Your personal favorite single malt scotch

[MacLowlife]

I am surprised there has been so little endorsement of MORTLACH, which I particularly enjoy. I didn't go through all 15 pages, but only found one reference in the 8 or so that I looked at. It is not widely known, but the Speyside locals seemed to favor it when I asked.

[Merlin]

This is a dumb question I'm sure....but I thought I would ask it anyhoos.

Does scotch get better with time after it's bottled?
I'm sure that a 10 year bottled would not taste as good 5 years later as a 15 year would.. but does it age at all after it's glassed?

Further.... after a bottle is opened.... does it tend to lose it's luster once the seal is broken like wine does?

Please do not string me up for not knowing these things....I am a Scot but I'm uneducated in the ways of the brew.

[ForresterModern]

This is a dumb question I'm sure....but I thought I would ask it anyhoos.

Does scotch get better with time after it's bottled?
I'm sure that a 10 year bottled would not taste as good 5 years later as a 15 year would.. but does it age at all after it's glassed?

Further.... after a bottle is opened.... does it tend to lose it's luster once the seal is broken like wine does?

Please do not string me up for not knowing these things....I am a Scot but I'm uneducated in the ways of the brew.

The only dumb question is the one that doesn't get asked but should. These are good questions and have a good right to be answered.

Once scotch is bottled it basically is what it is-----although a good quality scotch will probably not get any better tasting while in the bottle aging, it may get more valuable over time as it becomes more rare, especially special bottlings of cask strength or rare single cask or single runs of special varietals like sherry wood finishings, or now defunct brands or distilleries, etc.... But the age of a whisky is defined by how long the scotch aged in the barrel or barrels before bottling, not how long it has been in the bottle. The exception to this is that some corked bottles may have the cork dry out over time, just like wine, but instead of going bad they may simply change flavor , often getting stronger as they get more concentrated, or lose some of their alcohol strength, as the more volatile esters and alcohols evaporate off. But this is unusual, especially in an unopened bottle. An opened bottle, as long as it remains well corked should keep its strength and flavour for a long time, probably a lot longer than it deserves to sit on a shelf unloved by its owner.

Great questions.

jeff

[ForresterModern]

I am surprised there has been so little endorsement of MORTLACH, which I particularly enjoy. I didn't go through all 15 pages, but only found one reference in the 8 or so that I looked at. It is not widely known, but the Speyside locals seemed to favor it when I asked.

I agree Mortlach is under appreciated likely becasue it is fairly hard to come by, at least in the states. I believe most of the distillery's product ends up in blended scotches rather than as distillery bottled single malts. I have a cask strength special bottling of Mortlach that is lovely, but I wonder if it is representative of the standard off the shelf Mortlach, which I have yet to come across in a liquor store yet.

jeff

[ForresterModern]

Enjoying a pleasant if pungent Glendronach 10 right now---probably could have used a couple more years in the cask for a bit more mellowing as its first taste is a bit overpowering and it remains strong on the tongue for a long time after swallowing. Still better than some of the stuff they sell around here as fine whiskey.



jeff

[Jack Daw]

Oddly, I have never tried Glenlivet. I have a bottle of Glenlivet 18 that a former girlfriend gave me, but I've never tried it. So, I think, after a long week, I will crack the sucker open and try a dram this evening.

[English Bloke]

Oddly, I have never tried Glenlivet. I have a bottle of Glenlivet 18 that a former girlfriend gave me, but I've never tried it. So, I think, after a long week, I will crack the sucker open and try a dram this evening.

Mind if I join you? Aaaah flippin' eck! Just checked the price of the airfare. Another time perhaps?

The problem I have with Malts is the are so many and so little time. My favorite is usually the one I have in my hand at any given moment.

[Jack Daw]

Mind if I join you? Aaaah flippin' eck! Just checked the price of the airfare. Another time perhaps?

The problem I have with Malts is the are so many and so little time. My favorite is usually the one I have in my hand at any given moment.

Well, I'm sorry you couldn't make it, EB. It was a marvelous experience! I underrated this fine single-malt before taking my first sip. Quite a zing it has!

[T.C.McRae V]

It would be hard to pick a favourite. Talisker, benromach , laphroig, (any islay) are among my favs. But i would have to say, I just ran out of my favourite, need to see if I can get it locally. I brought my last bottle back from Scotland. But I wuld have to say I like Loch Dhu the most.

[Imac]

The nicest that I've come across so far would be Bruichladdich 1972 'Legacy VI', It'll be a sad day when that bottle is empty.