For the single malt lover

[REASON]

I come across liquor store on on work trip quite a bit. I usually go and check out the local mom/pop shops for dusty bottles at cheap old prices. Some times I strike out, other I hit gold.

What are some of your recent grabs?

Here's a few from the last trip

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/14984991855_a693932e24_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oQb11x)IMG_4940 (https://flic.kr/p/oQb11x) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/14798393158_6ba90489bb_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oxFCHC)IMG_4938 (https://flic.kr/p/oxFCHC) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3923/14798304540_2e4543075b_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oxFbnJ)IMG_4936 (https://flic.kr/p/oxFbnJ) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/14825319773_092fbe147f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oA4D4B)IMG_4928 (https://flic.kr/p/oA4D4B) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14478908537_6d11353fe3_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o4sc56)IMG_4904 (https://flic.kr/p/o4sc56) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr



*Disclaimer if I missed an all read made thread Please accept my apologies

[REASON]

Limited to 5 photos on the post.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/14984980985_cc1310a4e6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oQaWM8)IMG_4941 (https://flic.kr/p/oQaWM8) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/14107801385_9302decd76_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nuEaQV)IMG_4837 (https://flic.kr/p/nuEaQV) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

[The Poet]

Party at Chris' place!

[Brimy623]

Awesome score of some fine libations!!

[Porch Dweller]

Those are some nice grabs!

[TXSmokey]

I've been told the Caol Ila is the best islay scotch there is. Nice grabs

[REASON]

While I do love Caol Ila especially DE, I would have to say Argbeg for me is the best, the Ten is my go to just something about the oily dram I crave. I am a peathead through and through . I do really love almost all the Islay's along with Islands.

[czerbe]

I have had the Caol Ila... YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nutcracker]

Some fantastic aged Islays from here:
http://www.smwsa.com/

Highly recommended. They have a lot of Caol Ila and Laffies bottlings worth checking out!

[REASON]

Not sure being in Canada I could use them for bottles. I am going to poke around now to see . Thanks for link

[nutcracker]

Oh yessir you can! Canadian site is smws.ca
PM me and I can provide details of how to make it work.
(I'm in Winnipeg and have no issue procuring bottles)

[REASON]

You know what after taking a look, I have seen quite a bit of their bottling in Calgary at kensington wine market.

[nutcracker]

The Arbeg looks new. Their Corrywrecken is superb. I'd be interested if this one has the same grip.

That's a great find.

Good show on the Macallans - this is the last of the age statement bottlings for Canada.

[REASON]

Yeah thats why I got a couple these are '93, '94 so they were bottled a couple years a go, not much here in Edmonton that isn't already jacked up in price. The Ardbeg is new from "Ardbeg days" back at the end of May. Corrywrecken was good but I think they have better offerings from the distillery. Cant wait for Supernova's release in about a month, Manitoba is suppose to release it tomorrow FYI.


PM sent as well

[nutcracker]

You know what after taking a look, I have seen quite a bit of their bottling in Calgary at kensington wine market.

Yep - they run SMWS.ca - Andrew Fergusson would be your man. Tastings every first Friday at the store. If you like cask strength and something different....

[Ncpsycho]

Picked up 2 bottles of Macallan whiskey makers edition in the DR -- which is my favorite
And was gifted this bottle of aberfeldy from a buddy

[REASON]

Nice gift, have you has it before?

[REASON]

When and pre-ordered a couple bottles of Supernova and this followed me home.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/15236773936_8782c4bba1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pdqs3U)IMG_4975 (https://flic.kr/p/pdqs3U) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

[Gabe215]

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a588/GabeP215/Mobile%20Uploads/5DBF4851-43AE-4BA3-81AA-60D3BCE1AD93_zpscftosex0.png (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/GabeP215/media/Mobile%20Uploads/5DBF4851-43AE-4BA3-81AA-60D3BCE1AD93_zpscftosex0.png.html)

[nutcracker]

When and pre-ordered a couple bottles of Supernova and this followed me home.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/15236773936_8782c4bba1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pdqs3U)IMG_4975 (https://flic.kr/p/pdqs3U) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

Where did you find that! Kensington is still waiting, and has no price yet. Give it a try - is it bigger than the Corrywrecken?

[RWhisenand]

Cool idea for a thread, my wife surprised me with a bottle of 16 YO Lagavulin, not sure where she found it, I'm not asking too many questions!

[REASON]

Where did you find that! Kensington is still waiting, and has no price yet. Give it a try - is it bigger than the Corrywrecken?

This was last years release, kensington was likely thinking you meant the Supernova at which case will be released here in AB two fridays from now to coincide with the lake louse Ardbeg event sampling the actual juice that was in space.

I find its thick oily in the mouth, smokey with little sweetness. If it was a battle vs the Auriverdes IMO it would lose to the Auriverdes hands down.

[REASON]

Cool idea for a thread, my wife surprised me with a bottle of 16 YO Lagavulin, not sure where she found it, I'm not asking too many questions!

Fine choice I wouldn't ask questions either. Its been probably over a year since I've had any so I'm about ready to get reacquainted with it.

[bimmerguy82]

Damn, jealous of those bottles. Dumb question, but I'll throw it out there. Obviously Scotch gets aged in the casks, but if you were to buy a 12yr bottle of XX and hold onto it for another 10-15 yrs., would that change the flavor at all?

[REASON]

Unopened bottles don't change over time once in the bottle, like say a wine which will keep aging. Now once open it does oxidize and will change the taste, the rule of thumb is 75% full it will keep with little change for yr or so. The low level you get the quicker it will change to a flat tasteless bottle.

[REASON]

Grabbed this guy a week ago.
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15218913319_ca29c7f1c0_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pbQUHe)IMG_4989 (https://flic.kr/p/pbQUHe) by REASON29 (https://www.flickr.com/people/93700479@N02/), on Flickr

[Taki]

Just picked up the following...

Lagavulin 1995 (bottled 2013) Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish - Distillers Edition
Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask
Oban 14 Year

[stearns]

Love that Caribbean cask :dr

[nutcracker]

My latest: A SMWS cask strength 24 year old Laphroiag.

http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag202/neil_berrington/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsgfgtiidy.jpg (http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/neil_berrington/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsgfgtiidy.jpg.html)

[Partagaspete]

I brought a bottle of that Talisker Distillers Edition to Amsterdam for a weekend HERF. it was probably the best Single Malt I have ever had. Loved it so much went to buy somemore in Duty free on my way back home and it was all gone. Love the Lagavulin too!

[hammondc]

educate me on the SMWS. Never heard of this.

[RWhisenand]

We picked out a nice bottle of "Scotch" today. Nikka Whisky Taketsuru Whisky, well at least that's what is written on the label. Dang this stuff tastes like a top shelf Islay! A little more heather and honey than Lagavulan but still a good helping of peat smoke. Would recommend!

[nutcracker]

educate me on the SMWS. Never heard of this.

http://www.smwsa.com

Awesome bottlings of single cask, cask strength. A society that does independent bottlings.

[nutcracker]

We picked out a nice bottle of "Scotch" today. Nikka Whisky Taketsuru Whisky, well at least that's what is written on the label. Dang this stuff tastes like a top shelf Islay! A little more heather and honey than Lagavulan but still a good helping of peat smoke. Would recommend!

Japanese whiskey is really taking off. They are quite pricey up here.

[Porch Dweller]

We picked out a nice bottle of "Scotch" today. Nikka Whisky Taketsuru Whisky, well at least that's what is written on the label. Dang this stuff tastes like a top shelf Islay! A little more heather and honey than Lagavulan but still a good helping of peat smoke. Would recommend!

Was it this?

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8820/17114235745_b5861eed5c_z.jpg


I was surprised to find that in my local liquor store a few weeks back as they don't have that great a selection. It was very good and reasonably priced, too.

[RWhisenand]

Was it this?

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8820/17114235745_b5861eed5c_z.jpg


I was surprised to find that in my local liquor store a few weeks back as they don't have that great a selection. It was very good and reasonably priced, too.

Yes sir, that was it. Like I stated I would recommend this to any malt lover! I'll keep my eyes open for any more Japanese whisky.

[Porch Dweller]

I just finished the bottle two nights ago. Now I have to cross my fingers and hope they got some more in. :)

Technically, though, it's not a single malt as they combine two different 12-year old distillings to make it. I could care less, though, as it is some tasty stuff!

[nutcracker]

My brother is visiting us from S Africa and is a huge Ardbeg fan. We pulled these from the vault for a wee tasting:

http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag202/neil_berrington/image.jpg5_zpshdznjw7l.jpg (http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/neil_berrington/media/image.jpg5_zpshdznjw7l.jpg.html)


The Blasda is the wimp in the group. Only 40% abv and very lightly,pleated, it really lack Ardgeb character. The Corrywrecken and Uidegaal are phenomenal and any Islay fan needs to have both. The new release Perpetuum underwhelms and although 57%abv doesn't reflect much peaty sweetness.

I like my Ardbeg heavy, cask strength and full,bore peat (they usually are around 24ppm).
Even Kato prefers the Uidegaal.

http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag202/neil_berrington/image.jpg6_zpswzdwbm46.jpg (http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/neil_berrington/media/image.jpg6_zpswzdwbm46.jpg.html)

http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag202/neil_berrington/image.jpg1_zpsohujquor.jpg (http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/neil_berrington/media/image.jpg1_zpsohujquor.jpg.html)

[markem]

Oh man but I do love this thread. Ardbeg is truly a gem. Didn't know that they made a little 40%er. I still drool over the first pic - Macallan was a go to for many years.