Malt Whisky thread

[David Bryce]

I have yet to find a whisky that I like better than the 16 year old Glen Elgin

[mckeann]

I have yet to find a whisky that I like

me too

[Dave]

For those that like the Islay malts, another one I'd recommend is Smokehead.
http://www.smokehead.com/

[Jacobite]

I used to be an Ardbeg fan when it was relaunched 10 or so years back @£24.50 but the price has now crept up to nearly £40 since they can sell as much as they want to the Americans
since then its been Bruichladdich rocks or waves 46% and from £25.99 -£27.00 in some Sainsburys and Morrison's

Intrestingly that was one of the only 2 distilleries I didnt visit on a cycling tour of Islay in 2007 ~always fancied going back in the Loti although not sure the car wouldnt ground out on the off ramp at PORT Askaig

[duggiesmith]

We've been with the Lotus and had no problem
I did draw the line at taking it across to Jura though - I've seen bigger boats down inverleith pond

[duggiesmith]

Anybody thought about investing in a cask? Was very tempted last time I was at Bruichladdich...

I looked into this the last time I was at Bruichladdich. Initially, it looks like a cracking deal - £1500ish for a 200l cask = £7.50/l

What you also need to factor in though is the angels' share (est 5% pa) leaves you with about 120l after 10 years.
You then need to pay to have it bottled and when it comes out the bonded warehouse, the taxman will be expecting a hefty fee.

When I looked into it, the distillery were offering to take some (most) of the whisky in return for bottling and to cover duty and taxes. I can't remember the exact figures, but iirc what you were left with worked out about £18/l, so maybe about 80l for your £1500 investment.
Still cheaper than buying in the shops and fine if you particularly like the whisky (you'll be drinking it for a long time )

Of course a lot can happen in 10 years (taxes will probably be higher). Fine if you want the novelty of owning your own cask (bearing in mind that it will be locked away in a bonded warehouse), but otherwise is it worth it?

[Graemei]

Good thread!

Fan of the Old Pulteney 21 yr old and Balvenie 21. But used to drink a lot of Laphroaig, cask strength and triple wood are great.

Been lucky enough to sample most Balvenies and Glenfiddich range, inluding the 50 yr old.

[tut]

Thought that you had something wrong there, Smokehead aint an Islay malt, but turns out that it is a newly established distillery.

Good news after losing Port Ellon, and look forward to trying it.

tut

[duggiesmith]

Don't think Smokehead is a new distillery.
It is a Single Islay Malt, but from one of the existing distilleries (which one will probably be a "closely guarded secret").
Smokehead will probably buy casks directly from the distillery then bottle and market it themselves.
IIRC Kilchoman is the newest which should be about 4 yrs old now and is becoming more widely available. I had a taste of the raw spirit just after they opened and it was very promising.
Maybe santa will bring me some

[tonyg]

I seem to be one of the few on here that can't abide peaty whisky.

Generally drink the Glenlivets (esp the 18 yo), but my favourite two whiskies are both from Brechin - Glencadam and North Port (which i discovered by accident about 10 years ago in Makro) - Unfortunately North Port closed in 1983, so supplies are getting scarce and the price is escalating.

Since someone mentione Old Pulteney earlier i also have some 21 year old which i bought for about £45 in Sainsbury's of all places - according to my Malt Whisky yearbook there were only 3000 bottles sold -it's really fine

Slange everyone

[scott_e]

Wish i could enjoy the stuff, really i do , just tend to throw it up as soon as it hits my stomach. Father in law is a big fan , he has 100s of very unique bottles he acquired when working for Diageo over the years. Worth a small fortune.

[David Bryce]

Considering 5 years ago I could not stand the stuff I have now turned in to a bit of a whisky snob

Out of around 30 bottles in the house the majority are single cask, single malts, many bought from the SMWS.

But there is nothing wrong with a good, affordable vatted malt and two of my favourite good value bottles are the Clan Denny Speyside and Monkey Shoulder.

My father in law has a nice little business exporting whisky to Canada (my love of whisky is all his fault)

http://www.raredrams.com/

[Peter]

I remember sampling a 40 year old Macallan and a 21year old Hibiki in Tokyo this year, Japanese Whisky is very good but no change from £100 for the two drinks though.. Thankfully not my bill!

[tut]

I may have posted this before, but seems appropriate. Old Putney was voted the best whisky in the wold for 2011.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-15423862

tut

[Sanjøy]

Pretty good deal on at Edin Airport.