Comments on: A Trio of Fine Scotches http://manzine.org/2009/07/29/a-trio-of-fine-scotches/ Lifestyle magazine for men by men. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:37:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Man Laws — MANzine http://manzine.org/2009/07/29/a-trio-of-fine-scotches/#comment-155 Man Laws — MANzine Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:08:15 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=553#comment-155 [...] over the years.  Life’s too short to drink crappy beer,  eat overdone steaks, have lousy scotch, or deny yourself joys of the mojito or a proper martini until you discover them in your [...] [...] over the years.  Life’s too short to drink crappy beer,  eat overdone steaks, have lousy scotch, or deny yourself joys of the mojito or a proper martini until you discover them in your [...]

]]> By: Russ http://manzine.org/2009/07/29/a-trio-of-fine-scotches/#comment-121 Russ Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:54:54 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=553#comment-121 There are no official own bottlings (OB) of Port Ellen around -- you need to obtain them from independent bottlers like Signatory or Murray McDavid (and if you want a primer on that, I'll be happy to contribute). Try Ardmore -- a real good combination of Macallan and Ardbeg.  Has the strong peat of an Islay and the sweetness of the Speyside malts.  The better blends use it a LOT. For a typical Highland malt, try Edradour or Mortlach -- these are fairly obscure.  Edradour is the "smallest distillery in Scotland" and produces a full bodied malt, unlike the thin Glenlivets and Glenfiddiches.  Mortlach is another fairly solid Highland (actually, technically a Speyside) that is not well-known.  Mortlach is used a lot in Johnnie Walker blends. For an Islay, try the Caol Ila -- either from the distillery or a Signatory bottling should work.  These are sweeter and often smoother than a Laphroiag or Lagavulin, with about as much peat smoke. And as much as folks rattle on about how great single malt scotches are, look into some vatted malts.  These are all-malt whiskies (no grain whiskey used, just barley malt whiskey) that combine product from different distilleries.  Compass Box makes some good ones.  I bought an un-named vatting of two Islay malts from Cadenhead (independent bottler) that was awesome.  I asked where the components came from and for contractual reasons the salesman couldn't tell me but he said "one distillery starts with a 'C' and the other starts with an 'L'".  So it was a Caol Ila and Lagavulin/Laphroaig combo -- good stuff. There are no official own bottlings (OB) of Port Ellen around — you need to obtain them from independent bottlers like Signatory or Murray McDavid (and if you want a primer on that, I’ll be happy to contribute).
Try Ardmore — a real good combination of Macallan and Ardbeg.  Has the strong peat of an Islay and the sweetness of the Speyside malts.  The better blends use it a LOT.
For a typical Highland malt, try Edradour or Mortlach — these are fairly obscure.  Edradour is the “smallest distillery in Scotland” and produces a full bodied malt, unlike the thin Glenlivets and Glenfiddiches.  Mortlach is another fairly solid Highland (actually, technically a Speyside) that is not well-known.  Mortlach is used a lot in Johnnie Walker blends.
For an Islay, try the Caol Ila — either from the distillery or a Signatory bottling should work.  These are sweeter and often smoother than a Laphroiag or Lagavulin, with about as much peat smoke.
And as much as folks rattle on about how great single malt scotches are, look into some vatted malts.  These are all-malt whiskies (no grain whiskey used, just barley malt whiskey) that combine product from different distilleries.  Compass Box makes some good ones.  I bought an un-named vatting of two Islay malts from Cadenhead (independent bottler) that was awesome.  I asked where the components came from and for contractual reasons the salesman couldn’t tell me but he said “one distillery starts with a ‘C’ and the other starts with an ‘L’”.  So it was a Caol Ila and Lagavulin/Laphroaig combo — good stuff.

]]> By: DBL http://manzine.org/2009/07/29/a-trio-of-fine-scotches/#comment-110 DBL Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:14:38 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=553#comment-110 Try the Port Ellen. The distillery closed down in 1983 but you can still find bottles around. I tried it at the Scotch Bar at the Willard Hotel in Washington and it was memorable. Try the Port Ellen. The distillery closed down in 1983 but you can still find bottles around. I tried it at the Scotch Bar at the Willard Hotel in Washington and it was memorable.

]]> By: Steve Hynd http://manzine.org/2009/07/29/a-trio-of-fine-scotches/#comment-59 Steve Hynd Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:59:21 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=553#comment-59 Alex, great revues. I've drank all three and for me the Talisker was one of the best. Try any of these, if you can get them in the U.S.: <ul> <li>Knockando 12 yr old, a no-nonsense relatively cheap Speyside malt.</li> <li> Isle of Jura (aged in bourbon, not sherry, casks for a far subtler blending of tastes) - especially the 18 yr old. My personal all-time favorite whisky.</li> <li>Dalwhinnie 29 yr old. A Speyside malt. Sublime.</li> <li>Old Fettercairn 13 yr old: another Speyside malt, and all round wonderful.</li> <li> Glenkinchie 20 yr old: a lowland malt, fruity and smooth.</li> <li>Laguvalin: An Islay malt, rich and peaty. Practically a meal on its own. Try to get it in single-cask, cask strength for a real treat (but remember to add a wee bit water).</li></ul> Regards, Steve Alex, great revues. I’ve drank all three and for me the Talisker was one of the best.

Try any of these, if you can get them in the U.S.:

  • Knockando 12 yr old, a no-nonsense relatively cheap Speyside malt.
  • Isle of Jura (aged in bourbon, not sherry, casks for a far subtler blending of tastes) – especially the 18 yr old. My personal all-time favorite whisky.
  • Dalwhinnie 29 yr old. A Speyside malt. Sublime.
  • Old Fettercairn 13 yr old: another Speyside malt, and all round wonderful.
  • Glenkinchie 20 yr old: a lowland malt, fruity and smooth.
  • Laguvalin: An Islay malt, rich and peaty. Practically a meal on its own. Try to get it in single-cask, cask strength for a real treat (but remember to add a wee bit water).

Regards, Steve

]]> By: Ari Bavel http://manzine.org/2009/07/29/a-trio-of-fine-scotches/#comment-28 Ari Bavel Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:05:32 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=553#comment-28 I love the Talisker, especially the 18 year, and Alex's description is spot on. The Speyside is a good whisky, too. I haven't tried the Cigar Malt. But I'd suggest, in addition to these fine whiskys, the <a href="http://en-us.themacallan.com/the-macallan/scotch-whisky/the-single-malt-regions.aspx" rel="nofollow">Macallan</a> 18, the <a href="http://www.thebalvenie.com/" rel="nofollow">Balvenie</a> Doublewood and the Portwood (the Doublewood is my prefered of the two - a second casking in sherry casks imparts a finish that is too good to belive!), and my all-time favorite: the <a href="http://www.glenfarclas.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Glenfarclas</a>. Amber hued and smoother than a baby's butt, this highland single malt bears just the right suggestions of peat and smoke, but doesn't overpower the pallet. Perhaps not the best pairing with a cigar, but with no more than 2 cubes of ice, or a splash of water (room temp OF COURSE!), this Scotsman's ambrosia will fill the bill and then some. Enjoy. I love the Talisker, especially the 18 year, and Alex’s description is spot on. The Speyside is a good whisky, too. I haven’t tried the Cigar Malt. But I’d suggest, in addition to these fine whiskys, the Macallan 18, the Balvenie Doublewood and the Portwood (the Doublewood is my prefered of the two – a second casking in sherry casks imparts a finish that is too good to belive!), and my all-time favorite: the Glenfarclas. Amber hued and smoother than a baby’s butt, this highland single malt bears just the right suggestions of peat and smoke, but doesn’t overpower the pallet. Perhaps not the best pairing with a cigar, but with no more than 2 cubes of ice, or a splash of water (room temp OF COURSE!), this Scotsman’s ambrosia will fill the bill and then some. Enjoy.

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