Guest star's quite the looker. You look ok, too, Phil. 🥃

I love this crossover, 2 of my favorite whisky channels. Great video!

I absolutely applaud this appreciation of newer distilleries. We _have_ become complacent, reliant on old, "reliable" brands that seem to be not only resting on their laurels, but pushing the quality aspect to the side in the hope that they'll continue to sell based on reputation alone. Well, that reliance is certainly being tested in the face of these worthy upstarts.

Great chat and always nice to see Geoff, the better Jeff on WhiskyTube. Sadly so many whiskies are becoming out of reach of budget buyers like myself, but as it was sad, lets be optimistic about the great new stuff coming out! Cheers.

Yay, two of my favorite Whiskytubers combined! Regarding the Tamdhu/Macallan similarities: I had a very long chat with a brand rep (so take that with a grain of salt) at a local whisky festival and he emphasized that they used to be sister distilleries under Highland Distillers and at that time shared the exact same cask program. And since Ian MacLeod is striving to continue the legacy of Tamdhu they still do share a largely similar philosophy when it comes to maturation. And another side note: out of all the brands mentioned I do fear that Tamdhu might be the next one to premiumize it's way out of the reach of non-rich whisky enthusiasts...

I'd rather remove Springbank off that list and replace it maybe with Dalmore :) As you guys also point out, it's not Springbank's fault :)

This was so dope! Very fun seeing the two of you together! Great exchange, great video, great collaboration! What an amazing time also for having great reviewers like you guys helping the scene and enabling us to find good quality and affordable alternatives! Cheers to that and to you both 🥃🥃 Bonus points for Geoff's Start Trek screensaver on his TV 🖖

Don’t think it’s fair to put Springbank in this category. I just bought that bottle at the distillery shop for £52 despite the fact they could charge much more. Fair enough Jeff qualified this inclusion but I don’t think he justified it. Plenty of Diageo products that deserve this criticism without including an integrity distillery.

Great collab guys. Would like to see more of these videos. Two of my fav whisky tubers!

Cool video Whith Geoff! I liked it. Very interesting content as well. I like how you've gave some alternative. Cheers

During my scotch journey I was thinking of buying a bottle of Blue Label because I had heard so much about it. Since it was about $180 at the time. I bought a sample bottle for $25 (what?! ) and I didn’t like it at all. I am glad I didn’t buy the 750 ml bottle.

At the end of the last school year the families of my students got together and gifted me $200. (As an aside, this is not normal and was very much a surprise.) I decided to use that money to purchase a Lagavulin 16 and the Ardbeg Corryvreckan. I had just barely over a dollar left over. I certainly don't regret using that money for those purchases, but I'm also glad that I didn't spend my own money on those bottles. I'm enjoying the experience they provide, but I'm also not planning on purchasing them again at the high prices they seem to demand.

Here's my HIGH-VALUE, All-Bases-Covered Scotch Suggestions: Blended Scotch: Cutty Sark Prohibition Standard Malt: Glencadam 10 Sherried: Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Peated: Scarabus Batch Strength Complex: Benromach 10 Top Shelf: Craigellachie 13 But wait, I can even go cheaper and still suggest very good bottles: Blended Scotch: Scottish Leader Standard Malt: Glen Moray Elgin Classic Sherried: Glen Moray Elgin Classic Sherry Cask Finished Peated: Scarabus 46% Complex: Loch Lomond 12 Top Shelf: Compass Box Orchard House

Man, my two favorite whisky channels in a collab. The eastern hemisphere bros are here to enlighten us, haha.

Great video, gents. The Springbank thing does my head in. (in Aust. I spied the an 11 y/o local barley for $1000 and the 18 y/o for $900!) Nearly cried. My Springbank alternative is the Craigellachie 13. I love Benromach but to get their natural specs here you pay +$130 for the contrast series or +$170 for their cask strength.

I hate seeing Lag16 on this list but it deserves to be on it for sure. Great collaboration!

In Australia, hardly any single malt scotch is much less than $100, especially the brands mentioned on channels like this one. As someone who is whisky curious and not rich, it's too difficult to justify the expense. I prefer to grab a nice gin or decent bourbon for around half the price

None of these reveiwed surprised me & guessed them all, maybe in a different order. Loved your alternatives, and totally agree. Commentary was spot on. Loved the collab !!

I remember that Lagavulin from the 00s tasted very different. It almost had liquorice-like notes. This is imo no longer the case 😢

LVMH's fomo marketing with limited edition Ardbeg and even Glenmorangies paired with absurdly overpriced Ardbeg 10 as a flagship makes my stomach churn.

Prices in Australia are crazy. Most quality single malts are $100 plus. I'll still grab a Deanston 12 when on special. But I'm now looking into the world of Bourbon.

Great video guys! Not sure why, but in USA WA we have Tamdhu 12 Yr for $100+tax, and Macallan 12 for $65+tax. Always want to try Tmadhu, though

Tamdhu 12, full flavor yet elegant, is a great alternative to Mac 12. Great choice of alternatives!

Thanks for sharing you're and Geoffs thoughts. And of course I had to react when Geoff called me regarding the Octomore... and I only partly agree with him stating that Port Charlotte is a cheaper alternative to Octomore. Port Charlotte only partly is an alternative. Please add the Staoisha: independent Bunnahabhain and when you manage to pick up a cask strength... Great stuff. Pleaee inform the G-man. Slàinte mhath

Springbank is beautiful! I’ve been lucky and always got it for the cost the distillery charges. McCallan is far too expensive for what it is. I think it’s something people who don’t know much about Whiskey buys thinking if it cost a lot it must be the best. I still like Lagavulin but it’s getting a bit expensive. Probably get better for cheaper!

*Springbank Alternatives* Light Campbeltown, Ex-Sherry and Ex-Bourbon marriage matured Kilkerran (a bit cheeky) Ardnamurchan Glen Scotia *Macallan Alternative* , Ex-Sherry Matured Speysider Almost anything else (Joke!) Glendronach Glenfarclas Mortlach Glenturret GlenAllachie - Anything from them Ex-Sherry matured *Octomore x.1* Islay Heavily peated Ex-Bourbon matured Kilchoman 100% Islay Laphroaig 10 cask Strength Lagavulin 8 (I wouldn't consider Port Charlotte as an alternative as it's partially Ex-Sherry and Ex-Wine matured an so doesn't fit the flavour profile) Ardbeg 10 Lagg Arran Machrie Moor *Lagavulin 16* ,Islay peated with a combination of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry cask maturation. Port Charlotte Kilchoman Machir Bay *JW Blue Label* Any Second-hand Blended Scotch Whisky from the 1980s or older. Anything from Compass Box Any Blended Scotch from Berry Bros and Rudd

Aside from upcoming distilleries, it's also a good time to step away big names from Scotch, Japanese, and Boubon. Macallan knows that as long as they slap in an age in their product, it's going to sell. That's why we're seeing Scotches as old as grandparents cost as much as a car or house (wait until Macallan 100years comr out, prices are going to go nuts). These 6 years, Canada has been releasing some amazing stuff and it's gradually getting recognized. France's hidden gem Arnagnacs have hyper aged stated products at a super affordable price ( French knowe their booze and these guys they keep for themselves).

Ardnamurchan, being such a young whisky and hard to find, is overpriced too, don't you think?

Nice one guys, glad to see your take on this increasingly annoying topic. I think Dalmore should be on the list as well :) Well the big names could try to sell to the general public but lucky for us there are some great new distilleries coming up making fantastic whisky which will only get better and better in time. It's such an informed market now, especially with the enthusiasts I believe any new brand will get harshly punished if they drop their quality or specs. Whisky makers should realise we're willing to pay more for quality but not for branding and name. Cheers fellas 🥃

1. Diageo 2. Diageo 3.Diageo 4. Diageo 5. Diageo

The best way to fight the secondary market is to not participate in it. I buy/pay retail, I buy direct from the distillery, and that's it.

McCallan is massively overpriced, no doubt, you guys are spot on. Good job

Loved your affordable alternatives! I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Scotland this past spring and sampled Raasay and also came home with a bottle of Torabhaig! Torabhaig is absolutely wonderful as a more heavily peated alternative to Talisker.

Bunna 12 is still a great deal, oops did I say that out loud.

Gave up on Scotch and shifted to Bourbon. Great American Whisky with smooth notes and wonderful highlights. My favourite is a smooth Buffalo Trace.

Is it better to spend 60€ on a no age new distillery whisky or half less for Talisker 10, Bowmore 12, Laphroaig 10? Talisker is almost 46% :)

I’m not sure about Lagavulin. At least the 16. It’s been between 85-120 for many yrs now. There’s many individual bottles that fit this category. Talisker 18, Macallan 18, Glendronach 18… basically a lot of 18 yr olds that have doubled in price and then some. I remember Glenfarclas 25 being on sale a few yrs ago in Total Wine for $130. Now it’s over $250. Glendronach 21 went from @$135 to 300 plus. By rule of thumb , if the bottle has increased by %100 or more in the last 2-3 yrs, it’s overpriced and likely not worth the money anymore. I don’t mind spending $300 on one purchase. However for $250-300 I expect to get 2-3 very good bottles. Not one. Just several years ago for $300 you could easily buy two 21 yr olds. Now you’re lucky if you can get two 18 yr olds for that much. Macallan 18 and Springbank 18 are $400 plus each. Don’t succumb to the FOMO.

Awesome two voiced video; thank you guys !!! Cheers 🥃

I can agree that Jonny Walker and Macallan are overrated and overpriced, but I'd have to staunchly disagree about Lagavulin, Springbank and Octomore. Lagavulin is currently £65 on Master of Malt, it's still a favourite of mine and that's not a bad price at all, Springbank have a lot of variety at the distillery, all for pretty reasonable prices, and Octomore is one where you'll only get part of the way there with Port Charlotte and the like. I do agree that there are some excellent young distilleries that are kicking ass, Lagg on the Isle of Arran is excellent (and well worth a tour), even their new make spirit is delicious.

Tamdhu 12 way better than The Macallan 12 for me. The 12 is one of the best for the price in the Sherried world of whiskey. Also whilst the 12 is boring mass market stuff really love the Glenfiddich 15 Solera to get a 15 at that price if good quality is unheard of

You can still buy a 70cl bottle of Cutty Sark for 948 yen including 10% consumption tax (under a fiver) here in Japan at a chain of Home Centre stores (KZfaq will censor me if I give the name). Bottom shelf, sure, but OK with plenty of ice and soda to address insomnia. At regular alcoholic beverage outlets (even cut rate ones), prices have gone sky high. Jack, the Japan Alps Brit

Misleading title - overpriced is not necessarily the same as overrated

I am just an average whisky drinker, but my suggestion for cheaper replacement for Lavagulin 16 would be Caol Ila 12.

Good chat ) We heave one big problem - whiskys price ! Many whiskeys are very epensive : Macallan , Springbank , JW blue lable ,Octomore ..... Respect Phil and Geoff . Slainte !

Great video, like it when you and Geoff get together, excellent stuff. Slàinte to you both 🥃.

I'm glad my Whiskey wasn't on this list.

This may be a bit obvious but when I’m buying a bottle I ask myself 2 questions…. 1) does it taste good for the price?? 2) is there another bottle available that’s tastes as good or better for the same cost or cheaper?? In a nutshell shop around just because it’s expensive doesn’t always mean it’s good

My list: 1. Macallan 2. Diageo Special Releases 3. Ardbeg 4. Blue Label 5. Dalmore If I included the Japanese distilleries it would look completely different.

Lagavulin 16 used to be a bargain. Nowadays, it isn't, and it has a lot more competition than it used to. I might order it at a bar if the price isn't too high, but I doubt I'll be buying a bottle. Springbank seems to be somewhat more available where I live than in other places, but it is rather expensive. I recently killed a bottle of the 10 and replaced it with a 15, which I had fallen in love with when I tried it at a bar. I agree about Macallan - it is overpriced. I'm not even all that impressed with it, as it is too heavily filtered and watered down. The last time I had a Macallan, the nose was wonderful, but it was thin on the palate. I'll leave it to the status-seeking rich people and drink something else that tastes better. There is certainly a lot of overhyped Scotch whisky out there, but the situation seems even worse with bourbon. People have gone totally nuts over Buffalo Trace products. It started with Pappy Van Winkle and spread to all of their high-end and mid-level products, and even to some of the basic grocery store bourbon, such as Weller Special Reserve and Buffalo Trace. Where I live, most of them can only be found for retail sale in museums where they are marked up to absurd prices, but for some strange reason, the mid-level ones are reasonably priced in bars. I've tried a few there to satisfy my curiosity, and I have a very hard time understanding why they are so sought after when others that are just as good are readily available and sell for reasonable prices. I see no reason to waste time and money hunting for these bourbons when there are so many other great choices.

Just bought a Springbank 10 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky £56.00 from a certain seller in the UK and they have 4 bottles left as of 7-30pm UK time. You are only allowed x1 bottle per household.

Great video & collaboration chaps. I like your channel very much Phil but those adverts/sponsorships have been ruining it for me lately...sorry, couldn't stop myself from mentioning it. Keep up bringing us more of such good content as this video though!

Enjoyed the video, but really didn’t understand Lagavulin 16 being described as “overpriced”? I first tried Lagavulin 16 about 35 years ago when I believe it was £28. When I bought my next bottle about 18 years ago I believe it was £42 and I recently purchased a third for just over £60 about three years ago and it is still widely available at that price today? Is an increase of 50% in 18 years really that alarming or out of reach? In inflation terms that’s only 2% per year?

Good to include Springbank. While it’s not all their fault their distribution decisions do add to the problem. A good example of this is what happened with the PX release last year. Major UK retailers were only given tiny numbers to sell out of an over 10k outrun. It seems they focus on American and Asian markets rather then the UK so are contributing to the lack of supply here.

Springbank has almost become a meme. It’s not bad… it’s just nowhere near the craziness.

Fantastic guys that was top notch , nailed it for me.

i am a tour guide in a whisky distillery and one of my colleagues mentioned that new and upcoming distilleries are actually overcharging for their whisky as they are producing their "first batches", with starting prices of over a 100£. because people will buy them and potentially resell them in the future at marked up prices

Hey @gwhisky where did you find the Star Trek background tv application. Very nice. Also great collaboration. Keep up the great work you 2. Cheers🥃

I really appreciate the tone of optimism in this video, despite the sadness that some of these classics are out of reach. I've unsubscribed from certain other whisky youtube channels because I got sick of the constant negativity and opining for the good old days.

Highland park should be on this list. Ever since they went viking style the price went up and the quality went down.

First scotch I tried was The Macallan 12 YO Triple Cask. Yes, I went of with the popular guy, and while I like that it was smooth, it didn't really blow my socks off like some reviews here on YT and Reddit said. Not bad at all, but left me wanting for something a with a bit more omph to it taste wise. Next I got a bottle of Aberlour 12 YO, and what a difference. Deep, rich flavours and at a more affordable price. It's one of my go to whiskies now, alongside Aberlour A'bunadh and Laphroaig 10 YO for peated with Highland Park 12 YO Viking Honour at a close second. Also tried the Lagavulin 16, but for me it's a bit weird. I can't really explain it, but something seems to be missing in the flavour. Not a bad scotch at all, but so far I prefer the Laphroaig 10 YO.

I'm a GWhisky subscriber for a while, and now Geoff earned even more respect from me for the LCARS screensaver! I'm glad that Raasay showed up on this list as I tasted it on the festival, it was very nice and promising with lovely people from the distillery present - I even got a bottle!

The collab I didn't know I needed 😮

overpriced: anything From Talisker, 180 euro for a 18y..F...Off overhyped and priced: anything McCallan, nose is great, taste is meh. Overpriced: Springbank,Johnnie Walker until Blue Label, from Blue label overpriced and overhyped. Overhyped: Ardbeg, i love Ardbeg but they have so many non age statements whiskys that compared to 10 is not worth it. exception is Uigedal.

any diageo product for me.

Thank you for your suggestions. I purchased a Tamdhu 12yr yesterday and can’t wait to share the experience with friends and family.

Good point there about Lagavulin 16. I can recall trying that about ten years back and wondering "where's the rest of it?". On the other hand, Caol Ila does the "peat in your face" thing as well as Lag16...and then keeps going! The finish can take well over a minute to slide through various shifts, ending on a very soft note like the old Luden's honey cough drops overlaid with a hint of oak. For me, Caol Ila 12 is just about the perfect Islay...the peat IS THERE, but it's just the opening curtain for the show.

Great episode! I am a dermatologist and my fav single malt is Macallan. Yes, it's crazy expensive. I buy it about once a year. Also, nice how you worked in some good skin care tips! Nicely done.

Honestly, hearing that Port Charlotte is a good substitute for Octomore makes me feel a lot better about Octomore being so overpriced.

Great video guys. Thanks to both of you 😊 haven't tried jw blue, quite curious how does it taste for that price

I feel i should also mention Arran (a lot of beautiful affordable expressions for the past decade), Glenmorangie (often overlooked but honestely very refined and well made), as well as Ardbeg or Connemara in the peated range. As time goes by, i find myself reaching for Speyside more and more though ;) As for Springbank or Kilkerran, i concur… It is a shame it’s become that expensive.

Two great channels being great together. At least in California Costco's, you can find Lagavulin 16 for $76. A price I'm willing to pay. But yes, the price is going up and up I only see the writing on the wall at this point. Likely, the last time I buy a bottle, I'll buy two and bid that brand a gentle goodnight.

In 2017 I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors in my pancreas and liver, so I can’t drink any alcohol now…yet I’m still crushed that Lagavulin 16 has become overpriced. That whisky opened up worlds to me.

Kilkerran used to be waaaay better for the price than a Springbank, and I don't think I seen it for sale for more than a month or two. It's up to £50 for the 12 year old though... I regret not buying more when it was half the price.

Come to Norway and see the prices here for a "cheap" bottle of Scotch, you'd be bawling your eyes out🤣

Totally agree with what you've said about young distilleries. I think they are really going to cause a change in the current landscape of what is considered a quality whisky. The legacy distilleries should be worried. Very worried. They are imprisoned by the styles that made them famous, and this stops any real innovation or change with the times. Would love to know what you think of Kingsbarns distillery if you've ever tried before. The Bell Rock Cask Strength expression is phenomenal

Recently saw a bottle of Hibiki 30y in Zurich for 23'000 swiss francs. Don't know what to say. Agree with the Lagavulin tho.

Evidence > anecdote. Consulting some historical price charts, it looks like Lagavulin 16 has had an 0.75% annualised price increase since 2015 -- which is way below inflation ... soooo, in constant currency units, it's got less expensive. (Macallan 12 has increased 4.84% on an annualised basis over the same period; I'd have to check, but I suspect that's roughly equivalent to inflation -- in which case the price hasn't changed in constant currency units).

For me all Johnny walker products are over priced for their quality they were all produced initially for the American export market where the vast majority of customers didn't know they were being overcharged for mediocre whisky. I don't know if it's available or what the price is overseas but my go to budget tipple is black bottle. For an affordable blend it's depth of flavour and complexity is unbeatable and compares well with even much pricier single malts.

Great to see the two of you collabing!

As somebody who picked up an Octomore 14.1 after trying and failing to get a 12 and 13 series, but trying them at a bar, I was absolutely thrilled. At 220 bucks it was a total rip off/waste after trying it. Would much rather have two different $100 bottles. Also, you guys should have actually mentioned the prices at what you think they're overpriced. I'm still picking up lagavulin for ~90 which I think is a fine price to pay for a delicious 16yo peated Scotch.

Springbank don't stoke the market or inflate their brand artificially - there are far more disingenuous offerings that should take its place on the list.

5:45 worst whisky buying mistake ever was when I bought MacAllan estate. It’s a very good whisky, but not worth the €250 I paid for it. And it’s even more expensive now.

I agree about Lagavulin 16 :)

Great video guys, love you both 🥃

I remember buying up plenty of springbank on whiskygalore in 2019 when no one wanted the 21s and 12cs. I still have my longrow single cask whiskygalore quarter cask bottling somewhere. Unfortunately, they eventually pulled the Aussie market from buying up their springbank allocations 😅

Really hard to disagree, especially with Macallan. I was fortunate enough to get into single malt in the late 90's, would regularly buy a Macallan 12, and sometimes splurge on a Macallan 18. They were absolutely superb at the time, pure sherry, and extremely reasonably priced for what you were getting. Now, it's impossible to touch these bottles. And I simply wouldn't buy any of their fine oak / bourbon cask stuff, certainly not at the price point they command.

I stopped purchasing Octomore at release 10. I still have over 25 older releases but zero of the newer ones. I would add Highland Park to the list. Way too many younger NAS's and their age statement whiskies are too pricey. Same for Dalmore.

That uh that's quite a screensaver you have there, @Gwhisky.

I bought my dad Port Charlotte 2 years ago for xmas, he absolutely loved it, so I bought another for him last year but he passed away unexpectedly before xmas, I haven't opened the bottle yet but I will do when the time is right.

So glad to find a small store here in South Carolina had loads of Springbank from years ago (2016 to 2020) at SRP. Bought up multiples of the 10, 12CS and 15. Now they get SB Local Barley 10 and Longrow Red 15 but SRP is 150 to 200.

For the record, springbank did put their prices up across their core range about 6 months ago. Springbank 10 went from about £42 to £55 in the UK

We don't talk about Benromach - gotta keep that distillery away from the speculators.

Great collaboration! Great video

In Australia even basic whiskies including NAS and 10yo whiskies are become unaffordable, even from the big outlets (e.g. Dan Murphys, BWS etc.). I’ve been a whiskey lover for 10+ years but honestly it is becoming more of an occasional treat than something I can purchase regularly.

i'm happy in the middle price range of Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 8. i don't mind spending a little more on cask strengths though like Highland Park's CS expressions.

Great video, great information. Although Ardnahoe is yet to release their first batch, hopefully it does wonders to take Lagavulin down. Also, two new distilleries are being built in Islay. What would be your take on Ardnahoe? I visited the distillery this past July and it really looks beautiful and promising wonders.

Johnny Walker gold label is better than blue label. Imo.

Outstanding collaboration!! You and Geoff are both so terrific at teaching someone one year into learning about single malts and oh have I learned!! Lol!! I have been watching Geoff's channel for awhile and I am happy to have found your channel as well!! Fabulous information in this amazing video!! You guys rock! Cheers! 🙂

Now the question is, which whiskies are going to become the next macallan, springbank, lagavulin 16? Buy now before they go up in price

I love Port Charlotte. One of my Apex whiskeys.