My Third Scotch

Dunno where you are, but if you want to try an Islay, the Ardbeg 10 should be available and is relatively inexpensive at around $40. Another Islay worth a look is the Bruichladdich 15, at around $60. Might be a little harder to find, though. If you want a sherried whisky, the Macallan Cask Strength is very good, I like it better than the 18 year old and it's much less expensive, also pretty easy to find...

feroce

Von Fourche ( snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com) wrote: : I was hoping my next scotch would be a Lowland or an Islay. But : the most important thing is for it to be as good in it's own way as the : Highland Park 12. Two other things, price needs to be around $100.00. If : it's under that the better. Also, it needs to be widely available because I : live in a medium sized city.

Lots of good ones in that range, so why not try an Islay? Maybe a Lagavulin 16 or a Bruichladdich 15 or 17.

-- Greg Beaulieu snipped-for-privacy@chebucto.ns.ca Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

Von Fourche

I would definitely recommend the Ardbeg 10 yr old. It is a different experience to the whiskies you have enjoyed previously, and you'll get a real understanding of what a really peaty whisky tastes like.

Graeme

I'd go with the Islay! And, FWIW, don't let where you live stand in your way. Sam's Wine in Chicago has a really nice set up with UPS. As long as your state is listed in their ship to, you can buy from them. Now get this... their delivery charge is usually less than your state sales tax...

They also have 200+ single malts to choose from. Happy hunting!

maybe you should try the "classic malt of scotland" they are all real good and every region has ab bottle in this collection. from islay the "lagavullin 16yo" and from the lowland a nice and smooth "glenkinchie 10yo". there is also the "cragganmore" from speyside, the "dalwhinnie" (highland), the "oban" (highland) and the "talisker" from the isle of skye. they are all nice to start with an not to expensive.... (about 32 euro, each here in germany)

greetings from hamburg.....

Where do you find the states they ship to? I looked and can't find it.

Never mind. They dont ship to my state.

Add a choice to the shopping cart. You will then be presented with a choice of states to deliver the bottle to. You'll find out after that whether it is going to happen! BTW, they DID NOT charge IL sales tax when shipping to TX.

I'll bet the Dalwhinnie would have been great before the meal, and the Talisker would hacked its way through the haggis-breath after the meal just fine. The lighter malts can be knock-out good when the palate is fresh, before the fats & flavors assault of a meal--David Daiches who wrote a great book on malts back in the '60's or '70's would often talk about how one was a great "pre-prandial" and another a good "post-prandial"--and it really can make a big difference.

and to prove it (for me) I just had some of my Springbank 5 un-chillfiltered before dinner, and it was bright, powerful, complex, primordial, primeval, enchanting, and sublime. After the cornish pasty liberally slathered with German curry ketchup I can barely taste the sucker.

Rosebank, any independent bottling by Cadenhead or Signatory. Rosebank was the Queen of the Lowlands and the stocks are running low since the distillery was closed in 93 (?).

Andreas

I admit my lack of samplings, but my favorite is 12 year old Macallan @ $38 a fifth,

my everyday drink is 10 year Isle of Jura which is $25 (about the same as Chivas).

but I'm here to learn, and try new things

If you can find a Rosebank I'd second that suggestion. I've been more pleased by Rosebank than any other lowland, and because it's closed there will certainly be less and less available at ever increasing prices, just like Port Ellen (or rather Linlithgow). Two new versions have arrived lately on my local shelves, another Signatory and a Whisky Galaore bottling. I haven't tasted either. But I've had good luck with Gordon and Macphail, and there was an excellent Murray McDavid from a sherry cask at 9 yrs old. Another MMD which I tasted was nice, but I haven't had a full bottle. And a previous Signatory was good, though not exceptional. Also, Cadenhead has bottled it as well, and I'm told some of their bottlings were quite good.

Rosebank offers a palate that delivers what the Speysides promise: floral notes, gentleness, and a light peatiness. My wife, who is not a fan of scotch whisky, likes this one.

And there is something romantic about tasting a whisky that will never be produced again - it's a little bit of history. Taste it while you can - soon, quietly, it will disappear from your shelves. Providing it was available in the first place...

Bart