Whisky and the launch of the iPad
In 2010, 33 Chilean miners were heroically rescued after being trapped underground for 69 days, showcasing global solidarity and engineering prowess. The inaugural Youth Olympic Games took place in Singapore, celebrating young athletes. The world embraced the first iPad, and Haiti received international support following a devastating earthquake.
The whisky industry saw several key releases. Redbreast 15-Year-Old gained prominence as one of the finest examples of pot still Irish whiskey, rich in flavor yet incredibly balanced. In Scotland, Glenfiddich released its Snow Phoenix, an exceptional whisky created from casks saved from a warehouse collapse due to heavy snow—a literal phoenix rising from the ashes.
Among independent bottlers, Elixir Distillers' Elements of Islay series gained significant attention. The series used chemical symbols to identify distilleries, such as "Lg" for Lagavulin or "Ar" for Ardbeg, and focused on showcasing the elemental nature of Islay whiskies. The Auld Alliance, a lesser-known but highly esteemed bottler, also released a series of well-aged expressions that quickly gained a following among collectors. Despite the year’s global adversities, the whisky industry persevered, offering moments of joy and opportunities for long-term investment.