island 14.

That looks like a solid dirty dozen Geoff. I had a great time with Craigellachie 13, Macallan 12 Sherry Cask, Arran QC, Indri, Talisker 10, Elijah Craig straight bourbon, New Riff, and experimented with a blend of Caol Ila 12 and a 1/4 portion of Laphroaig 10 CS all through the festive season. I managed to pickup a bottle of Elijah Craig barrel proof batch A123 on the second last day of the year. Happy New Year Geoff!

Quite the list and another great video. I hosted a whisky tasting last week during which we had Glencadam 10, Glendronach 10 Forgue, Highland Park 12, Glen Scotia Victoriana, Tobermory 12, and Laphroaig Lore. These are ranked in order of preference by the 9 attendees. Clearly there were no ‘peat freaks” in the house 🤣. Looking forward to more of your videos. Cheers 🥃

I blind served a very freshly opened Speyburn 10 travelers exclusive 46% to a few relatives. Then we tried a little Deanston 12 which had been open since last summer. The latter was way, way better but I suspect it's got a lot to do with the one being just opened. I love both!

Happy New Year Geoff (and whisky fans). Sounds like you had a great holiday season. I got some samples for Christmas, so managed to get through (in no particular order): Ardnamurchan AD 09/22, Ledaig 18, Mortlach 15 (IB), Benromach 2009 CS, Deanston 15, The Hearach, Arran 18. And of course a fair chunk of the "unpeated, sherry-ish, mainly speyside" house blend (infinity bottle). Slàinte 🥃

Excellent list, love the quarter cask from Arran and trying to get into the Lagg as my bottle opens up a little . I have been enjoying the Thompson Bros Lowrie Reserve Blend over the holidays

I had a bottle of Glen Scotia 15 with me while traveling and was very happy with it.

I had a 35.270 from SMWS, called "at the end of a perfect day", a 33 yo Glen Moray, A Signatory Vintage secret spayside `17 (m), and the Laphroaig 25 49.1%

Happy new year Geoff, I’ve recently discovered your channel and I’ve really been enjoying it. I’m still fairly new to whisky, so I’ve been watching your review and list videos for your recommendations. Over the holidays I had Lagavulin 8, BenRiach original 10, Arran 10, Glenallachie 10 CS, and Craigellachie 13.

During the holidays I drank Bunna CS 2022 and 2023 I still prefer 2022 over 2023 but they are both really good imo, Kilkerran Sherry cask 2023 version hopefully 2024 version is going to be out soon. Kilkerran heavily peated batch 8 and Port Charlotte OLC. I recently bought Hazelburn 15yo oloroso 2023 bottle which I plan to taste on weekend since it's my 30 birthday in two days! Thank you Geoff for 2023 reviews looking forward 2024 reviews!

Really good list, sir! Keen to get that Talisker Parley, love the bottle design and sounds delicious. I served up a few different whiskies for Christmas & end of year celebrations. Arran Port Cask Finish, Signatory Vintage Old Pulteney (which is delicious) and a few Aussie whiskies 😅

Happy New Year Geoff! New bottles opened over Christmas/New Years were Arran Port Cask, Speyburn 15, and Signatory Vintage Ardmore. Purchased but not yet opened are Speyburn 18, Benromach Peat Smoke (bourbon cask), and Arran Amarone. Also enjoyed some Ledaig 10, Kilchoman Sanaig, Macleans Nose, Cutty Sark Prohibition, Loch Lomond 12, Inchmoan 12, Indri Dru, and Lum Reek. Looking forward to your reviews in 2024, especially the Lagg Kilmory and Bunna 12 CS 2023. Cheers!

Happy new year Geoff, that’s quite a list I must say. What I drank was cutty sark prohibition, John lane powers 12, Benromach contrast series double cask, Signatory CS Linkwood 10 yrs, FF bourbon and Signatory Glenlossie 12 ex bourbon cask. Not so good a list as yours but there all pretty decent drams. Slàinte Geoff

Happy new year 🎉❤😊

Interesting list Geoff and it is obvious you have some notable reviews coming up. I enjoyed the Glencadam 13batch 3, Bunna Cs 2022, Lum Reek 12, Arran Sauternes finish, Longrow Peated, Timorous Beastie The Sherried Beast. My measures were small and restrained just like me!

Drunk-O !

I spent most of my time with Lagavulin 8 after seeing you name it whiskey of the year. The other Christmas pour was Bunnahabin’s limited Anoadh.

Enjoyed this recap! Cheers 🥃

Happy New Year! For me, it was actually mostly bourbon this holiday. Had some Hardin's Creek, ECPB C923, and Remus Gatsby. I did however crack open a Bruichladdich Black Art 11 on Christmas Day. It was my first Black Art and it's gotta be one of my favorite pours now.

Happy New Year, G! 1. Kudos on pronouncing "Miyagikyo" with the accent on the "ya"! I watched several videos this past December where the host placed the accent on "gi". I mean, c'mon, guys! Haven't you watched "The Karate Kid"? 2. Speaking of what whiskies I had during the holiday season, I caught that nasty "thing" on the very first day of December 2023. (Having fought the good fight for four long years, I was pissed that it finally got me.) So I laid off whisky just to get the cough out of the way sooner. I also didn't want to waste good whisky, since I partially lost my ability to taste. (I'm still slow getting it all back.) 3. Speaking of good whiskies in December, my brother-in-law drew my name for the family gift exchange and got me Glendronach Revival 15 and Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba (Batch 006). Along with the Togouchi Sake Cask Finish I brought back from Japan, I cannot wait until I get all my ability to taste back! 4. You mentioned "Madeira" in this video for one of the year end bottles you had. Recently, in a FB Kavalan group, I voted the Madeira cask strength as my favorite Kavalan. I wonder if you've ever had that expression? p.s. Offer still stands. Choose a bottle for me to bring to Taiwan in April.

Nice lineup….always enjoy learning about some spirits with which I’m unfamiliar 😊 Tonight, watching your new vid during commercial breaks of the Rose Bowl….sent me deep into the bunker to revisit some Springbank 12 CS (56.2)…really a memorable dram. I’ve enjoyed a particularly satisfying assortment of amber spirit pleasure the last week or so including polishing off an older Glendronach 18 (Allardice) final 2 pours, Longmorn & Speyburn 18’s (both dt your reccs), 2023 Bunnahabbain 12 CS (wowza), Ardbeg Uigeadahl (sp), Edradour Caledonia, Laphroaig 16, Russell Reserve 13 ($45 for the pour at restaurant Christmas Dinner), Stellum Fibonacci BP rye; Torres 20 and Torres 30 Brandy’s and Hennessy XO Cognac. Wondering how much better it could be if I’d be nice instead of naughty.

Yeah Barry 😂

Happy New Year’s Jeff 🎉 My favourite Dram over the holidays was Wormtub 10 yr old ❤

Let me share my list :) it's festive times, right? :) 1- Benrinnes 25 cask strength (signatory), that was a wow 2- Springbank 15 3- Ardnamurchan AD. Cask strength 4- Craigellachie 17 5- Speyburn 18 6- Springbank 10 7- E.H Taylor Kentucky Straight Bourbon Bottled in bond 8- Glenrothes 18 9- Arran Sherry Cask cask strength 10- NcNean Organic 11- Ardnamurchan AD Sherry Cask 12- Royal Brackla 16 (%40 ABV, old version)

That's an awesome list my friend! I am really intrigued by the Lagg! Probably gonna be my next pick up. I want some dirty character in my life 😂 My list of current sippers during Christmas and New Year: -Kavalan Port Casks Concertmaster. - Powers 12 John Lane - anCnoc 12 - Ardnamurchan AD - Kingsbarns Docoot - Tamdhu 12 (New fav.) - Glenturret 12 - Speyburn 18 - Bunnahabhain 12 - Lagg Cronyblabla khm... - Ledaig Rioja - Talisker 10 - Talisker 57° North - Benromach Contrast Peat & Sherry - Port Charlotte 10 - Kilkerran 12 - Springbank 15 Cheers Geoff and Happy New Year once more 🎆🎆🥃🥃 Ps: #PoorBerry, remind me never to become your best friend 😂

Enjoyed the list and the humor

Happy New Year! May your liver stay always healthy and may you always have a finger's width of whisky in your glass! Cheers!

I had Talisker 18 and Glenmorangie Signet, both great bottle

Pffft...guests get whatever I feel like pouring them, and they'll like it. Some of the notables I had this Christmas/New Year's season were CuBocan 15yr, Glenmorangie Signet, and an Old Particular by Douglas Lang Cameronbridge 30yr single grain. I also got a bottle of Glen Grant 12yr that didn't blow me away, but it was nice enough...good for guests.

Happy new year buddy! 🥃

I got 2 new bottles, Bunna 12 cask strength 2023 (can't wait for your review) and Glen Scotia Victoriana cask strength. I love them both a lot.

Hello Geoff, Happy New Year 🥳. Some really nice Stuff you had that XMas. I hadn't twelve but a few quite delicious Drops.😅 An IB (The Whisky Trail) of Macallan 1990-2011, an Inchmurrin 21 (the One in that great looking Winter Theme Tin) and last but not least we emptied an OB of Longrow 13 Single Cask (Thats my Springbank Card been played😜) which was really an absolut Banger. Greetings from Germany and keep up the good Work.

HNY! I hope in your Parley review you compare and contrast with Surge - odd names :)

Happy New Year Geoff, thx again for another great video

Yes, great to see a review so soon after the Nyr! Fk dry Jan!

Happy New year G Another great year … great reviews ..Thanks 👍🥃

That was a good holiday season for whisky, cheers Geoff! That previous CS didn't do much for me but maybe this one could be better. Had the chance to try a Talisker 30 last year and yeah it is a very elegant whisky but damn the price! I visited Penderyn and The Lakes distilleries this holiday season so I had a lot of those plus a few whisky bars in London helped me get acquainted with some new releases. Happy new year Geoff 🥃

Thanks!🐉 It ain't much... but I hope it'll buy you a... thimble of a dram.

Happy NewYear Geoff, to all your love ones the the whisky community here!

ive tryed the talisker parley last week at the airport and i was extremely impressed! Might get a bottle soon im quite interested in your review :)

Happy New Year Geoff!

Interesting list , Happy New Year brother

Happy new year Geoff! 🎉🥳🎊🎈I just tried The Classic Laddie and it was so good. FYI, a lot Japanese whisky is just sourced Scotch. I mainly drank some whisky during NYE cause I was making Bobby Burns cocktails. I tired the Chivas 13 Sherry, Dewars Smooth Caribbean Cask 8yr and the Compass Box Orchard House that you recommended in your summer whiskies in 2023. The Chivas and Compass Box were great and I’m am definitely going to be picking up more Compass Box whiskies in the future.

By the way I work in the music business. I think you have a beautiful voice.

Merry Christmas and happy new year Geoff! Greetings from Argentina! My holiday's began with Oban Little Bay, Dalmore the quartet and Edradour Caledonia. And Lagavulin 8, Ledaig Rioja, Edradour-Ballechin 8 and PC 10 after dinner. Some peat freaks around here 😂.

Amazing list Geoff! Wish I could say I poured anything nearly as expansive as your great grouping. I did receive a nice bottle of an unpretentious cask strength whisky this Christmas and quite enjoyed it. That dram would be the Port Askaig 110. Not a challenging whisky to be sure but I found it to be quite delicious and very easy to drink despite the abv. Have you ever tried it?

Happy New Year, Geoff. Best wishes to you and yours... and for us viewers, just hope you'll cut the crap...er...grape ... err... ah, what the heck... that's basically the same. And provide us with some decent bourbon barrel matured single malts. Slàinte mhath / Slàinte mhor

💪great video....

poor barry🤣🤣

Spotify link to your magical tune please 😅😅

How dare Barry not buy u a 1000 pounds plus whisky. The audacity 😤😤😤

I had nothing this season. Well, that’s not entirely true. I had no whisky. I had a LOT of covid though. Like a LOT. Bye bye sense of smell and taste

Talisker x Parley Wilder Seas, brought this back from a recent trip to Scotland and have been singing its praises to anyone and all who will listen, it’s so good. I’ve asked the Reddit community for recs of a similar whisky to prepare myself for when I run dry of this one, some mentioned Talisker Distller’s Edition, what would you say?

So when I buy you some Samaroli...?

Friggin’ Barry! 😠 It’s always Barry-first with him! Boooo Barry! 👎🏼

Once again, Happy New Year! If anyone is going to find Taketsuru pure malt black label. Get it. It's 100% worth it. Way better than white one.Ardbeg is still better for beginners in a peated 100% agree with you man. This is for professionals and not the beginners.Bunna 12 CS if nobody has it try it. It is that good. It's about $100 where I am. It's totally worth a lot more than that. Same goes for Springbank CS You can get it for under 150 or even 200 get it, let's go back to Talisker, for the money, it's definitely not worth it, It is beautiful. Whiskey but price ridiculous. I really want to wish you another successful, beautiful prosperous year. Keep up. Great job man! Cheers!