The Scotch Thread

[beefdogbeef]

I went to specs to look for laphroig 10 and a specs guy told me to go with ardbeg 10

Everytime I have something set on what I want an employee turns me to something else.

Ardbeg 10 is a great recommendation and is in a similar category to the Laphroaig but slightly less medicinal in my opinion.

Make sure you pick up a bottle of Laphroaig next time so you can compare the two, but you've certainly got yourself a great bottle in the Ardbeg that many would see as an upgrade on the standard 10yr old Laphroaig.

[Ben6485]

Ardbeg 10 is a great recommendation and is in a similar category to the Laphroaig but slightly less medicinal in my opinion.

Make sure you pick up a bottle of Laphroaig next time so you can compare the two, but you've certainly got yourself a great bottle in the Ardbeg that many would see as an upgrade on the standard 10yr old Laphroaig.

I didn't grab either because I wanted to get some opinions on it first

[beefdogbeef]

I didn't grab either because I wanted to get some opinions on it first

Ah OK, well go with which ever one you want. You can't go wrong with either if you want to try a good Islay whisky.

The Ardbeg 10 is more expensive over here in the UK if that helps.

[kyleisraaddd]

I didn't grab either because I wanted to get some opinions on it first

If you're going for laphroaig, quarter cask or bust!!

[cyde]

If you're going for laphroaig, quarter cask or bust!!

This! QC Even beats their 18 yr.

[kyleisraaddd]

This! QC Even beats their 18 yr.

Which is quite wonderful with how young it is! Dat peat at 10yrs old.

[BestNameEver]

Picked up a bottle of Talisker 10 tonight and am quite happy with it so far.

A little water really opens it up and brings out the sweetness.

[iQQx]

anyone ever tried a malt which was finished in a rum cask?
especially interested in the balvenie 14y cuban selection and the benriach 15y dark rum finish!

recently bought 0,2l bottles of talisker 10, caol ila 12 and oban 14:

not feeling the caol ila at all, has an intense citrus aroma and that paired with the heavy smokey is not appealing to me, will not buy again, but i'm still interested in the Distillers Edition
talisker 10 is good, i do indeed get the spicyness on the tip of my tongue, quite interesting i must say! but apparently the quality of the 10yo is decreasing alot lately??? have read it somewhere...
haven't opened the oban yet!

random reps to scotch brahs

[JimmyVee]

anyone ever tried a malt which was finished in a rum cask?
especially interested in the balvenie 14y cuban selection and the benriach 15y dark rum finish!

recently bought 0,2l bottles of talisker 10, caol ila 12 and oban 14:

not feeling the caol ila at all, has an intense citrus aroma and that paired with the heavy smokey is not appealing to me, will not buy again, but i'm still interested in the Distillers Edition
talisker 10 is good, i do indeed get the spicyness on the tip of my tongue, quite interesting i must say! but apparently the quality of the 10yo is decreasing alot lately??? have read it somewhere...
haven't opened the oban yet!

random reps to scotch brahs

Caol Ila also bottles an unpeated version of their whiskey. You are spot on that it has a lot of citrus. It's very good.

[franchise16]

Great start to the collection Franchise, I have yet to get my hands on some Lagavulin, but heard nothing but good things. Same with Yamazaki.

The yamazaki is sweet and awesome, gonna have a glass in a bit

Going to pick a bottle of it up tonight as my next bottle. How do you like it?

Currently my favourite scotch so far (newbie) is Macallan 12 yr. I know the Lagavulin 16 is an Islay so it's totally different, but was wondering how you liked it anyway.

Great but very intense, not something you inhale unknowingly while conversing with your friends, that/s a scotch you gotta DRINK properly.

anyone ever tried a malt which was finished in a rum cask?
especially interested in the balvenie 14y cuban selection and the benriach 15y dark rum finish!

Really not a fan of the balvenie 12 i think it's sort of boring but I love the 14 carib cask it's on my short list

[YouRaffYouRuse]

Highland Park have just released the latest Valhalla whisky - Loki. Picked up a couple of bottles, and a Thor (HP still have it in stock if you buy direct), these are definitely a good investment for the future. I can't bring myself to open it and taste it though!

[mikeditka]

Highland Park have just released the latest Valhalla whisky - Loki. Picked up a couple of bottles, and a Thor (HP still have it in stock if you buy direct), these are definitely a good investment for the future. I can't bring myself to open it and taste it though!

Moar details?
I'm totally unaware of any of this. I haven't even checked HP12 off my beginner list yet.



Dat feel when you drink like twice a month, dat anticipation, dat savor, dat long time-frame to try stuff, feelshealthyman, but sometimes feelslikemissingout

I like it though, seems like it'll take me a good decade to really taste everything and get experienced.

[cyde]

Highland Park have just released the latest Valhalla whisky - Loki. Picked up a couple of bottles, and a Thor (HP still have it in stock if you buy direct), these are definitely a good investment for the future. I can't bring myself to open it and taste it though!

The description sounds interesting. At the Naruto airport, I had the chance to sample their 15, 18, and Thor. No way I could swing the hefty price of anything in the Valhalla collection, but the Thor certainly was heavenly.

[icetrauma]

What makes the Valhalla Collection different?

[bruverend]

i've tried jw red gold blue. blue is my fav.

[cyde]

What makes the Valhalla Collection different?

Packaging mostly. The 18yr tastes better, to me, and a bit cheaper to boot.

[icetrauma]

Packaging mostly. The 18yr tastes better, to me, and a bit cheaper to boot.

That's what I was thinking as well.

[mikeditka]

Still in for Valhalla opinions and details

[YouRaffYouRuse]

Moar details?
I'm totally unaware of any of this. I haven't even checked HP12 off my beginner list yet.



Dat feel when you drink like twice a month, dat anticipation, dat savor, dat long time-frame to try stuff, feelshealthyman, but sometimes feelslikemissingout

I like it though, seems like it'll take me a good decade to really taste everything and get experienced.

What makes the Valhalla Collection different?

Still in for Valhalla opinions and details

As Cyde said, mostly packaging and marketing tbh. But they're being released in limited numbers. I believe Thor was 23k, Loki is 21k then Odin and I think Freya? will then be in smaller or similar quantities. When they announced them at The Whisky Show a few years back they told us each whisky would have flavour characteristics based on that god. So Thor would be a very strong and powerful whisky, Loki would have more unusual flavours creeping through etc. Odin is probably going to be the oldest of them all too, I'd imagine around 18-20 years old.

As far as taste goes and value for money, reviews are hit and miss as with any. Some people think they're amazing, others think they're hyped up a bit.

A lot of people, myself included, are probably buying some to keep as collectors items. The Earl series HP did a few years back has gone up significantly in value. Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix is a brilliant example, when it first came out it sold for £50, they produced a massive 60k bottles - quite a lot for a limited release tbh. But if you're even able to find it now, you're looking at triple that price.
The now discontinued Laphroaig 15 could be bought for under £100 a couple of years back, now you're looking at £150. Great investment items IMO, as if they don't go up in price you can simply drink them!!

[cyde]

Polishing off my bottle of Glenmorangie original tonight. This used to be my everyday drinker until you guys recommended Old Pulteney.

[icetrauma]

Started the night off with Pierre Ferrand and now finishing with The Macallan Cask Strength. Man this is one big scotch. Sweet yet boozy on the nose and the taste is about the same. Starts off sweet then moves to woody sherry barrel tones followed by heat and booze on the way down. The 58% let's itself be known.

[laffytaffy]

swich up between this and makers mark

chivas regal gold standard 18y/o

[PootieTang89]

went scotch tasting with a friend the other night and realized i've turned into an islay snob. this happen to you brahs as well? i almost i feel like i rushed through the whole experience, like when you go through a tv series too fast then realize "oh chit, it's over", cuz once you get to islays, there's only a few to experience

[TimWhalen]

went scotch tasting with a friend the other night and realized i've turned into an islay snob. this happen to you brahs as well? i almost i feel like i rushed through the whole experience, like when you go through a tv series too fast then realize "oh chit, it's over", cuz once you get to islays, there's only a few to experience

Hasn't happened to me but to one of my friends absolutely. I think it is a natural progression for most scotch drinkers. They start off with the easier drinking stuff like Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, then move onto the sweeter stuff like Macallan and some highlands, and then eventually go for the Ardbegs and Lagavulin's of the Islay world. As simple as it is I would suggest not to become a snob lol. To me it isn't peat and smoke or bust. I think there's value in all styles of scotch so take the time to appreciate it. I don't think there's anything wrong with liking a particular style just don't snub your nose at something because it doesn't fit a profile. Anywho, what did you try out on the tasting?

[kyleisraaddd]

Islay snob checking in
And I haven't even drank scotch for that long!

[nosaj7]

went scotch tasting with a friend the other night and realized i've turned into an islay snob. this happen to you brahs as well? i almost i feel like i rushed through the whole experience, like when you go through a tv series too fast then realize "oh chit, it's over", cuz once you get to islays, there's only a few to experience

The 2nd Scotch I ever tried was Laphroaig 10 (1st was JW Black) and I've never strayed from Islay Scotch since. I tried some Glenmorangie and that was a horrible experience, too much floral. I'll stick with Islay, I love the Peat.

[roger79]

Any experience with Old Forester Signature? Searched the thread and didn't find anything...

Noticed this today for the first time and was tempted to buy... it's just a tiny bit more expensive than Makers and Knob Creek.

[JimmyVee]

Any experience with Old Forester Signature? Searched the thread and didn't find anything...

Noticed this today for the first time and was tempted to buy... it's just a tiny bit more expensive than Makers and Knob Creek.

Bourbon? Nope, never had that one. Four Roses Single Barrel is my bourbon of choice.

[Juicetin]

in.

Had Johnnie Walker Double Black for the first time last night.

amazing for the price!

[cyde]

$34 at Costco. Sorry Texans, no dice for us, our liquor laws are shyt and out of date. Anyone try this yet?
http://slickdeals.net/f/5960950-Cost...sky-for-33-69?