90  Glendronach 38yo 1972/2010 (49.5%, OB, Taïwan Import, Oloroso Sherry butt, C#700, 241 Bts.)
90  Longmorn 1964/2010 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail for LMdW, 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead, C#1034)
90  Macallan 1970/2010 (46%, Gordon & MacPhail for LMdW, 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead, C#10031)
90  Karuizawa 32yo 1977/2010 'Noh' (60.7%, Number One Drinks, Sherry Butt, C#4592, 190 Bts.)
90  Karuizawa 1975/2010 (61.8%, OB for LMdW, Cask #6736, Imported by LMdW)
90  Glengoyne 37yo 1972/2010 (57%, The Perfect Dram, Refill sherry wood, 220 Bts.)
90  Kawasaki 'Ichiro's Choice' 1982/2009 (65.4%, OB, Refill Sherry Butts, LMdW Import, 668 Bts.)
90  Glenfarclas 40yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
90  Caperdonich 37yo 1972/2010 (53.4%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, C#7420, 136 Bts.)
90  Glen Scotia 33yo 1977/2010 (57%, A. D. Rattray, Sherry Hogshead, C#985, 195 Bts.)
90  Karuizawa 32yo 1976/2009 'Noh' (63%, Number One Drinks, Sherry Butt, C#6719, 486 Bts.)
90  Port Ellen 'Pe2' (59.5%, Speciality Drinks Ltd., Bottled +/- 2010)

This year, we didn't even have to use a "magic formula" to calculate the average
scores in the Malt Maniacs Awards. In previous years we usually had to employ a
fairly complex formula that compensated for large standard deviations. I won't go
into the finer details of statistics now, but the bottom line is that we would often
only two or three gold medal winners because averages tend to gravitate to an...
euh... average. So, we're very happy that the 'naked' average scores produced
no less than 12 gold medal winners - almost twice what we had last year...
 
We boldly went with naked averages this year - although the dampening effect
of the harsh conditions of our whisky competition are expressed by the fact that
none of them scored an average of more than 90 points. That score may not
seem like a lot in these days of hyper score inflation - but in the MM universe it's
still a rare honour to be bestowed only on the most excellent of whiskies.
 
On the other hand: one might argue that one would EXPECT a bottle of whisky
in the "ultra premium" price category (a price tag of over 150 Euro's) to earn a
high score. But even if the price would not be prohibitive for some people, basic
availability would. Except for the Glenfarclas 40yo, all of the gold medal winners
are single cask bottlings. That means that there are just a few hundred of each.

89  Glen Grant 40yo 1969/2009 (44.3%, Signatory CSC, Sherry Hogshead, C#2016, 188 Bts.)
89  Blairfindy 1964 (53.4%, Blackadder RC, Sherry Butt, Ref 4713, Bottled +/- 2010, 424 Bts.)
89  Port Ellen 27yo 1982/2010 (61,3%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, C# 2347)
89  Highland Park 1970/2010 (48%, OB, 1800 Bts.)
89  Karuizawa 1968/2010 (61%, OB, C#6955, Imported by LMdW)
88  Yamazaki 1995/2010 (54.9%, OB for LMdW, Sherry Butt, C#5J3020)
88  Glenlivet 35yo 1975/2010 (55%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, Sherry C#10862)
88  Glen Mhor 44yo 1966/2010 (49.7%, Blackadder RC, Refill Sherry Butt, C#1898, 428 Bts.)
88  Glenlivet 35yo 1975/2010 (55%, Signatory CSC, Sherry Butt, C#10863, 489 Bts.)
88  Clynelish 27yo 1982/2010 (59,8% The Nectar Daily Dram)
88  Glenfarclas 1990/2007 (58.9%, OB for 5th Anniversary Taiwan SMWTA, C#9246, 209 Bts.)
88  Bunnahabhain 41yo 1968/2008 (41.2%, Adelphi, C#12401/3, 719 Bts.)  MISPRINT - BOTTLED 2010
88  Banff 34yo 1975/2010 (44.1%, A. D. Rattray, C#3354, 250 Bts.)
88  Linkwood 1973 (49.7%, TWE Fine Old Malt Whisky, Bourbon casks, Bottled +/- 2010)
88  Kavalan 'Solist' (58.2%, OB, Sherry C#S060703018, Bottled +/- 2010, 569 Bts.)
88  Bunnahabhain 8yo 2001/2010 (54%, The Whisky Agency LL, Oloroso Sherry, 180 Bts.)
88  Benrinnes 26yo 1982/2009 (57.4%, The Bottlers, Refill sherry butt, C#3229)
88  Lagavulin 1991/2008 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, Lgv.4/496)
88  Lochnagar 37yo 1972/2009 (50.7%, The Whisky Fair / Three Rivers, 126 Bts.)
88  Caol Ila 29yo 1981/2010 (57.2%, Berry Brothers for John Milroy, Refill Hogshead, C#8167)
88  Nikka Yoichi 1987/2010 'Single Cask' (59%, OB, C#112814, Imported by LMdW)
88  Ledaig 2005/2010 (62.7%, Berry Brothers, C#900008, Exclusively for Germany)
88  Top MMA Blend "2009" (??%, Blend of the top half scorers in the 2009 MM Awards)
88  Hanyu 21yo 1988/2009 'Noh' (55.6%, Number One Drinks, Sherry Butt, C#9306, 625 Bts.)
88  Glencadam 32yo 1977/2009 (54.9%, Douglas Laing Platinum, Sherry wood, 296 Bts.)
88  Yamazaki NAS 'Sherry Cask' (48%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
88  Glendronach 31yo 'Grandeur Batch 001' (45.8%, OB, Oloroso, Bottled +/- 2010, 1013 Bts.)
88  Talisker 1994/2009 Manager's Choice (58.6%, OB, Sherry C#7147, 582 Bts.)
88  Highland Park 12yo 'Saint Magnus' <1994 (55%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010, 11994 Bts.)
87  Lochside 29yo 1981/2010 (51,8%, The Nectar Daily Dram)
87  Nikka Miyagikyo 1991/2010 'Single Cask' (62%, OB, C#116921, Imported by LMdW)
87  Caol Ila 1996/2007 (59%, Gordon & MacPhail CSC, Refill Sherry Butts #16070 - 16072)
87  Glengoyne 13yo 1995/2009 SC (56.1%, OB, Oloroso Hogshead, C#2082, 256 Bts.)
87  Ardbeg NAS 'Uigeadail' (54.2%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
87  Glengoyne 23yo 1986/2009 SC (53.6%, OB, Sherry Butt, C#399, 548 Bts.)
87  Octomore 5yo 'Orpheus Edition 02.2' (61%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
87  Glenlossie 1975/2010 (49.8%, Berry Brothers & Rudd, C#5950)
87  Caol Ila 29yo 1981/2010 (47.4%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, C#2927, 322 Bts.)
87  Glenlivet 1973/2010 'Founder's Reserve 1824' (55.6%, OB, 1824 Bts.)
87  Aberlour 'A'bunadh' Batch #30 (59.8%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
87  Amrut 2004/2009 (52%, OB for Huis Crombé Kortrijk, Bourbon C#2930, 221 Bts.)
87  Caol Ila 26yo 1983/2009 (55.3%, The Perfect Dram, Refill Sherry, 240 Bts.)
87  Caol Ila 25yo 1984/2010 (55.7%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, C#5399, Rossi Import)
87  Port Charlotte 8yo 'PC8' (60.5%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010, 30000 Bts.)
87  Linkwood 36yo 1973/2010 (50,4%, The Nectar Daily Dram)
86  Glen Grant 1965/2008 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Licenced Bottling)
86  Nikka 21yo 'Taketsuru' (43%, OB, Imported by LMdW, Bottled +/- 2010)
86  Tomatin 1982/2010 (55.3%, SSMC Maggie Miller, Sherry C#29, 574 Bts.)
86  Garnheath 42yo 1967/2010 (43.8%, DL OGC, 1st Fill Bourbon, DL Ref 5543, 159 Bts.)
86  Lagavulin NAS "Distillery Only" (52.5%, OB, Distillery Only Bottling, Bottled 2010)
86  Glenlossie 1984/2010 (60%, SSMC Maggie Miller, Sherry C#2534, 563 Bts.)
86  Smoking Islay NAS (60.3%, Blackadder RC, BA 2010/420, Bottled 4/2010, 311 2Bts.)
86  Talisker '57° North' (57%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
86  Ardbeg 'Corryvreckan' (57.1%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
86  Kavalan 'Solist' (58.5%, OB, Sherry cask, C#S060626040, Bottled +/- 2010, 599 Bts.)
86  Karuizawa 1985/2009 (60.8%, OB for Number One Drinks, Sherry Butt, C#7017)
86  Amrut 'Special Reserve' (63%, OB for TWE 10th Anniversary, Bottled +/- 2010)
86  Amrut 'Port Morant Rum Finish' (62.3%, Blackadder, BA 9/2010, Bottled 6/2010, 278 Bts.)
86  Invergordon 1971/2009 (47%, Berry Brothers & Rudd, C#4, Single Grain)
86  Glenburgie 26yo 1983/2010 (54.7%, Signatory CSC, Hogshead, C#9811, 184 Bts.)
86  Ballechin '#5 Marsala Cask Matured' (46%, OB, Bottled 2010, Peated)
86  Springbank 18yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
86  Jura 'Vintage 1999' (55%, OB, Boutique Bourbon Barrels, Heavy Peat, Bottled +/- 2010)
86  Dalmore 26yo 1981 Amoroso Sherry Finish (42%, OB, 484 Bts.)
86  Inchgower 36yo 1974/2010 (50.4%, The Whisky Fair / Agency, Sherry wood, 180 Bts.)
86  Tomatin 21yo (52%, OB, Casks #31648 - 31654, Bottled +/- 2010, 2400 Bts.)
85  Ardbeg 'Supernova' 2010 Edition (60.1%, OB, SN2010, Bottled 2010)
85  Oban 2000/2009 Manager's Choice (58.7%, OB, Sherry C#1186, 534 Bts.)
85  Glenlivet 12yo 1997/2010 (54%, Exclusive Malts, First fill sherry butt, C#100288, 388 Bts.)
85  Linkwood 17yo 1990/2008 (48%, Adelphi, C#9734, 204 Bts.)
85  Caol Ila 26yo 1984/2010 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, Refill hogshead, Ref 6207, 268 Bts.)
85  Bowmore 20yo 1990/2010 (50.7%, Signatory / Prestonfield, C#1065, 294 Bts.)
85  Balmenach 21yo 1984/2005 (57.8%, The Bottlers, Sherry C#3056)
85  Amrut 'Intermediate Sherry Matured' Batch #1 (57.1%, OB, Bottled June 2010)
85  Bowmore 15yo 1995/2010 (46%, The Nectar Daily Dram)
85  Springbank 12yo (54.6%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
85  Dallas Dhu 28yo 1981/2010 (55.8%, Blackadder Raw Cask, C# 423, 130 Bts.)
85  Macallan 14yo 1995/2010 (57%, Adelphi, C#10450, 268 Bts.)
85  Glen Mhor 27yo 1982/2010 (55.8%, Riverstown, C#1348, 259 Bts.)
85  Lagavulin 16yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
85  Tamdhu 25yo 1984/2010 (50.1%, Whisky Doris, Refill hogshead, C#2834, 270 Bts.)
85  Bunnahabhain 35yo 1974/2009 (47.3%, The Whisky Fair, Bourbon Hogshead, 250 Bts.)
85  Benriach 30yo (50%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
85  Bowmore 8yo 2001/2010 (59.9%, Adelphi, C#1126, 583 Bts.)
85  Aberfeldy 18yo "Chris Anderson's Cask" (54.9%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010, 248 Bts.)
85  Laphroaig 12yo 1998/2010 (59,4%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, C#700295)
85  Laphroaig 13yo 1997/2010 Sherry Finish (58%, A. D. Rattray, C#3329, 307 Bts.)

It may seem that all whiskies that earned a gold medal got the same score, but
that's just because the average score is rounded off to the closest integer. So,
the difference may be just 0,1 points - but it still counts... That's why the order
is still relatively important if you look at the 86 silver medal winners of 2010.
That being said; the Ardbeg NAS 'Uigeadail' (54.2%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010) and
Octomore 5yo 'Orpheus Edition 02.2' (61%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010) are so close
that one might ask themselves if the fact that 1 out of 11 jurors scored one or
the other whisky one point higher than the other is really THAT crucial.
 
Meanwhile, I'm very happy to see that a few affordable bottlings did fairly well
in the silver segment. Just like in previous years, we distinguished 3 different
'price brackets'; Daily Drams (with a retail price of up to 50 Euro's), Premium
Whiskies (retail price between 50 and 150 Euro's) & Ultra Premium Whiskies
(street price over 150 Euro's). The participants decided for themselves in which
'bracket' a bottling was entered - or otherwise we picked for them. It's not an
exact science though - most bottlings are available in different markets, so the
prices of the bottles may vary a bit between different countries anyway.
 
Affordable entries that did particularly well were a Bunnahabhain 8yo 2001/'10
from The Whisky Agency, a Ledaig 2005/2010 from Berry Brothers an 2 official
bottlings of Amrut for Huis Crombé Kortrijk and The Whisky Exchange.

84  Laphroaig 12yo 1998/2010 (57.4%, Riverstown for The Vintage House London, C#7139)
84  Yamazaki NAS 'Mizunara' (48%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Bunnahabhain 2005/2010 (58.5%, Exclusive Malts for WL Taipei 2010, C#29, 268 Bts.)
84  Bunnahabhain 12yo (46.3%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Glenmorangie 18yo 'Extremely Rare' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Kilchoman 2007/2010 'Single Cask Release' (61.5%, OB, Fresh Bourbon Cask #211/07)
84  Braeval 12yo 1996 (57.3%, Blackadder RC, Sherry Butt c#4904, Bottled +/- 2008, 488 Bts.)
84  Longmorn 17yo 1992/2010 (53.9%, Adelphi, C#48430, 186 Bts.)
84  Glenfarclas '105' (60%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Penderyn 'Rich Madeira Limited Edition' (58.9%, OB, C#26-1, Bottled +/- 2010, 217 Bts.)
84  Glenrothes 21yo 1989/2010 (54.2%, Blackadder RC, Sherry Butt C#7471, 252 Bts.)
84  Kilbeggan 18yo (40%, OB, Decanter bottle, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Longrow 14yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Mortlach 20yo 1990/2010 (56,5%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, Sherry C# 4412)
84  Amrut 'Kadhambam' Batch #1 (50%, OB, Bottled June 2010)
84  Amrut NAS 'Bowmore Finish' (62%, Blackadder SC, BA 10/2010, Bottled 6/2010, 288 Bts.)
84  Yamazaki NAS 'Bourbon Barrel' (48%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Glengoyne 21yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Glenlivet 16yo 'Nadurra' (53.6%, OB, Batch 0109G, Bottled 2009)
84  Benriach 17yo Rioja Wood Finish (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Inchmurin 1973/2010 (44.3%, Gordon & Macphail, Bourbon C#3380, LMdW Import)
84  Glenmorangie NAS 'Sonnalta' (46%, OB, PX finish, Bottled +/- 2010)
84  Glen Garioch 1991/2010 (54.7%, OB, Batch #38)
83  Girvan 20yo 1990/2010 (59.3%, Douglas Laing, Single Grain, Bourbon wood, Ref HH5794)
83  Glenglassaugh 26yo (46%, OB, Sherry, Pear shaped decanter, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Celtique Connexion 1997/2010 Saussignac Finish (46%, Celtic Connexion, 381 Bts.)
83  Bottom MMA Blend "2009" (??%, Blend of the bottom half scorers in the 2009 MM Awards)
83  Caol Ila 'Unpeated' (65.8%, OB, Bottled 2009)
83  Hakushu NAS 'Bourbon Barrel' (48%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Glendronach 18yo 'Allardice' (46%, OB, Oloroso Sherry Casks, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Kornog NAS "5vet Deiz ha Bloaz" (46%, OB, Peated, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Cutty Sark 25yo (45.7%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Peat Reek NAS 'Islay Malt Whisky' (46%, Blackadder, Ba302361, Bottled +/- 2010, 440 Bts.)
83  Glenkinchie NAS "Distillery Only" (59.3%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Balblair 1978/2008 (46%, OB)
83  Glenlivet 1991/2010 'Nadurra' (48%, OB, Batch 0310B, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Bunnahabhain 12yo 1997/2010 'Moine' (54%, Riverstown, C#5415, 259 Bts.)
83  Jura NAS 'Prophecy' (46%, OB, Profoundly Peated, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Laphroaig 1998/2010 (46%, Berry Brothers & Rudd / Boisdale, C#700217, 380 Bts.)
83  Hakushu 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Kavalan 'Concertmaster, Port Cask Finish' (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Compass Box 'Spice Tree' (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Glengoyne 13yo 1997/2010 (46%, Whisky Doris 'The Dram', Sherry Butt, 220 Bts.)
83  Longrow 'CV' (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Linkwood 15yo (43%, Gordon & MacPhail Licenced bottling, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Glenmorangie NAS 'Quinta Ruban' (46%, OB, Port finish, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Connemara 1992/2008 'Single Cask' (46%, OB, C#4332, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Bunnahabhain NAS 'Toiteach' (46.3%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
83  Benromach 1999/2010 'Origins' (50%, OB, Batch #2, Port Pipes Matured)
82  Arran 1998/2010 (56.5%, OB, Sherry C#603, 225 Bts.)
82  Kornog NAS "Taouarc'h Eilvet 10" (59,2%, OB, Peated, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Dufftown 27yo 1982/2010 (55.7%, Riverstown, Sherry C#18582, 104 Bts.)
82  Bowmore 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Bowmore 15yo 'Darkest' (43%, OB, Sherry cask finish, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Springbank 15yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Bowmore 11yo 1998/2010 (46%, Signatory UCF, Refill sherry butt c#800191, 756 Bts.)
82  Hakushu 1997/2010 (56%, OB, Hogshead #BJ 41089)
82  Benromach 10yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Bushmills 21yo Madeira Finish (40%, OB, Single Irish Malt, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Aberlour 19yo 1990/2010 (52.9%, Signatory CSC, Hogshead, C#101775, 222 Bts.)
82  Tobermory 15yo Oloroso Sherry Finish (46.3%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Chichibu NAS 'Newborn Peated' (61.4%, distilled 6/2009, bottled 10/2009, C#452, 361 Bts.)
82  Redbreast 15yo (46%, OB, Imported by LMdW, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Connemara NAS 'Cask Strength' (57.9%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Bushmills 16yo (40%, OB, Single Irish Malt, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Glenmorangie NAS 'Lasanta' (46%, OB, Sherry finish, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Aberlour 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Blackadder 14yo 'The Legendary' (45%, Blackadder, Sherry wood, Btl. 10/2009, 356 Bts.)
82  Mackmyra 'Special 04' (53%, OB, Art #MS 004, Double dip Bourbon, Bottled summer 2010)
82  Stronachie 18yo 'Batch 1' (46%, A. D. Rattray, Distilled at Benrinnes, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Bruichladdich 16yo 'The Sixteens - Cuvee 'E' Sauternes' (46%, OB, +/- 2010, 12000 Bts.)
82  Inchmurrin 13yo 1996/2010 (60.7%, Riverstown, Loch Lomond distillery, C#69, 295 Bts.)
82  Glen Garioch 12yo (48%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Kavalan NAS (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Edradour 10yo 2000/2010 Red Burgundy Finish (57.9%, OB SftC, 500ml, 473 Bts.)
82  Glenmorangie NAS 'Nectar d'Or' (46%, OB, Sauternes finish, Bottled +/- 2010)
82  Kavalan 'Solist' (58.8%, OB, Bourbon cask, C#B070604047, Bottled +/- 2010, 198 Bts.)
81  Royal Brackla 10yo 1998/2009 (56.8%, DL for TWWWK 2009, Ref DL4528, 317 Bts.)
81  Connemara 'Turf Mor' (58.2%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Old Pulteney 17yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Ardbeg 10yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Benriach 20yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Glen Ord 12yo 1998/2010 (59%, Signatory CSC, Hogshead, C#3478, 270 Bts.)
81  Clynelish 19yo 1990/2010 (57.1%, Riverstown, Sherry Butt C#3898, 257 Bts.)
81  Edradour 7yo 2003/2010 (56.1%, OB for LMdW, Bourbon C#120, 233 Bts.)
81  Tyrconnel 10yo 'Anima Negra Mallorcan Wine Cask Finish' (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Clynelish 12yo (46%, OB for the Friends of the Classic Malts, Bottled 2009)
81  Glenlivet 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Chichibu 2008/2009 'Newborn Double Matured' (61.3%, D4/2008, B6/2009, C#446, 355 Bts.)
81  Tyrconnel 10yo 'Madeira Cask Finish' (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Oban NAS "Distillery Only" (55.2%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Old Pulteney 21yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Edradour 10yo 2000/2010 Chardonnay Finish (58.4%, OB SftC, 500ml, 459 Bts.)
81  Clan Denny NAS 'Big Peat' (46%, Douglas Laing, Islay blended malt whisky, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Blair Athol NAS "Distillery Only" (55.8%, OB, Bottled 2010)
81  Ledaig 10yo (46.3%, OB, Peated, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Hazelburn 'CV' Triple Distilled (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Blackbull 12yo (50%, Duncan Taylor, Blend, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Cragganmore 14yo (40%, OB for the Friends of the Classic Malts 2010, 13000 Bts.)
81  Caol Ila 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Blue Hanger NAS 4th Release (45.6%, Berry Brothers & Rudd, Bottled 2008)
81  Jura 21yo (44%, OB, Celebrating 200 years of the distillery, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Longmorn 16yo (48%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Glen Garioch NAS 'Founder's Reserve' (48%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Bruichladdich 16yo 'The Sixteens - Bourbon Cask' (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
81  Balblair 1989/2010 2nd Release (43%, OB)
81  Bunnahabhain 'Darrach Ur' Batch #4 (46.3%, OB, 1Litre, Bottled +/- 2010)
80  Clynelish 14yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
80  Glenkinchie DE 1995/2009 (43%, OB, Amontillado casks, G/282-7-D)
80  Greenore 18yo 'Small Batch' (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010, 4000 Bts.)
80  Dalmore NAS '1263 King Alexander III' (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
80  Littlemill 1990/2010 (50.3%, Exclusive Malts for WL Taipei 2010, Bourbon C#717, 203 Bts.)
80  Arran 14yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
80  Highland Park 14yo 1995/2010 (55.8%, Whisky Doris, Bourbon Hogshead, 205 Bts.)
80  Glencadam 14yo Oloroso Finish (46%, OB, 'The Rather Enriched', Bottled +/- 2010)
80  Glenfarclas 10yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
80  Dalmore 'Vintage 2000' Oloroso Sherry Finish (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
80  Glendronach 14yo American Virgin Oak Finish (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2010)
80  Berry's NAS "Speyside Reserve" (46%, Berry Brothers & Rudd, Bottled +/- 2010)
 
Please keep in mind that the PDF Score Card provides you with the individual scores from the eleven
jurors. Below are the winners of the various awards, plus some more comments about the competition.
Tasting notes for many of the whiskies in the MM Awards can be found on Malt Madness and Whiskyfun.

It was extra hard to pick various award winner this year. Should we choose the highest scoring entry in every category or or go for entries that offered more 'bang-for-your-buck'? The whiskies at the very top of the list are usually expensive and limited by definition while the winners in the 'daily drams' category are more relevant for more people because they are more affordable. After some internal discussion we decide to give most awards to the widely available bottles in the daily drams category. Two particularly good young independent bottlings received a "Pressure Cooker Award".
 
Some relatively remarkable results in this bronze segment of the medal winners was the excellent performance of a few expressions in particular; the latest batch of Bunnahabhain 12yo, Penderyn's  'Rich Madeira Limited Edition', Kilbeggan's 18yo (which weirdly enough was produced at a distillery that was closed at the time), the new release of Longrow 14yo, the Amrut 'Kadhambam' Batch #1 and the Cutty Sark 25yo. In this case a blend scored higher than many single malts.
 
Another funny little coincidence: the fact that the Bowmore 12yo and Bowmore 15yo Darkest earned the exact same average score inbetween 260 other contestants. 

Paul Dejong: "Being a Malt Maniacs Juror... 2 Boxes arrived at my office, 260-odd 6-cl samples arrived... The mailman was curious why he had to bring such a heavy package...after all, I had never previously received anything remotely as heavy! It speaks for itself that my lips were sealed! At the earliest convenient moment, I started to unpack, and thanks to some usefull comments of fellow jurors a had soon found a method to help me make this daunting task a little less cumbersome. I have to admit to being not just a little bit apprehensive about the task at hand. I warned my wife that she would be a whisky widow for a couple of weeks from now on... So, the sight of 260 samples is one to behold!  The tasting of 260 samples ....in such a short period of time, is neigh on a herculean task! I was really wondering how Serge had "constructed" the flights, but he did a stern Job, as expected! And after the first 3 or 4 flights I thought: "are they kiddin?!" Is this really what the current whiskylandscape has to offer? I seriously started to doubt myself and my ability to detect a decent whisky... Untill the first "stunner-flight" came along! Oooff, there are still some stellar whisky's out there!

What a relief! One of the problems I had, and still have –if i'm honest- is how "honest" I can be? Some whisky profiles are absolutely "not my thing"... How hard can I slate them? That was the most difficult thing for me: should I, or should I not try to set aside my personal preferences? To give an example: let's assume i do not like peated whisky (i do like them, for those who wonder!)... I could slate everything peaty, because i basically don't like it, or I could try to set aside that preference and try to figure out if it was a good whisky or not. Being honest gives the clearest indication of the things you like, and probably a much bigger discrepancy in the scores, whereas trying to be objective is possible, but will still be coloured by preference , but will probably "cluster up" the scores much more... And "what you like" may not always indicate the real 'quality' of a whisky... I do have to agree, however, with some of the "colleagues": this exercise really is a great 'tool' to help finetune the palate! Not easy, a bit herculean, "questioning" yourself and your ability to the max, loads of fun at times...depressing at other times, but always a "hermit's job" as Bert so eloquently named it... I like it!"
 

Ho-cheng Yao: "Being a Malt Maniac Award juror is an honor but more with responsibility.
I can still remember the exciting and happiness when I first get my award sample parcel, and the same happiness remains the same even after 6 years. It was never an easy task to do blind tasting for 200+ samples within one month.  We are amateurs and we can only use after work time to do the tasting, we make mistakes, but we try to score the true feeling about the samples. Every year after I submit the score, I'll spend quite some time to see the list and trying to remember why I gave such high scores or not. This is the interesting part of blind tasting, I was never being able to recognize any one of them but glad the good ones really stand out after all maniacs' scores in.

This year is no difference, and I am very happy to see a Taiwan exclusive bottle score first in gold and won the Non-Plus-Ultra award. This Glendronach was not submitted by the distillery, nor the importer, but a third party of an amateur, CP Hsu. CP was invited to be the member of the tasting panel to choose this cask.  He know his pick can won the gold, and he is right! This is the spirit, and I hope sometime in the future, there will be more similar good bottles enter the competition. And it is also important to know there is no such bottles for Asian taste, but only good bottles. Just share with you!"
 

Johannes: Just like last year, we've published a PDF Score Card with both average scores and individual scores for all medal winning whiskies in this year's whisky competition. For the real whisky freaks, the overview of scores offers plenty of interesting insights. For example, it's funny to see how two ultra premium sister casks of Glenlivet earned an indentical score; the Glenlivet 35yo 1975/2010 (55%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, Sherry C#10862) and Glenlivet 35yo 1975/2010 (55%, Signatory CSC, Sherry Butt, C#10863). That gives us some confidence under these harsh dramming conditions...

The calculation of the average scores was quite easy this year; we didn't need a magic formula. That means that it's even easier to see which juror dragged certain bottles down. For example, Bert's score of 78 points for the Yamazaki 1995/2010 Kept it from winning a gold medal, even though six others did actually vote for gold. The selection of the winners of the awards was more difficult. We can never hand out as many awards as we'd like anyway, but this year the dice had fallen particularly confusing. Since we introduced the rule that any whisky could win no more than one award in a certain year, changing just one bottle in the line-up of awards winners often meant that we had to look for other winners in three or four other categories as well... So, the process was even more stressful than usual. Nevertheless, I think we finally managed to arrive at a selection that showcases some of the biggest stars this year.

Once again the whiskies from Japan proved that they can compete with the very best that Scotland has to offer - but as far as I'm concerned the biggest surprises were young whiskies from Taiwan and India. The Kavalan and Amrut distilleries are not active long enough to have built up sufficient old stocks to compete with the Scots and Japanese in the ultra premium bracket, but some of their younger releases are among the big winners this year. In the higher price brackets, the performance of Karuizawa was notable.

I'd like to make some more comments about the use of caramel and the suspicially high quality of whiskies that were distilled in 1972, but as you can see we've reached the end of the page. So, SLAINTHE!

Sweet drams,

Johannes van den Heuvel
Editor Malt Madness / Malt Maniacs