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Post by liebkartoffel on May 26, 2018 17:18:47 GMT -5
So, after years of drinking bourbon, rye, and blends, I've decided to dive into the world of single malt whiskey. I'm starting with, naturally, scotch--I'm picking up cheaper, younger bottles before finding my taste and investing in something with more age. My first bottle, a Glenfarclas 10 Year, tasted familiar, reminding me of the higher-end Irish blends I enjoy. Grassy, but very fruity, lots of apple and honey; smooth, but kind of insubstantial. On the other hand, the Laphroaig 10 Year I just picked up today is, um, a contrast. I'd heard about "peaty" scotches before, but only in the abstract, so I assumed it was, like, a hint of smoke on top of that general "whiskey" flavor. Laphroaig, however, is like sucking down a tin of smoked oyster brine with a whiskey chaser. But in a good way. I think. It's all smoky and salty and seaweedy and then just a little bit of malty cereal sweetness. I keep sniffing the empty glass, and it smells like the old beach cabins my family would rent on vacations. I didn't really know a drink could taste like that. I like it. I think.
Based on preliminary research, I've hit two of the major scotch-producing regions--Speyside and Islay--and I'd like to try a bottle from each, so now I need to hit the Highlands, the Lowlands, and Campbeltown (according to wikipedia, anyway). Anybody have any favorite or recommended single malts, either scotch or otherwise?
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Post by Buon Funerale Amigos on May 26, 2018 19:36:54 GMT -5
Starting with Laphroaig is certainly jumping in with both feet. It's a great whiskey though.
My preference is Islay and other island single malts. Lagavulin is a class act, quite possibly the best of the lot. That and Bruichladdich are more layered Islay single malts, with a little more sweetness to balance out that wallop of smoke and brine. Caol Ila is another of the gentler Islay single malts. Ardbeg is Islay turned up to 11. It's all smoke, brine and iodine.
The other islands are considered part of the Highlands, and they tend to meld the Highland and Islay styles together. Highland Park on Orkney, and Oban, on the western coast, strike an excellent balance between the sweetness of Highland scotch and smoky island style. Talisker, from Skye, leans more towards Islay funky.
I think your tour around the different styles is wise. Having started with the most insane of the Islay single malts, I have found the other styles to be a little on the tame side.
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Post by liebkartoffel on May 27, 2018 21:43:47 GMT -5
For Scottish single malts, I've only ever splashed around in the shallow end of the pool, price-wise. I'm particularly partial to the entry-level single malts I've tried from Aberfeldy, Ardmore, Highland Park, Bruichladdich, Laphroaig, and Dalwhinnie. Scottish single malts I've tried but did not like include Auchentoshan, Glen Elgin, Glenfiddich, Glenturret, and Speyburn. Outside of Scotland, there are some really good single malts available for a lot less money than whiskies of comparable quality from Scotland. My absolute all-time favorite single malt is Amrut, from India, but there's also Armorik from France, and Green Spot and Tyrconnell from Ireland. I tried a really good Irish whiskey from Midleton once but I don't remember which one it was--it definitely wasn't their entry-level offering, though--and on the flipside, I wasn't too impressed with Redbreast when I finally tried it--it has a very bland, cereal taste. Yeah, I'm sticking to $30-$50 bottles so far--both because I don't want this hobby to get too expensive and because I want to know I can appreciate the more expensive stuff when I get the opportunity. Thanks for the scotch/non-scotch suggestions; Irish whiskey has my first love and I've always been tempted to pick up a bottle of Green Spot. |
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Post by liebkartoffel on May 27, 2018 21:56:25 GMT -5
Starting with Laphroaig is certainly jumping in with both feet. It's a great whiskey though. My preference is Islay and other island single malts. Lagavulin is a class act, quite possibly the best of the lot. That and Bruichladdich are more layered Islay single malts, with a little more sweetness to balance out that wallop of smoke and brine. Caol Ila is another of the gentler Islay single malts. Ardbeg is Islay turned up to 11. It's all smoke, brine and iodine. The other islands are considered part of the Highlands, and they tend to meld the Highland and Islay styles together. Highland Park on Orkney, and Oban, on the western coast, strike an excellent balance between the sweetness of Highland scotch and smoky island style. Talisker, from Skye, leans more towards Islay funky. I think your tour around the different styles is wise. Having started with the most insane of the Islay single malts, I have found the other styles to be a little on the tame side. To get started I'm going off of some random internet guy's reviews, and Laphroaig and Ardbeg were among his "must buys" so it's clear where his tastes lie. I'm loving the Laphroaig, but I think I'd prefer something slightly less peat-forward--I'll hold off an trying Ardbeg for a bit--though I just poured myself a second glass and I was surprised at how much more the sweetness came through before fading into the salt/smoke. Maybe my palate just needed recalibrating. My wife said it make for a hell of a bloody mary, and I...don't disagree. |
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Crash Test Dumbass
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Post by Crash Test Dumbass on May 28, 2018 11:54:31 GMT -5
I really want to try Laphroaig. I've had a Johnny Walker Double Black and enjoyed the smokiness, but I'm reluctant to buy a bottle of something I may or may not like, and I don't drink much liquor anyway.
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Post by Pastafarian on May 30, 2018 9:44:00 GMT -5
I like Glenmorangie for some decently priced well made stuff. They also do things like aging in Port casks or Sauternes barrels, which make for an interesting difference from the usual stuff. On the peaty side of things Laphroaig Quarter Cask is well priced and pretty darn good. Also Talisker 10 year old is peaty and kinda sweet/spicy at the same time.
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Post by Pastafarian on May 30, 2018 9:45:37 GMT -5
I really want to try Laphroaig. I've had a Johnny Walker Double Black and enjoyed the smokiness, but I'm reluctant to buy a bottle of something I may or may not like, and I don't drink much liquor anyway. Find a bar* with a good whisky selection and try it by the glass first. That will clear things up. *Or even a restaurant, Laphroaig isn't too hard to find if you're near a mid to large sized city. |
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Post by Pastafarian on May 30, 2018 9:50:06 GMT -5
Starting with Laphroaig is certainly jumping in with both feet. It's a great whiskey though. My preference is Islay and other island single malts. Lagavulin is a class act, quite possibly the best of the lot. That and Bruichladdich are more layered Islay single malts, with a little more sweetness to balance out that wallop of smoke and brine. Caol Ila is another of the gentler Islay single malts. Ardbeg is Islay turned up to 11. It's all smoke, brine and iodine. The other islands are considered part of the Highlands, and they tend to meld the Highland and Islay styles together. Highland Park on Orkney, and Oban, on the western coast, strike an excellent balance between the sweetness of Highland scotch and smoky island style. Talisker, from Skye, leans more towards Islay funky. I think your tour around the different styles is wise. Having started with the most insane of the Islay single malts, I have found the other styles to be a little on the tame side. To get started I'm going off of some random internet guy's reviews, and Laphroaig and Ardbeg were among his "must buys" so it's clear where his tastes lie. I'm loving the Laphroaig, but I think I'd prefer something slightly less peat-forward--I'll hold off an trying Ardbeg for a bit--though I just poured myself a second glass and I was surprised at how much more the sweetness came through before fading into the salt/smoke. Maybe my palate just needed recalibrating. My wife said it make for a hell of a bloody mary, and I...don't disagree. if you like peaty but want it dialed back a bit, the Bowmore 12 yr old is a good choice IMO, very nicely balanced and has some of that sea salt but also a bit of sweetness to round it out. |
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Post by GumTurkeyles on May 30, 2018 9:55:40 GMT -5
Like Pastafarian said, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 year (aged in port casks) is my all-time favorite. It's just above that price range, at around $60, but worth it. For price, Bowmore 12 is where it's at.
My friends and I have done scotch tastings, where each person brings a bottle (or people double up on the cost of one bottle), and for the most part, cost is definitely reflective of quality. The only thing I recall offhand that doesn't follow is I liked the Glenlivet 15 more than the 18.
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Post by Hachiman on Jun 19, 2018 20:56:37 GMT -5
I just want to say that one of the things I unabashedly love about Japan is that top shelf booze, including Scotch is conspicuously cheap, more so when compared against beer or the markup at a restaurant. I think I paid more in Europe. So, if you are actually a smart consumer, it actually is to your advantage to drink the hard stuff.
That said, my go to is usually Glenfiddich, but since Suntory bought Jim Beam a few years back, Bowmore and Laphroig can both be had for a song so I tend to drink those more.
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Post by liebkartoffel on Sept 22, 2018 17:52:01 GMT -5
Picked up a couple of new bottles.
Oban 14 Year: Honey and apple. Like the Glenfarclas, but more...substantial? I think when people call something "oaky" that's the quality they're talking about. A hint of smokey funkiness, but it's a little hard to detect after getting used to the full-on peat assault of the Laphroaig. Smooth as silk.
Ardbeg 10 Year: Smoke, butterscotch, and eventually something peppery at the end. Like buttermilk biscuits baked over a campfire, if I'm allowed a little poetry. Might be my favorite so far. As I made my way through the Laphroaig I've gradually fallen more and more in love with the Islay style.
Next I think I'll try something sweeter, like The Balvenie.
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Post by liebkartoffel on Dec 13, 2018 17:36:12 GMT -5
The Balvenie 12 Year DoubleWood: I think this is what I imagined scotch tasting like before I ever tried scotch. Raisins, honey, vanilla, oak, spice, in about that order. I prefer it the Oban; probably my favorite so far of the sweeter varieties.
Next up...another Highland, probably. Maybe The Dalmore?
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Post by Pastafarian on Dec 13, 2018 20:40:04 GMT -5
The Balvenie 12 Year DoubleWood: I think this is what I imagined scotch tasting like before I ever tried scotch. Raisins, honey, vanilla, oak, spice, in about that order. I prefer it the Oban; probably my favorite so far of the sweeter varieties. Next up...another Highland, probably. Maybe The Dalmore? I recently read about a Dalmore aged in port casks that sounds pretty damn good from where I'm sitting: "I visited The Dalmore on a trip to Scotland this year and fell in love. This Port Reserve, released this year, has notes of ginger, blood oranges, cinnamon and coffee. It tastes like pure luxury, but comes at a manageable price." |
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Post by Powerthirteen on Dec 18, 2018 23:01:59 GMT -5
Like Pastafarian said, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 year (aged in port casks) is my all-time favorite. It's just above that price range, at around $60, but worth it. For price, Bowmore 12 is where it's at. My friends and I have done scotch tastings, where each person brings a bottle (or people double up on the cost of one bottle), and for the most part, cost is definitely reflective of quality. The only thing I recall offhand that doesn't follow is I liked the Glenlivet 15 more than the 18. I recently picked up the Glenmorangie 12 from sherry casks and it is also absolutely delightful, although I’m very new to scotch so my opinions are I’ll-informed. A very nice middle-of-the-road highland-style is the Highland Park 12, although I’ve heard quality can be hit and miss from bottle to bottle. The |
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Post by liebkartoffel on Aug 30, 2019 13:14:38 GMT -5
Been awhile since I've tried anything new. I tried to pick up a bottle of Talisker on sale last spring, but the liquor store ran out and sent me another bottle of Laphroaig instead. (Which is still great, but I wanted something new, damn it). Otherwise, I had been in more of bourbon/rye mood for the last few months. However, I bought myself a bottle of GlenDronach 12 Year as a birthday present and I've been enjoying it immensely. Not as sweet as the Balvenie, but smoother and more substantial. Starts off like a fruity red wine and then finishes more savory and oaky. You can really taste the cask with this one (in a good way). Altogether, smooth, mellow, but very substantial and chewy. Might be my new favorite sherried malt. Though to be fair to the Balvenie it has been quite awhile.
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Post by Pastafarian on Sept 7, 2019 10:41:12 GMT -5
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