Top 5 • 9 March 2024
The ‘Second Ten’ of the Whisky Centurion Journey
Welcome, fellow whisky enthusiasts, to another chapter in the epic journey toward Whisky Centurion status. Around Christmas I completed the first leg — the opening ten drams of a quest to sample one hundred distinct whiskies — and what a start it was, with the likes of Aberlour 12 and Macallan 12 setting a high bar early on.
Now it's time for the second ten. This set carried me from the Isle of Mull to the Lowlands and out to Islay, each bottle a tale of craftsmanship, tradition and the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape. Here's how the journey unfolded.
Tobermory 12 Year Old
The second leg began on the Isle of Mull with Tobermory 12 — a distinctive single malt carrying a subtle maritime influence. It's a characterful, slightly off-beat dram, and a fitting way to set sail on the next stretch of the journey.
Tomatin 12 Year Old
Next came Tomatin 12, a smooth and complex Highlander. Orchard fruits, honey and gentle spices weave together into an easy-going dram that rarely puts a foot wrong — exactly the kind of approachable malt that keeps you coming back for another pour.
Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood
The ever-dependable Balvenie 12 DoubleWood followed, matured in both oak and sherry casks for layers of rich sweetness, warm spice and a whisper of oak. It's a Speyside classic for good reason — so much so that I found myself wondering whether it might just rival Aberlour 12 as my go-to everyday dram.
Glenkinchie 12 Year Old
A trip to the Lowlands brought Glenkinchie 12, all delicate floral aromas, fruity sweetness and a gentle hint of spice. Light and graceful, it was one of the genuine highlights of this run of tastings — proof that the Lowlands deserve a bigger place on the shelf.
Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold
Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold proved a true winter warmer, with honeyed sweetness, gentle spice and a touch of heather. I even tried it the way the distillery recommends — served straight from the freezer — which made for a surprisingly smooth, almost syrupy dram.
Glen Grant 12 Year Old
Glen Grant 12 kept things light and fruity, in classic Speyside style. Orchard fruits, vanilla and a delicate hint of almond make for an elegant, easy-drinking malt that's very hard not to like.
Glen Elgin 12 Year Old
Glen Elgin 12, a hidden Speyside gem, balanced fruitiness, maltiness and gentle spice into a harmonious whole, all carried by a pleasingly long finish. A quiet workhorse of the blends that more than holds its own as a single malt.
GlenAllachie 12 Year Old
GlenAllachie 12 showcased the innovation and craftsmanship of Billy Walker's revitalised distillery — orchard fruits, honey and a hint of spice in beautiful balance. It's a vivid reminder of how far this once blend-focused name has come.
Talisker Skye
Talisker Skye brought all the untamed character of its island home — bold maritime saltiness, smoky richness and an underlying thread of sweetness. A rugged, coastal dram with real swagger, and a welcome jolt of smoke in the line-up.
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie
Rounding out the second ten, Bruichladdich's Classic Laddie offered vibrant orchard fruits, honey and a hint of coastal brininess — unpeated Islay at its most expressive. It's a modern classic, and that eye-catching turquoise bottle looks rather good on the shelf, too.
And that's twenty down, eighty to go. What strikes me most, looking back, is how much variety these ten drams packed in — from island smoke to Lowland florals — and how each one tells its own little story of place and craft. The shelf is filling up nicely, and the adventure only gets more interesting from here. If you're just joining the journey, you can look back at the first ten or read about where it all began. Onward toward centurion status — slàinte!
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The ‘Fourth Ten’ of the Whisky Centurion Journey
Well, here we are again for a check-in on my journey towards becoming a Whisky Centurion. It's nice to look back every so often and reflect on what I've tried — following the first, second and third tens, here's the fourth set.
The ‘Third Ten’ of the Whisky Centurion Journey
Welcome, whisky wanderers, to the next chapter in my epic journey toward Whisky Centurion status. Following the first and second tens, here's the third set — drams 21 to 30. This stretch took in everything from meaty Speysiders and waxy Highlanders to experimental cask finishes and a classic dose of island smoke, with a few genuine surprises (and one or two letdowns) along the way.
The ‘First Ten’ of the Whisky Centurion Journey
I recently set out on the quest to become a Whisky Centurion, a journey to sample and savour one hundred distinct whiskies (read more about that here). Now the first leg of this flavourful journey is complete, and it has been nothing short of enchanting. Here's a look back at the opening ten.