Favorite Scotch

[DrinkyBanjo]

I'm a big fan of Lagavulin 16 and 12 but I think Ardbeg 10 is a bit on the light side to be compared with those heavy weights. The Uigeadail on the other hand.....

[clayton]

I've been enjoying Caol Ila 18 quite a bit recently. Not as sweet as the other Islays, but rich in another way. Tasty.

Other faves include Highland Park 18, Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig QC, and Talisker 10.

[doubleblank]

My three faves runing the full spectrum of flavors are as follows........Balvenie 15yo SB ........Talisker 10 yo when I want some peat........and Lagavulin 16yo when I want the whole hog. All standard bottlings.

Randy

[CrispyCritter]

Another old favorite of mine is Aberlour A'Bunadh. It's generally around 60% ABV, and being entirely sherry-casked, has a sweet, spicy flavor. Each batch I've tried has had definite differences, but they all follow the same basic theme.

[thehighking]

Another old favorite of mine is Aberlour A'Bunadh. It's generally around 60% ABV, and being entirely sherry-casked, has a sweet, spicy flavor. Each batch I've tried has had definite differences, but they all follow the same basic theme.

If you tend to like that sort of thing you should try some Glenfarclas...very much in the Macallan, Aberlour, sherry-monster range...but different.

[Bamber]

I do not have wide experience with fine scotch, but the best I ever tasted was The Balvenie 15-year old single barrel. It may have been the finest tasting spirit I have ever tasted.

Tim

I think this is a great whisky too, but I'm shocked to hear you say this ! Including all bourbons ?

My stock answer to this is Highland Park 18yo, but truthfully it was probably a Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling of Glenugie (24yo). No point recommmending it as the distillery is demolished and that particular dram on lives on in a few peoples' memories Glenugie is very distinctive and full of tropical fruit flavours (and plasticine ! - but nice) and if you ever get a chance to try it go for it.

[ratcheer]

I think this is a great whisky too, but I'm shocked to hear you say this ! Including all bourbons ?

I'm afraid so. It was absolutely delightful.

They have it at my state's ABC stores, but at about $80 per bottle, I have managed to pass it up, so far.

Tim

[Bamber]

Your not alone in liking the SB Balvenie:

http://www.whiskymag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3878

I guess I'd have a tough time buying it too, if it cost the equivalent of 2 bottles of PVW 15yo

[Vange]

I second the Aberlour A'Bunadh, it is very good. It's one of my "affordable" favorites. My favorite to date, I have only had a few drams though, is Macallan 25 year. Near perfect to me.

I am definietly a speyside and sherry in my scotch type of guy, I do not like the Islays. I own a Lagavulin 16 (a gift) and it sits on my shelf waiting for Islay fans to finish it.

[Gillman]

I have a friend who keeps a bottle of Lag 16 solely for the purpose of adding a few eye-drops to a glass of Speyside or sherry cask whiskey. He did (I have to say) get the idea from me. The very light but detectable smokiness added really picks up the drink, adds complexity.

Gary

[bluesbassdad]

Gary,

I can vouch for the value of this approach, albeit in another context, one not on-topic in this thread.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Gillman]

Yes, thanks Dave, and I had seen the post you mentioned. It describes a very similar approach, but in the context of straight (American) whiskey. In effect, the relative blandness and youth of the base whiskey are ameliorated significantly by a small addition of older, more pungent whiskey.

I first got the idea from an 1885 blending manual by Joseph Fleischman which I have mentioned many times on the board. Excerpts can be studied at www.pre-pro.com. (It is easiest to find by using the site index function - look under "whiskey recipes").

Gary

[bluesbassdad]

Gary,

As I glanced at the five or so recipes just now, a mental image of the hero of the novel Red Likker, by Irwin S. Cobb popped into my head. I believe his last name was Bird. He frequently railed against the rectifiers, who he believed were a stain on the industry.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Gillman]

Yes, I know, but that view is a simplification.

First, cheap whiskey was not a bad thing in that it made available to people who wanted spirituous drink, but could not afford the best, a whiskey-like drink.

Second, rectified liquor in one sense is superior to congener-laden whiskey (especially the early 1800's, not-very-aged pot still product).

Third, if you read on in Fleischman, you will see that he includes blends which step up in a strict gradation the amount of straight whiskey, indeed to 100%. Thus, there is a spectrum of flavors, or quality if you will, and one can (or could, rather) choose by reference to the depth of one's purse and one's taste.

Personally, I like Fleischman's blends which comprise 80% straight whiskey or more. Properly made, they are better than most bourbon on the market - then or now.

Gary

[bluesbassdad]

Personally, I like Fleischman's blends which comprise 80% straight whiskey or more. Properly made, they are better than most bourbon on the market - then or now.

Gary,

I'll try it if I ever get the chance.

A fictional character's (and a very rigid one, at that) beliefs will not dissuade me.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Powertrip]

I think a lot of is where you buy it---I still find stores here and there that have it for $40-45.

People thought that there was a Lagavulin shortage for awhile so the prices jumped, but there was/is no shortage, so they may re-stabilize.

I have never seen a pricing phenomenon in the scotch world like that of the Lagavulin 16yr. Here in Canada, I have seen it for as low as $58 to as high as $106, and it blows me away. There is one place where I live that has it at $58, then exactly a 95 second walk away is another store that has it for $98 (I've timed the walk cause I was so baffled).

I think some places try to cash in on its reputation so the mark up must be astronomical.

[Flying Scot]

Hi,

I've been drinking good quality Scotches for 20+ years (I live in Edinburgh) and have recently started to explore small batch bourbon. I have to say, my preference is leaning towards the bourbons. There is no doubt that overall, bourbon is sweeter than scotch, but this is not neccessarily a bad thing. The mellow caramel, toffee, cocoa and allspice notes that can be found in good bourbon are noticeably absent in most scotches. There are sweet notes in scotch whisky, but they are lighter, even when the addition of a small amount of water releases further ester flavours.

It's useful to note that scotch has pronounced regional flavours. Many of the whisky brands that have been mentioned in this thread come from Islay, which has by far the most pronounced flavour characteristics of any region. Smoke, peat, salt and iodine tend to dominate and this might not be welcome to an accustomed bourbon drinker, at least without a period of acclimatisation. Also, it's worth trying to find cask strength, unfiltered malts. There is a big difference in taste. For malts that are closer to bourbon in flavour, try to find some Lowland Malts such as Rosebank, Tullibardine, Glenkinchie or Auchentoshan. They tend to be lighter, sweeter and fruitier. Also, Speyside malts lack the peat and smoke that is found in Islay.

Good scotch, especially cask strength, is universally drunk at room temperature with a small amount of water, at least by serious drinkers here in Scotland. This combination of temperature and dilution really optimise the nose and taste of the whisky.

At the moment, I am finding bourbons to be more enjoyable, especially with a cigar. I enjoy Buffalo Trace as my 'everyday' bourbon and am working my way through Makers Mark, Knob Creek (9year old) and Woodford. I have to say, despite some of the negative press here, I've found the Woodford to be quite enjoyable. I've also had a complete sampling from Julian Van Winkle of his entire range, including his rye and these really are in a different class.

Regards

Ernst

[ratcheer]

Thanks for posting, Ernst. Welcome to SB.com! I hope you will try to drop in with us, often.

Also, I have also always enjoyed Woodford, but I haven't had it, recently. Probably not in a few years.

Tim

[bluesbassdad]

Ernst,

Welcome!

My attention was drawn to your reference to Woodford Reserve. The reaction to it among folks here has varied dramatically during my few years here. When first introduced it was almost universally loved. Only when the addition of pot still bourbon began did numerous negative comments appear. Perhaps you are lucky enough to have tasted only the early bottles. I have one, and it is delightful, with lots of honey notes -- not just sweetness but hints of the aromas of the flowers the bees visited.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[thehighking]

I have never seen a pricing phenomenon in the scotch world like that of the Lagavulin 16yr. Here in Canada, I have seen it for as low as $58 to as high as $106, and it blows me away. There is one place where I live that has it at $58, then exactly a 95 second walk away is another store that has it for $98 (I've timed the walk cause I was so baffled).

I think some places try to cash in on its reputation so the mark up must be astronomical.

Yeah---although I've noticed this is true with many Scotches. Macallan suffers from this phenomenon, too as does Balvenie.

I have two stores here in Baltimore about 4 miles apart. One sells the 18 year old Macallan for 142, the other for 118. Not a huge difference, but enough for me to go to one over the other.

Lagavulin, around here, I've seen anywhere from low 40s to high 80s.

[Powertrip]

I second the Aberlour A'Bunadh, it is very good. It's one of my "affordable" favorites.

Damn you all for liking the A'Bunadh.

I've been holding back from buying a bottle cause I'm broke flatter than piss on a platter, but I here so many people saying its so good (escpecially the batch 014) that I'm going to buy a bottle right now!

Whisky wins again....

[Bamber]

The batch 14 is excellent. Not heard a bad word said about it.

[chasking]

The price of Lagavulin 16yo has gone up substantially in recent years because demand outstripped supply, at least at its previous price point. IIRC, about three years ago they ran out. It was simply not to be found, at least around here; they had to wait for more casks to reach 16 years to bottle another batch, and when that reached the market, the price had jumped about 25% or so. The supply/demand ratio seems to have stabilized at that level.

Personally I thought it was underpriced before. The 16yo was Lagavulin's "base" whiskey, and back then it was priced in the high $40s, at least around here. That was closer to the "base" whiskeys of its primary analogs: Laphroaig 10yo, Ardbeg 10yo, Bowmore 12yo. But those brands each had older versions that sold for much more: Laphroaig 15yo, Bowmore 17yo, Ardbeg 17yo (which was still available then). Those were all around $70. I always thought Lagavulin 16yo belonged in that company, rather than with the younger versions. Now it is priced accordingly. In fact, I still think it's a good deal, although I wish I had bunkered a case back then.

[DrinkyBanjo]

The batch 14 is excellent. Not heard a bad word said about it.

I have a bottle of batch 13. Reminds me very much of Red Wine. Anyone else?

[AVB]

They have released a 12 yo cask strength Lagavulin at 115.4 proof although at a higher price point. The one I found was $140 here but has since gone up so I bought it in the UK for about $100.