the best value in single malt ...

Paul, how will we know it?? Is it in a can? A cardboard tube? An oval cardboard box?? We have at least 3 different packaging, that might represent three different bottlings of HP 12.

I've got an old bottle over here with your name on it. That is, if you want to bother with it after trying the Aberlour 16 YO that is also sitting here with your name on it. :-)

Gladys.

Many of us have been saying that for the past ten years or so, but several others had advised during the past six months that the complexity had returned to newer bottlings. Are you certain that you received recent production?

Of all the modestly priced OBs available in the eastern US, our favorite is the Cragganmore 12. Rich, with a complex spiciness.

-- Larry

Check.

... and double Check.

:-)

cheers

Paul

Hi Nick ... This is a distinctive new bottling/packaging from what I've seen the past 3 years ... which is the limited experience I have with HP. It came in an oval bottle.

I like the new packaging, but the HP doesn't do a thing for me.

cheers

Paul

Hi Larry...here in Colorado USA the "original" 12 came in a square box and had a nice smokey presence .... the "new" 12 comes in an ovalesque box/bottle that falls flat.

Thanks for the tip, Larry ... for $34 US, Macallan 12 is the current front runner for my palate, with a nod to Scapa 14 ... I'll try the Cragganmore next time I see it.

cheers

Paul

Yeah, I agree. The next previous bottling in the big tin can was pretty good though, and we can still get that here sometimes.

nick

Thanks. I've never seen HP 12 in any box or tin, actually. Exactly where are you in CO?

CO is a tough market. Every time we go out there, I'm appalled at the wine and liquor prices. And when you've got a number of very small wine and specialty shops buying onesies and twosies of SMWs, it's even worse.

-- Larry

We actually have 3 huge liquor stores in the Denver Metro area now. Applejacks is the old time warehouse off of I-70 on the west end. This used to be billed as America's largest, but now we have two that are even bigger and, for single malt, better. Daveco is off of I25 about 15 miles north of Denver and Davidsons is off of Holly and C470 on the south end an little west of I-25.

I've never seen a halfway decent selection anywhere else after the "big 3" ...

cheers

Paul

Thanks -- we'll check them out next trip. And I see that Daveco is in Thornton, where our best friend lives...

When we got married in Colorado Springs five years ago, the best selection we could find was at Argonaut, on East Colfax. They did have the Macallan 25 and a decent selection og Calvados and Cognac though, so the dinner came off all right. 8;)

They currently list about 180 whiskies on their Web site, but the prices are steep.

-- Larry

For island-style malts -- Islays and Talisker -- Laphroaig is the best of the biggies when it comes to value for money. Where I live, it's priced at least $20 below the next-cheapest Islay distillery bottling.

bill

I love HP 12! It's the first really great and serous scotch I bought. I bought a couple of bottles last year and haven't bought a new bottle in a year or so. They have changed it?

If you can still get HP12 in the square box, I advise stocking up.

They new one in these parts comes in a ovalesque tube.

cheers

Paul

Just bought a bottle of Glen Garioch, now on sale in NC for about $22. I had forgotten how good it was in my rush to try all the more expensive drams. Glen Garioch 10 is really very nice. I will have more of it, especially at the price.