Single malt Scotch (Islay) afficionados

[Green_Manelishi]

At the time, my first glass of Lagavulin wasn't exactly an experience that I'd like to repeat... :11:

But you did, did you not?

Man, then I must be different 'cuz for me it was love at first sip. Same with Laphroiag.
Perhaps because I'd done some reading and expected it to be full of character.

 

[M_Bipartitus]

While we're on the topic, Any ever try the really old stuff, like pre-WW2? There is a shop I know of that has a late 1930's bottle of Macallen (~$3k.)

 

[El Orans]

But you did, did you not?

That glass of Lagavulin was my 3rd glass ever. I had one a few years later...

 

[boulderjohn]

While we're on the topic, Any ever try the really old stuff, like pre-WW2? There is a shop I know of that has a late 1930's bottle of Macallen (~$3k.)

I don't even know anyone who could afford that!

 

[D_O_H]

While we're on the topic, Any ever try the really old stuff, like pre-WW2? There is a shop I know of that has a late 1930's bottle of Macallen (~$3k.)

I go to the Whiskies of the World expo here in SF every year. The first year I went (maybe 5 years ago?), I went to a talk put on by Macallan about the old scotch they were about to put on the market. They poured five bottles of scotch for the 30 or so of us in attendance. The oldest was 1937 and the newest was from the 60's.

They were all really interesting scotches, though a few had pretty overpowering wood flavors due to the amount of time they spent in the cask. My favorite was the '37 - not only because it was delicious but because it was so cool to be drinking something that was made so long ago when the world was such a different place. I had budgeted $500 to buy a bottle of scotch at the expo and was praying the '37 was going to be somewhere in my price range. It wasn't.

Anyway, bottom line is the really old stuff is neat to drink for the sake of tasting it once or twice but does not have a lot of the characteristics I've grown to love in scotch due to the amount of time it has had to interact with its cask. Even if I could afford to drink the really old stuff on a regular basis, I'd still stick with stuff that's 25 years old or younger.

 

[H2Andy]

so... beginner's question:

the only single malt i've drank is Dalwhinnie (15 years)

how's that for an introduction? any recommendations for the next one?

 

[TSandM]

Well, I have some advice . . . if you want to drink Laphroaig but not injure your pocketbook, just go get some Betadine at a medical supply store. Tastes the same

I'll take the Balvenie Doublewood (12 yo), although we also go through a fair amount of Bowmore. But I'll take Woodford Reserve or Knob Creek over either one of them!

 

[H2Andy]

nice! thanks for the advice... as to this:

if you want to drink Laphroaig but not injure your pocketbook, just go get some Betadine at a medical supply store. Tastes the same

i fear your advice may be somewhat tardy... as... my sister has bought me
a bottle of Laphroaig which is en route even as i type...

:11doh:

 

[Green_Manelishi]

Well, I have some advice . . . if you want to drink Laphroaig but not injure your pocketbook, just go get some Betadine at a medical supply store. Tastes the same {/b]

I'll take the Balvenie Doublewood (12 yo), although we also go through a fair amount of Bowmore. But I'll take Woodford Reserve or Knob Creek over either one of them!

Funny you should mention that; during prohibition Laphraoig was legally imported because it was so "medicinal" in taste it was assumed noone would drink it for enjoyment. I love it. I even "own" a square foot of the distillery.

Bowmore did not strike me as particularly daring.

 

[H2Andy]

what ya think about Dalwhinnie, Green?