3 Whiskies that have gotten worse & 2 who have been redeemed

Has your favourite Scotch whisky gone downhill? Are this popular whiskies as good as they once were and is their any Scotch brands that have gotten better with age?

Has Whisky Really Gotten Worse?

After a recent dram of Talisker 10 left me wondering where the flavour had gone, I started thinking about how some of our favourite bottles have changed over the years. So, in this video, I’m putting that whisky myth to the test with three whiskies I think have got worse, alongside two that have genuinely improved.

Talisker 10 has gotten worse

Talisker 10 was a whisky that played a huge part in my own journey into Scotch. I remember sharing miniatures with friends years ago and being blown away by the salty cinnamon, brine and unmistakable maritime character. It was the sort of dram that made you want to buy a bottle immediately.

Yet more recent experiences have left me seriously underwhelmed. What once felt like a windswept dram from the coast has, to me, become strangely limp. Even a bottle from a friend’s collection failed to deliver those memories. Is the liquid actually different, or are nostalgia and expectations playing tricks on me?

Jura has improved from Jura 10 to new Jura 12

Jura 10 has gone in the opposite direction. Despite its bargain-basement presentation and 40% ABV, the current release is performing far beyond expectations. Having worked my way through various Jura expressions over the years, I genuinely think this is one of the strongest versions yet.

It might not challenge the likes of Springbank or Kilchoman, but compared with the previous bar Jura set, it has cleared it comfortably.

Speyburn 15 has been ruined

A former hidden gem that looks increasingly difficult to defend. The older 46% version earned plenty of love and felt like a secret for enthusiasts, but the move towards 40% has left many whisky fans questioning what happened to one of the category’s underrated staples. I haven’t even tried the new version yet.

Check out the full video to discover more brands which have gotten worse or better over the years.