Our Top 10 Whiskies of 2022

This is always our favourite post to write each year. The Top 10 is something we first began way back in 2009 and within it we celebrate the finest new whisky releases of that calendar year. Our first selection crowned Benromach 10 years old as our Whisky of the Year. 

However, some time ago we decided to no longer give a top prize. Instead, each of the ten whiskies that we have chosen is a winner in its own right and for differing reasons. As the world continued to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions in 2022, the whisky world responded with some excellent releases. It has been difficult to select just ten to be honest, given that we have sampled close to 150 whiskies this year. 

Review / Smokehead Terminado

The Smokehead Terminado is the latest limited edition from the Islay single malt brand. This new bottling follows the brand's recent experimentation with different cask types that has included the Rum Rebel ex-rum cask finish and the Twisted & Stout ex-stout beer barrel finish. Terminado has seen a similar finishing period in ex-tequila casks that have been sourced from Jalisco in Mexico. The exact number of bottles has not been revealed. Smokehead Terminado is released at as no age statement and 43% ABV. It is initially exclusive to the Amazon and Smokehead websites. Wider distribution will follow. A bottle will cost £69/ US$83.

Review / Dalmore 2007 Vintage & 2003 Vintage

This pair of whiskies are the latest new limited editions from the north Highland distillery of Dalmore. The Dalmore 2003 Vintage (pictured, above left) and 2007 Vintage (pictured, above right) represent the second bottlings in the Dalmore Vintage Collection. Both whiskies have been created from casks hand-selected by pioneering whisky maker Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE, Master Blender for Dalmore.

Review / House of Hazelwood 46 years 'Spirit of Scotland' old & 56 years old 'The Long Marriage'

The House of Hazelwood is a premium collection of Scotch whiskies blended malt. It has been created by William Grant & Sons, which has been operated by the Gordon family for much of the last century. The collection is named after the family home, Hazelwood House, which is located in Dufftown - the unofficial whisky capital of the Speyside region. 

The bottlings were originally created for family consumption at special occasions from some of the company's oldest and rarest stocks. It was only recently decided to expand this out to bring these fine super-premium whiskies to whisky consumers.  

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (December 16, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Bushmills 1997 Rum Cask

This new whiskey represents the latest expansion of the Causeway Collection by the Northern Irish single malt distillery of Bushmills. The Bushmills 1997 Rum Cask is the first whiskey in the series to be created by Alex Thomas, the new Master Blender for Bushmills. The collection pays homage to some of the more unorthodox casks that are maturing within the distillery's warehouses. The spirit was filled to American oak ex-Caribbean rum barrels in February 1997 and has undergone a full 25-year maturation in them. This is very rare as ex-rum casks are often only used for finishing of short periods from six months to two years. The Causeway Collection was launched in 2020.

Review / Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 11

This new whisky is the latest bottling in the popular annual cask strength series from the east Highland distillery of Glendronach. The Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 11 is a celebration of both natural strength whisky and of Glendronach's heavily sherried style. It has been created by Dr. Rachel Barrie, the Master Blender for Glendronach, using a combination of spirit matured in Spanish oak ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. 

The Batch 11 has been bottled at 59.8% ABV and is limited in number, although the exact quantity has not been revealed. It is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It will be available in specialist whisky retailers in selected global markets. A bottle will cost £68/ $78 US. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (December 9, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Bladnoch Liora

This new whisky is the latest addition to the Classic Collection from the Lowland distillery of Bladnoch. The Bladnoch Liora will sit aside the Alinta, Vinaya and Samsara in the range. It is the first of these to be released at a higher 'distiller's strength'. Liora has been created by Dr. Nick Savage, the Master Blender for Bladnoch, and sees a marriage of first-fill ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks. Liora means 'gift of light' in Hebrew and is bottled at 52.2% ABV. It is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It will initially be sold only in the UK, at the distillery shop and via the Bladnoch website. Wider global distribution is scheduled to follow later. A bottle will cost £70. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (December 2, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Loch Lomond Distillery Edition 9 years old

The Loch Lomond distillery has launched a new series of whiskies that will see it work with like-minded artisan creators to bring new people into the world of whisky. The Remarkable Makers campaign has started with a collaboration with London-based craft bakery chain Bread Ahead and is inspired by the role that yeast plays in both whisky and bread making. The series will feature a series of single cask Distillery Editions with the inaugural release being a 9-year old that was fermented using Chardonnay wine yeast. In return, Bread Ahead have used the same yeast to create a range of limited edition breads.

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (November 25, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Wire Works Small Batch 2.0

The Wire Works Small Batch 2.0 is one of the latest single malt whisky releases from the English distillery of White Peak. This follows the first Small Batch release back in the Summer. The lightly peated spirit has been matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and STR (shaved, toasted and recharred) casks. There will be just 4,251 bottles available - these can be purchased via the distillery shop, the White Peak website and several UK retailers. It will also be available in selected retailers in Germany and Italy for the first time ever. The Wire Works Small Batch 2.0 is bottled at 47.7% ABV and costs £60/ €75. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (November 18, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Kilchoman 100% Islay (2022 Edition)

This new whisky hails from the family-owned farm distillery of Kilchoman, which is on the famous whisky island of Islay. It is the 12th edition of their award-winning annual 100% Islay bottling, which uses barley grown on the family farm and local water from a nearby loch. This is then distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery. The new limited edition has been created from 35 casks - 29 ex-bourbon barrels and 6 ex-Oloroso sherry butts. The whiskies were all distilled in 2011, 2012 or 2013 and matured for a minimum of 8 years. Each cask was selected for the bottling by Kilchoman's founder Anthony Wills.

Review / Ardbeg Hypernova

This new whisky is the latest limited edition exclusive from Islay distillery of Ardbeg. The Ardbeg Hypernova is pitched as the smokiest Ardbeg single malt ever and is only available to Ardbeg Committee members. The new whisky is an evolution of previous cult classic Supernova and shows peat levels in excess of 170ppm (phenol parts per million). This is over three times above the regular level of Ardbeg spirit. The Ardbeg Hypernova is bottled at 51% ABV and will be available in limited numbers from the Ardbeg Committee part of the Ardbeg website and Ardbeg Embassies around the world. Membership to the Committee is free and open to all Ardbeg fans or peaty whisky drinkers. A bottle will cost £190. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (November 11, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Distillery Visit / Fettercairn

Tucked away at the foothills of the Cairngorm mountains sits a hidden gem of a distillery. Turning off the A90, the main road between Aberdeen and Dundee, the country lanes begin to narrow to the point where you wonder where you are going. Then you see the sign of Distillery Road and your destination sitting on the curve ahead - the distillery of Fettercairn.

The distillery has been there since 1824 and looks like many traditional distilleries of the age. However, something very contemporary is happening there as Fettercairn spearheads a programme to reintroduce Scottish oak to the Scotch whisky industry and its expressive flavours into people's glasses. We were invited to learn more about the distillery and innovative project.

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (November 4, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Mackmyra Destination

This whisky is a limited edition single malt from the pioneering Swedish distillery of Mackmyra. The Mackmyra Destination is non-peated and has been matured in ex-Port wine barrels. Other cask types include virgin American oak, ex-bourbon and a small percentage of ex-Oloroso sherry seasoned American oak. The whisky is designed to be an invitation to whisky fans to visit the different locations where Mackmyra whisky is matured. Unlike elsewhere, their whisky can be matured with no geographical restriction. Locations of warehouses include at the distillery, a former iron ore mine at Bödas, Lofsdalen inside the Arctic Circle and a barge floating on the River Seine outside Paris at Issy-Les-Molineaux.

Review / Aberfeldy Red Wine Cask Collection - 15 years old & 18 years old

These whiskies are the latest new expressions to the Red Wine Cask Collection from the Perthshire distillery of Aberfeldy. The Aberfeldy 15 years old and 18 years old have been crafted by Stephanie Macleod, the Malt Master at Aberfeldy, and are the first in the series to feature wine casks from outside of France. The Red Wine Cask Collection was launched in 2019 and has seen annual releases since.

The Aberfeldy 15 years old has been finished in ex-Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques sourced from California's Napa Valley. The 18 years old has been finished in ex-Tuscan red wine barrels from Bolgheri in Italy. Both expressions are bottled at 43% ABV and are available in limited numbers, although the exact quantity of each has not been revealed.

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (October 28, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Lagavulin 7 years old & 14 years old Islay Jazz Festival Editions 2022

The Islay distillery of Lagavulin celebrates its continuing sponsorship of the Hebridean island's jazz festival with this pair of limited edition releases. It is the first time that two whiskies have been released for the annual event, which was held between October 7 and 9 this year. One is exclusively on sale at the distillery and the other to a wider audience. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (October 21, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest

This new whisky is the third release in the north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie's annual Tales series. A Tale of the Forest follows A Tale of Cake from 2020 and A Tale of Winter from 2021. This year's edition takes inspiration from Dr. Bill Lumden's walks through the woodland close to his home. Glenmorangie's Director of Whisky Creation has evoke the sights, sounds and smell of the forest by using a small batch of barley kilned with woodland botanicals. This traditional practice from yesteryear sees barley dried with small quantities of peat, juniper, pine, heather, rowan berries and birch bark. The whisky has been matured in a combination of first-fill and re-fill ex-bourbon casks. The packaging has been designed by illustrator Pomme Chan.

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (October 14, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Fettercairn 18 years old

This new whisky is the latest to join the core range of Fettercairn and is a planned annual bottling. It is the first release from the increasingly popular east Highland distillery's innovative Scottish Oak Programme. The initiative has seen pockets of matured and new make spirit filled to virgin Scottish oak casks. These casks have been constructed at the famous Speyside Cooperage specifically for Fettercairn and using wood selected from trees found in the Highlands. It has also seen 13,000 Scottish oak saplings planted close to the distillery, which is hoped will form the new Fettercairn Forest. This will supply Scottish oak for generations of whisky makers to come once they reach maturity.

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (September 30, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (September 23, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (September 16, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Fettercairn Warehouse 2 (Batch 004)

This whisky is the latest limited edition release from the east Highland distillery of Fettercairn. It is the fourth bottling to appear in the Warehouse 2 series. The series is designed to showcase some of the hidden gems maturing within Fettercairn's 14 dunnage warehouses, and Warehouse #2 in particular. There are three cask types that feature in this new batch - 1st-fill ex-bourbon, 2nd-fill ex-bourbon and ex-German Pinot Noir wine barrels made from Hungarian oak. These have been used in the percentages of 74%, 20% and 6% respectively. All were distilled and filled in 2014. The casks were hand-selected and then married together by Gregg Glass, the Whisky Maker for Fettercairn. 

Review / Talisker Surge

This whisky is a new core range product from the Talisker distillery on the western isle of Skye. Talisker Surge will be a travel retail exclusive. The new whisky is designed to show the elemental stormy forces that shape Skye and the Talisker distillery. Surge features whiskies of differing ages that have been matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks. The travel retail exclusive will be available in UK airports from September, before being released in Asia during October and Australia in December. There will also be a Talisker sample bar located in Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport during October and November. Talisker Surge is bottled at 45.8% ABV and will cost £85/ €95/ $115 US per bottle.

Inbox / Whisky News Round Up Part 2 (September 9, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Inbox / Whisky News Round Up Part 1 (September 9, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (August 12, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Wire Works Necessary Evil Finish

This new whisky is the latest limited edition release from the English single malt whisky brand of Wire Works. The Wire Works Necessary Evil Finish is just the fifth release from the Derbyshire-based White Peak distillery. The whisky has seen the distillery's lightly peated spirit initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels. This has then been finished for a short period in ex-beer casks. These had previously held Necessary Evil imperial stout brewed by the neighbouring Thornbridge Brewery. It is bottled at 51.3% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. There are just 2,059 individually numbered bottles.

Review / Glenturret Triple Wood, 7 years old Peat Smoked & 12 years old (2022 Editions)

These three whiskies form part of the 2022 range from the Highland distillery of Glenturret, which is Scotland's oldest remaining single malt distillery. Six of the whiskies remain the same as in 2021, although all feature new liquids. These have been created by Bob Dalgarno - the Glenturret's Whisky Maker. It is the third release of the small batch range, which kicked off in 2020. The one new addition is the 7 years old Peat Smoked. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (August 5, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Benromach 40 years old (2022 Edition)

The small traditional Speyside distillery of Benromach has announced the second annual release of its rare 40 years old. It follows a similar 2021 release, which scooped the Best In Show prize at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022. The new edition has been created from a handful of ex-sherry casks selected by Keith Cruickshank, the Distillery Manager at Benromach. It is the distillery's oldest age statement release. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (July 29, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (July 22, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Dalmore 21 years old

This new whisky is the latest addition to the Principal Collection from the north Highland distillery of Dalmore. The 21 year old expression is the oldest whisky in the series, which also features the 15 and 18 years old, plus the King Alexander III. The whisky was initially matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels before a a lengthy finishing period of up to 36 months in ex-Matusalem Oloroso sherry barrels. These were sourced from the bodega of Gonzalez Byass in Jerez, Spain. This inaugural batch consists of just 8,000 bottles. The Dalmore 21 years old is bottled at 43.8% ABV and will be available from specialist whisky and luxury retailers worldwide. A bottle will cost £575/ $715 US. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (July 15, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Whistlepig Piggyback 6 years old

This new bottling is the youngest expression from the Vermont-based brand of Whistlepig. As with the rest of the range Whistlepig Piggyback 6 years old is made from 100% rye. It joins the 10, 12 and 15 year old expressions. The new whisky has been conceived following consultation with bartenders and is designed for use in mixing and cocktails. It was created by Dave Pickerell, the late Master Distiller at Whistlepig who sadly died just before its launch. Piggyback is bottled at six years of age and has been aged in American oak barrels. It was launched in America last month and saw its UK launch on Independence Day (July 4). Whistlepig Piggyback 6 years old is bottled at 48.28% ABV (96.56 Proof) and will retail for £45 per bottle.

Review / The Singleton of Glen Ord - Celebratory Edition

This limited edition bottling from the popular Singleton single malt brand celebrates the opening of its innovative new visitor centre at the Glen Ord distillery in the north Highlands. The Singleton of Glen Ord Celebratory Edition will only be available at the distillery in Muir of Ord, which is north of Inverness. It has been created by Maureen Robinson, the retiring Master Blender for The Singleton, and uses just 12 second-fill ex-sherry hogshead casks. It is designed to show off and enhance Glen Ord's fruity distillery character. The Celebratory Edition is bottled at 51.8% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. Details of the price were not included in the press release. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (July 8, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (July 1, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Review / Mackmyra Virvelvind

This new whisky is the latest limited edition from the innovative Swedish distillery of Mackmyra. Virvelvind marks the final bottling in their Moments series, a collection of experimental and luxurious single malts. This final whisky takes inspiration from the very first in the series - the Mackmyra Medvind. It features unpeated and peated whisky matured in ex-bourbon barrels, plus whisky matured in both ex-Oloroso sherry and Swedish oak casks. These casks were all matured in the distillery's Bodås Mine, a unique underground cavern, and have yielded just 2,049 bottles. The oldest whisky was distilled in 2007 with the remainder distilled and filled to cask in 2010.

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (June 24, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (June 17, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information.