Advice for next purchase

[Alexppp]

Hi all, I'm a new member in this forum and I was hoping for advice and opinions on what my next bottle of whisky should be. I've had a taste for the strong, peaty, smoky kind ever since I tried my dad's Laphroaig. I guess you could say I'm a Islay fan, though my favourite (in my admittedly limited experience) is the 18 year-old Talisker.

So, at the moment I have a bottle of Talisker (10 y/o) and a Bowmore Enigma, and basically I'm looking to buy something completely different, i.e. light and easy-going that you don't necessarily have to be 'in the mood' for. I've done some research and have a few bottles in mind (mainly Speysiders), but I'd be more interested to hear your advice before I take the plunge.

(N.B. Budget is relatively limited so we're looking at entry-level stuff, ideally under £35 - £40)

[sccotchdrinker]

Balvenie 12 Doublewood
Macallan 12
Dalwhinnie 15yo
Glenmorangie original or lasanta
Glenfiddich 15yo Solera
Auchentoshan Classic
Glenlivet Nadurra
Yamazaki 12

[Andy M]

Hi Alexppp and welcome to the SMW forum

They are all very good suggestions that sccotchdrinker has given you. Here is a few that i would add:

Glenlivet 12 and also the 18 which can usually be found for a decent price if you shop around.
Glenfiddich 18 can also be found within your budget if you shop around
Macallan 10 Fine Oak
Macallan 10 sherry wood
Aberlour 10
Balvenie Signature
Tomintoul 16 which is on offer at The Whisky Exchange at the moment for £26
Old Pulteney 12
Highland Park 12
Cragganmore 12

Andy M

[Gregor]

Some not already mentioned.

The Glenfarclas 15 which is an excellent sherried malt should just fall into your price range. Hazelburn 8 or 12, Springbank 10, Glengoyne 10 is a totally unpeated whisky, i cant get enough of the Glengoyne 17 but this is a little over your budget usually around £50.

[Alexppp]

Thanks for your suggestions. I've actually tried the Cragganmore 12 and I know I like it, but I'll probably end up buying something I've never had before out of curiosity. Andy - Tomintoul sounds tempting at that price, what is your opinion of it generally?.

Also, regarding the Balvenie - is it a full-bodied, sherried whisky or more light and fruity?

Gregor - also tempted by the Glengoyne now, especially since you said it's totally unpeated. This complicates matters!

Cheers!

Alex

[Mark]

The Tomintoul 16 is a very pleasant Speyside whisky and very good value at £26 another worth considering would be the Tomintoul 14 year old which is a few pound more. The 14 has been bottled at 46% and non chill-filtered which adds to its quality and would be my choice from the Tomintoul range. Both are very easy drinking and very much worth trying, i am tempted to pick up a bottle of the 16 year old myself while it is on offer.

The Glengoyne is a very light deliciously sweet smooth malt. Very easy to drink any time.

The Balvenie Doublewood is matured for about 11 years in first and second fill Bourbon casks, then 6 to 12 months in sweet oloroso casks, giving it a wonderful combination of sherry and citrus flavours. It has a medium rich body and a nutty sweet palate.

Mark

[Gregor]

Alex, the entire Glengoyne range is produced with completely unpeated barley, they air dry their barley i believe. The Glengoyne 10 year old is their entry level malt whisky, it is a light bodied, soft whisky with a clean, sweetish palate and a fruity nutty finish.

[Kray]

The Tomintoul 16 is definitely worth a go at £26 although i do agree that the 14 is very good.

[Alexppp]

OK, so after your suggestions I've narrowed it down to a (not that small!) list of the following:

Balvenie (signature or Doublewood)
Macallan (Fine Oak, Sherry Oak or 12?)
Glengoyne 10
Tomintoul 16
Glenlivet 12
Springbank 10
I wouldn't rule out a Glenfiddich either, probably the 15 y/o Solera as per scotchdrinker's suggestion.

So, if you were in my position with my budget and you were buying a bottle to compliment a Talisker and a Bowmore, which one of the above would it be?

Thanks!

[Archer]

Alex it also depends where you will be shopping, most big supermarkets stock Macallan 10 Fine Oak & Sherrywood, Glenlivet, Balvenie and Glebfiddich so if the budget is tight there will be no delivery charges. Most of these are usually on special offer 2 or 3 times a year in the supermarkets sometimes saving you up to £10 per bottle. A tip would be to shop in the supermarkets around the Christmas period as most are on offer then.

As far as which one to get i would say all the bottles recommended above are very good.

[Alexppp]

I had a look at Morrison's today as it happens, and was pretty disappointed with the selection - only Glenfiddich 12, Glenmorangie 10 and Bowmore 12, and not good prices either. I'll look around of course but it may have to wait till next time I'm at an airport or around Christmas as you said. Unless of course I go for the Tomintoul offer before it ends.

[Alexppp]

I've just noticed the Glenlivet 18 is available at a great price for a whisky of that age. Is it worth the extra cash over the 12 year-old? Likewise, is the Macallan 12 5 pounds 'more whisky' than the 10 year-old?

[Frankie]

[Alexppp]

Thanks for that Frankie. I think for now I'll look for deals on the Glenlivet 12 and Macallan 10 to cover both ends of the Speyside spectrum. I understand that, as far as famous ones go, the Glenlivet 12 is generally considered to be a notch above its Glenfiddich counterpart?

[Mark]