NSD...New Scotch Day!

[rolltide]

After many recommendations in my last thread about Scotches, I picked up The Balvenie DoubleWood and Laphroaig 10 last week. I actually ended up liking the smoky flavor of the Laphroaig although it would not go very well with SoCal summers. Today, I got Highland Park 18, Aberlour 12, Glenmorangie 10 and The Glenrothes Select Reserve. It's going to be a fantastic night!

Laguvalin 16, Oban 14, Ardbeg 10, Aberlour 16 and one of the Glenmorangie labels are on my radar. This is getting dangerous for my wallet, but fantastic for social gatherings.

[mojocaster.com]

I am planning on having some cask-conditioned MacAllan tonight

[Zelmo]

Originally Posted by mojocaster.com

I am planning on having some cask-conditioned MacAllan tonight

Well - glad to hear that things are apparently looking up for you.

[rolltide]

Originally Posted by mojocaster.com

I am planning on having some cask-conditioned MacAllan tonight

That's a great Scotch! Anytime you're in SoCal, you're welcome to come by for a dram. It's on the house for all the videos you've made that I've practiced along with. Slaandjivaa!

[Brock]

Dude you are my new best friend. We did a scotch party not too long ago and had 20 different scotches. The clear winner was one called Oban. Great tasting and up there with gold label Johnnie Walker. I need to go buy me some scotch now... My wife thanks you.

[67blackcherry]

This is how I roll...

[rolltide]

Scotch tastings are very fun. I'll try to get some photos up soon. A friend ended up getting Glenfiddich 12 for me as a gift so in total, I got 6 Scotches yesterday. My friend had The Macallan 12 so we compared that as well. I didn't bring the Laphroaig 10 and my friends were looking forward to it. It's a fun Scotch to drink, but not an everyday dram Scotch in SoCal.

We all ranked them. The Highland Park 18 came out way ahead, but for the money, The Balvenie Double Wood is hard to beat. The Aberlour and Double Wood split votes for second and Macallan came in at fourth.

Tasting notes:

Highland Park 18: Clear winner. My favorite by far, which is unfortunate due to the price. Sits very well on the nose. Amazingly consistent, just the right blend of smoke, great flavor and a long aftertaste that sits very well.

The Balvenie Double Wood: The best bang for your buck single malt on the market. Hands down. Very earthy tones with sherry oak notes. Great lingering aftertaste. If you need to buy a gift for a Scotch drinker and aren't sure what to get, this is the one.

Aberlour 12: Caramel. It coats your mouth and has a long, smooth aftertaste. Delicious. I was really surprised by this one. At first nose, I thought it might be similar to the Double Wood, but back to back they are nothing alike.

The Macallan 12: Extremely smooth and easy to drink. Great taste around the tongue, but aftertaste lacks compared to the Double Wood and Aberlour. A great Scotch by any means, but it doesn't have a real kick to it. Perfect Scotch for a beginning Scotch drinker.

The Glenmorangie 10: Very light on the nose. Very light on taste, but the aftertaste has a little bit of a kick to it. A little bit of water really opened it up on the nose and the taste noticeably improved. I love my Scotch neat, but this is one Scotch I encourage you to use water with.

Glenfiddich 12: Another good beginner Scotch. Really smooth, but doesn't stand up compared to the other 12 years. Not even in the same ballpark.

The Glenrothes Select Reserve: Extremely disappointed. I ended up driving 45 miles to a store that had it since no nearby stores had it in stock. The first smell reminded me of white wine. In the glass, it smells largely of vanilla and butterscotch. Tastes like vanilla and raisins. My friend's wife liked it and she's a wino. That said it all for me. It would be a great dessert Scotch with something chocolaty, but it was way too weird for me after the other great Scotches.

Any recommendations besides the Laguvalin 16 and Oban 14? I think those are next on the list. I'd really like to get some other ones in The Balvenie line, but for the price point, it's hard to top the Double Wood. The Glenmorangie has me a bit put off. I probably should have got one of their better bottles like the Scotch La Santa or Nectar D'Or.

[67blackcherry]

Try the Macallan Fine Oak 15, it's incredible.
Not cheap by any means but the Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 is out of this world.

[mojocaster.com]

Originally Posted by lovelife

That's a great Scotch! Anytime you're in SoCal, you're welcome to come by for a dram. It's on the house for all the videos you've made that I've practiced along with. Slaandjivaa!

Thanks man, that's very kind of you! And I hope you meant it, because I am definitely stoppin' by when I am in the neighborhood

[rolltide]

Originally Posted by mojocaster.com

Thanks man, that's very kind of you! And I hope you meant it, because I am definitely stoppin' by when I am in the neighborhood

Absolutely! If you're ever near Riverside to stop by Wild West Guitars, I'm about 45 minutes away and would drive to meet you with a bottle and glass in hand.

67blackcherry,
Have you cracked open that Aberfeldy 21 yet? How's the Bowmore? It looks like you're enjoying that Cragganmore.

[imguitardan]

I knew the Highland Park 18 would win. I can't afford it but the 12 is one of my favs. I like The Balvenie as well. Two of my favorites. You should also try the Craggenmore (it's very complex so it's best with a capful of Spring water).

FWIW, I like the 12 year Doublewood better than the 15 year Balvenie. Don't waste your money on the 15.

[phretbored]

That Highland Park is awesome stuff...the 12 year is my regular.
I really like this Scoth.
Haven't tried the Highland Park 18...yet.

Laphroaig 10 is amazing as well...and it goes just fine in SoCal/San Diego any day of the year IMHO.
(Then again it's the end of Nov and I made a Painkiller today. LOL)
Actually I like Laphroaig very much with an small ice cube or two in it.
Gonna have some right now in fact.

Haven't tried Cragganmore yet but I want to.
It's got a very manly sounding name so I imagine it to be bold and tough like Charles Bronson or Lee Marvin.

[bopplayer]

I had Macallan for the first time over the weekend. Liked it better than Lagavulin. Less medicinal tasting. Didn't get the name though, what is the best of the best in Macallan in your opinion? non-fruity.

[rolltide]

imguitardan,
Yeah, it's hard to justify the price jump when the Double Wood is so good! How would you define the Highland Park 12?

Phretbored,
Where are you at? I'm in Temecula so if you ever want to try some Highland Park 18, let me know. Bring the 12 since I've never tried it. Maybe we can get together with 67blackcherry and a few of my friends and have a big tasting. Just don't let me see you putting ice cubes in your drink.

bopplayer,
For everyday joes like me, it's definitely between the 15 and 18. I got to try the 18 and while it's great, I prefer the Highland Park 18 at less than $50 a bottle. The Cask Strength is great and you can dilute it yourself, but it has some hair on it when it's neat. It's not fruity. If you have money to burn, The Macallan 55 year In Lalique is supposed to be to die for...at only $15,000 a bottle. The bottle looks exquisite though.



I work my ass off for next to nothing, but I'm always willing to share my Scotch with a new friend who will enjoy it. It's the one thing I treat myself to and it helps that I'm not married. If I get hitched, it's Double Wood from there on out and the extra bottles I'll buy right before the wedding and hide.

[bopplayer]

Oh that's right, I had the 15. Holidays coming I need to try some more Macallan and Laphroig. Thanks...