Single Malt Scotch Whisky

[Further]

I was never a big fan, but on my recent trip to Scotland I really started to get into them. For the first time, I'm really appreciating Scotch.

I brought home two bottles (I know I can buy them here. It's just more romantic to sip Scotch I bought there.) that are very different, but both quite tasty. These were the ones I enjoyed the most. Neither are spendy, which some scotches are outrageously expensive, these are both only about $50 or so per bottle.

Laphroaig 10 year - Islay Scotch from the North, very peaty, tasts smokey and healthy. Like if green tea and BBQ had sex and the baby got drunk.

But my Favorite was
Glenkinchie 12 year - from just outside Edinburgh, it's smooth as can be, just a bit of that peat flavor. Tasts like if springtime needed the twelve step program.



Any faves you guys like?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I'm a fan of the Macallan. Not into peat......yet.

15 > 18 > 17 > 12

Looking to buy a bottle of something new..want some yamazaki but it's been hard to find

hoop fam

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

ever try Buchanans? Had an invite to a tasting with the brand ambassador tonight but it was too far from my hood

hoop fam

 

[DaLincolnJones]

nice post, GOD

in my youth I had a thing for scotch..well, more than a thing I guess..enjoy

 

[Further]

ever try Buchanans? Had an invite to a tasting with the brand ambassador tonight but it was too far from my hood

hoop fam

I think I did, its a blended one, right? If its the one I'm thinking of, good, but nothing special.

If ou don't like peat, have you tried the second one I mentioned, glenkinchie? It's single malts, it's just got a hint of peat. Really bright flavor, this is a weird comparison, but it's kind of like the Pinot Gris of scotch. Same flavors but in scotch form.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

No. I'll check it out. I've been meaning to go to more scotch events at the local wine and booze stores out here

hoop fam

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Cheaper to buy booze there than the imported stuff here. I totally know (it's my job). You failed by not binging more back.

For that failure, I'd like to un-rep you. But the topic is good, so I rep you, canceling the two out.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I believe you can only take 2 liters duty free.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm a fan of the Macallan. Not into peat......yet.

15 > 18 > 17 > 12

Looking to buy a bottle of something new..want some yamazaki but it's been hard to find

hoop fam

I can't stand the 17, for some reason, and the 15 is meh. I'm not a huge fan of their oak-aged ones (15 and 17). They're a bit harsher up front and a bit too sweet on the back end. But Macallan is my sipper of choice, and unless I really need something different it's 12 (or 18 for days I earned it).

If you like the Laphroig, get the cask strength. Well worth it. (For the record, my wife said it smells like a band-aid fell off a golf course that caught on fire, but I like it a lot)

 

[blazerboy30]

I like Macallan for a go-to bottle. I like the 15 and the 12 is a decent value.

I'm a big fan of Glenmorangie for something smooth. It's awesome.

For something interesting, lagavulin 16 is amazing. It is so incredibly smokey, it's like putting a piece of campfire coal in your mouth. Yeah, I know it sounds terrible, but it's just so interesting that I really enjoy it.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Laphroaig is a pretty harsh drinker ... I like it occasionally, but it's hard to justify spending money on it when I can get something like Macallan 12 or 15 year old for the same price. My go-to has been anything Glenmorangie for awhile now.

 

[magnifier661]

Macallan is the best IMO. I bought a 50 year about 6 years ago and it was amazing!!!

 

[porkchopexpress]

Anyone here drink Japanese whiskey? It's most similar to scotch. You can only get a couple of them in the US, so last year when I was over there I picked up the Yoichi 12 by Nikka and at the duty free shop (where you can taste ANY liquor for free, which I thought was pretty sweet), we grabbed a Hibiki 17. I know the Yoichi is single malt, but I don't think the Hibiki is.

http://www.connosr.com/reviews/nikka-yoichi/nikka-yoichi-12-year-old/impressed/
http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/suntory-hibiki-17-year-old-whisky/

I'm not a huge scotch drinker (yet), so I don't drink these too much. We brought back some Yoichi 10 as gifts for friends and the ones who drink scotch seemed to like it.

 

[Nikolokolus]

My grandfather's last name is Archibald ... so what am I gonna do with some Japanese whiskey?

 

[porkchopexpress]

My grandfather's last name is Archibald ... so what am I gonna do with some Japanese whiskey?

Haha. Maybe this could ease some fears

Suntory and Nikka have Masataka Taketsuru to thank for their success. He fell in love with whisky while studying chemistry at Glasgow University in 1918, trained as a blender in Campbelltown and Speyside, then returned to Japan. Taketsuru was headhunted by Suntory's founder, Shinjiro Torii, to launch the firm's Yamazaki distillery in 1923. Ten years later he and his Scottish wife, Rita, opened the Yoichi distillery. He died, aged 85, in 1979

His wife was Scottish, so its kind of like these two distilleries are half Scottish, right?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/21/japan-whisky-industry

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

tomorrow is world scotch day or something.

 

[Further]

Anyone here drink Japanese whiskey? It's most similar to scotch. You can only get a couple of them in the US, so last year when I was over there I picked up the Yoichi 12 by Nikka and at the duty free shop (where you can taste ANY liquor for free, which I thought was pretty sweet), we grabbed a Hibiki 17. I know the Yoichi is single malt, but I don't think the Hibiki is.

http://www.connosr.com/reviews/nikka-yoichi/nikka-yoichi-12-year-old/impressed/
http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/suntory-hibiki-17-year-old-whisky/

I'm not a huge scotch drinker (yet), so I don't drink these too much. We brought back some Yoichi 10 as gifts for friends and the ones who drink scotch seemed to like it.

I have seen it but never tried it. It sounds good, hopefully I get the chance. Do they sell it at regular liqueur stores? Price? Thanks

 

[porkchopexpress]

I have seen it but never tried it. It sounds good, hopefully I get the chance. Do they sell it at regular liqueur stores? Price? Thanks

As far as I know only 2 get imported to the US right now.

Nevermind, just looked on Bevmo's site and there are 4 listed, between $50 and $125. A bar I go to a lot down here in SD uses the $50 one (Yamazaki 12) in their Osaka Old Fashion, which is really good. The $125 is the Yoichi I brought back last summer. They must have just got distribution in the past 6 months. The other two I haven't had. Both of those are blends.

http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductList.aspx?N=210+40+4294958266&area=home

Nm, I have the Yoichi 12, not 15, so I've never tried it either. With the exchange rate being so much worse last summer, I think the 15 was over $150.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Anyone here drink Japanese whiskey? It's most similar to scotch. You can only get a couple of them in the US, so last year when I was over there I picked up the Yoichi 12 by Nikka and at the duty free shop (where you can taste ANY liquor for free, which I thought was pretty sweet), we grabbed a Hibiki 17. I know the Yoichi is single malt, but I don't think the Hibiki is.

http://www.connosr.com/reviews/nikka-yoichi/nikka-yoichi-12-year-old/impressed/
http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/suntory-hibiki-17-year-old-whisky/

I'm not a huge scotch drinker (yet), so I don't drink these too much. We brought back some Yoichi 10 as gifts for friends and the ones who drink scotch seemed to like it.

I didn't even know they existed until recently. We tried the second one you have listed. We went to a friend's beach house and they had some stashed in their bar there, and the wife offered me some, to which I was thinking, "WTF?" Not too shabby, though I'm not a big drinker of scotch and whisky.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Laphroaig 10 year - Islay Scotch from the North, very peaty, tasts smokey and healthy. Like if green tea and BBQ had sex and the baby got drunk.

I really like this one. Lots of character.

I also like Aberlour A'bunadh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A'bunadh

This stuff is freaking amazing: smooth, sweetish, but tons of spice and character from batch to batch. Best $65 I've ever spent.