Single Malt Scotch!

[OogieWaWa]

It's gotten mixed reviews but it's got more going on than Laphroig Select and for around $40 US it's a deal.

Then that will have to be my next purchase on the smoke quest.

My son got me the Select for Christmas (and a 10!) I like it for exactly what it is, not comparing it to what one might expect, particularly the prominent American white oak aspect. It instantly reminded me of decades of working with the stuff down in the basement wood shop. The sense of smell really is such a powerful trigger.

 

[Thunderitter]

Here’s a new one for me, a Taiwanese Single Malt: Kavalan. No declaration of age and still to be opened, maybe this weekend. I was wondering if anyone else has seen/tried this one. I’ll post my tasting notes when I have them.

 

[smperry]

Here’s a new one for me, a Taiwanese Single Malt: Kavalan. No declaration of age and still to be opened, maybe this weekend. I was wondering if anyone else has seen/tried this one. I’ll post my tasting notes when I have them.

I'm actively considering buying a bottle, as it's a great price at K&L, and I have fond memories of having Kavalan in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I might already have a bottle by the time you post, but please post any tasting notes.

 

[smperry]

I have a new everyday option to select. The Ardberg "Wee Beastie". It's more peppery than smokey, but it's still a peaty-smokey dram and with a pepper aftertaste. It's gotten mixed reviews but it's got more going on than Laphroig Select and for around $40 US it's a deal.

FWIW, Whiskey Advocate staff are fans and listed it as #6 of the year.

 

[smperry]

Tonight, I compared the ten to triple distilled (which is described as seven years old on the bottle). I still like the Triple as a house supper, but the ten has a lot going on. More sherry, more oak, a hint of peat, and something floral that I can’t quite place. The triple is a sweeter with more vanilla. The ten is richer, but tasting them together helped me find commonalities in each (citrus, ginger, cedar, pear, candle wax).

They’re both quite good, and I’m going to see if my local store has any more of the tens available, since I understand that the company has recently changed the packaging and possibly the recipe from this design. It might be good to have one bottle in storage.

Between these and the Hazelburn 12 particularly, I’m enjoying non-smoky non-Islays more than I used to. I still enjoy the Lagavulin, but not as a first drink, and not as much as these others. That said, it’d be great to have a great Islay again; so far, Ardbeg Corrywreckan is still my fave, but I finished that some time ago.

 

[champbassist]

Really enjoyed reading through the posts here. I've started in the world of single malt scotches only in the past couple of years. I'm currently quite enjoying this one:

 

[smperry]

I found Bladnoch 10y near me, and promptly bought the only two bottles in the store. This is so good as an unpeated option. The smell is just amazing, and the taste and finish don't disappoint either. Floral, vanilla, and mint on the nose, and clove, ginger, dark cherry, cream, orange, and tobacco? tasting. I'm still figuring it out, but...so good.

Having this first really highlights the leathery peat in the Benromach 10 and the sweet light peat in the Hazelburn 12. The other bottles I have are ok, but I'm really happy with those three.

 

[tombowlus]

I picked up a couple of new bottles and tried out this one the other night: Balvenie Caribbean Cask. Compared to the well-known Bavlenie DoubleWood, the Caribbean Cask was much more rich and a little sweeter (you can really taste the impact of the rum casks). By contrast, the standard DoubleWood is a bit more complex and "dryer." They are quite different from each other, overall, though either one would make a great companion for an evening.

 

[Indiedog]

Two of my favs!

 

[Vic]

Picked up these two last night. Haven't had the 25 yet, though I love the 18, so I expect to love it too. The IPA was totally random, but I'm a fan of IPAs, so I had to try it, though I thought it could be a train wreck for a scotch. Quite the opposite. Despite mixed but generally positive reviews among the experts online, I really like it, and it's very inexpensive.

 

[tombowlus]

I have to admit, I saw a bottle of that Glenfiddich IPA and I kind of gagged a bit when I thought of it. Glad to hear that it's actually pretty good, because I have enjoyed their Experimental Series.

 

[Vic]

I have to admit, I saw a bottle of that Glenfiddich IPA and I kind of gagged a bit when I thought of it. Glad to hear that it's actually pretty good, because I have enjoyed their Experimental Series.

i need to dig into it a bit... doubt they'd release that info, but i'd like to know which IPA(s?). At least to me, it doesn't taste like an infusion of actual IPA beer into the scotch (happily), but instead, seemingly an interesting residual effect of the hops that adds a nice effect.

 

[Akami]

Picked up these two last night. Haven't had the 25 yet, though I love the 18, so I expect to love it too. The IPA was totally random, but I'm a fan of IPAs, so I had to try it, though I thought it could be a train wreck for a scotch. Quite the opposite. Despite mixed but generally positive reviews among the experts online, I really like it, and it's very inexpensive.
View attachment 4164889 View attachment 4164890

Never had the 25 yet so I'm looking forward to hearing about it. Highland Park 18 has been on my favorites list from the first time I tried it.

 

[champbassist]

Got this a couple weeks ago based on decent online reviews. Thoroughly enjoyable, though maybe a little less than the Aultmore from my previous post.

 

[Vic]

Never had the 25 yet so I'm looking forward to hearing about it. Highland Park 18 has been on my favorites list from the first time I tried it.

it's incredible. my 25yr glendronach from '68 still kicks everything's ass, but the highland park 25 is 100% legit. you'll pay for it, but if you drink that kind of drink as sparingly and slowly as i do, it's worth it. it's as smooth as it is complex. i think it's scored a perfect 100 more than once amongst the experts.

 

[champbassist]

Got these in today - the one on the left is relevant to this thread - it's an Oban 14

The last two scotches I got were a Speyside and a Coastal Highland, this one is a West Highland - I still have a little bit left over from those so I'm hoping to compare the 3. Could you guys suggest some examples from each region which ideally represent the regional characteristics?

 

[Dean N]

Picked up these two last night. Haven't had the 25 yet, though I love the 18, so I expect to love it too. The IPA was totally random, but I'm a fan of IPAs, so I had to try it, though I thought it could be a train wreck for a scotch. Quite the opposite. Despite mixed but generally positive reviews among the experts online, I really like it, and it's very inexpensive.
View attachment 4164889 View attachment 4164890

Highland Park has always been a favorite. Their 25 is special.

 

[smperry]

Bought a bottle of the Corryvreckan and thought it's pretty good. Not great, but a good dram. I like the "zazz" of the cask strength, but the flavor was a bit underwhelming. Definitely not going to replace the Laphroaig Cask Strength 10 as my fave, but it's certainly not a bad scotch.

Technically, it was @smperry posting about it that caught my attention.



And it's not like it was terrible, it's simply that the Laphroaig is that good!

I bought a bottle of Laphroaig 10 cask strength tonight as it’s only fair. I probably won’t open it for a while, but it’s waiting in the cellar. I’m doing a dry week, and I currently have enough open bottles anyway.

 

[Joshua]

I bought a bottle of Laphroaig 10 cask strength tonight as it’s only fair. I probably won’t open it for a while, but it’s waiting in the cellar. I’m doing a dry week, and I currently have enough open bottles anyway.

View attachment 4213021

I've all but given up on other scotches, but only as I enjoy this one so much!

 

[champbassist]

Got this Laphroaig Select in today. This will be my first Islay

As per the guys over at Whiskey Tribe, this is supposed to be the most accessible Laphroaig (probably the reason for some online hate this gets). With the vibe I got after a dram of this, I'm happy I got the most accessible one to start exploring Islay with! It's all vanilla band-aids