by Evan
As we gently dip our toes into a new year, it is both a time to look forward and a time to look back. I cannot tell you all of what 2019 will bring for whisky here at Kensington Wine Market. Sure, you can pretty much guarantee there will be another KWM Whisky Advent Calendar, but what about upcoming single casks and exclusives? Some we can’t talk about yet, as the stock isn’t here or the pricing isn’t finalized. Some, we haven’t even selected yet.
So instead, let us cast our gaze back to 2018 and take a look at the year that was. Andrew commanded suggested we do a write-up revealing our top 25 best-selling whiskies of 2018. The idea sounded like a good way to keep my job fun, so I went to work on what became the overly verbose, unruly, lumbering beast full of links and ideas that you see below.
If you look at our list below, along with a list of the best-selling whiskies from around the world, you might be perplexed. Can this really be our shop’s list of best sellers? How is it that this list doesn’t include even one single bottle from the five top-selling single malts or twenty top-selling whiskies in the world?
This is what makes our shop different from other wine, beer and whisky retailers out there: We do carry much of what the big brands have to offer, but our primary focus is selling the more exclusive and unique styles and bottles that you might not be able to find elsewhere. That is why many of our own, specially selected, KWM single casks and store exclusives make up this list.
Sadly, some of these best-selling bottles are now out of stock. I have provided a few alternative options to these sold out bottles where possible. This is the nature and one potential downside to single casks and small batches. It is also part of what makes them so exciting and fun. The uniqueness of each cask is what draws us in, and that is a big reason why we spend a lot of time and effort searching for new casks to bring in.
25 – Benromach 10-Year-Old 100 Proof
This higher proof version of the already excellent Benromach 10 year is amazing and very well-priced for what you get. Springbank 12 year cask strength hunters, which are consistently disappointed that it is so sought after and nearly always sold out, should take note of this bottle if they have not already, as there are some similarities in style. Get it while you can! Bottled at 57% ABV or 100 British Proof, this bottling is sadly being phased out in favour of a cask strength Benromach. Here’s hoping it is just as good!
24 – Elements of Islay Peat Cask Strength / Full Proof
One of a duo (and sometimes a trifecta) of very good and inexpensive high-strength and heavily peated blended malts from Islay. This 500mL bottle of Blended Malt packs a punch at 59.3% ABV. This is also a great whisky for cocktails like our “Smoke n Coke,” which contain no actual Coca-cola products! Continue reading →
