A review of the whisky year 2023, with a list of our favourite new releases, favourite cognacs and rums, as well as some whisky stats and thoughts.

Glenburgie 22 yo 1966 (58%, G&M / Sestante Import for Enoteca Marchetti 1988, sherry wood, cask #323)

Dailuaine 11 yo 2011 (52%, Asta Morris 2022, bourbon cask, 320 btl.)
Aibhainn Dearg 10 yo ‘X’ (46%, OB +/- 2022)
Fettercairn 2009 (50,6%, Liquid Art 2022, 140 btl.)
Glenburgie 25 yo 1994 (55,5%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ 2020, refill sherry hogshead #10064, 176 btl.)
Linkwood 10 yo 2012 (46%, Signatory Vintage ‘Un-Chillfiltered’ 2023, first-fill Oloroso butt finish, cask #201 + 203)
Williamson 2014 (46%, Berry Bros ‘Small Batch’ for Kirsch Import 2023, Batch #1, hogsheads, 1109 btl.)
Thomson Whisky – Manuka Smoke (53,9%, OB for Kirsch Import 2023, single cask #141, 284 btl.)
Shh.. ecret Islay 21 yo 1999 (59,8%, The Whisky Jury 2021, refill barrel, 250 btl.)
Williamson 9 yo 2012 (60,5%, Blackadder for Whisky Picnic Bar ‘Just Dram It’ 2022, refill butt, 267 btl.)
Starward 5 yo 2016 (59,3%, OB for Whivie.be & The Bonding Dram 2021, fortified wine barrel #1855, 222 btl.)

Ardbeg 21 yo 1974 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail for Sestante 1995, 1387 btl.)
Laphroaig 1987 (53,4%, OB for LMdW 50th Anniversary 2006, six first fill hogsheads, 1387 btl.)
Port Ellen 20 yo 1978 (60,9%, OB Rare Malts 1998)

Port Ellen 42 yo 1981 (52,5%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Recollection series #2’ 2023, refill sherry butt #290, 181 btl.)
Banff 46 yo 1976 (50,4%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Recollection series #2’ 2023, refill sherry butt #2887, 109 btl.)
Glen Mhor 49 yo 1973 (47,2%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Recollection series #2’ 2023, refill sherry hogshead #85026801, 170 btl.)

Scapa 17 yo 2005 (55,3%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ for Kirsch Import 2022, 1st fill bourbon barrel #486, 196 btl.)
Glenrothes 16 yo 2006 (53,3%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ for Kirsch Import 2022, 1st fill sherry hogshead #18601303, 328 btl.)
Caol Ila 25 yo 1997 (60,7%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ for Kirsch Import 2022, 1st fill sherry butt #12495, 561 btl.)

Mannochmore 22 yo 1997 (55,8%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2020, first fill sherry butt #12098, 490 btl.)
Lagavulin 12 yo 2008 (56,5%, OB Special Release 2021, refill American oak casks)
Fettercairn 14 yo 2007 (55,2%, Alistair Walker Whisky Co ‘Infrequent Flyers’ 2021, Oloroso sherry puncheon #1823, 622 btl.)
Springbank 12 yo Cask Strength (55,3%, OB 2020, 65% bourbon + 35% sherry)

Lochside 40 yo 1981 (49,2%, Gordon & MacPhail 2021, refill sherry hogshead #802, 141 btl.)
Glen Mhor 40 yo 1982 (50,8%, Gordon & MacPhail 2022, refill sherry hogshead #72, 174 btl.)
St Magdalene 39 yo 1982 (54,8%, Gordon & MacPhail 2022, refill American hogshead #2094, 165 btl.)

Clynelish 12 yo (70 Proof, Ainslie and Heilbron, early 1970s , UK market)
Brora 1972 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice, new map label, 1997)
Brora 26 yo 1976 (46%, Douglas Laing McGibbon’s Provenance 2002, Winter Distillation, cask #742)
Brora 21 yo 1977 (56,90%, OB Rare Malts 1998)
Brora 30 Year Old (52,4%, OB Special Release 2002, 3000 btl.)

Glenlivet 44 yo 1976 (51,3%, Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 2021, first fill sherry hogshead #5648, 83 btl.)
Glenlivet 28 yo 1993 (53,1%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2021, refill American hogshead #71580, 193 btl.)
Glenlivet 16 yo 2004 (46%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2021, refill bourbon barrels #800671 + 800672, 510 btl.)

Clynelish 14 yo 2005 (51,8%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ for TWE 20th Anniversary 2019, refill sherry hogshead, 224 btl.)

Mortlach 30 yo 1988 (48,8%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ 2018, refill American oak sherry hogshead #4839, 129 btl.)

Glen Keith 24 yo 1993 (49,3%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2018, refill bourbon barrel #111152, 205 btl.)
Glentauchers 27 yo 1991 (56,8%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2018, first-fill sherry butt #6943, 473 btl.)
Scapa 30 yo 1988 (53,8%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2018, refill bourbon barrel #10585, 148 btl.)

Longmorn 57 yo 1961 (40,8%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Private Collection’ 2018, cask #512, 97 btl.)
Longmorn 57 yo 1961 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Private Collection’ 2018, cask #508, 97 btl.)

Strathisla 40 yo 1977 (48,5%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Book of Kells’ for The Whisky Exchange 2017, refill American oak hogshead #387, 191 btl.)

Glenrothes 26 yo 1989 (53,8%, The Single Malts of Scotland 2016, refill hogshead #8172) – 87/100
Glenrothes 30 yo 1986 (61,4%, Gordon & MacPhail for The Whisky Show Old & Rare 2017, refill bourbon barrel #20235, 62 btl.) – 90/100

Balblair 30 yo 1986 (49,5%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Cask Strength’ for The Whisky Exchange 2017, refill sherry hogshead #12649, 48 btl.) – 90/100

Caol Ila 9 yo 2006 (51,3%, Sansibar ‘Samurai label’ 2015, bourbon hogshead, 340 btl.) – 88/100
Caol Ila 9 yo 2006 (52,2%, Whisky-Doris 2015, bourbon hogshead #303049, 310 btl.) – 85/100
Caol Ila 11 yo 2005 (57,3%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Cask Strength’ 2016, first-fill sherry butts #301521, 301523, 301524 & 301527) – 87/100

Longmorn 39 yo 1969 (58,9%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Book of Kells’ for Japan Import System 2009, refill sherry butt #5298, 460 btl.) – 96/100

Highland Fusilier 21 yo (70° proof, Gordon & MacPhail 1978, Specially vatted for the Tercentenary of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 75,7 cl.) – 88/100

Longmorn 43 yo 1967 (52,6%, G&M for Japan Import System 2010, Book of Kells, refill sherry butt #753, 393 btl.) – 92/100

Longmorn 42 yo 1967 (53,1%, G&M for Japan Import System 2009, Book of Kells, refill sherry hogshead #3342, 162 btl.) – 92/100

Glenburgie 1997 (57,6%, Gordon & MacPhail Exclusive for Asta Morris 2011, bourbon cask #8551, 212 btl.) – 89/100

St Magdalene 18 yo 1964 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice brown label 1983, 75 cl.) – 93/100

Longmorn 39yo 1969 (57,7%, Gordon & MacPhail for TWE 2009, cask #5305) – 91/100

Clynelish 12y (57%, G&M 1980’s – Ainslie & Heilbron) – 93/100