Highland, Speyside, Islay or Campbeltown?

[opiate69]

I've just recently begun getting my feet wet in the world of Single-malts. So far, I'm partial to the Speysides. Particularly Aberlour and Balvenie. Any other Scotch fans feel like weighing in?

[OriginalGeek]

1. Islay for me

The smoky beauty of Laphroaig quarter cask (at just about 40 bucks) is a great midpoint between price and performance. 18yo at 80 a bottle is nice but I can afford a couple more bottles at 40 bucks.


but that Balvenie double wood is a beautiful thing. Also a great value.

[opiate69]

2. That's definitely on my list

of course, yeah, money is an issue... like my Grandfather used to say, I have "Park Avenue tastes, but a Bowery budget."

[Turbineguy]

6. Agreed.

[REP]

3. Islay - Laphroaig

[opiate69]

4. 2 for Laphroaig right off the bat... I'm going to have to see if my wife's cigar lounge carries it,

But I don't think they do. And of course, the dumb-fuck liquor privatization initiative here in Washington just passed, so the majority of the State-owned liquor stores have shut down, and finding anything to drink is going to be tough until June 1st when the mega-stores get to start selling.

[OriginalGeek]

5. Yikes that's a horrible situation!

I was gonna add that one of my favorite things in life is a glass of Laphroaig and an Arturo Fuente 858. I only smoke 4 or 6 cigars a year so I try to make 'em last.


Here's to you guys getting your real liquor stores back asap! (I know that's a beer but for this post I'm just gonna pretend it's a big ol glass of whiskey.)

[opiate69]

7. I've found out that the Balvenie 12 and the Fuente Opus X are an uncanny match!

We were "told" that the privatization would lead to lower costs, but I'm pretty sure I can guess how that's going to work out... but, I will join you in that drink in the hopes that I can soon start stocking my relaxation chamber here at the house lol

[REP]

10. Husband looooooves Fuentes

I've lost track of what he's got, but I know Fuente is one of his favorites. Only drinks Laphroiag, though.

[opiate69]

16. Fuente is a great cigar and a great family...

the newest Cigar Aficionado magazine has a feature on the family... quite an incredible history...

[OriginalGeek]

19. Neat - I'm gonna stop at the store on the way home

I want to experiment more but i get scared lol...Nothing worse than dropping 10 bucks on a stick and not liking it. Luckily, I don;t often get that from Arturo Fuente - and the few times I did I think they were just really stale. Bad shop-keeping. My regular store is always on top of it though so I try not to go elsewhere but sometimes I'm out of town...

[opiate69]

22. It`s a shame you`re not here in the area...

my wife would be able to hook you up... she`s really taken the reins on learning her sticks... makes me proud would be nice to hang out over a smoke and a drink.. unfortunately, a large percentage of the regulars there are Righties so I don`t get much of a chance to hang out with like-minded folk lol

[REP]

8. Trader Joe's carries the regular stuff

BevMo carries the Cask, 18 and 25 (sometimes).

I also like Speyside - definitely different from Islay (and I usually have it with tea ...)

[OriginalGeek]

20. Keep in mind

Laph has a "cask strength" AND a Quarter Cask....I love the Quarter Cask but the cask strength was a bit harsh to me. Then again, I last had the Cask Strength several years ago and maybe I'd like it better now..


I still have a wee dram of the QC from christmas...I doubt it will survive the weekend...

[opiate69]

25. I`m really interested to see how this new liquor sales issue works out...

Friends in Cali tell me that Costco and TJs have huge selections and great prices, and I think BevMo is planning to open stores here... hopefully it`ll put some of those bottles which are currently out of my pay grade into reach for me.

[OriginalGeek]

27. We have Costco here

But our Costco liquor stores are very limited - Big bottles of the very most mainstream liquor around. Jack Daniels, Smirnoff, Beefeater, etc...I think I might have seen a bottle of Patron in there but I don't even consider that as good as many other tequilas. (Herradurra fan right now lol). My local Publix (grocery store) has a better beer selection - though not in the same quantities.

I don't remember what scotches Costco had but I don't remember because I looked and wasn't impressed (Was actually looking for that Balvenie Doublewood). Luckily, I am close to a Total Wine and Spirits and they have damn near everything. They have a whole section of scotch that has to be kept under lock and key. Short a good day at the lottery I doubt I'll be tasting any of those soon...


But hey, If I do win the lottery I will plan a vacation out your way and we can kick back with the kick-ass bottles I bring and the kick-ass cigars your wife recommends!

[opiate69]

28. hahaha! sounds like a plan!

[TheMightyFavog]

9. Washington's finally getting rid of state stores?

Whoa. Are you guys going to eventually become like us in Wisconsin where you can buy liqour at your local gas station?

[opiate69]

14. yes and no...

the initiative did away with the state stores, but only stores over 10,000 square feet can sell liquor, so no gas stations.

[petronius]

11. Skye: Talisker!

Laphroaig might be a bit of a shock early on, for Islay maybe Lagavulin?

[cliffordu]

12. Yep - Laphroaig.

[opiate69]

30. Interestingly enough...

I told one of my friends about the consensus here earlier tonight... he's not a fan of the Laphroaig... still though, it comes highly enough recommended so I still plan on trying it.

[peacefreak]

13. Ill take the Highlands.

Edradour, for me. WAY out of my budget, but oh, so good.

[opiate69]

24. I hear ya.. budget is my biggest barrier here too...

but once in a while, I can liberate (if not justify) a solid 40 or 50 bucks... hell, it`s about the only thing I get to spoil myself with these days

[PassingFair]

15. The Balvenie "Portwood"

Tastes a hint of brandy, smells like fine pipe tobacco...



I don't drink much scotch these days (stomach issues) but when I DO, it's this one.

[opiate69]

26. hmmm....

wonder how that would pair up with a nice bowl of cavendish?

[hifiguy]

17. Islays are marvelous,

but not for the tyro in the field of Scotch whisky. Laphroaig is the classic heavy, peaty, iodine-y Islay, the sort of whisky that tastes you back, as the Scots say. Yummy stuff, but something best worked up to.

Balvenie is a very nice tipple. Macallan is almost always spectacular and I recommend it highly.

[opiate69]

21. ahh, Macallan... the wife`s lounge does carry that...

I`ve heard it`s the go-to drink of many who know. I`ll have to have a look at the price list tonight when I pick her up. I had an Oban last night in a friend`s recomandation... a bit spicier than I had expected at first but settled down into a nice smoky drink.

[geardaddy]

18. Speyside and Highland for me n/t

[GermanDem]

23. Islay: Lagavulin is the best!!!

But I also like the "sweet" ones e.g. Dalmore! If you like Balvenie, you should definitely try it!

[opiate69]

29. The lounge used to carry Dalmore....

i don't think it sold well enough to keep reordering though.. there used to be a bottle of it with a cigar inside of it.. always wanted to try it

[opiate69]

31. just picked up some Bowmore 12 year

money`s a huge issue at the moment and it was a little bit less than the Aberlour. Sitting outside with a la Gloria maduro... not too bad so far. Seems like a good introductory Islay.