My current favorite is Talisker Distiller's Edition from the Isle of Skye. While in Chicago recently supervising the final stages of matriarch Hildred's move to Colorado, I finished off the bottle at the bar at the Doubletree in Chicago. Anyone who has spent time with Hildred will understand.

The Talisker is currently in my cabinet along with a Glen Farclas 21, Laphroig 15 and Lagavulin 16. I really like the full spectrum of Scotch Whiskeys although lowland's are my least favorite. There are some mentioned in the thread that sound intriguing and I'll need to sample them. I lean towards the intensity of Islays although my favorite Petey is from the Little Rascals.

nicinchic wrote:Another surprisingly and affordable single male scotch....

Hey, I've been missing out all these years! Are they dressed in kilts too?

nicinchic wrote:....is Dalmore cigar malt.

Haven't tried this one yet, but the Dalmore 12 year is one of my favorite recent buys. Anyone who likes a Macallan type of scotch would probably enjoy it. (Actually I like it better than Macallan...shhh.) An added bonus is the really nice looking bottle which makes it impressive for a gift.

Maybe I was already thinking of St. Paddy's Day. I tell you I did see some of those Scots with the kilts.

germuska wrote:

nicinchic wrote:14 yr old Scapa can be purchased at Sam's wines for $37. It's delicious, I agree with the choice completly, no peaty taste at all. I would also reccomend 12 yr old Glenmorangie madiera cask for a bit more $55, but such a fantastic sipping scotch.

I haven't had that one, but an ex-roommate moved to California and conveniently left me with most of a bottle of the Glenmorangie port cask several years ago and I haven't thanked him enough. It was really great. I've wanted to try some of the others in that line, but I haven't had any other roommates who would have bought it and left it behind

I guess I could just treat myself. Surely I deserve it. In the words of James Brown and the JBs, "Damn right, I am somebody."

I was going to suggest this myself. The Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish is my favorite single malt right now. I tasted it for the first time at Delilah's with a high muck a muck from Jack Daniel's, who was buying (with the corporate card, no less). We skipped all of their products, and he got me a glass of this heavenly stuff.

Mmmmmm.

I've read about their Sauternes finish, which is supposed to be great, too. I'm not a giant fan of their regular bottling, so if you aren't either, don't be afraid.

It runs somewhere around $45-$50 a bottle.

TheIdeaOfProgress wrote:The Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish is my favorite single malt right now. I tasted it for the first time at Delilah's with a high muck a muck from Jack Daniel's, who was buying (with the corporate card, no less). We skipped all of their products

My boss used to be a plant manager at a distillery. It was corporate policy whenever you went to a bar to see if your products were opened on the shelf. If they weren't, you would buy a drink just so the bartender would have to crack open the bottle. Otherwise you would leave it alone.

nicinchic wrote:I think you should buy one of each, the Scapa is nice, and not as expensive. The Glenmorangie, and I have had all of them, as I went to a tasting, is really more complex. Something about being aged in the madiera wine cask, just really does it for me.

At the risk of appearing to be suggestible, I did this tonight, or nearly so. I picked up a Scapa, but since I also needed to replenish my everyday bourbon, I decided to economize slightly. I opted for a Bowmore "Dusk" port finished scotch, coming in at $45 (or $10 less than the Glenmorangie family of special finished scotches).

Perhaps I'm rushing things to be commenting just now, but I'm not super excited about this one. It's extremely strong -- 103 proof (up slightly from web sources I see putting it at 100) and I'm not catching as much of the port overtones that I recall enjoying so much from the Glenmorangie. Perhaps its the strength; I tried adding a little water and maybe need to try some more -- but then I'm afraid it will just mask the port's contributions.

TheIdeaOfProgress wrote:I've read about their Sauternes finish, which is supposed to be great, too. I'm not a giant fan of their regular bottling, so if you aren't either, don't be afraid.

It runs somewhere around $45-$50 a bottle.

I've never seen this, and it wasn't at Binny's on Grand tonight. However, according to Whisky Magazine, the Sauternes finish was a very limited edition and runs over $100 a bottle.

As noted above, the four varieties of the Glenmorangie 12yr "special finishes" (Madeira, Port, Sherry, and Burgundy) were $55 at Binny's (and according to the web, the same at Sam's).

I would like to try some of those others, but honestly, if I'm splurging on booze, scotch is rarely the first place I look. Probably time to work on another LTH tasting.