A good Irish Whiskey.

[lxskllr]

At least I know I'm not the only one now. I have mentioned it before in the scotch threads and no one ever comments on it. At least I know there are two of us now lol

I like Glenmorangie a good bit. I used to say any scotch over $25 bottle was good. I've been out of the scotch market for awhile, and I was shocked at some of the prices. I may have to revise that upward to $30 a bottle :^D The point still stands though. After a certain price point, you can't go wrong, unless they violate personal taste. They'll all be of quality, and it comes down to you liking it or not.

I like all well made scotch. Glenmorangie is on my purchase list, but probably not top 5. I wldn't consider that so much a deficiency of Glenmorangie, so much as there being so much good competition in the scotch industry :^)

[CoderGuy]

I like Glenmorangie a good bit. I used to say any scotch over $25 bottle was good. I've been out of the scotch market for awhile, and I was shocked at some of the prices. I may have to revise that upward to $30 a bottle :^D The point still stands though. After a certain price point, you can't go wrong, unless they violate personal taste. They'll all be of quality, and it comes down to you liking it or not.

I like all well made scotch. Glenmorangie is on my purchase list, but probably not top 5. I wldn't consider that so much a deficiency of Glenmorangie, so much as there being so much good competition in the scotch industry :^)

What are your top 2? I am always looking for good expensive scotch.

[Frosted]

Glenmorangie is very good - not too expensive and very pallatable.

[lxskllr]

Wow, I always have a hard time picking when asked. A lot of it depends on mood, and a scotch I absolutely love one day, may not hit the spot on another, just cause it sets the wrong mood. I'll give it a try though...

Laphroaig - Super smoky, and medicinal tasting. I like the Islays a lot in the winter. Like Gotland Grå snus, it just works. I haven't had everything they've offered, but the best I had was an independent bottling from Murray and McDavid. It was called Leap Frog after it's colloquial name due to a fight with Laphroaig over the proper name :^D They'e since straightened that out I believe. It was very pale, as they didn't use caramel color like the distillery bottling, and strong, but not quite at cask strength levels if memory serves. It was just like the Laphroaig 10yr, but a bit better in every way. Btw, I own 1sqr foot of Islay on the Laphroaig distillery grounds. They owe me 1 dram a year, payable in person. I haven't been able to go over and collect my rent as of yet :^(

Highland Park - Scotland's northern most distillery. I'd liken it to Macallan, but not so overboard on the sherry, and just a little mellower all around. 12 year is the best I've had. I think that's it's ideal age.

There's bunches of others... Hell, like I said, they're all pretty good. If you like scotch, you can't go wrong. I'll list a few others at different price points, with what i think makes the distinctive...

Scoresby(SP?) - If you find yourself poor, this plastic bottle scotch is actually drinkable. I can have a glass, and actually enjoy it. I like it much better than some bigger named rail scotches. Not so much a recommendation, as something to be aware of if forced into a bad situation :^D It destroys Cutty Sark as far as flavor goes.

Famous Grouse - The best bang/buck blend. Compares favorably to Johnie Walker Black, and Chivas Regal, but at a lower price. The 12 year is even better, and surpasses the latter 2.

Dalmore 12yr, and Cigar malt - these used to be tremendous bargains. They were easily as good as Macallan 12yr, but sold for ~$25, as compared to Macallan's $35˖ Apparently they've caught on, cause the price is what it's worth now(over $30), but they're still worth getting. The 12yr is sweet and mellow, and like Highland Park, notso heavy on the sherry. The Cigar is undisclosed age, and dry with a pleasant astringency.

Talisker - Mentioned by Muddy above. A bit stronger than average at 92 proof if memory serves and similar to an Islay but not quite as smoky. It has a peppery flavor, and will put hair on your chest. A nice robust whisky for a cold evening.

Aberlour Abunadh(SP?) - A cask strength whisky of undisclosed age. Delicious caramel and vanilla notes, medium dry. A little pricey, but remember, it's a cask strength, so once you add water, you get more per bottle. Head and shoulders better than regular Aberlour.

A note on whisky age for those not in the know... For whisky to be called scotch, it has to be a minimum of 3 years old. also, a whisky is aged according to it's youngest whisky. Almost all single malt whisky is a blend of single malts from the same distillery. Single malts blended from various distilleries are called vatted malts, and they've fallen out of favor over the years. A single cask whisky, is whisky from 1 cask, without blending. Anyway, back to age. You can have 24o of 25 year old whisky in a bottle, and 1oz of 3 year old whisky(youngest it can be called scotch), and it hs to be labeled a 3 year old whisky by law. It doesn't matter what the percentages are. It's labeled at the youngest age included. That's why you'll see some very good whiskys not disclose their age. They may have some very young whisky included to make the flavor profile they're looking for, and would give it an unfair stigma if labeled according to age.

Also, older isn't always better. Every whisky has a best age, and some hit that age earlier than others. Age snobbery's silly anyway. Drink what you like. I generally prefer whisky middle aged myself, 12-15 years, with 18yr at my upper range. They tend to be a little sweeter, and a little fuller in mouth feel. I won't turn y nose up at any scotch, but that's my preference :^)

[CoderGuy]

Wow great post lxskllr! Thank you for the great information, it is much appreciated.

I could definitely taste the difference between the Glenmorangie 10yr and 18yr but I have tried some where I couldn't tell between the 18 and 25.

[Frosted]

That totally summed it up
12-15 years is perfect.
Famous Grouse however makes me want to hurl.

[KarlvB]

I would agree that picking a top 2 or even 3 is impossible. I have far too many but there are a few that I am never without:

Lagavulin 16
Old Pulteney 12
Clynelish Distiller's Edition
Ardbeg Corryvreckan (but regular Ardbeg 10 will also do)
Talisker 10 or preferably Talisker, 57' North
Springbank 10 & 18
Coal Ila 12
Longrow CV
Highland Park 12 & 18
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Big Peat (my favourite blended malt)
The Peat Monster (blended malt)
Black Bottle (blend)
Baillie Nichol Jarvie (blend)

I also belong to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society so I get to buy whiskies that aren't readily available

Ultimately, you need to find what you like. Like with snus that is part of the fun.

[lxskllr]

I have a bottle of peat monster in my cabinet somewhere. Maybe I'll pull it out tonight. It's been a couple years since I've had it. I've kind of fallen out with alcohol the last few years. Unlike some, when I get down, or in a bad mood I stay away from alcohol. Not that it negatively affects me or anything... It's just something I prefer for fun times, rather than helping me forget bad times :^)

[gentlemanly]

Gotta put my vote in for Connemera cask strength. Perfect for sipping with a smooth finish and nice kick

[Veganpunk]

I went with Jamesons, only because that is all the liquor store had. It was good though, I drank it NEAT with no problem.

[lxskllr]

Glad you liked it. Try Black Bush next. You should be able to find that at any *decent liquor store.

*Decent being defined as not having check cashing signs in the windows :^D

[Monkey]

I just got a free bottle of.Dewars white label from the.kids moms boyfriend. What am I in for.with.that? Where does it stand?

[lxskllr]

Dewars is pretty good. I like it better than Johnnie Walker Red. It's a rail blend, but drinkable straight.

[Monkey]

Ill try it neat, then with a few drops of water. If I still don't dig it ill throw in some soda. Worse comes to worse my dad will kill the rest of the bottle when he comes to visit in March.

[WickedKitchen]

Add a few drops of Drambuie to that Dewars. Rusty Nail baby!