Decent independent Islay whisky

[Anam Cara]

The 9y old Bunna from the March bottling was really excellent. I'm also looking forward for the new bottling, which will be available here in Germany as from this weekend.
Thank God the German retailer has his shop in my neighbour town

Ardmore 2003 (Speyside) Refill Bourbon (yeah right, no Islay, but I've tried it already in September: 25 people guessed it was an Ardbeg)

Breath of Islay 1999 (Islay) Refill Bourbon
Bowmore 1998 (Islay) Refill Sherry
Bunnahabhain 1998 (Islay) 1st fill Sherry
Caol Ila 1982 (Islay)

In Feb. I also purchased amd shared a cask of "Margadale" from the Bladnoch forum, which is, as from next January, a heavily peated Bunna...we'll see what it will be like when we'll bottle it in 4 years from now
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Slán is beannacht

Tom

[William]

Hi Hunter and welcome to the forum.

Have you ever tried any of the Elements of Islay range from The Whisky Exchange.The range is bottled in batches and each batch contains between 5 and 20 casks from a single Islay distillery. At present they have bottlings from Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Caol Ila and Bruichladdich. I have tried them all and they were all very good drams which i wouldnt hesitate to recommend if you are looking for an off the beaten track bottling from a distillery you already like. They have also done Port Ellen which was excellent but it sells out fast, i dont think they have any at present. My pick from what they have now would be the Ardbeg Ar2 and the Laphroaig Lp1

William

[Hunter]

Thanks all for your suggestions.

It looks like the Smokehead and the Big Peat are worth a try.

I had a browse in google for info on the Ileach and Finlaggan, a few seem to think it was Lagavulin in these bottles but some say it is no longer, i wont write them off but mark them down as possibles to try in the future.

David that is a great price for a 30 year old Caol Ila and cask strength, just had a look at the bladnoch site, there are a few bottlings which look like bargains. Have you opened your bottle yet David, any good?

Finlay i have tried most of the supermarket brands and found them all surpisingly good and great value.

William i havent tried the Element of Islay whiskies, in fact wasnt aware of them but they do look interesting and cask strength which is always a plus in my book.

Not had anything from Adelphi, i have looked in the past but i think maybe i was put of a little as i wasnt familiar with Adelphi and sometimes the price seemed a little high for sometimes quite young whisky but i will give them another look as a few of you seem to rate them highly.

I agree Black Bottle is a great value blend, not had the Black Grouse yet.

Cheers

Hunter