I’m fortunate enough to try a lot of whisky throughout the year—like, a lot—and in 2025 I tasted just over 200 different drams. Because I’m a bit OCD with my approach, I spreadsheet the hell out of it: specs, notes, and scores for every single whisky. That means at the end of the year I can filter everything down to the absolute best bottles I tried—based on flavour, balance, complexity, and sheer enjoyment, not just price tag or rarity. In this video I count down my Top 10 whiskies of 2025, clumped into three score bands because I had a bunch of ties. You’ll hear why aged Australian whisky can be mind-blowingly harmonious (and also eye-wateringly expensive thanks to our high angel’s share), why I rate independent bottlers so highly for special older Scotch, and why you shouldn’t write off single grain—especially once it’s had a couple of decades to properly come alive. I also share a genuine surprise: a Chinese peated single malt that smashed my expectations. My biggest takeaway? Build a network of whisky mates who swap samples—because it’s the best way to try rare, limited releases and expand your palate at the same time.