Ratings System

We want to provide our readers with independent, honest and authentic tests and reviews, and enable the formation of an informed opinion. Although reviews are subjective by nature, we will do our best to research and present accurate, objective information wherever possible.

Most of our test beverages and accessories we buy personally or they are provided to us by companies for testing. Whether a beverage or item is purchased or provided makes no difference in our tests, what counts is the subjective opinion of the tester.

There is no money for unmarked posts from any companies. We consistently reject this. Advertising will be marked.

Invitations to events also do not influence our opinion and do not ensure that we report positively.

Independent websites live on the trust of readers and their own credibility. This is priceless.

Those who believe that provided test equipment and event invitations influence our honest opinion are wrong. Items purchased by us personally do not receive better ratings, but are rated like any other item.

Likewise, the assumption is false that we operate this site to receive free samples or products.

Scale

0 to 9: Simply Cheeky. Doesn't deserve the name. BBQ lighter fluid?
10 to 19: Catastrophic. Not worth drinking.
20 to 29: Bad. The water served with it is more valuable.
30 to 39: Drinkable. Maybe it tastes better in a cocktail?
40 to 49: Below Average. Drinkable. We wouldn't spend money on it.
50 to 59: Average. This is where most whiskys for beginners are found.
60 to 69: Good. Still missing that certain something.
70 to 79: Very Good. We would drink a dram of this anytime.
80 to 89: Excellent. If our conscience allows, we would grab this anytime.
90 to 99: World Class. Tasting this is an unforgettable experience.
100: Perfect. Does this even exist?

Preparation

Taste and smell depend on the environment, the company, the glass and your daily condition. A smoky whisky tastes different in a bar with dark oak wood interior than in a well-lit seminar room with white walls. To ensure the most objective basis for a rating, we adhere to the following guidelines:

Each whisky is tasted in the recommended glass. This ensures perfect aroma development.
Each whisky is tasted by two people. Since you don't drink alone and whisky thrives on company, shared enjoyment goes without saying. The exchange about the perceived aromas helps to better assess the whisky.
Each whisky is tasted in a neutral room. This ensures that the environment provides the necessary neutral basis.
Each whisky is tasted multiple times. Taste and smell are often influenced by personal daily condition and previously consumed food and beverages. Multiple tastings help reduce this distortion.

Tasting

"Blind tasting is the only way to get an honest and authentic rating."

We are fortunate that one of us tastes the whisky blind while the other takes notes. This allows the taster to fully focus on the whisky without being influenced by the packaging or name. This allows us an unbiased assessment of the whisky that few in the blogger, influencer or whisky expert world can implement.

Nose: Nosing refers to smelling the various aromas that the whisky releases after it has been allowed to rest in the glass for a few minutes. Humans can smell 1,000 times more than they can taste, and the majority of our taste sensations are generated in the nose. Therefore, nosing is an important part of tasting.

Palate: Then the whisky is tasted. It's important to only chew tiny sips so the palate gets used to the alcohol. Tasting is related to the sensory receptors on the tongue. The whisky is placed for several seconds at the front, middle and back of the tongue to perceive the variety of aromatic effects. The final finish stimulates the sensory receptors through the aromatic molecules in the back of the throat.

Finish: The finish describes the aftertaste of the whisky in the mouth after swallowing. It assesses how long the aromas remain in the mouth and how the taste changes. A long, pleasant finish is often a sign of a high-quality whisky.

Thoughts

We summarize our impression and opinion of the whisky in a two to three sentence conclusion to convey our result in support of the rating scale.

Value for Money

Finally, we assign a rating to the whisky to represent the price-performance ratio. A price-performance winner is a whisky that offers an outstanding taste experience (min. 80 points) at an excellent price (5/5 points).

0: No rating. If a bottle costs over €250/l, the rating is omitted, as we are in the realm of pure luxury.
1: Very expensive. The whisky is not worth the money.
2: Expensive. The whisky offers little for the money.
3: Fair. The whisky is worth the money.
4: Good. The whisky offers a good price-performance ratio.
5: Excellent. This whisky offers an outstanding price-performance ratio.