Any Scotch drinkers in the house?

[cavalera403]

I also would be more than happy to hang onto that Bottle for you. as my bottle of highland park 18 only has a dram or two left in it.

[DoubleF]

For bridging... for me, I started in whisky and slowly migrated toward scotch. Before I could really dabble properly into scotch, health reasons kept me away from doing strong spirits except on rare occasions. I'm adamant about never wasting booze.

Yamazaki and Alberta premium (not scotch) were probably my true bridge drinks. If it's too heavy, mixing with ginger ale helped a lot to "get rid of it" (better than cola IMO). Never been a fan of Crown Royal.

Enjoyed Laphroaig (Might have been the quarter cask, felt it was a little "sweet" imo, which I found enjoyable)
Enjoyed Chivas Regal
Enjoyed Glenfiddich
Ballentines was ok for me
I hated Johnny Walker Black. Wasn't happy with red either.
Drank Dewars and Hennessy VS (not scotch) like water for about half a year which is pretty much where my foray into health issues started.
Never opened my Macallan.

Luckily, health has returned somewhat, but I never got back into scotch. I enjoy VSOP lately though. Unfortunately, most of my consumption cannot be pure spirits, so I mix with ginger ale or ginger beer.

Any suggestions for going back? Break open the Macallan/try straight scotch again or admit defeat to the age card and do Chivas Regal/VSOP ginger ale going forward?

Btw, I find Superstore liquor is quite competitive with their pricing. Some bottles I find is up to $15 lower than Coop liquor.

[T-Rich]

Willow Park has a big scotch tasting coming up in November that they do every year as part of their auction week. I've been a couple times before and they have over 200 different scotches, it's not cheap, $100 so I don't go every year but it saves you from ever spending $80 on a bottle that you find that you don't really like. I found it great when I was first getting into scotch as you can really figure out not only which brands you like but also the different ages and the different types of casks. It's nice getting to try the 12, 15, 18, etc. of the same type of something, you really appreciate the difference and sometimes find that you will actually like a cheaper and younger scotch better. Plus you can also taste some scotches like Johnny Walker blue that I personally could never justify buying a bottle of myself.

[kermitology]

Speaking of Johnny Walker Blue.. I would never buy a bottle of that stuff after having tasted it.

For the money, if you spent that on a single malt it would be far superior. JWB is like paying for consistency, and that's about it. There aren't really any discerning flavours, nothing that stands out, just flat to me, but consistent.

[T-Rich]

Agreed, I think the platinum is roughly on par taste wise with the blue and a way better value.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by T-Rich

Agreed, I think the platinum is roughly on par taste wise with the blue and a way better value.

Any info on the scotch event? I can't find any on their website and I have been meaning to go to this.

[GioforPM]

from memory, in my cabinet (actually cabinets because some are in my vacation place):

Balvenie Doublewood
Balvenie Singlebarrel
Glenfiddich 12, 15, 18 (I got a sampler from the Duty Free from a buddy)
Aberlour 10
Bowmore 12
Glenmorangie 18

I've also stocked Singleton and Macallan, and I will drink Lagavulin happily if someone else pays.

[T-Rich]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

Any info on the scotch event? I can't find any on their website and I have been meaning to go to this.

November 5 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $100.

http://willowpark.net/events/individual/whisky-fest

[Slava]

^ take a cab. There are a lot of nice scotches and you don't want to drive after that!

[CaptainYooh]

You've got to check what's being offered though. I've been to tastings that had older Scotches from closed distilleries (like Brora, for example) offered for blind sampling. That was a real treat for $70 and included 5 shots of very nice and expensive old Scotch accompanied by good appetizers. Some other tastings we not that good really and included Diageo-sponsored mass-production stuff. Check Kensington Wine Market schedule. Those guys have a very nice little room at the back of the store for 20-25 people, where they do these. Good experience.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

I'm really enjoying the Glenmorangie Lasanta right now. Good gravy, it is amazing. Beautiful malty finish, some toffee and honey in there as well. $70-ish.

The Balvenie Caribbean cask is also really nice. A little more zingy than the Lasanta but really good.

I finished my Bowmore 15th Darkest, and that's been about my favorite Scotch ever. As an Islay Scotch it has a more muted, subtle peatiness that I found delightful. Strongly recommend.

[MRCboicgy]

I consider myself a long time bourbon man, but over the last two or three years I've expanded my view to include scotch. Basically, I started with some affordable options - and found what I liked. I realised I rarely had a taste for peat or heavy smoke, but love the full bodied, complex lingering ones (Springbank currently fulfills this for me).

Edit: a good value is the superstore Ardbeg 10 y/o - mentioned many times over the pages here. Easily 20 bucks less than KWM or WP

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ take a cab. There are a lot of nice scotches and you don't want to drive after that!

Without a doubt. I went to the Rum tasting a couple years back and its amazing how much you drink trying everything.

[Bean]

I'd like to gift myself something in the $100-$150 range. Can anybody suggest something for me to try based on the thoughts of what is currently in my cabinet?

Like:
Laphroaig QC and 10
Jura superstition
Glenmorangie (the higher end lines just not the original)

Meh:
Tomatin 10, 12 & 18
Glengarrioch
Macallan 10

Dislike:
Kilchoman Sherry cask

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by T-Rich

November 5 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $100.

http://willowpark.net/events/individual/whisky-fest

I'll be there, thank god I'm within walking distance.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bean

I'd like to gift myself something in the $100-$150 range. Can anybody suggest something for me to try based on the thoughts of what is currently in my cabinet?

Like:
Laphroaig QC and 10
Jura superstition
Glenmorangie (the higher end lines just not the original)

Meh:
Tomatin 10, 12 & 18
Glengarrioch
Macallan 10

Dislike:
Kilchoman Sherry cask

If you like Glenmorangie, my favourite from them is the Quinta Ruban. It's their offering that is matured in sherry casks and it's delicious. I see that you don't like another Sherry cask Scotch though so maybe that's a non-starter?

If you like a little smoke, the Caol Ila 12 is pure magic! Maybe my absolute favourite... although they all are!

[cavalera403]

Originally Posted by Bean

I'd like to gift myself something in the $100-$150 range.

Like:
Laphroaig QC and 10
Jura superstition
Glenmorangie

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte for smoke Or octomore if you love smoke
Glenmorangie Nectar D'ore for sweet
Something from an independent bottler that is cask strength and matured in American white oak (ex bourbon cask)

[Bean]

Mmm..Quinta Ruban and Nectar D'or from Glenmorangie are great.

I don't know much about Caol Ila, Buichladdich Port Charlotte or Octomore so I may try those out.

Speaking with one of the guys at Willow Park, he really piqued my interest with the independent bottlers that use other bottler's barrels to age their product. It was worded far more elegantly than that but it sure sounded intriguing. Especially at the price point for cask strength.

It's just so painful to buy a more expensive bottle and end up hating it. I'm looking at you Kilchoman.

- Not to say that Kilchoman is an independent bottler, just that I didn't care for the bottle that I bought.

[Murrfk]

Originally Posted by Bean

I'd like to gift myself something in the $100-$150 range. Can anybody suggest something for me to try based on the thoughts of what is currently in my cabinet?

Like:
Laphroaig QC and 10
Jura superstition
Glenmorangie (the higher end lines just not the original)

Meh:
Tomatin 10, 12 & 18
Glengarrioch
Macallan 10

Dislike:
Kilchoman Sherry cask

On your preference for Laphroig QC and 10, you might wish to try Lagavulin 16 or Laphroig 18. I have some tasting notes for some others on my blog: Singlemaltscotches.blogspot.ca. You will see that I really did not like Glen Garrioch.

[cavalera403]

Originally Posted by Bean

Speaking with one of the guys at Willow Park, he really piqued my interest with the independent bottlers that use other bottler's barrels to age their product. It was worded far more elegantly than that but it sure sounded intriguing. Especially at the price point for cask strength.

.

Independents can be very good value for what you are getting in comparison to the distillery offerings.
Also when looking at cask strength think that you are getting a bottle and a half for that price as you will want to add some water to bring it down to your pallet.

I personally would stay away from the "specialty finishing casks" as they more often than not are just trying to mask crap whisky. I have a bottle of 18 yo BL rum cask and it is just garbage.

I would look to Gordon and MacPhail, Signatory and Berry Bro.s and Rudd as independent bottlers.

You can get some stuff that just isn't available as distillers editions because a lot of what they produce goes straight to blends.