500 Whiskys in Numbers: Our Statistics
500 whiskys, double blind tasted. A look at the numbers, trends and highlights from our journey through the world of whisky.
500 whiskys tasted. What started as a hobby has grown into a comprehensive database. Every single whisky was blind tasted, rated by two reviewers, and described in detail. Here we take a look at the numbers behind our journey.
The Key Numbers
Rating Distribution
Most ratings fall between 75 and 85 points — the range of solid to very good whiskys. The distribution shows a slight right skew: we tend to taste whiskys that appeal to us beforehand. Scores above 90 are rare and mark truly exceptional bottlings. Learn more about our rating system.
Our Highest Rated
Marcel's highest score: 96 points for the Strathisla 24 Years by Malts of Scotland. Sascha's top pick: 95 points for the Port Ellen 1982 by Malts of Scotland.
The Countries
Scotland dominates with 316 reviews, followed by Germany and the USA. Notably, Taiwan has the highest average rating of any country with just 5 reviews.
| Country | Count | Avg. Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 316 | 79.0 |
| Germany | 84 | 76.5 |
| USA | 26 | 76.6 |
| Ireland | 24 | 79.4 |
| Japan | 10 | 75.0 |
| Taiwan | 5 | 83.7 |
| Sweden | 5 | 72.8 |
| Wales | 4 | 72.6 |
| Australia | 3 | 74.3 |
| England | 3 | 77.0 |
The Distilleries
We've tasted whiskys from 179 different distilleries. Here are the ten most represented — with Bruichladdich leading in average rating:
| Distillery | Count | Avg. Rating |
|---|---|---|
| St. Kilian | 34 | 79.8 |
| Northoff Feinbrennerei | 12 | 83.8 |
| Nc'Nean | 10 | 80.0 |
| Midleton | 9 | 79.8 |
| Talisker | 9 | 81.2 |
| Ardbeg | 8 | 80.8 |
| GlenAllachie | 8 | 80.9 |
| Bruichladdich | 7 | 85.4 |
| Glen Moray | 7 | 75.4 |
| Wolfburn | 7 | 78.6 |
Price Analysis
The average price per litre is €146. The range spans from the Ben Bracken Highland Peated at €20/L to the Benromach 40 Jahre at €2,856/L.
Best Value Picks
32 whiskys carry our Value for Money seal 💸. See all Value for Money winners in our top list. Here are some of the best entry-level options:
Age and ABV
| Age Group | Count |
|---|---|
| No Age Statement (NAS) | 200 |
| 3–10 Years | 127 |
| 11–15 Years | 107 |
| 16–20 Years | 30 |
| 21–25 Years | 21 |
| Over 25 Years | 15 |
Marcel vs. Sascha
Sascha rates 0.7 points higher on average than Marcel. For most whiskys, we're closely aligned. The Talisker 18 Years is our highest-rated whisky with perfect agreement: both scored 91 points.
The biggest disagreement was on the Rock Island Small Batch by Douglas Laing — a full 24-point gap between Marcel (55) and Sascha (79):
Whisky Types
Single Malt dominates with 383 out of 500 whiskys (77%). The rest is spread across blends, bourbon, pot still and other categories:
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Single Malt | 383 |
| Blended Malt | 25 |
| Blended Whisky | 19 |
| Straight Bourbon | 13 |
| Single Pot Still | 9 |
| Bourbon / Rye / Other | 51 |
From the first review to today, not only has the number changed, but also our methodology and our palates. The next 500 are already waiting — Slàinte mhath! 🥃
Frequently Asked Questions
How does WHISKY:EDITION rate whiskys?
Every whisky is independently blind tasted by Marcel and Sascha and rated on a scale of 0 to 100. The average of both scores produces the overall rating.
What does the Value for Money seal mean?
Whiskys with above-average quality at a fair price receive our Value for Money seal 💸. Currently 32 out of 500 whiskys carry this distinction.
Why are some whisky types missing from the overview?
We grouped rare types like Indian Whisky, Oat Whiskey, or Wheat Malt Whiskey (each with 1–2 reviews) under "Other" to keep the table concise.