Re: Scotch Q&A
 

:tpd:

The Bowmore 12 year is excellent.

I also really, really enjoy the Bowmore Legend, best under $30 a bottle single malt I've had so for.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

The other day I randomly mentioned to my wife that I needed to buy some Scotch, the wonderful bride that she is went to the store the next day and found a bottle of McClellands Highland. My first bottle of Scotch. I think that she did a good job! I am resisting the urge to place anything in the glass with the Scotch. so far so good.;)

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I was at a Robbie Burn's day celebration this evening. After a sample of Scottish beer (McEwan's and Innis & Gunn), we had haggis supper and several drams.

Here's what I remember of the list:
Dalmore 12 (sprinkled over the haggis)
Glen Ord 12
Old Pultney 12
Bruichladdich XVII
Laphroaig 10
Aberlour A'bunadh
Bunnahabhain (1991, MacPhail's Collection)
Dailuaine 16

A good time was had by all. :D

Too bad it was too cold for a stogie...

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Great selection. I know this is a Scotch thread but what did you think of Innis and Gunn? I just love this stuff.

I did not get to a Robbie Burns supper because I had to curl last night. Had a McClellan (the only single malt the club has) afterwards in honour of the poet.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I&G is great. A friend introduced it to me last year. Have you had their limited releases of IPA or the one aged in rum barrels? The IPA was great and the rum aged was very different but also good.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I have only had the original oak aged. The rum aged has just been released by the LCBO - I have to get out to buy some. The IPA is not listed by the LCBO so I have not had it.

I have a neighbour who introduced me to I&G a couple of years ago. He won't drink any old beer and I&G is near the top of his list.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Anyone here tried Edradour? Apparently it is available here in the states but who knows where?

Buddy of mine loves the stuff, but I forgot what the name was when I was in the UK. It is apparently the UK's smallest distillery.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Recently I had the hankering for whisky....don't know why, I just did.

I bought my first ever bottle and it was Makers Mark. I was impressed. Started with the famous "oh this is gonna burn going down" and then it turned sweet and creamy. Had it with 3 cubes of ice.


I'll be back for another later this week. :D

Is Anyone familiar Grand Old Parr Deluxe Scotch?
 

I have heard of it many times, and always good things, from what I recall. I know that it's not normally available in the USA. So, I was never able to try it. Anyway, I just won a Sealed Collectible Bottle on eBay, and I should have it within a week or so. Any information about it will be appreciated.

Re: Is Anyone familiar Grand Old Parr Deluxe Scotc
 

Are you talking about Edradour? I know it's from Scotland's smallest distillery, supposedly VERY good.

Re: Is Anyone familiar Grand Old Parr Deluxe Scotc
 

I don't thing so! Here is a link to a picture of a bottle:

http://www.picable.com/Objects/Bottl...-Whisky.305621

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Oh, I see the title on your post now. I'm a numbnuts.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

So I swung by the wine and spirits store after work to grab a bottle. I've been blowing through my bottle of Bowmore Islay Reserve and ended up drinking mostly Chivas for the last week. I was all ready to grab another bottle of of the Reserve or splurge on a bottle of Glenfiddich and I saw some McCelland's. I know it is cheap-o but for $20 a bottle I figured it's gotta be better than Cutty Shark or Dewars. The only delemma was which one - Highland, Lowland or Islay.


Tough decision...

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...9/DSCF5759.jpg


...so I got them all. For $20 a bottle I am not expecting the world. Hopefully at the least I will get a better idea of the difference between each style. So far the Highland is pretty good. Anyone have experence with this distellery?


http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...9/DSCF5761.jpg

Re: Is Anyone familiar Grand Old Parr Deluxe Scotc
 

I did a number of searches on the Grand Old Parr 12yo I mentioned above. I found two reviews by Michael Jackson, one on the 12yo and one on an 18yo. It is a blended scotch from Scotland. This is what he said about it:

Nose: Malty, Very scented, Cake-Like, Linseed.

Palate: Big, Notably firm-bodied. Malty, Cereal grains, Toasted sesame seeds, Demerara sugar and raisins, Honey, There even seems to be a hint of chili in there somewhere.

Finish: Soothing, Long, Developing slight lemon grass and a peatiness.

He scored it an 8.5 out of 10.0 and likes it better than the 18yo. BTW, this comes in one liter bottles!

I am very anxious about winning this. I hope all goes smoothly!

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Well I finished a dram of the McCelland's Highland earlier. (I like mine on the rocks).

Overall it was OK. It was a little sweet and almost syrupy for me. There was some interesting almost cirtusy sweetness to it that was pleasing but I think it was a little too sweet overall. I don't know if that is something that is indicative of Highland scotches. :confused: (Kayaker, maybe you can chime in there)

I just got home from dinner and now I am having a bit of the Islay (same way, rocks). I am enjoying this one a little bit more. It opens up with a big mouthful of salt and finishes very smooth with the medical taste on the finish. It is not as complex as the Bowmore Islay though. :hm

I'll try a bit of the Lowland tomorrow.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I was trying to find out more about the McClelland's line, but my source is out of the country right now. Basically each of these regional malts is a young version from a more popular distillery. For example, I do remember being told that the Islay one is a young Bowmore. The actual age I don't know, but it has to be at least 3 years and is likely younger than 10. But I can't remember what distilleries are used for the other regions.

With regards to highland malts, they tend to be rich and robust. I think about Highland Park and Glenfarclas. I guess they can be considered a little sweet too. However, each region has scotch that may not show itself as a typical example.

One thing I wonder about is whether or not spirit caramel was used in the one you are talking about. It's the only ingredient that is allowed to be added to scotch that is not a necessary part of the process. The caramel adds colour making whisky look richer, but it may also make it sweeter. All the natural colour in Scotch comes from the barrel during the aging process. Therefore a younger whisky would have even less colour naturally and might require more caramel to make it look richer.

I don't know if this is the case here. I will drop by a liquor store to take a look at the bottles myself, and I will see if I can track down my source for more info.

Hope this helps.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I been reading this a bit an decided to give it a try.. NOt much of a drinker.. anymore.. Went out an got a bottle of Glenlivet 18.. not bad at all.. 75 bucks wasnt all that bad.. But where the hell do I go from here... Is there one with alittle more sweetness to it..

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

For something with a very nicely balanced sweetness, on the palate and an intense long finish, try a bottle of Glenfarclas 15yo. It's a Speyside Single Malt, and it will cost you about $45. A wonderful scotch!

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

That is interesting. Like I said I found the McClelland's Islay very similar to the Bowmore Islay, but without as much complexity so it being from the distellery but with less age that definitly adds up.

I guess the addition of caramel is not something that is easy to find out about. For what it's worth I just looked at all three bottles under a light and there are no difference of color that I can see with my eyes. So if they used that caramel to darken the Highland it didn't make a difference that I can see.

I am trying a dram of the Lowland now. Right off the bat there more of a discernable whiskey smell than the Highland or the Islay. There is almost no saltyness and the finish is sweet in the cirtrisy way that I enjoyed with the Highland and much less of the syrpy sweetness that I didn't like. This one is the spiciest of the three as well. I will reserve my final impression until I finish the glass but I would put this one 2nd behind the Islay with the Highland in thrid.

Big help as always thanks Kayaker.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I am rapidly continuing my decent down the Scotch slope. Yesterday, while buying beer for the Super Bowl party (small gathering really) I hosted, I couldn't help myself and perused the Scotch isle. Walking down that isle without buying something would be akin to going to a B&M and not buying a cigar. So, of course another bottle was added to my collection. I went with a bottle of Talisker. I haven't broken the seal yet, but its day is coming! :D

That brings my rapidly increasing Scotch collection to:

Glenfiddich 12
Ardbeg 10
Talisker 10
Highland Park 12
Bruichladdich "The Rocks"

Fun....except for my wallet! :D

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

These are great. How is the Bruichladdich? I like a lot of what they do, but have not had that one.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Out of the five I have, it is probably my least favorite. Kind of salty sweet in a strange way.

The aforementioned "Scotch guy" where I shop recommended it. I told him I was looking for something good for someone who was starting out that wouldn't break the bank. He recommended Bunnahabhain 12 yr to me before (which I enjoyed) so I had hoped he had another winner for me, but not so much. For the most part, his recommendations have been more off than on so I stopped asking him. You guys seem much better at it! :D :D

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I have decided to clean out some of my Scotch stash, as I will never be able to dink them all in my life time, and I am always looking to try new to me Scotches as well!

I have the following for sale. PM me if you have any interest.

I’ll be happy to post additional pictures if requested.

Springbank CV – 750ml Campletown Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% alc/vol

This is a limited bottling, and is referred to as the Gold Cap Bottling. There was a previous bottling, known as the White Cap Bottling. I purchased a six bottle case of this in 1999. The following is the only review I could find.
When you can find it (very hard to find), it sells for $65 retail.

My price is also $65. However, my price includes insured S&H via USPS, within the Con. USA. I prefer payment via Money Order. I can also accept an online payment. Please add 3.5%, if paying online.

Springbank C.V. (46%, OB, golden cap, CV on the sides, circa 2000) Color: white wine (much paler than the ‘white cap’). Nose: this one starts a little more spirit and less mature than the white cap, with much more grainy and fruity notes (apples, pears) and much less minerals or smoke. There are also notes of wet cardboard, soaked grains, very light coffee, apple juice... But the notes of raw wool are here again. Not exactly the same class as the older version I think, even if both start to converge after a good fifteen minutes. Mouth: this is very different again. Big notes of pear spirit, figs, crystallized lemon zests, smoked fish... And then more and more pear spirit. Pears and kippers? Yes, it’s very unusual whisky I think, I can’t think of any other whisky that tasted like this CV. Finish: longer than the white cap’s, very bold in fact, with these interesting notes of ‘apple juice-soaked kippers’ (sorry about this weird mental image) and a slight dustiness, plus something oddly metallic.

Bowmore Claret Bordeaux Wine Casked – 750ml Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 56% alc/vol

This is a very Limited Edition. This bottle is numbered No. 2706. I purchased several bottles of this in 1998. I was able to locate two online reviews, shown below:

This is extremely rare and very, very hard to find. It is basically impossible to find in the USA, however, some vendors in Europe advertise it at 150uro to 180uro. However, if you check it out, it is almost always out of stock. Today 150uro was equal to $194 US and 180uro was equal to $240 US.

My price is $180. My price includes insured S&H via USPS within the Con USA.I prefer payment via Money Order. I can also accept an online payment. Please add 3.5%, if paying online.

Tasting Notes:
Michael Jackson - Rated it a 9 out of a possible 10

Nose
Very big in both departments. Lots of recognizably claret-like fruit-and-cedar notes-and a powerful response from Bowmore smokiness.

Palate
Bowmore beats Bordeaux.

Finish
Toffeeish (more port-like) fruit fights back convincingly. Oak keeps the contestants apart. Finally a salty battle is won by the distillery character. Comment: The fighter beat the boxer, but it was a wonderfully enjoyable contest.

Doug McIvor - Rated it a 9 out of a possible 10

Nose
Intensely perfumed, ripe summer fruits, bubble gum and honey melon? Evolving to show base notes of peat and more concentrated fruits.

Palate
Delicate to medium bodied. A gentle oiliness carries initial bursts of fruit to drier complexities.

Finish
Teasing, lingering, quite feminine until that Islay smoke kicks in. Comment: A very elaborate malt which enhances Bowmore's association with perfume. Good enough to wear!

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Those look great. A couple of nice picks for someone. :tu

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Not really a question, but what a tasting I just had.

First was a special (at least different) bottling of Glen Ord, that was given to Andrew (the host) by his mother, for his 30th B-Day. She used to work at the distillery and he pretty much grew up there.

Then we had some Glenturret from an independent bottler. 13 yo I belive.

Then came the Glenfiddich 18 and 21, and the Glen Garioch 15 and 21.

Next we had Bruichladdich 14 (regular) and Bruichy 14 (aged in French Oak that contained Italian wine).

Finally we finished up with two IBs of Bunnahabain, 15 yrs and 31 yrs.

The store had to close before we got to the 2 Highland Parks (15 yr and an 16 yr IB). :(

In any case, a good time was had by all and it's taken me an hour to write this post because I am a little drunk.

Did I mention the Innis & Gunn and the pint I chugged after the tasting?

Glad I don't have to work in the AM.:D

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Wow that is quite the line up! How ya feeling today?

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

A little slow today, but not bad considering.

Breakfast and a good cuppa joe will help.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Here are a few to consider:

Aberlour 12yo Sherry Cask Matured
The Balvenie 10yo Founders Reserve
The Balvenie 12yo Double Wood
Teachers Highland Cream
Cragganmore 12yo
Highland Park 12yo
Highland Park 18yo

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

The Balvenie 12yo Double Wood
Cragganmore 12yo

I can speak to these and I think both are a solid bodied, full flavor drink the
Double wood is the mellower. I'm all about the mellow.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

My dad likes scotch, but sticks to what he calls the smoother stuff.

Dalwhinnie, Glenchinkie and Scapa are what he favours. You might also want to try Glen Ord.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I picked this up today after some recommendations.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4491/thedalwhinnie.jpg

Any input, Ian? :D

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

:dr:dr:dr:dr:dr

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Bringing this thread back to the forefront...

After my initial head first dive into the Scotch realm, I leveled off and figured I'd buy a bottle to replace an empty. Having finished off the highly recommended Ardbeg 10yo (thank you for the recommendation gents!), I decided to replace an Islay with an Islay and went with the Laphroaig 10yo. I'm anxious to see what I think of it.

Current Single Malt Inventory (hasn't changed much):
Glenfiddich 12
Laphroaig 10
Talisker 10
Highland Park 12
Bruichladdich "The Rocks"

And kayaker, if you see this, I was pleasantly surprised with the Bruichladdich the last time I had it. Previously I said it was the least favorite of my stock, but after having it again I want to rescind that statement. It may have just been the evening I had it, but I found it almost refreshing, surprisingly so!

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I like the Laphroaig 10yo....but I found that I definitely need to add some water to it. Bowmore is another good one to try. I prefer it over Laphroaig 10yo. Any try the more aged Laphroaig? Liked them?

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Glad you enjoyed it. I find it's always a good idea to give a whisky more than one chance. Our palates can easily change so what tastes good now, may not taste so great later. Or vice-versa.:tu

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Was at a cigar event last night and they were also providing samples of Glenmorangie scotch. I enjoyed the Lasanta, Quinta Ruban, and all Nector d'Or. These were aged for 10 years in bourbon barrels and then finished for two years in different barrels. The Quinta Ruban has a port finish, the Lasanta has a sherry finish and the Nector d'Or has a sauterne finish.

I also sampled two new scotches from Glenmorangie. The newest is the Astar which is an 18 year old, 100 proof, which is just being introduced in the U.S. (at least that's what we were told) and Glenmorangie Signet. I think he said the Signet was 25 years old but I sort of tuned out when he said, "$179 a bottle." I did find both of these to be exceptional.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

grate idea for a thread. I love scotch.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I picked up a bottle of Auchentoshan Single Malt Select last week.

I've had a couple drams so far, some rocks and some neat. It has a sweetness that I really enjoy, more fruity than syrupy with a little honey thrown in. Very little saltiness or medicinal taste.

I am really enjoying it and at around $30 a bottle the price is right. This is a great counter balance to my other go-to cheapie, Bowmore Islay Legend.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

So I finally went out and picked up some Old Pulteney.

For a $45 bottle of scotch, I was throughly impressed. I got it after the recommendation for a more salty scotch. It has a saltyness to it, but not as much as I would like to see. It had more of a fruit taste. The mouth feel and aftertaste were spot on. If it had a tad more salty or smokey taste, this one could easily beat out Lagavulin or another higher end Scotch. As it is, for $45 you really can't beat it imo.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I bought a bottle of Glenlivet 15 to try out some scotch, its ok, I didn't really like it at first, but now being more than halfway through the bottle I believe I've overcome the taste acquisition for scotch. I'll be reading through this thread for suggestions, and posting up what I think of the scotches I try as I go along.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I tried some Macallan 12 yesterday, it has a nice not over powering smokey flavor and I also got quite a bit of dark cherry flavor as well. Nothing great, but I might add a bottle to my rotation if I think about it when shopping.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I am really a big fan of the Macallan 12. I think it has some very good flavors. I can see where you are coming from with the dark cherry flavor. I normally associate it with citrus, but I can see that. If you like the Macallan, I'd also recommend you try Balvenie Doublewood 12 yr. At least to my relatively uneducated palate, I find it to taste similarly to the Macallan and it is a few bucks cheaper.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Which Macallan 12yr? They have a sherry and oak cast variety.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

My post referred to the sherry. I've never had the oak.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I just about killed my Glenlivet 15 this week. I'm hooked on scotch now. Went out and bought a bottle of Jura 10. It has a very unique aroma that I can't quite place. Also a unique taste. Quite enjoyable for being as young as it is. I'll have to track down Jura Superstition which I've read about here a bit and see how that is as well.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Oak cask.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Yeah the sherry cask does not seem to have hardly any smokey taste to it. That's why I asked. I have yet to try the Oak cask, but it's on the list.

On another note to the above poster, Jura is consistantly winning awards for young scotches. They have a 5 year that blows a lot of 20+ yr scotches away.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

I love my Jura 10. I need to hunt down some Superstition to see how that is in comparison.

Re: Scotch Q&A
 

Well someone had some Glenlivet 12 at a poker game I was at so I had to give it a try. :tu This will be one of the next bottles I purchase. Not much on peat and this tastes like a great place to start.