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Whiskies of the Year 2009

Below you will find the whiskies of the year chosen by Gavin Smith, in a number of different categories, plus the nominations from whisky-pages' visitors. Nominations are now closed.

Gavin D Smith

Blended Scotch (no age) Te Bheag
Blended Scotch (age statement) Black Bull 30-year-old
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under) Highland Park Hjarta
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years) Springbank 18-year-old / Smokehead Extra Black
Single Malt Scotch (no age) The Glenrothes John Ramsay
Single Cask Malt Scotch Highland Park Ambassador's Cask V
Non-Scotch Whisky Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye (2008 Edition)
Innovative Whisky Glenglassaugh - The Spirit Drink That Dare not Speak its Name

Petr Krenek, Czech Republic

Blended Scotch (no age): Bailie Nicol Jarvie
Blended Scotch (age statement): Campbeltown Loch 30
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Benromach 10
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): GlenDronach 15 Revival
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Amrut Fusion
Most Innovative New Whisky: Bruichladdich Organic

Martin Vrba, Czech Republic

Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Balblair 1997
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Dalmore 15yo
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Old Malt Cask Tamdhu 18y (1989/2008, Sherry butt)
Most Innovative New Whisky: Bruichladdich X4+3

Steffen Bräuner, Denmark

Blended Scotch (age statement): Black Bull 30yr
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Bladnoch 8yr 55%
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Mortlach 1938 60yr
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Ardbeg Supernova
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Benromach 1949 55yr OB
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Amrut Cask Strength
Most Innovative New Whisky: Arran Peacock

Adam Liversage, UK

Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Laphroiag Cask Strength
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Lagavulin 16 YO
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Ardbeg Supernova
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Suntory Hibiki 12 YO.

Charlie Cavaye, UK

Blended Scotch (no age): Ballie Nicol Jarvie
Blended Scotch (age statement): Black Bottle 10 yo
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Benromach 10 yo
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Laphroaig 18 yo
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Ardbeg Supernova
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Old & Rare Bunnahabhain 34 yo
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Four Roses Small Batch
Most Innovative New Whisky: Bruichladdich X4+3

Nick Ramsey, UK

Blended Scotch (no age): Te Bheag
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Corryvreckan
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Springbank 18
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Longrow CV
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Arran SMWS 121.26
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Yamazaki 18

Tim Carlisle, UK

Blended Scotch (no age): Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Springbank 11yo Madeira Finish
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Highland Park 16yo
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Glenrothes Select Reserve
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Nikka Yoichi 12yo
Most Innovative New Whisky: Bruichladdich Black Art

Mark Cacopardo, Germany

Blended Scotch (no age): Johnny Walker Black Label
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Caol Ila 12 Years Old
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Highland Park 18 Years Old
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Ardbeg Uigeadail
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Bushmills Three Woods (16 years old)

Peter Snoek, Netherlands

Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): The Arran Malt 12
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Talisker 18y
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Auchentoshan Three Wood
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Bowmore 16y Ltd Edition 1991 Port Matured

Filip J. Verleye

Blended Scotch (no age): Bailie Nicol Jarvie
Blended Scotch (age statement): Cutty Sark 18YO
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Laphraoig Quarter Cask
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): the entire Highland Park range
Single Malt Scotch (no age): The Glenrothes John Ramsay
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Glenfiddich 15YO Cask Strength
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Amrut Fusion
Most Innovative New Whisky: Duvel Distilled (Belgium)

Arnout Rogiers, Belgium

Blended Scotch (no age): Black Islay (Auchan French Supermarket)
Blended Scotch (age statement): Black Bull 30yo
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Glenfarclas 105
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Macallan Speymalt 1950 G&M
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Longrow CV
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Longmorn 1969 TWE 10th Anniversary G&M
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Wait La Mazurka (Karuizawa 1977) Daily Dram

Bartlomiej Niwinski, Sweden

Blended Scotch (no age): Teacher愀 Highland Cream
Blended Scotch (age statement): Dewar愀 12 years, Special reserve
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Port Charlotte, PC7
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Highland Park 18
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Aberlour A'bunadh, batch nr 22
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: A.D. Rattray Glenrothes, 1990-2009, 18 yr, 51.4%
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Knob Creek, 9 years
Most Innovative New Whisky: Compass Box, "Spice tree", new edition

Kinley Smith, UK

Blended Scotch (no age): Gordon & MacPhail Pride of Islay
Blended Scotch (age statement): Johnny Walker Green Label 15yo
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Highland Park (bottle from mid 80s)
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Inchgower 14yo
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Macallan 1874
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Connoisseur's Choice Balmenach 1989

Ronald Bijl, Netherlands

Blended Scotch (no age): Tomatin Antiquary
Blended Scotch (age statement): Ben Nevis Dew of 21yo
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Bladnoch 8yo
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Glenfarclas 21yo
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Glenfarclas 1974
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Arran Peacock
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Amrut Fusion
Most Innovative New Whisky: Kilchomen Inaugural Release

Michael Grammer, Canada

Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Arran Port Wood Cask Strength 9 year
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): G&M Macphail's Collection Highland Park 30 year
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Douglas Laing Macallan Platinum Selection 1977

Søren Thrysøe, Denmark

Blended Scotch (no age): Flaming Heart 2nd LR, Compass Box, 48.9%
Blended Scotch (age statement): Cutty Sark 18yo, 43%
Single Malt Scotch (12 years and under): Kilchoman Inaugural 3yo, 46%
Single Malt Scotch (over 12 years): Glendronach 1992, 17yo, #401, 58.8%
Single Malt Scotch (no age): Bunnahabhain Darach 攲 Batch 1, 46.3%
Single Cask Bottling Malt Scotch: Port Charlotte 2001, 66.2% - Malt of Scotland
Non-Scotch Whisk(e)y: Karuizawa 26yo, 1981 #103, 58.1%
Most Innovative New Whisky: Bunnahabhain Darach 攲 Batch 1, 46.3%

Whiskies of the Year 2009 is now closed.

See 2008 Whiskies of the Year
See 2007 Whiskies of the Year
See 2006 Whiskies of the Year

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