# Straight Dope Single-Malt Society **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 13, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615 "2006-09-13T23:28:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/1 "2006-09-13T23:28:18Z")
We have the bourbon crowd, the beer geeks, the winos…now a thread for the rest of you. [My collection.](http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/silenus_/?action=view¤t=P1010098.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch11) I generally go for these when the weather turns cooler. The default is Highland Park 18, or maybe the Talisker. Although that 22 year old Glenlivet calls to me… Anybody else out there enjoy Hibernian nectar? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/2 "2006-09-13T23:46:37Z")
So far I’ve stuck mainly to younger malts (right around 10 years old), but I think I might branch out into a couple older ones soon. I just finished a bottle of Aberlour, and I’ve got open bottles of Cragganmore and Laphroaig. Here’s my opinions on what I’ve had so far: [ul] [li]Aberlour: My first single malt, and still one of my favorites. I’d recommend it to anyone else looking for a nice introduction to the beverage.[/li][li]Caol Ila: Like Laphroaig that’s trying to play nice. No thanks.[/li][li]Cragganmore: Too much like Aberlour and too much more expensive to buy another bottle. Nice whisky though.[/li][li]Glen Garioch: I don’t understand why this is so cheap, but it’s a genuinely excellent whisky.[/li][li]Glenfiddich: Not something I’d drink frequently, but I do like it.[/li][li]Glenlivet: Where’s the flavor?[/li][li]Glenmorangie: Very nice whisky, but I can’t justify the price of it.[/li][li]Isle of Jura: Not one of my top whiskies, but drinkable. I think this one has my favorite nose.[/li][li]Laphroaig: My favorite by far.[/li][li]Speyburn: Another excellent bargain, and a good introductory whisky. Unfortunately, I had [del]way[/del]a bit too much one night, and I’m not sure I’d want to try it again.[/li][li]Tamdhu: Like Glenlivet with a bit of peat thrown in. It’s another very cheap whisky, and that’s really the only thing it’s got going for it in my book.[/li][/ul] I’m still curious to try Ardbeg, Cardhu, Glendronach and Edradour. After that, I’m not sure–I just discovered a local liquor store that caters to the large Hispanic population by stocking many tequilas, so I may be spending money there. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/3 "2006-09-14T00:18:47Z")
Currently in rotation are: Edradour 19 Highland Park 18 Highland Park 20 Glen Rothes 11 Talisker 10 Glenlivet 22 Macallan Cask Strength GlenGoyne 17 Mortlach 12 Glen Farclas 10 Linkwood 12 McDuff 27 Bowmore 17 Tomatin 12 Glen Morangie 12 (Portwood) Cragganmore 20 (Distiller’s Dram) I greatly prefer the Spetside malts over the Islay. Though I must admit that the 17 yo Bowmore in a monumental spirit. Something about that age makes it very appealing to me. Weird, because I hate every other Bowmore I’ve ever tasted. I’ve started looking for the obscure bottlings by various independents. You get some different flavors that way. The Glenlivet 22, for example, is a world apart from their 12 yo rendition. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/4 "2006-09-14T03:10:42Z")
What, no Balvenie? OK, I’m not really a Scotch-centric imbiber. It’s a now-and-then thing. That really old Balvenie sure is nice though. The Laphroiag wasn’t bad but takes some getting used to. Like it has tar in it or something. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/5 "2006-09-14T03:31:03Z")
I’ve got this Aberlour that’s been in my pantry for a couple of years now. Teach me how to drink it. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/6 "2006-09-14T03:44:46Z")
That’s quite a collection, **silenus**. All I currently have is a lonely bottle of Talisker 10. My usual tipples are Laphroaig or Lagavulin. I’ve pretty fixed on these three as my whiskies of choice. Many don’t like the peatiness of their flavor, which simply means more for me! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/7 "2006-09-14T03:44:57Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] I’ve got this Aberlour that’s been in my pantry for a couple of years now. Teach me how to drink it. [/QUOTE] Pour a bit in a glass and let it sit for two or three minutes. Sip it, swirl it around a bit in your mouth, and swallow. Repeat until the glass is empty. Repeat until the bottle is empty. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/8 "2006-09-14T04:26:31Z")
I would be remiss if I did not point you fine gentlemen to the [The Scotch Malt Whisky Society](http://www.smwsa.com/) Not only single malts, but cask strength single cask whisky. Check out the available bottles in the members area. Added bonus: If you ever get to Edinburgh or London you can stay at the Flats their members only club. As for me, various different bottles of [Glenmorangie](https://www.glenmorangie.com/landing/glenmorangie.php) are in heavy rotation at Casa de Rick. I think my favorite is the Port wood finish. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/9 "2006-09-14T04:41:45Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] Teach me how to drink it. [/QUOTE] Brandy snifters work well. Pour a little bit into the snifter. Let sit, swirl, nose. Add a drop or two of water. Never have seen this explained but it definatly does intensify the aroma. Swirl again. Sniff. Take sip. Swirl it around your mouth and let it sit for a second. Swallow. Repeat as needed. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/10 "2006-09-14T04:53:23Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] I would be remiss if I did not point you fine gentlemen to the [The Scotch Malt Whisky Society](http://www.smwsa.com/) Not only single malts, but cask strength single cask whisky. Check out the available bottles in the members area. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Scotch Malt Whisky Society] Membership in the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America is open to all persons **over 25 years of age** upon payment of the initial membership fee of $179.00 [/QUOTE] THAT’S HORSESHIT! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/11 "2006-09-14T05:11:11Z")
FWIW, in shanghai for about 2 decades the ONLY single malt is McCallan’s. the is the ingrained belief that is contradined virtually nightly in the long bar that imbibing massive quantities will not result in a hangover. how do other’s like McCallans? which single malt is distilled in Tain? I think tagline is the seven men of Tain. a buddy lived there as a kid and I drink it on the rare occaisions I go over. glenlivet and glenfiddich are in every airport duty free but not my favorite. laphroig is nice on occaision. captain’s bar at the oriental hotel in hong kong has a magnificent collection of scotch. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/12 "2006-09-14T05:15:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Talisker 10; Laphroaig; Lagavulin. My long-lost twin! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/13 "2006-09-14T05:18:12Z")
I just flew back from Europe via Heathrow. Since I wasn’t flying directly to the US, I was able to put duty free in my carry on, then switch it to my checked luggage at the hotel before continuing on the next day. For this reason, I limited myself to Scotch in canisters, figuring that these would best withstand being checked. This limited my choices severely. I almost went with the Tormore, which contains both fudgy and artichokey elements, but the Glenmorangie wood finishes were on sale so I wound up with a bottle each of Madeira and Burgundy finish. I usually go for the Cellar 13 but I still have an unopened bottle. On the trip in, I also was able to carry liquids from Heathrow to France, but contented myself with a very small bottle of Balvenie Double Wood. Although I like the wood finishes, I’m very fond of Lagavulin 16 and Talisker 10. Unfortunately, there isn’t a good whisky shop near me, so although I can get a pretty good selection of 10 and 12 year standards, there’s nothing much older, or particularly exotic. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/14 "2006-09-14T05:19:37Z")
“The Sixteen Men of Tain” is Glenmorangie. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/15 "2006-09-14T06:05:43Z")
[QUOTE=Cyberhwk] THAT’S HORSESHIT! :mad: [/QUOTE] Oh, I don’t know. Surely membership in this august society is worth the price of a bottle of good single-malt scotch. 😃 Come to think of it, this may be how the society’s leadership keeps itself properly imbibed. A new bottle with each new member; not a bad deal. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/16 "2006-09-14T06:10:48Z")
Oops! I knew I should have checked that link before I smarted off. I see that a “750ml bottle of an extremely rare and unique malt whisky never to be available again” is included in the membership fee…so, assuming that the society knows its scotches and is a reputable organization, it’s not a bad deal, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/17 "2006-09-14T08:41:39Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Anybody else out there enjoy Hibernian nectar? [/QUOTE] I’m shocked, nay stunned, that nobody has picked up on this! 😛 If you were all talking about Bushmills or Jamesons… ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/18 "2006-09-14T10:57:51Z")
[QUOTE=Cyberhwk] THAT’S HORSESHIT! :mad: [/QUOTE] :rolleyes: Guess you missed the part where they throw in a free bottle. Since the flat out cheapest bottle they offer is $105 and most are $120 a buck seventy nine doesn’t seem that bad. Don’t foget these are cask strength bottles at 100 proof + No what you will find at the local quicky mart Either that or you are under 25. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/19 "2006-09-14T13:29:17Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] I’m shocked, nay stunned, that nobody has picked up on this! 😛 If you were all talking about Bushmills or Jamesons… [/QUOTE] And we will. Irish whiskey is my drink of choice, but I didn’t want to distract anyone from \*\*Silenus’ \*\* thread. I was going to start one when this had run it’s course. Besides, to call a Scotsman a hibernian is just a wish for him to self improve.. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615/20 "2006-09-14T13:47:56Z")
Scotch is whisky…Irish is just…something else. I really shouldn’t be typing when I’ve been bitten by the Creature. It muddles my Celts. 😃 **ChinaGuy** - Macallan’s is a fine beverage. I have a bottle of the cask-strength open and it gets hit regularly. It’s not an extreme malt by any means, which is a good thing in my book. It’s the rare Islay that gets in my glass. Too much peat and seaweed, I guess. Nice in moderation, but past a point my palate just rebels. Looking back at my purchases list, I note that Talisker, Highland Park and Cragganmore have been the fastest movers, with Glen Rothes right behind. Hmmmm…for someone who professes a love of Speyside malts, I seem to be drinking an awful lot from the islands. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-single-malt-society/372615.md?page=2)