What dram is in your quaich?

[ASinclair]

So I made it by the ABC store the other day, and purchased a magnum (1.75 liter) of House of Stuart Blended Scotch Whisky. "Since 1772, A Blend of Highland and Lowland, Islay and Speyside Whiskies". Now, this was the least expensive Scotch they had, and yet, it has a nice light amber color, and smells wonderful. It tastes, not too bad. Of course, we know there is no such thing as a bad whisky. Some are just better than others.

Slainte!

int:

[DyerStraits]

Went to a gourmet cooking class with my wife and some friends of ours for Valentines day. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a nice selection of single malts in addition to the di rigueur wines. Because of the cold and snow I selected a 12 year old Bowmore and found it very pleasing. Not as smokey as the Laphroig or Laguvalin but just as smooth. I was enthralled enough to have two. What surprised me the most was that they priced it the same as the wines at $9.00 a glass which is a modest price for dining out.

I've not had a taste of Bowmore in quite a while, but for whatever reasons it has always been the most affordable of Islay Malts here in the USA. I bought the younger 10 and 12 year Bowmores quite often years ago when they could be had for about US$20, but was put off by their strong mineral, almost acidic, finish (after-taste), which was undoubtedly from the water and not the barrels or the aging, and would therefore favor the peatier, more expensive Islays, especially Arbeg and Laphroig. But perhaps I may give the older Bowmores a try now--Time And Tide, etc.

[ForresterModern]

I did a friend a couple of professional favors last week and the week before---no real big deal--and they were kind enough to reward me far out of proportion to my efforts, with a lovely bottle of Auchentoshan Triple Wood, that I had the pleasure of finally enjoying yesterday evening. I've enjoyed the lightness of the lowland malt since I first started drinking whisky, but this one has taken mellow to a new level. They have taken their regular bourbon barreled brew and finished it in two different Spanish sherry casks, Oloroso and Ximenez, which added some nice fruity and spicy complexity to the normally light and pleasant standard product. Still somewhat lighter than similar sherry finished goods from Aberlour and Glenmorangie, which I also quite partial to.

[ThistleDown]

Pre-symphony the dram tonight is Laddie Classic. If you decide to try it don't let the glacier-blue bottle turn you off. Inside there's the 'essential' Bruichladdich. A bit salty but lots of fruit and low in peat because this is assemble from unpeated barley in several vintages.

[mookien]

The Auchentoshan Three Wood is one of my favorite "peaty" malts, if not my favorite. The flavors imparted by the three woods tends to corral and minimize the "rubber tire" nose and flavor of the peat. I always try to keep a bottle on hand.

The Auchentoshan 18 is pure gold. After the FSU Seminoles beat the Auburn Tigers for the college football national championship, I just had to have a great malt to celebrate this special event. I chose the 18 and drank a couple of drams while watching the highlights. It was a memorable night for me.

PS: After our posts, I couldn't stop thinking about the Three Wood. With the maxim "Stop thinking and start drinking" as motivation, I am know enjoying a glass of Three Wood ... on the rocks.

[Jack Daw]

A few nights ago I finished off a bottle of Macallan Cask Strength; so, on Wednesday evening, I broke open a new bottle of Glenfiddich 15. Delish!

[ASinclair]

The kilt run in Raleigh, NC (USA) is tomorrow. We are attempting to break the Guinness World Record for number of kilted runners in a race. So to get ready for it, I am listening to Julie Fowlis on YouTube and drinking George Dickel Rye Whisky. This stuff is good -- a dark, reddish, amber color and a serious oaken charcoal aroma and the taste is strong. Slainte! int:

[DyerStraits]

So I made it by the ABC store the other day, and purchased a magnum (1.75 liter) of House of Stuart Blended Scotch Whisky. "Since 1772, A Blend of Highland and Lowland, Islay and Speyside Whiskies". Now, this was the least expensive Scotch they had, and yet, it has a nice light amber color, and smells wonderful. It tastes, not too bad. Of course, we know there is no such thing as a bad whisky. Some are just better than others.

Slainte!

int:

There was a time, not too terribly long ago, when House Of Stuart was basically the only Scotch I could afford--if I had some extra cash, I would splurge and buy Scoresby, which was Next To The Bottom Shelf. My Cheap Bastard Gene kicked in a week or two ago and I found myself buying the same 1.75 litre bottle of House Of Stuart. And you're right, Allen--like cheap cigars, it tastes better when it's all you've got, but somehow--and this may just be nostalgia--it wasn't as good as I remember, thinner, less complex, and no peat whatsover (whereas it used to have just enough to make you want more). But that's just me. If nothing else, it reminded me of how blessed I am now to be able to afford--and to waste not a drop of--the Good Stuff.

[DyerStraits]

This evening, I'm having a few wee drams of Speyburn 10.

Am finishing a bottle of Speyburn Bradan Orach as I write this. Currently US$20.00 the bottle here in the Chicago area and thus an excellent everyday dram indeed (although I generally indulge only on weekends).....

[DyerStraits]

I've enjoyed Laphroaig 10 immensely. I can only imagine how awesome the 18 must be. I'm jealous. This evening I am working on polishing-off the Speyburn 10.

I'm an Islay Malt Man first and foremost. Anything Ardbeg is top of the list, but anything Laphroaig or Lagavulin in next.....