Was it the crowds (insane), the heat (manageable), or the rumor that some lady had thrown up near the buffet an hour into the event (just gross, yet credible)?

Whatever the case this year I found myself not in the whiskey groove at the ordinarily smashing Whiskies of the World San Francisco event. It was probably the crowds that did it, literally shoulder to shoulder as people muscled their way through a far-too-small ballroom en route to well over 100 artisan spirits. Plenty of good stuff was being poured — I know, because I’ve tried a lot of it in the past — but the scene was so crazy that really enjoying the experience was tough.

Still, some favorites were certainly discoverable. My tops of the night: Ardmore’s 30 Year Old single malt, a powerful companion to its Traditional Cask, which I’ve written about here a few times before. Other favorites I’ve had before, including Glenmorangie Lasanta, and Tomintoul’s 27 and 31 Year Old Scotches.

Complete ratings (and limited notes) follow:

Whiskies of the World San Francisco 2010

Bourbon and Others

Buffalo Trace Bourbon / B+

Dickel Barrel Select Bourbon / B+

Corsair Artisan Triple Smoke Whiskey / B- / immature

Dry Fly 100% Wheat Whiskey / B+

Lark Single Cask Single Malt Whisky / A-

St. George Single Malt Whiskey / B / thin

Bushmills 1608 Crystal Malt / B+ / not showing well tonight, normally a fave

High West Mountain Rye / B-

Scotch

Aberfeldy 12 Year Old / A-

Ardmore 30 Year Old / A

Balblair 1991 / B / hot

Bruichladdich Organic / A-

Glenmorangie Lasanta Sherry Cask 12 Year Old / A-

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Port Cask 12 Year Old / B+

Isle of Jura 16 Year Old / B+

Isle of Skye 8 Years Old / B+

Johnnie Walker Blue Label / B+ / still a letdown

Johnnie Walker Swing / B / a peaty style from JW, weird

Laphroaig Cask Strength / B+ / the 10 year old at 111 proof

Mackillops Choice Glenlivet 1977 / B / got to meet Lorne Mackillop in person, at last

Mackillops Choice Highland Park 1980 / B+

Old Pulteney 17 Year Old / B

Old Pulteney 21 Year Old / B

Tomintoul 16 Year Old / B+

Tomintoul 27 Year Old / A- / nicely smooth, liked better than the 31 this time

Tomintoul 31 Year Old / A-

Miscellany

Corsair Red Absinthe / B+ / intriguing, colored with hibiscus

Germain-Robin Craft-Method Brandy XO / B+

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