Single Malt Scotch Fans

[Huskysibe]

Well I am enjoying some McClelland Highland Single Malt right now and its pretty good! Got it for 1/2 teh price of Glenlivet and it stands up pretty well to the quality of Glenfidich and Glenlivet in my opinion. What do you guys like?

[LegalEagle]

My absolute favorite single malt is Old Pulteney 12. At $35/bottle, it's a lot more reasonably priced than some of the others, and, in my opinion, it's much better. It has a bit of a "salt-water" taste to it -- but in a good way. I'd highly recommend giving it a try.

[Bruno]

I am a Malt fan as well, though I usually go for more special whiskies (see latest thread in the bragging forum).

Factory bottlings are not bad as such, but they are all chill filtered, and I think that detracts a lot from the rich taste.
If you ever have the chance, buy a bottle of whisky from an indepenent bottler(Cadenheads, Gordon & McPhail, ...) or buy a bottle of springbank, just to compare.

I also think it is a pity that whiskies are watered down to 43% or sometimes even 40%. I like to have a bit more power to it, so my ideal drinking % is at 46 - 50%.
That means that I add a little bit of water to a cask strength whisky in order to bring out the aromas, but I leave it pretty strong.

[turbo23]

I go to this site frequently http://www.whiskyguild.com/ Ive made a couple of their recipies, which are tasty! The best Ive had is the 16 yr lagavulin. I dont see it often in the states, but they stuff is delicious. Has a distinct taste. Some blended scotches are not bad either, and Ive also gotten into some bourbon, which is a nice subsitute

[jockeys]

my favorite single malts are Dalwhinnie 15 and MacAllan 18. The MacAllan 25 is also excellent, but priced in such a way as to be out of my daily drinking range.

[fotoguru]

I'll drink absolutely anything....but I'm a big fan of Caol Ila 18yr.

[jscott]

nuts, the whole lot of ya's.

i used to drink Macallan "Cask Strength". tasty with a bit more spice in it. its aged 15yr.

i have now moved on to OBAN 14. fantastic taste. dry/peaty/briney taste. it is made by the islands which have a unique type of taste to the scotches.

see, i like that briney/peaty spicey flavor in my scotches. i do not like the sweet, oily, heavy, buttery scotches that some people do. but that's just me.

next time you're out at a nice restaurant or lounge, try a glass of Oban. its real nice.

~J

[Bruce]

Well I am enjoying some McClelland Highland Single Malt right now and its pretty good! Got it for 1/2 teh price of Glenlivet and it stands up pretty well to the quality of Glenfidich and Glenlivet in my opinion. What do you guys like?

Husky,

I like the Highland too, but am a real big fan of the Islay.

[mitchshrader]

I did what you've done, about 2 years ago. Proved emphatically that you're either an Islay fan, or NOT.

I worked through Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Talisker, both the main variety and some alternate expressions, to be fair..

if you don't drool and beg for Islay, fuggedaboudit.

ya either is, or ya ain't.

and fwiw, the Laphroaig cask strength is near ultimate for them as want to suck on betadyne soaked half- burned seaweed. Cheap compared to some stuff, and perfect for ice fishing, or enduring a blue norther..

Laphroaig Cask Strength ought to come with a yellow rain slicker and directions on treating hypothermia..

If you want flavor.. Balvenie Sherry Casked, Aberlour 16, Macallan 18.... .those are the 'findables' of that genre in my location. Sherry Casked and old enough to be ripe, is about all it takes for me....

Honorable mention to JW Gold, a flavorful 80 proof blended scotch that drinks like water. Not top shelf but VERY drinkable. 'Moreish'...

If quality is all that matters, Macallan.
If bang-buck comes first, Balvenie..
If the best substitute for Mac 18 is your goal, Aberlour 16.

if none of those suit you, you don't like sherried whisky, drink Islay.

[charlie762]

I love the peaty taste of Laphroaig that to me is the best thing about it but I hated it the very first time I tasted it.Try Bunnahabhain. Very smooth.