Looking Back at 2016

2016 is about to come to an end. I'd like to briefly look back on my own malt life this year. As usual, the first thing that comes to mind is... but rather than going down that path, what stands out most is the fact that I traveled to Scotland this year and was involved in cask selection during on-site tastings. I took a break from writing tasting articles and wrote my first travelogue-style piece to convey the on-site atmosphere, which surprisingly received a good response and was enjoyed by many people. It was a precious week where I gained experiences and insights that are hard to obtain without being on-site. I also came to understand reality, both its good and bad sides, but I felt that the positive aspects were more prominent. In that sense, it was a happy time. I would like to express my gratitude once again to those who invited me and supported me during the whisky journey. Thank you. Another significant aspect of my malt life this year is the certainty that my preferences have completely shifted towards new releases. Originally, I was an old bottling enthusiast and had a long period where my focus was on past releases. However, there are indeed legendary old bottles that are exceptionally delicious and have a strong presence. Whether current releases can match the quality of these old bottles after bottling is questionable. Nevertheless, I have come to realize that overall, the joy lies more in new releases. The excitement of deliciousness, interest, and the stimulation of intellectual curiosity has shifted towards new releases. Even when visiting Yurakucho, I find myself naturally more curious about new releases than old ones. I feel that the future of malt is definitely becoming brighter. I would like to write more about this topic, but I'll leave it for my article next year. Now, let's move on to the bottles that left a lasting impression this year. This year had many wonderful encounters with bottles, but the ones that left me in awe are the following three, and I couldn't rank them. Springbank SPRINGBANK 1967-1981 13yo OB for Italy #1967/3130 58.9% Glen Garioch GLENGARIOCH 1972 15yo Slim Cowell's personal selection II 60% Lagavulin LAGAVULIN 25yo OB 200th ANNIVERSARY 51.7% The reasons for selecting these three bottles are detailed in their respective articles, which I've written quite elaborately, so you'll understand when you read them. The two old bottles were so impressive that they left me with goosebumps and a sense of awe, providing an extraordinary satisfaction from drinking them at their prime. The Lagavulin 25yo for its bicentennial anniversary was the true standout among the bicentennial bottles, but it wasn't just a gift evaluation; its quality was overwhelming. If judged without considering the price, it would have won in the best new release category. Next, my personal favorite bottle is this one: Lagavulin LAGAVULIN 18yo OB for FEIS ILE 2016 200TH ANNIVERSARY 49.5% I wrote about this day in two parts of my travelogue, having waited three hours and forty minutes in the rain at the Islay Festival to purchase it. I opened it that very night locally, and it was truly delicious. I'll never forget it. Other standout bottles include these three: Aberfeldy ABERFELDY 1991-2015 24yo OB for THE WHISKY SHOP #6394 53.5% Glenfarclas GLENFARCLAS 1989-2016 26yo OB for Bar Main Malt & BAR CAMPBELTOUN LOCH #13009 52.3% Laphroaig LAPHROAIG 2001-2016 15yo EDITION SPIRITS "THE First Editions" #12382 58.4% The first two are single casks bottled for specific clients by the official distilleries, each with a unique character and charm from bourbon casks and sherry casks respectively. I believe the most promising are these types of specifications, and these two bottles exemplify that feeling. Especially, I had somewhat given up on recent sherry releases not being as outstanding as past bottles, but this Glenfarclas had a special quality that blew that notion away. Like the 2005 Christmas label, honestly, if I were to think selfishly about my own preferences, I would want them to be kept in stock until they undergo bottle aging for the whisky club members only, not for general sale. The quality was so high that I would have wanted to buy a lot of them if possible. The third bottle, Laphroaig from Edition Spirits, is a special sherry cask that came out amidst the struggles of bottlers in recent years where official releases have been dominant. It was overwhelming from first impressions and is still excellent, with the potential to improve further. I would have liked to buy a lot of it. The specifications for official releases are unlikely to come out, and this was a standout example of bottler's excellence. Finally, for the cost-performance category in new releases, as previously announced in my article, it's this one without hesitation: Edradour EDRADOUR 2006-2016 9yo OB Un-Chillfiltered Collection for JAPAN #376 58.7% It has a distinct character, so there might be some personal preferences, but it's not too off-putting. I think many drinkers would be willing to try it given the price. Those who couldn't get this bottle might find similar specifications available at a lower price or in the future, so I encourage you to try it. Edradour has several clear characteristics in its current official releases, making tastings enjoyable even for those with less experience. I hope you can appreciate its unique personality like fresh coffee and inexpensive milk chocolate. Although it would have been good to categorize them by official or bottler, price ranges, etc., I felt it would be forced and not as enjoyable, so I went with this approach. (laughs) What kind of malt will we encounter next year? I think each year has been more enjoyable than expected, and I'm even more excited. #Aberfeldy (ABERFELDY) #Edradour (EDRADOUR) #Glen Garioch (GLENGARIOCH) #Glenfarclas (GLENFARCLAS) #Springbank (SPRINGBANK) #Lagavulin (LAGAVULIN) #Laphroaig (LAPHROAIG)