Off to Scotland - help me choose

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I've got two trips coming up over the next couple of months and want some advice and suggestions from you good people. I'm looking to pick up no more than two or three bottles on each trip, with a budget of £100ish per trip.

In mid April my tour takes me past Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Clynelish, Old Pulteney, Talisker, Glen Nevis and Auchentoshan. In June its Auchentoshan, Oban, Glen Nevis. I love Highland malts and peaty goodness, but also adore Glenmorangie. Have decided I am definitely stopping at Talisker and think 57 North is on the list. Really fancy a Glenmorangie Quinta Rubin but can get that in the supermarket. Similarly Auchentoshan Three Wood.

So, do I pick up drams I can get at home? Do I get more interesting drams such as Dalmore 12 or Clynelish 14? Or what might I see at the Distillery shops I won't find elsewhere? Already have a Pulteney 12 and Glenmorangie 10 from these distilleries and have just finished a Talisker 10, so want something other than them.

At the moment thinking Clynelish 14 and Talisker 57 for my April trip, and Auchentoshan Three Wood and a Glen Nevis in June. But am open to your suggestions for alternatives and for 3rd bottles on each trip!

[Mark]

Many distilleries have distillery exclusive bottlings. AFAIK both Talisker and Clynelish have distillery exclusive bottlings, well they did have last time i was there, these were cask strength with no age statement bottles and around £60 if i remember correctly, in fact i think most Diageo owned distilleries offer distillery only bottlings and i think they are all cask strength no age statement bottlings.

Many distilleries also offer a bottle your own whisky, i know Auchentosan and Glengoyne offer this but it is around £100 per bottle so not cheap and it would use all your intended budget.

It is worth remembering that the supermarkets can often be the best price for standard core range bottles but if you are doing the distillery tours you usually get a discount voucher you can use in the distllery shop.

[chrisg]

Oban did have a distillery exclusive bottling which was like a cask strength version of the Oban Distillers Edition, i couldnt say if they still have it as it was 2 years ago i got a bottle. You could call ahead to the distilleries you intend to visit and ask what they offer in the way of distillery exclusive bottlings.

[Big Mac]

The Glenmorangie Quinta Rubin and Auchentoshan Three Wood are both great whiskies and well worth a try if you havent tried them already. Talisker 57 North is also excellent and so is the Ben Nevis 10 year old

[Craven]

About 2 years ago the standard tour at Glenmorangie was £2.50 and this cost was redeemable against purchases in the distillery shop but even then the supermarkets cant be beaten when they have an offer on.

You can also fill and label your own bottle at Old Pulteney

[Big Mac]

just had a thought, didnt i read on here that the Dalmore had a exclusive distillery only bottling. Perhaps it is gone by now.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Think I am stopping at Glenmorangie and Talisker. Have been looking at some of Morangie's back catalogue - anyone had Astar? Reviews describing it as Original on steroids sounds appealing! More expensive than QR but I won't tell my wife!

[Cuba]

I like the Glenmorangie Astar very much it is a big powerful dram oaky, spicy, peppery yet smooth, creamy, bourbony, vanilla. If you are keen on really oaky spicy stuff then you will love this.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Right, just got back:

1. Glenmorangie. Stopped there on Monday and went to the shop. They were fairly quiet and was given brilliant treatment from the lady in the shop - allowed a wee nip as a sample before I committed to buy, which was great. The shop was well stocked with products from their distillery only, and without any distillery-only specials I stuck to the plan. Picked up a bottle of Astar for £43, and Quinta Ruban for £32, which is good pricing!

2. Talisker. Amazing location and a shop that has the entire breadth of Diageo malts in it. Once again no distillery specials. But the prices were tourist rip off - £34 for the 10yr is £5 more expensive than the Co-op up the road in Broadford and £8 more than in Morrisons at the moment. Wanted a 57 North, but not for £57. Left empty handed, as did various other potential punters who were commenting about the high prices. Also, shop staff were disinterested in talking, only in ensuring that all of the branded goods were not ruffled with (it was late in the afternoon)

3. Auchentoshan. A flying visit on my way home, having had a request from a friend to pick him up a Three Wood. Good shop with all the Toshan's and Bowmore malts, and friendly chatty staff. Picked up a pair of Three Woods (one for me too) for £41 each

Haven't drunk any of them yet.....

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Right, just got back:

1. Glenmorangie. Stopped there on Monday and went to the shop. They were fairly quiet and was given brilliant treatment from the lady in the shop - allowed a wee nip as a sample before I committed to buy, which was great. The shop was well stocked with products from their distillery only, and without any distillery-only specials I stuck to the plan. Picked up a bottle of Astar for £43, and Quinta Ruban for £32, which is good pricing!

2. Talisker. Amazing location and a shop that has the entire breadth of Diageo malts in it. Once again no distillery specials. But the prices were tourist rip off - £34 for the 10yr is £5 more expensive than the Co-op up the road in Broadford and £8 more than in Morrisons at the moment. Wanted a 57 North, but not for £57. Left empty handed, as did various other potential punters who were commenting about the high prices. Also, shop staff were disinterested in talking, only in ensuring that all of the branded goods were not ruffled with (it was late in the afternoon)

3. Auchentoshan. A flying visit on my way home, having had a request from a friend to pick him up a Three Wood. Good shop with all the Toshan's and Bowmore malts, and friendly chatty staff. Picked up a pair of Three Woods (one for me too) for £41 each

Haven't drunk any of them yet.....