Yeeeesss! Totally agree. When I first tried the Benromach 10 some years ago I really liked that different, unique style of smoke it got, it's definitely less medicinal, it's an overall warmer impression, like winter spices. My favourite style of peated whiskeys actually, bought quite some Benromachs since then. My absolute favourite right now is their 2011 Germany Exclusive 48%
Another fan here. I was exposed to HP Einar, where I picked up the taste for 'a lilting hint of peat'. The problem is that HP could not live up the the promise of Einar and discontinued the entire line the very year I tasted it. I could not find that 'lilting hint of peat' in any of the core line they sold in the US. I went looking for expressions that could fill the bill. Springbank was repeatedly recommended to me, but they are not even sold in my state and they were hideously expensive to obtain. Somebody, perhaps Phil, pointed me at Benromach and told me to try their 10 year old. It wasn't available, but the 15 was, so I bought it and have never turned back. I went back out an immediately and purchased my first ever 'backup bottle'....It reigns supreme over the pantheon of my liquor cabinet, even since Springbank was added to the selection. It can be found on shelves here, while Springbank is still naught but a vicious rumor. As a side note, I have since obtained a bottle of Port Charlotte 10 and consider their peating to be a 'heavy' version of Benromach's 'hint'; it's 'mainland' or 'highland' peat, rather than that nasty creosote bilgewater stuff that the more typical Islay peat presents.
Another beautifully produced episode! As fall arrives I get into peat and by December it's time for a very sherry bomb Christmas. A couple of years ago I also did a mini barrel experiment too. Finished 4 bottles in a 60 day PX sherry seasoned 1L barrel. My favorite from that was a Old Particular Caol Ila 8yr CS from a refill bourbon hogshead that was outstanding. Cheers.
Mine is definitely going to be the Caol Ila Distillery exclusive, such a Christmas feel to it. Definitely not biased working for the distillery and all! Love your videos Phil, hope to see you over on Islay sometime!
Heh...I'm a Benromach 15 fan, big time. I wondered about the Contrasts expressions, so I bought the one you recommended. I have not yet opened it, but now I'm looking forward to it. The thing is, we are sliding into the heat wave time of year hear, so I'm more heavily into the Compass Box Orchard House and Glencadam 10 at this point. I would note that almost any of the Benromach line would make passable 'winter whiskies'. Agree with you on PC10 and Craigallechie 13. I would add in any of Kilchoman's core line (Sanaig being the one with which I am familiar, whereas I suspect you would select Loch Gorm).
My winter whiskey.ys are always a good Redbreast with its warm spice notes, cake, orange marmelade and apple. But I like also a good peat forward as a Lagavulin 16 or Ardbeg Uigeadail
I got the opportunity to travel to New Zealand for work last year and was recommended to try the Cardrona Growing Wings. So, went to a few bars in Auckland once my work was done, and was blown away by how amazing it was. Lucky enough, I was able to find a bottle before I flew back to Canada and I have been waiting for a special occasion to try it. Love the videos mate, and here is my top 5 winter whiskeys that I am looking forward to having. 1. Springbank 10 - Favourite whiskey no matter the time of year. Thankfully I stocked up and will always have one open on my bar. 2. Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 5 - Really excited to try this since I love the Kilkerran 12 3. Bunnahabhain 18 - The Bunna 12 is one of my go to whiskies, but never tried the 18 and very excited to crack this on Christmas day 4. Tallant Cask 580 - New distillery that is just starting near where I live in Vancouver Canada. They got 5 casks from Bruichladdich and this one is their 14 year Port cask and is just amazing. I also have their cask 581 which is their 14 year Sherry cask and cask 730 which is their 14 year Port Charlotte. Unfortunately, these bottles are only available in British Columbia, but I do have one of each stashed away for later years. 5. Shelter Point cask strength 10 year - This is my favourite Canadian distillery and I got their first 10 year release. I have yet to open it, but know it is going to be amazing. If you ever come to Canada, you need to try anything from this distillery. They are doing everything right, just like Cardrona.
Yum yum, is a valid tasting note. Just covered the MOM Christmas whisky and think some of your suggestions beat that for festive feels. I also quite like a good bourbon over the chilly nights. Cheers fella 🥃🥃
Honorable mention for sure is a LE named A Midwinter Night’s Dram from High West distillery. It’s a lovely lovely Rye Whiskey that finished in Port Barrels.
Strange watching this in 30oC heat of Thailand and thinking of cold, dark nights!! That said, I love your selections. Craigellachie is creeping onto my hit list and I'm loving that Benromach...also the 15yo. For a smokey surprise I'll throw in Laphroaig 10 year old sherry wood. 48% smokey bacon heaven.
You have to find an Ardnamurchan AD Phil - half peated and super delicious. I've followed along their journey and through the ups and downs they have ended up with some delicious booze. Been told the 02:22 Cask Strength is a cracker, but yet to crack mine. My other go to winter whiskys includes Springbank 15 (so hard to get now), Ardbeg Ugi for the cold cold nights and have a spectacular Islay whisky called Chaos from North Star IB - always 10-15 bottles open so it's easy to taste through a few small drams and enjoy the winter evenings.
Great list - the season Scotch was invented for IMO. I like the look of that PC, but due to budgetary concerns, I stick with the standard 10: it’s my favourite dram right now, and I wouldn’t want to spoil it by discovering a better but LTD & more expensive version exists. One day maybe… Great video! Keep it up!
…in terms of suggestions, I’ve got a Ledaig Rioja cask finish I’m going to save until the colder months as I think it will be perfect fireside drinking.
@@elduderino3120 Suggesting back at you....try the Kilchoman Loch Gorm. Great peating and 100% first fill sherry casks. I'm utterly impressed with their Sanaig, which is a combo of bourbon and sherry aging.
Another great video Phil. When the weather gets cold I like peated whisky. Either Islays like Laphroaig or Highland whiskies like the Ardmore. Peace out.
Nice selection Phil. I have them all (except for the Glengoyne, I have batch #3). I think I would put the Benromach Sherry Peat as #1 as well. Good video!
Totally agree on the Benromach, have gone through a couple of bottles and good value here in Australia. The peat smoke bourbon cask matured is very good too, Im happy it flies under the radar means that I can actually get my hands on it!
As one can guess, I also rely on peat to go through the winter months. The ones I often reach are Finlaggan CS and PC 10yo. Got an infinity peat bottle too, just for variation. Uigedail and Ballechin 10yo would be my go-to sherry&peat combination. Munro bagger (Laphroaig &drambuie) in my hip flask when adventuring out in the cold. For Christmas I'll be in Germany and planning to get that Contrasts series Benromach and the CS one, along with an Ardnamurchan, which I've yet to taste. Many thanks for constantly delivering such good stuff and greetings from Romania! 🥃
I've only started drinking scotch for about a year now but one of the bottles I picked up to add to my start up collection (along with Ledaig 10, Oban 14, Highland Park cask, Bunnahabhain 12 and an Ardbeg Wee Beastie) was the Craigellachie 13. I seem to be reaching for that one for a dram or two during a game and sadly, will need to get a new bottle as I've only got a couple pours left (my pours are 1.5 oz). Thanks for the tip on Tamdhu! I see my local liquor store has some in stock so I'll probably be stopping in tomorrow to pick some up! Thank you! Cheers!
my whisky buddy and me went out and got 4 ardnamurchan,s , 2 ardbeg,s , 1 laphraiogh , 1 coal ila , 1 lagavullin , 1 ledaig , 1 benromach , 1 kilkerran , 1 springbank , 1 port charlot and finaly 1 compas box so we are set for the next 2 winters [ and that is a smart thing to do with inflation running at about 10% , in 2 years time this lot will cost you about 250 euro,s more with our line-up ]
Oh yes, fantastic value, which is why it made it into my affordable whiskies video. However, for some reason I didn’t drink much of it over the winter. Probably because I always imagine Arran having a much more fruity and tropical character. Great whisky though!
@@FirstPhilWhisky 100% agree with you there mate. If you haven’t already, try the Arran Quarter Cask - again, fantastic value for such a flavourful dram
Completely perplexed to see this list released from a fellow Southerner as we head into the months from the mouth of hell, but it makes sense when you’re doing this; A) as a reflection. B) most likely your main audience. The Northerners.
Yeah exactly. It’s a reflection on what I actually reached for and 90% of my audience is are northerners. Interesting either way. Anything you were reaching for this last winter?
glenfiddich, glenlivet, and blends like cutty or chivas are my go to for summer. I usually go for lagavulin, bunnahabhain, and ardbeg uigeadail in winter. (not a fan of full sherry) great vid
Great stuff as usual Phil, the Craigellechie 13 yr was a surprise so you now love wormtubs ? I love the stuff got into it when looking for a a replacement for a campletown dram, a long with Ben Nevis 10.
Hi Phil, another great video 👍. With me I’m not really into different drams for different seasons, its more of a mood thing. What am I in the mood for, something peated or something light and fruity etc. Slàinte Phil.
I wonder, I drank a Benromach a few years back and the taste made me think of grilled sausage. I only know it's a peat smoke version but I dont have a clie what particular whiskey it was. Any Idea which one that might've been?
Another great video, thanks Phil! Some good options to consider heading into the UK winter. Are there any other more standard releases that you'd recommend? Cheers 🥃
The fact that you have to make such stupid faces in the thumbnails to drive the algorithm makes me hate the modern world so much more. I'm not mad at you for doing it, you're smart to do so. The fact that it actually works is what upsets me.
I care much less about "muh complexity" than I do whether those flavours blend and match and complement each other to create a good taste experience. I've listened to some whisky channels out there and when they rattle off the 4th, 5th, 6th 7th tasting notes, then honestly I just start thinking "Lies, lies, lies, BS". I could take my vegetable and spice lockers and throw them into a blender, and the resulting taste would be ...... "ZOMG complex!!" , but actually rather disgusting.
Congratulations. You can go to bed safe in the knowledge that when you woke up this morning and thought "Today, I'm going to make a prick of myself on the internet", you did it. I, for one, loved the episode, and will be purchasing TWO of every bottle. When they arrive I will drink them all TO COMPLETION, relishing the fact that you don't have them, simply because there wasn't a bourb(o)n in the list 😂. I'm glad you took the time to write this comment so now everyone knows you are about as joyful as chlamydia. You absolute plane-landing-clapper. 🛬👏
I need to do a summer whisky video. I would go: Cotswolds, Arran 10, Rampur Double Cask (although not all scotch, but still single malt). They all are light and tropical and orchard fruit forward, which is what I like in summer.
