[ponder]

jas25t, on 13 April 2011 - 09:18 PM, said:

Im just about to start on single malts after being on chivas 21yr and johnnie blue for a few years.

Glenlivet 21yr I scored for a good price, so I'm hoping it doesn't dissapoint.......Islay Malts seem to be the next progression.

A generous sibling has kindly given me three bottles of Johnnie Blue over the years - generally as a result of surplus duty free allocation The last one came shortly after my discovery of peat, and I struggled with the notion of suggesting that perhaps, next time, they could buy me three Laphroaigs instead - and keep the change.

[tor]

ponder, on 13 April 2011 - 10:45 PM, said:

Anyone tasted anything fancier than their 10yo?

Have tried the cask strength and, at the time, thought the normal 10 was better. I was stupid enough to drink the lot before buying a comparison bottle of 10yo and comparing flavours though.

[Turkey]

tor, on 13 April 2011 - 08:09 PM, said:

In my experience people either love it with a passion, the first sip is like "whoooah holy crap" then 10 minutes later they are asking for a top up. Or they don't like it at all and, I suspect, never will.

Add a drop or two of water to it (less than a teaspoon to 60 ml) and it does smooth out the flavours a lot on the heavier ones (laphroiag, lagavulin, ardbeg) or start with a lighter one (bowmore, caol ila).

I have seen the miniatures for laphraoig at Dan Murphy occasionally, pretty cheap way to try if none of the bars have it.

I'll give the miniatures a go the next time I go in to buy a case of my usual poison.

One more silly question, do you drink it with or without ice?

[ponder]

Turkey, on 13 April 2011 - 11:57 PM, said:

I'll give the miniatures a go the next time I go in to buy a case of my usual poison.

One more silly question, do you drink it with or without ice?

Without ice. Always.

Water is fine ... 'good' in fact, as it can open up the smoky/peaty deliciousness (as Tor mentioned above), but ice - or even iced water - closes them.

[Bernard L. Madoff]

ponder, on 13 April 2011 - 10:45 PM, said:

Quite timely to this discussion, I received a 'Friends of Laphroaig' email overnight (thanks to Mrs Ponder's regular Fathers' Day gifts, I'm now steward of a few plots - and plan to head over in 2015 for their bicentennary to collect my 'rent'). Included was news of two new batches:

This is the time to go...
http://www.islaywhis...y_festival.html
http://www.scotlandw...Music-festival/

[Bernard L. Madoff]

This is the way to do it (whaddaya reckon Staringclown)...

http://www.sailscotl...id=70&sub_id=64

Quote

Both Islay and Jura are well known for their distilleries; Islay has a total of eight and Jura has one. Most of the coastal distilleries have their own moorings or small pontoons for visiting boats.

Nuff said.

[staringclown]

Bernard L. Madoff, on 14 April 2011 - 05:53 AM, said:

This is the way to do it (whaddaya reckon Staringclown)...

http://www.sailscotl...id=70&sub_id=64



Nuff said.

Ooh yeah! (Of course you only want me along to do the driving ) Regardless I'm in.

I did a big tour of the islands and outer hebrides back in 89. It's a beautiful place. Most recently stayed in a hunting lodge near Glencoe for a week with 4 other friends. Huge place, deer heads and antlers everywhere. Giant kitchen, several lounges, and views of the loch and mountains. A haul of whisky garnered from the scotch whisky experience in Edinburgh. A boat would be the next logical step.

All this talk of malt - I had to get a bottle course. I settled on Ardbeg. 10YO 46% vol (cos I was angry - thanks tor) First time I've studied it. Not overly smoky/peaty but it's there. No seaweed. Really light caramel. Overall it's warming me and I'm warming to it.

[Bernard L. Madoff]

staringclown, on 14 April 2011 - 10:23 AM, said:

Ooh yeah! (Of course you only want me along to do the driving ) Regardless I'm in.

Boooger off. You can only get me away from a tiller/wheel in a piece of Muvver Natures maelstrom where something up front is going to sh*t (dumping a non furling jib, kite or main comes to mind).

[Dose]

ponder, on 14 April 2011 - 12:05 AM, said:

Without ice. Always.
Water is fine ... 'good' in fact, as it can open up the smoky/peaty deliciousness (as Tor mentioned above), but ice - or even iced water - closes them.

I've lucked upon a Auchentoshan cask strength but I preferred with a little ice. Must be a softy!

Quite sweet, not that peaty oil drum I long for...but I'll be back!

[staringclown]

Dose, on 20 December 2011 - 10:54 AM, said:

I've lucked upon a Auchentoshan cask strength but I preferred with a little ice. Must be a softy!

Quite sweet, not that peaty oil drum I long for...but I'll be back!

I reckon ice is OK with cask strength. As long as you drink it quickly. Where did you luck upon the booze? I'm owed a bottle from a recent birthday.

[Dose]

staringclown, on 20 December 2011 - 12:05 PM, said:

I reckon ice is OK with cask strength. As long as you drink it quickly. Where did you luck upon the booze? I'm owed a bottle from a recent birthday.

It was a gift; will report back after a look around for it on the Festive Booze Buying Spree.

[tor]

staringclown, on 20 December 2011 - 12:05 PM, said:

I reckon ice is OK with cask strength. As long as you drink it quickly. Where did you luck upon the booze? I'm owed a bottle from a recent birthday.

Dan Murphy have it, I think I grabbed one a few weeks back, probably not the cask strength though. I find cask strengths usually are overpowering in the alcohol. Could be just that I am used to 40 odd %.

[staringclown]

Dan Murphy has a good range. I almost bought the Auchentoshan but it's a speyside! Went for the Caol Ila distillers edition instead. 43% and finished in a muscatel cask. I will report back.

[tor]

staringclown, on 24 December 2011 - 10:36 AM, said:

Dan Murphy has a good range. I almost bought the Auchentoshan but it's a speyside! Went for the Caol Ila distillers edition instead. 43% and finished in a muscatel cask. I will report back.

I bought a bottle the other day to make sure.

It's okay. Probably not something I would buy again if I remembered having bought it before.