The Balvenie 12 yo Doublewood

I'm with Darren - a super malt. Good value as well.

Yes. Finish a mile long, definately on my "buy this again" list.

Oh...delurking, by the way. I'm not an expert by any means, but I like a nice Scotch. Right now, I'm working through a bottle of Balvenie 21 year Port Wood finished, and it's got some very interesting flavors and seems to change with every sip. Another favorite of mine is the Scapa 12. I'm thinking the next might be an Ardbeg based on some of what I've been reading here, but I'm open to suggestions.

Has anyone seen and/or tried the blended malts such as the "Peat Monster"? Our local high-end bar just got a series of these, and I haven't tried them yet.

Dave Hinz wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@individual.net:

I was dissapointed in Compass Box's Peat Monster. I expected something on the other side of Laphroaig. Instead what I got was a very nice whisky that has a lot of peat, but is balanced and complex too. Peat Monster is based on Caol Isla, and shares many characteristics with that whisky. I also like the Compass Box Eleuthera vatted malt. Another blend based on Caol Isla. So, just go buy a nice bottle of Caol Isla instead, I think you'll be happier.

My $0.02 worth (about 0.015 Euro at today's rate)

So, to me that sounds good rather than dissapointing...?

Sounds like a Cool Isla this friday then, to get a baseline understanding.

Normally I try Scotch at our local bar, which claims to have the largest back-bar in the state - they have 40 or 50 different single-malts, and will buy bottles on request if they can get them. More expensive per drink, but saves me from buying a bottle that wasn't what I expected.

Thanks, Dave Hinz

I assume you mean Caol Ila? I've not seen the spelling "Isla".

What bar are you referring to in which State? I'm always looking for a bar that serves good single malts. They are few and far between.

Dave S

I thought it looked wrong but I used the speeling I saw in the post I was answering.

Eagen's, in Milwaukee Wisconsin. They're within sight of my office, so we eat lunch there 2-4 times a week (great deli too), and go over to taste something most weeks.

Yes, I agree. I don't generally like sherried malts, but I enjoy this one. I know Macallan gets high sherry marks from many people, but I prefer this.

Doug.

"Dave Hinz" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@individual.net...

I found, that the Scapa 14yo is even better than 12yo - rounder and sweeter; I didn't think two more years would do such a great difference, but it was!