This week in our serialisation of the BBAs results is our Scotch and Irish session.
A combined league of the OGs of the whisky world, this session saw Scotch mainly best Irish. Smokehead Unfiltered Islay single malt took top spot, with a gold medal in taste.
Judges picked out “spice, coff ee, tobacco, orange and bacon”, while giving a silver medal for its “funky” design. Value for money? “A good price for the liquid and packaging” – gold.
Next up was another peaty dram, Ardbeg 10 Year Old. “Moss, funky smoke and leather” came the tasting notes, silver was the medal. The packaging took silver too for its “apt, sleek and crisp looks” while the price suggested to the panel it would make a welcome addition to their back bar – another silver.
Then came an Irish whiskey. Busker Single Pot Still Small Batch – a spin-off of The Busker’s four-strong core range. Judges described it as a “really nice all-rounder, creamy and smashable”, and gave it a high-scoring silver on taste – a medal it matched on design and value for money.
In fourth was Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Year Old, noted for its delicate peat, peach and umami notes, while its bold but simple design and suitable pricing saw silver medals across the board.
In fifth was an unpeated Scotch: Glengoyne 15 Year Old Single Malt – praised for its easy drinking and fruity notes.