Quote Originally Posted by artificer View Post
I think that, for the price point, the McClellands is pretty fair, but compared to the rest of the Islay Single Malts, it's pretty poor. I guess that I'd say it beats most blends (which it is comparably priced to), so that's a good thing.

That said, I wouldn't serve it to discerning guests, for me it's more of a "drinkin' Whisky" rather than something to sip, mull-over, and bask in.

ith:
Excellent summation, and having tried the "basic 4" from McClellands I agree.

However, I must put in another plug for their new sherry-finished Highland malt. It really is altogether another animal.

My personal nickname for Laphroaig is "Holy Water".

Bowmore Claret is, however, the very ambrosia of the gods. And, alas, priced accordingly. It's the way whisky was aften made afore The Forty-Five, but not so much since. It used to be popular, after initially aging the whisky in oak casks, to finish them in French Bordeaux wine casks.

In the aftermath, it wasn't so easy to get Bordeaux casks from France, but sherry casks from England were easy to come by.

Bowmore's "Claret" and "Dusk" bottlings are whiskies I'd describe as "If you're not wearing underwear or a kilt liner be prepared to change into another kilt". They're that exciting and satisfying.