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Reviewed
January 27, 2021 (edited July 22, 2022)
(#1) Fellow Distiller @WhiskeyLonghorn recently posted his top 5 Whiskeys of 2020 and I thought it was such a great idea that I'm stealing it. To qualify, a whiskey did not need to be new, just new to me in 2020...so there will be some tried and true staples mixed in with the new releases on my list. I was able to narrow my list of 14 possibilities to 7 fairly quickly, but going from 7 to 5 proved a little tougher. Honorable Mentions will make an appearance after Whiskey #1. I won't bore you with a full re-review of each, but will give an overall impression. Should you want to read the full review, you shouldn't have to scroll too deeply in my tastes to find them. So...without further ado, I present my Number 1 Whiskey of 2020...
Boooooooring! Available 365 days a year nearly everywhere that sells whiskey, this may seem like a mundane choice for my 2020 Whiskey of the Year, but rest assured it competes with just about any Special Release that can be had for under $100. The Nose featured Sweet Burnt Caramalized BBQ Sauce and Tropical Fruits. The Palate was Smoke, Honey, Papaya & Mango. What sealed the deal for me on this one was the Finish. Looooong, with JalapeƱo Pepper and a building effervescent quality. A charred Pineapple aftertaste that lasted for hours after my Glencairn was dry. In fact, my notes claimed that the finish on this one definitely moved it into consideration for my Favorite Whisky. Ever. File this one under "What the Hell Took You So Long". Glad 2020 was the year this one joined the collection.
So there it is. My top 5 for 2020. I think it's a pretty solid list (and all were had for less than $75), but I would like to name a few honorable mentions that just barely missed the Top 5...
*Dickel BIB (11YR): Almost the equal of the 13YR, but not quite.
*Yamazaki 12: Age stated Japanese is rare and my most expensive bottle of 2020.
*WhistlePig PiggyBack 6YR: Checked a lot of the herbaceous boxes that I love.
*4 Roses Small Batch Select: A unique profile and readily available for around $60.
Here's to Great Whiskey and Better Times in 2021!
72.0
USD
per
Bottle