Whisky......

[The Goatreich]

I mentioned to my girlfriend a few weeks ago that I've never been able to get into whisky but I really wanted to. I was saying how hopefully it would be like a few years ago where I didn't like beer that wasn't carling or fosters, but now I'm mainly turned on by the darkest, most bitter beers I can lay my lips around.

So, today is my birthday and she completely sucker punched me with a bottle of Laphroaig 10 year old single malt this morning. I guess if I'm going to start I might as well start with a good one.

Wish me luck, I'm going in.

 

[calumscott]

Woah! There's a baptism of fire!

Well, kind of like licking the remains of a fire actually...

Cracking dram though. Let us know how you get on.

(PS. Malt Whisky is one of the UK's best performing products at the mo, both domestically and export...)

 

[The Goatreich]

I'm wondering whether it's too much in at the deep end. I mean, if someone had never drank beer before, you wouldn't give them a pint of Smokey Joe would you?



Well you might...

 

[Crastney]

yes, it's going to be bit of a shock when you try a really mellow single malt from Speyside.

which is where I'd start, then go around that area, then lowlands, then highlands, then Islands.

my personal favourite (at the moment) is Glen Goyne.

 

[The Goatreich]

Oh well, in for a penny :)

 

[calumscott]

If you go in with an open mind, which given your beer revelation a few years back you clearly have, you should be fine.

Just be aware that Laphroaig is one of the smokiest, peatiest malts out there - this one has more than its fair share (and the fair share of a few others to boot) of phenolics.

Take it easy, and enjoy it for what it represents. Take a look at this:

Stunning location to craft something. The stills are fired by the peat from the hills behind, the water from a stream that runs by. Then it sits in oak casks just absorbing all that sea air for ten years...

...imagine all that in a glass!!!

That's Laphroaig... enojy! :

 

[calumscott]

my personal favourite (at the moment) is Glen Goyne.

I polished off an 18YO one of these in record quick time. Very nice.

 

[calumscott]

...and while we're at it...

Given that a decent malt whisky is the perfect partner for a well brewed beer, shouldn't this be a sticky? :)

 

[The Goatreich]

I will report back with my findings. That picture of the brewery and the description makes it sound like 10 years of nature in a sip.

 

[oldstout]

I got into the stuff in my late 30's after a tasting session in a local lock in :shock: :shock:

I asked friends and family for bottles of single malt for my 40th birthday and started a small collection from there.

Laphroig is a baptism of fire for a newbie :lol: :lol: :lol:

I only have a dram when the mood really takes me, and prefer some neat, some with a splash of water to release all the complexities ( do I sound like I know what I'm on about :wha: I don't :rofl: )

Laphroig always needs water for me, but welcome to a new world of alcoholic discovery



:

 

[calumscott]

I only have a dram when the mood really takes me, and prefer some neat, some with a splash of water to release all the complexities ( do I sound like I know what I'm on about :wha: I don't :rofl: )

Laphroig always needs water for me, but welcome to a new world of alcoholic discovery

:

I wouldn't bother with water for an off-the-shelf 10YO Laphroaig. It's a nice standard 40% and its pungence is its draw. Just spend more time with it and try to pick out the nuances.

When you get to cask strength stuff, that nearly always benefits from a splash, as does, although it seems the wrong way round, some of the smoother highlands, speysides and lowlands. They are subtle to start with, so taking away some of the alcoholic "fire" lets more of the subtle tones through...

 

[calumscott]

But having said that, and particularly with Goat being a noob, if the first hit of smoke and peat and seaweed is too much, add a little splash around 1 part water to 4 or 5 malt just to ease you in!!!

 

[oldstout]

I only have a dram when the mood really takes me, and prefer some neat, some with a splash of water to release all the complexities ( do I sound like I know what I'm on about :wha: I don't :rofl: )

Laphroig always needs water for me, but welcome to a new world of alcoholic discovery

:

I wouldn't bother with water for an off-the-shelf 10YO Laphroaig. It's a nice standard 40% and its pungence is its draw. Just spend more time with it and try to pick out the nuances.

When you get to cask strength stuff, that nearly always benefits from a splash, as does, although it seems the wrong way round, some of the smoother highlands, speysides and lowlands. They are subtle to start with, so taking away some of the alcoholic "fire" lets more of the subtle tones through...

Strongest I had was a Bowmore cask strength at 58%
I had to get some mates round for that :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[The Goatreich]

OK, this is hardcore stuff, but nice. I can see me getting used to it.

 

[graysalchemy]

You can't beat an islay malt (though I like a talisker)

Now you have had the Laphroig you should be ready to move onto the lagavulin :lol: :lol: Now that is a baptism of fire.

 

[abeyptfc]

have any of you guys seen this guys videos? he goes by the name of richard paterson, he's aff his heid but quite entertaining and sort of makes you want to drink whisky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG4F0NmGpg4&feature=related

 

[dennisking]

After real ales whisky's are the big love of my life. But I have to admit I struggle with Islay's. I have really tried hard to like them but just can't get on with them. Highland or Speyside for me.

 

[carl_saint]

Love my whisky's! Tried quite a few in my time. Personal choice is Dalmore 12, Johnnie Walker Gold Label, Johnnie Walker Swing and I'm currently working on a Benromach 10.

 

[Baz Chaz]

You can't beat an islay malt (though I like a talisker)

Now you have had the Laphroig you should be ready to move onto the lagavulin :lol: :lol: Now that is a baptism of fire.

Ehhhh happy days, two weeks on Islay, what a place, I could bore you all to death with 'photos from Islay, here's a couple taken at a distillery, can't remember which one :whistle: but this was just before I defected from Laphriog being the malt of choice to Lagavulin :thumb: (cost a fortune stocking up, I resembled my mrs in the January sales )

 

[eggman]

I've recently had a bottle of Penderyn Welsh whiskey, the Madeira finished one. It was lovely, but at 46% it's got a bit of poke to it
Have a look here Penderyn Distillery