Which Water of Life Did You Purchase Today - Spring/Summer/Fall 2013

[tanstaafl2]

Saw that yesterday when I picked up my Talisker 25 along with a handful of other high end bottles, some of which were well over $200.

[tanstaafl2]

Picked up several gift packs of older Talisker today. Just seemed to make fiscal sense once I counted it out on my fingers and toes!

I know prices vary by location but current local prices are roughly:

Talisker 10 - $59

Talisker DE - $68

Talisker 18 - $120

Total is $249

4 gift packs of 200 ml bottles of 10, DE, and 18 is $200 ($50 each)

That gives me a larger 800 ml "bottle" of the 10, DE and 18 for $49 less. And it appears to be older whisky although I can't find a definitive date other than the DE being TD-S:5HT that was bottled in 2005. Is older necessarily better? Who knows but if they had a bit more whisky at their disposal in those days maybe they could be a bit more selective about what went into the bottle and what went to the Diageo overlords for blending!

No matter how many fingers and toes I count it seems to me like a decent deal!

Also gave in to temptation and picked up a bottle of the Lark Single Cask Port finished Tasmanian whisky. We shall see!

[tanstaafl2]

Also was poking around on the shelves and saw another interesting bottle but it was much too pricey for me.

A 25yo Caol Ila distilled in 1979 and bottled by Douglas Laing. But not interesting enough at $250.

[Yeti]

These guys rolled in the other day.

[geereg]

Man, those Longmorns were just bottled!

[Yeti]

They're on their 3rd barrel release now. They sell out in a day or two. I got one from the first barrel and then grabbed these two from the second before they were gone. Crazy good deal, about $75 give or take shipped to my door. Of course, I haven't cracked one yet, so it may all be garbage :skep:

[Trey Manthey]

Heading to Scotland for a couple weeks...don't expect to buy much, but I'm hoping to find one or two good bottles to bring home. Recommendations?

[Yeti]

I would be heading to the Lagavulin Distillery for some exclusive bottles, then fill my own bottle at Glendronach and also see what kind of goodies were at Glenfarclas. Anything beyond that would just be icing on the cake.

[tanstaafl2]

I would be heading to the Lagavulin Distillery for some exclusive bottles, then fill my own bottle at Glendronach and also see what kind of goodies were at Glenfarclas. Anything beyond that would just be icing on the cake.

I am starting to turn into a Talisker fiend I fear and so would want to try to get there if I could. But it looks like it would be a bit of pain as it is pretty isolated geographically. Islay presents the opportunity to see multiple distilleries of high quality in one small are which is convenient. And as Yeti notes it is hard to go wrong in the Speyside region up around Elgin with the many options available there like Glendronach and Glenfarclas.

Have some friends headed that way in October. Unfortunately I had already made vacation plans for October and can't join them.

I find the Malt Madness Map to be interesting and a possible resource to plan excursions.

Edited August 22, 2013 by tanstaafl2

[Trey Manthey]

I'm doing Glenfarclas, Glendronach, Balvenie, and Highland Park.

I will be in Skye, but not sure I'll make it to Talisker.

I'd love to go to Islay, but it's a huge pain in the arse to get there, and there's not much to do except visit distilleries it seems.

[sutton]

Old Malt Cask Cragganmore 21 yr, L&K Selection

Distilled Nov 1990, Bottled Oct 2012

Refill Hogshead, Cask Strength (52.2%)

[tanstaafl2]

I'm doing Glenfarclas, Glendronach, Balvenie, and Highland Park.

I will be in Skye, but not sure I'll make it to Talisker.

I'd love to go to Islay, but it's a huge pain in the arse to get there, and there's not much to do except visit distilleries it seems.

You mean that you want to do something BESIDES visit distilleries???? Oh, and drink whisky of course! :cool:

If I went to Skye not sure I would be able to stay away from Talisker! You can only hike so much and if you've see one Clan Castle you've pretty much seen 'em all! After all there can be only one...

(Actually Dunvegan Castle and Armadale Castle both sound kinda interesting!)

I know you can drive via a bridge to Skye but I wouldn't have thought Orkney was much easier than Islay. Would think you pretty much have to fly to both unless you've got a car and time to mess with a ferry.

Have a great trip!

[Trey Manthey]

I know you can drive via a bridge to Skye but I wouldn't have thought Orkney was much easier than Islay. Would think you pretty much have to fly to both unless you've got a car and time to mess with a ferry.

Thanks!

Orkney is a pain in the ass, but it's a pretty magical area. Skye might be the most beautiful place in the world. We will have a car and time so on the ferry we will go. It's just that the one to Islay is pretty long. You can fly into Port Ellen from Edinburgh, but it's not cheap.

[petrel800]

Grabbed a Red Breast 12 Cask Strength

[bigtoys]

On a whim (and because of the wooden holder--kind of reminds me of Game of Thrones) grabbed an HP Loki

Had a sip; a little peaty smoke. Overall, very good.

[ThomasH]

Found a bottle of Grand Macnish 15yr sherry cask finish. I was going to buy a bottle of the 12 but this intrigued me. The extra age and sherry cask finish does this product justice. The sherry cask gods have been looking down on me a lot lately!

Thomas

[Trey Manthey]

Filled this one myself. Passed on a 1972 cask 718.

[Yeti]

That is beautiful! Very high on my to-do list. Sláinte!

[ChainWhip]

Very cool Trey! '93s have a good reputation so you can't go wrong there. Was the 1972 718 @ the gift store?

[Trey Manthey]

Very cool Trey! '93s have a good reputation so you can't go wrong there. Was the 1972 718 @ the gift store?

[Trey Manthey]

I grabbed a Highland Park Saint Magnus 12 year. Also found a Mortlach Spirit of Speyside bottle a couple days ago at Clynelish. Earlier I bottled a couple Balvenies straight from the cast in Warehouse 24, a 12 year old sherry butt, and a 15 year old bourbon refill. Managed to pass on a Bruichladdich 1984 Redder Still for £120 and a John Scott's Highland Park 42 year for £350. I tried the HP42 last night and it was amazeballs. I also saw some older Wild Turkey exports and Blanton's Gold/Straight from the Barrel, but I don't need to add to my already swelling suitcase.

[Bootlegger1929]

In the last two weeks I have purchased the following..

HP 12. Already gone and delicious.

Glenlivet Nadurra. Very good.

Ardbeg 10. Took a couple drams to get used to it but I really love it.

Glenfarclas 12. At first it was a little too cake batter-ey but I'm warming to it and picking out more fruits than before so its pretty good. Probably wont buy another anytime soon though.

Laphroaig Triple Wood. It was between that, the QC, and the standard 10 year but I ultimately went with the triple wood. And I'm really glad I did. It's so good.

[tanstaafl2]

Didn't buy but rather passed on this one. At a price north of $320 just wasn't sure I could pull the trigger untasted. 40yo Speyside blend with 80% malt and 20% grain whisky.

The local whisky monger liked it but not sure I am quite ready for it yet! Plus I have several whisky selections already on the way.

Also saw a liter bottle of Singleton of Glendullan for about $38 which seemed a remarkably frugal price although I know nothing about the whisky. Could get about 9 of these for the same cost...

[SqueakScolari]

Also saw a liter bottle of Singleton of Glendullan for about $38 which seemed a remarkably frugal price although I know nothing about the whisky. Could get about 9 of these for the same cost...

The S of G is a great value at $38. I find it fresh, clean and easy to drink. Not overly complex, but worth trying.

EDIT: I just noticed it was a liter bottle. Even better!

[brettckeen]

I picked up a Delilah's Compass Box today http://www.compassboxwhisky.com/delilahs.php They seem to be flying off the shelves around town and I want to make sure I have one to pour from having worked at the bar 7 years. Hoping to get one more before they are all gone.