From my experience, you can get a bottle of blue label for $180 at Phoenix Airport duty free. Here (in Canada), you're looking at spending about $300.

Just checked out the link. That's a pretty nice looking selection off of duty free.

I like your list, however, I would remove the Glenmorangie and replace it with either the Ardbeg 10 or Arberlour Double Cask 15.

Out of the blended ones, I like the JW Platinum.

You did see it's mostly 1L bottles right? On the duty-free 1L Nectar D'Or is €55, in Sweden it is €93. A 1L bottle of Doublewood 12 is €47 on duty-free and €73 in Sweden. Etc.

Edit: Seems like it's just a little bit cheaper than the US prices quoted in this thread though.

I can do basic math, thanks though.

Thanks! I'll definitely add Aberlour DC 15, that's one of the whiskies I was on the fence with because it sounds good but I hadn't heard anything about it.

Will consider the other two as well, time to hit the airport.

I wasn't being an *******, it was a Seinfeld joke.

Last night I got a bottle of Macallan director's edition. The first thing that stroke me was the similarity in general taste to the Highlands Park. However, the Macallan was much smoother than the HP 12 I got at home. Very good bottle, and great value too, $50 at costco.

Had one of the more baller meals of my life last weekend (and I used work in the industry and put way too much money back into it). Before we started I saw they had Rendezvous, which I hadn't come across in NC yet, and I got to have a glass of that. Then after 10-12 courses they brought us all a glass of HighWest Campfire for 2nd desert . Unfortunately, the 5 bottles of wine in between reduced any memory of it I might've had to "scotchy".

I liked both but neither really blew me away at the time. Will have to try again.

Foobar,

My apologies. For some reason I was thinking the Willet Rye was like 100+ a bottle. At the price point it really is I rescind my comment.

Nomad,

Lol...most of the willet's are $100+. This just happened to be the young rye that's pretty cheap (although I don't remember exact cost). I think there have been other recommendations for it ITT, but I'll say again that it's awesome and a must by if you find it somewhere.

Yea that's why I had that impression. I can't get it in PA but my wife will be headed to the NH state store soon and I'm hoping to get a few items out of it.

I love scottish and canadian whiskyies. They have that speciality in them. One if never rly enjoyed is JD.

For anyone who hasn't seen yet:

http://www.whiskymag.com/awards/wwa/2013/

Just tried Aberlour A'bunadh. As far as the alcohol strength, wow is all I can say. This doesn't seem like one to sip on neat. Definitely had to cut this with 2.5x more water than normal. Alcohol strength in it's normal state is not a very pleasant taste or smell to me. Power of the alcohol smell and flavor just overpowers everything. Once cut with water and given the time to sit and open up, I thought it was a pretty good drink. Much prefer the Glennfiddich 18 I referenced earlier though. Everything about that Speyside was perfect after trying it a 2nd time. Anybody got a Speyside for about the same price that they think tops Glennfiddich 18? I'm gonna have to get El Diablo's Ardberg recommendation eventually for a Islay competitor to Lagavulin, I'd like to see if this Glennfiddich can be topped for the price

Recently picked up a bottle of Hakushu 18 and I'm loving it.



I had previously had the 12, which I also really enjoyed. The 12 was a dry, chalky sort of peaty, reminiscent of a Laphroaig.

I was expecting more of the same from the 18, but was pleasantly surprised. There's still some smoke but much less. It's pretty sweet, lots of banana, caramel, custard sort of flavors. The finish is long but the sweetness dissipates quickly and buttery/fruity flavors dominate. Great stuff, highly recommended!

I hardly have any hair on my chest but I found the A'bunadh to be quite nice to sip on neat. I added just a hint of some water and I didn't taste anything opening up, just seemed to get dull.

I'll also chime in and say that I don't enjoy sipping cask strength whisky. I have a bottle of Lagavulin 12, Glenlivet Nadurra, and Old Grand Dad 114. Too much sting and heat distracting me from the flavors. But I've only really been drinking stuff neat for 4 months now.

Hi guys,

I'm currently traipsing through Europe, and my lovely girlfriend has offered to drive me around speyside distilleries for a day. I'm definitely heading to Abelour, Balvenie and Glenfarclas since they produce a few of my non-islay favourites, but I need to fit 2 or 3 more in. I'm thinking Macallan should probably be added, but I need one more, possibly two. Suggestions?

I'm also going to compile a dozen or so bottles for gifts to family, friends and colleagues. Any unique stuff from the region that people have tried and loved?

Thanks in advance gentlemen. I'll try to review a few of the more uncommon whiskys that I taste, if there is interest.

Toss,

I have a bottle of that Lag 12 and I don't usually take it neat either. It's pretty fierce. I take most other islays neat though.

Figured this is about the only place on 2+2 where this will be appreciated so here goes...

For the past couple of years I've been a member of the Board for a private school that holds an annual gala fundraiser. Part of the gala is an auction that, for the past two years anyway, has included a bottle of 1967 Members' Legacy Caperdonich.

Caperdonich Distillery was built in 1897 as a sister facility to the Glen Grant distillery. After only three years is was closed and not reopened until 1965. In 1977 is was purchased by Seagrams of Canada; most of the output goes into the Chivas blends. However the Members' Legacy Caperdonich, aged 36 years and now 46-years-old, is from a 2003 private bottling of only four casks by Douglas Laing Ltd — cask 4947 to be specific.

Jim Murray's Whisky Bible (3rd Edition) considers cask 4947 to be "one of the most extraordinary batches of malt of all time" with a 96 out of 100 rating. Distilled in 1967, the single malt was bottled at cask strength of 57.6%. There were only two whiskies in the world with higher rating by 2005; apparently there are now four. The whisky has been described as being, "... essentially a perfect whisky, with its salty coastal nose, mouth-coating marmalade fruitiness, very long finish evolving from sweet to a hint of salt and oak overlain by chocolate. This whisky has superb balance."

As a member of the Board I attend the gala with the intention of making a donation and have done so for the past two years by being the successful bidder for the single bottle of Caperdonich that has been on offer. Valued for auction purposes at $1,000, last year I paid $2,000 for a bottle and I just picked up this year's bottle for $2,700 — my "friend", who is the Director of the Board was jacking up the bidding because he knew I would go about $3K for a donation to the school. I receive a tax receipt for whatever I pay as the school is considered a charitable organization, so hey, whatever.

I shared last years bottle, #73, with a group of whisky aficionado friends during a poker home game. This years bottle, #120, will once again be shared with a group of friends at a poker home game, in one weeks time.

Here are a couple of pics of bottle #120:





This is an excerpt from Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible regarding the Caperdonich:



And finally, some info regarding the Caperdonich distillery:



The answer is "yes" — this whisky IS amazing and is unlike any I have ever tasted. I'm looking forward to next weeks game!

^^Very nice post. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have a great "friend" too!

99,

Awesome.

Would have been hilarious if you left the Director holding the bag at $2500, though.

Nice post 99

Ballin'

99,

Hey guys,

Just found the bourbon subreddit - http://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon

Seems pretty decent so far, and there are related subeddits for scotch, etc.