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.

[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.

[C 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.