Scotch

[Ramirez]

Any Scotch drinkers on the board? Usually my tradition is to buy a good Scotch around Christmas and on Christmas Eve when the presents are all wrapped, all the running around etc. is done, sit back and have a couple of Scotches, it also helps to soothe my frugal soul on the amount of money I have spent.

It used to be Glenfiddich, then it was Lagavulin , for the last few years it's been Balvenie. I am looking to switch this year (single malts please) , any suggestions?

[David Craik]

Have you tried Glenmorangie 18 year? I love it.

[Ramirez]

Have you tried Glenmorangie 18 year? I love it.

that's available at the provincial liquor store......I'll try it this year!

[Ramirez]

here are the tasting notes on it.

Tasting Note
Bronze gold colour; floral, pears & peaches with vanilla oak aroma; peaches and ginger flavour with a light peat note; delicate style but flavourful

Serving Suggestion
Neat; with smoked salmon

woo hoo! the wife loves smoked salmon....this will work out well.

[TonyU]

http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?14730-Your-favorite-adult-beverage...&highlight=Lagavulin

[Harlan]

My favorite is MaCallan, but also enjoy: Cragganmore, Oban and The Glenlivet.

[Abbax8]

My wallet has prevented me from trying many a Scotch that I have eyed. Glenlivet is a one I have drank more than a few times and really enjoyed.

Dennis

[DragonMind]

Another vote for Glenlivet.

[Ramirez]

My favorite is MaCallan, but also enjoy: Cragganmore, Oban and The Glenlivet.

Forgot about Oban, that was also one of my regulars.

[Abbax8]

And while not a scotch I do also like Jameson's Irish Whiskey.

Dennis

[Neil Yamamoto]

Few suggestions, based on what seems like a preference for Highland Malts.

Budget single malts
Speyburn, either the 10 year old, about $26 or the Bradan Orach, $20.

The Bradan Orach is light, clean, notes of orange and lemon, honey and just a bit of herbal grassy bitterness in the background to balance. Same to the tastebuds. Finish is medium and warm, a hint of bite. Good on the rocks or neat. Makes a great mixer for a scotch coffee. Double shot, add some honey or brown sugar, and heavy cream.

The 10 year old is deeper, more oak and some vanilla added to the fruit. Finish is medium with more fruit and a hint of herbal mineral background. Not a lot of depth, but easy to drink and a great day to day single malt.

Tomatin 10 year old, $30
Nothing about this whisky is notable, except for how fast the bottle disappears. Pretty standard highland, some smoke, vanilla, honey, grassy brittleness. But one of the easiest to drink whiskies I've ever had.

Step up choices:
Aberfeldy 12 year old, about $50 depending on where you live.
This has a nice amount of peat, balanced with honey and some floral grassy notes to the nose, no bite. More of the same in the mouth, with a nice coat your mouth oiliness. Some more honey and a dry tobacco herbal notes in the finish.

Abelour Abunadh, about $60
This is cask strength, about 120 proof, so it needs to be watered down unless you are like me and can take it neat. Not recommended neat for most people. Works really well with about 50% hot water.

Nose is chocolate and vanilla, some wood notes and peat balance it out, with some bite to the nose. The mouth is heavy, lots of cocoa, berries, cherries, balanced with some dry peat smoke notes. Finish is long, really long, warming, with some spice and anise, with more chocolate and just a bit of bite. This is a kick your butt and in your face whisky.

Glenfarclas 105 cask strength, about $60
Like the Abelour, works well with hot water. Another "smack you in the face" whisky, but it has much more sherry and oak in the nose, almost too much sherry, but it is balanced by some peat and spice. Mouth is heavy and taste is like the nose, with some sherry notes, vanilla, and oak coming out. Finish is long, a bit hot, with more spice and smoke. If you like the old Macallan, before the "fine oak finish" bottling, you will like this one.

Slainte!

[Jay Bell]

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/e6BESCC_ykH7_J1eJn_FCuG0EbimcDgjEw32ZNvT5CM?feat=e mbedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_QqexhTbmV9I/TOnJPgvoEvI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/4P_IjAu256U/s144/IMAG0070.jpg" height="96" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/daimudan/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCInHjvaJodLcpQE&feat=embedwebsite">Drop Box</a></td></tr></table>

[Vagabond]

Big fan of scotch. I keep mixing up the name of the brand, but it was a lovely smoked Scotch I tried at a whiskey tasting during the Highland games in Pleasanton. What I would suggest is trying to go to a highland games if you can, where many people have different types of Scotch and Whiskey. Also look at http://www.whiskylive.com/ and see if they have any events in your area. Many different types of whiskeys and scotch with a lot of information.

[Cdnronin]

Mark, many good suggestions for a Christmas dram. If you are considering going to a whiskey tasting, might I suggest the Spirit of Toronto? http://www.spiritoftoronto.ca/ 100+ whiskey to try, great food, live music, and it is organized and arranged by my brother.

[Jon-Bhoy]

Talisker..but its VERY smoky. Its good to have around if you are caught in the rain/snow..or if you are not. :)

Its like being in a room with a peat fire.

[Ramirez]

Mark, many good suggestions for a Christmas dram. If you are considering going to a whiskey tasting, might I suggest the Spirit of Toronto? http://www.spiritoftoronto.ca/ 100+ whiskey to try, great food, live music, and it is organized and arranged by my brother.


that sounds interesting Chris, the website is down now though.