Glenmorangie 18

HP is more an island than a highland. I think you'll find the Glenmorangie a little light. I'd recommend trying Talisker 10 next time.

Well, HP is on Orkney, an island. I am sure, you'll find Glenmorangie much smoother althought the 18y.o. is also complex. If you try to find something similar to HP try Oban.

andreas

Don't worry, and don't listen to those Americans grown up on McDonalds and tomato ketchup... There is a world of taste in the subtle delicacies of a civilized whisky appealing to discerning palates... Anders

Here's a tidbit of information I learned at a recent Glenmorangie tasting:

"The 18yo spends 16 years in ex-bourbon casks. Then 20% of the casks that will end up as the 18yo are finished in sherry casks for 2 years while the other 80% continue to age in bourbon casks. After which, the two batches, the

20% and the 80%, are married in vatting for about two weeks during which they recieve occassional aeration to encourage their "marriage"."

So it doesn't have much sherry character, but enough to make the whisky a little more complex. For me, it's below the threshold of perception, which is to say, if I tasted it blind I probably wouldn't say, "Ah, yes... I taste a little sherry..." It is the kind of whisky that has many subtle flavors and aromas that are hard to seperate out and identify.

One good way to enjoy tasting a scotch is by comparing it to another. Taste it head to head with the Dalwhinnie if you still have some, asking yourself not, "What do I taste?" but rather, "How is this one different from the other one?" Which is sweeter? Which has a longer finish? Etc...

And while Highland Park is *usually* classed as an island whisky, it's not wrong to call it a highland whisky. Some writers classify all the island whiskies (except Islays) as highland whiskies. Confusing? You bet! But the regions are a little bit fluid when it comes to definition. Cadenhead has bottled Highland Park as a highland whiksy. And Michael Jackson splits the difference by giving whiskies a compound region - Highland Park is a Highland:Island(Orkney) in his book.

Bart

Funny thing is that visiting my Canadian cousin some years ago he insisted that McDonalds was definitely inferior, but Wendy's was the best.. :-) Did not test that, however. On the other hand my slight provocation was aimed at those, seemingly with Americans a major part (aren't Canadians in America too?), who can't enjoy a malt unless chock full of peat and iodine? Quite narrow-minded I'd say, if true. Anders

Ontario was in Canada at that time :-) and I remember that about Wendy's 'cause that was the name of his wife too. Another Canadian admitted to me once that those living south of the border were a most peculiar sort of people in many cases... :-) - seems like the good-natured needling across borders here in Europe, for instance between Norway and Sweden... Anders

Now Sleepy, lets not get too serious about our slimly disguised kidding about fine American restaurants. After all it not like anyone suggested that we actually drink our wonderful single malts while smoking a stinking obnoxious Cuban cigar!! Now that would be something to get a discussion going if one was so inclinded. 8^)

It wasn't Anders' comments about McDonald's', who generate over 25% of their revenue from European outlets, that got me serious. It was his implication, none too subtle, that Americans did not have discerning palates and were narrow minded. I just could not help but repond to such elitist hypocrisy that has no basis in fact. If I offended anyone, I apologize, but don't think for one second that the original post was all harmless, light-hearted 'kidding.'

[snip]

It needn't be chock full of peat and iodine. Half full will do!

Bart

And for his pains, has earned a place in my killfile.

implication,

Read again what I wrote..., quote: those, seemingly with Americans a major part (aren't Canadians in America too?), who can't enjoy a malt unless chock full of peat and iodine? unquote. Anders, about to open a Caol Ila :-)