There’s a Gaping Hole in the OSWAs 2025

There’s a Gaping Hole in the OSWAs 2025

Now that all the chagim are over and things have more or less settled down to a new norm after our beautiful family simcha (my youngest son and his kalla decided to get married on Erev Roshana - yes, that's not a typo), I am finally getting round to uploading a review of the Glencadam American Oak Reserve which I wrote months ago. Stay tuned for that.

Looking over the review before uploading reminded me that it’s that time of the year again when the annual OSWAs - The Online Scotch Whisky Awards 2025 are presented. What triggered this mental connection? Well, it’s because Single Malts like the Glencadam American Oak Reserve have absolutely zero chance of appearing in any of the OSWAs categories, despite being the perfect choice in my opinion, for those drinkers new to Single Malt Whiskies. This fact leads me to the conclusion that there is, in my opinion, a gaping hole in the potential list of OSWA categories.

I have criticised the OSWAs before on this website and will continue to make the same point again and again until, Be’ezras Hashem, the situation is corrected.

But first, let me say that there is no doubt in my mind that Roy Duff and Ralphy Mitchel’s OSWAs (Online Scotch Whisky Awards) is by far the most reliable and trustworthy awards for evaluating the current state of the Scotch Whisky industry and to a lesser extent, the entire whisky industry throughout the world, bar none.

Why?

Because it is not run by marketing departments, advertising agencies or media journalists, but by real whisky enthusiasts who judge a whisky by the quality of the spirit alone. As such (and you cannot say this about any other whisky awards), fellow whisky lovers can trust the results as an accurate measure of what’s good, great and even superb currently on the market.

Having said all this, there is, in my opinion, a gaping hole in the different categories of whiskies they cover and that is what I call the "Entry Level / Gateway Single Malts".

Yes, they do have a category called “Best Value Whisky” but it has never included the type of Single Malts real first-timers would actually buy.

This year’s Best Value Whisky 2025” list looks like this:

Notice that the price of these whiskies, range from £42 to £65.

Us Whisky enthusiasts have to realise that a “whisky curious” person is hardly likely to spend £45 on a Single Malt, just to find out if it’s actually superior to a common Scotch Blend. In my experience of talking to hundreds of people in this situation, it is obvious to me that if they do decide to dip their toes into the “Single Malt Whisky” water, they aren't prepared to spend more than about 150 Shekels (or about £35 in the UK). Indeed, the Glenfiddich 12, The Glenlivet 12, Glenmorangie 12, Cardhu 12 and Singleton of Dufftown 12 – the most well-known of all Entry Level / Gateway Single Malts, are all priced at around 120-150 Shekels.

It is frankly, ridiculous to think that those in the “Curious about Single Malts” sector will be willing to purchase a Glencadam 10, a Benromach 10, let alone an Ardnamurchan AD with their price tags in order to satisfy their whisky curiosity.

In my opinion, the OSWAs needs to stop being so snobbish and understand that they must find a way to include these “Entry Level / Gateway” Single Malts in these awards to inform the newbies the best ones to try. Similarly, it will assist us whisky enthusiasts in recommending something from this sector when asked, and believe me, we WILL be asked.

They may be enticed by the pretty artwork on the Tomintoul 10 or the impressive looking bottle of the Cardhu 12 and based on this, purchase one of them and inevitably end up disappointed. Latest releases of the Tomintoul 10 have a very off-putting bitter almond and iodine nose to it. (15-Years ago it used to be one of my recommended whiskies. Not anymore - in my opinion of course).

As for the Cardhu 12, well, it's the Cardhu 12! Impressive looking but then everything goes downhill from the moment you open the bottle.

Likewise, Loch Lomond 10 is a decent enough whisky but newbies will find it far too spicy and dry, again IMO. Who is to tell them to avoid these bottles and go for ones that they'll enjoy far more, for a similar price?

Photo taken from Masters of Malt website

The snobbery does not just end at the price tag or the judges’ warped perception of what constitutes “value for money”. Casual whisky drinkers will think nothing of pouring the whisky straight from the bottle into a glass and drinking it, knowing nothing about the art of adding water to high ABV whiskies. Consequently, a well-designed “Entry Level” Single Malt should be no more than 43% abv. Otherwise, a newbie will try and drink say, a whisky bottled at 46%-50% and conclude that it’s too spirit-y, harsh and certainly not “smooth”, the perceived “Gan Eden” state of whisky-land perfection. They will have no idea that you are supposed to dilute these Single Malts, according to your personal taste-buds and will probably be put off by the experience.

Another thing. Despite the fact that I personally don't believe these Gateway whiskies actually need E150a caramel colouring added to give the whisky a fake tan, I do however understand why the companies do it. As yet uneducated drinkers, used to Scotch Blends, mistakenly believe that all Scotch Whisky should be a Caramel brown colour and anything paler indicates a lack of flavour.

Any Single Malt Whisky bottled at minimum legal 40% abv and / or having E150a colouring, will pretty much guarantee that it will never be a nominee in any category at the OSWAs, yet, these characteristics are necessary in a good Entry Level / Gateway Single Malt.

The same goes for any whisky which is chill-filtered. Unless I'm reviewing an Entry Level / Gateway Single Malt, I personally will only purchase whisky which is Non-Chill-Filtered as the chill-filtration process strips the whisky of a large percentage of the overall flavour and texture.

With and without a drop of water

Does this look appetising?

Having said all that, I recently bought a Glen Moray "Warehouse 1" Tequila Cask Finish, bottled at Cask Strength and which is also Natural Colour and Unchilled Filtered. I am not exaggerating at all when I tell you that just adding a tiny drop of water, instantly turns the liquid into something resembling dirty washing-up water. It's like an impressive school chemistry experiment or magic trick.

Despite this Glen Moray being absolutely delicious, I can well understand why its appearance might instinctively put many people off when the whisky in the glass suddenly resembles spoilt sour looking apple juice.

So, in this category of "integrity-challenged" Single Malts, you have a list which includes :-

The Glenlivet 12, Glenmorangie 12, Glenfiddich 12, Glenfiddich 12 American Oak, Glencadam American Oak, Loch Lomond Original, Loch Lomond 10, Glen Scotia 10, Glen Moray Classic, Glen Moray 12 and Tomintoul 10 as well as a dozen others.

If "The Powers At Be" were to add a new Entry Level / Gateway Single Malt category then my dominees might look something like this:

Note: This category page is not real. It's my own fantasy.

…and what would be my winners?

So, for bang for buck and pure taste: Out of these:

No.3                 Glenfiddich 12 American Oak (Yellow can)

Runner-Up       Glen Scotia 10

The Winner     Glencadam American Oak Reserve

(Made Up image)

See my next review for more details....