Each issue of Whisky Magazine, our tasting duo Bradley Weir and Alwynne Gwilt try 20 whiskies from around the world, sharing their tasting notes, opinions, and scores. Every whisky is blind tasted, meaning everything except the region, ABV, and style of the whisky remains a mystery. Instead of brand name, it's flavour that takes centre stage.
Here, we're taking a look at the top scoring whiskies from Whisky Magazine issue 209. With multiple whiskies drawing in score, this issue our usual "top five" has six whiskies, representing some of the remarkable drams being produced at the moment. Islay whiskies performed especially well in this issue — three of the top-rated drams are from the region.
Read on to discover our tasters' favourites, and visit our tastings pages to see all the tasting reviews from issue 209.
=3rd: Port Askaig — Cask Strength #02-2024
Islay distillery Port Askaig released this cask-strength dram earlier this year, along with 15- and 20-year-old expressions. All three were selected by Elixir Distillers master blender Oliver Chilton to "exemplify" the distillery's house style, described by Chilton as a "fruit-driven, smoky whisky".
Port Askaig, Cask Strength #02-2024
Elixir Distillers
ABV: 59.1% | Style: Single Malt | Country: Scotland | Region: Islay | Bottling: Distillery
Combined taster score: 16.5
Bradley says...
Barbecued smoke, bacon on the grill. There’s also a subtle hint of lemon after a few noses. Very smoky on the palate, and water reveals a few fruity gems — clementine and peach. I really admire its boldness.
Alwynne says...
Warming and full, with some initial floral lavender notes, then oranges, ashy smoke, and caramel-coated bananas. A long, well-balanced finish with a nice bit of spice. A complex and very tasty whisky.
Read Bradley and Alwynne's full tasting notes here.
=3rd: Kilchoman — Port Cask Matured
Kilchoman is currently celebrating a big milestone: the distillery was founded 20 years ago — in 2005, in Anthony Wills. The independent distillery has since produced a variety of core-range and limited-edition expressions; this Port Cask expression falls into the latter category.
Kilchoman, Port Cask Matured
Kilchoman
ABV: 50% | Style: Single Malt | Country: Scotland | Region: Islay | Bottling: Distillery
Combined taster score: 16.5
Bradley says...
Very peaty on the nose, but there is a richness to this too, like cherry chocolate. The palate is also rich, like pairing a red wine with a roast beef sandwich. It balances two distinct profiles rather well.
Alwynne says...
A classic example of sweet and smoke: some wet cardboard, a bit of vanilla, lemon peels and seaweed, liquorice, and sea salt. A whisky that just warms you through and makes you stop and really notice.
Read Bradley and Alwynne's full tasting notes here.
=3rd: Glenmorangie — Cadboll Estate 15 Years Old
Glenmorangie's Cadboll Estate series is made from barley grown in the fields of its own estate, released in batches. This version is Batch 4, made from Cadboll's 2007 harvest and matured in the distillery's "designer" custom-made bourbon casks.
Glenmorangie, Cadboll Estate 15 Years Old
LVMH
ABV: 43% | Style: Single Malt | Country: Scotland | Region: Highland | Bottling: Distillery
Combined taster score: 16.5
Bradley says...
There is a real pleasant freshness to the first nose. It makes me think of an apple tree. Floral notes are mixed in, like lavender and Earl Grey tea. A mix of flavour profiles that makes every sip surprising.
Alwynne says...
Lots of fruit here — mango and pineapple, honey and cream. A bit of spice too, some cinnamon and a bit of warming peppercorns, more in the floral pink realm than black. Delicious whisky.
Read Bradley and Alwynne's full tasting notes here.
=2nd: Mac-Talla — Virgin Oak
Mac-Talla is the single malt brand independently bottled by Morrosion Scotch Whisky Distillers, the company also behind blended malt Old Perth and Aberargie Distillery. This limited-edition whisky has been matured in a combination of bourbon barrels and charred new American oak casks.
Mac-Talla, Virgin Oak
Morrison Scotch Whisky
ABV: 53.8% | Style: Single Malt | Country: Scotland | Region: Islay | Bottling: Independent
Combined taster score: 16.6
Bradley says...
At first there’s a burst of that Islay smoke, but then it quickly reveals a softer, sweeter side with caramel. The smoke lingers on the palate, with hints of apple. A really enjoyable and surprising Islay whisky.
Alwynne says...
On the nose, lots of buttery pastry to start: fresh warm croissants especially. Amazing texture on the palate here — oily and completely mouth coating. A complex and sublime little whisky, with a wonderful mouthfeel.
Read Bradley and Alwynne's full tasting notes here.
=2nd: The Heart Cut — #16 Fielden
The Heart Cut is having an exciting year: in March, it won Independent Bottler of the Year at the Icons of Whisky 2025 for the second year in a row. This expression — the 16th whisky bottled by the Heart Cut — was released earlier this year.
The Heart Cut, #16 Fielden
ABV: 56.6% | Style: Single Malt | Country: England | Region: N/A | Bottling: Independent
Combined taster score: 16.6
Bradley says...
One of the best-smelling whiskies I’ve nosed all year. A burst of flavours like walking into a bakery. There’s spicy cinnamon and gingerbread, and a delicate hint of toffee. A real knock-out, complex whisky.
Alwynne says...
The scent of candy-coated fennel seeds takes me straight back to nights out at curry restaurants as a child. A big palate, with loads of melting brown sugar, dark chocolate, and black liquorice. A heavy-duty whisky.
Read Bradley and Alwynne's full tasting notes here.
1st: Gordon & MacPhail — Mr George Legacy Series 1954
Taking the Editor's Choice badge this issue is a highly rare whisky: Gordon & MacPhail's fourth and final Mr George Legacy bottling which, incredibly, was aged for seven decades. Distilled at Glen Grant in 1954 and matured in a sherry cask, this whisky pays homage to George Urquhart, second-generation member of the family which owns Gordon & MacPhail.
Gordon & MacPhail, Glen Grant Distillery Mr George Legacy Series 1954
Gordon & MacPhail
ABV: 50.5% | Style: Single Malt | Country: Scotland | Region: Speyside | Bottling: Independent
Combined taster score: 16.9
Bradley says...
A very deep, fruity nose of raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and even a hint of strawberry. Extremely smooth on the palate, with a lovely chocolate note. There is fruity greatness to this that makes it sing.
Alwynne says...
A dark, almost ruby-red malt with intense notes of floor polish, dried raisins and prunes, orange peel, and some overripe banana. An absolutely delicious dram: unctuous, warming, fruity, and well balanced.
How does blind tasting work at Whisky Magazine?
- All samples are blind tasted, with ABV, country/region, and style the only information disclosed to tasters.
- Samples are tasted individually over a two-week period.
- Tasters work to tasting and scoring guidelines in order to assess samples consistently.
- The top-scoring sample is awarded Editor’s Choice.
- Samples receiving scores of 16.5+ receive a Recommended award.
