What’s Your Favorite Whisky?

The question that everyone loves to ask

I’m retired. From normal work. Now, I spend my time doing stuff that I really love. Like collecting, tasting, and writing about whisky. I collect it because I like to do whisky research, and every time I read something interesting about a whisky, I want to buy it. I taste it because, well, once I collect it, it can’t just sit there on the shelf. And I write about it. Not for the fame. My reader list isn’t very big. I write about it because I want people to know and appreciate all things whisky. Locally, I’ve developed a modest reputation as a whisky guy. The Whiskylove guy. I put on tasting sessions, I host tons of folks in my whisky room, and I write short whisky articles that you can read in the bathroom. Or at breakfast. Or with your morning coffee. Wherever. I love being the whisky guy. Except when they ask the dreaded question. “What’s your favorite whisky?”
The answer, as many of you whisky fans know, isn’t that simple. My answer is usually “It depends.” And it does. It depends on what you happen to be doing or feeling at the moment you decide to enjoy a wee dram. So. here’s my list of answers to the question.

Relaxed– Let’s start with one of my favorite whisky occasions. Sitting on the deck on a summer evening with a good cigar. There’s one whisky that I reach for – Dalmore Cigar Malt. Obviously, it was developed for just that, and boy, it rises to the occasion. Lot’s of sherry and lots of flavor, to cut through the cigar taste and wash over the taste buds. Hard to beat. I’m sure that famous cigar and whisky folks like Sir Winston, Sean Connery, or Al Pacino would approve.

Bold – Sometimes, we want some smoke in the whisky, rather than in the cigar. My favorite is pretty much anything by Ardbeg. While are are lots of great smoked whiskies out there, especially from Islay, Ardbeg gives a nice level of sweetness that seems to mitigate the smoke a bit. Makes it a bit more drinkable. The peaty purests might disagree, perhaps opting for the Lags or the Laphroaigs, but like all favorites, it’s just an opinion.
So what other moods and situations influence the favorite list?
Adventurous – I love to try a cask strength American whisky, like Bookers. It stretches my limits and forces me to grow as a whiskey drinker.
Nostalgic – The story of Nearest Green and his mentorship of Jack Daniels is one of the great folklores of American whiskey. To honor that, I like to have a dram of Uncle Nearest 1856, to revisit the whole Lincoln County process, and to give a nod to Fawn Weaver for bringing the story, and a great whiskey, to life.

Patriotic – The Canadian whisky industry is blossoming. I have two favorites – Canadian Club Invitation 15 Sherry Cask has a combination of classic Canadian whisky taste, combined with a peak into the new age of the Canadian whisky industry. Superb. As well, Signal Hill, a little known east coast whisky, from Newfoundland, is a bargain hunter’s dream (and dram).
Mellow – There is no better demonstration of mellow than Irish Whiskey. Red Breast is the gold standard for single pot. Yellow Spot is also superb. But perhaps my favorite is Tyrconnell 16. Wow is the only way that I can describe it.

Reverant – The are several whiskies that I hold in the highest esteem. To me, they represent the best that whisky has to offer, both from a taste and a tradition standpoint. First, anything from the Mortlach Distillery, especially the 16. Second, the Balvenie lineup is stellar, particularly the 14 Carribbean Cask and the 17 Double Wood They seem to be the ones that I save for those special occasions.

Bold – A couple of drams immediately come to mind – The Alberta Premium 100% Rye Cask Strength, and Glenfarclas 105. Both get your attention from the first whiff. There’s nothing like a cask strength whisky to get the party started.

Well, that pretty much, in a round about way, answers the question. The whole issue of favorite is kind of subjective. Curious? Perhaps try something from a lessor known country. Impulsive? Try something new. It might become your new favorite. Whatever the mood, there’s a whisky to match it. So never mind what everyone else thinks. It all boils down to finding your favorties. That’s all that really matters. Cheers!