Whisky Saga - 2021 in Review

Good bye 2021, and hello 2022! Time now to sum up the year that has gone.

The Best Whiskies Reviewed in 2021

I reviewed around 350 whiskies in 2021, and these were the very best of the lot.

The overall top 25

1. Glendronach Vintage 1970 20 YO (Signatory) 95/100

2. George T. Stagg Barrel Proof 1995 / 2012 94/100

3. Octomore Event Horizon - Feis Ile 2019 94/100

4. Nikka Yoichi 20 YO Distillery Only 93/100

5. Benriach 1981 38 YO Peated Bourbon Cask 93/100

6. Laphroaig 25 YO Cask Strength Edition (2019) 93/100

7. Midleton Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest - Tree 5 Batch 1 93/100

8. Balvenie Vintage 1966 Aged Over 30 Years 93/100

9. George T. Stagg Barrel Proof 1998 / 2014 93/100

10. SMWS 120.7 Sweet, fragrant and satisfying (Hakushu) 93/100

11. Octomore OBA Concept 93/100

12. Redbreast 1997 22 YO All Sherry Single Cask 92/100

13. Rosebank 1990 30 YO Release One 92/100

14. Clynelish 1972 30 YO The Dundeil Selection 92/100

15. Springbank 8 YO - Online Tasting Week 2021 92/100

16. Lagavulin 26 YO (Special Releases 2021) 92/100

17. William Larue Weller Barrel Proof 1998 / 2011 92/100

18. Balvenie A Day of Dark Barley 26 YO 92/100

19. Lagavulin 12 YO (Special Releases 2021) 92/100

20. Bruichladdich The Ternary Project 91/100

21. Rosebank 21 YO Fascination - The Roses - Edition V 91/100

22. Bunnahabhain 2001 Marsala Cask Finish - Fèis Ile 2021 91/100

23. Blair Athol 1989 31 YO Cask No. 6106 91/100

24. Hazelburn 15 YO - Online Tasting Week 2021 91/100

25. Springbank 17 YO Madeira Wood 91/100

The Nordic top 3

1. High Coast The First Ten Years 90/100

2. Smögen 2013 6 YO for Clydesdale 15th Anniversary 90/100

3. Bländande Svensk Blended Malt Whisky 89/100

Blog Metrics

What a year it has been! The blog had an all time high traffic throughout the year, with an average of over 100K page views per month.

The Top 10 Most Popular Articles

All in all I posted 360 articles in 2021, and the most popular whisky reviews in 2021 were these:

1. Springbank 12 YO Cask Strength - batch 22

2. Kentucky Jack Straight Bourbon

3. Aberlour A'bunadh Batch #67

4. Black Bull Himinjod

5. Macallan No. 6

6. Whisky from India - the true mega sellers

7. Ensign Red Canadian Whisky

8. Glenlivet 12 YO Illicit Still

9. Flóki Icelandic Young Malt Sheep Dung Smoked Reserve

10. Springbank 12 YO Cask Strength - batch 21

It is both funny and fascinating how sometimes fairly old content suddenly becomes very popular. This year I’m a bit baffled by the Floki review from 2017 and the Ensign review from 2015 making it into the top 10.

Wishing you all the best for 2022!

Sláinte!
- Thomas