The Whisky thread

[APOLLO]

Taxi driver me today. Just waiting for relatives to sup up before I ferry them home (just a couple of miles fortunately). Christmas dinner was (as usual) superb, but a bit "dry" for me !! A day for the kids.

 

I'm not a great whisky drinker, though I like the occasional Glenfiddich with ice.

 

A double "The Kraken" rum for me before I retire tonight, and perhaps a glass of Guinness.

 

Happy headaches everyone !!!!!!!!!!

 

Brit15

[45156]

May I recommend the lesser known whiskies of Campbeltown, which are quite unusual, and do still represent an area on its own, despite there only being two distilleries left on the peninsula, Glen Scotia and Springbank (which also offers a peated version as Longrow).  Glengyle is a new one, which has yet to be bottled.

 

A bit like a cross between a Lowland and an Island, with a slightly oily edge is the best way to describe these.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

The Glenlivet for me. Although I do occasionally join my other half in her preference, Balvenie, and there's always Laphroaig on standby. Medical science may not be able to beat the common cold, but I am convinced that this last can.

[Joseph_Pestell]

The Glenlivet for me. Although I do occasionally join my other half in her preference, Balvenie, and there's always Laphroaig on standby. Medical science may not be able to beat the common cold, but I am convinced that this last can.

 

That will be the TCP in it.

[forest2807]

Talisker for me. The peaty smokiness is divine. I successfully converted the missus after I popped the question on the footbridge at Sligachan on Skye 6 years ago, and subsequently consumed a significant amount of the stuff at the Sligachan Hotel straight afterwards to celebrate (she said yes btw!)

Edited December 27, 2015 by forest2807

[jamie92208]

Talisker for me. The peaty smokiness is divine. I successfully converted the missus after I popped the question on the footbridge at Sligachan on Skye 6 years ago, and subsequently consumed a significant amount of the stuff on the Sligachan Hotel straight afterwards to celebrate (she said yes btw!)

When we went round the Glen Ord distillery at Muir of Ord we found out that they not only produce Malt for the 3 different Singletons there but also the peaty Malt for Talisker.  Apparently they have to watch which way the wind is blowing before lighting the peat fire so as not to contaminate the neighbours washing.

 

Jamie

[Downendian]

Three additions to my Whisky shelf in my home pub this Xmas, after a few gentlemen helped me with their settling in on Xmas eve and the last couple of days. The Glenlivet is sublime, smooth as you can ever get with a malt, and I've (ahem) sampled a few now.

Unfortunately now down considerably on my malt collection, New Years resolution to buy some more.

Great idea for a thread Phil, I think we had some Aberlour together in Plymouth.

 

 

 

Neil

[Phil Bullock]

Three additions to my Whisky shelf in my home pub this Xmas, after a few gentlemen helped me with their settling in on Xmas eve and the last couple of days. The Glenlivet is sublime, smooth as you can ever get with a malt, and I've (ahem) sampled a few now.

Unfortunately now down considerably on my malt collection, New Years resolution to buy some more.

Great idea for a thread Phil, I think we had some Aberlour together in Plymouth.

 

 

image.jpeg

 

Neil

We certainly did Neil!

 

Think you had better come and help me with the contents of the Churchdown whisky cupboard in the New Year....

 

Phil

[chris-shay]

I'll admit to being slightly biased on this as I work for a distillery, however, one of my personal favourites is Té Bheag ( applogies for pronounciation but I think it something like "tjar vek"). It's a vatted malt from Skye and usually only found at the more specialist shops or more locally at the Coop at Kyle of Lochalsh.

 

Chris

[jamie92208]

I'll admit to being slightly biased on this as I work for a distillery, however, one of my personal favourites is Té Bheag ( applogies for pronounciation but I think it something like "tjar vek"). It's a vatted malt from Skye and usually only found at the more specialist shops or more locally at the Coop at Kyle of Lochalsh.

 

Chris

Chris, what's a vatted malt please. 

 

Jamie

[45156]

It's where a number of singles are mixed together to make a blend of malts - the whole idea is to produce a consistent flavour with the character that the blender is trying to achieve - many supermarkets do them in their own brand ranges.  The whole mixing process is done in a large vat - hence vatted malt.

[Torper]

I like Islay whiskies.  Lagavullin is my favourite, but I find it's more of an evening dram.  It's also rather pricey....  The lighter but still very flavoursome Caol Ila is an excellent daytime substitute.  As an everyday quaffer, I've had several bottles of Aldi's Islay single malt.  The first two were very good, but the latest doesn't seem as nice - possibly a different batch/age/distllery.  Moving away from Islay, but sticking close to the Atlantic coast and a touch of iodine, Talisker and Oban are both extremely pleasant.

 

When not on the Islays I like a sweeter dram and one I was recently given was The Isle of Arran 10 year old which, rather to my surprise, I liked very much, possibly more so than the 14-year old which I subsequently bought.  Both very good however.

 

DT

[45156]

Arran malts are starting to come into their own now.

 

I was offered a chance to become a founder of the distillery in exchange for an investement of about five thousand pounds.  I turned this down, as they were not able to give me any assurance of the possible quality or character of the product.  At that stage, they did't even have the land for the distillery bought, and didn't know what type of still they'd be using.

 

I was probably wrong, as it turned out pretty well in the end, though it was just too big a risk at the time.

[Purley Oaks]

Bottles of Lagavulin and Glenfarclas arrived for Christmas; have a Laphraoig on the go for pleasure and not for a cold. Am concerned that the distillers are going for the craft market and upping their prices in expectation that we'll buy 'special cask' editions.

 

If you're in France, supermarket Carrefour has a limited range of malts (including Laphroaig) for approx £15. Remember to pack in hold baggage if you're flying...

 

Mal

 

edited to add that the far north distillery Old Pulteney adds a nice touch of the salty sea

Edited December 28, 2015 by Purley Oaks

[grandadbob]

Certainly not an expert on single malts but of those I've tried my two favourites are The Glenlivet and Highland Park.

[BoD]

Arran malts are starting to come into their own now.

 

I was offered a chance to become a founder of the distillery in exchange for an investement of about five thousand pounds.  I turned this down, as they were not able to give me any assurance of the possible quality or character of the product.  At that stage, they did't even have the land for the distillery bought, and didn't know what type of still they'd be using.

 

I was probably wrong, as it turned out pretty well in the end, though it was just too big a risk at the time.

I've still got half a dozen bottles of the Founder's Reserve and a sample of the original distillation although it isn't legally whisky.

[jamie92208]

I've still got half a dozen bottles of the Founder's Reserve and a sample of the original distillation although it isn't legally whisky.

At least they are available to help you through your current difficulties.

 

Jamie

[Dick Turpin]

 

Some of what the season has encouraged to congregate on my shelf in the cellar. I tend to go for whatever the supermarket has on offer that I know I like, though I prefer peat smoke and iodine most. Ardbeg Uigeadail and a drop of water makes an ideal finale before bedtime. However, some of the lighter ones are well worth a try. Tobermory is often on offer from the Co-op and I have really grown to like it, and they do a nice peated version called Ledaig which is also very good if I recall. What is missing from my small selection this year is Laphroaig quarter cask, which never hangs around too long even if I had some.

 

The Ron Zacapa on the right is a very good rum for when I fancy a change. I find a lot of whisky fans enjoy the odd rum night from time to time, but I guess that’s another subject.

[Jenny Emily]

I like Islay malts best, especially the various Juras. I have five different ones in the booze cupboard at the moment (Prophecy, Diurrach's Own, Elixir, Origin and Superstition). I also like Glenfiddich with four different bottles of that on hand. The 15 year old Distillery Edition is especially nice, but only the hardiest drinkers can have more than a couple of those as she bites! I also have an assortment of Skye and Speyside malts, but my Father refers to many of these as 'cooking whiskies' as he exclusively likes the Islays!

[Dick Turpin]

Seeing as we now have this thread, it would be a great idea if we used this thread to tip others the wink if we find out that a supermarket own brand is really something rather good but being sold cheaply and anonymously. That and maybe what we find on offer if we think it's a really good price for that whisky, particularly for those harder to find ones. Who knows, now Christmas is over there may be some bargains to be had.

 

A quick review would also be nice if you've happened on a new favourite by chance.

[Gwiwer]

I'm no expert but have sampled more than a few in my travels through the Highlands and Islands.  The good stuff is hard to get out here in the colonies.  But with 55 minutes of the year remaining on our clocks I'll have the Jura ready to go with the midnight mince pies.  

 

We regret that there will be a delay to this service due to an operational requirement.  It's 28C approaching midnight and I'm off to the beach to swim in the new year amid the fireworks.  Jura and mince pies will be served upon arrival home at approximately 00.45 and to the sounds not of Auld Lang Syne but of U2's "New Year's Day"

[Clearwater]

Waitrose is often good for whisky bargains. Apparently they're one of the larger sellers of malts and consequently have stronger buying power than you might otherwise expect. Consequently they get some great deals

[45156]

In the North there's a small supermarket chain called Booths, which has about 30 stores, and almost always has a few malts at decent prices - at least a couple with a tenner off the normal price.

 

I was gifted a collection of the Welsh Penderyn singles, and I must say I found them a bit lacking in guts, and a little thin.  Their peated expression is just finished in casks previously filled with peated whisky.  Still, it was an experience, and now back to my more normal Islays.

[jonny777]

Waitrose is often good for whisky bargains. Apparently they're one of the larger sellers of malts and consequently have stronger buying power than you might otherwise expect. Consequently they get some great deals

 

 

Waitrose currently have bottles of The Glenrothes and Aberlour A'bunadh on sale for £32 and £35.50 respectively.

[Dave47549]

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Edited October 4, 2021 by Dave47549
Removed pointless guff