Last bottle I bought was $149 and I thought that was steep. But yeah, it’s pushing $200 now.
I have a couple different bottles of Irish whiskey, a couple of Canadians, some Tennessee, about 30 Bourbons in rotation give or take (A Knob Creek bourbon and a Knob Creek Rye are in there at the moment) - and not a single Scotch. I tried the Macallan 18, a Laphroaig, a Balvenie Doublewood (my favorite, actually), and a couple of others - ended up doing a tasting and giving most of the stuff to my boss. Just not my cuppa. I could live with the Macallan, taste-wise, never saw the Balvenie again.
My current favourite is Tomintoul 16 and for Thanksgiving we compared that to my son’s bottles of JW Blue and Platinum (which he was gifted from his landlord and workplace). I was really disappointed in the Blue, it left me wanting. I did quite like the Platinum but if I’m going to spring for that kind of outlay cash wise I’ll buy a bottle of Tomintoul/Macallen/Bruichladdich and a bottle of Famous Grouse for mixing.
As a side note I was quite impressed with Bulliet’s rye. I enjoyed that immensely.
Yeah, that’s how I describe the peaty Islay whiskeys like Laphroaig or Ardbeg. I happen to like them, not having much of a sweet tooth (the wheated bourbons are too sweet for my tastes; the high rye ones are okay). But it’s a fair enough description, I do have to say.
I also was given a sampler of JWs - blue, gold, green and black. All were decent but not much better than the one before. I like Laguvalin but the best value scotch imo is Hakushu, not available in Canada. Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye is cheap and makes excellent mixed drinks. Blue is too expensive for what it is.
For some reason, someone left me a bottle of JW Blue at the front desk of the hotel I was staying a for a wedding I was in. No one’s come forward to say who left it, but I knew what it was (I was 25 at the time). I saved it for special occasions, and definitely enjoyed it. It’s the best blended scotch I’ve ever had - but like someone mentioned, what I enjoy about scotch are the high notes.
(And Laphroaig tastes like licking Scotland (or a listerine-soaked bandaid).)
