Whisky (Whiskey) experts in here please...

Hello.

Although there are no hard and fast rules, Whisky tends to be taken to mean Scotch whisky and whiskey tends to be taken as Irish or American whiskey - although it's not wrong to intermingle the two terms.

As has been said already, there is an enormous range of whiskies around and you would need to find out which sort of whisky your mate prefers before shelling out for a bottle of 30 year old.

I've recently finished a bottle of 30yo Laphroaig which was absolutely delicious and quite different from the other Laphroaig whiskies I've had due to having been matured in sherry casks for 30 years (most Laphroaig is matured in bourbon casks). At £190 a bottle (members price from Laphroaig website), it's not the sort of thing you buy on the off chance it may be good. You'll need to do a bit of research before spending your hard earned cash dude.

The main whisky producing regions for Scotch whisky are Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Islands and Islay. Each region has it's own characteristics, although, as has been mentioned, Highland, Speyside and Lowland can sometimes taste quite similar depending on where in the region it was distilled. Islay malt tastes like nothing else and it is almost impossible to confuse Islay malts with any other region (it's also very yummy).

If you find out which kind of whisky your mate prefers, let us know and we'll try to help you out a bit more.
 
Panzerbjorn said:
Another big fan of Islay whisky. Just polished off a bottle of Jura at my local before going back to uni ;)

Panzer
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Jura isn't in Islay ;)

It has all been said so far but I will add just ont more point. An older whiskey does not necessarily mean a better whiskey. A lot of people think that because it is older and vastly more expensive, that it must be far better than the younger alternatives. It can be the case but isn't always. It's a very subjective thing and is down to the tastes of the drinker. Some drinkers prefer younger malts over older ones.

So, if you're buying for someone, find out what they usually drink, do a bit of research and try to buy something with similar notes. If it is for yourself, go to a reputable whiskey merchant and ask to have a taste. Most will not let you taste the older/rarer stuff but if you are a regular customer and they think that you will buy, they may let you have a taste.
 
D.P. said:
Incorrect.
A blend is called a blend becuase it not only mixes different single casks matured whiskies, but a majority of the fluid is made from distilled grain alcohol, AKA industrial spirit. The Whisky is just there for flavour.

Now these can be fine, blended with coke. But rarely are they worth drinking straight unless you are cheap. Often they can taste better than a chepa single malt.

A single malt is more or less an entirely different drink. Once aged appropriately it becomes the nectra of the gods.


Islay and speside are just 2 areas known for producing whisksy and are hence susets of single malts. All explained here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_malt_Scotch



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I would reccomend a 30 year old laphroaig.
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I´m learning something here :):D
 
Essentially as a whisky matures it gets more mellow, but the taste also slowly disappears. My understanding is that a sensible limit is about 25 years, after that it starts to get a bit bland. But the cost of storing the maturing barrels means that older always = more expensive, even if it does no = better.

With that in mind, it depends on what you like - the are some people who actually think Glenfiddich is worth drinking for instance. Personally I tend to stick with stuff 12-15 years, ideally at the upper end of that. The 25-year old MacCallum (sp?) is god-like, but £100-odd a bottle. Luckily for me I've got Wadworth the off-licence just up the road, and they have well over a hundred different types. My last two bottles are Aultmore and Blair Athol, both 12 years.


M
 
Meridian said:
Essentially as a whisky matures it gets more mellow, but the taste also slowly disappears. My understanding is that a sensible limit is about 25 years, after that it starts to get a bit bland. But the cost of storing the maturing barrels means that older always = more expensive, even if it does no = better.

With that in mind, it depends on what you like - the are some people who actually think Glenfiddich is worth drinking for instance. Personally I tend to stick with stuff 12-15 years, ideally at the upper end of that. The 25-year old MacCallum (sp?) is god-like, but £100-odd a bottle. Luckily for me I've got Wadworth the off-licence just up the road, and they have well over a hundred different types. My last two bottles are Aultmore and Blair Athol, both 12 years.


M
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I can assure you there was nothing bland about my 30yo Laphroaig ;)
 
Heres a couple I drink:

1) Johnnie Walker Blue label - when my wallet allows @ £150 ish per 70cl

2) (Isle of) Jura this is currently on offer in CostCo @ £19ish

3) Glenfiddich special - Single Malt - Saisnburys @ £25 from £35

Each different but each nice imo.
 
-=BAF=-AXE said:
Heres a couple I drink:

1) Johnnie Walker Blue label - when my wallet allows @ £150 ish per 70cl
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Been on my "to do" list for a while. I'm not a huge fan of JW but I'm assured that the Blue Label is worth the extra - may get it on the way back from Egypt next time (a lot cheaper in duty free :D).
 
Not that much cheaper - unless your outside EU :(

Ninja edit - it will be cheap for you then :D

I just came back from Dam last night - 190 Euro.

When i was in maldives thou in summer - 150 US Dollars :O

I should have snapped some more up ;)

ENjoy!

Andy
 
Green is ok, Gold and Blue all the way.

I picked a bottle of green up in asda for under £20 recently for a pressie ;)

Andy
 
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