What to Buy Next

Hi all,

Thought after all the great suggestions I'd let you know what I went with.

Based on the feedback, I narrowed the selection down to Balvenie DW, Abelour and Old Pulteney (more for curiosity than recommendations). Well it turns out OP is hardest to find around here, so when I did find it, I had to go for it.

Results?

Definitely middle of the road. This is an enjoyable whisky, but not one that I have any superlatives for. I've heard different variations of it over the years were better (15 yr?), but this one is pretty light and not extremely distinctive. Yet its flavor is unique to an extent. Glad to try it and still enjoyable.

Next, Abelour or possibly Balvenie DW.

Thanks again and I do appreciate everyone's suggestions!

I have the Balvenie DW and like it. Lots of citrus in the nose and nicely balanced. Best thing I have so far for summer drinking.

Just bought an Abelour 'abunadh Lot #16 (cask strength, not chill filtered) but haven't opened it yet (nice wax seal should hold it a while until I catch up a bit). Also picked up a Glenmorangie Port Wood finish, and a Talisker 10 and Ardbeg 10 for this winter.

I did find a decent local source for SMS with a shelf of Duncan Taylor bottlings. Any comments of those, or recommendations? I did not have time to jot down the labels or prices, but will do that next trip out.

Sounds like you made a nice haul! While you may want to add a few drops of branch water to the Aberlour (I don't), the Ardbeg will be perfect, as is, for a winter dram or three. I haven't tried the Balvenie, Glenmorangie or Talisker. Money, ya know.

Also sounds like you're building a nice shelf. ;-)

Slainte!

What I've tried to do, within my resource limits and the limits of my one decent local store, is to begin with a "basic" bottle from the major regions and styles. Next is to spend some time comparing my own tasting notes to some more expert palates to see if I can agree or disagree with aromas and flavors. Learn the fine points of adding water (or not), choice of tasting vessel, the effects of time in the glass and dilution. This builds a basis for choosing more expensive bottles, which might be "wasted" on an uneducated newcomer such as myself.

I currently have 14 bottles and a fair selection of styles, although nothing "exotic." In the absence of any other malt enthusiasts anywhere around (to my knowledge), it will take me a fair amount of time to consume these drams. It's also a pity there is no one else to share the cost burden of sampling.

I'll be right over.

Oh. Never mind.

bill

Er, that's share bottles, not share costs. Wouldn't ever ask a guest to pay for refreshment, but they sure ought to bring a bottle to the party, no?

Only if they wish to be invited back! ;-D

Where are you located?

-- Larry

Not sure to which "you" you are referring. If it's me, I'm in the U.S., southwest corner of the state of Missouri (corner of the Ozarks as it's called). Not much sophistication in whisky in this area outside of the big, wealthy Fayetteville, Arkansas area which is home to many very wealthy WalMart executives and stock holders. I suspect most of those buy expensive bottles to try and impress friends, not to necessarily enjoy the spirits.

Please provide enough attribution to let the rest of us know to whom you're replying.

Sorry. My reply was to pltrgyst's request for a location. It was not clear from his message who's location was in question. My reply was the last posting, so I assumed ... perhaps incorrectly.

Back to lurk mode ......

USEnet is a system of threaded messages. It should always be evident to which post any given other post is responding.

In this case, my question was for the OP. mdavis had already described his location as central US...

-- Larry

Thank you, Larry. I didn't realize how stupid I am.

You're not a Romulin! Don't cloak, mdavis. Larry straightened me out. ;-/

Not stupid, Nick. Depends on two things, your chosen method of screen display or browser view setting, and the assumption that the respondant replied while viewing the message in question.

Sorry, I'll avoid those assumptions in the future on this list.

No problemo.

Slainte Mhor!