Where Did the SMS Folks Go??

I don't see any trolls - might those be cross-posted messages? Anything with more than 2 groups in the Newsgroups: line, I don't read (automatically killfiled).

Let's start something. What's the last bottle you bought that you would suggest I try? I like, well, Scotch, looking for something in the $80-100 (US) range. Any suggestions?

From: Dave Hinz Newsgroups: alt.drinks.scotch-whisky Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 1:38 AM Subject: Re: Where Did the SMS Folks Go??

Let's start something. What's the last bottle you bought that you would suggest I try? I like, well, Scotch, looking for something in the $80-100 (US) range. Any suggestions

Good idea!

Ok, the last bottle I bought was the Talisker 18 yo. I have no idea what it may cost where you live, but it's a great whisky in my opinion. Have you tried it? I've had about 50 different single malts, and i'll say this one belongs to the top 5 of those.

I have tried it head to head with the Talisker 10, and one thing that strikes me and I appreciate is how little the 18 has mellowed in spite of 8 more years in the cask. The 10 is known for it's "peppery" hotness, and I find just the same, if not even more, of that in the 18. Then it's a bit sweeter, and a bit more complex.

Rather dry, slightly smoky, a bit tarry, and with some nice sweet and salty liquorice notes that I love. In my opinion it has a clean cut grown up solidity that compares to for instance the Lagavulin 16.

Gunnar

One that's been on my list to try is the Ardbeg Arigh Nam Beist (the Beast!) As I've been very pleased with the Ardbeg 10 and the Uigeadail (!!!), I'm really looking forward to trying this one. The two stores around here I shop at have it at 99.9 and 109.99. My birthday is next month and that is on my list!

Other than that, perhaps the Glenfarclas 105 is very good. Someone else mentioned the Talisker 18, haven't tried that one yet but the Distiller's edition bottled in '06 is a more complex and smoother version of it's regular bottling, the kind that seems to taste better after each sip. Top to bottom with the Laphroaig line; you just can't go wrong with the 1/4 cask, cs or 15yr. A head to head tasting is definitly in the future here!

Sorry I'm not so good with the descriptors, I just know what I like ;)

Enjoy! Bill

I bought a bottle of that when I was last in Scotland. Very good indeed..sort of (but not quite) a non-cask strength Uigedail.

Looking forward to getting a vottle of Ardbeg Almost There. I've tried the Very Young and Still Young and they were stonkingly good.

I'll second that. It's become one of those bottles that I restock regularly from Royal Mile. On the same Scotland trip where I bought the Ardbeg we also called in at the Glenfarclas distiller. We bought the

"How long will that lot last you?" he asked. "Probably not as long as it should." I answered. He bought a 21yo on my advice.

Guilty secret time: I sometimes have a 105 with a single chunk of ice.

Last bottle I bought (apart from supermarket bargain shelf stuff, like Jura for £15) was Glenrothes Select Reserve. It's the first Glenrothes I've tried, and we immediately ordered a second bottle, just in case. Wonderfully smooth, lightly sherried, hint of honey going on in there as well I think.

Jim Jim

Just bought an Aberlour 16yo double casked, sherried malt. Very nice. It was kinda tucked in behind a bunch of Aberlour 15s. This is the only time I've seen this 16yo here in NC, while the 15 is commonly found.

chuck

Hi all, Just lurk about but I thought I'd join in. The last bottles I got where: Tesco's Islay Single malt,which quite superb for a supermarket malt.It's sweet,smooth.light and fresh tasting with a slight smoky edge.It's no where as powerful as Ardbeg ect. Glenfididdich Toasted Oak Reserve which sweet,sherried and is the best Glenfididdich I have tried.This includes the no aged,the standard 12 year old and the 21 year old(which I thought was over-rated to the extreme). Glenlivet 15 year old(George&J.G.Smith bottling)very sherried and with a long finish. Also a note on the Glenrothes,my wife and I have tried 3 different bottling from the distillery the 79,89 and the 92 all off them where excellent,but you are luck enough to find the Provenance bottling ,they are suberb. Cheers, Drew

Of the 50 or so bottles in my cabinet (some not opened yet), the following have been my favorites:

Glenrothes 1992 Caol Ila 12 yr. Caol Ila 18 yr. Laphroig 10 yr. Laphroig 15 yr. Talisker 10 yr. (18 yr. not opened yet) Abelour a'bunadh batch #16 (I saw a batch #17 but did not pick it up) Macallan 12 yr. Macallan NAS Cask Longmorn 15 yr. SMWSA Cask 104 Highland Park 17 yr. Highland Park 12 yr. Cadenhead Imperial-Glenlivet 15 yr. Bruichladdich 15 yr. (have not opened my 10 yr. yet)

I like an enthusiastic malt drinker! With all that diversity it's hard to pick out a clear winner; it's like asking which of my kids I like the best. I do have a suggestion or two.

First, anything from the western isles. I do like a dram or two of the Clynelish 14 or the Bowmore 17. To my taste, they straddle the fence between the floral-fruity and the smokey-peaty making them good daily drams.

Cost is another variable. Good single malts are at a premium price here in Northern Alabama. I looked at a GlenMorangie 18 for $150, a Dalmore 30 Stillman's Dram for $130 and went home with my Clynelish 14 for $93. Yes, it's painful but if I pace myself I'll get to them all eventually.

Regards to all!

Daniel

I have the Clynelish 14 yr. but have only tried the Bowmore Legend NAS (I think they are now calling it a 12 yr.). Your prices on the Glenmorangie 18 yr. and the Stillman's Dram seem a bit high as well, but perhaps you have state taxes we don't in Missouri. My problem is that I can't find a large store with a large SM selection, just the usual shelf stuff. I do get into Kansas City on occasion and find a few bottles now and then, but mostly the same stocks. I also have a store 90 miles away with a fairly good stock of Signatory bottlings in the under $100 range.

I have come to the conclusion that there are 2 types of single malt drinkers....the people who find a couple they like and latch onto brand-loyalty purchases forever....then those like I am who rarely purchase the same expression twice and try everything once if I can find new bottles.

"mdavis wrote >

I'm on a similar track. Our local selections are small and our prices are high. Tennessee has a much better selection and about 20% to 25% lower prices. I usually take a trip to Tennessee once a month to check the shelves. I have found Tallahassee, Florida ABC stores to have a good selection of single malts and their prices are even lower than Tennessee. I find most of my good single malts while traveling. So, for me, half the fun of enjoying a good single malt is the adventure in finding it and the memories of the trip along the way.

Regards,

Daniel

On the other hand, you are in the heart of bourbon country. I imagine that the small batch bourbon selections are excellent.

My recent acquisition in or near your price range (and your taste profile, I'd say) is a 15 year old Caol Ila, cask strength, distilled

cheers.

bill

Hi, Nick.

Joanna and Bushido used to get into some serious disagreements, if memory serves. That may have had something to do with one or the other going elsewhere.

Mainly, I think, the great -- and expert -- crowd we had then has gradually drifted away to Web forums, where there's a greater concentration of high-end malt drinkers. I've pretty much lost track of them.

Who else? Bart has gone as well, though he was back briefly a while ago.

Jock still chimes in from Holland, Rajmund pops up fairly often, I think blackkeno posts once in a long while, and there other good folks posting here. But traffic is well down from the old days.

There have been more frequent appearances by people who don't much care for decorum, but mostly they either adapt or go away.

cheers.

bill

Oddly the opposite here in Blighty. The 16 is fairly easy to get but the

Jim

I suspect it's the same as the Asda Islay. Does it taste like a slightly sweeter Laphroaig?

The Asda Highland is rather good - kinda/sorta Highland Park-ish.

Jim

Funny you should mention that. I do have a taste for good bourbon. Tennessee and Kentucky are putting out some really good stuff these days. Anything from Buffalo Trace is good whiskey. Small Batch bourbons seem to be taking off very well around here with the big brands stepping up to the plate with some good quality and fine taste as well.

We may be a little sparse on the single malts around here but bourbon can be found in good supply.

Regards,

Daniel

As far as I know, from drinking it for 54 years, Bourbon is only made in Kentucky. Tennessee produces some fine 'sour mash' whiskeys and Jack Daniels, which I use as charcoal lighter in my BBQ.

I have some single barrel Jack Daniels which I actually thought was quite drinkable.

Single barrel or CS is probably better than the 'standard' one. My kid brother drank JD for years, until he discovered Wild Turkey.