Single malts

[degsy]

I honestly couldn't tell you as I never got that far myself...was partially asking as I couldn't remember all the bottles you've posted, so I wasn't sure what you gravitate towards (same here on the peat hit). What sucks is it can be hard to find out who's using what in their blended stuff as maybe you'd have better luck with distilleries that make a lot for blenders since they can keep up with demand.

Caol Ila, for example, might be one to look at if you've had their stuff and like it (they're one of the Isla's I haven't tried yet)...Laphroaig at cask strength is stellar. Laphroaig has a large reputation though and lower production capacity, whereas Caol Ila kinda' flies under the radar but their production numbers are huge (biggest on Isla, I think) so they're used in a lot in peated blends, apparently. Their production capability is basically twice as much as Laphroaig if both are running full tilt (6.5M litres to Laphroaig's 3.3M...even Lagavulin is only 2.6M but everyone knows of them). So, with Caol Ila, I'm thinking at it purely from a potential availability point (more available also equals less pricey sometimes).

But yeah, I'd be useless with suggestions as I don't know who offers what when it comes to the cask thing or if you can go straight to the source or have to go through a third party etc. Ninety-nine percent of my snooping has been based around the ins and outs of the key basics; from distillation to cask maturation and what goes in to making a whisky with potential. Just going off my own pure interest I'd be looking at Ardnahoe (newest distillery on Isla-2017). There are a lot of folks waiting on Ardnahoe though, so who knows what kind of prices I'd get quoted if it was even offered.

When they're new, distilleries will sometimes offer stuff like this to make some sort of money while all their new make is maturing (hence why you might not recognise some names; or they operate specifically for blends and don't release much if any under their own name/label). They'll also make gin/vodka in the meantime too, since there's no wait time on those spirits. The problem with that though is you can't even get a retail bottle yet, so you have no profile to reference. The plus side is Ardnahoe's setup was a Jim McEwan thing and he was no slouch (former Bowmore/Bruichladdich Master Distiller, recently retired).

As I was saying when this topic first came up...it's a flippin' minefield! Sorry if I repeated stuff you already know but I don't know what you know! hah

What are some of the names you have...?

As you can see there some variation, then down the track there's the cost of bottling and finally the taxman wants his share.
Anything you know on those 'budget' ones will help.


There's a full list of about 50 from A - W, top price £13000 or so, but my lack of tech skills prevent me from shrinking it so it fits in here all in one go

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

As you can see there some variation, then down the track there's the cost of bottling and finally the taxman wants his share.
Anything you know on those 'budget' ones will help.

View attachment 135233
There's a full list of about 50 from A - W, top price £13000 or so, but my lack of tech skills prevent me from shrinking it so it fits in here all in one go

Is this off a printed list or a web site...if it's a site can I get to it without a login etc?

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

As you can see there some variation, then down the track there's the cost of bottling and finally the taxman wants his share.
Anything you know on those 'budget' ones will help.

View attachment 135233
There's a full list of about 50 from A - W, top price £13000 or so, but my lack of tech skills prevent me from shrinking it so it fits in here all in one go

Tullibardine needs an arseload of cask time to be at its best from what I can gather...25 years kind of time and it's only on six....maybe less in a sherry cask but that doesn't show what kind of cask it went in to, just the size. If you want to get at it now and you're looking at those kind of ages, try and find a quarter or octave cask. You get quicker maturation in those and they're cheaper.

 

[degsy]

Is this off a printed list or a web site...if it's a site can I get to it without a login etc?

Nah, you have to email them and they phone you back, give you a bit of a soft sell, answer any questions you have at the time then email you the price list back...then I suppose it's up to you.

It's in a standard 200 or 250L cask, the sherry ones seem to priced more expensive and I'm pushing my budget now *looks around for Mrs degsy.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Nah, you have to email them and they phone you back, give you a bit of a soft sell, answer any questions you have at the time then email you the price list back...then I suppose it's up to you.

It's in a standard 200 or 250L cask, the sherry ones seem to priced more expensive and I'm pushing my budget now *looks around for Mrs degsy.

I believe 250 is a Hogshead and 200 is a standard American bourbon barrel. I could have my numbers mixed up. Ask about quarter cask or octaves around the same age and see what they chuck at you. Less whisky but less cost and you might have some better options and at a more palatable price....worth a try, especially on your first go.

 

[busterfc]

 

[larbert toffee]

I've had a hard week at work I therefore thoroughly deserve a bit of chilling with 2 or 3 glasses of Glen Moray

 

[big nev lookalike]

Where exactly are you staying - I stay on the Moray Coast , 15 mikes from Elgin. Not all distilleries are doing tours yet , do best to check. The “big names” , Glenfiddich, MaCAllan, Glenlivet are all excellent , Gkenfiddich probably best ,MaCallan is ultra modern and new. If you’re in a family group the smaller ones like Glen Grant (Rothes) , Strathisla ( (Keith) are very good. Speyside Cooperage , not far from Dufftown and Rothes is worth a visit. Rothes is probably closest to you with about 7 distilleries, not all with Visitors centres . Post again nearer the time and I’ll try and update you on what’s open.

Coming up on 20th September for 5 days. I have been looking online and so far they only seem to be open weekends. If you know of any that would be open would be grateful for any info. Thanks

 

[blueloon]

Coming up on 20th September for 5 days. I have been looking online and so far they only seem to be open weekends. If you know of any that would be open would be grateful for any info. Thanks

I’m really surprised at that, the few I’ve checked out seem to be open in the week, often it’s the other way around in October they don’t open weekends. You may have to call them to confirm, and book at same time.
These appear to be open . I’d start with Cardhu, possibly the furthest from you but a nice drive up the Spey. They've had a lot of publicity in recent months after refurbishing and reopening their visitors centre , complete with statue of a female founder waving a red flag , as they did back then to warn of Exercise men.
Then the big ones seem to be open and do good tours, Glen Grant in Rothes probably nearest, Glenfiddich in Dufftown and Glenlivet a bit further out . If you’re heading out Rothes/ Craigellachie/ Dufftown direction it’s worth doing a tour of the Speyside Cooperage between Craigellachie and Dufftown, it’s a relatively short but great tour.

Locally, if you don’t want to go far , Fochabers is a nice village, Christie’s Garden centre one end, Gordon Castle and river Spey the other, award winning Fish and Chip shop, ice cream shop and village square. Cullen beach is our favourite place, park at beach , decent burger van and separate coffee place. East along the coast is Portsoy , Banff/ Macduff . West are Lossie (Lossiemouth ) and Findhorn . Buckie Tesco is your nearest “ big” store/ petrol , often with good whisky bargains . Seafield Arms Cullen is best/ most expensive restaurant locally, The Knowes in Macduff is good for lunch/ dinner, The Galley, Whitehills good for lunch if your heading East. Don’t forget to visit the Portgordon seals!
Bring jumpers and jackets and think 5deg cooler than down south, but usually dry , usually windy. You may have trouble with the local Doric dialect, but Portgordon has lots of incomers you’ll understand If anybody asks “ ‘Fit like?” just say “ Aye , nae bad”.

No doubt you’ve got your own exploration plans, but if you’ve got any queries just PM me. Enjoy!

 

[big nev lookalike]

I’m really surprised at that, the few I’ve checked out seem to be open in the week, often it’s the other way around in October they don’t open weekends. You may have to call them to confirm, and book at same time.
These appear to be open . I’d start with Cardhu, possibly the furthest from you but a nice drive up the Spey. They've had a lot of publicity in recent months after refurbishing and reopening their visitors centre , complete with statue of a female founder waving a red flag , as they did back then to warn of Exercise men.
Then the big ones seem to be open and do good tours, Glen Grant in Rothes probably nearest, Glenfiddich in Dufftown and Glenlivet a bit further out . If you’re heading out Rothes/ Craigellachie/ Dufftown direction it’s worth doing a tour of the Speyside Cooperage between Craigellachie and Dufftown, it’s a relatively short but great tour.

Locally, if you don’t want to go far , Fochabers is a nice village, Christie’s Garden centre one end, Gordon Castle and river Spey the other, award winning Fish and Chip shop, ice cream shop and village square. Cullen beach is our favourite place, park at beach , decent burger van and separate coffee place. East along the coast is Portsoy , Banff/ Macduff . West are Lossie (Lossiemouth ) and Findhorn . Buckie Tesco is your nearest “ big” store/ petrol , often with good whisky bargains . Seafield Arms Cullen is best/ most expensive restaurant locally, The Knowes in Macduff is good for lunch/ dinner, The Galley, Whitehills good for lunch if your heading East. Don’t forget to visit the Portgordon seals!
Bring jumpers and jackets and think 5deg cooler than down south, but usually dry , usually windy. You may have trouble with the local Doric dialect, but Portgordon has lots of incomers you’ll understand If anybody asks “ ‘Fit like?” just say “ Aye , nae bad”.

No doubt you’ve got your own exploration plans, but if you’ve got any queries just PM me. Enjoy!

Thanks for your wonderful suggestions. We will certainly be visiting the seals,and maybe a dolphin watching trip. From what you are suggesting I think there will be a lot of extra calories returning to England! Will let you know how we get on. Thanks again @blueloon

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

 

[Martin Alvito]

Caol Ila, for example, might be one to look at if you've had their stuff and like it (they're one of the Isla's I haven't tried yet)...Laphroaig at cask strength is stellar.

Yes. Flavor for days, with vanilla underneath it all, and just a couple of drops of water yield a different drink. The batches on the cask strength are a touch inconsistent. If you find one you really like, my advice would be to hoard it if you can, before it's gone. The ten year has always been inconsistent from bottle to bottle. You never know quite what you're getting, but the potential upside is massive and the downside risk is low. Ardbeg is more reliable, but doesn't offer the upside.

Consistency in a standard offering, for me, is the Oban 14. Lovely little distillery in the middle of town. Pricy product. Always delivers. Anything much above that age gets prohibitively expensive, because Scotland has some greedy angels indeed.

If you're looking for a bargain, the Glenmorangie 10 is the best option I know of on this side of the pond. Fifteen years ago, the standard Laphroaig 10 was the bargain king and it was not close. I don't know what pricing looks like in a VAT world these days, so I can't give you advice on that one.

 

[Blue 1]

I'd agree regarding Laphroaig at cask strength. It is stellar indeed. I had a bottle of Batch #003 and it was some of the nicest whisky I've ever tasted. Needed more than a couple of drops of water though, it was so aggressive on the palate.

Laphroaig 10yo costs a lot more than it did 10-15 years ago and certainly ain't a bargain anymore. It's been replaced by Laphroaig Select as their entry-level expression, which I haven't tried.

Glenmorangie 10yo can still be picked up for around £25 a bottle at Xmas time, which is a bargain.

 

[The T-Dex]

I have a bottle of Penderyn Gold to drink. High expectations.

 

[The binman chronicles]

I have a bottle of Penderyn Gold to drink. High expectations.

It tastes good to me anyhow!