...where distraction is the main attraction.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Single Malt Report Standings as of July 21, 2012

Let's check in on the standing after two weeks...

(My methodology uses pageview counts from three different sources in an attempt to suss out which posts are spammer heavy and which ones are getting the real clicky traffic.  Then I apply a very (not) sophisticated algorithm.  And from that I get a Top Ten.)

SINGLE MALT REPORT STANDINGS AS OF 7/7/2012 (out of 86 posts / 95 whiskies):

#10  Lauder's Blended Scotch Whisky NC

#9  Millstone 8-year-old French Oak, Dutch Single Malt -1
Lauder's and Millstone are almost tied now.  Macallan 12 has put some ground between itself and them.  So 10th place is essentially a battle between a post visited for its pictures of windmills and, um, Lauder's.

#8  The Macallan 12-year-old Single Malt +1
I finally got a prediction right.  As news about the future of the Macallan range spreads, so do the Macallan post views.  Mac 12 is now solidly in eighth.

#7 Powers Gold Label (Blended Irish Whiskey) NC
Again, Powers Gold keeps getting bushels of clicks.  That's okay with me.

#6  The Macallan 18-year-old Single Malt NC
This has gotten interesting.  Mac 18 is now almost tied with Chivas.  I thought Chivas would have taken the #4 spot by now, but it's likely to be kicked down to 6th by Mac 18 this week.

#5 Chivas Regal 12-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky NC
The Chivas excitement has been curbed.  After madly streaking like Frank the Tank, its views have mellowed out.  Its daily view average has dropped 65% in the past month.

#4  J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky NC
J&B's spot is secure, though it's entirely possible that Mac 18 will challenge it in August.

#3  The Glenlivet 15-year-old French Oak Reserve Single Malt NC
'Livet 15 is actually pulling better daily numbers than Famous Grouse but is so far behind that it'll be stuck here for a looooong time.

#2  The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky NC
Views continue to slow but the Grouse's spot is secure.

#1  Glenfiddich 12-year-old Single Malt NC
Number one.  Carve it in stone.



BIG MOVERS
(note: adjustments have been made to the Ardbeg Taste Off views since I discovered that three posts have been getting lots of spambot views)

UP
Springbank Spring Break, Part 2 jumps up 9 spots to #39
Jameson Blended Irish Whiskey continues to climb, moving up another 7 to 31st place
Dewar's 12-year-old Special Reserve hops seven spots to #29.  Really, people?
Bulleit Rye Whiskey keeps movin' on up, this week it's 7 spots to 26th place.  That's a 25 ranking climb in four weeks.

DOWN
No big drops this time.
Springbank Spring Break, Part 1 went the opposite direction of Part 2, dropping 5 places to #27
Bunnahabhain 12-year-old plops down 4 spaces to 24th
Macallan Cask Strength moves down 4 spots to #33
Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon drops 4 to #35
Michael Collins Irish Blended Whiskey drops 4 places to 45th

NOTES FOR THIS WEEK, BAD PREDICTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK

As mentioned in the Movers note, there was a weird glut of hits on the three Ardbeg Taste Off posts that didn't show up on the more legitimate metrics measurements.  So I've handicapped their counts and will keep an eye on them.

There are two legitimate challengers to the Top Ten now.  I'm rooting for either of them to supplant Lauder's.  But I doubt that sort of change will occur before the next set of standings.

I'm predicting some moving and shaking amongst the Top Ten over the next two weeks.  There's been a lot of movement in the Top Twenty and I expect that to continue.  Yes, the blends are moving in, but there are some surprise single malts holding ground.

The Glen Garioch 12-year-old was the only rookie to debut in the Top Fifty.  My next few reports are quite the mixed bag, so I have no idea how they'll fare, view-wise.

This two-week pause worked pretty well again, so I intend to list the next round of standings on the weekend of the 4th.

Thanks again!