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Single Malt Scotch!
- Thread starter tombowlus
- Start date
To the Macallan drinkers, what would you call your personal favorite? I know the 18 gets phenomenal reviews, but how do the others compare? They all seem pretty cheap here (relatively), and I'm debating grabbing an 18 just to have tried it, but are the others in the ballpark?
I ask as I'm moving to BC and scotch is way cheaper here so I figured I'd stock up... I thought I'd give a Macallan a try as I think I might be the only person in the thread that's never tried it.
Another idle question, I thought in one of these threads someone called it sherry casked, is that true? I know the 17 I saw was bourbon/sherry casked, are the "standards" as well? If they are, are we talking strongly sherried (eg. glendronach) or more subtle?
Thanks for the tips.
Edit... if it makes any difference, I'm not usually a highland/speyside drinker, but on occasion I don't mind them... some of them almost seem salty (terrible description, but the best I can do). Admittedly, I'm not usually drinking really good scotch from those areas, but I'm hoping thats at least minimal in a "better" whisky.
I ask as I'm moving to BC and scotch is way cheaper here so I figured I'd stock up... I thought I'd give a Macallan a try as I think I might be the only person in the thread that's never tried it.
Another idle question, I thought in one of these threads someone called it sherry casked, is that true? I know the 17 I saw was bourbon/sherry casked, are the "standards" as well? If they are, are we talking strongly sherried (eg. glendronach) or more subtle?
Thanks for the tips.
Edit... if it makes any difference, I'm not usually a highland/speyside drinker, but on occasion I don't mind them... some of them almost seem salty (terrible description, but the best I can do). Admittedly, I'm not usually drinking really good scotch from those areas, but I'm hoping thats at least minimal in a "better" whisky.
The 12 is very nice, just not nearly as smooth. If the 18 is reasonably priced tho, don't waste your time on the 12. Go 18... you'll never regret it.
Yes, some, tho not all, Macs are aged in casks that were once used for wine making, hence the darker color and richer flavor. Glendronach is another favorite of mine and some of those get pretty dark.
Thanks for the thoughts.
I also quite enjoy a glendronach, but the sherry flavor can be overpowering. Its enjoyable in a different way than a more "traditional" scotch, maybe drinkable more casually... although I might not be refined enough in my tastes to follow the subtleties underneath the sherry finish.
I also quite enjoy a glendronach, but the sherry flavor can be overpowering. Its enjoyable in a different way than a more "traditional" scotch, maybe drinkable more casually... although I might not be refined enough in my tastes to follow the subtleties underneath the sherry finish.
Glenfiddich. Im actually a blended man though.
Johnnie Walker Black or if available{ and I have the cash}
Johnnie Walker Blue.
Johnnie Walker Black or if available{ and I have the cash}
Johnnie Walker Blue.
Then the Mac's are a great way to go. They are aged that way, but not nearly as dark. I'll never be without a Mac (or two) in my collection. They've become a "standard" for scotch for me.
It's got to be Balvenie's double wood for me. Also if Jamesons 1780 12yr was scottish than that would be on the list. Then after that Glenfiddich, then Macallans, But there's a whole world of tasting to be done yet! Waay too expensive hobby here in Norway 
thats why I always pick up a bottle at the tax free when traveling.
thats why I always pick up a bottle at the tax free when traveling.
If you're going to go irish whiskey, then I'm going to have to go with bushmill's malt... make sure to get the malt... unbelievably good... especially if you get the older stuff... wow...It's got to be Balvenie's double wood for me. Also if Jamesons 1780 12yr was scottish than that would be on the list. Then after that Glenfiddich, then Macallans, But there's a whole world of tasting to be done yet! Waay too expensive hobby here in Norway
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
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- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I tried Bushmills the other day and really enjoyed it.
Recently added Old Pulteney 1983 to the collection. That's a special bottle.
Recently added Old Pulteney 1983 to the collection. That's a special bottle.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,948
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
That's good to know about the 12 and 15... Much as I wanted to grab an 18, I figured I'd try two of the cheaper ones first for the same price and go for it later if I liked them... So I ended up with a 15 and a 17 (which was bourbon casked I believe), so hopefully that'll give me an idea what to expect.
Yeah, good call. My experience is, the 12 tastes nearly as good as the 18... the main difference being how much smoother the 18 is.
Here's my almost drunk babies:
Clynelish 12 year old cask strength
Caol Ila 14 year old cask strength
Caol Ila 17 year old drinking strength
In the middle is a lovely bottle of Croatian Cherry Brandy which I picked up last week in Croatia. The whiskys are great though and I thoroughly recommend people move away from "brands" and get their whisky's from the cask which gives you a much wider variety of flavour than the standard "brews"
Clynelish 12 year old cask strength
Caol Ila 14 year old cask strength
Caol Ila 17 year old drinking strength
In the middle is a lovely bottle of Croatian Cherry Brandy which I picked up last week in Croatia. The whiskys are great though and I thoroughly recommend people move away from "brands" and get their whisky's from the cask which gives you a much wider variety of flavour than the standard "brews"
Here is the Burks humble selection, all of which are getting low. A call to Beltrams is in order. My favorite (mid priced) is still Glenmorange 12 port wood, but the Oban 14, Balvennie 12 and Mac 12 all hold their own
You guys are killing me.
I'm down to a smidgen of Highland Park and a little bit more than that of Macallan 12 yr.
For the record, Macallan 12 is just about the best single malt to buy someone whose taste you don't know well -- it's hard to find anyone who doesn't like it -- a very safe bet.
Macallan 18 used to be for sale at Beltramo's (the store I used to work at in the Bay Area in the '90s) for $50 a bottle. There wasn't a single better deal in the entire store, dollar for dollar. I think the 12yr. sold for $30 back then, so the 18yr. was an amazing deal. Simply incredible.
Then people bought it all up (LOTS went to the Far East), and now it's waaaay over a hundred a bottle. It's been a decade or more since I had a bottle of the 18 around.
I'm down to a smidgen of Highland Park and a little bit more than that of Macallan 12 yr.
For the record, Macallan 12 is just about the best single malt to buy someone whose taste you don't know well -- it's hard to find anyone who doesn't like it -- a very safe bet.
Macallan 18 used to be for sale at Beltramo's (the store I used to work at in the Bay Area in the '90s) for $50 a bottle. There wasn't a single better deal in the entire store, dollar for dollar. I think the 12yr. sold for $30 back then, so the 18yr. was an amazing deal. Simply incredible.
Then people bought it all up (LOTS went to the Far East), and now it's waaaay over a hundred a bottle. It's been a decade or more since I had a bottle of the 18 around.
You guys need to look at this website: Invalid Link Removed
This shop is about 10 mins from my house. Apparently they have the largest collection of whiskys for sale in Europe at any one time.
If you want to soil your draws have a look at this page:
Invalid Link Removed
Remember that a pound is worth $2US.
This shop is about 10 mins from my house. Apparently they have the largest collection of whiskys for sale in Europe at any one time.
If you want to soil your draws have a look at this page:
Invalid Link Removed
Remember that a pound is worth $2US.
Mark, They do have some cool stuff I've never seen before. But even without shipping their prices are just average on the stuff I checked. They are higher then Beltramamos.
Link Removed
I don't know if they ship to the UK or not.
You can't compare alcohol prices per se across jurisdictions because of diffferent tax on alcohol. However the UK is very expensive for alcohol compared to most countries (other than Iceland and Scandanavia). Its certainly more expensive to buy in the UK than the US. It doesn't suprise me that the prices are average. However, the sheer range of whisky available is amazing. Did you see the £7,500 ($15,000) bottle of 1930's whisky?
