Single Malt Scotch!

[lowendfriend]

Had the pleasure of two nice Balvenie's over the holidays:

The Carribean Cask 14 year I think....aged in rum casks

...and the Balvenie 15 year which was really nice.

Had Caol Ila at a nice restaurant, which confirms my scotch "center" as being squarely in Islay malts....

A great cheap Islay scotch I stumbled into is McClellands which is selling for 23 bucks in Massachusetts...nice peaty flavor, but as a non-dated, single malt whiskey is a little alcohol-y in flavor, but you can't beat the price. A very nice "everyday" single malt.

 

[beggar98]

Went to a bar in Vegas on Sunday night called the Freakin' Frog. They have an upstairs whiskey room with over 700 whiskeys, mostly scotches. I had a Balvenie 21yr Port wood, which is one of the best I've drank, and also the Caol Ila 25yr cask strength which was also excellent. My friend had the Ardbeg Rollercoaster, which is a blend of each of their 10yr singles from the last 10 years. I would highly recommend a trip to this bar for any scotch lover who finds themselves in Vegas.

 

[UncleFluffy]

Not strictly a single malt, in fact it's a (vatted?) grain, but I did try the Compass Box Hedonism last night just out of curiosity. It was far more impressive than I expected.

Completely opposite to the smoky, peaty stuff I prefer, but ... it does what it does extremely well. Lots of vanilla and honey with a sweet aftertaste. Recommended as a complete change of pace once in a while or as a bottle to keep around to surprise folks who "don't like whisky".

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[Thunderitter]

Just acquired these 'samples' direct from the source!

 

[tombowlus]

Nice! That Longrow really is something special. How is the Springbank 18?

Tom.

 

[Thunderitter]

Nice! That Longrow really is something special. How is the Springbank 18?

Tom.

Very nice indeed; full flavored and very smooth.

 

[Vic]

Very nice indeed; full flavored and very smooth.

Cool... I also have the LR14, but I believe my SB is the 15. Both great drams tho, IMHO.

 

[burk48237]

Just acquired these 'samples' direct from the source!

Those are two I must try at some point. I've never had any of the Longrows or Springbanks. But then Tom doesn't invite me over any more.

At this point I don't see my self buying any Scotch until May unless my financial situation drastically changes. I do have some reserve though.

 

[tombowlus]

Those are two I must try at some point. I've never had any of the Longrows or Springbanks. But then Tom doesn't invite me over any more.

Steve:

I'm pretty sure you had some of my Longrow 14 the first time we drank in Mike Tobias' room at Summer NAMM (2009, I believe).

Tom.

 

[burk48237]

Steve:

I'm pretty sure you had some of my Longrow 14 the first time we drank in Mike Tobias' room at Summer NAMM (2009, I believe).

Tom.

Yeah your right, and for some reason it didn't make a great lasting impression on me good or bad. The Caol Isla 18 I had a couple of weeks ago sure did. I do find more and more I'm in Islay guy. It's funny I gave KJung a bit of Lagivullen 16 (my gold standard) and it wasn't his thing. I guess we all have different pallets.

 

[conebeckham]

Got a bottle of Ardbeg 10, a staple for me, and a sweeet bottle of Glenfarclas Cask Strength, which is amazing!

 

[lowendfriend]

I was poking around some websites of the scotch persuasion and low and behold, the McClellends I referred to earlier in its "Islay" edition, is actually 5 year Bowmore! That explains the tasty but somewhat "alcohol-y" flavor. They also do the same 5 year release for Auchentoshan (Lowland) and Glen Gariosh (Highland)...all under the name McClelland...done by Morrison Bowmore owned by Suntory. These are three tasty affordable scotches!! I generally see them run from 22 to 28 bucks in Massachusetts.

 

[steve f]

I am partial to The Macallan - generally 12 yo as the older stuff is too pricey. I've had the good fortune to receive a gift of the 25 yo once which was other-worldly...

 

[Vic]

I am partial to The Macallan - generally 12 yo as the older stuff is too pricey. I've had the good fortune to receive a gift of the 25 yo once which was other-worldly...

Good choice. You pretty much can't go wrong with a Mac.

 

[arbitrary]

My wife is damned cool.

She just got me a bottle of lagavulin 16 for completing grad school. Just finished my first glass; amazing.

 

[TBird1958]

I really enjoy Macallan 12 year when I can find it around here.......

I don't get tips at my job (lighting sales) until this past week when a customer gave me this for my part in restoring/redesigning the lighting in their 1950's "modern" home.
Still like Macallan better but this good.

 

[lowendfriend]

Sweet!

Try some Talisker 10 year some time. It's the only Isle of Skye malt and a tasty one kind of in the Islay tradition. One thing to keep in mind with scotch, more years is not always better than fewer years. The "right" years for a given distilled spirit batch. 10 years is right for Talisker's standard dram. 12 is right for the "standard" Maccallan, 16 for Lagavulin and so on.

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Give 'er a try....you'll be glad ya did.

 

[tombowlus]

My wife is damned cool.

She just got me a bottle of lagavulin 16 for completing grad school. Just finished my first glass; amazing.

Congratulations on all fronts (great scotch, finishing grad school, and a great wife)!

Lagavulin 16 is one of my all-time faves.

 

[tombowlus]

I don't get tips at my job (lighting sales) until this past week when a customer gave me this for my part in restoring/redesigning the lighting in their 1950's "modern" home.

That is a very cool gesture by your customer! Nice!

 

[arbitrary]

Congratulations on all fronts (great scotch, finishing grad school, and a great wife)!

Lagavulin 16 is one of my all-time faves.

Thanks! I certainly enjoyed a glass last night. I haven't been drinking much scotch lately, so I'll have to make more of an "effort". Strangely though, I have been drinking some better tequilas lately.