I Blind Taste 4 x Eighteen Year Old Single Malt Whiskies

Рет қаралды 22,556

Күн бұрын

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Today was a special day. I decided to blind taste four single malt whisky all of which are Eighteen (18) years old! In the lineup we had:
• The Macallan 18 Double Cask
• Aberlour 18 Double Sherry Cask Finish
• Glendronach 18 Allardice
• Arran 18
All great whiskies but we had to pick a winner! Tune in to find out which whisky reigns supreme.
TIMESTAMPS
INTRO 00:00
THE WHISKIES 01:10
WHISKY #1 07:11
WHISKY #2 10:25
WHISKY #3 13:21
WHISKY #4 16:00
THE VERDICT 18:28
Whisky Macallan Aberlour Arran Glendronach

Пікірлер: 132

@doctorsofscotch Жыл бұрын

Great video, enjoy this format, please do more head to heads! Haha would have been fun to see your predictions as you went also, I know it didn’t go so well last time but it’s still entertaining to watch and to get more of an idea of your thought process.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Will do! Though I nailed them this time around. Promise!

@ASIRIDesigns Жыл бұрын

Fantastic video, this is a great comparison between all of these sherried whiskies.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Thank you!! Glad you liked it!

@criddell86 2 ай бұрын

Great video. Love the format.

@cliffnorman178 Жыл бұрын

What a wonderful comparison video!!!!! Hope that you do many more blind comparison videos.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

More to come!

@tiredoffools8929 Жыл бұрын

Loved this format. Would like to see more vids like this blind tasting 4 of similar category such as (Age Statement, NAS, or Barrel Finish). My only suggestion would be to get a set of Black, Dark Blue, or Dark Green Glencarin glasses for the blinds, because sometimes the color gives the dram away (I.e. current dark batches of Glenallachie vs anything else).

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Believe me I'm not that good !!!

@jackthepickledhound Жыл бұрын

Now your describing my life style. I'm trying to buy at least four bottles for every style. I made the mistake for my first blind flight of all New Your cask strength ryes, 90-100 % rye. So after the second round of tasting they were all the same .

@joyojoyo8 7 ай бұрын

great video! you betcha! Almost drank up all the Arran LOL. Cheers!

@brettturner5949 Жыл бұрын

Like the style and good review thanks for helping me to learn

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Any time!

@JoergS. Жыл бұрын

Nice ranking - I totally agree👍 Do more tastings like this one (other 18s)😉

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I will definitely do that!

@Rohit_M Жыл бұрын

Great blinds of 18 YOs MA. Arran 18 deserves the top spot in that line up.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

What a dram!

@KanwarAnand Жыл бұрын

kickass vid, delightful viewing, great flow.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Thank you brother! And appreciate your membership. I will do the same!

@chentim1751 Жыл бұрын

four very sought-after 18s, great video. !!!

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@vangstr Жыл бұрын

Nice 👍🏻 I will have to check out Arran!

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Please do!

@peatbull3426 Жыл бұрын

PINky WINKY 😁. Im Not surprised. Its Winner for me as well. Love Arran at all. Fantastic juices! It was good fun, been really enjoyed. Just want more this kind of F2F wars 👍😁🥃🙋‍♂️

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Noted! Will look into more head to heads.

@TheRealCoyote Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure I ever had the pleasure to try Arran 18... Really makes me want to try it. Not too surprised Maccallan finished last, recent years Maccalan has been "over priced average whisky" sadly. Long gone are the glory days but the reputation keeps prices high. Interesting video, keep it up!

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Cheers. You should get one.

@vluggejapie Жыл бұрын

Nice and fair review. Arran is great stuff. Got the 21, but just ordered the 18 as well. The 18 is hard to get here in Europe, but is avaible at the Arran webshop. So be quick If you want one. Glendronach also good, only the chill filtering is a shame. Still got all unchill filtered bottles

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Good choice!

@Dafoodmaster Жыл бұрын

it's weird, the 18 is more expensive than the 21

@DAL20012 8 ай бұрын

I will get The Arran 18!

@MaltActivist 7 ай бұрын

Good call!

@MrChristopherMolloy Жыл бұрын

It would be fun to see the winner of this shootout pitted against budget-18s like Singleton, Tomatin, Loch Lomond, and Glen Moray. All under $100 USD.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Nice idea. Maybe I can do one like that. Cheers.

@jackthepickledhound Жыл бұрын

These were big hitters today. Some of the less expensive ones have better specs. I almost picked up another Tomatin today, around $80.

@johnbradshaw7525 Жыл бұрын

Try Deanston 18yo. Its a very good dram & can be bought in the UK for under £70. It's finished in Kentucky bourbon casks. Unchilfiltered, natural colour and 46.3% ABV.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I have my eye on that !

@astroboy3507 8 күн бұрын

Even deanston 12 was fantastic!!!! 👌🏻

@akshaymrao Жыл бұрын

Hope I too get this in my collection 🍻

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Good luck !

@absolutecommunicationsgroup Жыл бұрын

Well done bro... 👏

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 😀

@RTYoda1979 Жыл бұрын

Arran 18 is great bottle! My favourite is Glendronach 18 (2019) it was not chill filtered in 2019 and 2020, don’t know about now 2022.

@pl3317 Жыл бұрын

Glendronach 18 in 2019 is totally different to the newest version. It was at least 23 years old and non-chill filtered.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I think 2021 onwards they started filtering

@Nikolay_Nikolov Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist As far as I'm aware Glendronach haven't changed their production process. All they have done is removing the "non chill filtered" statement from the tubes. The reason for that is they have been using and still do (non chill) filtration methods that border chill filtration so they were afraid of being accused of providing false information on the packaging. The degree of filtration they use depends of the batch and they aim for a certain level of clarity for their malts. Apparently for some batches required filtration is so close to chill filtration that they don't feel safe keeping the statement on the tubes. Cheers!

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

@@Nikolay_Nikolov You're right - that's what I read. I'm researching the process a little more and may even release video about that. That's why you would have noticed I didn't say chill filtration but a different type of filtration. Thank you for pointing it - that really helps! Cheers.

@ADSCP Жыл бұрын

Would you consider the Glenlivet 18 (older version, 43% ABV)?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I wouldn't have minded had I had some lying around.

@First-fill Жыл бұрын

My guesses were before you judged them…1 . Glendronach 2. Arran 3 . MacAllan 4. Aberlour. Aberlour bottling always seem to give me synthetic feel on the palate, and a saccharine aftertaste. Glendronch is absolutely sublime. Really enjoyed your review. Slainte 🥃👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I love this new Aberlour that they've come out with. The Glendronach is lovely but maybe a tad bit spice forward and thin on the mouth. Older Glendronach 18s were just awesome!

@ericganz4432 Жыл бұрын

I’m a big fan of the Aberlour 18 as well

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

me too!

@kellywellington7122 Жыл бұрын

Nice...Two of my possibles (I'm shopping 18+ Scotches) top out. Note that here, at least, the Arran 18 is $40 cheaper than the Abelour.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Oh wow!

@rivenbeef Жыл бұрын

The Arran 18 is 100% sherry matured. No bourbon cask involvement. Nonetheless, you made the right choice. Arran 18 is exceptional!

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Thank you for pointing that out. Couple of sites I went to for research mentioned ex-bourbon barrels. I should have been more thorough.

@jackthepickledhound Жыл бұрын

I think the old bottling was blended from bourbon and sherry.. that's all I see near me. 2 shops still have a few bottles. The only new bottles I see are the 10 and some NAS. I didn't know what I would do if I saw the braille Arran 18, cause it's going to be expensive. Now I know...BUY it!

@rivenbeef Жыл бұрын

@@jackthepickledhound that’s right - the old bottling was a mix of bourbon and sherry. Don’t be too sad about not seeing the new bottling yet. The old one was a beautiful whisky. It’s actually the one that started my obsession with scotch lol. Plus, they are very difficult to find now and the prices have gone up for those bottles. I would scoop some up!

@cliffnorman178 Жыл бұрын

My personal choice is the Abelour...... By quite a margin. Didn't do a blind tasting but tasted all of them during this video.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Like I said I loved the Aberlour but there was something endearing about the Arran 18 that I fell for.

@pillcozby431 Жыл бұрын

Right now I'm buying nothing but Arran before the price goes up even more. The Bodega the Bothy and the 10 are amazing for the price.

@alexscher5907 Жыл бұрын

What is the glass that you used in this tasting?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

It's a Glencairn Copita - I had it personalised with my logo

@herbyonwheels Жыл бұрын

What are those glasses you're using called? And are they better than the regular Glencairns?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

They're the Glencairn Copitas. I prefer them to the regular tulip shape.

@herbyonwheels Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist Thank you.

@denniscowart5426 Жыл бұрын

When blind tasting I think it’s not apples to apples without matching the bottle levels. I find that last 1/8 of a bottle if it has sat for more than a week slightly diminished as a general rule and peak flavor is about 1/3rd down in the bottle.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I agree but it's not an exact science - tough for me to make sure all bottles are at the same fill level

@OGCAMG Жыл бұрын

You need the Glenfiddich 18! It is a winner. Great notes don’t sleep on it

@OGCAMG Жыл бұрын

Better than Glenlivet lower proof 18 and the arran IMO

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I have it sitting in my closet ! Let me get to it.

@OGCAMG Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist love your content though

@canal-do-guga-namura 11 ай бұрын

Tried it a few weeks ago. Meh. I had the Springbank 15 before the Glenfiddich 18 and obviously the Springbank absolutely destroyed it. I then tried the Ledaig 18, and although not as good as the springbank, it also obliterates the Glenfiddich 18. Taste is taste though. It's not bad either, but I have countless other 18 year olds or even younger whiskies that are so much better. I also had the GlenDronach 18 on the same day, all of these are on another league.

@troylee3700 Жыл бұрын

Finally love on KZfaq for Arran

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Actually I gave a lot of love to the Arran QC !

@troylee3700 Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist Then I'll have to visit your channel more often

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

@@troylee3700 Please do!!!

@cookieMonsterSincho 3 ай бұрын

Please make a review on Arran remnant renegade 🙏

@arygerman6122 Жыл бұрын

What year is the GD18?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

2021

@arygerman6122 Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist I found that there was a decline from 2017 to 2018 / 2019. I haven’t tasted the 2020 or 2021 but I assume - given the general trend - that it is no longer quite the same whisky. I have a 2021 GD15 and it is very average. I don’t know if you have had the Macallan 15 Double Cask but I prefer that to the 18. Not surprised that it was at the bottom of your list.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

@@arygerman6122 I'll be honest I didn't drink them all like that. Though I remember drinking earlier 18 year old GDs that were sublime (2015, 16, 17) - I drank this one after a long time and found it to be lacking the older complexity. I have not tried the Macallan 15 Double Cask. Will try and get my hands on it.

@Watchman999 Жыл бұрын

As surely as the sun rises, Macallan keeps disappointing. A $500 bottle comes in 4th and a $100 bottle comes in 1st. SOMEthing has to give eventually.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

You're so right. But when is the question!!!!

@davecummings2424 Жыл бұрын

$500? Yikes! I paid +/- $325 about 9 months ago.

@Watchman999 Жыл бұрын

@@davecummings2424 which currency are you referring to? I'm in Canada.

@davecummings2424 Жыл бұрын

That's U.S. dollars. Most I've ever paid for a bottle of booze, still waiting for the right occasion to open it.

@Watchman999 Жыл бұрын

@@davecummings2424 OK well $500 CAD is $370 USD. So not far off. It's heavily inflated compared to many others like Glengoyne and of course Arran.

@wevegraysquaw7855 Жыл бұрын

KAPOW! chill filtered -once again takes a shot to the mug, if you will

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

true...

@zulu1520 Жыл бұрын

why the double oak macallan and not the sherry only

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Cuz that's what I had !

@zulu1520 Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist I think itwould be a more fair competition with all core release.

@DileepB Жыл бұрын

Not surprising to see the Arran 18 win! Don't understand why the other 18 year old were bottled at 43% ABV.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Love the Arran 18

@chaisheng0627 Жыл бұрын

And u can buy 4 of the other 3 whiskies for 1 macallan 18. What a joke macallan

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Yup, that's the harsh reality of life!

@henrieliot8740 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant. 10yo next?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Lets do it !

@davidmason4812 Жыл бұрын

Great video, not a big fan of Macallan, find a lot of their whisky, lacks real depth, no surprises with regards to Arran, what a dram that is, I am a big fan of Glendronach, though their recent 18yr release, is just not as good as the old nectar, which was sublime, never tried the Aberlour 18, so will have to check that out. I believe the Speyburn 18 is a cracker, though I have not had the pleasure of trying it yet.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

People have been asking me to review Speyburn 15 and 18 -- so that's next on the agenda

@baruchdor Жыл бұрын

you nees to try bowmore 2003 ED or Bowmore 1998 Sb you will understand after you will try it

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Let me try and get my hands on them! Thank you for the suggestion.

@Brad-ic4bp Жыл бұрын

I agree with your rankings (though I’ve never actually tried Aberlour). I finally just found a bottle of Glendronach in my local wine store, for $219. I had to try it because I really like the Glendronach 15 & 21 years. I have to say though, I would not buy it again, because it tastes (to me) nearly identical to the Arran 18, which is $80 cheaper.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Makes sense....

@halichummel2918 Жыл бұрын

My absolute No. 1 is Caol Ila 18 yrs.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Good call!

@Dafoodmaster Жыл бұрын

so i'd presume this is one of the post-2019 glendronachs and no longer the powerhouses of back in the day?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

That would be correct, sir

@Dafoodmaster Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist thank you

@sachinkainth9508 Жыл бұрын

Do you speak Hindi or Punjabi or any other language?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I can speak Hindi

@sachinkainth9508 Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist cool

@giovannipunto8058 Жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure you knew which was what

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

I really didn't - of course when I sipped them I had a pretty good idea.

@rishabhsaluja4921 Жыл бұрын

I'm traveling to UAE, can we meet?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Hey. Drop me a DM on my Instagram and let me know your dates. If I'm free maybe we can catch up for a quick drink. Cheers.

@drinkwhiskywithfriends9922 Жыл бұрын

Anyone watching this - it so depends on the yearly batch, they arent all the same.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

very true

@pmckeown38 Жыл бұрын

Tough job, very jealous

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

😁 haha good point

@jeetpancholi3587 9 күн бұрын

Least favourite, most expensive and most overhyped whisky

@khaldounsamman9128 Жыл бұрын

Macallan 18 is now an absurd $420 in Minnesota -- Way over priced!!!

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Damn! That's crazy dude.

@fbi8364 Жыл бұрын

Glenlivet 18 will beat all of these.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

damn! you think so?

@IncognitoChronicles Жыл бұрын

Hey man, would like to know your opinion on Dalwhinnie 15. Is it a decent dram to buy?

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Yup, great dram! One of my favorites early on in my drinking career.

@MaltActivist Жыл бұрын

Though I hope the quality is the same as yesteryears

@IncognitoChronicles Жыл бұрын

@@MaltActivist thanks a lot man, will grab a bottle today