WHISKY REVIEW OF 2015 – Paul McLean 

A personal view if the whisky industry in 2015 by Paul McLean, owner MCLEANSCOTLAND.COM & WHISKYTOURS.SCOT

Where do I start? It has been a busy year for whisky, so much has happened, lots of news and some seriously strange decisions. Let me start by wishing all distilleries and staff a happy new year and best wishes for 2016, especially the small independents and new start ups, both here in Scotland and over in our Celtic neighbour Ireland. Talking of which, there has been much movement over on the Emerald Isle, an upsurge in Irish whiskey – about time, with lots of new start up distilleries, 2 in Dublin alone. I think there was a heavy bias, or snobbery against Irish whiskey for too many years, myself, I have always enjoyed it, at my local pub here in Perth, Black Bush is my dram and thankfully, Helen & Billy keep buying it in for me specially! To be honest, Redbreast is my favourite Irish dram, but with so many to try, it is a hard thing to stay with just one, I urge you to try the likes of Green and Yellow Spot, The Midleton’s are fabulous, there I go, on a roll again about my Mum’s country drams, if you havnee tried many Irish, please look into it soon!

One bottle I hope to look forward to this year hopefully, is a Daft Mill dram, have been there a few times aye, tasted new make and very young drams, but I can’t wait for a good aged dram from Francis, that would be a highlight. Another vastly underrated distillery is Glen Moray, because of their pricing structure (low) for a quality product, I feel it puts people off trying their drams, how foolish, I took a tour there last summer (one of many), a large group of 28, I couldnee get them all out! The shelves took a battering, specially 25 and 30 year old, say no more, it is one of my favourite distilleries and we like them all there, thanks very much guys! Scotland to me, remains the best whisky producer in the world, ok so maybe we have a few more distilleries available to us, but we have constantly great whisky from all corners of the country. Aye saying that though, I do like very much Japanese and Taiwanese drams and Paul John in Goa is running up catching them with several superb drams, specially their peated.

World whisky has come on leaps and bounds, with Australia, European and Asian drams all good. The one thing that gets up my nostrils – Bibleman and his numpty awards! It is really like a paid advertisement for certain drams, making his best whisky of the year, with otherwise totally unforgettable whisky. I see lately there are lots of a certain Canadian whisky in the auctions, I hope the money paid off with a profit, take it while you cam, because as soon as real whisky drinkers start tasting this stuff, the bottom will fall out of that market (in my own view that is). Harsh? I don’t think so. I also forecast Japanese drams will calm doon in price, right now they are a crest of a wave, it will calm doon by summer and once again good Scottish drams will take top slot. Have you noticed how Macallan have calmed doon? They always used to be number one in auctions, maybe once again.

Awards, are they worth the paper they are written on? And the cost of the actual awards? In my view, no. It seems to me that every distillery/country will get a turn to win something, awards are made up to find a category for some drams, this is daft. And whilst I am on ma soapbox, will distilleries please resist from producing outlandish packaging that no one can afford. If you buy whisky it is to drink aye? Why would we wish to buy a piece of crafted silver, in a handmade wooden box, on a marble plinth with (ok a nice whisky) drams hidden by the packaging? Just sell us a good dram in an affordable bottle – which we throw away anyhow. Rant over.

Festivals and tastings are springing up everywhere, grand! This brings whisky to many people and many who have not tried too many, options are there to research and develop your senses into liking many other whiskies than what you thought you liked. Please don’t forget, whisky is like fine art, liking one or more, is equal to liking fine art, it is in the eye (or mouth) of the beholder. Buy/drink what you like, what you can afford and maybe test a few you havnee tried before. It’s a great game. I will be hosting a tasting myself early February, do I do blind tastings or name them as we go, or both? At the Spirit of Speyside this year we are offering events, one being with our friend Ian Buxton; Does packaging affect your whisky purchases? After working with Liz (biz partner for last 20 years) who used to say “that’s a nice bottle” meaning shape and design, she now buys for the whisky inside the bottle, that made me think, and asked Ian to do this for us, he agreed quickly!

So, my own whisky awards … as guests of Chivas recently, Ian Logan gave us (Liz and myself) a dram of Glenlivet 50 year old, I couldnee open my mouth or eyes after it, I couldnee find the right expression or words to qualify! Kavalan Solist range – great. Balvenie 40 year old, Redbreast Sherry bottle, all great and how can I leave out others? Well there is also one NOT from a distillery, my pal Tim (in Moscow) distils his own, he gave me a 40 month old whisky – sublime. Corriemhor too, the list could go on and on. If I had to sit doon with just one bottle, it would be Tim’s. Have a happy and rewarding 2016 everyone! Should you wish a fantastic whisky tour, look at our website www.whiskytours.scot.