Booze The single malt scotch thread

[xcheck]

So, I tasted one this weekend that I have to share. Amongst all the single malt scotches was a single malt from Sweden. Yep, Sweden. I guess they're good for more than just producing hockey talent and bikini teams. The bottling is called Mackmyra, is aged for only one year, and is bottled at 57%. It had a very complex aroma and flavor profile: vanilla and hints of various floral elements on the nose. The taste up front was woody and floral with hints of vanilla transitioning to a good spice and heat on the mid palate and finish. The finish seemed to last a long time ultimately transitioning to a nice minty spice (but not "Scope"-ish).

Unfortunately, this one is not available in U.S., but if you can find it, its worth your consideration.

 

[lunchbox]

just bought this for the husband's wedding anniversary gift.

i was going to get the glenlivet 21 since i know he likes it and it comes in a wooden box--the traditional gift for 5 years, but hi times was out of it. figured i'd give him something different and paper still comes from trees like wood does... lol.
now, hopefully, he'll stop drinking the macallan cask strength that i got for my birthday but have been unable to drink.

 

[xcheck]

Looks good. Once you're able, let us know how it tastes. On the Glenmorangie note, I'll be tasting the Glenmorangie Signet on Sunday. Its supposed to be excellent. Apparently Glenmorangie used a "chocolate malt" to make the Signet; note that it is not chocolate flavoring, but a I believe a roasting process that darkens the barley. We'll see how it tastes.

And happy anniversary.

 

[DMAN3474]

bump, cuz goallum brought this thread up in another thread.

I am still learning about the single malts and the links in this thread have helped, so thanks.

 

[lunchbox]

Looks good. Once you're able, let us know how it tastes. On the Glenmorangie note, I'll be tasting the Glenmorangie Signet on Sunday. Its supposed to be excellent. Apparently Glenmorangie used a "chocolate malt" to make the Signet; note that it is not chocolate flavoring, but a I believe a roasting process that darkens the barley. We'll see how it tastes.

And happy anniversary.

haha. i was too lazy & busy to look this thread up. (thanks for the bump.)

it was sooo good & all done now! i hadn't had scotch in almost 8 mo.s... so i lost my tolerance for the bold flavors. since the more aged ones and cask strengths are a bit harsh on my palate, i got the glenlivet 18 for husband's xmas gift and we usually share so it'll break me back into the swing of things. i usually take my scotch neat, but i've still got that cask strength macallan and need to drop an ice cube into it until i get used to scotch again.

how was the signet?

 

[xcheck]

Signet is overhyped. Its good, unusual cocoa and coffee flavors indicative of a well-rounded stout (think Guiness). The chocolate malting brings very similar flavors to stout because the barley is malted in a similar way to hops in making the stout.

In more interesting tasting notes, the club just met for a holiday tasting that included a Tormore 12 (Gordon & MacPhails), a Glenturret with a Rioja finish, and a Talisker 25. Tormore was really good with a long spicy finish. The Talisker was so unbelievably awesome; aromas of wood, vanilla, and peat smoke; taste notes include a medicinal iodine-typical of Isalys, a delicate peat, salty sea air, and citrus elements of lemon and grapefruit. The finish turned to a dry grassiness and hay with underlying salty sea air. It was great to get a taste without having to shell out the $200+ for the entire bottle.

 

[lunchbox]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like an interesting & fun tasting. Talisker is my favorite, I've only had the 18 year and (I think) 10 year bottles so it's nice to hear about the older ones.

 

[sonnyboy11]

My oldest brother and I have established a tradition over the last 4 Christmas' or so where we try to out do each other on scotch as a gift to one another. He always wins but that bastard makes more $ than I do! Anyways, this year he gave me what I think is my favorite scotch ever

It's an expertly crafted, smooth single malt from Islay. Very peety as you would expect from Islay but not "medicinely" so as is usually the complaint from something like Laphroaig.

 

[Pagliacci]

Recently bought:

Delicate, delicious and not very complicated. Great starting point for beginners and an absolute pleasure for those in the midst of a scotch adventure.

Btw, the Macallan 18 yo Fine Oak is the bomb in case anyone forgot.

 

[Pagliacci]

Now that I'm here anyone have any good whiskey reference material? For my last birthday I got a signed copy of :[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Murrays-Whisky-Bible-2010/dp/0955472946/ref=pd_cp_b_3]Amazon.com: Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010 (9780955472947): Jim Murray: Books[/ame]

It's not a bad little book but it's definitely intended for advanced scotch drinkers and/or travelers.

EDIT: I guess this book is a good starting point based on the reviews.
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Experts-Guide-Single-Scotch/dp/0977199118/ref=pd_sim_b_4[/ame]

 

[xcheck]

My oldest brother and I have established a tradition over the last 4 Christmas' or so where we try to out do each other on scotch as a gift to one another. He always wins but that bastard makes more $ than I do! Anyways, this year he gave me what I think is my favorite scotch ever

It's an expertly crafted, smooth single malt from Islay. Very peety as you would expect from Islay but not "medicinely" so as is usually the complaint from something like Laphroaig.

Just tried the Lag 21. Its discontinued. Very simple and sweet up front with an explosive mid palate and finish. Very spicy. I added a touch of water because it was bottled at cask strength (about 53%), and all the spice and explosiveness gave way to subtle peat, smoked wood, and charcoal. For the price of the Lag 21, I'm going with the Talisker 25 instead; especially since I got a Lag 26 bottled under the label "Classic of Islay" for only $90 (good stuff).

Something for you scotchers to consider: LA Scotch Club will be having a meeting in Sherman Oaks on 2/27. Cost is only $20-$25 for drinking from 6 different bottles. PM me if you're interested.

 

[lunchbox]

damn, i'd love to go to that LA scotch club meeting but i won't be able to.

i picked this up for husband's valentine's day gift:

 

[Stormy2213]

damn, i'd love to go to that LA scotch club meeting but i won't be able to.

i picked this up for husband's valentine's day gift:

THAT is my all-time fav. Lucky man your husband!

 

[xcheck]

damn, i'd love to go to that LA scotch club meeting but i won't be able to.

i picked this up for husband's valentine's day gift:

Alcoholics go to meetings. Those who consider it a problem choose AA. Those who don't go to the LA Scotch Club. We'll get you to a meeting sooner or later.

That 15 is super good and a great value purchase. Echo Stormy's comment: your husband is a lucky man.

 

[lunchbox]

Alcoholics go to meetings. Those who consider it a problem choose AA. Those who don't go to the LA Scotch Club. We'll get you to a meeting sooner or later.

That 15 is super good and a great value purchase. Echo Stormy's comment: your husband is a lucky man.

Thanks, it's a good find for sure. I'm definitely up for a scotch meeting some day. When my little one's older and I can leave her with the parents for a day...

I just got this for the in-laws as a thank you gift:

 

[lunchbox]

^^^that is an excellent scotch. It was a hit with sister-in-law, her husband and my husband. Very smooth when served neat and can be interchangeable with the glenlivet as far as everyday drinking (night cap!) goes. I like to save the bolder ones such as talisker for occasions.

 

[navinjohnson]

Has anyone tried Sheep Dip Scotch from Bevmo? Don't know too much about it, but it was reasonably priced and it rocked!

 

[xcheck]

Hey people,

I've got a friend that came into a large lot of single malts, bourbons, and ryes (there are also a few other things, but limited) that he is looking to sell. Included is a healthy amount of Lag 16's, a few Highland Parks, Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or, Serendipity, lots of different Ardbegs, Bowmores, Caol Ilas, and Macallans (original bottlings and independent bottlers). The prices are darn good; much less than what you would pay at any store.

PM if you are interested.

 

[lunchbox]

there's a scotch hunter app for the iPhone that I just discovered yesterday. it has ratings, descriptions, a favorites function for yourself and some kind of slot machine game. their website that mr. I linked to back in the day has proven to be invaluable.

I found the app yesterday while trying to use the site as a reference for choosing a new bottle as a gift for the in-laws again. I decided upon this:

will report on my opinion when we return from our visit to their place.
I've tried the balvenie sherry oak, thanks to mr. I. that, as with all cask strength single malts, was quite bold and not really my style. hoping for a better appreciation of the balvenie with something that's younger and weaker. :grin:

 

[xcheck]

there's a scotch hunter app for the iPhone that I just discovered yesterday. it has ratings, descriptions, a favorites function for yourself and some kind of slot machine game. their website that mr. I linked to back in the day has proven to be invaluable.

I found the app yesterday while trying to use the site as a reference for choosing a new bottle as a gift for the in-laws again. I decided upon this:

will report on my opinion when we return from our visit to their place.
I've tried the balvenie sherry oak, thanks to mr. I. that, as with all cask strength single malts, was quite bold and not really my style. hoping for a better appreciation of the balvenie with something that's younger and weaker. :grin:

Balvenie makes a great gift. Universally appreciated whisky. I don't recall my tasting notes on this one when the Balvenie reps were presenting their new lines of whisky back around April. Let us know how it is.

If you want to try something amazing, their new 17 year Madeira is f-ing fantastic. A bit pricey (around $115), but it is a really really really good bottle.