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 |
Good call...have you tried the 30-year Macallan? |
After so many years as an Audiogoner, I finally found this forum. Now I know why I own 15 different types of scotch. It's because I own 15 different audio components. The two go hand-in-hand!
Now for my two cents for favorite single malt. I have been to Scotland, tried many fabulous scotches, but have always come back to Macallan 18 year old as my "must have" bottle. |
Wow...30 & 40 laphroig are well regarded. I have tasted Balvenie but not the older ones.
I am still waiting for Springbank 21...and my current whisky collection is slowly dropping every weekend! |
21 year-old The Balvenie, purchased about nine years ago, is the best I have tasted.
However,I have not tasted many. |
I had a dram of 25YO Longrow at a friends the other night, really impressive stuff.
I've also enjoyed 30 and 40 YO Laphroig both great but the 30 might hold a slight edge. |
Hi Learsfool,
Yes...i was surprised after many years of not trying it, that the Laphroig 10 year is actually quite good. I think the last time, i had yet to be introduced to real peat...and i found it way too smoky. Now that i find myself enjoy Islay whisky's...i was quite pleasantly surprised by Laphroig. Very, very sweet, thick (or oily as they describe it)...and very nice rich smoke.
I have the Lagavulin 12, 16 and distiller's edition at home...would love to get 21-year but too expensive!!!
Am on the waitlist for a 21-year Springbank!!!!!! whoo hoo! |
Lloydelee21, have you ever tried Laphroig? Lagavulin next door is also one of my faves. |
My favorites:
Macallan 30-year, 18-year
Springbank 18, 21-year
Ardberg Supernova
Lagavulin 16, 21-year
St. Magdalene 26-year
Yoichi 21-year
I tend towards the Islays as you can see...but still find the 18- and 30-year Macallans to be 2 of the greats. |
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When the only way you can drive is to look at the guy's tail lights in front of you. He drives into the ditch, and you follow him. I'll have another CARDHU please. |
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 |
Excellent, Unsound! Thanks! I'll try to get some and report back. |
Cpdunn99, Ireland refrers to their premium whiskeys as "pure pot stilled". The unique Irish "Connenmara" is probably the closest to single malt Scot whiskey. |
Thanks, Irish65. I look forward to trying Black Bush. |
Cpdunn99,
Try Black Bush Irish Whisky or Bushmills. There are many others but the two I listed are very good and from the oldest distillery (1608). |
If you are in Ireland, you should be able to find single malt scotch pretty easily. Of course you will also find a number of Irish Whiskeys that aren't exported.
Have fun....and don't drink and drive in Ireland...it has some of the worst roads in Europe. |
That's what I figuring, Emorrisiv. My go-to Scotch are Lagavullin and Talisker. |
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 |
Heading off to Ireland in two weeks and was wondering what single-malt Irish whisky I might look for. |
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. |
I like the Islay scotches as well (I am very slowly nursing a bottle of 30yr Laphroig).
But, I like other scotches too. A friend, who is into cask strenth stuff has a nearly 30 yr old bottle of Brora that is fantastic. I usually find drinking scotch at cask strength to be a bit too harsh an experience, but this bottle was a notable exception --smooth, well balanced, with just enough peat to please someone who likes peaty scotch (doesn't have the iodine taste that I like in Islay). This friend also has some odd-ball stuff like "Scotch" distilled in Japan that had a very peculiar nose but was quite pleasing (can't recall the name). Tomorrow, he is hosting a poker game, so I am sure I will get a chance to sample yet another bottle or two. |
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 |
well, one year after my last post, i've found laphroaig 10 to be my staple scotch. i've gone through the cask strength, 15, and quarter cask, but find that the standard 10 is most pleasing overall. i tried the lagavulin 16, but it always left me with a very dry mouth feel which i didn't enjoy. my next bottle with likely be a talisker 10. then maybe onto bottles of caol ila and bowmore as i tour the islay scotches. |
I can tell you that Scapa 16 yr. old is extraordinary. |
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 |
"If you want a rare treat, find your way to Edinburgh and go to The Scotch Whiskey Society for lunch. You can sample (for a price) as many of their specially bottled single malts by the glass...and the price is very reasonable. You can also buy a bottle of whatever you like. A wonderful place."
I want to go to there! Ha!
Peace,
Lee
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The thread that will never die :)
If you want a rare treat, find your way to Edinburgh and go to The Scotch Whiskey Society for lunch. You can sample (for a price) as many of their specially bottled single malts by the glass...and the price is very reasonable. You can also buy a bottle of whatever you like. A wonderful place.
My long time preference has been Lagavulan 16YO. The price locally is now $84 but I found an out of state source where I can get it for $50-$55.
One of my least favorite is Lach Dhu but now I wish I hadn't opened the bottle since it's gotten so expensive as a collectors item. I still have 3/4 of a bottle for company that wants to try it. |
Unsound: the Laphroig 15 YO is in a different class than the 8 YO. All I can say is I wept when the last drop went down my gullet. |
I just got a bottle of Glennmorange Astar and it is great and $89 a bottle, very complex and solid character. |
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I've been a Glen Levet/Glen Feddich Scotch fan for the past 6 years. I got started by a friend after playing a round of golf. The bar tender pored a tall glass with ice and for up until 6 months ago thats how i enjoyed Single Malt Scotch. After reading up more on the subject i started buying other brands in the past 6 months. Bowmore 10 year old, Balvenie 15 very reasonable at 55us, Dalmore 15 bought on line from Scotland, Glenmorangie 10 and 15 my favorite, Laphroaig 10, very reasonable to at 35us did someone say smoke and peat but i enjoy this dram also, Macallan 12. I've also enjoyed others at the bar Talisker, Oban, Glenfarclas. Being a reformed smoker i find the same release from the finish on sipping. Very enjoyable and relaxing. Single malt has now become my drink of choice for the taste. Its important to have a closed glass for noising. I acquired those from a Glenmorangie Christmas gift set. I also picked up 2 more from a Glenlivet testing package with a 15 year old French oak and a 16 Nadurra. I like to enjoy some with a melted cube of ice and others with a dash of water and then theres a few i like neet only. For me Classic Rock and Scotch are a great combo.
Mike |
The Balvenie 12 year is my long standing choice. |
i haven't tried too many single-malts yet, but so far my faves are the macallan 12 and talisker 10. i'll give the 10 year old laphroaig a try in the coming weeks. |
I'm not a Laphroig fan. Too much flavor of iodine for me. I've been told it's a favored ingredient by the better blenders. To each his own. |
I recently tried Laphroig, and think I like it even better than the Lagavulin. |
ah yes, lagavulin...think i'll have one come to think of it! |
Lagavulin 16 still does it for me, and it is just $43. a bottle here in OKC.. I do drink less of it out of state.. |
Had another look at this great thread and I would like to add Glenkinchie 12 year old, clean, fresh, floral and grassy. A great aperatif as it does not kill the buds before a good wine. Also do not forget the Woodford Reserve, I always get a bottle when in the USA. |
while other commodities falter! |
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As a result of this thread, Lagavulin prices have gone up. I propose we boycott for the next 15days, see if Diageo takes pity on us. |
I was introduced to Scotch with a 16 year Lagavulin and now many years later, after trying just about every Scotch on the planet, have not found anything better...oh yeah, cheaper maybe, but not better! |
I have to agree with all of the posters who said Lagavulin. I will have to try this Laphroig many of the Lagavulin lovers also mentioned, haven't had that one. For me, Lagavulin is far better than Oban, Talisker, Glenlivet, and MacCallen. It was the first single-malt I ever had, actually, but I have yet to find a better. |
15 year old Rum from Haiti |
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 was in an Isle of Mull hotel 30 years ago, when one of you colonials came in, and asked for the best malt in the house , with ginger ale. The barman grabbed him by the throat in a friendly fashion " You DOONT put ginger ale in malt whisky sur" |
It`s horrible to see folks adding ice into fine single malt... The best has to be single malt in a cocktail. Yuk! |
It`s horrible to see folks adding ice into fine single malt :P
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The Lagavulin 16 is very good, but a little too smokey at times for me. I keep comming back to the Glenlivet 18 yr. Hoppy beer lovers, have you tried Flying Dog's Double IPA yet - similar to the Dogfish Head 90 Minute (only better!) |
