Any One for a Scotch?



NewYorkIslander said:

You won't find any Pappy for that much...$400 for just the 15, 20 is about $600...and thats with hard searches. You could get lucky as they will drop in a few months and retail is somewhat reasonable. I'd go single malt for that much...there are some good Bruchladdiches out there in that range, the Octomore is neat, but perhaps a bit too hyped to justify the high cost. Bourbon wise EC 21 is coming out soon, but its dailed in at under $150. If you can find a bottle of the Balvenie Tun, thats around $250.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestions. Hadn't considered octomore since I haven't tried it yet - any edition you recommend?



NewYorkIslander said:

You won't find any Pappy for that much...$400 for just the 15, 20 is about $600...and thats with hard searches. You could get lucky as they will drop in a few months and retail is somewhat reasonable. I'd go single malt for that much...there are some good Bruchladdiches out there in that range, the Octomore is neat, but perhaps a bit too hyped to justify the high cost. Bourbon wise EC 21 is coming out soon, but its dailed in at under $150. If you can find a bottle of the Balvenie Tun, thats around $250.

Click to expand...

People are seriously paying $400 for Pappy 15? I guess hype +shortages will do that, but certainly not a value at that price point.



Gibonius said:

People are seriously paying $400 for Pappy 15? I guess hype +shortages will do that, but certainly not a value at that price point.

Click to expand...

Try $700+

Lord. I went through a couple bottles back when it was ~$60/bottle, glad I got in on it before it got trendy.



NewYorkIslander said:

You won't find any Pappy for that much...$400 for just the 15, 20 is about $600...and thats with hard searches. You could get lucky as they will drop in a few months and retail is somewhat reasonable. I'd go single malt for that much...there are some good Bruchladdiches out there in that range, the Octomore is neat, but perhaps a bit too hyped to justify the high cost. Bourbon wise EC 21 is coming out soon, but its dailed in at under $150. If you can find a bottle of the Balvenie Tun, thats around $250.

Click to expand...

My Lord.

From 2005:

http://www.klwines.com/staff/3005pdf/November05.pdf

Always pays to browse in liquor stores in small towns. I was in upstate NY at a small, nice shop. They had Lagavulin 16 for $95 (yikes!), but the Lagavulin 12 special release from 2010 for $70! Shopkeeper's logic, no doubt, was that it was a younger whisky, thus should be priced less.

Added that one to my shelf.

Those Pappy prices I quoted were secondary market, where its most easily found now. Retail is not very different than what it was been. Those Hirsch and BMH prices were awesome. You can always find good stuff if you look hard enough, and if you go to those small towns in non-ABC states, you'll find some gems. I found a ORVW 10 year 107 proof for $50 and GTS for $99 just a few weeks ago.

As far as the Octomore the 5.1 is the one most people are asking about...

Gopher, nice score on the Lag 12...I have a bottle of that waiting to crack this winter.

I had some WFE 10 last night that is just sublime! Have a Pappy 20 waiting for the right moment to open, prob won't be until I find another bottle....

That's obscene. It isn't worth that much.



NewYorkIslander said:

If you can find a bottle of the Balvenie Tun, thats around $250.

Click to expand...

$250 is a great price to a Tun 1401. Where do you find it for that? I've had the batch 3 and batch 6. Both quite different and to me the flavor changes after it is opened.



Huntsman said:

That's obscene. It isn't worth that much.

Click to expand...

for real that's crazy...

Seems appropriate for tonight.

For my first Islay: Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10? I can find them locally for roughly the same price at the moment.

I'm leaning towards the Ardbeg for the simple fact it's non chill filtered and uses no caramel coloring. It's not a deal breaker either way though.



Nil said:

For my first Islay: Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10? I can find them locally for roughly the same price at the moment.

I'm leaning towards the Ardbeg for the simple fact it's non chill filtered and uses no caramel coloring. It's not a deal breaker either way though.

Click to expand...

First EVER Islay? Or first bottle to buy? If you've never had an Islay, I'd start with Caol Ila. Or if you know you like smoke and peat, then Laphroaig or Lagavulin. I like Ardbeg, and have several expressions, but it is not nearly as approachable as the others.

Laphroig. It's the quintessential Islay.

Ardbeg is good, but IMO the smoke overpowers everything. The Laphroig has more general peatiness and brininess going on, less sticking-your-face-in-a-chimney.



gopherblue said:

First EVER Islay? Or first bottle to buy? If you've never had an Islay, I'd start with Caol Ila. Or if you know you like smoke and peat, then Laphroaig or Lagavulin. I like Ardbeg, and have several expressions, but it is not nearly as approachable as the others.

Click to expand...

I've had a few cocktails with Laphroaig CS in it that were delicious and I find myself craving more of the peat smoke I find hints of in HP12 and Talisker 10. I chose both Laphroaig and Ardbeg because of their similar prices; for whatever reason Caol Ila and the other Islays are all more expensive than those two here.