Jon, Mark and Robbo's Smooth Sweeter One

Well...I've been exploring within my price range, mostly at Trader Joe's. Hated the Finlaggen, enjoyed the Macallan 10 and 14.

Tonight I got off work early and drove to Bevmo in Pasadena. This was not the good night to be making this five mile drive. It took an hour and a half.

At any rate, I did make it and picked up a bottle of the JM&R. I had read about it here:

5203

I'm not yet up to an in depth review, but I really like this stuff. It's practically dessert; all creamy sweetness with a bit of pepper at the finish. Not a challenge at all. I've read that this blend is over 50% Irish whisky and the rest Islay. Having recently finished a bottle of Knappogue Castle, I'm sure that the Irish part is correct, but the Islay is extremely subdued.

I'm open to reccomendations for my next bottle. It seems that I enjoy sweet sherryish things but I do need to expand.

You might give the Dalmore 12 a try, very nice for the price and recommended as a "bang for your buck" on the malt maniacs website...a great resource!

And if your in the OC (probably less then a 1/5 hr drive...;) you might try Hi Time

and The Wine Exchange both kill Bevmo on prices with hitime having the better selection and wine exchange slightly better prices overall. ( wouldn't have put this in again, as i had it in a previous post, but someone else suggested a link so i thought ...what the heck..I've been very happy with their prices)

Enjoy

Bill P

We're on our second bottle of the Rich Spicy One, and enjoy it quite a bit.

-- Larry

"Bill P" wrote in news:s82jh.158314$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe06.phx:

Thanks. I may get down that way at some time. A peculiarity of my part of LA (Los Feliz/Silverlake) is that we learn to avoid going South or West for anything we can go East for. The roads are generally clear to Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena but it's sometimes a nightmare to get to West Hollywood or the Valley, much less Santa Monica or Orange County :)

What I should track down is a Cigar bar (big cushy chairs and hundreds of tasty maduros) with a large whisky collection. There are so many whiskies that I would like to have a taste of and compare. I certainly don't have the resources to do a bottle at a time.

I would also recommend the Macallan 12 to sit in the middle of your other two Macallans but you might also try Aberlour, Oban, Clynelish, Glen Moray, or the Dalwhinnie. They are all of the sweeter variety, nice and light compared to a Laphroaig or Talisker. Speaking of Talisker, I think the Talisker's Distiller's Select 1992-2005 is ideal if you want the Amoroso Sherry mixed with a little peat smoke.

"Daniel" wrote in news:Zrnjh.5096$_X.465 @bigfe9:

I'm seeing that at $85 in my neighborhood. That's "special occasion" level for me, but it sounds well worth it.

BA,

$85! Ouch...I feel your pain. Here in Northeast Alabama our selections are few and the prices are HIGH when it comes to scotch. Still, I can't resist the desire to explore and so I've had to forgo other pleasures (beer and Hardy's triple thick burger, Weatherby rifle and new truck) in order to pay that +$+ for the good stuff.

There are a number of scotches that would suit your taste for a sweeter dram. Maybe a good approach would be to shop in your price range and just look for those scotches that are matured in port or sherry oak. Others are "finished" in a select wood prior to bottling to impart a certain flavor. This approach may give you a better chance of finding the most bang for the buck with the taste profile you are looking for.

If you find "the one" please share it with us :-)

Daniel

The Islay bit is Bunnahabhain, I believe, which would explain the subdued nature of the whiskey.