I've done the whole JD, Bells, Jamesons drinking but now I'm starting to build up my knowledge of single malts.

Sainsburys' have an offer on The Glenlivet 15 year Old French Reserve - down from £35 - 20.

Any connoisseur's on here that can advise on some decent whiskys up to £45 and if the above is any good?

That one is a bit spicey/peppery and its matured in cognac barrels, its ok for that price, i bought a bottle from there as well.

My favorite is Glenmorangie Lasanta its smooth and very nice with a sherry kick to it fit as.

Tesco's own 12 yo Speyside is nice too slightly smokey peaty and fruity and only about 16 quid and is good, oh yes bottle of 10yo Jura is another slightly smokey one tastes like a bit of aniseed if you like that sort of thing, the above 3 are all under £45.

I have tried loads of the stuff, it can be a expensive hobby as well, i keep a bottle of Famous grouse and Grants for slapping Irn-Bru with when i want mixers yum, bells is foul!

This one is an aquired taste ....Laphroaig, awesome (imo) but most people hate the smell of though (as is the same with most Islay malts)

Isle of Jura (I've got a bottle of Superstition on the go) is good

Highland Park is OK

The Balvennie is good too

One to avoid, Glennfiddich...it's pish

My general rule of thumb, just buy them when they're knocked down to the early £20 mark (Morrison's tend to have a few on offer all the time). That way, you get to try a few, without breaking the bank

I was thinking of the Isle of Jura, sure I saw it reduced a few months ago before I decided to take up my little hobby.

Any idea how long they last when opening - and by last, I mean still to a decent standard flavour wise, not just drinkable.

Anybody had a Japanese Malt? I'm hearing good things

Laphroig is really nice, a little peaty but not too much. Well worth a try.

Not tried that Japanese stuff.

Laphroaig is very heavily peated and smokey not my cup of tea dont like most island stuff too peaty for me but its subjective all this malt lark.

An opened bottle will last years maybe slightly change due to the air getting in but if stored out of sunlight in a cupboard in its box preferably and not laid flat with the cork getting into the liquor it will definitely last years with no ill effects.

A slight aside, Philth
try before you buy, as it's rarely on offer and at £35, a little pricey for me, but the Welsh whisky Penderyn is good (a bit toffee flavoured). Have a snifter of it at Wetherspoons to see if you like it

Brilliant, thanks robmac, was holding off cracking The Glenlivet open until Christmas, put I may have a couple of nudgers this weekend to see how it is.

I have a Laphroaig at home, but due to sentiment, I am saving that for a certain occasion.

The Singleton of Dufftown is currently £20 at Sainburys too, may pick one of those up this weekend.



Lefty - Cheers matey, I'm in town tonight pre match, so I may nip to 'spoons to try a single.

All tips appreciated gents

it really does depend on your tastes

as a rule I drink Chivas Regal on nights out, if I get into a serious "drinking mode" then Glenlivet and Auchentoshan are also really nice (as I say, for my tastes) Old Puteney is my absolute favourite, but it's just won World Whisky 2012, so it's gone mad price wise.

If you ever get chance, stay in Ardrossan at The Bay Inn and do the whisky tour, it doesn't involve leaving your bar stool, but you'll tatse the best of the malts available anywhere.

Dont drink Bowmore its the spawn of the devil, i bought a bottle and took it back claiming there was something contaminating it

It tastes like someone had a bonfire with the barrels and all the smoke and bits of burnt wood got into it, but thats how its supposed to be, Auchentoshan is rather good though sweet, sherry and oaky bit sour but is nice, as you can gather i like my sherry cask whisky.

What a funny coincidence, i was only talking about this this week.

Has anyone been to the Bushmills distillery? I love Bushmills and would like to go. There is also the Bushmills hotel next door to stay. Only down side is they dont seem to take bookings for Sat night??

Dalmore spey dram I think its called?!? Its all I drink now if I'm having whiskey.. My old man got me onto it a few years back very nice. Not a massive whiskey drinker but I've had my fair share of varieties

fp

everyone is different so are all single malts so if you want to get have a bit of knowledge then do this www.maltwhiskytrail.com/ or join this www.smws.co.uk/

everyone is different so are all single malts so if you want to get have a bit of knowledge then do this www.maltwhiskytrail.com/ or join this www.smws.co.uk/

Talisker for me. Lovely stuff.

Laphroig is nice but Lagavulin is nicer. Pricey though

You've obviously got too much dosh, Blakey

Lagavulin is v good, but too hard on the wallet.
I'd stick with the Laphroaig (£20 a bottle last week at Sainsbury's ...don't know if that offer is still on)

Worthing's suggestion of Talisker is a good un, but I'm in disagreement with Standee on Old Puteney...I can't stand it...hey ho, each to their own

Going sideways, if anyone wants to break themselves in gently to whisky, and start with blends, here's my two pennerth
Try
J&B (particularly if you're on holiday...cheap as chips abroad)
Bailey Nichol & Jarvie (you can get it at Morrison's)

Avoid
Johnnie Walker Red or Black...very over-rated
Ballentines...expensive for what you're getting



Philth, how did the tasting go?

Ovaltine

Glemorangie for me. Watch out for special blends every now and again where they mature them in, say, port barrels instead of old whiskey values. Give a slightly different flavour but still very pleasant. For £45 you may also be able to pick up the 100% proof version. This goes a long way because take a sip and you still feel it going down an hour later.

Yes, brought up in NI, been there a few times, the Green Bush (malt) is very nice, the Black is good for every day, not keen on the standard white.

I also think Talisker is an excellent malt, really smooth.

I worked as an event organiser in St Andrews and got to try loads of them in my capacity as chief taster in deciding what malts to have for the end of the conference dinners. Also got to try the wines for each course to choose which ones to go for. A terrible job, but someone has to do it

I must admit I prefer highland malts to lowland but I was impressed with a Japanese malt (yamazaki?) and a Welsh malt both recently on offer in Tesco

try the Wine & Whiskey Co in Skipton, North Yorkshire. They do a great range going up to the hundreds

not a whiskey drinker it all tastes the same to me,that shows how much ive drunk,but my main reason is that you only get a thimble full and when ive tried to make up for not getting much it makes me ill next day

I have about 70 bottles on the go at any one time I have some that have been openover ten years, very rare they change in bottle, some have been known to start oxidizing though. I have been a malt buff since 1983and it as never happened to anyof mine. Had a SUNTORI Jap and indian JAP was good Indian crap.

The Singleton is not very good try the ledaig same distillery but cheaper.Ledaig pronounced leedshig peatier and a lot better