Best single-malt Scotch...

I wonder why nobody has mentioned Bruichladdich yet as this is a traditional malt that is extremely pleasing without having the need to break the bank

I think those who get a taste for Islay tend to migrate to the extreme end of the flavour spectrum (eg. Lagavullin, Laphroiag, Caol Ila and Port Ellen), leaving otherwise worthy candidates like Bruichladdich and Bowmore out in the cold.

You musn't forget the best of the Islays (IMHO)....Ardbeg.

Ardbeg has always had an excellent taste to me, as have Cragganmore and Springbank.

With a tobacco pipe, Ardbeg works very well because of its intense flavor.

--Jonathan

Jonathan, what kind of tobacco do you prefer?

The local place carries loose blends of turkish and Virginia tobacco, flavored and un-. I usually prefer one with a mild expresso edge, cool and long-smoking - but I experiment (just like with Scotches).

Most tobacco aficianados prefer non-flavored, but I've found one with a light expresso flavoring is very nice.

-j.

-j, I tend to go towards blends with a lot of burley light. I used to buy Amphora, but, it's no longer imported. I don't care much for the flavored blends. I can enjoy the vanilla ones though. I haven't tried espresso. I tend to smoke a pipe a lot when drinkng coffee, and a cigar when drinking scotch.

I don't care much for cigar smell - I prefer pipe by a longshot. Unsound, do you prefer loose tobacco or tinned / prebagged?

-j.

OH, one which I should have mentioned for excellent taste for the value is Old Pulteney.

-j.

-j., I used to like the imported and therefore packaged "Amphora". That's no longer availble here in the states. I now get most of my pipe tobacco loose from Barcley Rex in NYC. A good cigar has beautifull aroma, that is until it lingers. I tend to do the vast majority of my smoking outdoors. I've never heard of the Old Pulteney. What's it made of? I have to see if I can find some.

Unsound,

Sorry - I hopped back into Single-malt land for a post there. Old Pulteney is a Single Malt from the Highlands - see here:

http://www.maltwhiskey.com/html/northhighlands.htm#Old%20Pulteney

That's an excellent site, by the way, for Single Malt reviews.

-j.

-J., guess I'd have to put in a hookah to smoke it?

Likely, yes - I haven't heard of any scotch-flavored hookah tobacco, though. Could be a huge seller for the guy who invents it.

-j.

Do any of you live in Central Ohio? If so do you know of a store with a good single malt selection? I'm in Columbus and it seems hard to find anything other than the usual suspects (Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, Macallan & Bowmore).

It's a bit of a drive for you, but you can find a much wider selection in the Cincinnati area. Best place is The PArty Source right across the rive in Newport. They have a huge selection, with lots of rare (and expensive) bottlings. Just picked up a bottle of 21 yr old Bowmore from a single cask private bottling for $ 68....lees than the very good but now overpriced LAgavullin..and arguably better....

Best I've tried is Macallan 25 as of yet. But, my standard single-malt for any day is the Balvenie 12 Doublewood. Ultra smooth, a bit syrupy, gorgeous color and a flavor that fits like an old glove.

..."a flavor tha fits like an old glove." Much better than a flavor that sips like an old sock.

The Balvenie Doublewood is indeed a very smooth whisky. But for great memories, I have to harken back to a Glenfarclas 30 yr old that I sampled on a vacation to Scotland back in December of 1999. I wanted to lick the inside of the glass!

There are so many reasonably priced Single Malts, how can anyone argue that Scotch is'nt the King of Spirits for price and flavour. Day to day, I still come back to Glemorangie as a distillery, though Laphroig, Dalwinnie come close. If you ever get to the UK, go to the Highlands and follow some of the Malt Whisky trail, the most beautiful scenery and spirits you will find anywhere. I still think the old saying that the best stuff never leaves Scotland is probably true.

Have you heard the old story about God talking to St Peter about Scotland" I gave them the best scenery in the world, clear streams, Scotch whisky". St Peters replies "Why so great bounty Lord". "Wait till you see the neighbours I've given them"

"Aye, ifiT's not ScoT, iT's crap!"

For me it's a tie between 25-year-old Caol Ila and 5-year old Clynelish, with 15-year-old Macallan getting honorable mention, especially with milk chocolate. I have the 10, 12, 15, 18 and 25 Macallan at home, and every so often I do a vertical tasting. I think Macallan becomes less interesting after 15 years. By 25 years, it's a shadow of its former self.

Bowman islay 12 year is a steal at 30.00. It is, to my taste, quite similar to Lagavulin, and at half the price...a hell of a lot like Lagavulin!

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.....

sorry, I meant Bowmore...drinking too much scotch you know!

I agree with Gliderguider's nod to Bruichladdich as an alternative to the better known Islays. But I have to say there are some Laddie's that are relatively expensive and a divergence from the 12 y.o. consumers will generally find on the shelf. In particular, the Links bottling is an outstanding Islay that doesn't beat one's taste buds to death. Limited distilling/release make it an unusual, and pleasing find. Also, Bunnahabhein ('Boonahaveen') is another outstanding Islay, as is Jura. But, if I can find it (and it's increasingly difficult to come by in my neck of the woods) I'd go for the Highland 18, an Orkadian whisky whose peatiness is distinctly more inviting, IMO, than any Islay. As far as combining smoke with a good Scotch, I would use something other than nicotine...

I am currently enjoying a few nice and reasonably priced single malts.

Lagavulin 16 is, for my money, an excellent Islay malt.

Longmorn 15 (Speyside) is an incredible bargain at approx. $60.

Macallan Cask Strength continues to impress me. I keep a bottle of Macallan 18 in my office, but open it far to infrequently...

Bruichladdich 18, Lagavulin 16, The Macallan 18, Glenmorangie 21, Highland Park 21, Springbank 18, Bowmore special reserve 25....and on and on.
I gotta admit, there's something to love in any quality single malt over 15 years old....I even like Lafroig 16.
Nice thread,
I think I'll have me a nice dram of The Macallan Special reserve 18 and a Bass Ale.
Life is good...Schlange!

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!

Oban is king

I like Glenlivet 12 year. I know a bit plain, but I'm only 30, I haven't even heard of many of the other ones that are mentioned. Also, for a decent bargain J+B 6 year does the trick. Most often it's just a canadian whisky on the rocks.

I love Lagavulin 16yo but also have a nice weakness for Balvenie Portwood.
I also love strange national liquours like Unicum, Talla Vannin, Cynar, Bechorovka, Balsam, etc.

Lagavulin 16 is awesome!!! Costco carries for only $62 per bottle -- got 4 for myself ;-) hehehe.....

I am new to whisky but Lagavulin opened a whole new area for me. Put a large order from local Liquor store and will have some serious A/B'ing in summer vacation:

Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Òr Extra Matured Range Sauternes Cask 750ml

Laphroaig 10 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml

Laphroaig 10 year old Original Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml

Laphroaig 15 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml @

Springbank 15 year old, Distillery Bottling Single Malt Whisky 750ml

Talisker 10 year old Isle of Skye Single Malt Whisky 750ml

1992 Talisker Distillers Edition Isle of Skye Single Malt Whisky

Black Bowmore 1964; I drank and still treasure the rest of my 1995 bottled edition which was supposed to be the final ons but I have read Bowmore bottled a few hundred bottles more in November 2007.

CARDHU

When I lived in Scotland there was no "best malt" - variety is the spice of life - I'd have a half a dozen bottles from speyside (from towns where we played golf) - another half dozen from the west coast and then several from the Islands up north and of course a few from the highlands and a couple from the lowlands. Now I am nolonger in Scotland I simply keep six bottles - I stick with Lagavulin - Talisker - Oban - Cragganmore - Glenkinichie - Dalwhinnie - to which I throw in a few with a port wood finish and other distinct colorations. These are all easy to find and relatively cheap/good value and will cover the range that you need for guests (actually a great marketing ploy from United Distillers) - to me there is no best - only what you happen to feel like depending on your mood, the weather and your meal.

Everybody have their own taste. For me, I A/B'ed some and ranked them as following:

#1, Lagavulin 16;
#2, Talisker 10;
#3, Oban 14;
#4, Laphroaig 10;
#5, Springbank 15;
#6, Balvenie 15;

Whisky Magazine's Best Single Malt list has:

World’s Best Islay Peated Single Malt Whisky
Lagavulin 16 Years Old

World’s Best Highland Single Malt Whisky
Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

----------------
well diserve the honor.
Lagavulin, an all time classic. nothing more to be said.

Glenmorangie has a very delicate aroma, not too much to be tacky. The after taste has a hint of sweetness, an open feeling, refreshing. Truly Wonderful.

Well, I find the concept of a 'best' single malt to be just as elusive as 'best' preamp or a 'best' speaker. It doesn't exist. Depends far too much on weather, attitude, time of day, or whatever. HOWEVER...if my arm were twisted, I would point the gentle reader to this:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/i/f/1194193217.jpg

In the center of the top shelf, just to the left of the Macallan jug, is a bottle of 1973 Longrow, which is my all time favorite whisky - and not by a narrow margin. Unfortunately, it is effectively unobtainable now. Several years ago, I saw a bottle go for 600 pounds at a Glasgow auction. I lived in Aberdeen for 4 years in the 1990s. This was going for about 30 pounds ($45) at the time. If I had only known...

I'll be opening that bottle on the day I retire. Incidentally, Longrow is available again. It's made by Springbank, using peated malt. For those of you who like both Springbank and the Islays, give it a try. Not the equal of the 1973, it's still very, very good.

Curriemt11,

interesting recommendation for Longrow. I will try to locate one if possible since I love Islay whisky. Springbank is quite different IMO though.

Abe

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!)

It`s horrible to see folks adding ice into fine single malt :P

It`s horrible to see folks adding ice into fine single malt...

The best has to be single malt in a cocktail. Yuk!

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"

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!'

15 year old Rum from Haiti

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.

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!

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.

Urino de Peshadore '94

while other commodities falter!