Any One for a Scotch? - Page 8

Heh, thought that might turn a head or two

Don't mention what the two flask sizes are though or I'll have to take the pic down

All I see is two bottles of Un Emile!!!

I enthusiastically second your suggestion.
Crag is by far my favorite malt.

Grabbed a bottle of Dalwhinnie 15 on Huntsman's recommendation. Really, really fantastic. Refined (compared to my usual JW Red) flavors, with honey and then a little smoke on the finish.

It provided a nice bridge to the Laphroig, and made the latter's briny peat more accessible.

The Lovely & Talented Mrs. Checks is fearing that this might become another interest of mine ("can't we keep it at stereos and clothes?").

Quite reasonably I point out to her that it's not anything like a new hobby, and that I simply need a couple more bottles (one for mixes, one for everyday) and maybe one more to fill out the single malts, or perhaps two. Certainly, at the most three.

Or four.

So, what's your "everyday blend" recommendations? I'm thinking JW Black, but have never tried Chivas or Dewar's IIRC. [I'll use J&B or Cutty for mixed drinks.]

JW Black has Laphroaig in the mix and is a bit peaty.

What, that the color is reminiscent of port- or sherry-finished Scotch? :LOL:

Your furniture is really exceptional -- the Japanese really do feel the li. I'm sure it will age beautifully! Though, one does have to keep moving one's stuff around to keep the cherry from getting light spots though -- I did my desk in Danish Oil and noticed it in 6 months. Was surprised.

~Huntsman

Checks, glad you liked it. Honestly, I don't get the peat notes out of it, but that's probably because I drink too much Talisker and Lagavulin. Considering blends, as Nantucket pointed out, JW Black has Laphroaig in its blend as well as Lagavulin, Caol Ila and Cardhu -- in other words smokey Isaly malts as well as sweeter Speysides. Probably not the best bet for you then. Try Chivas -- I remember it as being low on peat and having these little almondy notes. I have a bottle, but don't want to open it beacuse I'll drink it! Did you ever consider that maybe you are an Irish Whisky guy at heart? Irish whiskys aren't peated at all. My summertime drink is Jamieson's and water, and Jamiesons 12 for sipping (18 is also good). The 12 is only like $40, too! Many people like Middleton Very Rare, but it doesn't strike me. Tullamores and Tullamore 12 are also good, but I prefer Jamies. Regards, Huntsman

My current rotation includes Lagavulin 16-year-old, Dalwhinnie 15-year-old, Dalmore and Dalmore Cigar Malt (sherry barrel) 12-year-olds, and Glen Breton Rare, an 8-year-old single malt from Nova Scotia's only distillery, Glenora Inn and Distillery (yes, I checked it out because it IS both an inn and a distillery... Private cabins, hot tubs, decks - well worth the visit.) The malt itself is very light in flavor, lighter than Dalwhinnie, with hints of apple.

And while I don't have them in stock at home, I'm jonesing to add Glenmorangie 10-year-old (tried it at my father-in-law's) and Balvenie Port Wood, which some gent had the great idea to make several of us drink from a wooden cup during a bachelor party pub crawl up Manhattan's east side.

cheers,
RT

Mine has always been Macallan 12 and 18. Occassionally Glenmorangie (sold by BBR), which has a strong orange peel note that I like. When in Scotland recently I picked up from the distillery one Blair Athol (in Pitlochry) that boasts a strong nose but a mellow finish.

It's not that I don't like any peat, it's just that sometimes I'm not in the mood for Laphroaig's measure of it, so, yes, I actually really liked the only two servings of JW Black that I've had.

I've already finished half the Dalwhinnie, and I need to add a Glenmorangie before the Dalwhinnie's gone, to get a good comparison.

I might point out to other Scotch beginners that - if you're put off by the strength of sipping it neat (say, if you're used to mixed drinks or beer) - you might try it on the rocks first, and slowly back off the ice until you're getting past the alcohol taste into the other notes that make this such a great experience.
I went from Scotch sours (still like them) to Scotch and soda, to Scotch/rocks, to neat.

Currently in the bar: Laphroaig, Dalwhinnie, J&B, JW Red. Maybe adding a Speyside or JW Black today.

Checks,

For the Speyside, I will echo Huntsman's reco for Cragganmore. I bought a bottle last week (the regular expression, not the distillers as in the photo)...lovely stuff; the damn bottle's nearly empty already!

Great thread.
This with the Monica B. and the HOF: What you wearing.. have become my new holy trinity.

The other night I was in a nightclub and I thought I smelled a great Islay scotch. Smoky, peaty. But I was confused as to where it was coming from. It seemed like someone had to have broken a whole bottle or more. Slowly, the smell transformed into something else and I realized what it was: gasoline exhaust from a passing truck.

Once upon a time during one of my ski vacations I stopped by a liquor store for some party supplies. I could not find a good scotch, but I noticed a few boxes of tasting samplers. They contained single malts from different regions of Scotland. All in all 6 bottles 70ml each. I bought a bunch of boxes and when I got home we engaged in some whiskey mixing experiments.
Ever since then I become addicted to my favorite custom mix. Surprisingly sweet and full bodied. I always take it with me to the mountain.
Bottoms up.

some of you may be tempted to invest :
http://www.whisky.co.uk/