THE BEST WHISKIES OF 2017 HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED

[MIKA27]

THE BEST WHISKIES OF 2017 HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED

Whisky is the new currency that makes the world go round. From the foothills of Scotland to the artisan distilleries of Japan, the choices in liquid gold these days are simply staggering.

Lest we forget, every year the World Whiskies Awards also like to hold a little contest to find the world’s newest and most coveted drop based on taste across a dozen different variations. Well that day has arrived and the best whiskies of 2017 are in.

Presented in partnership with UK-based Whisky Magazine and The Drinks Report, the winners this year hail from Japan, Canada, the UK and the USA. And proving once again that the rise of Japanese whisky is no flash in the pan is this year’s winner of Best Grain, The Fuji-Gotemba Single Grain 25 Year Old Small Batch.

Virtually unknown outside of Japan, The Fuji-Gotemba Single Grain is produced at Kirin’s Fuji Gotemba distillery which started operations in 1973. Its distinct taste is derived from the ample use of pristine waters flowing down from Mount Fuji’s melting ice (we know right – you can’t even make this stuff up).

The ageing process then takes place in x-Bourbon barrels for 25 years before going through two distillation processes to come to the final product  – in very limited batches of around AU$2,000 per 700ml bottle.

The full list of winners this year also includes:

World’s Best Grain: The Fuji-Gotemba Single Grain 25 Year Old Small Batch (Japan)
World’s Best Rye: A.D. Laws Secale Straight Rye Bottled in Bond (USA)
World’s Best Blended Limited Release: J.P. Wiser’s Dissertation (Canada)
World’s Best Wheat: Bainbridge (UK)
World’s Best Bourbon: John J. Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon (USA)
World’s Best Blended Malt: Johnnie Walker Green Label (UK)
World’s Best Blended Whisky: Suntory Hibiki 21-Year (Japan)
World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt: Venture Chichibu Whisky Matsuri 2017 (Japan)
World’s Best Single Malt: Craigellachie 31 Year Old (UK)

See the full list of winners now over at World Whiskies Awards.

[Ethernut]

Any "Whisky of the Year" type list with Johnny Walker as a winner is a little suspect for me -

[ElJefe]

Johnny Walker Green Label is a pretty decent dram. The original older bottling was some excellent pure malt Godness indeed. Even though the newer bottling isn't as viscous, lush and complex, I thinks quite decent for a blend. 

Not saying that this list deserves merit; just sharing my two Cents.

[MIKA27]

19 hours ago, ElJefe said:

Johnny Walker Green Label is a pretty decent dram. The original older bottling was some excellent pure malt Godness indeed. Even though the newer bottling isn't as viscous, lush and complex, I thinks quite decent for a blend. 

Not saying that this list deserves merit; just sharing my two Cents.

IMO the Green label is my absolute favourite out of ALL the Johnnie Walkers. 

[JohnS]

5 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

IMO the Green label is my absolute favourite out of ALL the Johnnie Walkers. 

The Green Label was unavailable for a few years in Australia and prices quickly doubled for it. The blend does stand out from the other Johnnie Walker releases.