The Scotch collection has expanded...

[Jack Rumbaugh]

My lovely XO gave me a bottle of The Macallan 18 for graduating college.

I think I am going to grab a bottle of Bunnahabhain 12 and Auchentoshan 21 to expand my horizons. The adventure continues.

Life is too short to drink crappy scotch.

[jamgusmc]

You had me at Scotch... :yahoo:

[HUMPHREY]

Alas, my student budget does not allow for fine scotch... yet.

Friends at school just started a Scotch Whiskey and Cigar appreciation club where you can pitch in to buy a nice bottle though, I am going to try it this semester.

Congratulations on the graduation, sir!

[Goodspeed(TPF)]

Life is too short to drink crappy scotch.
Aint it the truth. Congrats on the graduation and a fine XO.

[Winchester67]

A good friend stopped by on New Years Eve with a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue label for a toast to the New Year. Tasty!

[blackballed]

The only scotch I have tried has been Johnny Walker Red. I really wasn't too keen on it. I do enjoy whiskey and whisky, but is other scotch really that diverse?

[CaptBeach]

I too have a bottle of Macallan 18...I am the only soul to partake...thankfully NO ONE else enjoys it around here...

[Jack Rumbaugh]

The only scotch I have tried has been Johnny Walker Red. I really wasn't too keen on it. I do enjoy whiskey and whisky, but is other scotch really that diverse?

Yes. Each region has it's own character and each distillery has it's own as well. No 2 taste the same and even bottlings taste different from year to year.

[Brent Yamamoto]

I'm more a fan of the Isles...heavier scotches like Lagavulin & Talisker. Highland Park also has some of the island character but is little milder, and one of my favorites.

Dalwhinnie is very nice for a mild scotch. Been awhile since I've had it but as I remember it had a little more flavor than Macallan.

The Auchentoshen I've tried was very mild, but I didn't care for it so much. Almost watery to my taste as I recall. But to each his own!

The "problem" with Scotch is that you have to try a lot of them to find which ones you like.

Well, it's a problem for some. ;)

[Jack Rumbaugh]

I'm a Highland and Speyside fan. Not a fan of coastal distilleries.

[Dr. Brian Brzowski]

I plan to share a glass of this with my boys on their 21st Birthdays. Love the history behind this spirit.

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/shackletons-whisky-mackinlays-rare-old-highland-malt/=

http://natgeotv.com/uk/shackletons-whisky

[von Clausewitz]

Jack, I can be there in 30 minutes to help you with that 18 year Macalllan...you don't need to suffer alone...

I'll sacrifice myself to help you, bro...just say the word...

[von Clausewitz]

I'm more a fan of the Isles...heavier scotches like Lagavulin & Talisker. Highland Park also has some of the island character but is little milder, and one of my favorites.

Dalwhinnie is very nice for a mild scotch. Been awhile since I've had it but as I remember it had a little more flavor than Macallan.

The Auchentoshen I've tried was very mild, but I didn't care for it so much. Almost watery to my taste as I recall. But to each his own!

The "problem" with Scotch is that you have to try a lot of them to find which ones you like.

Well, it's a problem for some. ;)

Yea, I'm failing to see "the problem" with trying lots of scotch...

:)

[LMarshall73]

My brother gave me a bottle of Macallan 12 for Christmas. It has joined similar vintage Glenlivet and Dalmore on my bar. One of these days I'll spring for an 18 or older. One of these days...

[pangloss]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever tried Oban Scotch? I brought my dad a bottle back from Scotland a few years ago, and he really liked it. I picked that brand becuase I was in Oban when I decided to bring a bottle home for him. Aside from that fact, the decision was rather arbitrary. I do not drink and have no expertise in the matter.

[SPQR476]

Oban 14 is one of the finest elixirs ever placed in a bottle.

[fidalgoman]

I don’t drink anything except the occasional glass of dry wine or a beer, however. For those friends who do I have often thought it would be nice to have a small but quality stocked bar. You know, single malt Scotch, Brandys, a few good Wines and assorted Beers. I have no idea what to put in it or what accessories to stock. Perhaps it would make a nice thread thread. The Bon Vivant Bar.

[HUMPHREY]

I have no idea what to put in it or what accessories to stock. Perhaps it would make a nice thread thread. The Bon Vivant Bar.

I agree! A thread like that would be very helpful. This article (http://artofmanliness.com/2011/07/07/how-to-stock-a-home-bar/) is a helpful start but it would be nice to see what tribe members have to say on the subject.

[sine timore]

I am so glad to see another scotch thread! A friend recently went to Scotland and brought back some bottles of cuvee 407 and black art scotches from the Bruichladdich distillery, probably the best whiskeys that I have ever drank.
One of the local liquor stores now stocks Bruichladdich single malts thanks to me!

http://www.bruichladdich.com/the-whisky/classic-whisky/concept-bruichladdich/cuvee-407-px-whisky

[Brent Yamamoto]

I don’t drink anything except the occasional glass of dry wine or a beer, however. For those friends who do I have often thought it would be nice to have a small but quality stocked bar. You know, single malt Scotch, Brandys, a few good Wines and assorted Beers. I have no idea what to put in it or what accessories to stock. Perhaps it would make a nice thread thread. The Bon Vivant Bar.

cool, I like it!

[Hired gun]

[QUOTE=Winchester67;1472216]A good friend stopped by on New Years Eve with a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue label for a toast to the New Year. Tasty!

Lucky Bastardo !!!
A good friend and brother that passed away in September always bought a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue when I came home on Leave, it took us two nights to knock it out but Man, it is Good. We drank it straight but we also made the "godfather shot" - 1/2 JWB and 1/2 shot of chilled Amaretto. Very smooth !!

[pangloss]

Oban 14 is one of the finest elixirs ever placed in a bottle.

Thanks, SPQR. That's strong praise.

[TNVolunteer]

My problem is I like all of them, some more than others mind you, but I will not turn my nose up at any good single malt. My go-to scotch these days is a Balvenie however I did receive a nice Springbank for Christmas that I haven't made the occasion to crack open yet.

Congrats on your graduation.

TNV

[Winchester67]

I have mentioned it before, but I spent many years from my divorce in 1992 to my marriage in 1012 working on a theory. I never got the exact formula, but here are the basics: When a man is first starting out, he is young, his Scotch is young and his girlfriend is young. As one gets older and becomes more affluent, his age goes up and the age of his scotch goes up...strangely, the girlfriends age remains the same. The graph continues until the girlfriends age and the age of the Scotch intersect, at which point I knew it was time to settle down. That and when I turned 40 my girlfriend wanted to really celebrate by going to Vegas, and I realized at age 20 she could not get into the Casino. At that point, I started to think it was time to settle down....

[Jack Rumbaugh]

A bottle of Isle of Jura Origins followed me home the other night. Very interesting scotch. Served neat it has a very complex finish. I didn't have enough to really sort it out but honey and caramel were there. I'll let you know how it is when opened up with a little water.

[sine timore]

Jura is very good, there was a time when it was hard to get, they seem to be exporting more these days.
For those who want to give it a try just look for the bottle with the “ankh” on it.

[Jack Rumbaugh]

Jura is very good, there was a time when it was hard to get, they seem to be exporting more these days.
For those who want to give it a try just look for the bottle with the “ankh” on it.

They are importing 4 types, each with a very different palate. You are referring to Superstition. There are 2 others: Diurach's Own 16 and Prophecy. I may snag a bottle of the 16 to go with my Origins. The other 2 have more smoke and peat. Not my thing.

[von Clausewitz]

A bottle of Isle of Jura Origins followed me home the other night. Very interesting scotch. Served neat it has a very complex finish. I didn't have enough to really sort it out but honey and caramel were there. I'll let you know how it is when opened up with a little water.

I have a bottle of 10 year old Jura that is very tasty...I highly recommend it...

[bushidomedic]

Just finished a bottle of Glenmorangie 10, and have yet to open the Balvenie 12 I just purchased. I too love the Oban, as well as Ardbeg, Superstition and Springbank. I still love my Kentucky Whiskey, but getting into Scotch is pretty darn fun too!! :friday:

[JoeB40]

A bottle of Isle of Jura Origins followed me home the other night. Very interesting scotch. Served neat it has a very complex finish. I didn't have enough to really sort it out but honey and caramel were there. I'll let you know how it is when opened up with a little water.

Jack, if I may suggest; get your hand wet under cold tap water and shake a drop or two into your Jura. Often times that is all it takes. I'm a Laphroaig fan and that's how I take mine.

[Otis]

Bottle of Redbreast 12 year old found its way into my home last night. Very, very pleasant surprise!

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[50BMG]

I'll have to try the Jura. I brought home a Balvenie 14 Caribbean cask and an Oban 14. Both are so smooth and have such a nice finish.

[buckcz]

Oban 14 is one of the finest elixirs ever placed in a bottle.

+1 Agreed.

[CDX09]

I recently got a bottle of Bushmills 21 and Dewar 21, both are great. For some reason or another I didn't really care that much for Auchentoshan 21.

[Jmack]

Lagavulin 16 is a must for any Bon Vivant Bar

[rlh2]

Glenmoraingie LaSanta is some very nice stuff.

[Jeff22]

For my 50th birthday my little sister bought me a bottle of Scapa 12 year old scotch. That's plenty fine. (I picked Scapa because Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands was the major naval base in the home islands for the Royal Navy in both world wars)

I also like Laphroaig. Jonathan Hemlock of The Eiger Sanction drank Laphroaig.

Barry Eisler has written a series of novels about an assassin named John Rain. John Rain likes single malt scotch. On Eisler's website he has a discussion of scotch, to be found at http://www.barryeisler.com/coolstuff_scotches.php . I liked the novels, particularly the first couple

[Jack Rumbaugh]

Reviving this thread.

Stopped by the local liquor store and snagged a bottle of The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14. As I was checking out the guy shows me a special order someone didn't pick up.

36588

It came home with me. Life is too short to drink crappy scotch.

[Craig R]

36589I'm currently enjoying this immensely after a Valentines Day dinner of Mussels over a bed of angel hair pasta with a white wine and garlic liquid concoction that is so good you can guzzle it afterwards.

[CaneCorso]

The one I didn't see mentioned yet is: Ardbeg.

Yum.

[50BMG]

Craig, laphroiag is one of my favorites. So unique and the price is reasonable.

Just picked up a bottle of Talisker tonight. Smoky and another one of my favorites


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[Craig R]

Truthfully I had never tried a drop of Scotch. A few months ago my wife and I had 'Dinner with the Friars." It's a dinner get together
at our Catholic church to get to know a few of the great men who lead the church. The 2 Friars are incredible cooks and there was a table fully stocked with all sorts of adult beverages. I got seriously schooled that night about Lagavulin, Laphroaig and scotch in general. Laphroaig has such an exclusive taste. I was just reading a review and someone opined..... "It smells like a hospital, it tastes like a hospital would, I'm in love with it, incredible."

[Jack Rumbaugh]

The Islay scotches tend to be somewhat medicinal, smoky, and/or peaty and are not my thing. There is something very off-putting to my palate and I have really tried to like them. Very early in my 20s I was introduced to mostly Highland and Speyside single malts and have a marked affinity for them. I need to try a Campbelltown and the Auchentoshan is my first Lowland scotch. If it's any indication of the quality, it won't be my last.

Apparently the Aussies are making some really good scotches and have been kicking butt in competitions. Might be worth tracking down one of the Tasmanian distilleries and give it a try.

[Jack Rumbaugh]

http://www.businessinsider.com/18-best-bottles-of-scotch-in-the-world-2013-8?op=1

I own a few of these and they are quite good.

[sine timore]

Last night I opened a bottle of 12 year old Japanese Hibiki, I must say It was fantastic. If you guys see the Japanese whiskeys on the shelf Its worth a try. A very good sweet malt with lots of vanilla.

http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/suntory-hibiki-12-year-old-whisky/

[PistolWhipped86]

I'm usually more of a bourbon man. I was eyeing a bottle of Macallan 18 Year Cask Strength yesterday, but ended up walking out of the package store with my bank account spared that particular indulgence. For now.

They had a few Speysides and Highlands that looked good though, I may go back and pick one up after work tomorrow. That is if I can talk myself out of Woodford Reserve's Double Oaked. It's been calling to me since I first laid eyes on it.

[captain steinbrenner]

Try Grand Old Parr.

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[45Smashemflat]

Just completed my collection of all the horse and jockey stoppers that spell Blanton's. Quite good bourbon. And yes, there are two unique Ns. I know this is a scotch thread, but perhaps no one will get upset with some bourbon talk. Two recent likes, Breckenridge from Denver, and Noah's Mill from sho' nuff Bourbon county. Give them a try.

[Waton18]

For my 50th birthday my little sister bought me a bottle of Scapa 12 year old scotch. That's plenty fine. (I picked Scapa because Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands was the major naval base in the home islands for the Royal Navy in both world wars)


Picked up and started drinking the 16 yr. Very smooth. Thanks for recommending.



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[Jeff22]

There are several bars in my AO that pride themselves on comprehensive selections of Scotch Whisky.

One of them had a tasting of Smokey Single Malt Scotches last week.

I test fired Lagavulin 16 year, Kilchoman Machir Bay 2013, Compass Box Peat Monster (a "vatted" blend of malt whisky), Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Talisker Storm, and Ardbeg Uigeadail.

I liked all of them, though I can't do a lot of the really smokey peat flavored single malts. If I'm in the mood for a smoky Scotch, it's usually in cooler weather.

Of the varieties I tasted, I think I liked the Talisker Storm the best, followed by the Laphroaig Quarter Cask.

[Jack Rumbaugh]

They have Scotch tastings in my AO but you have to go to DC most of the time for the really good ones. I'll stay on my side of the river.

[Echo17]

I to am a huge fan of Laphroaig, working on a glass as I listen to the thunderstorm

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[Jeff22]

The other night we did an informal scotch tasting with Macallen 12 yr, Aberfeldy 12 yr and Alexander Murray Bon Accord.

We liked all of them, but our preferences were in that order.

[foxytwo]

I can buy a lot more ammo if I don't spend it on booze.

[Custom II]

The other night we did an informal scotch tasting with Macallen 12 yr, Aberfeldy 12 yr and Alexander Murray Bon Accord.

We liked all of them, but our preferences were in that order.

While not a speyside scotch, if you liked the Macallen, you should try Dalwhinnie, at least a 15 year vintage.


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[egalloway]

Jack opinion on the dal more cigar malt reserve?

[GHERKIN05]

I'm typically a bourbon guy but I like Macallan due to the sherry cask influence. I was at my neighbors shooting trap last week and he pulls out a box of Macallan Rare Cask....wow, game changer. That's the real deal. I like Macallan 15&25 but that Rare Cask is the best whiskey I've had.

[John Chambers]

I used to drink that quite a bit and it was very tasty, especially with the Partagas #10 that I used to smoke with it. :biggrin:



Jack opinion on the dal more cigar malt reserve?

[rlh2]

Glenmorainge LaSanta is my go to.


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[bog]

43234

This thread has inspired me to experiment in the single malt scotch, picked this up, just cracked it tonight, first time purchasing an Islay scotch, pretty sure I've tried Islay's a couple of times in my life but after a bit of research and now that I know what I'm drinking.... Whoa, it's certainly full of flavor! One clear side effect is drinking slower and controlling the intake more, I've been known to drink from the bottle and get a little wild on the whiskey, also helps to have learned a new level of discipline from here, ha ha.

[thewolverine]

If you like Macallan and an Islay- one can have both. Highly recommended!
ARDBEG UIGEADAIL

[bf00]

I was at a scotch tasting that was sponsored by an importer a few weeks ago, and got to try several of their offerings. The Bunnahabhain 12 & 18 were impressive. I actually preferred the 12 myself. Bunnahabhain is an Islay but not nearly as smoky & peaty as they usually are, which is somewhat unusual.

[bog]

I'd love to say my collection has expanded but it keeps getting depleted, had to re-up a bit with this addition:

45073

I recommend it!

[Warped Mindless]

45524

Cant wait to try this stuff in a few days