The Auswine Forum

Hi everyone,
I know this is a wine forum, but I hoped that some people here have turned their minds to whiskeys!

I'm buying an Xmas present for the GF's parents, and they both drink whiskey. I, however, don't. I wondered what a good buy would be, around about $80ish, that might be nice for them to have. They often drink Chivas Regal or Johnny Walker Black, but I'd like something a bit different for them. Can anyone make a recommendation?

Thanks so much!

P

Do they drink it straight or mix it?

Lagavulin is a stand out fave for me. But there are others too.

Given that their usual whiskys are blends of grain and malt components, perhaps Dimple 15yo, one of my favourites for $50-60.

Then there's some pretty full-on single malts. Islay (pronounced eye-la) is a renowned source of single malts from an island off the west coast of Scotland. Ardbeg, Bowmore and Lagavulin come to mind. Mind you, they're generally very peaty, plenty of iodine characters that put me in mind of sucking on a bandaid pad but once past that, they're bloody good whiskys. On the west coast of Scotland, Oban produce a 14yo single malt that's a bit between Highland and Islay. Talisker from the north-east of Scotland got a mention in a Robbie Burns poem - it too has some peaty iodine characters. A good middle of the road single malt is Glenfarclas 10yo. The Glenlivet 10yo is a cheaper highland single malt but good and I'm sure there are older versions that would suit.

Cheers

daz

If they regularly drink Blends, peaty gear like Lagavulin might be hard going. Similarly elegant highland whiskies like Dalwhinnie might also be underwhelming.

Why not go further afield and try to get a quality Irish Whisky like Bushmills Black, or looking elsewhere, something upmarket from Suntory's range?

It may be a bit risky to go with an Islay as the (strong) seaweed/iodine characters are often a taste that needs to be acquired. I'd stick to something from the mainland.

There can be only one. Laphroig.

Indeed. Laphroaig is t'other.

I love a broad range of single malts but we should consider the target audience, cause what we like is not necessarily what they will enjoy.

Glenfiddich is the worlds biggest selling single malt cause its inoffensive and easy to drink. Many people to get into single malts start off with this one. They also have a 15 year old that would be in the price bracket mentioned.

PaulG, do you drink malts yourself?

If not, they have thre predominant characteristics (and a thousand subsidiary ones!), malt - peat and alcohol. The malt forms the major flavour component; with the intensity of the peating smoke altering it; then the heat, citrus (heady, spirity) or oily (heavier, more pungent) alcohol.

My best-ever malt (I consider all the blends to be "English Whiskies") was the old Ardbeg 17, a beautiful, well balanced whisky showing both great depth of malting and lovely Islay peat. Unfortunately the distillery was closed down and the stock sold off. It is again open but not yet with comparable stocks - though the "new" 10 YO is a sound Islay malt. I drink Laphroaig as a palate cleanser - a wonderful malt before dinner.

The suggestions for any of the Islay malts may be a bit too extreme, they tend to be preferred by addicts (of Malt).

In your position I think I would buy a Glenlivet 18 - luscious, Christmas-cake fruity - this being the malting showing through rather than the peating and much more approachable than any of the Islays. This would be close to my favourite after dinner malt. The 12 YO is a good choice too. Suggest you might google the Glenlivet site.

Or the marvellous selection from The Macallan, google that too. truly wonderful malts for me, not a bad one amongst them.

On the other hand, and if you can find it in Aus, there is the truly wonderful Springbank malt - deep, malty with a salty and peaty tang to it.

Why not just buy one of each this week, then try them all and buy your preferred bottle as a pressie? This way you'll have an empty bank account, but sixty or so malts in your cellar to ease the pain and dull the worry about the financial situation - and also always know that when you visit the rellies they'll have something decent to drink.

GG

GG

Yep i'm pitching in for Glenlivet as well, the 15 yr old french oak or the 18. always enjoyed a glass of Glenmorangie and Glenfarclas as well, the different wood finishes of the Glenmorangie are interesting. but considering what they they normally drink i would stick to the 10yr olds.

To quote

"I'll have a scotch on the rocks, please. Any scotch will do, as long as it's not a blend, of course. Single malt, Glen Livet, Glen Galley, perhaps, any glen."

As suggested I'd stay away from the Islay malts as they can be likened to drinking smoke. (I love them personally) but the Bowmore is a little more understated unlike the Laphroaig/Lagavulin/Ardberg.

I'd probably also stay away from cask strength offerings as they are quite hard to get into if you can't get past the alcohol. (I'll usually cut with a dram of water)

If you want something a bit more left of centre, Glenmorangie and Bruichladdich do ranges with a bit of different treatment (Sherry Casks/Port Casks/Bourbon Casks/Madeira Wood) to impart a bit of complexity to their whisky. My favourite is The Balvenie Double Wood for this sort of thing.

But another option is a Highland one like the Macallan 10y.o, Glenfarclas 10y.o or my favorite there The Dalwhinnie.

Other alternatives are Riedel Single Malt glasses but are a bit exxy at around $30ea for the vinum range. Or Michael Jackson's Whiskey book which is all about how it's made with some beautiful photos of various distilleries all around the world.
http://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Definitiv ... 0789497107

Here's my little collection which I enjoy after a crappy day at work. As you can see it's stacked heavily toward Islay.

dave vino wrote:Here's my little collection which I enjoy after a crappy day at work. As you can see it's stacked heavily toward Islay.

Dunno about that. There's a lovely piece of blue Skye

Perhaps one of the softest, easiest drinking malts going around.

If you are after stuff that may not be too pungent and forceful on the flavour side, but more on the soft and creamy side, I would go for Isle of Jura. Other gentle introductions would be Highland Park, Balvenie Doublewood (as in the piccie above) or Macallan.

Cheers

Dave

TORB wrote:I love a broad range of single malts but we should consider the target audience, cause what we like is not necessarily what they will enjoy.

Glenfiddich is the worlds biggest selling single malt cause its inoffensive and easy to drink. Many people to get into single malts start off with this one. They also have a 15 year old that would be in the price bracket mentioned.

Yeah but, you nailed it with the inoffensive tag Ric. The Glenlivet 12yo's also inoffensive but a much better malt, at least to my palate. The 18yo Glenlivet sounds interesting, don't recall having seen it at the barn or elsewhere.

One of these days I'll have to get around to trying some Laphroaig - seen quite a few positive comments about their whiskys.

I'll stick with my recommendation of Dimple 15yo. As noted above, some single malts can be challenging to say the least. But as an intro to Islay malts, Bowmore's Legend (8yo I think) is a good place to start.

Cheers and best wishes for the festive season to you and the pets.

daz

Hi Daz,

Same to you and yours mate.

Re the Malts, agree with your comments about the Glenlivet range.

The Macallan now uses a high component of bourbon barrels and that has had a noticeable (negative) impact on the flavour profile in comparison to the old sherry cask versions. That means it will be a bit more of an acquired taste.

Thanks Ric

The Macallan and Highland Park I've not tried but they've been high on my list of whiskys to try for a while now. Perhaps the latter has more interest for me now - not keen on bourbon whiskey so perhaps wouldn't appreciate the former as much as I may once have done.

Single malts are a bit like red wine for many in some respects, an aquired taste.

Cheers

daz

I reckon the Glenlivet 12 y.o. is a good place to start for a quality single malt that is not heavy on the peat. It is a fruity, elegant malt that will do very well as a aperitif or pre-dinner drink. Forget the Glenfiddich, a beginner's malt for those who really aren't single malt drinkers but like to think they are.

The Laphroig is a full-bodied, over-the-top malt, perhaps the most peaty and iodine rich malt of all and isn't recommended for anyone but the most devoted single malt drinker.

The 12 y.o. Highland park is an excellent all-round malt, one that I would recommend to anyone.

Cheers.......Mahmoud.

Thanks Mahmoud, Highland Park 12yo is the one I've thought to try, though the 18yo's had some good press too but A$100+ is a bit expensive. Since The Wine Society dropped their Pure Malt (vatted malt with 20+ components), The Glenlivet 12yo has become my most affordable and enjoyable single malt.

Cheers

daz

Thank you so much everyone!
I will be heading to the store tomorrow with this list in hand, and will let you know what I end up with!

Cheers,
P

http://www.aussiewines.com.au/buyLiquor ... 5&page=112

Glenmorangie Single Malt 10 Y/O
in a word magnificent.