In Scotland alone, over 133 distilleries produce over 2,000 brands of whisky.
Here a few single malts have been chosen to represent groups with various traits.
Yes, please. The higher on the displayed scale, the better, thank you.
Yep. Prefer on the smoky side, but I like 'em all.
I thought that when I went to England, I would be in Scotch heaven.
There was a great variety, but the prices knocked me over.
Yep. Prefer on the smoky side, but I like 'em all.
I thought that when I went to England, I would be in Scotch heaven.
There was a great variety, but the prices knocked me over.
Don't look for relief from the north. Our booze taxes are ~40%.
Colkeegan. Santa Fe Distillery. Offered at cask strength, 92 proof. ~$50.
Santa Fe isn't exactly peat country. Appreciable elevation above sea level too.
So they smoke their malt with mesquite. This tastes like Scotland came to the barbeque.
Let's see... Dalwhinnie 15yo is kinda light, not heavily smoked... what else is in my liquor locker...?... Hmm. Mossburn Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. 46% ABV, so it's like a light cask-strength; no age statement, which figures with multiple Speysides vatted together.
Nose like rubbing alcohol -- entirely spiritous and nothing much but. On the palate, much more fun, several layers going on here. Might get around to a few drops of designer water in a bit. Speyside sweetish note evident even at this ABV. Little if any smoke/peat.
Dalwhinnie is quite nice when you're in the mood for something of the non-campfire variety. I try to keep a bottle of the "smoky" side and a bottle from the "delicate" side of the chart on hand. The Balvenie Double Wood is excellent and is, I believe, on sale at the PA state liquor stores for the next month or so. The Talisker 10 Year is also a big favorite. I currently have about 1/3 of a bottle of Talisker 57° North which Mrs. D got me at the duty-free shop on a trip to England. (The 57° refers to the latitude of the distillery; by non-coincidence it's bottled at 57% alcohol.) Ardbeg is just a bit too much for my taste, but the Laphroaig Quarter Cask is not bad.
Believe it or not, it is 9 AM and this discussion actually makes my mouth water. I may be in trouble.
