[midwinter]

Ok. I searched the forum and I think this should be ok.

I'm looking for another scotch to try. As some of you might remember from back before the great schism, I am normally a bourbon drinker, but in the past year I have taught myself to drink scotch.

Right now, I'm finishing a fifth of Oban, which is really quite nice, and clearly the highlands varieties don't bother me.

Can anyone recommend something else? Preferably in the same price range as Oban (it's about $50 a fifth here)?

Cheers

[_Ω_]

Lagavulin

[midwinter]

Ooh! I have had that! Part of the purpose of this thread is to remind me of the scotches I had recently at a Robert Burns party.

The scotch was arranged geographically.

I, um, don't remember much.

[_Ω_]

Glenmorangie I believe is the biggest selling whisky in Scotland and I have even had the pleasure of having the Maltmans Reserve which came in a ceramic bottle shaped like the stills (?).

They tend to be a little sweeter than the norm but the whole range is considered to be solid. Out of the wood finishes I prefered the Sherry, even though I am a port drinker.

Glenlivet is the oldest registered distillery (making whisky was banned many moons ago).

Other notable's:

Laphroiag
Talisker
The Macallan

For a cheapy I have always found Dimple to be a good buy, better than Chivas.

The only one I am really holding out to try is actually an Aberlour a'bunadh which goes ol' skool in the production technique and is typically 60% alc like the old days.

[Kickaha]

The Macallan 12yr is quite nice, but I prefer the 18yr or Cask Strength.

Balvenie 21yr Port Cask Aged is a house favorite here as well.

[synistyr]

If you're looking for something just out there with smoke and peat, Laphroaig is the one that always comes to mind. I think anything from that area will have similar characteristics, but no where nearly as smokey.

On the opposite end, for something silky and smooth, like liquid honey, I'd take Dalwhinnie.

And for an "everyday" scotch, I tend to like the sherry-cask finished Glen Livet. Which is nice, because with the Glen Livet, it's "easier" to have another glass because it's not too smokey or too sweet.

[Franz Josef]

Laphroiag is one of the finest around - it's a single malt (ie not blended) from the island of Islay off Scotland. As mentioned above, it has a rich peaty taste you won't find elsewhere. If you're going for a Laphroaig you have the choice of a 10yr, 10yr cask strength, 15yr old and 30yr old. The 30yr is quite exceptionally smooth. I recommend you go for the best your budget will allow.

Happy drinking

[709]

I just soak a pair of smelly dirty socks in Jameson for a month. Nobody's been able to tell the difference yet.

[holbox]

All of the above sound great! Bring them on .......

However, my "all time favorite drink" is Bushmills Irish Wiskey (neat), with a glass of Ginger Ale as a chaser.

Not that far removed from your beloved Scotch. Give it a try sometime!

[_Ω_]

Irish Whiskey does indeed have a charm!

For the price you pay the quality you get tends to be superior. Unfortunately it does not seem to have the range that the Scot's has.

I came by a free bottle of Johnnie Red lately and what a mission to drink that shite. Much gingerale and coke was needed to wash it down

[drewprops]

Where's Sir Mac O'The Isles when you need him??

[Sir Mac o' the Isles]

Here I am, my guid sir!

There is a monutain's worth o folklore, myth and magic surrounding Scotch, o' coorse.I hae known maist o' the above brands wi' an intimate and fiery passion. Glenfiddich is probably less harsh than some - and very popular. The Islay malts are - tae my mind - the maist distinctive. However, the one which maist captures my imagination - though I've never seen it in all its golden (or possibly greenish) splendour - is (heresy!) a South American brand. viz...

Stories are told of early Japanese whiskies with names such as 'King Anne', but a personal favourite concerns a whisky produced in Ecuador. One can only conjecture about the origins of the name, and speculate that perhaps a disgruntled expatriate Scotsman was asked to help choose something suitable. The whisky is marketed as 'Auld Piss.'

from http://www.nwp.co.uk/show_publication.cfm?pub_id_var=13

There is a certain cache associated wi' malts, (some might say that the skills o' the marketing men tae blend and craft the image is at least the equal o' the distillers magic touch). For me - I'm afraid, poor and destitute as I am, it's usually the supermarket special at £7.00 a litre.

Onyway...

http://www.whiskymag.com/

nb. Youngsters! You jist stick tae cola/pop/soda whitever ye call it. Whisky makes ye auld and gnarled, wi' a big ginger beard like me.

[Mr.Fusion]

I am a single malt man myself. I just opened a bottle of the Balvenie PortWood 21 yr, and DAMN -- Nectar of the Gods. Oh, and I'm quite partial to Glen Rossie as well. In general, I have never felt that blends were quite as authentically appreciable as the single malts.

Interestingly, though, last weekend I had the opportunity to try Johnnie Walker Green Label, and let me tell you, I have never enjoyed a blended scotch so much. Nice high proof, and ONLY malt whiskies are used. Until recently, this variety was very difficult to find in the United States, but I have a feeling it's going to become quite popular. Thank you, Diageo!

On the bourbon side, I'd have to say Jack Daniel's Single barrel is my favorite.

There are my whiskies of the moment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Long Live the Scots!

[Kickaha]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fusion I am a single malt man myself. I just opened a bottle of the Balvenie PortWood 21 yr, and DAMN -- Nectar of the Gods.

Good sheet mon, no?

That's my wife's favorite. I prefer the kick of The Macallan 18yr, but man, the Balvenie is a great summer scotch.

Ever notice that? I drink almost exclusively richer and more robust scotches in the winter, and 'lighter' scotches in the summer. Not that the summer scotches are any less good, layered, or exquisite, but they're just... different. They go better with the heat. I think it's a bit like drinking porters in the winter and IPAs in the summer.

[Mr.Fusion]

Originally Posted by Kickaha Good sheet mon, no? That's my wife's favorite. I prefer the kick of The Macallan 18yr, but man, the Balvenie is a great summer scotch. Ever notice that? I drink almost exclusively richer and more robust scotches in the winter, and 'lighter' scotches in the summer. Not that the summer scotches are any less good, layered, or exquisite, but they're just... different. They go better with the heat. I think it's a bit like drinking porters in the winter and IPAs in the summer.

I know exactly what you're saying, come to think of it. I'm not sure I ever really thought about it this way before, but it makes quite a lot of sense. Over the winter I had been cradling a nice bottle of Laphroaig, and now my taste seems to have shifted a bit. Thankfully, there are ample ranges of Scotch for us to enjoy the whole year 'round!

That reminds me - it's time to seek out Sam Adams' Summer Ale.

[curiousuburb]

I've probably posted before of my preference for Macallan and sherry or port finished single malts. Sadly, my Glendronach 15 and GlenGoyne 21 are almost gone.

My last trip through Heathrow's Duty Free Whisky Nirvana scored:

• Macallan Cask Strength (10 yr old)
• Jura Superstition (a blend of 13 and 21 yr old single malts)

Each is formidable neat, (the Jura extremely peaty... almost tequila-like to some) but both bottles reveal added layers of complexity when kissed by water.

I'm normally a neat drinker and share with some a preference for the Macallan 18 over the 12, and watering down scotch always seemed scandalous to me, but the experts in the shop offered samples to illustrate. Truly a distinct set of flavours and notes with even a splash of water. A new excuse for further testing, perhaps.

[liam]

As a Englishman with Irish parents it pains me to say that a really good, readily available scotch is Laphroigh (spelling may be a little off but it's pronounced la-froig). Not as sickly or sweet as some drops, nice and dry, very peaty, almost refreshing.

[julesstoop]

The best I ever tasted was a 24 year old Brora.
At home I usually keep a bottle of Lagavulin handy.
I also particularly like the 18 yr Glenmorangie.

For sweet and simple (low threshold drinking) I think a Jameson (=Irish) is just fine.

[Bill M]

Scotch straight, on the rocks: single malt Glen Livet, Glenfiddich

With soda: el cheapo Chivas or Buchanan's

[synistyr]

On the rocks?? With soda? *gasp*

May the scotch snobs not read your post!

[Bill M]

maybe I should delete my post to be on the safe side!!!

[midwinter]

Just an update: I picked up the Laphroiag, which I thought was the Lagavulin. Imagine my surprise when I took a whiff of that smokey, peaty aroma! Gave a sip to the wife, who liked the Oban, and she immediately started coughing and claiming "you screwed me! you screwed me! this is evil! I'll buy my own damned Oban!"

I'd told her it was like Oban. Heh.

[Eugene]

I wonder how many recommending Laphroaig actually like the taste or have actually even tried it. I'm fairly confident 90% of people who try it wouldn't enjoy it. 9% would be whiskey/scotch snobs who force themselves to enjoy it. 1% would actually truly appreciate it. I've got a bottle of the 10yr. stuff in my liquor cabinet and it almost never gets touched, because well, I don't like really like the taste of mud...

[midwinter]

Heh. Well, I don't mind it. But it's the kind of thing that I definitely have to be in the mood for.

[julesstoop]

The 10 yr Laphroaig is quite harsh and 'medicinal' (Yes I'm part of Eugene's 1%) The more rare 15 yr is really something special. Great malt.

[Chinney]

Ach, since I suggested to the long-lost AI Midwinter guy to (re)start this thread here, I'd better add my piece...

A few points:

1. The degree to which it is mentioned here indicates that Laphroaig is over the 1% mark. Rich, complex and stinky. But lots of people like stinky.

2. Many other Scotch single malts are great in their own way. I like the Glenlivet for sheer refinement and smoothness coupled with a rich taste.

3. Gotta make a plug for Alberta Springs Rye - not a Scotch and probably not available where you are - but good if you can get it. A Rye actually made from Rye.

[Eugene]

Originally Posted by Chinney 1. The degree to which it is mentioned here indicates that Laphroaig is over the 1% mark. Rich, complex and stinky. But lots of people like stinky.

Well, my reply indicates that 10% of people who try it will probably recommend it, but only 1% will actually really like it. And I stand by that claim. The 10yr stuff is harsh stuff, and the 15yr did not taste exceptionally different to me. In fact it seemed like it had more aroma, but on the palate was very much the same.

[Kickaha]

I'm with you Eugene. Laphroaig has this mystique among scotch drinkers, that I think most neophytes translate to 'what you're supposed to like if you're a *real* scotch drinker'... and so it continues.

Most long-term scotch drinkers I know that have a lot of experience and a varied cabinet don't really care for it. They may recognize the uniqueness of it, and the crafting that went into it, but it doesn't fit their palate. I'm in that group. Most Laphraoig devotees I know are... how shall I put this nicely... posers. Folks trying to impress, for instance. Not saying all Laphraoig drinkers are by any means, but it seems to be *the* scotch that the insecure select to prove their scotch fu. I've had someone tell me flat out that if I don't like Laphraoig, I can't be a 'real' scotch drinker... of course five minutes of conversation showed that he hadn't a clue as to much of any other types of scotch, he was just passing along hearsay. OTOH, I have a good friend who *loves* it, and he has a scotch selection and palate to die for.

[Franz Josef]

Originally Posted by julesstoop The 10 yr Laphroaig is quite harsh and 'medicinal' (Yes I'm part of Eugene's 1%) The more rare 15 yr is really something special. Great malt.

And the 30yr old is sublime

[RowdyScot]

Damn, I didn't see this thread! Well, I'm partial to most any Speyside single malt, but Glenfiddich and Glenlivet will always get me by (Highland Games are my only way to get the uncommon whisky). One of the best I've had was a 25-yr Highland Park.