Whisky......

[Aleman]

I just need a Lagavllin 9Probably teh 16YO) and a Port Elen (probably an '80) to complete my collection of the Islay malts.

If you really like a Phenolic the go for the Ardbeg it is the most phenolic of the Islay malts at 50ppm phenolics, as my wife says "its burnt mud in a glass!!" Ardbeg smokes the majority of the malt on Islay

 

[The Goatreich]

Yeah I've heard that's good, and it's just up the road from me.

 

[oz11]

Yup, love the Ardbeg. The 10 y.o. used to be available in Tesco/Sainsbury IIRC. Don't know if that's still the case.

 

[graysalchemy]

If you really like a Phenolic the go for the Ardbeg it is the most phenolic of the Islay malts at 50ppm phenolics, as my wife says "its burnt mud in a glass!!" Ardbeg smokes the majority of the malt on Islay

I take my hat off to you Tony for knowing the Phenolic content in ppm, but then I would expect any less from you :lol: :lol:

Now I never realised Ardbeg had a higher phenolic level I always felt that Lagavullin was the most phenolic, probably because I have drunk more Lagavullin that Ardbeg.

 

[Easy Peasie]

My two favourites are Lagavullin and Laphroig, which is great because I get to have the whole bottles to myself, because most family and friends can't stand them.
I do also like Bunnahaibn and Bruichladdich (not sure if they are spelt correctly) but they are much smoother and less peaty.
My wife calls Lagavillin TCP IN A GLASS.

 

[calumscott]

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

I've polished off a couple of these. I have to admit that I bought it first time for the gimmick value.

The second one I bought because it is very very nice. It's another one that needs an open mind - if you are used to scotch malt whiskies then this stuff is strange. It's got more than a hint of Armagnac to it, odd but very very drinkable.

The Welsh, making decent whisky, who'd've thought...?

So the other one that I got for gimmick value is the Japanese Yamazaki 10YO. It was on a deal and I was curious. The 12YO had just won malt of the year or something so I figured it couldn't be *that* bad...

...typical Japanese though! It takes lots of great characteristics from some signature scotch malts and pulls them together into something all together very good but just lacking in that "magic" you get from a well crafted scotch malt. Definitely worth a bottle if you see a deal mind.

 

[Aleman]

Another one for the novelty value is the Smokehead . . . . I'm still not decided on this one, it is the newest and smallest of the Islay distilleries, and unfortunately I have to say that it is the Brewdog of the whisky world. I think it needs a few more years in cask as the flavours are all there but unfortunately clash to buggery

 

[calumscott]

Another one for the novelty value is the Smokehead . . . . I'm still not decided on this one, it is the newest and smallest of the Islay distilleries, and unfortunately I have to say that it is the Brewdog of the whisky world. I think it needs a few more years in cask as the flavours are all there but unfortunately clash to buggery

I was thinking about giving it a go. I'll hold off a bit until its a bit older then...

...it's got to be so difficult to start a new distillery - everyone knows the character of the existing ones and to come up with something new which fits a niche or pushes an edge of the envelope, and particularly when its at least six years until you know what you've created, is one hell of an ask.

Fair play to them I say!

What I really am waiting for is the new expression Scapas. The new spirit, according to wiki, first flowed in November 2004. I make that seven and a bit years old now. My guess is that, apart from perhaps a couple of very limited novelty expressions, the 10YO will be the first widely available.

Scapa is, by far and away (due partly to my Orcadian ancestry and partly to the malt being one of the most subtly complex things I've ever tasted) my favourite distillery. We got though 10 litres of the 14YO (my ultimate favourite expression from any distillery) at our wedding!!! We had to scour the country to get it mind - they had stopped releasing it to build the hype for the 16YO. The 16YO was the bottle I tool to Malaysia on our honeymoon, very special drop that was too!

<rant>Criminal decision to mothball the place, criminal. </rant>

 

[Aleman]

<rant>Criminal decision to mothball the place, criminal. </rant>

I feel the same about the Port Ellen, I had some of the 1982 a few years back and it was the finest Islay malt I've ever had, with a balance of flavours and complexity that knocks spots of anything else. I keep promising myself that I will buy a bottle for my 50th

 

[eggman]

I keep promising myself that I will buy a bottle for my 50th

Just had a look, not cheap :shock:
50th is worth treating yourself though :party:

 

[calumscott]

I keep promising myself that I will buy a bottle for my 50th

Just had a look, not cheap :shock:

Me too but by golly there's some lovely looking stuff on there!!! :

 

[LeffeFan]

Another big whiskey fan here both Scottish and American. Anyone tried Jack Daniel's single barrel or Maker's Mark?

 

[oldstout]

Yup, love the Ardbeg. The 10 y.o. used to be available in Tesco/Sainsbury IIRC. Don't know if that's still the case.

Aye me too

Had the 10 yo and Ugidhail(?) together on the shelf once upon a time, 10 yo one of my faves but a few new names cropping up here to try


:

 

[abeyptfc]

Another big whiskey fan here both Scottish and American. Anyone tried Jack Daniel's single barrel or Maker's Mark?

sitting with a bottle of makers mark just now, off for the next 4 days so relaxing enjoying the masters with a load of beer. i dont like jack daniels but like makers mark,woodfordes reserve etc, i drink it with apple juice, its f'n dee-lish! just sitting suppin on it with a beer is total bliss. it seems to taste even better when you're sitting watching the golf!

 

[oldbloke]

Maker's Mark is nice.

 

[keith1664]

I'm gaining quite a few bottles of malt, unfortunately it got out that I quite like a single malt.... so people keep buying me them for christmas! If I get given another bottle of Glenfiddich I'm gonna cry.

 

[Moley]

If I get given another bottle of Glenfiddich I'm gonna cry.

:lol:

Unfortunately, it's the name which most non-malt drinkers will know best. Brilliant marketing of a fairly ordinary product, IMHO.

It works well with a mixer though - try it with Drambuie.

 

[calumscott]

It works well with a mixer though - try it with Drambuie.

It is the correct malt for a rusty nail. Too early for one isn't it...?

 

[Moley]

Too early for one isn't it...?

Well I would consider it a little early for me, even when on holiday I don't drink between 12 midnight and 12 noon.

 

[calumscott]

Too early for one isn't it...?

Well I would consider it a little early for me, even when on holiday I don't drink between 12 midnight and 12 noon.

Yeah, best not then...

...but now I've got Rusty Nail in my head, I'll have to indulge tonight!!