Best single-malt Scotch...

I am a old malt and cigar guy,so of course I love the Islay region.
My favorite is Bowmore 17 which they have stopped production of (I have one bottle left).It has a almost citrous/vanilla accent with a nice balance of smoke and peat.

Laphroig 10 (I hate the 15 year)is one of my staple malts.Smoke and peat with a iodine/seaweed finish.My significant other says it tastes like bandaids.I just tell her to stay away from my Scotch.

Lagavullan One of the best but too pricey.In your face smoke and peat. I bought a bottle in Ireland for 19 pounds,here it sells for over $80.00!

Bowmore "darkest" I very interesting a complex malt.Smoke and peat as usual but with a delicate complexity.

Laphroig 30 A fairly rare and what I would call "sublime" malt.

the cask strength craze has brought some interesting "session" malts. I call them session matls because it takes a session to figure out how much water to add. I have a couple of these and have fun with them when a brave audiophile friend comes over for a listen in the man cave.

Ah music,whiskey,cigars, life is sweet!

if only I could find a job.

e

Kgturner, Laphroig 10 is my staple as well,but I would say that it is a malt that folks either love or hate.My significant other has a friend that says it tastes like ass!LOL!!!
If you like Islay malts you need to try the Bowmores. If you can find a 17 year;snatch it up as it is no longer produced.This is my absolute favorite. Their other malts are all excellent as follows:
"Darkest" a 15 year sherry cask which has great complexity and a lovely brine finish.
"12 year" A very nice and less expensive malt with the typical Isaly attributes of brine and complexity.
"15" A better version of the 12 year old. More complexity and a more refined finish.Worth the extra money.
"16" Their newest malt.I suppose this is their replacement for the 17 year,but it doesn't even come close but is a good smoke and peat malt.
There are many others but are much rarer and more expensive.
The 30 year is less rare and in my opinion not worth the price. It is very good,but still not up to the 17 year.

btw when newbies taste malts they tend to say how "smooth" they are. This is a given and by saying so display their neophite status.
sorry for the snobbery.

e

I love the Laphroig 30yr! Truly a sublime malt,maybe the best ever. I have a couple of cask strengths including Laphroig 10 and a Bowmore 15. It can be interesting to experiment with because you should add water to it and the amount is the experimental part.I have found the Laphroig to need quite a bit to truly bloom.There is also a Laphroig small cask but I have not had the chance to try it yet.

There are few to no single malt Irish malts. Irish whiskey is a blended whiskey. I know that there have been such things but they are not mass produced.
Irish Whiskeys are different than Scotch. Usually lighter with much less smoke but with some peet. Much more palatable to the neophyte,but less desirable to the seasoned single malt taste.
of course IMHO applies.

e

Some of the worse roads and some of the narrowest. When I was there in 2001 I went over Conners Pass to Dingle. The road was as wide as a sidewalk, but the views; spectacular!

One Scotch you want to try and should be able to find is a excellent blend called "Bell's". It is not imported to N. America and is reputed to be made with Lagavullen. I have had several bottles and it is my favorite blend.Smoke and peet in a blended whiskey.

Have fun over there. I am envious.

e

For you high end high rollers, I suggest 30yr. Laphroig. Truly a sublime malt.

Just found 2 bottles of Bowmore 17 year (my favorite). This is no longer made. Needless to say, I am hoarding it.

not really

e

The beauty of single malt scotch: hundreds of choices and they are all different.There literally is no wrong or bad malt
btw as I have stated previously; Laphroig is a acquired taste. That said, I have to disagree with the statement that Lagavullin is more complex. They are both complex, but with different layers. I just love the seaweed finish on the 10yr Laphroig. (btw I hate the 15 yr version).

cheers

Just had a taste of my friends Arran and I would agree;a very fine malt.
Islay labels are my preference. Laphroig and Lagavullan,Bowmores,Ardbeg.
Laphroig 10 yr. (we call it "frog juice")is one of the least expensive premium malts; going here in Cincy for about $45.00.
I have found that price has little bearing on character and taste (in single malts).
btw most of the distilleries are owned by the Japanese.

cheers