Help me choose a peaty whisky for Christmas!

[Bip104]

Hey everyone,

I'm after a bit of advice. Basically, my Dad is a whisky lover, but being from Ireland he has a bit of a tendency (no doubt due to the availability to him) to Irish whisky. I do know that there are certain single malt scotch' that he is a big fan of, one being Laphroaig quarter cask. I gather from this that he likes peaty whisky but not knowing a hell of a-lot about whisky, I hoped someone wiser than I in the art of whisky could chime in and help out.

I'm sure over the years he's had a wide variety of different whisky from Scotland, and he knows what he likes. For these reasons, I'd like to try and get him something relatively similar to the Laphroaig, but hopefully something from a smaller, lesser known distillery. Ideally something a bit unheard of that might give him a nice surprise when he tries it.

As I said, I don't know too much about whisky, but luckily my girlfriend works in a well-known whisky bar here in Edinburgh and has drank and talked to my Dad a few times about what whisky he enjoys, so fingers crossed she can advise me further on any suggestions you guys may have.

Thanks in advance!

[Fergie]

I am sure we could make a few good suggestions but what sort of price range are you thinking of

[Big Mac]

Withoutout knowing your price range and going by what you have said i would say he would like

Laphroaig 18 which is excellent.

Ardbeg 10 the standard entry level Ardbeg and one of the best smoky whiskies that you can find for this price.

Ardbeg Corryvreckan an high strength expression of Ardbeg, excellent dram.

Ardbeg Uigeadail an excellent combo of smoke and sherry rated by many as one of the best whiskies around.

Lagavulin 16 the standard entry level bottling from Lagavulin, great dram.

Lagavulin 12 year old special release, there is a new limited release of the cask strength 12 year old Lagavulin and everyone to date has been excellent.

Lagavulin Distillers Edition another excellent combo of peat and smoke this time from Lagavulin excellent.

Some of these may be out of your price range, just let us know and i am sure we could suggest some others your dad will like.

[Bip104]

Good point Fergie. Ideally I'm looking to spend about £80 or so max but I might be able to get some money off through my girlfriend, so feel free to suggest anything up to £140ish.

Thanks for the suggestions Big Mac, I do know he's a big fan of Lagavulin but couldn't tell you which one. Since he's had it before I'd quite like to try get him something he may not have heard of. The Uigeadail was actually suggested to me by a few people; definitely one I'll be looking in to and one I don't think he's had before.

Thanks guys, keep 'em coming!

[Tom W]

definitely Ardbeg, peat lovers nirvana

Lagavulin DE good ideas too

what about a Talisker? you could probably get the 25 YO in budget. It's more smoky than peaty but i'm sure it would be to his taste.
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In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king

[Gregor]

For your budget you could consider 2 bottles such as the Lagavulin 12 special release and perhaps a Ardbeg Uigeadail or Corryvreckan, all of these are top clas whiskies IMO.

I am sure Talisker would be to his taste also, Talisker 57' North or Talisker 18 year old are both excellent and both are around £60 or as Tom mentions the Talisker 25 should fall within your budget.

[Acker]

If someone was to give me any of the whiskies suggested above i would be very happy. The Lagavulin Distillers Edition and Uigeadail have a big sherry influence, they are brilliant whiskies but do you know if your dad will like the sherry influence? The Taliskers mentioned are superb drams.

[jcarrick]

How about the limited release Big Peat Cask Strength Christmas Edition just over £40 and it is an excellent whisky. It is a vatted malt containing whisky from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen. And you would still have some money to buy one of the bottles mentioned above.

[Grant M]

There is a new Irish whiskey he may not have tried, Powers Johns Lane 12 year old, it is a single pot still whiskey. I got a bottle a couple of weeks ago and it is very good indeed. No smoke or peat in it but one of the best pot still whiskeys i have tasted and it is only £45 from The Whisky Exchange so you could also get him a smoky Scotch whisky also.

[mark watkins]

... ...the macallan?.....12yr or the 18 yr old that you cant go wrong with?...peaty,choclate,figgy?.....only a suggestion?

[Big Mac]

Just thought of this one, it is an Islay malt he may not have had - Smokehead from Ian Macleod Distillers. The whisky originates from an unspecified Islay distillery and it is excellent and very highly rated by whisky critics.

[DavidUK]

A nice bottle of Springbank or Longrow 18yo.

[The pierced 1]

Ardbeg Uigeadail is as said above an excellent whisky as is the Smokehead I am looking forward to my my Smokehead 18 arriving today

Roy