I don't really do the sit-in-front-of-a-shelf-and-review-every-bottle thing. Most of my reviews come in groups, where I taste a bunch of bottles and tell you which ones I'd buy again and which ones I wouldn't. I reckon the empty bottle is the best time to judge a whisky, which is why I do the videos on what I've bought and finished.
So if you're about to spend proper money on a bottle, here's which video to watch first.
Buying for a special occasion
10 Whiskies To Try Before You Die. The ones I'd put on a bucket list.
Top 5 Overrated Whiskies (Buy These Instead!). Watch this before you buy a Johnnie Walker Blue or a Macallan 12 as a present. I'd go Glenmorangie Signet or Balblair 15 instead of the Blue Label, and Tamdhu 12 instead of the Macallan.
I Tried Whisky In Every Price Point - Cheap vs Expensive, if you're wondering whether spending more gets you a better dram.
My Top 5 Scotch Whiskies of 2025 (Whisky of the Year), my favourites from last year.
Scotch
Bourbon
Scotch Drinker Ranks the Top 10 Bourbons. Ten bourbons ranked from a Scotch drinker's point of view, handy if you're crossing over.
Whiskey vs Scotch vs Bourbon Explained, if you're not sure what the difference actually is.
World whisky
World Whisky of the Year 2025. Morris Muscat from Australia took it.
My BEST Non-Scotch Whiskies of 2024 (surprising winner!). Cotswolds Peated Cask from England won that year.
Other channels I rate
There are heaps of good people doing this. If you want more reviews, I put together a list of the whisky YouTube channels I'd follow, bourbon ones included. And if you're still working out what you like, my flavour guide is a good place to start before you watch any of these.
Quick answers
Where can I find honest video reviews of Scotch and bourbon?
My channel, First Phil Whisky, is mostly Scotch with bourbon and world whisky mixed in, and the videos above are sorted by what you're buying for. For more, here's my list of whisky channels worth following.
What whisky should I buy for a special occasion?
Depends on the person, but my overrated video has the swaps I'd make for the famous gift bottles, like Tamdhu 12 instead of Macallan 12 and Balblair 15 instead of Johnnie Walker Blue. If they love smoke, Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength.
Slàinte,
Phil
