I knew I'd seen a positive review somewhere before http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...ons/icon12.gif, Well I'm convinced it's great whiskey! You still think it's the best scotch?Quote:
Originally Posted by CorvallisCracker
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I knew I'd seen a positive review somewhere before http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...ons/icon12.gif, Well I'm convinced it's great whiskey! You still think it's the best scotch?Quote:
Originally Posted by CorvallisCracker
I don't know if it's the best Scotch, only the best I've had. I sampled maybe 20-25 single malts, so I'm not an expert.Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesW
I think the "best" scotch is also sort of relative. For me, the best scotch is the one I happen to be in the mood for!Quote:
Originally Posted by CorvallisCracker
Though I will certainly take this moment to plug for Highland Park-- I went through a bottle of the 12-year all too quickly... and now it isn't even available in my state anymore. The words to describe Highland Park are "Well-Rounded"-- great for when you can't quite decide what you are in the mood for.
I agree with both of you, of course 'best' is what suites your tastes at the moment etc... I must say the HP 18 was one of, if not, the smoothest scotch I've ever had. I've only had 2 drams thus far and will need to spend more time with it but it is a very subtle scotch for sure. There were no explosive flavors that I often enjoy in some of the other Island malts (Talisker or Lagavulin). So while I agree it is well rounded, I found myself just slightly wanting for a bit more flavor. Perhaps it's also that I have a preference for higher proof whisk(e)y's as well.
To be sure, I am mightily and absolutely impressed with this offering. I was just a bit surprised that it didn't share the heavy smoke and peat with it's other island neighbors.
For the same reasons I'm planning to try a vatting with a'bunadh, probably 3:1 HP:AA. Depending on how that goes I may also try 2:1.Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesW
I think there's only one other distillery on Orkney: Scapa, and it's been shut down since 1994.Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesW
Orkney is at the northern tip of Scotland. The other islands (Islay, Skye, etc) are in the Irish sea.
Even on Islay, which has nine distilleries, it's only Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig that go for an extreme style.
It's been said here by others, and I'll repeat: there's as much stylistic variation within a region as between them. Knowing that Old Glengargle is in Speyside or Islay is just trivia (unless you're planning a tour, of course).
Wow, you must have read my mind. I was planning the exact same vatting myself! haha great minds.... I was thinking of a simple 1:1 and also trying it with a little Talikser 18 to see where that goes....Quote:
Originally Posted by CorvallisCracker
Let me know how turns out as I won't be able to test it out until later tonight.
Highland park distillery is listed as being from Orkney Islanld. Scapa has been operated on again and off again thru the years and not marketed very much. These both are according to the 5th edition of M. Jackson's book. I think Scapa could get much more popular if only the owners would actually push it.
Scapa 14 is an excellent underrated malt
Well I was really missing my peated Islays/Island malts tonight so I started with Caol Isla 12 and then moved onto Talisker 18. I think the Talisker 18 is my favorite peated. Just an unbelievable whisk(e)y!
Well then you'll be trying it before me. I was feeling self-indulgent tonight (long week, long day) so I poured some Hirsch 16 BW.Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesW