Country: USA   Producer: Bhakta Spirits Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mashbill: (95% Rye - 5% Malted Barley) Age: 10 yr 8 mo Cask: American White Oak & Calvados Cask ABV: 53.8% Proof: 107.6 Price: $149 Nose: Dark honey, caramel frost, apple crumble. With every minute soft vanilla fills the room. Palate: Creamy texture, baking spices, oak spice. Rich white chocolate with a peppery back palate. Then spiciness comes back and covers the front tongue in a weird way. Finish: Lingering and warm. Oak spices, dry, tobacco with dark chocolate. After tasting the new Bhakta 1928, I ..read more

2023 was an intense year that I learned a lot. Every year, with the number of places I see and people I meet, I see my opinion on whisky slightly evolving. I believe that my tastebuds also evolved a bit and I was able to select 10 whiskies I really enjoyed this year and wanted to present them to you as ' Best Whiskies of 2023!' HOW DID I CHOOSE THE TOP 10? Selecting the Best Whiskies of 2023 was never easy. This year I have been to 8 different countries other than the US. And yes, in every country I tried to visit distilleries if they had it. Tried their whiskies, or special releases.&nbs ..read more

Country: USA - Kentucky - Clermont Distillery: James B Beam Distilling Type: Single Malt Age: 5 Cask: New American Oak  ABV: 47% Proof: 94 Price: $55 Nose: Initial honey notes blend in with Graham crackers. A subtle orange zest feeling is later overtaken by the fresh oak. It continues for a long time. Palate: Very creamy start. Black pepper initiates a good introduction which is later dominated by toasted oak, caramel and vanilla. Finish: Finish is certainly long but very peppery and away from being 'smooth' as advertised. This summer, Beam Suntory joi ..read more

When I first saw the orange cover with the name Billy Abbott on it, I was quite excited to receive something new from him as he has been one of the best whisky communicators in the last decade. After seeing that the book is to be released in May 2022 in the US, I tried to figure out alternative ways and finally got a copy in my hands before the holidays. I am happy to say that, The Philosophy of Whisky is now the first book I read in 2022! Billy Abbott has been blogging about alcoholic beverages since 2009 and it has been a decade he has been working in the industry full time now. You might fi ..read more

2021 was a year that went so quickly for me. The first months were quite tough with health and job situation. I also finally relocated to Los Angeles, which changed my life in a very good way and I am thankful for it. I do miss my gang in Oakland, but I was lucky to visit them very often. In the second half of the year, I was possibly in the top 10 of 'Most Traveling Whisky Ambassadors', so I couldn't show the love on Whisky Monster as much as I wanted. However, I couldn't end this year without the Best Whiskies of 2021 list! HOW DID I CHOOSE THE TOP 10? Selecting the Best Whiskies of 202 ..read more

Country: Scotland – Islay Distillery: Bruichladdich Type: Single Malt Age: 12 Cask: Various ABV: 52.1% Proof: 104.2 Price: $370 Nose: Peat smoke, toasted bread, dates, ripe figs, a cedar tree, dark chocolate, cinnamon bark, beechwood, black tea, leather, Sherry wine residue. Palate: Dried fruit, oak tannins, currant, blackberry, briny notes. Creamy texture, violet, floral tones. Finish: Bacon-wrapped dates, ashy peat, salty end. One morning of 2021, I woke up with a raffle email from Bruichladdich and with half-open eyes, I entered my information. A couple of weeks l ..read more

Country: Scotland – Islay Disillery: Bunnahabhain Type: Single Malt Age: 27 Cask: Refill Hogshead ABV: 51% Proof: 102 Price: $160 Nose: Starts with green malt flavors. Then a lovely touch of toasted oak comes to the scene. Quince, apple pie crust, young apricots and coconut with undertones of very mellow peat. Palate: Melange of stone fruits, mango, peaches. It has a savory and salty character which makes a juicy palate. Cinnamon, apples and light peat are still there. Finish: Honey, briny, a touch of smoke and melon. Remember my favorite whisky last year? That whisk ..read more

Country: Scotland  Producer: ImpEx Beverages Inc Type: Blended Age: 40 Cask: Sherry Butt ABV: 45.5% Proof: 91 Price: $370 Nose: Orange zest heavy glögg, earthy tobacco, milk chocolate, plums, raisins, toasted oak with a hint of smoke Palate: Creamy with cranberry, cracked black pepper, figs, dates and chocolate Finish: Long with raisins, milk chocolate, oak tannins and a hint of smoke. It was at the backyard of our friend Marshall when Chris Uhde from ImpEx Beverages showed up with a bottle of a 40-year-old blended Scotch whisky. Luckily I was with a fresh palate at ..read more

Country: Scotland – Islands Distillery: Highland Park Type: Single Malt Age: 15 Cask: Sherry Seasoned European & American Oak & Refill Casks ABV: 44% Proof: 88 Price: $110 Nose: Stone fruits, bubble gum, butter, French bakery, heather, cereal, pears, lemon curd, gentle peat smoke Palate: Very balanced, velvety, honey, vanilla, pineapple, sponge cake, mellow peat Finish: Long, fruitful, honey, light peat smoke Highland Park got me already surprised with the Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.2 and that was obviously not enough for them. They sent me a ..read more

Country: Scotland – Islands Distillery: Highland Park Type: Single Malt Age: NAS Cask: Sherry Seasoned European & American Oak, ex-Bourbon ABV: 63.9% Proof: 127.8 Price: $90 Nose: Raisins, damp leaves, grapefruit twist, brown sugar, antique room. Very heated. Palate: Caramel, ginger, cinnamon, peppery undertones, yuca root. Unexpectedly easy to drink Finish: Very spicy with sweet smoke, ginger, lingering, black pepper Upon the success of last year's Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.1, the Orkney distiller came out with the Highland Park Cask Strength Releas ..read more