El D,

Thanks! I got into the Balvenie Portwood last night and it is one of my new faves for sure. I have liked everything I have tried in the Balvenie lineup so far - Doublewood, Single Barrel, Signature and now Portwood. Based on good things said in this thread I have tried Highland Park 12, 15 and 18 and enjoyed all three very much - particularly the 15.

A couple others I found thanks to this thread that I quite enjoyed are Aberlour A'bunadh and Glenmorangie Nectar D'or. I need to go back and give Quinta Ruben, Oban 14, Longrow 10, Springbank 12, Laphoaig Quarter Cask and Smokehead a third chance.

I will definitely try out some more Glenrothes. Keep the great tips coming! Thanks again.

Awesome. Thx Ike.

**** Canada.

I recently ordered a bottle of Balvenie Portwood through my online wallet's points service. Obviously I expected there to be some duties and knew it wouldn't be "free". I expected to have to pay an additional 50-60$ or so (still a lot). Anyways, this bottle is on sale in Canada for 225$ (lol canada right?) and it retails for about 120$ in the UK where it's coming from.

Here is the email from the UPS customs agent.

"The LCBO levy, based on this alcohol percentage is 143.7% of the duty-included value. So, take the value in Canadian dollars, add the duty, excise and GST, and multiply by 143.7% to get the levy amount.

The freight charge is a flat warehouse fee charged by the carrier for holding this in their warehouse and the brokerage charge is a flat rate for any alcohol shipment under 13 bottles of wine.

Yes, the amount is high, but the totals are correct."

WTF is this ****? They want me to pay an additional 280$. Had to send it back and now won't get to enjoy this delicious bottle I've been waiting for.

A+ post.

Goose,

FWIW, the Balvenie 21 goes for $170 at my local place in San Francisco.

Yea sounds about right. Still, expecting me to pay 280$ in duties alone for a bottle I otherwise spent 125$ on too it a bit much. The duties alone are more then the cost of the bottle here is my point. <3 monopolies.

Goose,

Those very same levies are built into the price of whatever is for sale at your local LCBO. The difference is that they are based on the cost that the LCBO is paying at source. As one of the largest purchasers of alcoholic beverages in the world, the LCBO tends to get a good price.

It almost never makes any financial sense for an Ontario resident to buy retail outside of Canada, unless they are travelling and have earned a customs exemption as a result.

During my last trip to the liquor store I saw they were selling a special packaging of Highland Park 12 that came with a 50 ml bottle of the 18.

I just ordered a couple bottles of Laphroaig 18 year, for the ridiculous price of $75.95 per bottle. Some stores are charging more than double that amount.

Christmas came early this year

holy **** do they ship to NY?

My boyfriend & I will be toasting you on Christmas

Cant get Laphroaig 18 that cheap in the UK
£58+ ($90) here

Yup! Shipping should be around $25 for 1-4 bottles.

Lucid,

Re: vintage 23 rye. Opened this up last night as my brother is visiting from out of town. Usually, I feel like rye stands up to the barrel better than bourbon, not so much in this case. Solid pour, but is all oak all the time. Strong oak on the nose and front of the palate, finishing with spice notes. Had it next to the high west rendezvous rye for comparison and the difference in the two is remarkable - almost like you're not drinking the same type of booze. Anyhow, happy enough with the purchase, but probably wouldn't drop another $90 on a bottle if I happen to see one sitting around again.

Now that I've had both Ardbeg 10 > Laphroig 10 thoughts?

I agree, while I like the taste of Laphroig it just doesn't sit right in my stomach. Always have a stomach ache after a few glasses. Not so with Ardbeg.

I just purchased a bottle of Aberlour Abunadh Cask 35 that I'm looking forward to opening this weekend. Anyone try this yet?

In that case, try the Ardbeg Uigeadail. It's spectacular and right up your alley if you liked the 10.

Yea, like I mentioned I had heard that about it, though some people really love that very woody flavor. I personally don't which is what turns me off about Pappy 23. The Vintage 21 isn't overly woody at all so if you find a bottle I would def suggest getting it, I think u would be much happier with it since it sounds like ur not a huge fan of too much oak flavor either.

I''d loel tp starat a rea;;u gppd wome [prtofp;op/ O love mcl;anmnnaajanm, whchi si supporsed to ebe a scotch. its's real smooth. I[m nots i k owhthe differenedce betwen scotch and whislky. But I wanna lean which means I got to drink more than i am right now. So can anythinjttell m ewha ta cood case or collection is?Some black labnal and i even hursd folf sometnong someone raspberrireis tozers, ut I didnt' know what that menat. so can someone set me up with a cood scotch factoryh? not a ravctory realy but a shipment that I couls suse as m own =personal stash. I could really go for some cool smooth mcallans righth now,. It's realluy the bnest stuff. Missit deAlry.

^^^^guess that can be the problem with threads about alcohol

LOL

hahahaha

Me and three others are getting together for a newly formed whisky club.

What snacks should I make?!?!

Anything wrapped in bacon.

Goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.