The Malt Maniacs Awards 2015

Dear fellow whisky lovers and afficionados, the Malt Maniacs have been enjoying and discussing the joys and pleasures of single malt whisky for fifteen years now, ever since The Malt Maniacs was formed in 1997.

Since 2003 we have organised our own whisky competition; MMA (The Malt Maniacs Awards) which we firmly believe has evolved into one of the most important, influential and independent whisky competitons in the annual whisky calendar.

2015 is no exception as we hold our 12th edition of MMA and it is with great pleasure we now present to you the results of our labours over the last two months as 11 strictly amateur judges from our collective have tasted, nosed, sampled and re-sampled all the entries and submitted their final scores.

The Malt Maniacs Awards is a competition with two facets; firstly there are the awards themselves where we categorise all entries into three price ranges;

Daily Drams are bottles with a typical price no higher than €50

Premium whiskies are bottles in the range from €51 to €150

Ultra Premium whiskies have a typical price greater than €150

Then, with each category we offer 5 separate awards Supreme Winner, Best Sherried Whisky, Best Peated Whisky, Best ‘Natural’ Cask(s) and finally, a Thumbs Up award for the whisky we believe deserves a special mention.

Just as in 2014 there is a Supreme Champion award to highlight the whisky with the highest overall score, the Winner of Winners. Historically this always was the Supreme Winner of the the Ultra Premium category so a further highlighting was not really needed. But once again things are different this year.

So, without further ado we’d like to announce the MMA 2015 category awards

(Bottle pictures and award badges will follow in due course)

Supreme Champion

AWARD-2015-Supreme-Ch-Kavalan

Kavalan ‘Solist’ (58.6%, OB, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S060904024, 551 Bts., 2012)

Ultra Premium Category

AWARD-2015-Supreme-UP-Glenfarclas

Supreme Winner: Glenfarclas 19yo 1994/2014 ‘Double Cask’ (58.7%, OB, Oloroso c#3913&3914, 556 Bts.)

 

AWARD-2015-Sherried-UP-Macallan

Best Sherried Whisky: Macallan ‘Remix’ (58.9%, OB, NAS, Special Asian Release, 500 Bts.)

AWARD-2015-Peated-UP-Caol-Ila-WM

Best Peated Whisky: Caol Ila 25yo 1990/2015 (54.3%, Wilson & Morgan, Oloroso finish, c#4707&4708, 408 Bts.)

AWARD-2015-Natural-UP-Slaney-Adelphi

Best Natural Cask: Slaney Malt 23yo 1991/2015 (59%, Adelphi, Ireland, c#8585, 134 Bts.)

AWARD-2015-Thumbs-Up-UP-Overeem

Thumbs Up Award: Overeem ‘Cask Strength – Sherry Cask’ (60%, OB, NAS, c#OHD-074, 47 Bts., 2015*)

Premium Category

AWARD-2015-Supreme-P-Kavalan

Supreme Winner: Kavalan ‘Solist’ (58.6%, OB, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S060904024, 551 Bts., 2015*)

AWARD-2015-Sherried-1-P-Kavalan

AWARD-2015-Sherried-2-P-Kavalan
Best Sherried Whiskies: Kavalan ‘Solist’ (56.3%, OB for Asia Palate Association, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S081229019, 522 Bts., 2015*)

Kavalan ‘Solist’ (57.1%, OB for Asia Palate Association, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S081229020, 526 Bts., 2015*)

These two whiskies have exactly the same average score, so we think it is only fair to give the award to both.

AWARD-2015-Peated-P-Amrut-Black

Best Peated Whisky: Amrut ‘Peated’ (62.1%, Blackadder Raw Cask, NAS, c#BA20/2015, 182 Bts., 2015)

AWARD-2015-Natural-P-Chichibu

Best Natural Cask: Chichibu 2010/2014 ‘Chibi Daru’ (53.5%, Number One Drinks, 6200 Bts.)

AWARD-2015-Thumbs-Up-P-Amrut

Thumbs Up Award: Amrut ‘Spectrum’ (50 %,OB, NAS, Bourbon, Hand-crafted 5 wood, 1000 Bts., 2015)

Daily Dram Category

AWARD-2015-Supreme-DD-Nantou

Supreme Winner: Nantou 4yo 2010/2014 (58%, OB for Aroma TW, Sherry Cask c#841, 240 Bts.)Sherry Finish C#BA2013/451, 370 Bts., 2013)

AWARD-2015-Sherried-DD-Nantou

Best Sherried Whisky: Nantou 4yo 2010/2015 ‘Omar’ (58.4%, OB, Sherry Cask c#21091305, 246 Bts.)

AWARD-2015-Peated-DD-Lagavulin

Best Peated Whisky: Lagavulin 16yo (43%, OB, 2015*)

AWARD-2015-Natural-DD-Nantou

Best Natural Cask: Nantou 6yo 2009/2015 ‘Omar’ (56.8%, OB, Bourbon Cask c#11090105, 190 Bts.)

AWARD-2015-Thumbs-Up-DD-Ballechin

Thumbs Up Award: Ballechin 10yo (46 %, OB, Heavily Peated, Bourbon & Oloroso)

As we mentioned earlier; The Malt Maniacs Awards is a competition with two facets, you’ve been introduced to the award winners, but we also acknowledge quality by awarding medals throughout the full range of entries. 90 Points or above, on average across all our judges, means a gold medal is awarded, 85-89 points wins a silver medal and 80-84 points a bronze medal.

For the complete scores of all judges you can download the Scorecard in PDF format.

Postmaster General Keith Wood’s Report about the 2015 Awards, aptly named “The Gathering of the Drams”, can be downloaded as PDF .

Bottlers wanting to use the graphics will can download them as a ZIP file.

 

Gold Medals

91 Kavalan ‘Solist’ (58.6%, OB, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S060904024, 551 Bts., 2012)
90 Kavalan ‘Solist’ (56.3%, OB for Asia Palate Assoc., NAS, Sherry Cask c#S081229019, 522 Bts., 2015*)
90 Kavalan ‘Solist’ (57.1%, OB for Asia Palate Assoc., NAS, Sherry Cask c#S081229020, 526 Bts., 2015*)
90 Glenfarclas 19yo 1994/2014 ‘Double Cask’ (58.7%, OB, Oloroso c#3913&3914, 556 Bts.)

 

Silver Medals

89 Glendronach 21yo 1993/2014 (56.4%, OB for Kenny Hsu’s Coll. TW, NAS, Oloroso Sherry Butt c#477, 589 Bts.)
89 Kavalan ‘Solist’ (55.6%, OB for Whisky Luxe TW, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S081229026, 527 Bts., 2015*)
89 Macallan ‘Remix’ (58.9%, OB, Special Asian Release, 500 Bts.)
88 Kavalan ‘Solist’ (56.3%, OB for Asia Palate Association, Sherry Cask c#S081229018, 522 Bts., 2015*)
88 Slaney Malt 23yo 1991/2015 (59%, Adelphi, Ireland, c# 8585, 134 Bts.)
87 Glenglassaugh 41yo 1972/2014 (50.6%, OB, Sherry Butt c#2114, 582 Bts.)
87 Nantou 4yo 2010/2014 (58%, OB for Aroma TW, Sherry Cask c#841, 240 Bts.)
87 Chieftain’s Collection ‘Speyside’ 22yo 1990/2012 (46%, Chieftain’s, First Fill Sherry Butt c#5162, 693 Bts.)
87 Amrut ‘Spectrum’ (50 %,OB, NAS, Bourbon, Hand-crafted 5 wood, 1000 Bts., 2015)
87 Glendronach 21yo 1993/2014 (53.6%, OB for Aroma Taiwan, Oloroso Sherry Butt c#479, 542 Bts.)
86 Glen Grant 60yo 1950/2010 (40 %, G&M, First Fill & Refill Sherry, c#2750&2760)
86 Amrut 5yo 20102015 (56.5%, OB exclusive for Taiwan, Oloroso Sherry, c#3823, 600 Bts.)
86 Amrut ‘Peated’ (62.1%, Blackadder Raw Cask, NAS, c#BA20/2015, 182 Bts., 2015)
86 Kavalan ‘Solist’ (57.1%, OB for Life Whisky Tasting Club, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S081229025, 511 Bts., 2015*
86 Glendronach 11yo 2003/2014 (55.3%, OB for Aroma Taiwan, PX Sherry Puncheon c#4006, 690 Bts.)
86 Overeem ‘Cask Strength – Sherry Cask’ (60%, OB, NAS, c#OHD-074, 47 Bts., 2015*)
86 Tomatin 36yo 1977/2015 ‘Rare Casks – Batch 1’ (46%, OB, c#48&30142, 798 Bts.)
86 Home Blend 35yo 1980/2015 (47.6%,Wilson & Morgan, , Blended whisky, Sherry Butt c#26, 529 Bts.)
86 Glendronach 25yo 1990/2015 (51.6%, OB, Batch 12, PX Sherry Puncheon c#1375, 656 Bts.)
86 Caol Ila 25yo 1990/2015 (54.3%, Wilson & Morgan, Oloroso finish, c#4707&4708, 408 Bts.)
86 Chichibu 2011/2015 ‘The Peated (Cask Strength)’ (62.5%, Number One Drinks, 5980 Bts.)
86 Nantou 4yo 2010/2015 ‘Omar’ (58.4%, OB, Sherry Cask c#21091305, 246 Bts.)
86 Kavalan ‘Solist (Peaty Cask)’ (54%, OB for Whisky Live Paris, NAS, c#R070507001, 114 Bts., 2015*)
86 Nantou 7yo 2008/2015 ‘Omar’ (50.1%, OB, Sherry Cask c#21090080, 240 Bts.)
86 Nantou 6yo 2009/2015 ‘Omar’ (56.8%, OB, Bourbon Cask c#11090105, 190 Bts.)
86 Glenlivet 19yo 1995/2015 (58.1 %, Signatory CS Collection, Sherry Butt c#166951, 526 Bts.)
85 Chichibu 2010/2014 ‘Chibi Daru’ (53.5%, Number One Drinks, 6200 Bts.)
85 Bowmore 18yo 1997/2015 (58%, Blackadder Cask Strength, 242 Bts.)
85 Ballechin 11yo 2004/2015 (54.6 %,OB for Vintage Wines, Heavily Peated, Manzanilla Sherry c#270)
85 Nantou 6yo 2009/2015 ‘Omar’ (56.3%, OB, Bourbon Cask c#11090106, 163 Bts.)
85 Caol Ila 30y 1984/2015 (50.5 %, LMDW Artist #5, Hogshead c#2763, 205 Bts.)
85 Overeem ‘Cask Strength – Port Cask’ (60%,OB, NAS, c#OHD-029, 125 Bts., 2015*)
85 Amrut 5yo 2010/2015 (62.8%, OB for Whisky Master TW “Lesson 8”, Ex-Bourbon finish (peated), c#2425, 170 Bts.)
85 The Glenlivet ‘Nadurra Batch No. OLO614’ (60.7 %, NAS , First Fill Oloroso,, 2014)
85 Benriach 18yo 1996/2014 (54.4%, OB for Asia Palate Association, PX Sherry finish, c#4521, 717 Bts.)
85 Caol Ila 12yo 2003/2015 (58.1%, Adelphi, c#301266, 285 Bts.)
85 Edradour 14yo 2000/2014 (56.8%, OB for GI Jane, c#2033, 674 Bts.)
85 Aberlour ‘A’bunadh Batch 50’ (59.6 %,OB, NAS, Oloroso Butts, 2015*)
85 Kavalan ‘Solist’ (57.1%, OB, NAS, Bourbon Cask c#B100723021A, 199 Bts., 2015*)
85 Mortlach 27yo 1987/2015 (56.8%, Adelphi, Sherry Hogshead c#3104, 271 Bts.)
85 Clynelish 22yo 1992/2014 (62.1%, Blackadder Raw Cask, Oak Hogshead c#7166, 190 Bts.)
85 Caol Ila 9yo 2004/2014 (58.5%, G&M for TWE, Refill Sherry Hogshead c#30655)
85 Edradour 10y 2004/2015 (55.9 %, OB, Sherry Butt, c#443, 980 Bts.)
85 Lagavulin 16yo (43%, OB, 2015*)
85 Amrut (61%, Blackadder Raw Cask, NAS, Sherry Cask finish, c#BA2015/21, 370 Bts., 2015)

 

Bronze Medals

84 Amrut 4yo 2011/2015 (59%, OB for Whisky-L Taiwan 2015, Port Pipe c#2714-A, 380 Bts.)
84 Laphroaig 16yo 1998/2015 (59.9%, Signatory Vintage for TWE, Refill Sherry Butt c#700389, 585 Bts.)
84 Arran 9yo 2005/2015 (57.8%, OB for LMDW, Sherry Hogshead c#2005/037, 312 Bts.)
84 Benriach 35yo (42.5%, OB, 2015*)
84 Glenlivet 18yo 1996/2015 (46%, Signatory Vintage for LMDW, First Fill Sherry Butt c#83266, 471 Bts.)
84 Benriach 20yo 1994/2014 (54.7%, OB for Aroma Taiwan, Oloroso Butt, peated, c#808, 678 Bts.)
84 Kilchoman 5yo 2009/2014 (58.3%, OB for Abbey Whisky, PX Sherry Cask finish, c#285/2009, 270 Bts.)
84 Shinshu Mars 3yo 2011 ‘Komagatake’ (57%, Number One Drinks, 2015*)
84 Lagavulin 19yo 1995/2014 (54.7%, OB, Feis Ile 2014, European Oak Sherry Butts)
84 Ballechin 10yo (46 %, OB, Heavily Peated, Bourbon & Oloroso)
84 Glengoyne ‘Cask Strength – Batch 003’ (58.2%, OB, NAS, 2015*)
84 Aberfeldy 21yo (40%, OB, 2015*)
84 Glenrothes 25yo 1990/2015 (56.6%, Douglas Laing XOP, Sherry Butt c#DL10784, 285 Bts.)
84 Mortlach 25yo (43.4%, OB, 50cl, 2015*)
84 Speyburn 26yo 1988/2015 (52.3 %, Berry Bros., c#2114)
84 Finch ‘Barrel Proof’ (54%, Hofgut Aglishard, Bourbon, Red wine finish, 50cl, 1724 Bts., 2015)
84 Kornog ‘Taouarch Chwechved 14BC’ (58.2%,OB, Single Bourbon Barrel, 2015*)
84 Glendullan 38yo ‘Singleton’ (59.8 %, OB, Special Release, 3756 Bts., 2014)
84 Robust Smoky Embers 23yo (54.3%, Cadenhead, Batch 1, Blended whisky, 2015*)
84 Ledaig 16yo 1998/2015 ‘Carn Mor’ (56.2%, Morrison & Mackay for HNWS, Hogshead c#700244, 258 Bts.)
84 Flaming Heart (48.9 %, Compass Box, NAS, 15th Anniversary Ed., Toasted French Oak, 12060 Bts.)
83 Longrow 12yo ‘Red Pinot Noir’ (52.9 %, OB, 11y Bourbon Casks, 9000 Bts., 2015*)
83 Glendronach 21yo ‘Parliament’ (48%, OB, Oloroso & PX Sherry Casks, 2015*)
83 Glenfarclas 25yo 1989/2014 (46%, OB)
83 Laphroaig 12yo 2002/2015 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, Refill Butt c#11511, 332 Bts.)
83 Kilchoman 5yo 2010/2015 ‘The Trilogy’ (60.5%, OB for LMDW, Bourbon c#260/2010, 267 Bts.)
83 Strathclyde 27yo 1988/2015 (53 %, Berry Bros., c#62118)
83 Talisker ‘Skye’ (45.8%, OB, NAS, 2015*)
83 Benromach 10yo ‘100 Proof’ (57 %, OB, 2015*)
83 Laphroaig 16yo 1998/2014 (49.1%, Douglas Laing Old Particular for HNWS, Refill Hogshead c#DL10579, 300 Bts.)
83 Arran 18yo 1996/2015 (50.5%, Single Malts of Scotland , Puncheon c#896928, 624 Bts.)
83 Caol Ila 10yo 2005/2015 (56.4%, G&M for McWhisky, First Fill Bourbon c#301545, 233 Bts.)
83 Benriach 17yo ‘Septendecim’ (46 %, OB, Peated, 2015*)
83 Amrut ‘Fusion Batch #5’ (50%, OB, 75cl, 2015)
83 Benriach 12yo (46%, OB, Sherry Wood, 2015*)
83 Ledaig 10y 2004/2015 (60.4 %, LMDW Artist #5, Sherry Butt c#900179, 588 Bts.)
83 Lagavulin 12yo (54.4%, OB, Special Release, 2014)
83 Edradour 11yo 2002/2014 (58.5%, OB for GI Jane, Sherry Butt c#1211, 50cl, 991 Bts.)
83 Amrut ‘Naarangi’ (50 %,OB, NAS, Oloroso infused w. Orange, 900 Bts.)
83 Glentauchers 18yo 1996/2014 (46 %, Berry Bros., c#1161)
83 Mosstowie 35yo 30.11.1979/15.5.2015 (48.1 %,Signatory, Bourbon Barrel c#25756, 29 / 171)
83 Overeem ‘Cask Strength – Bourbon Cask’ (60%, OB, NAS, 2015*)
83 Talisker ‘Storm’ (45.8%, OB, NAS, 2015*)
83 Edradour 21yo 1993/2015 (51.2 %, OB, Sauternes cask finish, c#8/737/2, 293 Bts.)
83 Caol Ila 12yo (43%, OB, 2015*)
83 Caol Ila 10yo 2004/2015 (60.1 %, G&M, First Fill Sherry Butts)
83 Highland Park ‘Dark Origins’ (46.8%, OB, NAS, “Double” 1st Fill Sherry Casks, 2015*)
83 Talisker ‘Port Ruighe’ (45.8%, OB, NAS, Port Casks, 2015*)
82 Royal Brackla 30yo 1984/2015 (54.1%, Cadenhead, Bourbon Hogshead,192 Bts.)
82 Caol Ila ‘Moch’ (43%, OB, NAS, 2015*)
82 Port Askaig 16yo (45.8%, Speciality Drinks, 2015*)
82 Tamdhu ‘Batch Strength – Batch 001’ (58.8%, OB, NAS, Sherry Casks, 2015*)
82 Carsebridge 38y 26.10.1976/24.8.2015 (55.8 %,Signatory Vintage for LMDW, Hogshead c#130950, 184 Bts.)
82 Bunnahabhain 27yo 1987/2014 (51.9%, OB for TFWS Taiwan, Refill Hogshead, 190 Bts.)
82 Clynelish 18yo 1996/2014 (52.7%, Whisky Agency, Refill Butt, 360 Bts.)
82 Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, 2015*)
82 Finlaggan ‘CS 58%’ (58%, Whisky.com.TW, NAS, 2015*)
82 Clynelish 21y 1992/2014 (49.8 %, LMDW Jam Session #3, Bourbon Hogshead c#1510/9)
82 Ballechin ‘#8’ (46 %, OB, NAS, Heavily Peated, Sauternes Hogsheads, 2015*)
82 Kilkerran ‘Work in Progress 7’ (46%, OB, NAS, Sherry Wood, 2015*)
82 Littlemill 26yo 1988/2014 (51.2%, Art Taiwan / Bow Bar Sapporo, c#7, 147 Bts.)
82 Benriach 17yo 1998/2015 (48.9%, OB for TWE, PX Sherry Finish, c#7758, 704 Bts.)
82 Benromach 2006/2015 ‘Peat Smoke’ (46 %,OB)
82 Kornog ‘Sant Ivy 2015’ (59.6%, OB, NAS, Single Bourbon Barrel, Peated, 2015)
82 Talisker 18yo (45.8%, OB, 2015*)
82 Carsebridge 38y 26.10.1976/24.8.2015 (55.8 %,Signatory Vintage for LMDW, Hogshead c#130950, 184 Bts.)
82 Anon 13yo 2001/2015 ‘Batch 001’ (51.5%, Abbey Whisky, 90 Bts.)
82 Glenglassaugh 30yo (44.8%, OB)
82 Bowmore 17y 1996/2013 (49.8 %, LMDW Jam Session #3, Hogshead c#960051)
82 Ballechin 11y 2004/2015 (56.1 %, LMDW Trilogy 2015, Manzanilla Cask c#277 )
82 Black Snake ‘Vat 2 Second Venom’ (57.7%, Blackadder, Sherry Butt finish, 342 Bts., 2015)
81 Elements of Islay ‘CI7’ (58.5%, Speciality Drinks, NAS, ‘Caol Ila ‘, 2015*)
81 The English Whisky Co 7yo 2007/2015 (63.5%, Blackadder Raw Cask, Sauternes cask c#804, 224 Bts.)
81 Craigellachie 13yo (46%, OB, Batch 83-LH88, 2015*)
81 Bunnahabhain 26yo 1987/2014 (46 %, Berry Bros., c#2787)
81 Singleton of Dufftown 12yo (40%, OB, 2015*)
81 Finlaggan ‘Ileach – Single Cask’ (58.5%, Vintage Malt Co. TW, NAS, c#VMW 002, 330 Bts., 2015*)
81 Edradour 15yo ‘Fairy Flag’ (46 %, OB, Ex-Bourbon , min. 7yrs in Oloroso, 2015*)
81 Armorik 7yo 2008/2015 ‘Maitre de Chai’ (46%, OB, c#3325&3322, First Fill Oloroso (4y) finish, 1700 Bts.)
81 Bunnahabhain 8yo (43 %, G&M The MacPhail’s Collection, 2015*)
81 Nantou ‘Omar’ (46%, OB, NAS, Sherry Casks, 2015*)
81 Springbank 10yo (46%, OB, 2015*)
81 Clynelish 18yo 1997/2015 (53.3 %, Wilson & Morgan, Tokaji Wood finish, c#6493)
81 Black Snake ‘Vat 6 First Venom’ (56.3%, Blackadder, NAS, PX Sherry Cask finish, 398 Bts., 2015)
81 Littlemill 23y 1990/2014 (52.3 %, LMDW Jam Session #2, Bourbon Hogshead c#30)
81 Clynelish 17yo 1997/2014 (55.2 %, Berry Bros., c#4050)
81 Bunnahabhain 24yo 1989/2014 (42.9 % Berry Bros., c#5716)
81 Peat Reek (46%, Blackadder, NAS, c#Ref: PR2015-3, 452 Bts., 2015)
81 Aultmore 25yo (46%, OB, Batch No.41, 2015*)
81 Tomatin ‘Cask Strength Edition’ (57.5 %, OB, NAS, 2015*)
81 Glenlivet (Minmore) 18yo 1996/2015 (53.7%, Cadenhead, Bourbon Barrel, 180 Bts.)
81 Mortlach 18yo (43.4%, OB, 50cl, 2015*)
80 Glencadam 22yo (55.3%, Abbey Whisky, 96 Bts., 2015*)
80 Bunnahabhain 16yo 1998/2014 (54.3%, The First Editions, 90 Bts.)
80 Oban ‘Little Bay’ (43%, OB, NAS, 100 cl, 2015*)
80 Elements of Islay ‘Oc1’ (65.4%, Speciality Drinks, NAS, ‘Octomore’, 50cl, 2015*)
80 Craigellachie 23yo (46%, OB, Batch 67.KA23, 2015*)
80 Aultmore 21yo (46%, OB, Batch No.107, 75cl, 2015*)
80 Aultmore 18yo (46%, OB, Batch No.481, 2015*)
80 Cameronbridge 25yo 1990/2015 (60.6%, Douglas Laing Old Particular, Refill Butt c#DL10806, 282 Bts.)
80 Mortlach ‘Rare Old’ (43.4%, OB, NAS, 50 cl, 2015*)
80 Cardhu ‘Amber Rock’ (40%, OB, NAS, Toasted Bourbon Casks, 2015*)
80 Kornog ‘Taouarch Eilved 15BC’ (46%, Glann Ar Mor distillery, Bourbon Barrel, 2015*)
80 Singleton of Dufftown 18yo (40%, OB, 2015*)
80 Nantou ‘Omar’ (46%, OB, Bourbon Casks, 2015*)
80 The Six Isles (43%, Ian MacLeod, NAS, Blended whisky, 2015*)