Scotch alternatives | All My World Whiskies RANKED

Today it's a list/ranking. I went through my shelves and found that I had very few world whiskies that aren't Irish or Japanese. I figured... ranking video! Enjoy!

IG: @gwhiskytw

[Alex-przv]

As a Highlander, I found the Mackmyra Björksav to be wonderfully innovative and delicious. Its sweetness comes in waves, similar to the sensation of wading in the sea and unexpectedly finding a patch of warm water.

[heatherharrison]

I have a lot of whiskies from non-traditional regions. I like these because they expand the stylistic range of their prototype. In the United States, I find a lot of single malts from many places around the world. Penderyn is good - I have the Madeira cask finish. From India, the entry level single malt from Amrut is a good value. High Coast is another good distillery from Sweden. They have a range of offerings with varying levels of wood and peat. From Belgium, the producers of the well known beer Gouden Carolus make a single malt from the same mashbill as the beer, and it tastes a lot like the beer. From the Calvados-producing region of Normandy, Le Breuil makes a youthful, fruity single malt that is somewhat reminiscent of the local brandy. From Australia, Starward has a range of interesting offerings. Nova, their entry level product, is pleasant but rather light. Octave Barrels, at 48% ABV, has a lot more flavor and complexity. From Arizona, Del Bac makes an interesting single malt, called Dorado, that is smoked with mesquite wood. Balcones, in Texas, has a range of single malts. Their entry level product is good, but their single barrel range is more interesting. I have a single barrel cask strength store pick with a 59 month age statement, which is a very long time in Texas. The wood is strong in this one, and it has that characteristic Texas funk.

Outside of the single malt category, I don't find all that much. The only ones I have encountered recently are some corn whiskies from Mexico. These are worth watching. Distillers in Mexico are using indigenous varieties of corn, and they sometimes use production techniques associated with tequila and mezcal. The flavors they are getting are truly unique. Abasolo and Sierra Norte are widely available in the United States and not too expensive.

[davidowen]

Hi Geoff, had a few world whiskies ( Welsh, German, Swedish ) and I did like an IB Mackmyra called kungstorv( kings peat). Basically everything is Swedish, the oak for the barrels, barley, peat and juniper branches (both used for drying the malted barley).only 43% mind but a decent dram. . Slàinte Geoff for this somewhat different list video. Enjoyed it 👍

[BadgerJeff]

Can't believe you didn't include any Indian whiskies in your list. I was SO disappointed!! Oh wait, Israeli, Wales, Taiwanese? Sweden? Seriously? Very interesting whiskies - all new to me. Thanks for sharing!

[allenbt]

For suggestions, my friend poured me a sample of Cotswolds Single Malt, an English Distillery. A very decent pour, at around US$62 in my market. I know an English expression may not seem like a true "World" whisky but I enjoyed it. Cheers.

[robcalder]

Speaking of peated casks... Sipping on a home blend of Kavalan peaty cask and a Kavalan Port soloist (probably 1:4). Turned out an absolute treat.

[kobmic]

I'm living in Sweden, so obviously I like Mackmyra. My favourite is "Svensk rök" (swedish smoke) and talking about smoky swedish whisky I can also recommend High Coast "Timmer" (timber). Apart from that, I love Paul John Bold and Balcones Single Malt.

[philjones]

Nice mention for Penderyn. I visited the distillery at Llandudno last year where they make the Peated expression which is now my favourite Penderyn. I do like the Maderia cask finish too which is generally available in the UK. You can pick it up on offer in supermarkets from time to time for £27.

[yoursinsincerely]

Interesting take on M&H's. Usually our taste profiles match to a large extent. I did not care much for the M&H bottles at all. Had a few of them recently including the Apex bottlings. I found them to be very gimmicky.

Penderyn has potential. Incidentally, the best thing I have had from them is a dark chocolate available at their distillery store.
Mackmyra, now they are doing some crazy stuff and some of them work.
Omar has some solid stuff. Surprisingly, I found a few on the shelves at a local New Jersey store. Pennsylvania, as usual has none of these at their "premium collection" state stores. A tad bit expensive, but solid stuff.

Kavalan is definitely among the best in world whiskies. I am carefully rationing my 3 solist whiskies.

Among Indian whiskies, the best I have had would be the Amrut Aatma 2012 single cask 7 years, in ex-oloroso. That was simply divine.

Balcones are making some good whiskies. Their Texas single malt, single barrel releases are all really good.

Lots of good things happening in the whisky world. Good video and quite apt because more people need to look beyond the world of Scotch. Cheers!

[dantasker]

Cardona, Waiheke and Pōkeno are three interesting distilleries from NZ. Waiheke in particular uses NZ peat, a quite unique flavour profile, worth a try I you ever come across it.

[BanjoSick]

St Killian in Germany has some good stuff. It is too young of course, but they just released their first standard range in peated and unpeated. Worth a try, their tie in with the metal band Grave Digger is a heavily peated goodness (turf metal beast).
Oh, and so cool that you finally do an international video! Thanks

[agrainofmalt]

Loved the Mackmyra Grönt Te. Living in Sweden I've had a few of their range. Not the Björksav though (yet). Keen to try the Destination (Port finish) next.
Cheers! 🥃

[steveno]

Nice video! How about a video about the 5 most influential bottles in your whisky journey?

[murduk]

Cool list. Thanks for the info! (Balcones' malt whisky in general is my favorite non-Scotch; the Dawn/Dusk madeira-finished series, the sauternes-finished Pilgrimage and the single-barrel series Oloroso sherry have been favorites ... basically, anything from a wine/fortified wine cask)

[thewhiskyenthusiast]

Nice one Geoff! Mackmyra should have their own list they do so many brilliant stuff. I tasted the AI one where Mackmyra and Microsoft collaborated to create a whisky using AI giving it desired tasting notes, how cool is that! I had a Nantou from SMWS matured in heavily charred casks which was just phenomenal! You're spot on with M&H, 3 whisky novices all loved the dead sea version and Penderyn does have some good stuff.
I don't think you'll be surprised that I recommend Cotswolds to you, again 😁Their peated one comes in at cask strength and matured in ex-Bowmore cask (their master distiller used to be at Bowmore) and is just beautiful. One of those rare times when using an ex-peated cask works out. Cheers!

[timloucks]

I picked up a bottle of Omar (Sherry type) in San Francisco recently for $69.99. I haven’t sampled it as of yet.

[DrinkWhat]

Thank you for the introduction of Penderyn Sherrywood Whisky. A bottle of Sherry Cask single malt whisky from the UK in Taiwan that is 46% ABV but sells for NT$899 (USD.29) makes itself a little suspicious ...
I will also try MACKMYRA BJORKSAV whisky, it seems like a novelty one!

[zoltanlakoyt]

Heh Jeoff. Zsákorloko sziringo. Great video as always. Keep them coming. Cheers to you.

[allenbt]

Very interesting episode. To answer your question on Nantou, it is available here in the states although distribution isn't great, typically in liquor stores serving larger Asian-American populations. (Think stores that also have Moutai on the top shelf.) That particular expression is around US$55 in the NY Metro Area. Cheers.

[larsrogers]

Try some of the Macaloney Island distillery offerings from Victoria, BC. Great spirits and some nice cask finishes!