I just got a bottle of Glennmorange Astar and it is great and $89 a bottle, very complex and solid character. |
Good to see I'm not the only one so obsessed with my Scotch to know of Cadenhead's!!! I'll be there this year for my birthday (May 3rd) with my girlfriend, hope she gets me a present there! If not, I beleive you can bring two bottles a piece back....too bad, a case would do better!
By the way, I've heard little of some others I forgot to post, the Glenmorangie 18 yr old, and their Fino Sherry (12 I beleive) both also quite tasty! |
Killer thread!!
I've been into Scotch for several years now and have a few that are almost always kept 'in house'.
1) The Macallan 25 yr old, I remember when it was $125. Now at $300, I buy it less, thankfully many friends seem to always remember my favorite on birthdays and Christmas, so there is usually some around. Unquestionably one of the best, if not the best commercially available single malt...
Their 18 yr old is my house staple and always drinkable!
2) I like a 24 yr old Dalmore (Cooper's choice) that I got recently, not quite as smooth, but very full and flavorful.
3) Royal Laproagh, eceptionally smooth, almost to the point of too little taste.
4) Talisker
5) Lagavulin, a little to smokey for me, but nice with a bit of H2O and some ice.
That covers my favorite single malts......
Now, the selection becomes much more obscure for single casks..... yes, true straight from the cask Scotch whiskey. I found the store of my dreams on a trip to London last year.
There's a store in Covent GGardens (3 Russel Str, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5JD, Phone # 0171 379 4640)that is a Scotch drinkers dream. I bought a bottle there, can't remember right now what it was, but was the best Scotch I've ever had. If you're in london, or want to buy a case (they export!!) go there or contact them! You won't be disappointed. If you go, they give tastings of all the single casks, just ask!! Their cigars are poorly humidified though, so don't go overboard with the Cubans there!
Buy and happy drinking!! |
Well, it's been two trips to London (and Cadenhead's) since I last posted and it seems I'm running out fo scotch again.
I must agree with the recomendation for the 1986 double matured lagavulin! I don't like the regular one of their's...to smokey for me, but the double matured! I also like the 1967 Glenlivett cellar collection. That was really nice! I won't list the single casks...to many and too few known.
As for blends...I don't agree with some on the Johnie Walker Blue. For me it's to bland, I prefer the gold if I go that route.
After all this time and all this scotch, for me it still Macallan 18 or 25 or single casks when i've got them! I need to start a record of the ones i've had so I'll remember the next time I'm in London!
Cheers! |
Well, I still have a bottle of 25 yr old Macallan, haven't opened it up yet....
Happened to be at the liquor store the other day and they got the new 25 and 30 yr old Mac's. I must say I didn't buy either, they now come in cardboard boxes and are $350 and $600 per!!!
For that I'll go to London and visit Cadenhead's! |
Edsilva,
Where was that shop!
The only placse I know like that are in London, Cadenhead's comes to mind, and another one in Kensington too but I always forget it's name. FWIW 'Cask stregth' IS NOT the same as 'single cask' which is what you are describing, ie straight from the cask. They don't usually run as high as 75% EtOH though, but can be up to about 70%.
I agree with you on the water as well, and yes, the Scots would laugh at you if you drank single cask without any! |
Funny I was just thinking of this thread as I just got the details of my birthday trip.... Tuesday we fly to London for two days then to Prague for a week... so I will be visiting my favorite whiskey shop in the world, Cadenheads for some sampling and no doubt buying of rare single casks.....
Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me..... |
I had an 18 yr old Benrinnes last night, only available in extremely limited quantities (single cask) but one of the best scotches I've had.
Pepperdog, I haven't seen the Mac SR 18 for years, loved the purple label, and the scotch of course! |
David,
A friend of mine was in Scotland and his boss ordered a Macallan 25 on the rocks with water....
The barman looked at him and shook his head and said 'Aye, I'll do it, but it pains me heart!' |
I bought the Balvenie TUN 1401 the other day, it's good but I like the 21 Port wood better. Sadly I paid more for the TUN...... |
You are so right, the Macallan's have priced themselves out of the market for me, I remember when the 25 was $99 and was available in the grocery store! Now it's hidden behind the counter in the LLS! |
Rja,
If you can find it try the 25 y/o Talisker....
I still have a few ounces of that one left and it is insanely good! I used to drink Macallan but the prices have gone out of control. I used to get the 25 y/o for $99 and you could buy it in the grocery store, now that bottle is over $750 and in my mind not worth that, I'll stick with Balvenie 21 Port for less than $200 (actually my LLS still has some at %150!) |
Yeah, Macallan has essentially priced itself out of the market. They sell most of their product to Asia where it is a major status symbol, in the US me and my friends drink the 21 Port Balvenie. It's available for ~$200 and is to my palette better than the 25 Macallan. YMMV and we all need to tailor price to taste!
The Mac 12 is pretty rough for my tastes, I can't tolerate the 15 even. When things were cheaper I used to keep the 18 as my 'house' scotch but now I will serve Balvenie 21 when friends come by..... |
Well, found another really good Whiskey shop in Christchurch New Zealand of all places, got me a bottle of 1984 Benrinnes, cask strength, un-chill filtered, love me some Benrinnes! Also brought home a bottle of 19 yr old Ben Nevis sherry cask, waiting to get home today to open that one......
Amazing how I have found good whiskey shops all over the world..... |
