What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[timd]

If anyone knows how to refresh the palate so that the smoke is not overpowering so that I can attempt to enjoy other things, I am all ears.

Drink lots of water, and give yourself some time - maybe some milk or creamy sauce/food. Some of the smokier/peatier Scotch - like Laphroaig CS, it can be nearly impossible to "unsmoke" your pallet for an entire evening. You just stick with the Islay whisky and enjoy the "campfire experience."

A note of correction to something above - not all Scotch is smokey anymore (maybe true 100+ years ago, but not now). In fact, a great number of Scotches, if not the majority, have no smoke or peat trace to them.

Nor is it true that N to S whisky "lightens up" - the smokiest/peatiest whisky (in general) comes from Islay - an island off the southern coast, and the area of Campbeltown a very southern region also peats whisky (Glen Scotia, Sprinbank & especially Longrow). That said, even Islay has some non/lightly-peated offerings, much as there are some heavily peated Lowland scotches. Generally speaking (and it's truly only a generalization) Island whisky tends to be at least a little peated (Skye, Jura, Islay, Orkney) but there are exceptions. Speysiders tend to be sherried, and beyond that? Hard to say. The Campbeltown region in the south only has Springbank or Glen Scotia, both of which peated to some degree, but Kilkerran & Hazleburn aren't.... Go figure!

Laphroaig is a great one - and the 10yr was my first intro to the peat monsters as well - in fact it's what hooked me on whisk(e)y beyond simply having a passing interest - so let's hope it does the same for you!

Hope that helps.

[ebo]

If you are planning to drink a few different drams, start with the lightest and work to the heaviest. Ilay whisky should be the the last in your line up.

[bgast1]

Dynamic Random Access Memory?:grin:

[bgast1]

This evening I started with Grant's then moved to Laphroaig. I think that I will probably skip the bourbon tonight. Not sure if the smoke and bourbon will be a good mix.

I think I am spoiled though. Grant is unexciting compared to Laphroaig.

[JamesW]

Black grouse and now Caol Ila 12.

[ebo]

Dynamic Random Access Memory?:grin:

Lol... I forgot the "s". Islay. Sometimes my (ok... most times) typing skills suck. :grin:

[bgast1]

Started out with Buffalo Trace, then Wild Turkey, ate dinner, now Grant's Family Reserve and later will be Laphroiag. I'll be paying particular attention to the Grant's to detect smokey flavor.

[Megawatt]

Started out with Buffalo Trace, then Wild Turkey, ate dinner, now Grant's Family Reserve and later will be Laphroiag. I'll be paying particular attention to the Grant's to detect smokey flavor.

I like Grant's quite a bit more when I drop an ice cube in it.

[bgast1]

I am drinking Grant's on the rocks. I would like a recommendation for the other side of the Peat monsters please. I have learned to love Laphroaig but would like to experience the other side as well.

[ebo]

I am drinking Grant's on the rocks. I would like a recommendation for the other side of the Peat monsters please. I have learned to love Laphroaig but would like to experience the other side as well.

There are many different "sides" to Scotch whisky. Try them by region.

Islay whiskies: Laphroiag, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain are the heavy hitters, as far as peat and smoke go. Talisker is from the Isle of Skye, and is also a smokey, peaty whiskey... but, in a different way.

Speyside whisky: Macallan, Ardmore, Balvenie, Cragganmore, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Aberfeldy, Dalwhinnie, Glenfarclas.

Highlands: Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Pulteney, Glen Garioch.

Lowlands: Auchentoshen, Bladnoch, Glenkinchie.

Campbelltown: Springbank.

Islands: Talisker (mentioned with peaty and smokey whiskies), Highland Park, Arran, Tobermory, Scapa, Isle of Jura.

You have to try many different styles to see what you like. Scotch whisky offers the most diversified taste profiles to be found in whisk(e)y.

[Megawatt]

I am drinking Grant's on the rocks. I would like a recommendation for the other side of the Peat monsters please. I have learned to love Laphroaig but would like to experience the other side as well.

The Balvenie Doublewood is a good unpeated Scotch to start with. I also like Aberlour 10 year old and The Glenlivet 12 year old for nice inexpensive single malt. Another idea is to go to a bar where they have some malts, and try some of the following: Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Glenkinchie, Glenmorangie, Macallan. Some of these tend to be a little more expensive but they will give you a good idea of what else you can expect.

For me the gateway into peaty whisky was Talisker 10 year old. Once I had that, I could appreciate something like Lagavulin, which I hated at first.

[bgast1]

I now love the Laphroiag. Superb Whisky. I am just interested in diversifying.

I've gone from Buffalo Trace to Wild Turkey 101 to Grant's to Lafhroaig to back again starting over again. I refreshed my palate with a lifesaver and a cup of coffee. Excellent tasting whiskeys each. :grin:

The next question is do I want to throw an Irish and/0r Canadian into the mix? All I know is that I am having a lot of fun and running out of money.

[Tennessee Dave]

Had to replenish my single malt supply. I picked up the following last week:

Springbank 10

Balvenie 17 Sherry Oak Cask

Aberlour d'Abundahd batch 32 (heard this is not as good as ususal but had to have one in the house)

Highland Park 12 (couldn't find the 18)

A Douglas Laing bottling of Ben Riach 18 year old refill hogshead cask. Have found no tasting notes on this one. Anyone here?

[bgast1]

I am enjoying Glenmorangie right now. I am drinking it neat at the moment. I will be adding a bit of water in a moment.

[JamesW]

Spice tree to start. Great whiskey, highly recommend! Now on to Amrut Fusion. There's an odd (but great) flavor in here, smells like a black forest cake. Really hard to put my finger on it. Excellent? Sublime? yes. Wish I could afford to drink these 2 every night.

[unclebunk]

Will be drinking some Bunnahabhain 12 and Clynelish 14 tonight, along with a nice bottle of Scotch ale from Belhaven Brewery. Sometimes it's nice to back off on the peat and just enjoy a dram for its subtle complexities.

[ebo]

Cragganmore 12, followed by Dalmore 12. The Dalmore is so dry compared to the Cragganmore.

[JamesW]

add an amrut peated to the mix :-)

[TomH]

We did a blind scotch tasting at the club tonight. The one distillery we got right was Glenfarclas and we even had it nailed as an older one, just didn't get the exact age since it turned out to by a 40YO

Tom

[Brisko]

Will be drinking some Bunnahabhain 12 and Clynelish 14 tonight, along with a nice bottle of Scotch ale from Belhaven Brewery. Sometimes it's nice to back off on the peat and just enjoy a dram for its subtle complexities.

I love those two expressions. Great stuff!

[unclebunk]

I love those two expressions. Great stuff!

Both were fabulous and those who dismiss Bunnahabhain for being lighter in profile than the other Islay whiskies are missing out. I have one friend who turns his nose up to Bunnahabhain 12 every time I offer it and for the life of me I can't understand why. It is truly delicious and brimming with flavor and aroma, IMO. Tonight, I think I'll head down the road to Caol Ila 12, another Islay classic!

[Megawatt]

Spice tree to start. Great whiskey, highly recommend! Now on to Amrut Fusion. There's an odd (but great) flavor in here, smells like a black forest cake. Really hard to put my finger on it. Excellent? Sublime? yes. Wish I could afford to drink these 2 every night.

[Brisko]

Both were fabulous and those who dismiss Bunnahabhain for being lighter in profile than the other Islay whiskies are missing out. I have one friend who turns his nose up to Bunnahabhain 12 every time I offer it and for the life of me I can't understand why. It is truly delicious and brimming with flavor and aroma, IMO. Tonight, I think I'll head down the road to Caol Ila 12, another Islay classic!

[bgast1]

Don't get me wrong, I like the southern Islay malts as much as any peat-head, but Bunnahabhain is one of my top favorites of any style.

[Megawatt]

LOL!!! It should be for what it cost. I wanted to try it but was scared off by the price.

I am looking to add a Speyside to my shelf now. I have Grant's, Laphroaig, and Glenmorangie. All different and all very enjoyable.

Try Aberlour. The 10 year old is a great value.