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[POWERSPHERE]

Peat 1 - Peat One

So the other thread got locked, and I can't seem to find a new one that's replacing it nor a reason it was locked, so here's Peat 2...

I'm currently sipping through a Full Proof / Cask Strength 'Elements of Islay' CI1, which is the Caol Ila version.

At 62.9%, you need a decent splash of water to open it up, but when it opens up, holy mother of god. Its the best whisky i've had. I love Islay Whiskys, and have pretty much done the whole lap, with Caol Ila being my favorite but this one has a sweetness to it, big smoke and a nice smack of saltyness. Like standing on a cliff face on a paddock of peat bog in a storm. Marvellous stuff. It's got a certain lightness to its strength as well, and is quite smooth for its huge strength.

My girlfriend is bringing me back from London a 1990 MacKillop cask strength Caol Ila, which i'm going to take to my whisky club. Can't wait!

 

[jon bones]

just polished off a bottle of this the other night. absolutely delicious with some whisky rocks and a single drop of water to open it up.

not quite as drinkable as my favorite go to (Laphroaig 10 year, neat w/ a single drop of water) but still damned good.

but there will never be anything as delicious as a bottle of bowmore voyage, with it's peaty taste and light sherry notes. at $300 something a pop, it was a bit of a rarity for me to drink it and now i'm not even sure where i would find a bottle to purchase it.

 

[ATF487]

Ugh I should have looked in that first thread yesterday. I went to the liquor store to get a decent bottle of whiskey and was overwhelmed with the options; ended up getting a Rye blend instead 'cause I didn't know what sort of single malt to get

 

[Divius]

I'm unsure why the previous thread was closed as well? Oh well, subscribed!

Will be buying a bottle again next week, maybe my favorite: the Lagavulin 16.

small note: the link in the OP isn't working, not that it really matters though.

edit: I'm also looking into taking a whisky tour/vacation in Scotland, has anyone of ScotchGAF ever done this?

 

[obin_gam]

MACKMYRA REPRESENT!

Sure, they've got their Preludium, First Drops and Specials, but nothing beats the ordinary orange label First Edition

 

[Martian]

I'm unsure why the previous thread was closed as well? Oh well, subscribed!

Will be buying a bottle again next week, maybe my favorite: the Lagavulin 16.

small note: the link in the OP isn't working, not that it really matters though.

edit: I'm also looking into taking a whisky tour/vacation in Scotland, has anyone of ScotchGAF ever done this?

Great idea! definitevely on my to do list!
I only visited the Talisker factory on Skye, which was bloody awesome.

 

[Schattenjäger]

I want to get into single malt but can't tell the difference
All I know is the older the bottle the smoother it goes down

 

[POWERSPHERE]

I'm unsure why the previous thread was closed as well? Oh well, subscribed!

Will be buying a bottle again next week, maybe my favorite: the Lagavulin 16.

small note: the link in the OP isn't working, not that it really matters though.

edit: I'm also looking into taking a whisky tour/vacation in Scotland, has anyone of ScotchGAF ever done this?

Thanks for the heads up.

I've never been to scotland, but the Lagavulin & Caol Ila distilleries would be my No. 1s. Laga sometimes do short run stuff for their shop only. Mmmm. The Lagavulin 16 & the Caol Ila 10 are the two bottles I hate being without. The Laga 12 is an incredible bottle, as close to perfect as it gets with a dot of water, asides from this CI1. This is the best i've had.

I want to get into single malt but can't tell the difference
All I know is the older the bottle the smoother it goes down

In simple terms, it's just a clearer experience with a single malt. Easier to pick out individual tastes and notes, and a much more refined drink. Blends can be a bit muddled, but there are great blends out there. I nearly made this a general Whisky Thread, but like it being a bit more focused on Single Malts, as it's still a huge world and would get too general if it was just a whisky free for all.

 

[phoenixyz]

Hi everyone, I am new to GAF. Maybe this is a good thread for a first post

It seems that you guys rather prefer the smokey whiskys. I like those with more sherry and/or bourbon cask flavor and less smoke and salt. Although I was rather positively suprised when trying the Talisker 10yr. My favourites (at the moment) are the Balvenie 12yr Signature Edition and Glenfarclas 15yr.

I want to get into single malt but can't tell the difference
All I know is the older the bottle the smoother it goes down

A friend once tried my single malts and told me that he can't really taste anything specific because of the alcohol (although it was in the 40-46 vol. % range). But after a few tries he started to notice the flavours. Basically when you start to keep the whisky in your mouth long enough. Maybe you tried to drink the whisky like any other liquor (too fast)?
Which ones have you tried so far?

 

[glaurung]

I hate being poor - I haven't bought a decent bottle of single malt in over 10 months.

Now everything I desire costs upwards of 130 euros. Bah.

 

[A More Normal Bird]

I hate being poor - I haven't bought a decent bottle of single malt in over 10 months.

Now everything I desire costs upwards of 130 euros. Bah.

On the "plus" side, being poor with expensive tastes keeps you from drinking too much...

 

[glaurung]

On the "plus" side, being poor with expensive tastes keeps you from drinking too much...

True, but I am slowly losing my alcohol tolerance. Some day in the near future I will completely pass out from just smelling a dram.

I whined about it in the previous thread too: I am still on the lookout for an Ardbeg Galileo. I just need to find a reseller that would ship it to me.

 

[edotherocket]

edit: I'm also looking into taking a whisky tour/vacation in Scotland, has anyone of ScotchGAF ever done this?

I live in Australia but have Scottish rellies and when I was there last I visited Edradour (the smallest distillery in Scotland) and Oban.

Both distilleries were an excellent experience. They had friendly staff and interesting tours where they were generous with the tasting at the end. I probably enjoyed Oban more because its situated in a lovely seaside town and after the distillery tour I had some excellent fish and chips and then hit up a local pub and got hammered. That was a great day.

 

[Schattenjäger]

Hi everyone, I am new to GAF. Maybe this is a good thread for a first post

It seems that you guys rather prefer the smokey whiskys. I like those with more sherry and/or bourbon cask flavor and less smoke and salt. Although I was rather positively suprised when trying the Talisker 10yr. My favourites (at the moment) are the Balvenie 12yr Signature Edition and Glenfarclas 15yr.



A friend once tried my single malts and told me that he can't really taste anything specific because of the alcohol (although it was in the 40-46 vol. % range). But after a few tries he started to notice the flavours. Basically when you start to keep the whisky in your mouth long enough. Maybe you tried to drink the whisky like any other liquor (too fast)?
Which ones have you tried so far?

Just Macallen and Glenlivet 12/15
Both tasted the same unfortunately

Also even though its blended, most johnnie walker..Johnnie Walker Blue tasted nice

 

[POWERSPHERE]

I live in Australia but have Scottish rellies and when I was there last I visited Edradour (the smallest distillery in Scotland) and Oban.

Both distilleries were an excellent experience. They had friendly staff and interesting tours where they were generous with the tasting at the end. I probably enjoyed Oban more because its situated in a lovely seaside town and after the distillery tour I had some excellent fish and chips and then hit up a local pub and got hammered. That was a great day.

Jealous! I want to spend some time seeing Scotland and making my way around the distilleries.

 

[A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu]

GAF drunks unite!

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink, when they wake up in the morning thats as good as they're going to feel all day."

 

[Zhuk86]

I love Glen Moray 12 year straight or with dry ginger ale, very smooth!

 

[KingGondo]

Introduced a friend to the Lagavulin 16 the other night. One of the best things about whisky is sharing it and experiencing it with others.

 

[Divius]

I live in Australia but have Scottish rellies and when I was there last I visited Edradour (the smallest distillery in Scotland) and Oban.

Both distilleries were an excellent experience. They had friendly staff and interesting tours where they were generous with the tasting at the end. I probably enjoyed Oban more because its situated in a lovely seaside town and after the distillery tour I had some excellent fish and chips and then hit up a local pub and got hammered. That was a great day.

Okay cool, thanks for the input.

---

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Spoiler

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This fine suitcase has travelled from Scotland to Timbuktu and returned with a bevy of the most interesting whiskies the world has to offer.

We have the delicate and perfumed malts of Japan right next to the hedonistic peaty monsters of Islay. There will be plenty of rich and smooth American Bourbons cozying up beside some of the finest blends that Ireland has to offer. This suitcase has an extraordinary thirst for knowledge from not just the age-old traditions of Scotch single malt production, but also from the new and quite frankly remarkable pot stills of the Swedish Spirit of Hven distillery.

It is jam packed full of 365 3cl drams of whisky. That’s a different whisky every single day for an entire year. 365 days, 365 drams.

Source: http://www.masterofmalt.com/product.aspx?par1=worlds-largest-tasting-set

---

Crazy, right?

 

[lawlohwhat]

Anybody know where I could get a bottle of Pappy Von Winkle 12 year online? I know it's hard as fuck to find. I know its not a single malt too.

 

[LyleLanley]

I need to get back to building my whiskey collection, what's a good website for ordering whiskey in the states?

 

[edotherocket]

It's my birthday coming up if anyone wants to get me that suitcase of whisky!

I actually need to finish off some bottles. I don't have much room left in my liquor cabinet. Current favourites are my Caol Isla 12 year old and the Scapa 16 yr old.

My wife bought me a 30 year old Port Ellen bottled in the year of my birth but I'm reluctant to drink it because its irreplacable

 

[Woffls]

I only started drinking whiskey properly a couple of months ago, so I've not tried that many so far. The Glenlivet was on offer

 

[Fenderputty]

IMHO, this should just be a Whisky thread. Whenever I post about my bourbon / rye addiction it was mostly in the old single malt thread too.

Where are my Rye lovers at?

 

[phoenixyz]

IMHO, this should just be a Whisky thread. Whenever I post about my bourbon / rye addiction it was mostly in the old single malt thread too.

Where are my Rye lovers at?

I want to try Rye whisky but here in germany availability isn't exactly great. Is the Jim Beam Rye any good?

 

[codhand]

subscribed

some faves...

macallan 18
scapa 16
glenlivet 15
famous grouse

 

[jl4855]

The Glenlivet was on offer

This man knows.

 

[k_trout]

i was always a glenmorangie man untill

JURA

jesus this stuff is something else

 

[LukeTim]

Got a bottle of Aberlour 10 from my sister and whisky-loving brother-in-law for my birthday. Looking forward to trying it out, though haven't found the right time yet.

Supposedly it's a smoother, lighter whisky... which I do appreciate.

Might also give The Whisky Shop in Piccadilly Circus a visit this weekend. See what they've got for sale.

 

[Zampano]

Penderyn rules all. The only Welsh distillery, I've yet to enjoy a whisky more than their Portwood.

 

[LukeTim]

Just been to The Whisky Shop. It was on Piccadilly, opposite The Ritz, not Piccadilly Circus. I misread the address.

Great shop. They've got so much there, and the assistant gave me a free dram of Bowmore 12 yo, which was lovely.

Left with a bottle of Ardbeg 10yo, which I looking forward to trying, given all the praise I've heard around Ardbeg malts.

 

[SirIgbyCeaser]

This man knows.

speaks truth.

 

[Badgerst3]

Oban 14
Balvenie 12 doublewood is also great and really mellow.
Lagavulin 16 is great- definitely "peaty"/a tad smoky.

 

[reilo]

Balvenie 12 doublewood is also great and really mellow.

That might be my favorite. I've been lucky to see it often enough around town, too.

 

[systemfehler]

Will drink a glass or two of my Elijah Craig 12y today. It gets harder and harder to get good bourbon around here. My favourite Wild Turkey 101 even got taken out in the biggest supermarket chain. 22€ was quite affordable.

 

[TCRS]

I was given a bottle of Jim Beam bourbon. It's not bad and I'm curious for more, but we don't have much selection here in Germany.

 

[systemfehler]

I was given a bottle of Jim Beam bourbon. It's not bad and I'm curious for more, but we don't have much selection here in Germany.

I liked the Jim Beam Black I got some time ago. Never tried the "White"version so far.

Edit: Metro has a few more Bourbon brands available - from cheap to expensive. I just don't have a card and it is rather far away.

 

[lawlohwhat]

That might be my favorite. I've been lucky to see it often enough around town, too.

Yea I just finished a bottle of this! It's missing something on the finish, but overall it's a really tasty scotch.

 

[Woffls]

Just been to The Whisky Shop. It was on Piccadilly, opposite The Ritz, not Piccadilly Circus. I misread the address.

Great shop. They've got so much there, and the assistant gave me a free dram of Bowmore 12 yo, which was lovely.

Sounds good. Was it reasonably priced as well? Quite hit or miss around there for value.

 

[LukeTim]

Sounds good. Was it reasonably priced as well? Quite hit or miss around there for value.

Well, looking at prices around the web for the bottle I bought... it's actually a little more expensive there than anywhere else seems to be, though that could be because it's highstreet rather than online retail. I'm not too bothered, it was maybe an extra £6-7 on the average web price I'm seeing, and I didn't want to go all the way there and leave without anything (went into London from Hertfordshire just to check it out). I actually think the pricing was a little hit and miss within the shop itself, because I do remember seeing some decent prices.

It's a really nice shop, though. There's tons of different varieties, including some nice Blended, Irish, Japanese and Bourbon Whiskeys, and they do tastings roughly twice a month, the assistant told me. They also do their own exclusive bottlings from various distilleries, the guy told me they have a cask up at Springbank which they will be bottling sometime in the next couple of months. Probably got others too.

I don't know that I would go there every time I wanted to find a bottle, but it'll be nice to go every now and again to have a look... when in London. Probably wouldn't go all the way into London simply to go there again.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

Aberlour 16 remains at the top of my list. The A'bunadh is a cask strength and needs a decent splash of water.

I also recently picked up a Glenfiddich 19 while in St. Thomas. Very good. Orange, fig, soft finish.


Also, for those of you who like both whisky and Joe Abercrombie, he has blogged his own Whisky Deathmatch

 

[WorldStar]

this thread is making me thirsty

 

[POWERSPHERE]

Does anyone think that Lagavulin 16 has gotten less peaty and more salty in its last few years, or is it just me?

 

[andycapps]

I asked this in a different thread, but this is probably more appropriate.. But I've never drank much, and am not really interested in beer due to all the calories and carbs. Whiskey or bourbon has always seemed like more of my thing, so I'd like to know where a good place to start is.

From what I've read online, starting with single malt whiskey is probably a bad idea for a rookie because I probably won't like the peat or smokey taste, and would probably prefer a blended whiskey. Maybe something like Maker's Mark?

And from there, start with mixing it with water? And for my wife, I doubt she'd drink it with just water. Possible to do mixed drinks with whiskey?

 

[Divius]

I asked this in a different thread, but this is probably more appropriate.. But I've never drank much, and am not really interested in beer due to all the calories and carbs. Whiskey or bourbon has always seemed like more of my thing, so I'd like to know where a good place to start is.

From what I've read online, starting with single malt whiskey is probably a bad idea for a rookie because I probably won't like the peat or smokey taste, and would probably prefer a blended whiskey. Maybe something like Maker's Mark?

And from there, start with mixing it with water? And for my wife, I doubt she'd drink it with just water. Possible to do mixed drinks with whiskey?

I'm not much for blended whiskies but If you are open to the possibility of a single malt: My recommended go-to whisky for beginners is the Glenlivet 12 years old. A very nice single malt that serves well as an introduction to scotch; there's a lot of nosing and tasting to be explored it's rather smooth (definitely not too peaty or smokey) and it's at the bottom of the whisky price range as well.

In regards to water: start without water to see how it tastes, maybe a couple of drops to 'open it up'. Too strong? Add a small splash of water, but don't water it down too much.

Mixing whisky is usually done in cocktails or just with coke, although you're better off mixing, say, Jack Daniels (blend) then a Glenlivet (single) because it breaks my scotch loving heart to see someone mix a fine whisky with coke.

 

[phoenixyz]

Does anyone think that Lagavulin 16 has gotten less peaty and more salty in its last few years, or is it just me?

I can't tell you about the development in the last years but I tried the Lagavulin a few weeks ago and didn't exactly find it very peaty/smokey (at least not as much as I expected).

 

[AngmarsKing701]

I'm not much for blended whiskies but If you are open to the possibility of a single malt: My recommended go-to whisky for beginners is the Glenlivet 12 years old. A very nice single malt that serves well as an introduction to scotch; there's a lot of nosing and tasting to be explored it's rather smooth (definitely not too peaty or smokey) and it's at the bottom of the whisky price range as well.

In regards to water: start without water to see how it tastes, maybe a couple of drops to 'open it up'. Too strong? Add a small splash of water, but don't water it down too much.

Mixing whisky is usually done in cocktails or just with coke, although you're better off mixing, say, Jack Daniels (blend) then a Glenlivet (single) because it breaks my scotch loving heart to see someone mix a fine whisky with coke.

Excellent advice. You can also go with the Glenfiddich 12 as a starter for much the same reason.

 

[Rich]

I only got into Whisky when a Scottish friend introduced me to Laphroaig. I love the smokey taste, and the fact I can stink out a whole room with it at Christmas, must to the dismay of my sisters.

I've got myself 2 bottles of Laphroaig - one Quarter Cask (My favourite), one 10YO and a bottle of Ardbeg 10YO. I find the Ardbeg sweeter less harsh than Laphroaig, but I really like the harshness of it.

All are really drinkable. I'm going to try some of the ones mentioned in this thread. What's Jura like?

 

[Choke on the Magic]

Has anyone tried this Bowmore 15yr? It's $70 so I don't want to pull the trigger on it if it's not that great. I've had the 12yr and liked it well enough.

I tend to drink a lot of single barrel bourbon as well. Is there a bourbon thread on GAF too?

 

[andycapps]

I'm not much for blended whiskies but If you are open to the possibility of a single malt: My recommended go-to whisky for beginners is the Glenlivet 12 years old. A very nice single malt that serves well as an introduction to scotch; there's a lot of nosing and tasting to be explored it's rather smooth (definitely not too peaty or smokey) and it's at the bottom of the whisky price range as well.

In regards to water: start without water to see how it tastes, maybe a couple of drops to 'open it up'. Too strong? Add a small splash of water, but don't water it down too much.

Mixing whisky is usually done in cocktails or just with coke, although you're better off mixing, say, Jack Daniels (blend) then a Glenlivet (single) because it breaks my scotch loving heart to see someone mix a fine whisky with coke.

Awesome, thanks for the advice!