Single Malt Scotch!

[tombowlus]

I'm still into my Macs, Lagavulin, etc, but I have to say, the one that's rockin' my world the most these days is my Glendronach '68 25yr. I got a bottle when they were still selling for under $200 each, and I'm still kickin' myself for not getting a second one for back stock. They're currently selling for $410-480 each... when you can find them.

Invalid Link Removed

Agreed. Man, I should have bought a case!

 

[BartmanPDX]

Highland Park is only $34 currently...That's gone up less than gasoline.

M

Yup. And that's why it's my "everyday" single malt. Best value around, IMO.

 

[Vic]

Yup. And that's why it's my "everyday" single malt. Best value around, IMO.

I have GOT to get some of this stuff! I've heard nuthin' but good stuff, but just haven't picked up a bottle yet... what the heck is wrong with me???

 

[tombowlus]

I have GOT to get some of this stuff! I've heard nuthin' but good stuff, but just haven't picked up a bottle yet... what the heck is wrong with me???

Highland Park is great. It was one of the first single malts that got me 'hooked.'

Right now, my 'every day' scotch is still Balvenie Double Wood.

Tom.

 

[mrokern]

Yeah, I'm glad this thread got resurrected too. It had escaped my notice so far.

It's cool to see so many Lagavulin fans here. It's about time for me to get another bottle of that. It's probably doubled in price since the last time I bought it...

I also go for the Balvenie Doublewood when I'm in the mood for something less smokey, which has been the case for a while -- but I seem to be getting back into the peaty stuff recently. A couple weeks ago I got a bottle of an Islay malt I'd never heard of, called Ledaig. It definitely has the peaty, smokey Islay character, but it is much, much lighter than Lagavulin, both in color and in body. I would definitely buy it again, although it's not at the top of my list.

Ed, we've really got to hang out more.

I'm predictable in my Scotch, though...Macallan 12, the old standby.

If someone else is buying, though, I'll gladly take The Balvenie Port 21.

-Mark

 

[Vic]

Right now, my 'every day' scotch is still Balvenie Double Wood.

That is a great one, and very popular as well. I have some... maybe I'll have some tonight.

BTW, I may have found another bottle of the Glendronach at a great price... we'll see if it pans out.

 

[Masher88]

Right now, my 'every day' scotch is still Balvenie Double Wood.

Tom.

Ahhhh...that's a good one!

 

[edbutler3]

Ed, we've really got to hang out more.

I'm predictable in my Scotch, though...Macallan 12, the old standby.

If someone else is buying, though, I'll gladly take The Balvenie Port 21.

Yeah. Do you know of any bars in the area with a decent Scotch selection? It's such a shame that Sherlock's Home shut down -- they used to have almost 100 single malts on the menu.

It's kinda funny, considering it's one of the most popular single malts, but I just tried Macallan 12 for the first time this Tuesday (at Kieran's downtown.) I definitely liked it, but I think I still prefer the Balvenie Doublewood in that price range. I'll have to try them side by side someday. As for the Balvenie 21, I've tried little free samples of that a couple times but never felt like paying for it. :-/

 

[Vic]

Yeah. Do you know of any bars in the area with a decent Scotch selection? It's such a shame that Sherlock's Home shut down -- they used to have almost 100 single malts on the menu.

It's kinda funny, considering it's one of the most popular single malts, but I just tried Macallan 12 for the first time this Tuesday (at Kieran's downtown.) I definitely liked it, but I think I still prefer the Balvenie Doublewood in that price range. I'll have to try them side by side someday. As for the Balvenie 21, I've tried little free samples of that a couple times but never felt like paying for it. :-/

WOAH! DUDE! I've been in there!!! I stayed at that Holiday Inn Express many times back when I was working for Digi. There was also a place somewhere downtown I remember they took me to... huge bar, massive selection of liquor, and great scotch list. Can't remember the name of the place tho...

 

[edbutler3]

WOAH! DUDE! I've been in there!!! I stayed at that Holiday Inn Express many times back when I was working for Digi. There was also a place somewhere downtown I remember they took me to... huge bar, massive selection of liquor, and great scotch list. Can't remember the name of the place tho...

Cool -- that was a great pub. I was pretty upset when it closed down several years ago. It was a reliable place to take out of town guests, or just swing by after work for some excellent prime rib, cask conditioned ale, and single malt scotch.

 

[edbutler3]

All this talk of scotch drove me to make a new purchase. (Would that be "Scotch Acquisition Syndrome"?) On my last few trips to the local liquor store I had been tempted by a bottle of Invalid Link Removed that I had never seen or heard of before. So tonight I had to get it.

You can definitely tell that it sat in sherry casks for the full 17 years. It looks so dark in the bottle, I think it's even darker than bourbon. I taste/smell a lot of vanilla and honey, and almost no peat or smoke. I thought I detected an orange note, like a trace of Grand Marnier, but the "official" tasting notes don't mention that. If you like sherry, you'll probably be into it, although it seems like a bit of a novelty item in the sense that it goes so far in the sherry direction that it may be stepping outside the normal range for scotch flavor profiles. But I'm enjoying it.

 

[Vic]

All this talk of scotch drove me to make a new purchase. (Would that be "Scotch Acquisition Syndrome"?) On my last few trips to the local liquor store I had been tempted by a bottle of Invalid Link Removed that I had never seen or heard of before. So tonight I had to get it.

You can definitely tell that it sat in sherry casks for the full 17 years. It looks so dark in the bottle, I think it's even darker than bourbon. I taste/smell a lot of vanilla and honey, and almost no peat or smoke. I thought I detected an orange note, like a trace of Grand Marnier, but the "official" tasting notes don't mention that. If you like sherry, you'll probably be into it, although it seems like a bit of a novelty item in the sense that it goes so far in the sherry direction that it may be stepping outside the normal range for scotch flavor profiles. But I'm enjoying it.

This is my favorite kind of scotch... the dark Sherry cask ones... that's always been Glendronach's big thing from way back, and how I got turned on to them years ago. Back then they were a huge bargain... they had a great 15yr that was a ridiculously cheap $35/bottle. Later I found the '68 25yr and "game over".

Don't get me wrong, I still totally love my Mac 18, and other stuff, but the Glendronach (and similar) is just really my thing. I'm gonna' have to go out and get some of this Balvenie. I've seen it, but not picked it up yet.

 

[edbutler3]

This is my favorite kind of scotch... the dark Sherry cask ones... that's always been Glendronach's big thing from way back, and how I got turned on to them years ago. Back then they were a huge bargain... they had a great 15yr that was a ridiculously cheap $35/bottle. Later I found the '68 25yr and "game over".

Don't get me wrong, I still totally love my Mac 18, and other stuff, but the Glendronach (and similar) is just really my thing. I'm gonna' have to go out and get some of this Balvenie. I've seen it, but not picked it up yet.

Vic:
Have you tried the Glendronach 12 year? I think I saw a bottle of that when I was getting the Balvenie 17. If you've tried it, would you recommend it, or should I not bother unless I can find the 15?

 

[Vic]

Vic:
Have you tried the Glendronach 12 year? I think I saw a bottle of that when I was getting the Balvenie 17. If you've tried it, would you recommend it, or should I not bother unless I can find the 15?

I don't think they make a 15 anymore. I had to look twice at my old bottle just to make sure I wasn't mistaken. No, I haven't tried their 12 yet, but I will.

 

[Deacon_Blues]

I can't afford to have a lot of different brands at home at the same time. Currently, I have a bottle of Caol Ila. It's rather smoky/peaty, but I like it a lot. Llagavulin is another great one if you like these kind of whiskies, just haven't bought a bottle of that one ever yet.

Among non-peaty whiskies, I like Dalwhinnie, Glenlivet, Balvenie, Grenfiddich Solera Reserve etc. Then my twinbrother has a bottle of some great smooth scotch, which name I sadly don't remember... There's a lot of great ones out there, but I've also tried a few that I didn't like at all. Macallan was one of them, also Auchentoshan.


Hope it's not considered a blasphemy here, but what about using scotch in drink mixes? I got a bottle of Drambuie from a friend for my 30's birthday last weekend, and to know what to do with it, instead of just drinking it plain, I checked out a small book with classic drinks and cocktails. There was a recipe, called "Rusty Nail": You pour scotch and Drambuie (I prefer using a bit more whisky than Drambuie), over some ice cubes and mix a little. I tried this with the Caol Ila, and I liked the taste pretty much. Semi-sweet and peaty on the same time. (FYI, Drambuie is a liqueur made from scotch malt whisky and honey, so it's rather sweet as such).

I'm usually not a fan of using whisky in cocktails, but this Rusty Nail cocktail was surprisingly good.

 

[Vic]

Hope it's not considered a blasphemy here, but what about using scotch in drink mixes?

As long as you pick a scotch that you don't mind masking most of its flavor, it should be fine. However, when I pay all that money for a ultra-fine scotch, I want to taste every nuance.

 

[Masher88]

Anyone know of a retailer that sells the little "airplane" bottles of different scotch? I'd like to try out a bunch of different brands and the bars around here don't have many varieties to choose from.

 

[tombowlus]

Anyone know of a retailer that sells the little "airplane" bottles of different scotch? I'd like to try out a bunch of different brands and the bars around here don't have many varieties to choose from.

You just need to come to my house for a hang sometime.

Which reminds me, I am woefully behind in scheduling the next BBB GTG...

 

[Vic]

Well, I got tired of you jerks talking about how great Highland Park was, so I picked up a bottle of the 18 today.

Also, I managed to find another bottle of that Glendronach 1968 at the old price!!!!!! Clearly, I picked it up, so now I have my "back stock". That also came today.

Speaking of Highland Park, however, anybody here heard of this stuff? REALLY interesting! I got a bottle of the 12, 16, and the 30 today. Not cheap AT ALL. $8, $9, and $16 per bottle respectively. I don't imagine myself buying more of this stuff, but I just had to try it.

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Tonight, I celebrate fine spirits.

 

[fitbass3p]

Well, I got tired of you jerks talking about how great Highland Park was, so I picked up a bottle of the 18 today.

Also, I managed to find another bottle of that Glendronach 1968 at the old price!!!!!! Clearly, I picked it up, so now I have my "back stock". That also came today.

Speaking of Highland Park, however, anybody here heard of this stuff? REALLY interesting! I got a bottle of the 12, 16, and the 30 today. Not cheap AT ALL. $8, $9, and $16 per bottle respectively. I don't imagine myself buying more of this stuff, but I just had to try it.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Tonight, I celebrate fine spirits.

I might be mistaking it for something else, as I did not purchase it or see the packaging, but I believe I have tried one of the Old Engine Oils you linked. It was terrible. One of the worst liquids I've ever had the displeasure of having in my mouth.