Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Warning: Legit-bait title. The ten year age statement isn't necessarily coming to an end, but it's about to change quicker than we may be expecting or preparing for. Some context first.
Back when these 10 year-old age statements first made their way to market, it was considered a venerable age - a sign of significant maturity - and their labelling statements made that proclamation clear. These days, that's been watered down a little, somehow, by some brands, and we tend to view a 10yo statement as an entry-level product. All that is about to change. Perhaps significantly. Why?
Well, just over the horizon there's a gathering cloud for our ten year old incumbents. Those that we have currently available face some weathering from an imminent storm made up not of thunder and rain, but the bright amber light of natural whisky. Does that sound a little fanciful? From where?
Well, in the next two to three years alone, potentially quite a few; Ardnamurchan, Wolfburn, Kinsbarns, InchDairnie, Harris and Glasgow will all have whisky of that age and the potential to release such an expression. Likewise Dalmunach, Ballindalloch, Annandale and Arbikie. Need some more? Let's push the future out to say... five to six years. Then we can include Torabhaig, Nc'Nean, Lindores, Raasay, Glen Wyvis, Clydeside, Dornoch, Borders, Brewdog, Aberargie and Ardnahoe. Too much? Perhaps there just won't be the demand for all this lovely, mature, small-scale made whisky, which places quality and flavour for single malt first? You think? Heard of Daftmill?
Let me be clear. I have no intel on the strategy of any of these distilleries, nor do I have any knowledge of their depth of stocks. But doesn't it just make sense? If Springbank, Ben Nevis and yes - even Daftmill - are being celebrated and vaporised at the current levels and price points, don't you think these up-and-coming upstarts will be looking on and thinking "We'll have some of that!"?
Anyway, in this week's vPub I'll be looking at the most vulnerable age statement that may become the subject of this dynamic. I'll select two of each established 10yo expressions from each Scotch malt-producing region and compare how they might stack up against these future contenders. All of them will be whiskies I'm happy to have at home, this isn't a dirt-throwing session.
But don't you think it's way more interesting than simply a subjective "hot list" of the best current ten year releases?
Really hope to welcome you there!
0:00 - Opening
1:28 - Intro to tonight's topic
3:23 - Welcome
11:48 - Starting with Regions - a discussion
13:34 - The Guardian of Islay(?)
22:08 - The threat to Islay's 10yo Guardian?
29:22 - 40% ABV vs higher
31:48 - Heading to the Islands
51:04 - Mainland Highlands Guardians
1:01:04 - What's the Highland region bringing?
1:11:54 - Is it a Speyside with Tim
Tim on YouTube : youtube.com/channel/UCe2sJOzNnFZ8HH7aHCAsnsg
Tim on Instagram : instagram.com/thewhiskyinfluencer/?hl=en
1:28:59 - Into Speyside - what's not happening there?
1:46:28 - The changing whisky market
1:57:15 - The Quiz at the End
Warning: Legit-bait title. The ten year age statement isn't necessarily coming to an end, but it's about to change quicker than we may be expecting or preparing for. Some context first.
Back when these 10 year-old age statements first made their way to market, it was considered a venerable age - a sign of significant maturity - and their labelling statements made that proclamation clear. These days, that's been watered down a little, somehow, by some brands, and we tend to view a 10yo statement as an entry-level product. All that is about to change. Perhaps significantly. Why?
Well, just over the horizon there's a gathering cloud for our ten year old incumbents. Those that we have currently available face some weathering from an imminent storm made up not of thunder and rain, but the bright amber light of natural whisky. Does that sound a little fanciful? From where?
Well, in the next two to three years alone, potentially quite a few; Ardnamurchan, Wolfburn, Kinsbarns, InchDairnie, Harris and Glasgow will all have whisky of that age and the potential to release such an expression. Likewise Dalmunach, Ballindalloch, Annandale and Arbikie. Need some more? Let's push the future out to say... five to six years. Then we can include Torabhaig, Nc'Nean, Lindores, Raasay, Glen Wyvis, Clydeside, Dornoch, Borders, Brewdog, Aberargie and Ardnahoe. Too much? Perhaps there just won't be the demand for all this lovely, mature, small-scale made whisky, which places quality and flavour for single malt first? You think? Heard of Daftmill?
Let me be clear. I have no intel on the strategy of any of these distilleries, nor do I have any knowledge of their depth of stocks. But doesn't it just make sense? If Springbank, Ben Nevis and yes - even Daftmill - are being celebrated and vaporised at the current levels and price points, don't you think these up-and-coming upstarts will be looking on and thinking "We'll have some of that!"?
Anyway, in this week's vPub I'll be looking at the most vulnerable age statement that may become the subject of this dynamic. I'll select two of each established 10yo expressions from each Scotch malt-producing region and compare how they might stack up against these future contenders. All of them will be whiskies I'm happy to have at home, this isn't a dirt-throwing session.
But don't you think it's way more interesting than simply a subjective "hot list" of the best current ten year releases?
Really hope to welcome you there!
0:00 - Opening
1:28 - Intro to tonight's topic
3:23 - Welcome
11:48 - Starting with Regions - a discussion
13:34 - The Guardian of Islay(?)
22:08 - The threat to Islay's 10yo Guardian?
29:22 - 40% ABV vs higher
31:48 - Heading to the Islands
51:04 - Mainland Highlands Guardians
1:01:04 - What's the Highland region bringing?
1:11:54 - Is it a Speyside with Tim
Tim on YouTube : youtube.com/channel/UCe2sJOzNnFZ8HH7aHCAsnsg
Tim on Instagram : instagram.com/thewhiskyinfluencer/?hl=en
1:28:59 - Into Speyside - what's not happening there?
1:46:28 - The changing whisky market
1:57:15 - The Quiz at the End
