What SCOTCH are you drinking?

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

This has been a whisky-centric few weeks for me, and I've had the opportunity to drink more world class scotch than I ever dreamed I might. In the midst of all the great and rare, though, I took note of a very modest bottle - the Clynelish 14 Year.

I have always liked Clynelish, but have had mostly independent bottlings. For an entry level distillery release, I found the 14 year to be very drinkable, balanced and interesting enough to have a second glass. Not terribly powerful or complex, and not my usual high-test by any means, but an easy whisky to enjoy under the right circumstances. Clynelish is one to watch, as it gets its new distillery finished and Brora comes back online.

[Craig G]

I like that Clynelish 14 quite a bit. I was introduced to it by a whisky bar owner in Taiwan who has a great Scotch selection. Many reviews say it has a characteristic aroma of wax, and that seems to ring true (in a good way, of course ).

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

I like that Clynelish 14 quite a bit. I was introduced to it by a whisky bar owner in Taiwan who has a great Scotch selection. Many reviews say it has a characteristic aroma of wax, and that seems to ring true (in a good way, of course ).

Yes, the waxy characteristic is a hallmark of the distillery. They say they are not at all sure where it comes from, but when they did their rebuilding, they kept as much as they could original and the things they needed to replace stayed exactly the same as the old so as not to risk losing it. They also don't scrub out their stills for the same reason. Who knows if it's all just to contribute to the mystic, it's s nice story.

[ERPark]

Scored this recently.

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[A Moore]

Wemyss The Viceroy’s Elixir 1987 Bunnahabhain 29 Years


Going to be sad when this is gone.

[Mike Grammer]

Some updates--just general impressions. All these generously provided by Berto Dorta.

Glendronach 1992 (25 year). I think distillery bottling. Absolutely tremendous, all the balance and flow that I love in the regular but intensity kicked up a notch. Profound

Laphroaig 25 year. Again, believe a distillery bottle. Definitely the best Frog I've ever had. A powerhouse but so much flavour and character behind it, it keeps talking--and a lot more than just peat and smoke--long after the sip has glided down your throat. Amazing

Ardbeg Supernova. I liked this, the Ardbegger's Ardbeg, with lots of smoke, leather, peat and only small accents of heather and fruit. Very solid.

Lagavulin Offerman 11 year. Berto loves this bottling, calling it his fave Laggy. I'm not as convinced--while there is fine complexity and some fruit, spice and toffee notes interweaving with the Islay salt, iodine and peat, the whole is just a little too far off the characteristic aroma and flavour I look for from this distillery. Would perhaps like to try again sometime, as it was up against stiff competition on this night.

[Jay $$ Winton]

Bought a bottle of Knockando 18 in Barcelona. This used to be a favorite but it doesn't seem to be in the US anymore. I thought 59 euros a good price.

[Len Stevens]

These are currently the offerings at my neighborhood Costco...any thoughts or experiences?

Balvenie 17 yo $149.99
Glenmorangie 18 yo $99.99
Aberfeldy 16 yo $79.99
The Macallan 12 yo triple cask $59.99
JW Blue 155.99

Even though I live in Bourbon country, my love and passion is wine. When I'm in the mood for spirits, I very much enjoy Scotch...my faves are 18 yo Macallan and I adore Compass Box The Flaming Heart. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

[Edward H. Earles]

These are currently the offerings at my neighborhood Costco...any thoughts or experiences?

Balvenie 17 yo $149.99
Glenmorangie 18 yo $99.99
Aberfeldy 16 yo $79.99
The Macallan 12 yo triple cask $59.99
JW Blue 155.99

Even though I live in Bourbon country, my love and passion is wine. When I'm in the mood for spirits, I very much enjoy Scotch...my faves are 18 yo Macallan and I adore Compass Box The Flaming Heart. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Which Costco is that? I haven't seen any of those at the Costco in Lexington.

[Len Stevens]

Louisville-Bardstown Road

[Sanjay Nandurkar]

Has anyone tried the new Longrow Sherry? Want to see if it suffers from sulphur that some of their bottlings seem to have

Tried the 14 year old expression recently. Sherry cask matured. ABV 57.8%. It shows the sulphur. Even after it has been open and had time to breathe over the past month the sulphur is noticeable.

[Sanjay Nandurkar]

Bought a bottle of Knockando 18 in Barcelona. This used to be a favorite but it doesn't seem to be in the US anymore. I thought 59 euros a good price.

I had the Knockando 18 recently. ABV 43% . Aust Dollars $119. Its inexpensive for a 18 year old ( cf Highland Park, Laphroaig etc). Its easy drinking. Nice scotch. Does not have the intensity of the top distillers but well rounded and flavoursome.

[Sanjay Nandurkar]

Some updates--just general impressions. All these generously provided by Berto Dorta.

Laphroaig 25 year. Again, believe a distillery bottle. Definitely the best Frog I've ever had. A powerhouse but so much flavour and character behind it, it keeps talking--and a lot more than just peat and smoke--long after the sip has glided down your throat. Amazing

Finished two bottles in the past 6 months. One of the finest whisky I have ever had. The peat influence is reduced compared with the 10yr or 18 yr or the Lore. It has mind boggling complexity and the mouth feel is exquisite and the flavours linger on for a very long time. Expensive but really worth it.

[Sanjay Nandurkar]

I like that Clynelish 14 quite a bit. I was introduced to it by a whisky bar owner in Taiwan who has a great Scotch selection. Many reviews say it has a characteristic aroma of wax, and that seems to ring true (in a good way, of course ).

I like its unique flavour profile. tasted it for the first time last year in a bar in Edinburgh. Prompted me to buy a few bottles after coming to Australia. Nice contrasting style to the other whisky I have have in my cellar.

The other 14 year old bottling I like is the Oban. Visited the distillery in June this year. Very nice. Tried the 21 year old bottling at the distillery. Good but not worth the price.

[JulianD]

Looks like next years Laphroaig Cairdeas is going to be Port/bourbon, finished in wine. Pretty excited

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

Looks like next years Laphroaig Cairdeas is going to be Port/bourbon, finished in wine. Pretty excited

Just the opposite here - that sounds like a hard pass for me.

[JulianD]

Looks like next years Laphroaig Cairdeas is going to be Port/bourbon, finished in wine. Pretty excited

Just the opposite here - that sounds like a hard pass for me.

Not a fan of the sweeter casks?

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

Looks like next years Laphroaig Cairdeas is going to be Port/bourbon, finished in wine. Pretty excited

Just the opposite here - that sounds like a hard pass for me.

Not a fan of the sweeter casks?

Bourbon cask is fine for me. Port and wine? Rarely to my taste. There's way too much cask treatment silliness going on at the distilleries these days. In my opinion, it's trying to distract consumers from the fact that, in many cases, the whisky isn't as good, the casks are low quality, and there are fewer age statement bottlings.

[Mike Grammer]

Somewhere in between the two of you. I'll enjoy a Port or Sauternes casking if it matches well with what was in the cask. I enjoyed Arran's Port casking and the Glendronach Sauternes caskings quite a bit while finding e.g. Glenmorangie port cask kinda boring. I do worry/wonder if Laphroaig and port cask is a Frankenstein in the making. But if you have it, Julian, do report back!

[M.Kaplan]

I’m firmly in the same camp as Sarah. Multi casting is too often a (failed) attempt to make a poor whisky salable.

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

It’s sort of a polarizing issue. Good example of this is kavalan’s offerings, most notably the sherry fino and px. I love them but I can see why someone would not.

[JulianD]

I do worry/wonder if Laphroaig and port cask is a Frankenstein in the making. But if you have it, Julian, do report back!

To be fair, they do have experience in the area (the '13 Cairdeas was a portwood, and was pretty well received).

I liked their Fino (the '18 version) as well.

[M.Kaplan]

The only Cairdeas that I liked enough to buy in quantity was the 200th anniversary version released in 2015. 100% Laphroaig’s own floor maltings and my favorite Laphroaig since Laphroaig 21.

[Curtis Chen]

It’s sort of a polarizing issue. Good example of this is kavalan’s offerings, most notably the sherry fino and px. I love them but I can see why someone would not.

The Taiwanese in me will always love Kavalan :p

[Andrew Coll]

Family favorite of the whiskey pours during the holidays was Glenmorangie 14 Year Quinta Ruban. Not a rare or hard to find bottle and a crowd pleaser for sipping or cocktails.

[LMD Ermitaño]

I’m not “geeky” into Scotch whisky; but do drink it regularly (as does my eldest son, who is also fond of Irish whisky). These are staples at home for “everyday” drinking. I consider both depicted Aberlours great value for money.

[LMD Ermitaño]

These were two special ones from the past year: the Macallan 25 (1968, bottled 1994) was from my father (purchased sometime in the late ‘90s, he still has a couple left); and, the Strathisla (1972, bottled 2012) was shared with me by a longtime drinking buddy.

[Terry H a r r i s]

The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve.jpg

Not personally a Scotch drinker, but I keep it around for some very good friends and my son-in-law. Picked up a bottle of The Dalmore "Port Wood" Reserve the other day and they just loved the stuff.

[Edward H. Earles]

The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve.jpgNot personally a Scotch drinker, but I keep it around for some very good friends and my son-in-law. Picked up a bottle of The Dalmore "Port Wood" Reserve the other day and they just loved the stuff.

I wish I had friends who kept Dalmore around just for me.

[LMD Ermitaño]

Finally finishing off this Macallan Enigma that, out of curiosity, I picked up at the Duty Free Shop in Bangkok this past July 2019. It’s not bad; but I found it a bit weird - like Macallan was half-heartedly trying for an Islay style. Needless to state, I very much doubt I’d buy another. Again, not unpleasant; but there are certainly a lot better out there.

[LMD Ermitaño]

Love this stuff. Highly potent candy. Need to buy more ASAP.

[Mike Evans]

Love this stuff. Highly potent candy. Need to buy more ASAP.

I still have some of the Batch 8, which shows how frequently I drink Scotch.

[Doug Schulman]

These are currently the offerings at my neighborhood Costco...any thoughts or experiences?

Balvenie 17 yo $149.99
Glenmorangie 18 yo $99.99
Aberfeldy 16 yo $79.99
The Macallan 12 yo triple cask $59.99
JW Blue 155.99

Even though I live in Bourbon country, my love and passion is wine. When I'm in the mood for spirits, I very much enjoy Scotch...my faves are 18 yo Macallan and I adore Compass Box The Flaming Heart. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

I'm a big fan of Glenmorangie 18. $100 isn't a crazy price, but it is a good price (same as I paid last time I bought a bottle).

That's a great price on JW Blue. It's obviously the Scotch that the enthusiasts and ITBers love to hate, but I find that most people who do have never blind tasted it. I have, and I would definitely buy it for $156.

[LMD Ermitaño]

Love this stuff. Highly potent candy. Need to buy more ASAP.

I still have some of the Batch 8, which shows how frequently I drink Scotch.

Wow. Or how many other bottles you keep at home. I normally keep only around 8-10 bottles at any given time at home; and buy more as needed. I actually stopped keeping a regular stash at home for some years until my eldest son son got into it.

[Len Stevens]

These are currently the offerings at my neighborhood Costco...any thoughts or experiences?

Balvenie 17 yo $149.99
Glenmorangie 18 yo $99.99
Aberfeldy 16 yo $79.99
The Macallan 12 yo triple cask $59.99
JW Blue 155.99

Even though I live in Bourbon country, my love and passion is wine. When I'm in the mood for spirits, I very much enjoy Scotch...my faves are 18 yo Macallan and I adore Compass Box The Flaming Heart. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

I'm a big fan of Glenmorangie 18. $100 isn't a crazy price, but it is a good price (same as I paid last time I bought a bottle).

That's a great price on JW Blue. It's obviously the Scotch that the enthusiasts and ITBers love to hate, but I find that most people who do have never blind tasted it. I have, and I would definitely buy it for $156.

Thanks so much Doug!

[K John Joseph]

Bunnahabhain 25 Year Lady of The Glen Fairly classic Bunna flavor profile despite the wood age, though with sweet vanilla bean and spice notes likely attributable to the bourbon casks. Honeysuckle, dried apricot, golden raisin, hint of wood, vanilla bean ice cream. Nice dram, but by no means a world beater. There are better whiskeys to drink at this price, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Went well with apple pie and cinnamon ice cream.

[LMD Ermitaño]

After having greatly enjoyed the bottle Highland Park 18 (courtesy of fellow Wineberserker Clem Nieto) the other week, I picked a bottle of Highland Park Dark Origins (NAS) yesterday afternoon out of sheer curiosity. Mild yet persistent underlying peat theme, adorned by fresh fruit, bit of spicy honey on top, with dark chocolate emerging towards the back, into half the finish, then braking, leaving the spicy honey and vanilla notes to linger. Interesting. My eldest liked it more than I. Pleasant enough; but I’m still on the fence with this.

[JulianD]

Seems like highland park has had issues with batch variation/QA recently.

[M.Kaplan]

Seems like highland park has had issues with batch variation/QA recently.

This has been my experience also, for 10+ years. Mostly bad sherry casks (sulphur/rubber/'gunpowder'). Too bad, as good HP is very good or better.

[RyanC]

A dram of Caol Ila 2006 (Signatory Vintage; 12 yr) tonight was highly satisfying. Intense nose, full-bodied smoky yet sweet palate, and a long, weighty finish.

[JulianD]

A dram of Caol Ila 2006 (Signatory Vintage; 12 yr) tonight was highly satisfying. Intense nose, full-bodied smoky yet sweet palate, and a long, weighty finish.

I love that Caol Ila has so many independent bottlings, but honestly, I don't know if many of them are THAT much better than the usual 12 year to be worth the significant (often 50-100+% upcharge). Caveat would be a unique cask- first use sherry, PX/unusual casking, etc.

[LMD Ermitaño]

Seems like highland park has had issues with batch variation/QA recently.

This has been my experience also, for 10+ years. Mostly bad sherry casks (sulphur/rubber/'gunpowder'). Too bad, as good HP is very good or better.

No “sulphur/rubber/gunpowder” in this particular bottle of Dark Origins (or the recent bottle of 18, for that matter). The style of the subject bottling is what I find a little...different. Oh, well, it’s inexpensive; so, no big. I leave the rest of the bottle to my eldest who says he likes it well enough. I’ll stick to the 18 years; and try out their other aged ones in due course.

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

Finished up a beautiful bottle of 1990 24 year peated Bunnahabhain from sherry cask last night, a private bottling. When the marriage of Islay malt and sherry cask is done properly, it's pretty hard to beat.

[Jesse Koehn]

Lagavulin 16

[RyanC]

Springbank ‘Local Barley’ 9 — yummm.

[Michael S. Monie]

Has anyone had the Glenlivet "Enigma"?

[cjdelaney]

I'm a bourbon guy, but my brother-in-law loves scotch. The only one I've had that I liked is Glenlivet 15 year French Oak Reserve. Anything else that's close to it that I should keep around for some variety when he comes over?

Thanks for any help.

[Mike Grammer]

Finished up a beautiful bottle of 1990 24 year peated Bunnahabhain from sherry cask last night, a private bottling. When the marriage of Islay malt and sherry cask is done properly, it's pretty hard to beat.

Not quite that, but kinda similar experience, the Ardbeg Grooves casking has a trace of sweetness that adds a real fascination to the malt for me.

New one a friend pointed me to--the Loch Lomond 18. Super value for the price (around $70 US), quite smooth and developed Highlander.

Mike

[Mike Grammer]

A dram of Caol Ila 2006 (Signatory Vintage; 12 yr) tonight was highly satisfying. Intense nose, full-bodied smoky yet sweet palate, and a long, weighty finish.

I love that Caol Ila has so many independent bottlings, but honestly, I don't know if many of them are THAT much better than the usual 12 year to be worth the significant (often 50-100+% upcharge). Caveat would be a unique cask- first use sherry, PX/unusual casking, etc.

The 32-year I got to get a taste of in a shop in St. Maarten was definitely that much better

[LMD Ermitaño]

Old Pulteney 17 Years - Notable complexity and layers. Light footed without sacrificing depth and palate presence. Moderately priced. I’ll make sure this continues to be stocked at home as much as possible (available).