Macallan and Highland Park are my favourites. But usually a get my self a glass of Famous Grouse, so I guess you can kick me right out of the club again. 
But what can I do when it tastes so darn goood.
I’m mostly an Oban drinker these days.
I mistrust Macallan ever since Suntory bought the distillery in 1996. If I remember the article from the front page of the WSJ correctly, they increased production by a factor of 6, moved the primary facility, and fired the 4 seniormost of the 6 nosers. Now we’re seeing stuff out of Macallan like the stuff with maple flavoring added. Doesn’t seem to me they’re catering to scotch lovers – sounds more like they’re cashing in on an established name.
I want to be a seniormost noser when I grow up.
Scotch collection? Like you buy more than one bottle and keep them around? That just doesn’t happen in my home.
Don’t get me wrong. My husband and I love scotch and have only recently been tasting the beauty that is single malt. (previously we drank Dewar’s …hey! stop throwing stuff…)
Still, it’s expensive. The cheapest bottle of Macallan at my local licquor store is $48. Similar prices for Glenlivet and Glenfiddich so we can never afford to buy more than one bottle and we have the nasty habit of sipping and sipping and sipping some more until it’s gone (not usually in one sitting but over several days) Maybe we drink too much.
Personally I like a milder single malt. I’ve tried a couple that were supposed to be the best of the best and to me they tasted like magic markers smell (you remember those old magic markers from when you were a kid). Extremely peaty which I’ve realized is a flavor component that I like in smaller doses.
But now I want to try some of the stuff you all are talking about.
And I want silenus and ultrafilter to be my new bestest friends and invite me over for a drink. 
:mad:
Perhaps your taste buds are dead after drinking the rest :eek:
Velvet - Have you tried Dewar’s 12 year old? Not bad at all for a blend.
The collection at our place has built up over a couple of years. Some of those bottle were very pricy, so we don’t buy them too often. But Cragganmore, Glenmorangie and Glen Rothes rotate through with reasonable rapidity. I’ve found the best prices at Costco and Trader Joe’s, of all places.
Would that this were an option. Here on the east coast, you buy liquor at state-controlled liquor stores, and you pay their prices.
There’s only one answer for that: MOVE!
Don’t start with Ardbeg. It tastes like chewing on a bandaid (which I like, don’t get me wrong, but it may not be your best introduction to more emphatic malts). Try Highland Park 12, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, Talisker.
- :mad: (Glad someone got it, I bolded it and everything)
Just starting my collection. Lagavulin 16 and Auchentoshan.
Yes, I have tried Dewar’s 12 year old and I agree, it’s entirely drinkable.
I’ve got a BJs membership but have never been in the licquor store. Maybe I should pay them a visit.
Shoshana Ooh, that reminded me that I was at a local restaurant recently that had a single malt menu and decided to splurge on a pour of Ardbeg. I believe it was $14.50 for the shot and, yes, magic markers (or band aids, never thought of that but that’s exactly it) I’ll have to be more careful next time I decide to be adventurous.
In my bar:
Campbeltown:
Springbank 10 (a great, great whisky)
Highlands:
Aberlour 10
Glen Garioch 10
Glenfarclas 10
The Glenlivet 12 (my introduction to single malts, and a sentimental favorite)
The Macallan 12
The Macallan Fine Oak 10
The Macallan Fine Oak 21 (a Christmas present from Mrs. Urquhart – she’s okay in my book)
Old Pulteney 12 (I love this one – haven’t seen it mentioned in this thread)
Islay:
Ardbeg 10
Laphroaig 10
Lowlands:
Auchentoshan
I’ve recently finished bottles of Highland Park 12 and Glen Moray 10; Highland Park is one of my favorites as well – there’s a lot going on in that bottle. I think if I could only have one single malt for the rest of my days, Highland Park would be the one.
My favorite Islay is tough to pin down – I’m a huge fan of both Ardbeg and Laphroaig, and Lagavulin is probably a close second (or third) to those.
I had Cragganmore 12 at a tasting a few months ago, and will soon be buying a bottle; I’ve been waiting for it to go on sale, but it doesn’t seem to be in that rotation. Of the four whiskies at the tasting, it was the only truly memorable one.
If you can get a hold of them, there’s a lot to be said for the Tamdhu/Speyburn/Glen Garioch trio. All three are very inexpensive ($25/bottle around here), good whiskies, and any two are very dissimilar. Try those, note what you like, and we can help with new whiskies.
The Ardbeg Uigeadail is a glorious, peaty experience. Best mixed with a touch of water, tho.
I haven’t been sipping as much lately for a variety of reasons, but I love the stuff. I learned to drink in Scotland - spent my junior year there.
This was well before the Single Malt Explosion™ took place in the late 80’s/early 90’s - when only the Glen’s (livet and fiddich) were available in the U.S. in broad distribution.
When I was there, I was told by a number of folks I asked - and I asked a lot, since I was trying to learn about this stuff I hadn’t tried before getting there - that “Scots themselves prefer Macallan and Glenmorangie - the other stuff is good, but that is what they have in their house.” I kept that to heart - note that they weren’t talking about Islays - the Scots I spoke with treated peaty Scotches in a whole 'nother category. Of those, they consistently cited Talisker, Laphroig and Lagavulin…
Side note - I have had 2 different bottles of 25-year Macallan given to me. They didn’t last long because I loved the stuff and wanted to share it with excited and curious friends - but boy it doesn’t get any better…
Oh, all right. Here’s what I have in the house:
Aberlour a’bunadh
Ardbeg 10
Balvenie DoubleWood 12
Cragganmore 12
Dalmore 12 (bottom of the bottle)
Glenmorangie Cellar 13 (2 bottles)
Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish
Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish
Highland Park 12 (bottom of the bottle)
Knockando 1987
Lagavulin 16
Laphroaig 10
Macallan Cask Strength
McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey (2 bottles)
Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 12
It helps that my partner doesn’t like Scotch, and I just sort of forget to drink, in a way that’s inexplicable to almost everyone.
Ah…somebody else who has a bottle of McCarthy’s. Several, in fact, which implies that you like it. My wife picked up a bottle of this a few months ago, and we haven’t yet gotten into it. Your opinion?
I just bought a bottle of Aberlour a’bunadh. I can’t wait to try it.
I like it pretty well. It’s nice and smoky, though I think some of the smoke is a cover for lack of complexity. Still, if we don’t support the local distillery, who’s going to vat our potatoes after the apocalypse?
How about you?
…once you’ve tried it, I mean.