What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[AVB]

Try just one ice cube or a tablespoon of water along with the Ardbeg for round three.

[unclebunk]

Has anybody here honestly on their first taste of Ardbeg 10 actually enjoyed it? Has anybody not thought there had been a mistake, that somehow Mop n' Glow got into the bottle before they topped it off with the whisky? Or that they were reusing bottles that had been used as ashtrays at a cigar party.

My sentiments exactly. I actually thought I got a bad bottle after reading so many reviews referring to "mouth-filling richness," "luxurious texture," etc. All I got was smoke and a complete absence of body.

[unclebunk]

But stick with it. In my case, I never dump whisky no matter what and by the second pour the second night I was a convert. Weird. Still tastes the same, but somehow now it's a favorite at my house.

This is precisely what happened with me. It was my second pour on the second night when I finally "got it" so to speak. I was suddenly able to taste some of the malty sweetness and to look beyond the thinness of the whisky. I actually went to bed that night looking forward to sampling some more the following night.

I'm happy to report that round three last night was thoroughly enjoyable but...I'm afraid I still think Ardbeg 10 is overrated. I can't speak about the other expressions, having never tasted them, but Ardbeg 10 is simply too one dimensional for me to elevate it to that "classic" status that so many others have bestowed upon it. And I don't think it comes down to its tender age of ten years, as Aberlour, Balvenie, Laphroaig, Talisker and so many others have produced exceptional 10 year olds with loads of complexity. Perhaps I am still judging the Ardbeg 10 too harshly (and will end up eating these words at some point), but I think Ardbeg could produce a product equally intense in terms of peat/smoke and add the necessary malt to give the whisky the heft it deserves. But that's just one novice's opinion.

[OscarV]

I was just listening to the podcast from www.whiskeycast.com for information on Jefferson's Presidential Select bourbon.

They had some info on Laphroaig coming out with an 18yo instead of the 15yo this year.

So hearing that and with it being 61 degrees and drizzling here I poured myself a Lap 15yo, neat.

Yeah, it's nice.

[unclebunk]

...and with it being 61 degrees and drizzling here I poured myself a Lap 15yo, neat. Yeah, it's nice.

I had my mind set on a nice rye for tonight but since it's cold and drizzly here too you've got me thinking of a Scottish "winter warmer" to keep the damp out of the ol' bones. I'm heading for the Aberlour A'bunadh.

[Lost Pollito]

Has anybody here honestly on their first taste of Ardbeg 10 actually enjoyed it?

I loved it from first taste. Iodine, honey and peat. It through me for a loop, but I enjoyed the new taste...at least for me... just another color in the painting of Whisky.

[Lost Pollito]

Islay must be a strange place. You got Bowmore, some of which might be mistaken for bourbon (by somebody?!?). You got Laphroaig whose cask strength is bottled smoke, peat and iodine period and about as far from Kentucky as anything that calls itself whisk(e)y. Then there's Ardbeg (I only know 10), another ten degrees of longitude and lattiude past Laphroiag.

"Another color in the painting of Whisky." I get olive green high-gloss enamel, what do you get?

Strange indeed. Don't forget my favorite -- Caol Ila. And Bruichladdich-- masters of ace, Bunnahabhain--- the un-peated islay, Kilchoman (newest on the island), Lagavulin -- liquid bacon, and the long lost legend Port Ellen. I gotta visit soon. I do love the peat and crappy weather with my dram.:cool:

[unclebunk]

Lagavulin -- liquid bacon...

Very appropriate description. Too bad I laughed out loud and passed whiskey through my nose.

[Lost Pollito]

Very appropriate description. Too bad I laughed out loud and passed whiskey through my nose.

[unclebunk]

:slappin: :slappin: :slappin: Perhaps we'll diverge from bourbon on the 10th and try some Caol Ila that we've been aging in a mini barrel. Islay is heaven imo. Well....Kentucky and islay. I've been lucky enough to hang with distillers from both regions, and have concluded that I'm a fan of both Whisk(e)y styles.:cool: Well....all Whisk(e)y styles. Water of life as it is.:grin:

I'm with you Joe. It's all good! Caol Ila is the only Islay I've never had, so we might have to hit that barrel at some point. By the way, Islay is an "interesting" heaven. I've been there twice and loved it. Cold, wet, windy, rocky and barren--just the environment and weather you need when you stumble into a local pub and order a dark Scottish ale and a not-so-wee dram of Laphroaig before settling down by the fireplace. Then it's back out to wander the hills in the lashing rain until you need to warm up again and have another round of drinks. What could be better?

[PAspirit1]

I'm having Bowmore Legend tonight. I've been drinking alot of bourbon (and beer) this summer and I think maybe this shot of lower-aged Islay is a little severe. It's just to much contrast with the sweet bourbon. It's not bad, but I wish I had some JWB, a Speysider or some Chivas.

[unclebunk]

Just bought my first bottle of Springbank 10 today which I will be hitting tonight. Can't wait to try it!

[bigtoys]

I've been drinking Lagavulin 16 since it was recommended to me in the Harrod's liquor dept when I visited London in 1991. Even hoarded a few bottles to survive the shortage a few years ago.

2nd favorite is Bowmore. Love the dragon on this bottle.

Really don't like Laphroig or Ardbeg--both too peaty.

For smoky, not peaty, try Talisker--the only Scotch from the Isle of Skye. Side by side with Lagavulin, you can tell the difference.

[bigtoys]

At Chicago Gourmet last weekend, tried Glenlivet 21. Very smooth. Reminds me of my early days of single malts--Glenfiddich and Glenlivet.

Picked up a bottle at Binny's today--$25 less than they estimated at the show, so I was pleasantly surprised.

[unclebunk]

I've been drinking Lagavulin 16 since it was recommended to me in the Harrod's liquor dept when I visited London in 1991. Even hoarded a few bottles to survive the shortage a few years ago.

2nd favorite is Bowmore. Love the dragon on this bottle.

Really don't like Laphroig or Ardbeg--both too peaty.

For smoky, not peaty, try Talisker--the only Scotch from the Isle of Skye. Side by side with Lagavulin, you can tell the difference.

I love the Lagavulin 16 too--possibly my overall favorite Scotch whisky, though the Highland Park 18 runs neck and neck in my book. I've got one Lag 16 open and three bunkered after finding a stash for $55 each ($90 most other places around here), so how could I pass them up? I'd like to try that Bowmore you've got pictured but I'm guessing it's way out of my price range.

[OscarV]

Had a couple of splashes of Dickel #12 earlier now enjoying a Laphroaig 15, neat, an excellent follow up.

[unclebunk]

Celebrated my birthday last night with a few nice gifts from family and friends. My wife picked me up a bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask--killer stuff and worth every penny she spent. Then moved on to the Sheep Dip that my buddy bought me. Very tasty whiskey and far better than I even expected it would be. Plus, it saved me from polishing off the entire bottle of the Laphroaig, so I've got more to look forward to this week. Great night!

[MarkEdwards]

Had a VERY NICE taste of the GlenRothes 1975. I'm now very glad that I bought one to drink and one for the bunker, as this is one of the very best sc**ches that I have tried.

More on topic, I plan to crack open the Blanton's tonight.

[Tennessee Dave]

Finished off my bottle of Talisker 10. Man I enjoy that stuff.:grin:

[Martian]

Black Bottle. This may be the best blend I've tried, no doubt due to its Islay heart. There's some smoke and iodine with just a hint of peat. Very nice and a best buy.

[JamesW]

Black Bottle. This may be the best blend I've tried, no doubt due to its Islay heart. There's some smoke and iodine with just a hint of peat. Very nice and a best buy.

I've searched far and wide and can't get any. I believe it's no longer produced. Anyone know this to be true?

[unclebunk]

I've searched far and wide and can't get any. I believe it's no longer produced. Anyone know this to be true?

It's readily available here in Chicagoland, but that may not mean that it's still being produced. It may simply be leftover stock that's still on the shelves. Maybe Joe (aka "Lost Pollito") can provide an answer to this. By the way, try the Islay Mist 8 year old if you like Black Bottle. It's another great, inexpensive blend with a pronounced Islay character.

[Lost Pollito]

Enjoyed a solid line up of Ardbeg last night:

Ardbeg 10

Ugeadail

Nam Beist

Lord of The Isles

17 yr

Supernova

and a tiny tiny splash of the new Corryvrekin (mis-spelled I believe).

Anyway, what a nice tasting. I wish I'd had a bit more of the Cory, as I may end up really like this one. But the Supernova took top honors for me last night. No real duds...but the 17 was bit thin and tea-ish? Lord of the Isles did have one intoxicating nose, and the 10 has the bite, but the nova seemed to get all the parts I like best. Cheers.:cool:

[Gov]

I've searched far and wide and can't get any. I believe it's no longer produced. Anyone know this to be true?

Black Bottle NAS will continue to be produced. Black Bottle 10 yrs old has ceased production.

[JamesW]

It's readily available here in Chicagoland, but that may not mean that it's still being produced. It may simply be leftover stock that's still on the shelves. Maybe Joe (aka "Lost Pollito") can provide an answer to this. By the way, try the Islay Mist 8 year old if you like Black Bottle. It's another great, inexpensive blend with a pronounced Islay character.

Black Bottle NAS will continue to be produced. Black Bottle 10 yrs old has ceased production.

Thanks for the responses and the recommendation. I will give it a try. I'm looking for good values these days.