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OT: Scotch thread

This stuff is crazy good. Not terrible price wise either. Hours later I still tasted it on my palate. Its rich, honeyed, some fruit notes, typical sherry blast, some tannins. Just an all around great pour.




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I took a $40 flyer on a bottle of Islay Single Malt Whisky from Costco's brand, Kirkland. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it came off thick and peaty much like a young Laphroaig. Very in your face with all the things Islay is famous for, (smoke, tar, iodine, brine) and faint hint of vanilla from the oak casks. Rumors abound at what Alexander Murray bottled for Costco, but most point to a Port Charlotte. Bottled at 50% which is nice too. I would pay the extra $10 and get this over the Lagavulin 9 House Lannister I've been buying for $30.
I happened into Costco with Warden yesterday and the Kirkland Islay Single Malt was back in stock and a few bucks cheaper at $36. She said "Should you get two?" I didn't need to be asked twice.
 
Anyone try Laphroaig 16 yet? Saw this for the first time yesterday. The original 15 was a sweet spot for Laph. The perfect amount of mellowing. Still had some of the edge that the 10 had but rounded out really well.

I didn’t care for the 18 or the special release 15 a few years back. The 16 was listed at $120 which makes me sad when I think that I used to pay $60 for the 15 back in the day.
 
Anyone try Laphroaig 16 yet? Saw this for the first time yesterday. The original 15 was a sweet spot for Laph. The perfect amount of mellowing. Still had some of the edge that the 10 had but rounded out really well.

I didn’t care for the 18 or the special release 15 a few years back. The 16 was listed at $120 which makes me sad when I think that I used to pay $60 for the 15 back in the day.
The 10 is $60 now. Haven't tried the 16, but the Warehouse 1 Cairdeas is quite nice.
 
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The 10 is $60 now. Haven't tried the 16, but the Warehouse 1 Cairdeas is quite nice.
I saw the Cairdeas right next to the 16 at $120 as well.

The 10 was $29.99 when I started drinking it back in the mid-90s. My in-laws bought me a bottle of 30 for my 40th birthday in 2009 for $199. Now it's over a grand if you can find it.
 
I saw the Cairdeas right next to the 16 at $120 as well.

The 10 was $29.99 when I started drinking it back in the mid-90s. My in-laws bought me a bottle of 30 for my 40th birthday in 2009 for $199. Now it's over a grand if you can find it.
Prices are nuts. I still see Cairdeas at $99, sometimes $89 or less. $120 is Lagavulin 12 money. Where are you located? Laphroaig 16 is $110 at my local.

Has anybody had the Lagavulin Offerman 11 year?
 
Prices are nuts. I still see Cairdeas at $99, sometimes $89 or less. $120 is Lagavulin 12 money. Where are you located? Laphroaig 16 is $110 at my local.

Has anybody had the Lagavulin Offerman 11 year?
Yeah, nuts is right. Between booze and cigars, I feel like I'm getting priced out of all my vices. I'm in Farmington, CT.
 
Anyone enjoy Tomatin 12? I was chatting up a bartender in Watertown about Scotch and he said "You gotta try this!" and gave me a free pour. It was impressive and only a $40 bottle. Speysides aren't usually my cup of tea but I enjoyed it enough to drink another one.
 
Anyone enjoy Tomatin 12? I was chatting up a bartender in Watertown about Scotch and he said "You gotta try this!" and gave me a free pour. It was impressive and only a $40 bottle. Speysides aren't usually my cup of tea but I enjoyed it enough to drink another one.
I like it. It's a rare funky Speyside, more of a "dirty" distillation. The 14 is better and only a little more money.
 
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Really delicious one for the SE market. Bit of water and the mist comes out in a big way, and boy does it open up. First time I have had a madeira finish and I look forward to some others with that as a feature.


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So I was at Trader Joe's because a friend said their English Muffins were excellent (they are) and I needed a cheap non-peated Scotch. So I grabbed the 8 Year old Speyside. There was a NAS Highland Rum Cask as well. It was $27 and 40%. Overall, it's perfectly fine for what it is. I get some prominent honey notes.

Picture is not mine.

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So I was at Trader Joe's because a friend said their English Muffins were excellent (they are) and I needed a cheap non-peated Scotch. So I grabbed the 8 Year old Speyside. There was a NAS Highland Rum Cask as well. It was $27 and 40%. Overall, it's perfectly fine for what it is. I get some prominent honey notes.

Picture is not mine.

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$27 for an 8 year old single malt sounds excellent, and I'm a big fan of TJ's products, but I have to respectfully disagree on the English Muffins.
 
This has been open for a bit and is now a blast of berries on first contact. Blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, just tons of fruit forward. Small amount of water and its a completely different dram. It always amazes me that these Scots can take one cereal grain and do all these different things with it.

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From skye brought here for my wedding from Scotland to fill our quaith during ceremony, although I’m sure you can get here. Anyway it’s lightly peated and just fantastic.


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From skye brought here for my wedding from Scotland to fill our quaith during ceremony, although I’m sure you can get here. Anyway it’s lightly peated and just fantastic.


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From what I can tell, you can’t get it here yet. From Isle of Raasay. Pretty new. I think Talisker is still the only distillery on Skye. Sounds like the profile is similar. Enjoy!
 
Anyone enjoy Tomatin 12? I was chatting up a bartender in Watertown about Scotch and he said "You gotta try this!" and gave me a free pour. It was impressive and only a $40 bottle. Speysides aren't usually my cup of tea but I enjoyed it enough to drink another one.
We went back to 88 Keys in Watertown last weekend. Ordered a Laphroaig 10, neat and got a four finger pour from the same bartender. "Gotta take care of my 'Peat' guys!"

I finished the night with a Kavalan Select (Taiwan) which was very nice. He also told me about a French single malt called Rozelieures Smoked that he said was fantastic for a peat lover. Wise Old Dog has it on their website, so I'm going to go check it out.
 
Amazing whiskey bar in Killarney. I had three pours. Kilkerran 10, a Dingle Single a malt and another 12 year Irish in PX casks. Was with a rather wealthy person who appreciated it, got some good stuff and paid the bill.

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In my quest for good whisk(e)y from odd places, I bought a bottle of the M&H Elements Sherry Cask Finish. This whisky from Tel Aviv, Israel won World's Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.


I bought a bottle of their entry level "Classic" version and I really liked it. Sad to say that I did not care for the Sherry Cask version.

I tried it neat and found it extremely boozy for a 43% whisky and had none of the roundedness I expect from a Sherry finish. Halfway through I added a dollop of water which took some of the boozy edge off but didn't open it up like I hoped it would. Not going to give up on it though and will give it another whirl. Maybe a bad palate day or something.
 
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So I finished off my independent bottling of Tobermory (trash day tomorrow). Fantastic stuff. Looking for one more half glass of something I grab a “mystery” sample I’ve had for like 18 months. Jet Fuel. There’s only one thing that tastes and smells like Jet Fuel and that is Caroni Rum. I assume that’s what it is but I can’t be sure. Rare and expensive stuff considering it’s mostly unpleasant.
 
I was lucky enough to get a sample of Bruichladdich Black Arts 11.1, what an amazing pour. Its $600 in my market though, and no where near worth that. Still cool to try something that unique.
 
I was lucky enough to get a sample of Bruichladdich Black Arts 11.1, what an amazing pour. Its $600 in my market though, and no where near worth that. Still cool to try something that unique.
I've had a few Black Arts at some Loch & Key tasting events. Amazing stuff. Some of the other rare Bruichladdich too. None of it is worth the price. Still it's a lot less than that in Massachusetts.
 
I've had a few Black Arts at some Loch & Key tasting events. Amazing stuff. Some of the other rare Bruichladdich too. None of it is worth the price. Still it's a lot less than that in Massachusetts.

The fella who gave me this sample paid around $400 I think. I would at least consider it at that price, but not at $600.00.
 
The fella who gave me this sample paid around $400 I think. I would at least consider it at that price, but not at $600.00.
Well I'm out of touch. These used to be in the $350 range and are now twice that.

Have you had any of the rare cask series? I don't think they still release them. Here's my review of one of them. Now I'm looking at some of my embarrassing old reviews.
 
Well I'm out of touch. These used to be in the $350 range and are now twice that.

Have you had any of the rare cask series? I don't think they still release them. Here's my review of one of them. Now I'm looking at some of my embarrassing old reviews.
Not one I have ever spotted in the wild. My market is all bourbon all the time. Its tough being a scotch guy here.
 
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