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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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 Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:03 pm Post subject: Your classic malts |
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Apologies if this has been done before (I had a quick look and didn't find a similar post), but I'm wondering what your preferences are from each whisky region in Scotland. To keep things simple - and approachable to newcomers to whisky - I suggest we restrict our choices to distilleries' standard-issue staple expressions. (so no special editions, cask strength expressions etc. allowed) If there are enough replies we can eventually compile an alternative list of 'classic malts' that would best showcase each region's style, according to this forum's tastes.
I would love to set the ball rolling myself but I'm not experienced enough to cover all regions - I've never had a West Highland whisky or a Lowlander, for example. Plain lists and longer explanations both welcome! |
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Blakey
Master Of Malts
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 263
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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I enjoy a varied selection of whisky from all over Scotland and would say there is no whisky characteristic that is unique to any single region but most regions have a common broad basic flavour/taste/style such as Islay.
If i was to give a list of what i think are quality whiskies from each region (other than Diageos Classic Malts) it would be:
Lowland - Rosebank 12 Flora & Fauna
Highlands - Old Pulteney 12, 17
Speyside - Glenlivet 12, 16 Nadurra, 18
Islands - Highland Park 12, 18
Islay - Ardbeg 10
Campbeltown - Longrow CV |
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DavidUK
Double Malt Member
Joined: 20 Mar 2010
Posts: 174
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: Your classic malts |
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| Alexppp wrote: |
I would love to set the ball rolling myself but I'm not experienced enough to cover all regions - I've never had a West Highland whisky or a Lowlander, for example. Plain lists and longer explanations both welcome! |
There's no reason why you shouldn't make a selection from the regions you ARE familar with. |
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DavidUK
Double Malt Member
Joined: 20 Mar 2010
Posts: 174
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Lowlands-Rosebank F&F
Highlands-Ben Nevis 10 and Glenmorangie Lasanta
Islands-Highland Park 12
Speyside-Glenfarclas 15 and Aberlour 16
Islay-Lagavullin 16 and Caol Ila 12
Campbeltown-Haven't yet tasted any although a bottle of LongrowCV in the post!!
I chose two from the larger regions |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 10:47 pm Post subject: Re: Your classic malts |
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| DavidUK wrote: |
There's no reason why you shouldn't make a selection from the regions you ARE familar with. |
OK then, from the regions I've had more than two whiskies:
Highlands: Glenmorangie 10
Speyside: Macallan 10 Sherry oak
Islay: Laphroaig 10 (though I have a soft spot for the Bowmores I've tried, both the standard 12 y/o and Enigma)
Islands: Talisker 18, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to get hold of. So Talisker 10 I suppose
Not sure if Rosebank can be allowed for the purposes of the question - it's not like it'll be available for much longer, unfortunately. |
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Craven
Triple Malt Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Posts: 218
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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My personal classic affordable to everyone malts would be off the top of my head would be:
Lowlands - Auchentoshan 3 wood
Highlands - Glengoyne 10 or 17
Islands - Highland Park 12/18 or Talisker 10/18
Speyside - Glenfarclas 15
Islay - Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10 or Lagavullin 16
Campbeltown Longrow CV or Springbank 10
Of course ask me again tomorrow and i will probably give completely different answers. |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Craven wrote: |
Islay - Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10 or Lagavullin 16
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Sitting on the fence much?  Isn't there one of the three that you deep down prefer to the other two, say in a desert island where you'd only be allowed one bottle? |
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Craven
Triple Malt Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Posts: 218
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| Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Alexppp wrote: | | Craven wrote: |
Islay - Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10 or Lagavullin 16
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Sitting on the fence much? Isn't there one of the three that you deep down prefer to the other two, say in a desert island where you'd only be allowed one bottle? |
Alex i was just posting to give you an idea what IMO are decent affordable malts as i already know what is. I wouldnt say any of these three are better than the other but IMO all 3 are quality malts which represent the character and style associated with Islay. I like many different malts from all regions just depends on my mood and the occasion. As far as big smoky Islay malts are concerned, for value for money these days Laphroaig is hard to beat, it is often on offer for not much more than £20 but Lagavulin 16 is around £40 and unfortunately Ardbeg 10 is not far off £40 in a lot of shops now. |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Craven: Sorry if it appeared I was having a go, I was just wondering if you have a favourite out of the three peat monsters. I agree Laphroaig is hard to beat for value for money, and it's also my favourite because it was my first love so to speak. |
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D Hillman
Member
Joined: 24 Apr 2010
Posts: 13
Location: England
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Laphroaig 10 is my regular Islay whisky. Alex have you tried the Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength, even better and for not too much more money. The Quarter Cask is also worth a go and is around the same price as the 10. |
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Craven
Triple Malt Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Posts: 218
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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| No problem Alex, i didnt take it that way. By the way the other Laphroaigs D Hillman mentions are excellent also if you havent had the pleasure of them yet and i believe that Tesco has the Quarter Cask on offer at the moment. |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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I've tried the Quarter Cask and liked it very much, though I don't remember to what extent it was different to the regular 10 y/o. I'll probably get it next time I buy a Laphroaig (don't have a bottle at the moment - Bowmore is my regular Islay right now).
Any other opinions for a classic malts series? |
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Big Mac
Master Of Malts
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Posts: 2216
Location: USA - Formerly Scotland
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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No style or flavor is unique to any one region but i do think the best classic sherried malts are produced in Speyside.
My classic Speyside sherried malts (without getting too expensive) would be:
Macallan 12
Glenfarclas 15
Aberlour 10
Mac |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Keep those replies coming! With a few more we'll be able to draw some conclusions about the favourites in this forum. |
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Keith
Master Of Malts
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1531
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Alexppp wrote: | | Keep those replies coming! With a few more we'll be able to draw some conclusions about the favourites in this forum. |
Probably like many others on here i dont have specific favourites. My favourites change depending on my mood, the occasion, time of day even the time of year. For example i drink more peaty smoky Islay style whisky in the winter, nothing nicer than a cask strength Laphroaig on a cold December night. I have over 200 hundred bottles unopened and around 70 opened covering probably every distillery. I am always on the look out for something new i havent tried rather than whiskies which i have already had. It can be expensive but I always stock up when the supermarkets have good offers on.
Do i have favourites? No. Having said that i do have some regular drams which i always have on the go, probably due to a mix of quality and price. Such as:
Highland Park 12 & 18
Talisker 10 & 18
Ardbeg 10
Glengoyne 10 & 17
Aberlour 10 & a'bunadh
Laphfroig 10
Lagavulin 16
Macallan 10 & 18 sherry wood
Macallan 10 fine oak
Old Pulteney 12
Glenfiddich 18 & 15 Solera Reserve
Glenlivet 12, 18 and Nadurra
Balvenie 12 doublewood, 12 signature, 15 single barrel, 21 port wood
Caol Ila 12
Bunnahabhain 18
Glenfarclas 15 & 21
Clynelish 14
Springbank 10
Longrow CV
Dalwhinnie 15 |
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