Year 2017 highlights!

Last year we've established the tradition to summarize the results of each year and name the best ones in 3 categories. So let's proceed to what the year 2017 brought us... 

The best contemporary malts I've tried this year (bottled 2010 and later):

1. Glenlivet 56 yo 1954/2010 GM Private collection cask #2736 50.6% - I'd say that is the most complex whisky I've tasted so far, 97/100!

2. Glen Grant 1952/2012 GM 40% - as a small sample it scored 93/100 in 2016, but tasted from a large bottle it went even higher, 95/100!

3. Highland Park 40 yo 48.3% - the essence of Highland Park cask selection, 95/100!
4. Springbank 21 yo 46% (bottled 1998) - tropical Springbank, a must for Campbelltown maniacs, 94/100!

5. Glenglassaugh 39 yo 1972/2012 Massandra connection 53.3%  - tropical beast, one of the best noses of this year, 93/100!
6. Lagavulin 25 yo 1991/2016 51.7% - elegant and gorgeous, 93/100!

7. Bunnahabhain 40 yo (bottled 2012) 41.7%  - needs time in a glass, but it's worth it, 93/100!
8. Balvenie 37 yo 1978/2016 cask #2708 (DCS Compendium - chapter 1) 50.2% - lucky me to taste it, 93/100!

P.S. There are 8 malts instead of 5 as I can't exlude any of them with 93/100 mark. 

The best older malts I've tried this year (bottled well before 2010):

1. Bunnahabhain 1968/2002 Auld Acquaintance 43.8% -  already a legend, 95/100!

2. Tobermory 32 yo 1972/2005 49.5% - smoked pear and tremendous sherry, last year it was 94/100 from another bottle, this year it reached 95/100!
3. Highland Park 30 yo 48.1% - still one of my favourites, +1 point this year, 94/100!
4. Highland Park 25 yo 48.1% - also a classic for me, - 1 point this year, 93/100!

5. Port Ellen 7-th release 1979/2007 54.7% - smooth and convincing PE, 93/100!
6. Benriach 37 yo 1968/2006 Duncan Taylow Rare Auld cask #2597 48.6% - 1968 is another great year for Benriach, 92/100!
7. Port Ellen 27 yo 1978/2006 DL Platinum 55.3% - pretty perfect one, 92/100!
8. Strathisla 40 yo 1967/2007 GM 43% - very confident Strathisla, 92/100!
9. Lagavulin 16 yo White Horse (bottled 1988 -1994) 43% - the way it used to be, 92/100!

P.S. There are 9 malts instead of 5 as I can't exlude any of them with 92/100 mark. 

The best standard malts I've tried this year (widely available and below EUR 100):

1. Springbank 12 yo Burgundy 53.5% - I suspect the pedestal would be reserved by this Campbelltown distillery, 90/100!
2. Springbank 12 yo CS (batch #12) 54.1% - classic CS Springbank with umami aftertaste, 89/100!
3. Springbank 12 yo CS (batch #9) 54.3%  - still can be found under EUR 100, 89/100!
4. Tobermory 18 yo 46.3% - liked this very much on a Tobermory tasting,  89/100!
5. Laphroaig 10 yo CS batch #009 58.1% - a must for the friends of Laphroaig, 88/100!

Of course that is my humble and subjective opinion based on my taste solely :) Thanks to all and Happy New Year!