Whiskey is better!

I picked up a bottle of Knappogue Castle 16 on the way back from my last trip in Ireland, and it really knocked my socks off (which I don't say too often about single malt Irish whiskeys).

 

I've got through most of a bottle of Laphroaig Select, and I've not been that impressed with it. I'm a big smoke/peat-head, so take that into account. It doesn't have the massive smoke and TCP of the 10 year old, or the QC for that matter, and that's really what I'm looking for in Laphroaig. Honestly, it feels like a way for them to move some of the sub-par casks through a marketing move.

To be fair it does open up and improve with a little water, so it's not bad, just a bit disappointing if you'rte after bandages and bonfires. I see Whiskey Exchange rates it a 3.5, which is about right.

 

Talisker 10 is my go to bottle of Whisky too. It has a hint of sweetness that balances the peat, that I find more acceptable than Lagavulin or Laphroaig. I recently pickup up a bottle of the Distiller's Edition which has some finishing in Sherry Cask's. It is a little bit richer. While a nice dram, I do prefer the straight 10 year.

 

Nice thread! I'm a big fan of Glenmorangie Signet.


I also love the Bunnahabhain 18 a couple of folks have mentioned.

 

I'm just starting to explore nicer whiskeys and discovered I'm a Rye Guy. I'm probably on the lower end of things but I bought my first bottle of Few and my untrained taste buds think it's pretty great.

 

I'm traveling to the UK in a couple of weeks. Started looking stuff up already, but if anyone has any suggestions for whiskey that can only be bought over there. That would be awesome.

 

Got myself a bottle of Hoebeg which I found to have the right amounts of smoke and peat. And is from an independant bottler.
And a bottle of Glendronach 1995 for special occasions.

 

When I was growing up my grandfather always had a bottle of Cutty Sark below the sink for when he got home from work. A few years ago I bought him some Laphroaig. The first time he tasted it he remarked, cursing for the first time in the 30 plus years I've known him, "That's damn good Scotch." The Cutty Sark has never been seen since.

 

Ah, I am glad to see some whiskey lovers here. My latest passion is a Costco experiment (meaning I saw the bottle at Costco and decided to try it.) Suntory Toki. A very nice sweet blend, if you like floral whiskeys with a slight hint of smoke. Definitely not a Scotch or a bourbon, it's a very subtle Japanese drop worth a try.

Adding: this was $38 at my local Costco

 

I recently gave a bottle a shot that I got from Binny's. Very nice and easy whisky. A perfect daily drinker or introduction for new comers. Wish my Costco carried it. They have the Hibiki, but as much as I like it, I can't currently afford $60 a bottle for a daily drinker.

 

Loved the Signet, I preferred it over the 18 year Glenmorangie. Brought it to a friends wedding, had a few glasses and let him leave with the bottle. I went to pick up another bottle and saw the price bump. It was $160ish when it first came out but now I can't find it for less than $210 locally. I walked out with a Dalmore 18 instead which is pretty tasty right now.

 

In a few weeks there will be a Christmas party at work. My colleague and manager both like whiskey.

I plan on bringing a good bottle. Is there a good one you can recommend people tend to like for smoothness and flavour after a long day of work/running around?

No blends please...

P.S. I am still a novice with Whiskey. I tend to drink wine more often hence I need your advice.

 

I find Yamazaki to be incredibly smooth with a nice finish. If you're looking for Scotch instead I would suggest Macallan. It's not peaty like Ardbeg or Laphroaig and is pretty inoffensive to even novice Scotch drinkers.

 

I'm a wine drinker that dabbles in whiskey. Given the constraints mentioned I'd suggest a Macallan fine oak 15 yr. My cellar usually contains this and a Macallan rare cask (for special occasions.) Avoid peaty / smokey scotch unless you know your colleagues enjoy that taste.

 

Balvennie Double or triple wood is my suggestion!

 

agreed with many suggestions so far. for something that has broad appeal, just avoid islays despite being a personal favorite. instead, i think anything from balvenie, macallan, even highland park (18 is a good place to rest and has broad appeal). also very easy to find in lots of liquor stores. the japanese whiskeys (like yamazaki or hakushu) are good but harder to find and so you get weird scarcity driven inflation. but good stuff no doubt.

Addendum: I'm pretty ethnocentric with my comment about scarcity and Japanese whiskey. That seems to be the case in the US at least

 

Glendronach and Aberlour Abundah are good as well. Being in Europe you should have easy access to scotch

 

Nothing like a woody chocolaty partagas serie p no.2 and some lagavulin 16.

I also like to pair Ardbeg 10 with a padron 64 robusto.

This may sound strange to some, but Laphroig Quarter Cask is killer with oysters or sushi.

 

I'm a big fan of Glenmorangie, which is super smooth. The Signet is great depending on your budget.

Edit: It had been so long I had forgotten that I already mentioned the Signet. The La Santa is underrated and affordable.

 

Bunnahabhain 12 is a very good non peaty Islay option. I prefer it over Balvenie.