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Help narrowing down choices

As I've indicated in other recent posts, I'm going to be in Chicago on business. My secondary business is figuring out which whiskys to buy! A quick browsing of Binny's online stock indicate an array of gems, but I will only be able to take a few of these with me. I am posting some which I am interested in but have not had. It should be obvious that my interests are mainly in Islay, sherry finish, and anything cask strength. Your experienced suggestions on quality and value would be helpful and appreciated. And if you are aware of others, I'm ears (such as independent bottlings--I know little about this "scene") Thanks!

John

------------------------------------------------------------- Ardbeg Uigeadail $80 (a must, of course) Caol Ila 12yr $40 Caol Ila 18yr $55 Craggenmore 10yr CS $70 (the Cragg 12 is among my favorites) Craggenmore Dist. Ed. $57 (I liked what they did with the Lagavulin

16) Glen Scotia 14yr $60 Glenfarclas 105 $69 Lagavulin 12yr CS $100 Laphroaig Quarter Cask $48 (is it worth it, to pass up the red stripe 10 CS?) Longmorn 15 $53 Talisker 18 $60 (why so cheap? no better than the 10?)
Reply to
John Derby
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Sam's does have the Maple Hill Farms 21 year bourbon, which I've been told is the best 90 dollars you'll ever spend.

Reply to
Dave Hinz

"John Derby" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

I see the Quarter Cask has been very well received by many. Personally I don't think all that much about it. The good thing about the QC is that is doesn't have that unfitting sweetness as the 10 yo 40% abv has in my opinion, and the QC do have a good, unmistakable Laphroaig "peat reek" to it. But compared to the fabulous CS it seems rather raw, simple and rough. In my book the CS scores 91/100, whereas I under doubt give the QS 81/100.

Gunnar

Reply to
Gunnar Thormodsaeter

Here's what I know..

The 18 is quite tasty. Very peaty and very smooth.

I don't care for this one. I love the Talisker DE and Lagavulin, but I didn't care for what it did to the Craggenmore nearly as much. Just kind of non-descript if you ask me. I haven't poured a dram of it in 2 years, though.. still have the bottle.

It is certainly good... very youthful. Laphroaig is probably my favorite every day malt as well, so I enjoy having the quarter cask regardless... but no, it is definitely not as good as the 10 year cask strength. The

10CS is honestly probably one of my all time favorite malts. The quarter cask is different, and definitely worth trying for its uniqueness, but the cask strength 10 is something really special.

I finally tracked this down, and LOVE it. I have about 40 open bottles of scotch and lately every time I walk over to my scotch wall this is all I can think about. I've been going through it quickly. While there's so much to choose from it seems to be the only one I've been craving. This may be my new daily drink. I love peaty, but I do have to be in the mood for it. I am almost always in the mood for a slap of peat from the Laphroaig but I AM always in the mood for Longmorn. It's very smooth, very complex and long, and quite smoky. Fantastic stuff. Perhaps the longest finish of a malt at this price point. Pick it up!

That is a damn good price. I thought I did well for $70. I wouldn't call it better than the 10, but it's good addition to have. Believe it or not, it is even a bit pepperier than the 10, but a bit smoother. I like having it, and would probably drink it instead of the 10 if I could only have one.

David

Reply to
David Paris

Get the Glenfarclas CS! Unbelievable.

Reply to
Wayne Crannell

Not worth the money, I think. The good old 16yo is much better. I think the 12yo is dull compared to the 16yo. I won't buy it again, although a bad Lagavulin easily beats the best of several others.

I prefer the CS over the QC, although I still have to find a Laphroaig I don't like! Very recommandable.

R.

Reply to
Raymond

I'm with you Gunnar. Many of the people I've asked seem to prefer the Quarter Cask, and while it's good, I really prefered the Cask Strength which seemed to me a classic expression of Laphroaig. It struck me with the same awesome "love it or loathe it" power that the 10yo 43% did when I first tasted it. And it's a better price too!

Bart

Reply to
Bart

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