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General discussion (archive)Yeah, so I'm needing a Scotch tonight.(56 posts)(56 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted October 03, 2012
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TheEnigmaticT: I have a bottle of cask Abelour's I bought in Scotland, as well as a bottle of cask Talisker and cask Glenfiddich (also picked up there). I've been enjoying them. :)
I shall be arriving at your house by the weekend. The couch is fine, but make sure the single malts are well stocked.
Posted October 03, 2012
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TheEnigmaticT: I have a bottle of cask Abelour's I bought in Scotland, as well as a bottle of cask Talisker and cask Glenfiddich (also picked up there). I've been enjoying them. :)
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Coelocanth: I shall be arriving at your house by the weekend. The couch is fine, but make sure the single malts are well stocked.
I have a feeling TET will need to re-visit Scotland again soon:)
Posted October 03, 2012
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Dzsono: What does malt mean in the context of scotch? IE, is it a process, additive, or something far more sinister?
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orcishgamer: "Single malt" means it's not blended, it's all from the same cask. If a whiskey, bourbon, or scotch is blended it means that it was from multiple barrels, some that were too cold on the outside of the stack, some from the inside where they got too hot, are mixed together until the desired taste is achieved. Single malt is the stuff that was "just right" from the beginning and is generally considered to be of much higher quality (though there are a few blended of the above that are considered extremely good). Blended stuff is usually more like the Jack Daniels, Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, and cheaper well stuff.

TET gave you a source for understanding the malting process in general. The term, "single malt" simply means something special when speaking of scotches (and other whiskeys).
Thanks for that. I figured I could read about malt on Wikipedia, but as suspected it didn't really illustrate what it meant in the context of scotch. If you had to recommend a single malt whiskey that is available worldwide, which one would it be?
Posted October 04, 2012
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orcishgamer: "Single malt" means it's not blended, it's all from the same cask. If a whiskey, bourbon, or scotch is blended it means that it was from multiple barrels, some that were too cold on the outside of the stack, some from the inside where they got too hot, are mixed together until the desired taste is achieved. Single malt is the stuff that was "just right" from the beginning and is generally considered to be of much higher quality (though there are a few blended of the above that are considered extremely good). Blended stuff is usually more like the Jack Daniels, Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, and cheaper well stuff.

TET gave you a source for understanding the malting process in general. The term, "single malt" simply means something special when speaking of scotches (and other whiskeys).
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Dzsono: Thanks for that. I figured I could read about malt on Wikipedia, but as suspected it didn't really illustrate what it meant in the context of scotch. If you had to recommend a single malt whiskey that is available worldwide, which one would it be?
Aberlour 12 year should be available world wide. Here a 750ml bottle will run 35-40 USD, but it has the qualities of a much more expensive bottle (more like something in the 80-100 USD range). It's one of my favorites for a reason. If you can score cheap Macallan 12 year it's also very good, here it costs 10-15 more per bottle, though. Lagavulin is a favorite for many, but it's an Islay (pronounced "eel-lay"), which I find less pleasant. Ardbeg is another Islay which is popular, but is a complete waste of money, imo, it's not even good for an Islay. Laphroaig also has a good reputation as an Islay but I can't say much about it, as neither I nor anyone I trust has tried it.

You'll hear "Highland" and "Lowland" as well, know that the qualities in these can be found in scotches that are from neither region, but there are some that are actually from these areas, just none that I can recommend more highly than Aberlour or Macallan.

Really, Aberlour is probably the best bang for your buck. If you end up dabbling in Irish Kettle Whiskey I'd recommend Red Breast but I'm far less knowledgeable about Kettle Whiskey in general.
Posted October 04, 2012
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orcishgamer: Laphroaig also has a good reputation as an Islay but I can't say much about it, as neither I nor anyone I trust has tried it.
Of the three Islay malts you mentioned (Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin), my favorite is the Lagavulin (my overall favorite scotch period, actually). Ardbeg is a far distant third.

Laphroaig is my 'go-to' scotch due to it being 45 bucks cheaper here than Lagavulin, and it's easily my second favorite of all scotches I've tried. So, keeping mind that I'm a huge fan of the Islay scotches, I'd say if you at all enjoy Lagavulin, you'll probably like Laphroaig. Think of it as somewhat similar to Lagavulin but with not quite so much Islay in it. Actually, I'd be surprised, given your view of Islay malts, if you didn't like Laphroaig better than Lagavulin.
Posted October 04, 2012
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orcishgamer: Laphroaig also has a good reputation as an Islay but I can't say much about it, as neither I nor anyone I trust has tried it.
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Coelocanth: Of the three Islay malts you mentioned (Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin), my favorite is the Lagavulin (my overall favorite scotch period, actually). Ardbeg is a far distant third.

Laphroaig is my 'go-to' scotch due to it being 45 bucks cheaper here than Lagavulin, and it's easily my second favorite of all scotches I've tried. So, keeping mind that I'm a huge fan of the Islay scotches, I'd say if you at all enjoy Lagavulin, you'll probably like Laphroaig. Think of it as somewhat similar to Lagavulin but with not quite so much Islay in it. Actually, I'd be surprised, given your view of Islay malts, if you didn't like Laphroaig better than Lagavulin.
Sounds like I ought to try it then, thanks!
Posted October 04, 2012
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orcishgamer: Sounds like I ought to try it then, thanks!
If you do, let me know what you think.
Posted October 04, 2012
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orcishgamer: Laphroaig also has a good reputation as an Islay but I can't say much about it, as neither I nor anyone I trust has tried it.
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Coelocanth: Of the three Islay malts you mentioned (Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin), my favorite is the Lagavulin (my overall favorite scotch period, actually). Ardbeg is a far distant third.

Laphroaig is my 'go-to' scotch due to it being 45 bucks cheaper here than Lagavulin, and it's easily my second favorite of all scotches I've tried. So, keeping mind that I'm a huge fan of the Islay scotches, I'd say if you at all enjoy Lagavulin, you'll probably like Laphroaig. Think of it as somewhat similar to Lagavulin but with not quite so much Islay in it. Actually, I'd be surprised, given your view of Islay malts, if you didn't like Laphroaig better than Lagavulin.
If you like Islay whiskies, you should at least try Talisker. It's probably my personal favorite of the style.

@Orcish: I'm a fan of Aberlour as well; personally, I think the 15 year cask I've got is substantially better than the 12 year you get in bottles in the States. I dunno if they sell it cask strength anywhere over there, but if you spot a glass of it at a bar, I'd recommend it.
Posted October 04, 2012
Damn you all for making me want a glass of whiskey. I haven't got any nor can I really afford a bottle at this moment.

Mind you, I'm writing down the stuff you've enjoyed. Can't live on Glenfiddich alone, can I?
Posted October 04, 2012
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TheEnigmaticT: If you like Islay whiskies, you should at least try Talisker. It's probably my personal favorite of the style.
Oh, I love Talisker! Really, really nice whiskey.
Posted October 04, 2012
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TheEnigmaticT: If you like Islay whiskies, you should at least try Talisker. It's probably my personal favorite of the style.
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Coelocanth: Oh, I love Talisker! Really, really nice whiskey.
Never tried it, but now I'm very tempted.
Posted October 04, 2012
i do love me some Scotch Whiskey!

but ive recently come to discover i am a Bourbon fan!

kinda made me feel a bit patriotic to discover that i actually like American whiskey the best.

my new/current favorite is Knob Creek No. 9



i do love my bottle of Blue Label ive been nursing; Scotch is delicious!
Posted October 06, 2012
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TheEnigmaticT: I dunno if they sell it cask strength anywhere over there, but if you spot a glass of it at a bar, I'd recommend it.
I have a bottle of cask pour, batch #40, on my shelf right now:) It's amazing.
Posted October 07, 2012
Just remember people, if it's Scotch it's whisky without an e. Anything else (with the exception of Maker's Mark which is a Bourbon but tips it's hat to it's Scottish ancestry) it's whiskey with an e.

I'm an Islay malt fan myself even though I'm from the Borders with Bruichladdich and Lagavulin being two of my personal favourites. Blends are often too mixed up in nose and taste whereas the majority of the single malts have a well defined character that is easily distinguishable.
Post edited October 07, 2012 by Hotstonez
Posted October 07, 2012
Sitting in the office, filming a new commercial.

I should totally have brought my Talisker to pass the time. :P
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General discussion (archive)Yeah, so I'm needing a Scotch tonight.(56 posts)(56 posts)
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