similiar to Ardbeg

I love a dram of Ardbeg but found that I did not like Laphroaig nearly as much.

While Ardbeg had this fantastically complex flavor that I could savor -- I could not really notice as much complexity to the Laphroaig. It tasted too much like medicine and I could not get much past that.

I am a bit surprised that I did not enjoy this relatively recent bottle of Laphroaig (couple months ago I would guess) that much. The reason is that I really enjoyed a couple of drams of Laphroaig I had at a bar in Prague with a Scottish guy who introduced me to the drink. I guess that good company and good conversation while on vacation in a foreign country makes any drink taste better.

I am surprised that I would love Ardbeg and not like Laphroaig nearly as much as supposedly the two are very similiar -- both being Islay with a peaty reputation.

About to finish up a big project at work and was thinking of buying a bottle of something to celebrate -- share a dram with friends. Any suggestions for something that I might like given my affinity to Ardbeg? I suppose I could always just get another bottle of Ardbeg 10 YO. :-)

How about Talisker 10 YO? It has good reviews in whisky magazine.

Will

Reply to
William Anderson
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You can't go wrong with Talisker or Lagavulin 16.

Reply to
SleepyWeevil

Nothing wrong with Bruichladdich or Bowmore either in addition to the above

Roger

Reply to
Renko

Nothing wrong with them, but they're not quite the same style as the Ardbeg. The Bowmore is closer, having a fair shot of peat, but that silky mouth-feel makes it quite distinct. The Laddy doesn't pack nearly the peat content as the others.

No Islay should remain untried, but I would steer the original poster first to Lagavulin 16, Talisker 10 and any Caol Ila available where he lives.

bill

Reply to
Bill Van

Isn't the Bruichladdich usually unpeated - ie nothing like Ardbeg? Don't get me wrong, I love the Br. and admire the distillery owners (unlike the other unpeated Islay which I found to be quite average) but I wouldn't rec it as an Ardbeg-a-like.

Reply to
the man with no idea

Bruichladdich is not as peaty as Ardbeg or other Islay malts, but is peaty enough for many tastes, the distillery does after all use water from a hillside spring which flows over peat.

And to add the other discussion about Ardbeg, I must admit to preferring the pre-closure bottlings,. Since the distillery re-opened without its original maltings the whisky has lost some of it's distinctiveness.. Still a dram to be sniffed at (pun intended)

Roger

Reply to
Renko

Which would you guys recommend between these two choices and why?

Thanks.

Will

Reply to
William Anderson

"William Anderson" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

An impossible question. Talisker reportedly suffered a dip in quality but is said to be back in form and one I had recently was very good. As to real taste both are typical of the western isles. Lagavulin is tar and smoke and old ropes - Talisker is peat and salt and heather to me. And you'll soon see protesters rallying to claim that their opinion is superior and that my description is way off the mark.... :-) Anders

Reply to
Anders Tørneskog

On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 14:36:40 -0700, the alleged William Anderson, may have posted the following, to alt.drinks.scotch-whisky:

It pretty much depends on your budget. The Talisker will probably be less expensive, but the Lagavulin 16 will be a bit smoother and have more of a peaty flavo[u]r.

If it was my choice I'd pick the Talisker over the Lagavulin, but that's just because I like the smoke more than the peat.

My advice is to find a (bar|pub|friend) that has both and try a dram of each.

Regards, Rob "...mmm, Barbecued whisky, COOL!" Crowe

Reply to
Robert Crowe

Well, I just purchased a bottle of Lagavulin 16. It was expensive but I really want to try it. I think the rule will be only one dram per sitting and guests will only get one dram too. :-)

Any thoughts on Lagavulin 16 for my consideration while I enjoy a dram tonight? :-)

Thanks.

Will

Reply to
William Anderson

OK, about that... unless someone else is a single-malt drinker, I don't share the good stuff with them. Am I being too stingy with my Scotch, or is this normal?

My thinking is that there's no point wasting a dram from a $100 bottle on someone who won't be able to tell the difference. Kind of like why I don't dring expensive cognac - tastes just like brandy to me.

Reply to
Dave Hinz

Brilliant! You are absolutely right. I should keep around a bottle of "pretty good" stuff around too.

Will

Reply to
William Anderson

Two very different malts. Whilst I like them both I prefer the peaty, phenolic character of the Islay to the fiery, pepper character of the Skye.

Reply to
Brett...

Right. Not a Clan McGreggor or anything of that class, but maybe something that is a good example of a reasonable Scotch, but not too pricy. So, what's a good 30-40 dollar bottle of Scotch for the casual taster, give 'em a reasonable taste of what Scotch is, without giving out the good stuff?

In other words - what should I serve my dad, who ...shall we say... doesn't "get it"?

Reply to
Dave Hinz

Balvenie Founders Reserve fits the bill quite nicely. Around $30 a bottle and it's great. You can save your exclusive stuff for when you're on your own.

Reply to
DrinkyBanjo

I use Oban for that purpose. And it's also good stuff.

Reply to
SleepyWeevil

Maybe a bottle of Macallan 10 YO or Glenlivet 12 YO would be good for this. These are drinkable scotches that won't break the bank.

Will

Reply to
William Anderson

I wholeheartedly concur with not wasting good booze on those who don't appreciate it. However I will always try to educate people into the delights of single malts, for this reason I keep a bottle of the local supermarkets own label single malt whisky, so that if they choose to adulterate it no real harm is done. This tends to me one of the less sophisticated malts, but none the less still quite drinkable.

And also I appreciate fine brandies from several countries, just don't have them here as I concentrate on the whisky.

Roger

Reply to
Renko

The Glenfiddich Solera is a good choice ... just don't get them used to getting a descent scotch and then run out... I ended up serving my mom Highland Park 18 last weekend .. I was out of the solera and out of the Glenmorrangie sherrywood .. it was the least expensive thing I had on hand that she would like..

and weeks after mothers day too...

Reply to
ajames54

Ouch! I'm a big fan of Oban but it's priced the same as Lagavulin in my local market so it's definitely not a 'house malt' -- my vote goes to Balvenie, Founders or Double Wood. ;o)

Johanna

Reply to
Johanna, Single Minded

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