chrisisawesome
Member
That's a good idea, but I think you may find it near impossible to find a 30 year old scotch in the US in the $200 range.
I like the site Total Wine because they seem to have great prices.
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single malt whisky thread
- Thread starter nitewulf
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That's a good idea, but I think you may find it near impossible to find a 30 year old scotch in the US in the $200 range.
I like the site Total Wine because they seem to have great prices.
Thanks for the link. Unfortunately I'm in NY and they don't ship to me.
Here's another aggregator website with listings:
http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/30+single+malt+scotch+whisky/1/usa
Most are between $200-$300 so I guess that's my new accepted price.
Any recommended brands GAF?
Globehopper
Member
One of my all-time favourites is the Highland Park 30. Not sure where you're planning to buy from, in the UK it's around 200 quid (less if you can avoid VAT which you should be able to). You might be able to import a bottle for right around $300 (ie: http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-7323.aspx)
Here in BC it's about $500
30 years old is definitely outside the norm. It's not very easy to find, or cheap. One of the best values is Glenfarclas 30 - http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-2074.aspx. That's a distillery I love, though I've never tried that one.
Checking in on this thread really makes me realise I have to buy some new whiskies soon. It was probably half a year since my last bottle -- Glengoyne 21, which was excellent -- and now when I'm single I've noticed I do drink slightly more. Some of my bottles are starting to run dry... 
chrisisawesome
Member
I definitely can't be of help with the 30 year old scotches. I've only tried some of the 15 and 17 year old's from Gordon and Macphail, and they are all so different it's hard to really know what taste you will get.
POWERSPHERE
Member
My monthly whisky gathering is getting a bottle of Ardbeg Galileo for this month.
Excited!
Also have a 1ltr bottle of Caol Ila for the Christmas break, and have been chipping away at a Lagavulin for a while, which i'm finding to be way saltier than normal. A good time!
Excited!
Also have a 1ltr bottle of Caol Ila for the Christmas break, and have been chipping away at a Lagavulin for a while, which i'm finding to be way saltier than normal. A good time!
TheContact
Member
For anyone curious, I ended up going with Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask 30 Year.
http://www.douglaslaing.com/home.php?DOC_INST=15
It is a 1978 and barrel aged for 30 years so the "30 year" thing is slightly messy I guess. Oh well, I'm sure my friend will appreciate the gift.
http://www.douglaslaing.com/home.php?DOC_INST=15
It is a 1978 and barrel aged for 30 years so the "30 year" thing is slightly messy I guess. Oh well, I'm sure my friend will appreciate the gift.
AngmarsKing701
Member
So I'm looking to put a scotch on my wish list for Christmas.
I like the Glenmorangie 18 and both The Glenlivet 15 and 18 that I've had this year.
I'm thinking of the Oban 14 that has been recommended. I do not believe that I'd like the smokier/peaty scotches that are at the top of everyone's lists.
Anyone have other recommendations?
I like the Glenmorangie 18 and both The Glenlivet 15 and 18 that I've had this year.
I'm thinking of the Oban 14 that has been recommended. I do not believe that I'd like the smokier/peaty scotches that are at the top of everyone's lists.
Anyone have other recommendations?
chrisisawesome
Member
The oban 14 is incredible.
Another great scotch is the Glenmorangie Artein (if you can find it).
Scapa 16 is also very solid.
Mystagogue
Member
I cheated and went with both the Uiegedail and the Highland Park 18. Love them both, especially the HP 18. That is an amazing whisky. Next venture will be the Talisker and Oban.
My monthly whisky gathering is getting a bottle of Ardbeg Galileo for this month.
Excited!
Also have a 1ltr bottle of Caol Ila for the Christmas break, and have been chipping away at a Lagavulin for a while, which i'm finding to be way saltier than normal. A good time!
I love the Galileo label. Unfortunately it didn't rate as well as some of the recent Ardbegs, so I likely won't try it for awhile.
My 21st birthday is coming up and for some reason I've been interested in trying scotch lately. I'm from Kentucky, so pretty much all of my whiskey has been bourbon. After doing some research, I'm pretty drawn to Caol Ila.
Do you guys think, with my undeveloped palate for scotch, that I'll still enjoy it enough to justify the $60? Or should I just go for some kind of cheaper alternative?
Do you guys think, with my undeveloped palate for scotch, that I'll still enjoy it enough to justify the $60? Or should I just go for some kind of cheaper alternative?
POWERSPHERE
Member
I would suggest going straight in on Caol Ila, as it might help you develop a taste from it. Just take it slow.
Always-honest
Banned
Sipping on a Lagavulin 16 right now. I really like it.
Cheers!
Cheers!
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
I found a bottle of Balvenie in my suitcase.
I feel very blessed.
I feel very blessed.
Well, the character of something like Caol Ila is certainly different from the bourbons you've probably been exposed to, but as long as you go into the experience expecting to be a little shocked by what you find, then you should be fine. Some people advocate a few particular "starter" scotches to lead in, while others have jumped straight into the deep end with stuff like Lagavulin or Laphroaig and either loved or hated it. Most of the scotch I've tried this past year is more along the speyside line, with Caol Ila being the exception. I wouldn't personally call it my favorite whisky, but it certainly provides a nice change of pace and certainly wouldn't immediately condemn it if you wanted to try it.
Choke on the Magic
Banned
My Lagavulin 16 is almost finished. Sad.
Been wanting to try this. How's the price?
Pricey in Ontario...cost me about $110. I think it's about half that in the US.
$69.99 here: http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=620021. It really pays if you can buy two bottles (go in with a friend). It will make shipping much more economical.
I wasn't too crazy about Ardbeg 10 when I first tried it (bought a bottle maybe 6 months ago). Finally had my second go at it tonight...and I love it. I don't know if it changed, or my tastes change, or I'm just in the mood for it tonight. Where I previously found it thin and dry, I now find it incredibly buttery and with a tiny hint of sweetness. Pretty awesome stuff.
edit: the sweetness is gone. I know what it was. It was the caramel/cheddar popcorn mix I had earlier. That goes really well with this scotch for some reason.
edit: the sweetness is gone. I know what it was. It was the caramel/cheddar popcorn mix I had earlier. That goes really well with this scotch for some reason.
POWERSPHERE
Member
My Lagavulin 16 is almost finished. Sad.
I finished mine last week... I gotta say though, this years batch for Australia was much more 'briney'. A sweet cherry base with a salty finish, not very smokey at all. Still good, but not the bushfire explosion of my first two bottles. I wonder if this has to do with the price drop from about $110 to $78 per bottle?
Oh well, onto my CI1 Caol Ila Elements bottle, which clocks in at 62.5% Full Proof, and with a splash of water, is probably the best whisky i've ever had.
Then a litre of straight up Caol Ila 12 is teasing me from my shelf....
Most people would recommend the Glenlivet 12. I'd try that, followed by something peaty (Islay single malt) like an Ardbeg 10 or Lagavulin 16 to get a sense of what scotch can offer. While I didn't mind the Glenlivet 12, I enjoyed myself much more once I ventured into the more peaty/smokey side of things. My tastes tend to gravitate towards Islay whiskies in general. Everyone's different, though.
I think the best way to start isn't necessarily committing to a whole bottle of something up front. Whisky is such a broad category that your first drink may not be something you really like, and having a whole bottle of it might not be such a great thing. If possible, sample a bunch of them first, whether from friends or at bars, because right now you have no frame of reference. It's something you kind of have to explore individually.
If you still insist on doing it bottle by bottle, then you probably want to start with something simple and classic, like Glenlivet 12, as TheExodu5 suggested, or Macallan 12. There are also good Japanese single malts in the Scotch tradition like Yamazaki 12. Hibiki 12's a good blend. After that, definitely go for something unique like an Islay (Laphroiag 10 or Ardbeg 10).
When you get your bottle, drink it neat, drink it straight up, drink it with a bit of water, and drink it with ice. Those are all personal preferences that no one else can really just tell you.
Jack Daniels is bourbon, and those are different. My preference with bourbon is Maker's Mark, and that's usually because it's more frequently available than single malt Scotches. It's comparatively much sweeter than Scotch though. And I'm not all that well versed in bourbon.
I'm not sure why I haven't really drank much of this yet. Had another dram of the Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix tonight. Pretty interesting stuff. It really opens up with a bit of water...probably moreso than any other whisky I have. Having just had some pecan pie earlier today, that is exactly what I smell from this when I add water.
\
Makers 46 with ice was a great start for me.
Not a fan of laphroig 10- way too smoky for me.
Next went to Balvenie doublewood. Very smooth.
Hoping for an Oban 14 for x-mas.
chrisisawesome
Member
My gf just got back from London. Here's what she brought back
Criteria when she went to the Whisky shop was: not available in North America for someone who likes oban, Glenmorangie, macallan.
Excited to try it, but waiting for a special occasion!
Criteria when she went to the Whisky shop was: not available in North America for someone who likes oban, Glenmorangie, macallan.
Excited to try it, but waiting for a special occasion!
Ardbeg 10 is not a good followup to the Lagavulin 16. I really can't taste much at all.
So sad I'm down to the last dram or two of my Lagavulin. I didn't want to rebuy the same whisky again since I want to try more, but I think I will have to restock this one. It's really the perfect whisky to me, at least for now.
So sad I'm down to the last dram or two of my Lagavulin. I didn't want to rebuy the same whisky again since I want to try more, but I think I will have to restock this one. It's really the perfect whisky to me, at least for now.
SmokinGunZ1981
Member
chrisisawesome
Member
A LOT of fruit flavours and light smell of fruit+vanilla (For the yamazaki 12 in particular). No peat, very little smoke. Pretty nice scotch.
You are in for a very nice, mellow drink! I have a bottle of it that I revisited for the first time in a while this past weekend. Did a lovely job of helping me to relax and unwind after what had been a frustrating Sunday. Like the above poster said, lots of fruit early, which eventually lightens up and gives way to a more relaxed tone and a hint of oncoming vanilla. Very smooth to drink too, by whisky standards. I also have some Glenmorangie Original that I've been trying to side-by-side compare with, since their profiles feel similar to me. Yamazaki is definitely a bottle that I wouldn't mind restocking, my only real issue with it right now is local availability: the closest shop I could find that I knew for sure had it stocked was a 40 minute drive from here.
Now if only I could find some Hakushu 10 or 12 to continue the comparison...
[Edit]Having a glass of the aforementioned Glenmorangie tonight and...I think I give the edge between the two to the Yamazaki 12, just slightly. I like the way the GO develops over time, but I think the Yamazaki's finish is just a pinch smoother. I'm planning to get a new bottle for my birthday next month, so I'm trying to figure out which direction to go in to compliment my current collection.
Just finished my 180ml bottle of Taketsuru 17 that a friend brought back from Japan. I'm going to miss this stuff. One of my favorite whiskies, no doubt.
As for the Yamazaki 12...it's not bad but definitely my least favorite out of the 3 Japanese whiskies I've tried (along with the Yoichi 10 and Taketsuru 17). It has a heavy sweetness to it but I feel like there's not much going on in terms of complexity. The finish also leaves a not entirely pleasant bitter taste in my mouth. Not a bad whisky, but a little disappointing coming from my previous experience with Japanese whiskies. But hey, plenty of people like it, and I'm more for smokier/peatier/woodier whiskies, so don't take my word as gospel.
As for the Yamazaki 12...it's not bad but definitely my least favorite out of the 3 Japanese whiskies I've tried (along with the Yoichi 10 and Taketsuru 17). It has a heavy sweetness to it but I feel like there's not much going on in terms of complexity. The finish also leaves a not entirely pleasant bitter taste in my mouth. Not a bad whisky, but a little disappointing coming from my previous experience with Japanese whiskies. But hey, plenty of people like it, and I'm more for smokier/peatier/woodier whiskies, so don't take my word as gospel.
AngmarsKing701
Member
Just finished a bottle of The Glenlivet 18 that I got around my bday in the summer. Still have about 1/3 of a Glenmorangie. Definitely hoping for a new bottle under the Christmas tree!
Friend of mine was awesome enough to gift me a Glenmorangie Original for Christmas.
I've tried it before, but this is my first real proper introduction to it. The nose certainly has a strong ethanol smell, but I have a feeling that will die down as it breathes a bit. Delicious though. Very mild, but a wonderful sweetness and spiciness to it. I think this is definitely going to be the whisky I use to introduce friends to single malts. Good stuff.
edit: such a wonderful finish. It doesn't last super long, but it just keeps me coming back for more. This is very drinkable stuff.
I've tried it before, but this is my first real proper introduction to it. The nose certainly has a strong ethanol smell, but I have a feeling that will die down as it breathes a bit. Delicious though. Very mild, but a wonderful sweetness and spiciness to it. I think this is definitely going to be the whisky I use to introduce friends to single malts. Good stuff.
edit: such a wonderful finish. It doesn't last super long, but it just keeps me coming back for more. This is very drinkable stuff.
[KoRp]Jazzman
Member
Picked up a bottle of this for our work Christmas party and loved it as with the 2 other guys who drink Scotch as well.
For the price it is surprisingly good, and I have to say for my first step into Japanese whisky, it more than interested me to try more when I can find them.
I think the big problem with Japanese whisky, is that it's hard to find in the US. Options are limited to basically Yamazaki 12 and 18, Hakushu 12, and Hibiki 12.
aparisi2274
Member
I just got this for Christmas...
Is it any good?
Is it any good?
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