What's your latest whiskey purchase?

[jcskinner]

Saw that Dalmore in Heathrow. Damn, it's a small bottle for the price!
Before Xmas, I picked up a Talisker Distiller's Edition and Redbreast 15 yo from Ally. And coming through London, I got reckless and added a Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona (http://www.worldofwhiskies.com/Scottish ... -LITRE.php), a Glenfarclas 21 yo (£41!!!) and a 46 year old indie bottling of Strathisla. (They also had a 53 year old indie Glen Keith, but I didn't fancy shelling out for it on the grounds that at such an advanced age, it would be unlikely to be great.)
I'm now skint, needless to say.
On the plus side, I've some nice drams to look forward to!

[JohnM]

There are some fantastic value old Strathislas and Longmorns from Gordon and Macphail. There's supposed to be very good too. I've a Longmorn 30 that's yet to be opened.

[jcskinner]

This one's a 1963, bottled by Gordon and McPhail indeed in 09.
I trust them as bottlers, so I felt it was worth shelling out. The colour alone is amazing - like a ruby port nearly - http://www.worldofwhiskies.com/Scottish ... E-70cl.php.
The one that I passed on was actually a Glen Grant, I now realise - http://www.worldofwhiskies.com/Scottish ... E-70cl.php.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Some nice buys there JC ...

Myself and Leo (and my other brothers) purchased a 1960 Straithisla last year for one of our Brothers who hit 50. A nice way to mark a 50th.

I've also had a chance to taste Leo's 1967 Straithisla and it was a very nice whisky indeed. I think for the age they are great value whiskies so best of luck with yours.

Had a Longmourn 1971 myself a couple years ago which was under 100 and eventhough did not blow me away it was good all the same.

[jcskinner]

Lovely idea for a present, IWC. I hope my family are as considerate when I hit 40 shortly!
I'm probably looking forward to the Glenfarclas more than anything, I think. Most of what I've picked up recently has a touch of smoke about it, but I like a sherry finish myself. Though the Strathisla looks pretty sherried too, in fairness.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Lovely idea for a present, IWC. I hope my family are as considerate when I hit 40 shortly!
I'm probably looking forward to the Glenfarclas more than anything, I think. Most of what I've picked up recently has a touch of smoke about it, but I like a sherry finish myself. Though the Strathisla looks pretty sherried too, in fairness.

Glenfarclas usually has a good blast of Chocolate and if you have a sweet tooth you will love it. A real after dinner whisky. The straithisla's seem to have a nice balance of sherry but not overpowering with lovely wafts of smoke, ashtray even rather than peat but again is not in your face.

[jcskinner]

I had an indie bottling of Glenfarclas last year which was unsherried, and it was really interesting. Chocolate as you say, but also astringent and fruity. This time around I couldn't resist the idea of going all out on a proper sherried version, and at the price, the 21 yo fitted the bill.
I'm being won around to the Speyside and Highlands malts when it comes to smokiness. The Islay thing is generally a bit much for me. A touch of peat amid some sherried sweetness sounds fine by me!

[bredman]

Glen Garioch 1797 Founders Reserve
4x CV packs Springbank/Longrow/Hazelburn
Glenlivet 40 Peerless 49.9%
Caperdonich 1994 CC

[varizoltan]

Glenfarclas last year which was unsherried

as far as i know, Glenfarclas is not doing any finish whisky

[jcskinner]

Glenfarclas is nearly always sherried, often heavily so.
They do use some bourbon barrels, but finding unsherried Glenfarclas isn't easy and can usually only be found in the occasional single cask independent bottling, as far as I'm aware.
Like Macallan, they've made their name as a sherried Scotch, but unlike Macallan, they haven't to my knowledge yet gone down the road of releasing unsherried whiskey under their own label.
According to Dr Whisky (who I don't always trust), Glenfarclas only use sherry butts or 'plain casks' (which are either refill bourbon barrels which have already held scotch or else are four times used sherry casks.)
But he said that around 3 years ago, and I think they might use the odd bourbon barrel today. But it all gets vatted in with the sherried spirit when they come to bottle it.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Glenfarclas last year which was unsherried

as far as i know, Glenfarclas is not doing any finish whisky

Whisk(e)y which is unsherried is Basically bourbon matured. And a bourbon barrel matured whisk(e)y is not a finish. Further a lot of heavily sherried batch whisk(e)y I imagine has at least a small ratio of bourbon matured whisk(e)y. However some of those glenfarclas batch runs would give you good reason to think they were solely sherry matured.

I would reckon there is not a distillery on the planet that does not use Bourbon barrels to mature some precentage of their whisk(e)y. Except for one exception which is of course is US distillers ... who obviously do not use bourbon barrels but fresh oak

[JohnM]

It used to be the case, I think, that Macallan was the only distillery to entirely use sherry casks.

[bredman]

These arrived earlier. An interesting bunch, all to be opened very soon.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Looking good there bredman and we look forward to hearing you thoughts back on those ...

[zenmonk]

What would a good introduction to Scotch malts be? I have tried Talisker and a few others and am really drawn to something with a peaty taste.

[bredman]

What would a good introduction to Scotch malts be? I have tried Talisker and a few others and am really drawn to something with a peaty taste.

Scotch single malts with more peat than Talisker are - Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Longrow. Also Port Charlotte, and Kilchoman. These are all based on Islay with the exception of Longrow, which is heavily peated from Springbank. Others with something of a peat presence would be Highland Park, Springbank and Ardmore. There are some distilleries that dip their toe into peated releases but the above all make good consistent produce, and make peated whisky as standard. My personal favourites ( at a decent price ) would be -

Ardbeg 10, also Uigeadail and Corryvreckan
Longrow CV, also the 10yo 100 Proof and 14yo
Caol Ila "Natural Cask Strength"
Lagavulin 12 Cask Strength
Springbank 12 Cask Strength

Looking at these i notice none are widely found in supermarkets, so you'll need a 'good whisky' outlet if you want to try one of these.

edit: i forgot Bowmore, mainly as it's not my cup of tea.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

bredman has covered it pretty well ... I'll just add a few of my favourites.

I agree on the Highland Park ... evethough not heavily peated it does have some and is very much well worth exploring.
However if you are not used to cask strength whisky it may be worth considering this before you buy.
It is always good to start with the entry level bottles as you will not get overly stung if you don't like it.

So

HP 12yo.
Laphroaig 10yo or Quarter Cask
Caol Ila 12yo

Might be worth checking out Lagavulin 16yo also.

Even better are minis or small bottles.

See this in WHisky Exchange.

[varizoltan]

What would a good introduction to Scotch malts be? I have tried Talisker and a few others and am really drawn to something with a peaty taste.

you should try the Connemara range, and you may find it better than any scotch

see here; http://connemarawhiskey.com/

you will love it

[brettie vedder]

just received a present from my brother and sister in law. they got me a bottle of buffalo trace bourbon and 3 samples from master of malt. bruichladdich octomore 02.1 bottled at 62.5% highland park 25 yo and laphroaig 16 yo 1992 old malt cask (douglas laing.) really looking forward to tasting the lot of them. almost feel a bit unworthy, haha. i have heard/read many good things about buffalo trace, so can't wait to try that either.

cheers

[zenmonk]

Thanks guys great info. Actually have a bottle of Connemara Cask Strength at home. Don't find it very peaty though?! Look forward to trying a few of the above mentioned.
But maybe I'm confusing peaty and smokey as the same thing would those Scotches be considered smokey as well or what would be?
Excuse the newbieness of my post.

[bredman]

Peat and smoke come together, generally speaking. Some expressions may exhibit more smokey notes than others. If it's 'big' peat you're after, grab a few of these

Scotch single malts with more peat than Talisker are - Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Longrow. Also Port Charlotte, and Kilchoman. These are all based on Islay with the exception of Longrow, which is heavily peated from Springbank.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I would consider Lagavulin as mainly big smoke with lesser peat undertones.

While Laphroaig has big peat rather than smoke for me anyway.

Laphroiag also has a big Iodine punch which some people find very strong

Personally I'm not keen on Ardbeg as I find it has an acrid almond type taste which I find hard to get past ... this is especially so in the younger versions but Ardbeg is a huge hit with a lot of people so you'll need to make up your own mind on loads of these whiskies.

[brettie vedder]

laphroaig is god

[zenmonk]

Went for the Bowmore 12 yr old, at €34.95 probably a safe bet and also ordered the Tyrconnell Madeira from Ally! looking forward to it now.

[GSC]

From my beloved father-in-law for the holidays, a nice heavy 1.75 glass bottle full of Chivas Regal, mounted in a fancy swiveling chrome metal pouring swingset affair.

I love my father-in-law.