Any One for a Scotch?

[Master-Classter]

Thanks for the head's up in the Bourbon thread about the Four Roses.
Thanks for the recommendations above too.

I'm usually in NYC and go to Astors, but I will say that they have good selection but not the best prices. My girlfriend will be somewhere in Queens I think and sent me a catalogue for BQE Liquors and they have a solid selection and often prices quite a bit lower than Astors, usually $5-10/bottle.
I find that the Duty Free at the driving border, on the way OUT of Canada and into the USA has some good stuff (eg LapQC, Tal10, etc 1 liter bottles for about $50-55).
It's amazing the price difference in some cases. Belvenie 21 Portwood, Astors $150-170, LCBO $350. Arbeg Uegidail USA $70-80, LCBO $170...

PM me anytime if you want to chat scotch/bourbon. Keep in mind I'm pretty new at this stuff though.

 

[indesertum]

Bqe is in brooklyn. Didn't I tell you earlier about them? Not sure about now but they had a great clearance sale going on earlier. Was amazingly cheap

 

[aravenel]

Good to know. I'm going to need some more scotch soon.

Of course, I don't have a car, which complicates things. This is like Manton bragging about the crazy prices he gets on wine at these obscure suburban places--great, but I can't do that.

 

[indesertum]

If you're talking about bqe it's a short train ride away. I think you take the L and get off at graham

 

[Master-Classter]



Bqe is in brooklyn. Didn't I tell you earlier about them? Not sure about now but they had a great clearance sale going on earlier. Was amazingly cheap

urrr maybe? I have a few places on my list though I'm usually in town for a short while and pop over to Astors. Next time I'm in I'll go to BQE for sure. My girl just emailed me their catalogue since she was going to Queens and said she'd pop down to the shop. Their catalogue has some of those clearance prices... pretty great deals I must say.

If you're talking about bqe it's a short train ride away. I think you take the L and get off at graham

thanks. will make a note.

 

[NewYorkIslander]

MC, BQE is pretty damn good...

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

So, finally got around to picking up this MAC 18 today. Cracked it open, and had a dram with a buddy from out of town:

 

[Fred G. Unn]



I'm usually in town for a short while and pop over to Astors.

Astor is great but Warehouse is only a couple of blocks away and is a must hit for scotch. I'm out of town for a family wedding but I hit Warehouse for scotch and Astor for grower champagne before I left.

 

[b1os]



Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Current lineup (note, this doesn't reflect my preference, I'm still new at this. This reflects what's been available at good prices so far but my goal is to work around the whole map first)...
Lag16, LaphQC, Ardbeg10
Tal10, HP12, Mac10
Walker double black, Belvenie12

2 questions for you guys...

1. I obviously already have quite a bit of Islay... and I like them, but also want to try new stuff. If I have Ardbeg 10, is the Uagedail redundant? or is it very different? It's $170 here in Ontario and I can get it for about $70 in the USA so seems worth picking up just because of the discrepancy

2. Thoughts? my plan is to move next and pickup these... in what order and which ones (or others) do you guys recommend?:
A) Lowlands - Auchentoshen 3 wood and/or Glenkitchie 12
B) Cambeltown - Springbank, or Longrow
C) Highlands - Dalwhinnie 15
D) west highlands - Oban 14
E) Speyside Craggenmore 12
F) Jura - Jura 10 or Superstition

and then probably some others like HP18 and Yamazaki, and Macallen cask strength....

As indesetrum said, Oogie is very different than Ardbeg 10. Highly interesting stuff. Corry is good too but more similar to the 10.

Regarding B), I'd get Springbank (15; haven't had the others). Longrow is a valid option but given that you already have a focus on Islay, I'd go for the non-peated (or at least less peated?) Springbank release. Cragganmore is pretty good and not that expensive, so pick that up.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Mc, I'd consider the yamazaki ahead of the others, however, I haven't had springbank myself just yet.

Aberlour a'bunadh is a nice choice to consider, and I think the oogy would be a significant deviation as well.

 

[indesertum]

I"m a big fan of the springbank/longrow line up from the young'ns to the old fogies. so good all around

i've said this before and i hate saying it again, but when i'm home alone i shut all the blinds and fish out my guilty pleasure bottle of johnnie walker gold (the discontinued one). it's kind of hollow tasting at 40% but it's very very good. i really regret not going for the (or multiple) 1 L bottle at BQE when it was on big discount

 

[b1os]

One thing I've noticed: Laphroaig doesn't seem to get much love here, or at least it isn't talked about much. Why?

 

[indesertum]

the quarter cask gets a lot of love here

 

[b1os]

Hm, ok, guess I didn't notice. Still, the QK is one of the cheaper bottles out there (along with the 10; TW being a bit more expensive). Does Laphroaig mostly focus on the "lower end"?

 

[indesertum]

you know what i haven't seen a ton of older age laphroaigs out there. the private barrel ones at K&L always sell out really quickly. i feel like the beam brands in general kind of focus more on the younger ones. like beam and makers mark. they don't really do older aged ones, or interesting cask finishes and what have you

maybe suntory will change that like they did with bowmore