What is the best whisky

[needsy]

I know this will probably raise a debate. I'm not a whisky buff, but do enough a wee dram.
I've tried & really liked macallan & balvinne 15 year old.
Just working my way through a bottle of Bowmore islay malt.
Any other suggestions for a really good malt ?????.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

 

[DL]

Single cask, cask strength is a good start if you're serious about your whisky.

www.smws.co.uk/

 

[manc-munsters]

Bushmills Malt 21 yr old.

 

[cockersam]

I know this will probably raise a debate. I'm not a whisky buff, but do enough a wee dram.
I've tried & really liked macallan & balvinne 15 year old.
Just working my way through a bottle of Bowmore islay malt.
Any other suggestions for a really good malt ?????.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

What a subject, that's like asking what's the best car. Everyone's opinion will vary according to taste as it does with wine. I once won a bottle of 'Sheep dip' single malt and that was nice but, I don't think you can beat being sat in front of a nice fire with good company and a good malt of any make it's a nice way to while away an evening.

I think like wine the one that you like is the one for you, but, finding it could be expensive if you go by the bottle but, it's a good life if can afford it.

You will find that some have a smokey or peaty after taste according to the water used but, again that's taste preference.

Dave

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Jameson's Redbreast, 12yro single pot still.

That would be Irish 8)

 

[ash243]

oh dear i feel a disruption in the force

 

[private fraser]

jamesons

Yes, Jameson's is good stuff much as it pains me as a Scot to say that.
Jameson's Gold is a very nice blended whisky with an individual taste at a good price.

fraser

 

[basil]

February, this year i started a similar post. Ran for ages.
basil.

 

[caorach]

I always chip in on this whisky threads, I'm far from an expert but I have some opinions, in fact I've lots of opinions but you don't have time for all of them

The thing with whisky is you can spend a fortune so if we assume you are restricting yourself to something that you might just be able to justify as a once in a blue moon special present to yourself, say less than £100, then here are my thoughts:

Black Bush from Bushmills is hard to beat as a blend and general drinking whiskey and is about £20 a bottle. The 21 year old Bushmills single malt is supposed to be wonderful but I've never tried it.

As you say the Macallan is fantastic drinking and the standard malt is good but the 18 year old, which can be had for less than £100 sometimes, is worth a try if you can justify it. It is like the standard Macallan but more.

We couldn't not mention Glenfiddich on a stalking web site and I would recommend the 21 year old. You can get this in Glasgow/Edinburgh airport for just a shade over £50 a bottle and it is worth it for a treat. It is probably the best affordable whisky in the sense that I feel it punches a little above its weight. (just like Minox HG binos for example )

Worth a try is the Tomintoul 16 year old, or even the 27. It is good whisky and you can get the one litre bottles of the 16 in Glasgow/Edinburgh airports for £30 which I think it really good VFM.

I have tried a lot of different malts and in my very ignorant opinion it is usually hard to beat the big name brands. I always feel I want to support the smaller operations, and each will have its own claim to be the smallest, or highest, or lowest, or something distillery, but in the end buy the Tomintoul 16, the Glenfiddich 21 and the Macallan 18 and I think you will not beat them.

You will notice the Islays missing as I like the odd glass but am not a big fan and for all I know this post might directly contradict the last one I made on the subject but I change my mind a lot!

 

[Frax]

If you like them smokey and peaty try the Laphroaig Quarter Cask. It's a beauty. If you like them really smokey try Smokehead. If you're not keen on the west coast stuff the Dalwhinnie is a good starter.

 

[jingzy]

A good whisky, is when theres none left.

 

[pheasant sniper 1]

Having had to much Bells as a nipper i can certainly vouch for its strong after-taste..

Bloody horrible stuff..

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

like many others im sure i cant justify spending big money on a bottle of whisky and i stick with what i deem as a affordable bottle (£25 max) and the best i have found is glenfiddich dont know what the other cheap skates think ?

 

[robinhood]

Just working my way through a bottle of Bowmore islay malt.

same here
I also like Royal Lochnagar and the ubiquitous Glenmorangie.

 

[Nicholas Fahey]

Glen Livet "the archive" awesome 8)

 

[Orion]

Laphroaig for me!

 

[jingzy]

+ 1 for laphroig first, then Balvenie, then Ben Riach Port Finish, and the list goes on and on

 

[devilishdave]

Whisky

Balvinnie double wood

Dave

 

[Orion]

 

[mallettn]

As has been said it depends what you like and when and in what circumstances you are drinking it.

Just as an example of what I mean and do myself!

Pre-dinner aperitif:
Try a very light lowland malt like Glenkinchie or maybe a classic Speyside malt like Glenmorangie (more flavour). Dalwinnie (mentioned earlier is good and in between the two in terms of strength of flavour). A good blend is also good - try Johnnie Walker Black Label

With dinner - traditional alternative to wine, but not my thing, I will let others advise.

After dinner:
Talisker - great dram with peat and bite (from the Isle of Skye and my personal favourite) or stick with Glenmorangie or perhaps Macallan

After midnight with good mates:
I go for the heavy Islay malts - Laguvlin (std 16 yr old) is my favourite but many people rate Laphroiag. Both are heavily peated and quite smokey in flavour; this is the extreme end of the scotch flavour spectrum.

Let me know how you get on!

Neal