A little quiz...

[Alexppp]

I'm curious to see other members' general experiences with single malts so I've put together the following questions:

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)

5. How often do you drink?

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?

[whiskystu]

Hi Alex

My quick responses...

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)

Have absolutely no idea, just cant recall. Maybe Laphroaig 10yo as i remember that was a favourite for a few years before i "got into whisky"

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)

hmmm, changes all the time, at the moment probably HP 18 and Ardbeg Uigeadail

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?

Glengoyne 10, HP 12 and Ardbeg 10

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)

23 bottles, 4 of which are unopened. My rule is i cant buy it if im not willing to open it the minute it arrives at my house!

5. How often do you drink?

Alcohol in any form? probably 4-5 days a week, whisky probably between 2-4 days

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?

hard to say what's best, maybe HP12?
My favourites; HP 12, Glengoyne 10, Laphroaig Quarter Cask

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?

Glengoyne 10 - was used to drinking peated malts, got this as a gift originally and was very surprised how much i enjoyed it

Ardbeg SN2010 - just blew me away.

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?

Laphroaig cairdeas last year. Really disliked my first taste. Left it for a few months and then tried it with a touch of water and enjoyed much more. Nothing to do with style, peat etc i just think this is a pretty poor bottling from Laphroaig but is better cut

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?

was peat, now 50:50, depends on my mood

[soundmangt4]

My answers:

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)

Highland Park - didn't really like it, but then moved onto Balvenie 12 Doublewood and loved it).

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)

Talisker 18 at the moment.

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?

Talsiker 10

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)

18 open, 20 in total

5. How often do you drink?

Every day.

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?

Laphroiag 10

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?

Caol Ila 12

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?

Lagavulin & Laphroaig. Both tasted of anti-septic and hospitals, but now are my favourite styles!

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?

Sherried peat monster! My current favourite is a single cask from Laphroaig - 20 YO ex Sherry butt. Amazing!
_________________
Rob Hughes
Scotch Malt Whisky Society member
www.smws.co.uk

[Andy M]

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)
Glenmorangie

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
I honestly dont have a favourite, just depends on my mood and the occasion

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
I go through phases, just now i am drinking Ardbeg most often.

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
60 open and about 250 altogether.

5. How often do you drink?
1 drink every night to finish the day but maybe a few in the evening at the weekend.

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
I dont really think there is a best.

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
Recently pleasantly surprised on how improved the Bunnahabhain range is now.

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?
no not that i can think of.

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?
more a peat monster but like both.

[Blackadder]

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)
moved up from blends but cant really recal what would have been first
2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
ardbeg, lagavulin, macallan,
3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
No regulars, i like to vary it.
4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
lost count
5. How often do you drink?
3 or 4 days a week
6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
i dont think there is a best just different.
7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
didnt expect Rosebank to be as good but was pleasantly surprised, shame it is gone.
8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?
no
9. Peat monster or sherry monster?
Both

[Lennox]

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)

Moved from blends to the more premium blends to malts but i dont recall what was my first.

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
Anything from Ardbeg, Highland Park or Macallan

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
Highland Park at the moment.

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
40 open 33 ready to open

5. How often do you drink?

3 or 4 times a week

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
Macallan 10, Ardbeg 10 or HP 12

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
Ardbeg Supernova 2009 exceeded my expectations.

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?

Ledaig was poor but the new version is not bad at all.

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?
Peat monster but i do appreciate the od sherry monster

[Tom W]

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)
Glenlivet 12, loved it.

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
Anythhing from Highland Park or Dalwhinnie 15

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
Dalwhinnie 15/HP 12

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
3 open, 6 unopened

5. How often do you drink?
every other night on average

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
Dalwhinnie 15, no competition.

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
Balvenie Signature - really really good.

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?
Royal Lochnagar 10 disliked, hasn't grown on me yet!

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?
Bit of poth depending on my mood

[Alexppp]

Thanks for the responses so far guys. I guess I should replace 'best' with 'favourite' in question 6, it's not like there's a definite best. I really want to try Glengoyne now, Whiskystu, I've been meaning to try it for a while. I'm also envious of your restraint, Tom - even though I'm a relative beginner I'm really bad with opening new bottles and ended up with 10 open and only 2 unopened!

[SkyeIslay]

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)
Laphroaig 10. Didn't mind it, but it was Talisker that got me hooked.

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
Talisker 18

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
Talisker 10 and Laphroaig 10 are regulars all year round, right now I'm also drinking a lot of Glenfiddich 15.

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
23 open, 50 altogether.

5. How often do you drink?
Around 4-5 times a week.

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
Favourites are Talisker 10, Laphroaig 10 & Quarter Cask, Highland Park 12. Hard to pick just one really. Also Glenfiddich 15 and Dalwhinnie 15 are often under £30 and are both excellent.

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
Bowmore Enigma, I was a bit bored of Bowmore when I tried it but immediately loved it.

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?
Not a huge fan of Glenfarclas 10. I don't mind it now, but it's not among my favourites. I like older Glenfarclas's a lot more though.

9. Peat monster or sherry monster? Peat, but enjoy sherry too.

[Brummie]

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)
Like many others i am sure Glenfiddich was my first.

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
Lagavulin and Macallan

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
Lagavulin and Macallan

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
Around 30 open at the moment

5. How often do you drink?
Varies 3 to 5 nights per week.

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
Laphroaig 10, Talisker 10, Balvenie DW, Glenfiiddich 15 and 18 sometimes, Glenlivet 18 all can often be found under £30 when on offer and are are all great whiskies.

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
The whisky Compass Box turns out has most pleasantly surprised me, most recently the Compass Box Flaming Heart.

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?
Never ever thought much of Dalmore but have recently tasted some older Dalmores which i liked very much.

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?
I enjoy both and everything in between.

[Craig C]

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)
Glenlivet

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
Lagavulin

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
Lagavulin 16

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
16 open about 45 unopen i think

5. How often do you drink?
a few times a week, sometimes more sometimes less.

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
Laphroaig 10 or Quarter Cask

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
Smokehead

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?
Ledaig, although more acase of the whisky improved rather than growing on me.

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?
peat monster but i enjoy all styles of whisky.

[Big Mac]

Alex I saw your questionaire earlier in the week but didnt have the time to complete it then. What your own answers Alex

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)
Glenfiddich was my first single but many blends before that.

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
Macallan and Glenfarclas

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
Macallan

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
around 50 open and i think around 250 waiting to be opened

5. How often do you drink?
Most evenings

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
I enjoy a varied selection of malts within this price range - Aberlour, Glenlivet to name a couple.

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
Aberlour a bunadh

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?
Dalmore

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?
Sherry for me but i do like a peaty whisky also.

[Alexppp]

Thanks for asking Mac - my own answers:

1. What was the first single malt you tried? (and, if you didn't like it, what was the first single malt you liked?)
Laphroaig 10. I liked it, but didn't properly get into whisky until a few years later.

2. What's your favourite single malt? (if you can narrow it down to one or two!)
Talisker 18, Highland Park 18

3. Which one do you most regularly drink?
Talisker 10, Laphroaig 10, Glenmorangie Original

4. How many bottles do you have? (both open and altogether)
10 open, 4 unopened

5. How often do you drink?
2-3 times a week.

6. What in your opinion is the best single malt for under £30?
Talisker 10, Highland Park 12 and Laphroaig Quarter Cask are my favourites.

7. Which single malt were you most pleasantly surprised with, or most exceeded your expectations?
Glenlivet 12 First Fill. I expected it to be good, but not that good!

8. Has there been a single malt you initially hated or disliked, but later grew on you?
Two. Lagavulin 16. I just couldn't stand the type of smoke on the nose - like it came straight from the barbecue as opposed to the sweeter smoke in Laphroaig. But I was soon won over by its complex palate and amazing finish.

Also Aberlour 10. I bought it expecting a smooth, easy-drinking whisky but my initial reaction was that it was aggressive, and not in a good way. I'm still not that appreciative of a bitter note in the finish, but like it otherwise.

9. Peat monster or sherry monster?
Peat, but I don't think I've ever had a very heavily sherried whisky. I've had stuff like the Macallan and Balvenie Doublewood, but never tried a Glenfarclas or Aberlour a'bunadh or something along those lines.