Booze The single malt scotch thread

Figured I'd bump this up a bit. Trying to broaden my horizons in the scotch department and found this thread yesterday. Since today is St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to get a single malt bottle and have a bit during the Kings game tonight.

Lots of choices at my small state-owned liquor store. Everything from Bowmore ($30) to Macallan ($180). Even noticed the J.W. Blue was going for $213.00 here!

Settled on one that hasn't been mentioned, but looked interesting. Has anybody tried Speyburn? It's a 10 year old single malt that was on sale for $27.00 for 750ml. Thought someone might have had it before.

JW Blue is $179 at BevMo

Received a bottle of this last weekend as a (VERY--like, 6 months) late birthday gift:

balvenie-single-barrel-15year-70cl.jpg


Holy FREAKING crap.... the deliciousness factor on this thing is off the charts. Trying to sip other bottles and not drain it in a week, but it's so honeyed sweet, complex, superbly balanced and straight-up stupid yummy that it's hard to stop.

The reviews--professional and amateur--sound like they are describing different Whisky altogether. Which probably makes sense for a "single cask" bottling, as each batch would be unique to some extent. Even at WhiskyMag Michael Jackson scored it 80, while Jim Murray went 95. I'm with Mr. Murray. Absolutely LOVE it.

Nice, not that expensive too. I've had the 12yr Double Wood and the 21yr Portwood...might as well try a bottle of the 15yr Single Barrel. :)
 
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JW Blue is $179 at BevMo



Nice, not that expensive too. I've had the 12yr Double Wood and the 21yr Portwood...might as well try a bottle of the 15yr Single Barrel. :)


Do dat! From everything read there is plenty of bottle variation, so hope you like yours.


Whoa... it's been years (and I was wasted at that point of the evening) but remember clearly the 21yr PortWood blowing my mind into itty bitty pieces. Love to try it again someday.
 
Do dat! From everything read there is plenty of bottle variation, so hope you like yours.


Whoa... it's been years (and I was wasted at that point of the evening) but remember clearly the 21yr PortWood blowing my mind into itty bitty pieces. Love to try it again someday.

I gave it to my friend for his birthday but of course was able to have a few glasses of it. :russian:
 
Just thought I'd share what my coffee table looked like while watching Game 5 last night with like-minded whisky geeks.
 
I heard our boys killed Bin Laden, and I had to celebrate by opening up this bad boy. Damn that was nice.
 
i needed a whisky (and fast!) to break in the new digs, so i decided to try...

macallan-10yo-fine-oak.jpg



... because i was curious.



a LOT of people feel it's too astringent and oaky. i though it was a little hot, but there's STILL that sweet something that's unique to all Macallans that i still enjoy.

rumor is, this particular gets better after a while and that it's a good lead-in if you're gonna go full battle rattle on the evening... i'd probably follow this with some smoke like Talisker or something.


i think some of you f***ers and your Islay malts are CA-RAYZEE!
 
Whats behind my bar as far as scotches go currently...

The Macallan - Love it.
Talisker - BLECH - tastes like drinking a glass of chloroform
Glenmorangie - mmmmm teh delish
Achentoshen(sp) - tastes like scotch oughta taste...
Glen Fiddich - classic , tasty, aromatic...
 

Tried it. There is virtually no nose. Up front its very thin turning to a musty, linty and slightly medicinal/iodine taste in the mid palate. The finish is bone dry and grassy and lasts forever.
Whats behind my bar as far as scotches go currently...

The Macallan - Love it.
Talisker - BLECH - tastes like drinking a glass of chloroform
Glenmorangie - mmmmm teh delish
Achentoshen(sp) - tastes like scotch oughta taste...
Glen Fiddich - classic , tasty, aromatic...

Age statements help. I sure as heck hope that you are not hating on Talisker 25.

i think some of you f***ers and your Islay malts are CA-RAYZEE!

If its a war with the Peatniks you want? Its a war you'll get. Mmmmm... peat.... yummmmm.
 
i think some of you f***ers and your Islay malts are CA-RAYZEE!

ya, i usually go for whisky of the other regions and can't get behind the islay malts either.


Whats behind my bar as far as scotches go currently...

The Macallan - Love it.
Talisker - BLECH - tastes like drinking a glass of chloroform
Glenmorangie - mmmmm teh delish
Achentoshen(sp) - tastes like scotch oughta taste...
Glen Fiddich - classic , tasty, aromatic...

i've tried all but the auchentoshan because the lowlands are another i haven't really developed much interest in. i'd rank them, in general, as such:

glenmorangie > talisker > macallan > glenfiddich. but that's just my personal taste. i won't turn any of those down, that's for sure.
oh and i actually prefer the younger taliskers to the 18, which is the oldest one i've had. i find them to be more gentle, yet still smoky and peppery.



this character introduced me to scotch! :69smile:
time flies. cheers, monsieur sessy pantalones!
 
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I hit bevmo every couple of weeks to restock my Bailey's Irish Cream and I have to keep myself from grabbing another bottle of scotch every trip. lol, those trips can get expensive.

I try and limit a new bottle to every couple of months.
 
yikes, that's a pricey bottle...serious business there.

Serious business for a serious celebration.

Then again, its relatively nothing compared to some friends of mine that shared a Port Ellen 4th Edition upon learning the news that Bin Laden was killed.
 
My in laws live about 10 mins from Talisker distillery so I took a trip down there for a distillery tour, easily one of the most scenic distilleries in Scotland.

Take a look at that view.

Cuillins.jpg


I then took a trip to the Old Inn pub near the distillery and had another sneaky scotch there too.

1103513_53d58f43.jpg
 
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A friend bought this for me and I have since bought a bottle to stock in my restaurant.

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A very nice smooth easy to drink whisky.
 
Just visited a friend who spent about a week in Scotland. Very picturesque country. He even brought back either a similar or that same bottle of Cragganmore. We didn't get around to sampling it though in favor of a Glendronach, Glenmorangie, Oban, Aberlour, Ardbeg Supernova, Chichibu (yeah Japanese, go figure), Lag, and Society Laphroig (and I also ennjoyed my new Rosebank Flora & Fauna and Signatory Royal Lochnagar). All of the scotches were single barrell bottlings which are not sold outside GB, and some are only available at the distillery just like that Cragganmore. If you're going to get some whisky in Scotland its nice to know its something you can't buy here in the states.
 
i've tried all but the auchentoshan because the lowlands are another i haven't really developed much interest in.

Lowlands should not be discounted. Yes they are few in numbers, but tend to be some of the more interesting whiskies because of it. Very floral and delicate. I am enjoying a Rosebank 12 now, and it is f'in fantastic (and I'm drunk as a skunk).

Give Lowlands a try. Start with a Rosebank or Littlemill. Littlemill is considered in my circles to be an "unscotchy" scotch. It has such unique flavor characteristics typical of melon; canteloupe, watermelon, honeydew, etc. Really good stuff, and not terribly expensive either.

Slainte!
 
Lowlands should not be discounted. Yes they are few in numbers, but tend to be some of the more interesting whiskies because of it. Very floral and delicate. I am enjoying a Rosebank 12 now, and it is f'in fantastic (and I'm drunk as a skunk).

Give Lowlands a try. Start with a Rosebank or Littlemill. Littlemill is considered in my circles to be an "unscotchy" scotch. It has such unique flavor characteristics typical of melon; canteloupe, watermelon, honeydew, etc. Really good stuff, and not terribly expensive either.

Slainte!

thanks, we're running low (just a few drams of highland park left) so that might just be what i include in my husband's father's day gifts.
 
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