Single malts

[DualityNSNO]

Single malts, blends and any other form of liquid gold

My favourite is an Islay variety called Bunnahabhain, but I know a few on here favour the peaty ones. I would say Caol Isla is my favourite peated one.

Opened this thread for the first time in forever just now, don't know if I said it on here or not but bought my dad a bottle of Bunnahabhain 12 last year for his 50th birthday. Liquid gold indeed.

More recently - I had a Pertshire-made scotch the other day in Bulgaria, called Dewar's. Very nice as well.

 

[DualityNSNO]

And I forgot to say, I agree with your sentiment that there is no bad whisky.

Except Aldi's own brand.

 

[Blue 1]

Well the ole Whisky Cabinet took quite a hit over Christmas and Hogmanay , Glenlivet 18 and 15 gone , Scapa 16 , Johhny Walker Spice Road gone, and a very enjoyable Glenfiddich 15 year old "Solara" vat came in December but didn't see it out! Fortunately some in comings , Highland Park my "go too " whiskey, Glenfiddich 12 and a very nice Ben Riach presentation pack of four miniatures covering 12 , 16, 20 years - kept 20 yr back but maybe tomorrow night if we beat Stoke ...or even if we don't.
I was really taken with the Glenfiddich 15 Solara Vat and it's on my " keep an eye out for in Tesco " list , and I'll be looking to replace the Scapa 16 too.

That 15yo Glenfiddich is the pick of theirs I reckon. Beats the the 18yo.

Except Aldi's own brand.

You'd be surprised. Both Aldi and Lidl sell some more than passable whiskies, especially at the price.

 

[PITA]

Except Aldi's own brand.

Point taken. I was referring to branded.

 

[blueloon]

Except Aldi's own brand.

I was out at a curry evening with 15 mates last night and at the end it was suggested to MrKhan that we deserved a free drink as we'd spent so much. I asked for a Highland Park, " Sorry , we have Macallan's" . That'll do said I and the six others who followed, but what turned up was a bottle of " McClelland's Lowland Single Malt" . This put a couple off as nobody had heard of it , it wasn't a single place name or a recognised family name. Funny enough re earlier posts I joked that it was probably from Aldis. Don't know the distillery of origin , but after a night of curry/lager it was a good sociable Lowland malt, close in colour and taste to Auchentoshan .
Anyway, re Aldi's , McClelland's etc I wouldn't be too dismissive of them , if it says "Single malt Scotch whisky " on the bottle that's what it will be , even if the age and distillery are not specified. Depending on the price you pay, your own tastes you could get a very acceptable single malt. I have a bottle labelled " Hamlyns of Scotland" , who make oatmeal, and underneath it says " Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky . 15 years old " , and it's pretty good.. So don't just judge a whisky by a name on the label, look a bit further. If it's got a region like Highlands, Speyside, Islay etc it'll give a clue as to whether you'll like it, and certainly if it's got an age on it it'll often be quite good.

 

[kithnou]

I was out at a curry evening with 15 mates last night and at the end it was suggested to MrKhan that we deserved a free drink as we'd spent so much. I asked for a Highland Park, " Sorry , we have Macallan's" . That'll do said I and the six others who followed, but what turned up was a bottle of " McClelland's Lowland Single Malt" . This put a couple off as nobody had heard of it , it wasn't a single place name or a recognised family name. Funny enough re earlier posts I joked that it was probably from Aldis. Don't know the distillery of origin , but after a night of curry/lager it was a good sociable Lowland malt, close in colour and taste to Auchentoshan .
Anyway, re Aldi's , McClelland's etc I wouldn't be too dismissive of them , if it says "Single malt Scotch whisky " on the bottle that's what it will be , even if the age and distillery are not specified. Depending on the price you pay, your own tastes you could get a very acceptable single malt. I have a bottle labelled " Hamlyns of Scotland" , who make oatmeal, and underneath it says " Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky . 15 years old " , and it's pretty good.. So don't just judge a whisky by a name on the label, look a bit further. If it's got a region like Highlands, Speyside, Islay etc it'll give a clue as to whether you'll like it, and certainly if it's got an age on it it'll often be quite good.

Beautifully said

 

[DualityNSNO]

I was out at a curry evening with 15 mates last night and at the end it was suggested to MrKhan that we deserved a free drink as we'd spent so much. I asked for a Highland Park, " Sorry , we have Macallan's" . That'll do said I and the six others who followed, but what turned up was a bottle of " McClelland's Lowland Single Malt" . This put a couple off as nobody had heard of it , it wasn't a single place name or a recognised family name. Funny enough re earlier posts I joked that it was probably from Aldis. Don't know the distillery of origin , but after a night of curry/lager it was a good sociable Lowland malt, close in colour and taste to Auchentoshan .
Anyway, re Aldi's , McClelland's etc I wouldn't be too dismissive of them , if it says "Single malt Scotch whisky " on the bottle that's what it will be , even if the age and distillery are not specified. Depending on the price you pay, your own tastes you could get a very acceptable single malt. I have a bottle labelled " Hamlyns of Scotland" , who make oatmeal, and underneath it says " Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky . 15 years old " , and it's pretty good.. So don't just judge a whisky by a name on the label, look a bit further. If it's got a region like Highlands, Speyside, Islay etc it'll give a clue as to whether you'll like it, and certainly if it's got an age on it it'll often be quite good.

Оh agreed, and I don't mean he highland one - that's alright for the price.

Last summer a mate of mine came over and we went to Aldi and got a random Aldi's own, cheapest one. Tasted like soap and we both threw up within an hour of drinking (not very much) of it.

 

[Groucho]

I was out at a curry evening with 15 mates last night and at the end it was suggested to MrKhan that we deserved a free drink as we'd spent so much. I asked for a Highland Park, " Sorry , we have Macallan's" . That'll do said I and the six others who followed, but what turned up was a bottle of " McClelland's Lowland Single Malt" . This put a couple off as nobody had heard of it , it wasn't a single place name or a recognised family name. Funny enough re earlier posts I joked that it was probably from Aldis. Don't know the distillery of origin , but after a night of curry/lager it was a good sociable Lowland malt, close in colour and taste to Auchentoshan .
Anyway, re Aldi's , McClelland's etc I wouldn't be too dismissive of them , if it says "Single malt Scotch whisky " on the bottle that's what it will be , even if the age and distillery are not specified. Depending on the price you pay, your own tastes you could get a very acceptable single malt. I have a bottle labelled " Hamlyns of Scotland" , who make oatmeal, and underneath it says " Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky . 15 years old " , and it's pretty good.. So don't just judge a whisky by a name on the label, look a bit further. If it's got a region like Highlands, Speyside, Islay etc it'll give a clue as to whether you'll like it, and certainly if it's got an age on it it'll often be quite good.

Yeah, it'll usually be made by a decent distiller.

 

[obc]

finished my bottle of Talisker 10 last night... i am sad.

 

[Groucho]

finished my bottle of Talisker 10 last night... i am sad.

If you like peated malts, try Caol Isla

 

[obc]

If you like peated malts, try Caol Isla

Limited selection down here. I can get Talisker 10 and Lagavulin 16 from what I've seen. Roughly $60 and $100, respectively.

Am a big fan of peated malts, though.

After Lagavulin's price shot up in the early 2000s from $50 to $90 I explored other options. Served Ardbeg at my wedding... well, hidden bottle for special friends. We had a plastic bottle of Clan MacGregor or whatever for the others.

Laphroaig 15 was a fave of mine for regular use, best mix of taste and flex. 10 is ok, the 21 is awesome. "Own" a 1x1 plot on their bog.

Westered home with your Bunnahabhain, enjoyed Caol Isla and a friend bought me a swell bottle of Bowmore 18 for my b-day once.

 

[Blue 1]

Limited selection down here. I can get Talisker 10 and Lagavulin 16 from what I've seen. Roughly $60 and $100, respectively.

Am a big fan of peated malts, though.

After Lagavulin's price shot up in the early 2000s from $50 to $90 I explored other options. Served Ardbeg at my wedding... well, hidden bottle for special friends. We had a plastic bottle of Clan MacGregor or whatever for the others.

Laphroaig 15 was a fave of mine for regular use, best mix of taste and flex. 10 is ok, the 21 is awesome. "Own" a 1x1 plot on their bog.

Westered home with your Bunnahabhain, enjoyed Caol Isla and a friend bought me a swell bottle of Bowmore 18 for my b-day once.

Haha, I've got one of those "plots" at Laphroaig. Hope to visit it one day.

 

[obc]

incidentally, @Groucho, Islay (and Skye) malts are heads and above my favorite, but outside Laphroaig, I've pretty much only had the basics. Talisker and Lagavulin I've tried 10 & 16, the rest jut entry level.

if you have suggestions or recommendations for more fancy pants versions, please pass them along.

 

[Groucho]

incidentally, @Groucho, Islay (and Skye) malts are heads and above my favorite, but outside Laphroaig, I've pretty much only had the basics. Talisker and Lagavulin I've tried 10 & 16, the rest jut entry level.

if you have suggestions or recommendations for more fancy pants versions, please pass them along.

Been to Talisker, excellent trip.

Talisker do other bottlings currently called "Storm", and "Dark Storm".

 

[Blue 1]

incidentally, @Groucho, Islay (and Skye) malts are heads and above my favorite, but outside Laphroaig, I've pretty much only had the basics. Talisker and Lagavulin I've tried 10 & 16, the rest jut entry level.

if you have suggestions or recommendations for more fancy pants versions, please pass them along.

I can recommend the Laphroaig 10yo cask strength. Batch 3 was absolutely phenomenal. Can also recommend Lagavulin 25yo but good luck finding a bottle.

Also very fond of Ardbeg Uigeadail. If you can imagine what a sherried Islay would be like, that's it. Packs a mighty punch at 54.2% as well.