Yeah, that's what I meant by negative. Hard to imagine Ardbeg churning out something that actually tastes bad

did a little tasting with some friends last night. had

Laphroaig 18
Caol Ila 18
Lagavulan 16
Aberlour 18

like the CL the best, but was very surprised by how much the Laphroaig mellowed out vs the 10.

Also, the aberlour taseted like a fruit cake, i didnt like it. I think all the Islays i have been drinking are killing my taste for anything not smokey

Eat a steak while drinking an islay. Good stuff. (goes well with bourbon too, I had a medium rare steak + booker's recently and it was damn good stuff)

That Aberlour has no business being in this set for tasting. You need to taste the Aberlour with other similar whiskys on another day. The peat will kill all of the other flavors.

The Laph 18 is fantastic, if you haven't tried the quarter cask yet I would recommend that also.

On a road trip in Reno went to anew liquor store they had Taylor barrel proof for $85 it was135 proof and had Willet experimental for $138 I think it was bourbon but was in the tube. I didn't get either one now I'm thinking of going back to the store. Thoughts?

Both decent prices.

The willett is rye finished in gran marnier casks.

For my money, I'd get the Taylor.

Kondo,

As usual re: anything having to do w American whiskey, what foo said.

All,

Lot of high-end whisk(e)y talk in here, but I was shopping for a party recently picking up some mid-level stuff and realized how much great stuff is still out there at reasonable prices. So here's Diablo's List Of Some Good Stuff You Can Get At K&L For Under Fifty Dollars (or as most people refer to it, DLOSGSYCGAKFUFD):

Scotch:
Ardbeg 10 $42.99
Laphroaig 10 $42.99
Highland Park 12 $44.99
Balvenie 12 $45.99
Bowmore 12 $45.99
Glenmorangie 12 Quinta Ruban $47.99
Glenmorangie 12 Lasanta $47.99
Talisker 10 $49.99
Aberlour 12 $49.99
Dalwhinnie 15 $49.99
Macallan 12 $49.99

American:
Bulleitt Rye/Bourbon $22.99
Maker's Mark $22.99
Rittenhouse Rye $23.99 (I don't like this straight, love it for cocktails)
Woodford Reserve $24.99
Eagle Rare 10 $29.99
High West Double Rye $33.99
Templeton Rye $35.99
Basil Hayden $36.99
Four Roses Single Barrel $39.99
Rowan's Creek $39.99
Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 $44.99

This is far from an exhaustive list even just from K&L, just various stuff I enjoy from a quick scan of their list. The ones in bold I'm especially fond of.

Most of the bottles I have at home are in that kind of range - Talisker 10, Ardbeg 10, Balvenie 12 and Eagle Rare are among my favourites.

Interesting to see how much prices in the US differ from those in the UK.

Obviously I pay quite a bit more for bourbon/rye relative to Scotch compared to what you pay in the US, but even among Scotches there's quite a bit of difference. It's hard to find Ardbeg 10 for less than £40 here, whereas I picked up Aberlour 12 recently for £25 at the supermarket. Surprised to see the latter is more expensive for you.

@thesilkworm
dont forget the Macallan 12,if u still can find 1 its around €90 in Europe right now.

More like

Eagle Rare "10"

Some recent pick ups/deliveries

will btry the QC and the aberlour is confirmed very good without smokebombing my mout prior to tasting.

any rec's for a very smoky dram? Want to try some of the ones on the far end of the spectrum.

Tbg,

Ardbeg - I reviewed a few recently.

Bruichladdich Octomore is definitely on the far end of the spectrum.

Laph QC one of the great values in Scotch. Just bought 1L at the border for 40 bucks. Very smokey too, you'll like it THB

Goose,

Hmm, I like QC but it's like $55-65 for a 750 here.

I know it's weird it's always super cheap at duty free places. For example Glenlivet 12 750ml was the same price as 1L of QC and Balvenie 12 was a few bucks more.

Got some new stuff in at the local liquor storE. Anything worth getting?

How much is the bunna?

It was CAD $100. Just assume prices are about double what you would pay in the US in USD.

Don't really care too much about value though, just looking to get some good whiskey.

The Craigellachie seems like a really good deal

@Goose
out of that 3 i would take the bunna for sure.
the price isn´t that bad either.
the PC is really young and the Craigellachie is a typical Seysider
so ;nuts, malt, and sweet apples but has some suphur aswell.
not a whisky i would recommend to u, given your posts here...

Thanks Mann, I will grab the Bunna!

Bought the Bunnahabhain Ceobanach tonight, very nice whiskey. It's not very multi-faceted, but does it's one thing really well (salty/smokey islay). Again my mouth went pretty numb, which was something I had only experienced before with the Ardbeg Correyvreckan, but this time it was my gums more than my tongue. Perhaps a similar ingredient or element? Thought this one was a bit more peppery and less salty than the correyvreckan and certainly tasted harsher even though it was bottled at 11% less (46%ABV). Overall it's a great add-on to the collection, not like anything else I have. Would recommend, but not sure yet if I'd replace the bottle when it's done.

@goose
with some oxidation it will mallow down a bit and wont be as harsh.
and true peated bunnas are usally less salty than ardbegs or some caol ilas.
that wont change sorry

ps:great whisky with a steak in my opinion.

No need for sorry it is very good in its own right. Solid recommendation, thanks.

Need to try something from Caol ila next, as somehow I never have!