Whisky
+ Alement
Indie
Whisky Co. Stay in touch -
Subscribe to our mailing list shopping cart
shopping cart
22.01.20

‘Our Top Gong’: The Best of 2019

Every week the team at Whisky and Alement sit down to taste 10 new whiskies. The list is ever evolving, ever-changing, 10 whiskies are removed and 10 added to the menu weekly.

It can be hard to keep track of favourites. In 2017 an in-house scoring system was introduced to help collate our favourite spirits (predominantly whiskies) of the week. We haven’t released a list of the top rated spirits before but it was decided at the end of 2019 that the best should be congratulated and shared.

Without further ado, we’re excited to announce Whisky & Alement’s Top 50 The Best of 2019!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society dominated taking out almost 25% of the list including three Armagnacs.

Best of 2019 – Top 50

  1. 17/7/19 – Springbank 15yr (estimated 1990’s bottling) – 94
  2. 28/8/19 – SMWS 139.4 ‘Spellbindingly Sublime’ – 93.1
  3. 6/2/19 – Old Pulteney 1989 slightly peated * – 93.1
  4. 22/5/19 – Bowmore Warehouseman’s 17yr Distillery Exclusive * – 92.5
  5. 13/3/19 – Clynelish 26yr by Hidden Spirits – 92.4
  6. 10/12/19 – Ardbeg 16yr 1998 Cask 15005 by Malts of Scotland * – 92.29
  7. 11/11/19 – SMWS A4.5 ‘A cup o’ kindness’ 13yr (Armagnac) * – 92.2
  8. 17/7/19 – Caol Ila 22yr Feis Ile 2019 Sherry treated American oak – 92
  9. 30/1/19 – SMWS A5.1 ‘Fruit shop raid’ 1999 (Armagnac) – 92
  10. 3/12/19 – MacDuff 13yr 2006 by Wilson & Morgan ** – 92.15
  11. 3/12/19 – Taketsuru 17yr Pure Malt (estimated bottled 2010) * – 91.86
  12. 10/4/19 – Allt-A-Bhainne 7yr 2008 for Kyoto by Kingsbury – 91.8
  13. 9/10/19 – Longrow ‘Red’ 11yr Pinot Noir Cask – 91.6
  14. 11/11/19 – SMWS 46.72 ‘Jungle slippers’ 25yr * – 91.5
  15. 13/2/19 – Longrow 7yr 2000 Gaja Barolo cask * – 91.4
  16. 10/4/19 – Dalwhinnie 25yr 1987 bottled 2012 – 91.5
  17. 30/1/19 – SMWS 93.95 ‘Tails of the sea’ 15yr – 91.5
  18. 21/8/19 – SMWS 27.97 ‘Glazed cashews & lemon lollies’ * – 91.4
  19. 3/12/19 – Ichiro’s Malt & Grain for Whisky Plus 5th Ann. * – 91.17
  20. 23/1/19 – Caol Ila 34yr 1984 ex Bourbon by Cadenhead – 91.14
  21. 25/9/19 – SMWS 10.176 ‘Tea-smoked salmon’ 11yr – 91
  22. 21/8/19 – Knob Creek 9 year old 100 proof (estimated bottled 1990s) – 91
  23. 17/7/19 – Bowmore 13yr Burgundy cask by Cadenhead – 91
  24. 28/8/19 – SMWS 53.300 ‘Unbridled Joy’ 9yr – 91
  25. 16/10/19 – Bunnahabhain 1978 Masam (Samaroli) – 90.9
  26. 27/11/19 – Westport 1997 by Berry Bros. for LMDW * – 90.86
  27. 7/11/19 – Old Maysville Club Bottled in Bond Straight Rye * – 90.8
  28. 22/5/19 – Ardbeg ‘Islay 3’ 2000 by High Spirits – 90.7
  29. 3/7/19 – Aultmore 18yr #91351 Manzanilla finish by Chieftain’s – 90.7
  30. 10/12/19 – New Riff Straight Rye whiskey * – 90.62
  31. 18/8/19 – Yoichi Sherry Wood Finish Bottled 2018 * – 90.6
  32. 2/10/19 – Port Charlotte Valinch MOC:01 2005 Moulis Cask * – 90.6
  33. 27/11/19 – Elements of Islay Ma3 * – 90.57
  34. 6/3/19 – Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke * – 90.5
  35. 16/1/19 – SMWS 29.202 ‘Smoking Cherry Bomb’ 17yr – 90.5
  36. 22/5/19 – Caol Ila 7yr ‘Musicienne’ by Acorn – 90.5
  37. 29/5/19 – SMWS A2.2 ‘Enchanted woodland stroll’ (Armagnac) * – 90.5
  38. 10/4/19 – Bowmore Devils Cask Batch 3 – 90.3
  39. 15/5/19 – Loch Lomond 21yr 1996 Cadenhead * – 90.3
  40. 15/5/19 – Tennessee 13yr 2003 Cask #3 by The Whisky Agency * – 90.3
  41. 11/11/19 – SMWS 35.239 ‘Tokaji and tug boats’ 23yr – 90.25
  42. 8/5/19 – Kilchoman 100% Islay 8th release – 90.2
  43. 3/12/19 – Speyside 17yr ‘Distilleries Collection’ * – 90.17
  44. 27/11/19 – Deanston 20yr 1999 by Maltbarn * – 90.14
  45. 18/8/19 – SMWS 64.71 ‘Fruit sweeties in a ladies purse’ 26yr * – 90.125
  46. 10/4/19 – Barrell Bourbon Batch #17 blended – 90
  47. 15/5/19 – Benrinnes 10yr Old Particular Woodstock Shiraz finish – 90
  48. 17/7/19 – Tyrconnell 16yr Irish single malt 46% * – 90
  49. 17/7/19 – Westland Peat Week 5th Ann. American single malt * – 90
  50. 17/7/19 – Laphroaig Cairdeas Triple Wood 2019 Feis Ile – 90

Deciphering the list

  • Number – Product ranking from 1st to 50th
  • Dates – Dates product was tasted by the team
  • Scores – The 100 point system is used for all tastings
  • Spirits – Cask aged spirits are selected for weekly tasting by Cellar Manager and business co-owner Julian White. The list below includes some spirits that are not classified as whisk(e)y.
  • Single Asterix – This product is currently available at the bar at Whisky & Alement or Melbourne Whisky Room
  • Double Asterix – This product is currently available on the bar and at the bottle shop at Whisky & Alement or Melbourne Whisky Room
preloader