GURUMUMMU'S CORNER BAR:

Fuck yeah, check my opinions on 141 different alcohol
drinks I've reviewed so far.

My list includes:
134 whiskies +
7 other booze

"Forget - Boozing is the best man can do!"

Yours,
GuruMummu











GuruMummu's list of THE BEST OF THE BEST single malts
(grade 9.5 or better):

-Highland Park (12 YO) = 10+
-Balvenie (Double Wood, 12 YO) = 10
-Highland Park (18 YO) = 10
-Old Buck (3 YO) = 10-
-Old Buck (4 YO) = 10-
-Old Buck (5 YO) = 10-
-Old Buck (6 YO) = 10-
-Old Buck (41.1% version) = 10-
-Balvenie (Founder's Reserve, 10 YO) = 9.5
-Dalwhinnie (15 YO) = 9.5
-Auchentoshan 10 = 95/100

(In the following list GuruMummu has marked all the whiskies that are
worth to mention, i.e. whiskies that have received at least grade 9 rating.)




SCOTTISH SINGLE MALTS:

ABERLOUR
• Aged 10 Years
Rating: 75/100
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 8.5 (smooth and nutty)
• Aged 12 Years, d 10/1996, Refill Hogshead, DL ref #5023, b 3/2009, 50% (Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing)
Rating: 8.5 (fruity, light and alcoholic)

ARDBEG
• 10 Years Old (L7 323 14:11 14ML)
Rating: 7.5
• 10 Years Old, Mor (L8, 4.5L bottle)
Rating: 7.5
• Blasda, 40%
Rating: 7 (Medicine)
• Renaissance
Rating: 6.5 (Medicine)
• Uigeadail
Rating: 7.5

ARDMORE
• Ardmore 1985, d 1985, b 2000, 40% (Gordon & McPhail)
Rating: 8

ARRAN
• Aged 10 Years
Rating: 8 (hot and very salty)
• Arran Fino Sherry Wine Cask, sourced directly from Valdespino, Jerez, 50%
Rating: 8.5 (musty but still good)
• Arran Sassicaia Wine Cask, sourced directly from Tuscany, Italy, 55%
Rating: 8.5 (toffee flavoured)

AUCHENTOSHAN
• Select
Rating: 9- (fruity, sweet and soft)
• 12 YO
Rating: 95/100

AULTMORE
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 8.5 (Apple with long after taste)

BALVENIE
• Aged 10 Years, Founder's Reserve
Rating: 9.5 (pleasant whisky)
• Aged 12 Years, Double Wood
Rating: 10 (100 points) (Nose 25 points: fruity / Taste 25 points: sherry, sweet, medium-bodied / Finish 25 points / Balance 25 points.)
• Aged 21 Years, Port Wood
Rating: 9 (91 points) (Nose 22 points: toffee, anise / Taste 23 points: fruity, full-bodied / Finish 23 points / Balance 23 points.)
• Balvenie 1993
Rating: 8.5

BEN NEVIS
• 10 Years Old
Rating: 7.5 (fudge)

BENRIACH
• Benriach 1994, Aged 10 Years, distilled 20.6.1994, bottled 12.10.2004, hogshead cask 1630, bottle #256/422, unchillfiltered, 46% (Signatory Vintage)
Rating: 8 (81 points) (Nose 20 points: peaty, musty / Taste 20 points: peaty, dirt / Finish 21 points / Balance 20 points.)
• Benriach 1994, Aged 14 Years, distilled 1994, bottled 9/2008, Madeira Hogshead cask 1652, bottle #165/329, Specially selected and bottled for Finland, 57.5%
Rating: 7.5 (A wee bit too smoky to be served as the dessert of candlelight dinner)

BENRINNES
• Mackillop's Choice 1988/2012
Rating: 85/100

BENROMACH
• Traditional Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40%
Rating: 7.5 (Nothing special. Easy drinking whisky)

BLAIR ATHOL
• Blair Athol 1989, Aged 11 Years, distilled 1989, bottled Sept 2000, Bourbon Hogshead cask, bottle #324, 58.1% (Cadenheads)
Rating: 7.5 (strong taste of alcohol)

BOWMORE
• 15 Years Old, 43%
Rating: 7.5
• Legend
Rating: 7+ (smoky, peaty & smooth)

BRUICHLADDICH
• Waves, 7 Years Old
Rating: 8 (Salty & smoky)
• Mςine Mhςr, 3d, 2nd edition
Rating: 8.5 (slightly smoky)
• Peat, 46%
Rating: 7 (Butter, peat and slightly smoky)

CAOL ILA
• Aged 12 Years, 43%
Rating: 8 (Salty & smoky)

CAPERDONICH
• Caperdonich 1996, aged 11 Years, distilled 16.5.1996, bottled 1.2.2008, matured in Hogsheads, Casks #82226 & 82227, bottle #157/887, 43% (Signatory Vintage)
Rating: 7.5 (Average Speysider, splendid choice to serve to your whisky hungry drunken friends)

CLYNELISH
• 14 Years Old
Rating: 8 (Floral & sweet)

CRAGGANMORE
• Cragganmore 1997, Aged 12 Years, d 17.3.1997, b 14.4.2009, Hogsheads casks #1115-1116, b# 156/775, 43% (Signatory Vintage)
Rating: 7.5 (watery)

CRAIGELLACHIE
• Craigellachie 1998, Aged 11 Years, d 3.2.1998, b 23.3.2009, Hogshead casks #58+59, b 644/973 (Gordon&McPhail)
Rating: 8 (Peppery and woody)

DALMORE
• 12 Years Old
Rating: 7.5 (boring whisky)

DALWHINNIE
• 15 Years Old, 43%
Rating: 9.5 (97 points) (Nose 24 points: newly cut grass / Taste 24 points: citrus, smooth, vanilla / Finish 24 points / Balance 25 points.)

DUFFTOWN DISTILLERY
• Singleton of Dufftown, Aged 12 Years
Rating: 8.5 (Pleasant whisky for daily use)
• Singleton of Dufftown, Aged 15 Years
Rating: 8.5

FETTERCAIRN
• Fettercairn 1824, Aged 12 Years
Rating: 8 (sweet & very drinkable)

GLENBURGIE
• Aged 10 Years
Rating: 8+ (Fruity and sweet with a hint of pepper)

GLENFARCLAS
• 8 Years Old
Rating: 8 (Medicine)
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 9- (Sweet and toffee)
• 25 Years Old
Rating: 8.5 (85 points) (Nose 23 points: cognac / Taste 21 points: tar, salty, dry / Finish 18 points / Balance 23 points. Good whisky.)

GLENFIDDICH
• Aged 12 Years, Caoran Reserve
Rating: 8.5 (86 points) (Nose 19 points: toffee, light, fruity / Taste 23 points: sweet, apple / Finish 20 points / Balance 24 points.)
• Aged 12 Years, Special Reserve
Rating: 9 (good basic whisky)
• Aged 15 Years, Solera Reserve
Rating: 9 (90 points) (Nose 23 points: fruity, honey / Taste 23 points / Finish 22 points / Balance 22 points.)
• Aged 21 Years, Havana Reserve
Rating: 8- (79 points) (Nose 19 points: rum, sherry, honey / Taste 21 points: honey, floral / Finish 18 points / Balance 21 points.)
• 30 Years Old
Rating: 8.5 (86 points) (Nose 19 points: fruity / Taste 23 points / Finish 22 points / Balance 22 points.)

GLEN GARIOCH
• 8 Years Old
Rating: 8 (hint of smoke and fruitiness)
• 15 Years Old
Rating: 7.5 (very strong perfume and salty)
• 1797 Founder's Reserve
Rating: 8 (Fruity and honey)

GLENGOYNE
• 10 Years Old
Rating: 8 (easy whisky)
• 12 Years Old, Cask Strength, 57.2%
Rating: 7.5 (Bitter and spicy)
• 21 Years Old
Rating: 9 (sweet and fruity)

• Burnfoot
Rating: 8 (Smooth and dry)

GLENGLASSAUGH
• Glenglassaugh Vintage 1986, bottled 2004, 40% (Macphail's Collection)
Rating: 7 (basic whisky)

GLEN KEITH
• Aged 10 Years
Rating: 8.5 (Buttery and sweet)

GLENKINCHIE
• 12 Years Old, 43%
Rating: 8.5 (floral, lemon & quite pleasant whisky)

GLENLIVET
• Aged 18 Years
Rating: 9

GLEN MORAY
• Aged 8 Years
Rating: 8 (Okay whisky)
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 8.5 (toffee and fruit)

GLENMORANGIE
• 18 Years Old
Rating: 7 (71 points) (Nose 16 points / Taste 19 points / Finish 18 points / Balance 18 points.)
• The Lasanta, Sherry Cask Extra Matured
Rating: 8.5 (honey and spicy)

GLENROTHES
• Select Reserve
Rating: 9 (Sweet and smooth)

GLEN SCOTIA
• 12 YO
Rating: 8 (A bit spicy)

GLENUGIE
• Glenugie 1977, 26 Years Old, 338/498, selection number 3, 46% (Murray McDavid)
Rating: 9- (89 points) (Nose 21 points: vanilla, floral / Taste 21 points: salty, sweet, salmiac / Finish 23 points / Balance 24 points.)

HIGHLAND PARK
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 10+ (very smooth, slightly smoky)
• Hjδrta, Aged 12 Years
Rating: 9 (quite the same as basic 12 year old)
• Aged 15 Years, Edition One, Earl Magnus of Orkney bottling, 1 of 5976 bottles, 52.6%
Rating: 8.5 (pungent, needs water)
• Aged 18 Years
Rating: 10 (very smooth, smoky)
• Aged 21 Years, 47.5%
Rating: 9 (Very nice and sharp)
• Highland Park vintage 1991, Aged 16 Years, distilled 17.9.1991, bottled 1.2.2008, matured in sherry butt, cask #15096, bottle #689 of 810, 46% (Signatory Vintage)
Rating: 8- (Too much smoke and spice)

IMPERIAL
• Speyside 1991, Imperial Distillery, Cask 99/48 1.2, distilled 5/12/1991, bottled September 2001, bottle #2517/2600, 40% (Private Collection, Gordon&McPhail)
Rating: 8 (Okay whisky. Salmiac was quite strong.)

ISLE OF JURA
• 10 Years Old
Rating: 7.5 (salty and dry)

KILCHOMAN
• Bottled exclusively for Germany, cask 363/06, Bourbon, d 20.12.2006, b 29.3.2010, Single cask release, 60.3%
Rating: 8- (Tarry and peaty)

KNOCDHU DISTILLERY
• anCnoc 12 Years Old, 40%
Rating: 7+ (73 points) (Colour: pale / Nose 19 points: floral / Taste 19 points: peppery / Finish 19 points / Balance 16 points.)

LAGAVULIN
• Aged 25 Years
Rating: 9 (92 points) (Nose 23 points: medicine, smoke / Taste 23 points / Finish 23 points / Balance 23 points.)

LAPHROAIG
• 10 Years Old, original cask strength 57.3%
Rating: 7.5

• Cairdeas
Rating: 65/100

LITTLEMILL
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 7

LOCH LOMOND
• Single Highland Malt (No Age Statement)
Rating: 7.5 (Salty, weird scent.)
• 21 Years Old
Rating: 7.5
• Inchmurrin, Aged 12 Years
Rating: 9 (citrus and fruity)

LOCHSIDE
• Lochside 1991, bottled 2003, 43% (Connoisseurs Choice, Gordon & McPhail)
Rating: 7.5 (crispy)

MACALLAN
• 12 Years Old, Fine Oak
Rating: 6.5 (66 points) (Nose 18 points / Taste 15 points: salty / Finish 16 points / Balance 17 points.)
• Macallan 1989, Old Malt Cask collection, Aged 19 Years, d January 1989, b February 2008, 352 bottles, sherry butt DL res #4122, matured in a refill Hogshead, 50% (Douglas & Laing)
Rating: 8

MACDUFF
• Glen Deveron, Aged 10 Years, 1998
Rating: 8 (Fruity and creamy)

MILTONDUFF
• 10 Years old
Rating: 8 (Toffee and banana)

MORTLACH
• Mortlach 1989, Aged 11 Years, Raw cask (Black Adder)
Rating: 7 (72 points) (Nose 16 points: mild, sherry / Taste 17 points: salty / Finish 20 points / Balance 19 points.)

OLD PULTENEY
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 8 (Salty and sweet with hint of cow milking station)

PORT ELLEN
• Aged 24 Years, distilled November 1982, bottled August 2007, bottle #183/228, filled from one sherry butt 3652, no chill filtered, no colouring, "Finnish edition", 50% (Douglas Laing & Co)
Rating: 8.5 (85 points) (Nose 21 points: smoky, peaty / Taste 20 points: peaty, salty, sea / Finish 21 points / Balance 23 points.)

ROSEBANK
• Rosebank 1991, Aged 13 Years (Signatory Vintage)
Rating: 6+ (63 points) (Nose 16 points: scent of a fireworks / Taste 16 points: very mild / Finish 16 points / Balance 15 points.)

ROYAL LOCHNAGAR
• Aged 12 Years (including bottles: L7 302 & L8 176)
Rating: 8 (lovely whisky)
• Distiller's Edition
Rating: 9 (Smooth, fruity & sweet. Very pleasant.)

SCAPA
• 14 Years Old
Rating: 9 (Fruity, sweet and honey. Absolutely drinkable).

SPEYBURN
• Aged 10 Years
Rating: 8 (mild)

SPEYSIDE DISTILLERY
• Drumguish
Rating: 7+ (Characterless and a bit fruity)

SPRINGBANK
• 10 Years Old, 46%
Rating: 8.5 (87 points) (Nose 23 points: toffee, fruity / Taste 23 points: salty, smoke / Finish 21 points / Balance 20 points.)
• Longrow, Aged 7 Years, 5.5 years at refill bourbon, 1.5 years at fresh gaja barolo, d October 2000, b January 2008, outturn 12 120 bottles, 55.8%
Rating: 7.5

STRATHISLA
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 8.5 (sweet and citrus)

TALISKER
• Aged 10 Years, 45.80%
Rating: 8 (Spicy and slightly smoky. Too much pepper for me but very warming).

TAMDHU
• Fine Single Malt
Rating: 8.5 (Nice Speysider. Sweet with a hint of smoke.)

TOBERMORY
• Aged 10 Years, 40%
Rating: 7.5 (76 points) (Nose 19 points: fruity, grassy, hint of mint, praline / Taste 19 points: salty, peppery, salmiac / Finish 18 points: quite light finish / Balance 20 points.)
• Ledaig Aged 7 Years, 43%
Rating: 8+ (84 points) (Colour: pale / Nose 20 points: smoky, tar / Taste 21 points: smoky, salty, sour / Finish 21 points: short finish / Balance 22 points)
• Ledaig (N.A.S.), 42%
Rating: 7 (salty and watery)

TOMATIN
• Aged 12 Years
Rating: 8 (mellow, smooth & fruity)

TOMINTOUL
• Aged 10 Years
Rating: 7.5 (Fudge and pepper, nuthin' special to say on this one)
• Peated Tang
Rating: 8 (Peaty Speysider, smooth with spices)

TORMORE
• Tormore 1990, d February 1990, b August 2001, limited to 240 bottles, Oak Hogshead #1963, 65.6% (Blackadder)
Rating: 8



UNSPECIFIED SCOTTISH SINGLE MALTS

• GLEN RANOCH
(This is some cheap supermarket (Tesco?) single malt whisky. It is unknown to me from which distillery it comes from...)
Rating: 4 (42 points) (Nose 10 points: floral / Taste 12 points: salty / Finish 10 points: very short / Balance 10 points.)



OTHER (MALT) WHISKIES AROUND THE WORLD

FINLAND:

OLD BUCK (City of Pori, Finland. The first Finnish single malt whisky)
• Aged 3 years, Cask strength 70.6%
Rating: 10-
• Aged 4 years, d 20.3.2004, b January 2008, Cask strength 70.6%
Rating: 10-
• Aged 5 years, Bottle #86 & Bottle #99, Cask strength 70.6%
Rating: 10-
• Aged 6 years, Cask strength 70.6%
Rating: 10-
• Aged 6 years, 41.1%
Rating: 10-


BELGIUM:

THE OWL DISTILLERY (Grace Hollogne, Liege)
• The Belgian Owl Single Malt, bottling: 2008, First fill Bourbon cask, non chill filtered, colouring free, handcrafted, spring barley raised in Belgium, 46%
Rating: 9 (Fruity & alcohol, might need some water to open. Pretty nice anyway).



INDIA:

AMRUT DISTILLERY (Bangalore)
• Amrut Single Malt Whisky
Rating: 8 (Vanilla and spicy).



IRELAND:

CLONTARF
• Classic Blend, 40%
Rating: 9.5 (very fruity, fudge. This blended whiskey is excellent when thinking about price-quality ratio)

GREEN SPOT
• Green Spot
Rating: 8.5

REDBREAST
• 12 Years Old
Rating: 6.5



JAPAN:

NIKKA (Japan)
• Miyagikyo, 10 Years Old
Rating: 8 (Soft whisky.)
• Yoichi, Aged 10 years
Rating: 8.5 (Nose 23 points: floral, fruity / Taste 21 points: salty, salmiac / Finish 20 points / Balance 24 points. Total points: 88)



NEW ZEALAND:

LAMMERLAW
• 10 Years Old
Rating: 8



SWEDEN:

MACMYRA
• Preludium 05, b 8.8.2007, cask #23 298, 48.4%
Rating: 8



UNITED STATES:

BERNHEIM
• Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
Rating: 8.5 (Sweet & smooth)

JACK DANIELS
• Jack Daniels Old No 7
Rating: 9 (Have this while listening to your fave rock band - I prefer Skynyrd)

JIM BEAM
• Red Stag Black Cherry
Rating: 7 (very very sweet cherry. Probably better with some mixer)



BLENDED WHISKY RATINGS:

BALLANTINES, 17 Years Old
Rating: 9 (Splendid blended)
GRANT'S
Rating: 8
ISLAY MIST, AGED 8 YEARS
Rating: 10 (just like Laphroaig 10 yo)
JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL
Rating: 10 (Very lovely blended whisky that is similar to malt whisky.)
MANSION HOUSE
Rating: 7.5
VAT69
Rating: 9
WHITE HORSE
Rating: 7-



OTHER BOOZE:

GRASOVKA (vodka from Poland)
Rating: 9

KOSKENKORVA (classic booze from Finland)
Rating: 8

REGA FULO CACHACA (classic booze from Brazil)
Rating: 9 (very tasty with sugar and lime)

RUSSKY STANDARD (vodka from Russia)
Rating: 8
RUSSKY STANDARD IMPERIAL
Rating: 10+ (a bit better than Platinum)
RUSSKY STANDARD PLATINUM
Rating: 10

SHAMAN VODKA (Finland)
Rating: 9+ (Suprisingly good. Delicious)





Whisky, Beer & Wine Guide - since 2006