NWRBAR: single malt selections

[Bwood]

Need some single-malt ideas.

The default not terribly expensive but not not exactly cheap single-malt selection has been Glenmorangie 10 yr old, but in the last year that stuff has gone down hill. I really like basic Cragganmore and absolutely love the Oban 14 yr old, but those are even more expensive. They don't seem exactly seem like Dow 7000/401(k) down 35 per cent scotches.

I tend to like not too much peat, a little saline; you know - a nice balance as far as the flavor profile goes.

Is there such a thing as single-malt that isn't that expensive that is as nice as, say, Oban 14 yr old or is the whole price/quality correlation continuim much tighter in single-malt than in, say, wine.

And I've mostly hated those Port Wood Cask, Sherry Wood, or whatever wood whiskeys. Are any of those extra special wood thingies ever worth trying in the single-malt world if you generally hate obvious wood in wine?

It's hell being a newbie.

Next month the sake questions.

 

[Bill Buitenhuys]

Two that I enjoy that are less peaty but decently complex are Royal Lochnagar (Highland) 12yr and Highland Park (Orkney) 12yr. Highland Park has decent peat (being an island malt) but it isn't overwhelming. The peat has lots of heather notes which is quite nice. Lochnagar is a well rounded Highland malt. Good dry front end, a touch of sweetness on the finish. Caveat is that I haven't bought a bottle of either in a few years.

Just checked online prices:
Royal Lochnagar $35-40
Highland Park: $33-38

What has happened with Glenmorangie? I've always enjoyed the 10 and I liked the 12yr port finished when it came out.

 

[drssouth]

originally posted by Bwood:
NWRBAR: single malt selectionsNeed some single-malt ideas.

The default not terribly expensive but not not exactly cheap single-malt selection has been Glenmorangie 10 yr old, but in the last year that stuff has gone down hill. I really like basic Cragganmore and absolutely love the Oban 14 yr old, but those are even more expensive. They don't seem exactly seem like Dow 7000/401(k) down 35 per cent scotches.

I tend to like not too much peat, a little saline; you know - a nice balance as far as the flavor profile goes.

Is there such a thing as single-malt that isn't that expensive that is as nice as, say, Oban 14 yr old or is the whole price/quality correlation continuim much tighter in single-malt than in, say, wine.

And I've mostly hated those Port Wood Cask, Sherry Wood, or whatever wood whiskeys. Are any of those extra special wood thingies ever worth trying in the single-malt world if you generally hate obvious wood in wine?

It's hell being a newbie.

Next month the sake questions.

Abelour 12
Balvenie 15 single cask
Cardhu 12
Springback 10

 

[Ben Sherwin]

I'd recommend Ledaig from the Isle of Mull. First off it has some cache for being under the radar. It retails for around $45.

It's a real whisky drinker's whisky. A hint of salt to let you know it's an island Scotch, a bit of peat, not too iodine-y.

Personally, I tend to like my whisky with a little more peat.

 

[Unknown]

I just picked up a bottle of 1995 Knappogue Castle, a nice pot distilled 12-year-aged single malt Irish whiskey for $35. Its aged in bourbon casks but that seems to be more apparent in a perceived sweetish body rather than overwhelming toasted wood and vanilla. I prefer it quite a bit more than a recent bottle of The Macallan Fine Oak 10-year for $5 more.

 

[Frank Deis]

Aberlour has been a favorite "cheap" single malt, but it's harder to find in NJ. I bought it often when we visited New Hampshire more often than we do now. You can more or less pay for your round trip to New Hampshire just in Scotch savings at the state liquor stores, or you used to be able to.

Highland Park tastes kind of close to how I remember Glenlivet tasting before they wrecked it.

Dieting has put a real damper on my Scotch drinking tho. And if I want to economize and buy in NJ I often just get a blend like Famous Grouse and throw in an ice cube...

F

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Bwood:
NWRBAR: single malt selectionsNeed some single-malt ideas.

The default not terribly expensive but not not exactly cheap single-malt selection has been Glenmorangie 10 yr old, but in the last year that stuff has gone down hill. I really like basic Cragganmore and absolutely love the Oban 14 yr old, but those are even more expensive. They don't seem exactly seem like Dow 7000/401(k) down 35 per cent scotches.

I tend to like not too much peat, a little saline; you know - a nice balance as far as the flavor profile goes.

Is there such a thing as single-malt that isn't that expensive that is as nice as, say, Oban 14 yr old or is the whole price/quality correlation continuim much tighter in single-malt than in, say, wine.

And I've mostly hated those Port Wood Cask, Sherry Wood, or whatever wood whiskeys. Are any of those extra special wood thingies ever worth trying in the single-malt world if you generally hate obvious wood in wine?

It's hell being a newbie.

Next month the sake questions.

Springbank 10 is about $55.
I really like Bruchladdich 12 in the idiom you describe.
I like the Ardbeg 10, Coal Ila 12 in a richer idiom.
I keep Highland Park 12 around because it is only $5 more expensive than Johnnnie Black in my market.
Glenmorangie has gone to shit.

Hi-Times in Costa Mesa has a great selection of single malts at good prices. The scotch guy there is really knowledgeable, but he is a bit into obscurity and flouting it.

 

[Bwood]

I am not sure what happened to Glenmorangie except it is now missing the range of flavors that it had not too long ago. Some of the high end notes that made it appealing are gone and it tastes more neutral to me.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I have probably tried half of those mentioned but will seek out the others for a sample. I do also like the Bruchladdich 12 pretty well and had forgotten about that.

I was hoping to find out about those, you know, great $30 bottles that only geeks drink. Sounds like that isn't really something that exisits. Well, until the debt markets finish imploding.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Bwood:

I was hoping to find out about those, you know, great $30 bottles that only geeks drink. Sounds like that isn't really something that exisits. Well, until the debt markets finish imploding.

N'exist pas.

 

[Eden Mylunsch]

originally posted by Bwood:
I was hoping to find out about those, you know, great $30 bottles that only geeks drink.

Could you be having flashbacks to 1993? I think I bought a bottle of 16 Macallan for about that much back then.

-Eden (who buys Scotch maybe two or three times a decade)

 

[Bwood]

originally posted by Eden Mylunsch:

originally posted by Bwood:
I was hoping to find out about those, you know, great $30 bottles that only geeks drink.

Could you be having flashbacks to 1993? I think I bought a bottle of 16 Macallan for about that much back then.

-Eden (who buys Scotch maybe two or three times a decade)

1993. Let's see Bush had been out of office for a year, a recession had recently ended, the war with Iraq had been over for more than 18 months, and the Dow was at 3700. Nahhhh, I predict no 1993 flashback for at least another year!

jb (who thought Eden bought everything alcohol-related)

 

[Frank Deis]

Before my in-laws started dying off, I was buying Aberlour for about $24-$28 per bottle in New Hampshire. Don't know what it sells for now.

But the cheap single malts are only cheap because of corner cutting. Not enough time in wood, inferior starting materials. They are coasting on the name, and that's both Glenlivet and Glenmorangie.

I always thought the Balvenie (in its variations) was a bit overpriced, but OTOH it is flavorful...

Ardbeg has almost TOO much smoky character for me. You get that "stuck in summer traffic" vibe from some of these malts.

F

 

[Bwood]

originally posted by Frank Deis:
Before my in-laws started dying off, I was buying Aberlour for about $24-$28 per bottle in New Hampshire. Don't know what it sells for now.

But the cheap single malts are only cheap because of corner cutting. Not enough time in wood, inferior starting materials. They are coasting on the name, and that's both Glenlivet and Glenmorangie.

I always thought the Balvenie (in its variations) was a bit overpriced, but OTOH it is flavorful...

Ardbeg has almost TOO much smoky character for me. You get that "stuck in summer traffic" vibe from some of these malts.

F

Arbeg pushes the smoky envelope for me, too.

 

[Ben Sherwin]

10 year Ardbeg is junk, but their other stuff can be good, especially the Uigeadail.

I find Glenmorangie undrinkable too, jb. I grew up on Aberlour, but can't drink it now.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by Ben Sherwin:
I grew up on Aberlour...

I guess milk and orange juice are things of the past..

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Ben Sherwin:
10 year Ardbeg is junk, but their other stuff can be good, especially the Uigeadail.

Some people find Uigeadail to be too sweet because of the sherry casks. I find the 10 year to be, well, for lack of a better comparison, a bit like Pepiere Muscadet, not the Briords, but good.

Let's accept for a minute that Pepiere Muscadet already started great, but I think you understand what I mean.

 

[Levi Dalton]

The cheap, geek "Scotch" drink is Irish whiskey, especially Knappogue Castle, as was already noted. Or Rittenhouse Rye (the 100 proof bottling).

Single malts caught on with big money types and bottle service clubs, and prices rose accordingly. Even in this economy, the price goes up every month for bottle service standbys.

But it would be Bruichladdich 15yr, Springbank 15yr, or Balvenie 15yr for me if somebody else was buying. Highland Park is releasing some great bottlings as well.

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

Single malts caught on with...bottle service clubs, and prices rose accordingly. Even in this economy, the price goes up every month for bottle service standbys.

No kidding. I don't get out enough.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by SFJoe:

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

Single malts caught on with...bottle service clubs, and prices rose accordingly. Even in this economy, the price goes up every month for bottle service standbys.

No kidding. I don't get out enough.

Or maybe others get out too much.

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by Rahsaan:

originally posted by SFJoe:

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

Single malts caught on with...bottle service clubs, and prices rose accordingly. Even in this economy, the price goes up every month for bottle service standbys.

No kidding. I don't get out enough.

Or maybe others get out too much.

Well, it's good to have the ITB pros around to explain it to us.