I enjoy the carribean cask too! There is a new double wood peaty something or other....would have bit except for 139 buck tab....went with my cheap 84 buck lagavulin16...
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Single Malt Scotch!
- Thread starter tombowlus
- Start date
Whisky cannot be legally shipped to the US. I've also just found out that you can't mail Whisky from the UK to Europe. You have to use a courier. I just had a quote of £120 to ship a £50 bottle to Germany! :-(
Shipping alcohol is, sadly, a state-by-state quagmire. Here's Virginia's rules, for example:
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TL;DR highlights: Licensed merchants can legally ship a limited quantity of beer or wine to Virginia residents, but not hard alcohol. And if you are moving to VA from out of state you need to apply for a permit to bring your alcohol. Take that, Interstate Commerce Clause!
Anyway, with rules like that in many states, it's just not practical for most smaller operations to stay on top of the rules and licenses necessary to ship alcohol and therefore just don't do it. Others do it on a state-by-state basis, and some make a half-hearted effort at compliance but probably ship to places they technically shouldn't.
My brother, who like me enjoys a good whiskey from time to time, has moved around several times in the DC area and every time he does I have to reacquaint myself with whether or not I am allowed to send him a bottle for Christmas.
Invalid Link Removed
TL;DR highlights: Licensed merchants can legally ship a limited quantity of beer or wine to Virginia residents, but not hard alcohol. And if you are moving to VA from out of state you need to apply for a permit to bring your alcohol. Take that, Interstate Commerce Clause!
Anyway, with rules like that in many states, it's just not practical for most smaller operations to stay on top of the rules and licenses necessary to ship alcohol and therefore just don't do it. Others do it on a state-by-state basis, and some make a half-hearted effort at compliance but probably ship to places they technically shouldn't.
My brother, who like me enjoys a good whiskey from time to time, has moved around several times in the DC area and every time he does I have to reacquaint myself with whether or not I am allowed to send him a bottle for Christmas.
I'm tempted to try out another scotch today.. Not sure if I want to venture into the peaty scotches yet.. So far I've tried Glenfiddich 12, and 18. Almost finished the 1140mL bottle of the 12 year, and still have about 3/4 of the 18 year left. The 12 year seems really 'bright' tasting, but lacking something. The 18 year is a lot more complex, rich, and smooth in my opinion.
Too bad the stuff is so expensive.. the 750mL of 18 year Glenfiddich was almost $85. The 12 year seemed like quite a bargain at $60 for 1140mL.
edit: Got a bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Was only $40 and saw many good reviews about it. Will be interesting to try this Islay later on.
Too bad the stuff is so expensive.. the 750mL of 18 year Glenfiddich was almost $85. The 12 year seemed like quite a bargain at $60 for 1140mL.
edit: Got a bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Was only $40 and saw many good reviews about it. Will be interesting to try this Islay later on.
They may need a special license on top of depending on local state laws. If it couldn't be shipped to the US consumers, I don't know why the stores would be listing shipping to the US as an option?
1140ml sure is a strange bottle size! Fortunately for me, the 18 isn't much more than the 15, which isn't much more than the 12 (talking 750ml bottles).
Out of the standard 12, 15 and 18, the 15 yo Glenfiddich is by far my favourite. The finishing process is much different than the 12 and 18, very fruity!
Enjoy your Laphroaig, night and day difference from the Glenfiddich!
It's basically a 40 oz bottle. More like 39 oz lol.
This quarter cask is only aged 6 years... interesting. I hope to enjoy Islay malts. I really enjoy the Glenfiddich and will certainly have to try the 15 year.
This quarter cask is only aged 6 years... interesting. I hope to enjoy Islay malts. I really enjoy the Glenfiddich and will certainly have to try the 15 year.
Glenfiddich is one of the entry points (IMHO) to Whisky.
You have one awesome road of discovery ahead and if you decide you don't want to walk then that's ok too!
You have one awesome road of discovery ahead and if you decide you don't want to walk then that's ok too!
I can see why Glenfiddich would be a great entry scotch. It took me a few days to get used to sipping hard alcohol, and now a few weeks later, I'm able to appreciate the flavour.
Had a tiny glass of Glenfiddich 12, and right afterwards one of 18, which I'm currently enjoying. The 18 is really, really good. Next will be a glass of the Laphroaig QC as I get ready for bed.
Now one thing weird I've noticed is that there's always a particle or flake of something in the glasses I'm pouring. I usually notice at least one piece of something floating around that is very tiny. It seems like it might be the cork... Anyone else have this?
Had a tiny glass of Glenfiddich 12, and right afterwards one of 18, which I'm currently enjoying. The 18 is really, really good. Next will be a glass of the Laphroaig QC as I get ready for bed.
Now one thing weird I've noticed is that there's always a particle or flake of something in the glasses I'm pouring. I usually notice at least one piece of something floating around that is very tiny. It seems like it might be the cork... Anyone else have this?
If your baseline is Glenfiddich, Laphroig is going to be like getting hit by a peat locomotive. You might want to ease into peat with, say, a Bowmore 12.
It sure was. It's something I'll come back to and I don't regret buying it at all. One thing that bugged me a bit is the burnt rubbery taste but I only had a fingers worth so far. As I got closer to finishing my glass, the sweetness started appearing and I could taste some of the same flavours that the Glenfiddich has.
It could be bits of cork, or possibly just particulate that hasn't been filtered out.
Burnt rubber? I wonder if thats what you found of the peat
Burnt rubber? I wonder if thats what you found of the peat
It could be bits of cork, or possibly just particulate that hasn't been filtered out.
Burnt rubber? I wonder if thats what you found of the peat
Not too sure. The glass of glenfiddich 12 I have right now has a couple bits in it.
I do taste the peat but the smoke reminds me a bit of burnt rubber or tar. I guess that would be correct that there would be tar taste from the smoke that builds up on the malt.
The two Laphroaigs I like are the standard 10 and the Quarter Cask - you made a really good buy, especially considering you're in Canada.
I like the Bowmore 12 too and agree that it's a much gentler entry point, but have had really good luck introducing people to Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Lagavulin if I can get them to take their time with the glass and just nose it for at least 5-10 minutes, or at least until their senses become accustomed to it before drinking.
I almost wonder if it is a pricing error. I see online that the same bottle usually goes for around $70 in Canada.. Makes me want to grab another bottle to crack open some months from now. The Glenfiddich 12, 750mL bottles were on sale too for $33. Definitely going to have to take up that price since I'm almost done my bottle.
A few other bottles I saw there included Highland Park, Glenmorangie, Lagavulin (expensive!) and some other ones that I can't remember the names of. Next time I'm going to take a picture so I can look up the names when I'm at home.
A few other bottles I saw there included Highland Park, Glenmorangie, Lagavulin (expensive!) and some other ones that I can't remember the names of. Next time I'm going to take a picture so I can look up the names when I'm at home.
I still say the 15 is well worth checking out over the 12. Don't know how common they are in the Americas, but Glenfiddich do 200ml bottles, if you want to sample on the cheap. Coming up to Christmas and New Year, its a good time to find deals on whisky.
Another great entry point is Caol Ila 12.
Another great entry point is Caol Ila 12.
I've only ever seen mickies (375ml) of 12 year glenfiddich. I will pay more attention to see if there's any other kinds though. The liquor store I generally go to doesn't have the biggest selection but it usually has the cheapest prices on everything it does have, sometimes a difference of $10-15 on scotches.
I picked up a bottle of MacPhail Islay single malt 8 year tonight and lower on the label it indicates that it's a Bunnahabhain, my first, and I like it a lot.
It was priced at $55, which was a very good price for what I'm getting out of my glass. It's one of those that I could probably nose all night without even taking a sip and be very happy with. I'll have to examine the flavor and finish a bit more in the coming days, but just thinking about it now brings back the heavenly aroma.
After sipping on my first glass for an hour a brand new bottle of Oban 14 came out, and while I enjoyed it more than I have in the past, it seemed to me a large step down.
Very interested in trying out more releases from both Gordon & MacPhail as well as Bunnahabhain.
It was priced at $55, which was a very good price for what I'm getting out of my glass. It's one of those that I could probably nose all night without even taking a sip and be very happy with. I'll have to examine the flavor and finish a bit more in the coming days, but just thinking about it now brings back the heavenly aroma.
After sipping on my first glass for an hour a brand new bottle of Oban 14 came out, and while I enjoyed it more than I have in the past, it seemed to me a large step down.
Very interested in trying out more releases from both Gordon & MacPhail as well as Bunnahabhain.
Lagavulin 16 is becoming my "comfort scotch". Yeah its a bit pricey but really worth it. I see it as much more approachable for someone who wants to try a real Islay experience than Laphroig. It seems to be reasonably available in better bars so you can try that one drink without plunkibg down 85 bucks for a bottle.
I love Laphroig too but its more of an acquired taste.
I love Laphroig too but its more of an acquired taste.
