One non "high street" whisky @ ~ £80 ?

**nloken** · 18th July 12, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Standard

Laphroaig Cask strength. Not too expensive, but mighty tasty! http://www.laphroaig.com/shop/produc...?ShopItemID=15

Great suggestion, but I'm not too sure about the cask strength whiskies. It just seems a bit "too much", if that makes any sense..

Oh, just to wind up John a bit, I'm heading for London tomorrow!

:beer: I wonder what I'll find..!

**English Bloke** · 22nd July 12, 12:13 AM

I'm waiting... patiently

**nloken** · 23rd July 12, 01:17 PM

I'm back! London did not make this easy for me. First, The Whisky Exchange had temporarily moved, so I had to go find their new location. Once I found it, the first true challenge appeared. I had to make up my mind of my first purchase! The sales assistant got me very tempted by the Talisker 18, but as I was planning on getting the Pultney 21, I deemed it too similar. I therefore turned to the cherry casks, which I also find very pleasing. The choice, after quite a few internal debates, landed on what I hope is a lovely GlenDronach "Parliament" 21 yo.

When I got to Heathrow yesterday I had quite a lot of time on my hands. Unfortunately, the Pulteney 21 was sold out throughout the airport - actually, it seems that it's sold out from the distillery as well. This meant that I would have to find an alternative, and seeing as they are so generous there and are handing out samples left and right, I actually ended up being a wee bit tipsy before making my final choice.

In the end, I "settled" for a lovely Aberfeldy 21 yo, which will prove a very nice addition to the collection indeed.

So, I thank you all for your input on this matter and I sure do hope that you approve of my choice.

**Lime** · 23rd July 12, 01:41 PM

Wonderful. I haven't tried either so please let me have tasting notes in due course. Don't worry; they don't have to be any good: my personal favourite is: "Like a chorus of Angels singing the Hallelujah chorus in Gallic"... not one of my own I'm afraid... (imperfectly) remembered from one of the series of Vital Spark! In any case enjoy your purchases and your very best of health.

I hope you had a pleasant stay in London.

**1oldsarge** · 23rd July 12, 01:58 PM

As one who had a rather disturbing experience with whiskey at the age of twenty (and was also four hours late for work the next morning), I cannot relate to this thread at all....

**Lime** · 25th July 12, 09:00 AM

As one who had a rather disturbing experience with whiskey at the age of twenty (and was also four hours late for work the next morning), I cannot relate to this thread at all....

This seems to be a relatively frequent occurrence and one of the most frequent reasons I hear for people no longer partaking in Whisky.

I suspect there is nothing I can do to change your mind (my own father-in-law is exactly the same).

I would say that there is the world of difference to enjoying an excellent whisky, preferably carefully distilled by an independent distiller who knows and loves their job; taking the time to sip it in quiet contemplation and possibly adding a touch of water to taste along the way than necking a bottle of the stuff to chants of "beer-pressure beer-pressure".

In any case I am sorry you can't enjoy them but hope that one day you will get a chance to find one that will change your mind.

**nloken** · 25th July 12, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Lime

This seems to be a relatively frequent occurrence and one of the most frequent reasons I hear for people no longer partaking in Whisky.

I suspect there is nothing I can do to change your mind (my own father-in-law is exactly the same).

I would say that there is the world of difference to enjoying an excellent whisky, preferably carefully distilled by an independent distiller who knows and loves their job; taking the time to sip it in quiet contemplation and possibly adding a touch of water to taste along the way than necking a bottle of the stuff to chants of "beer-pressure beer-pressure".

In any case I am sorry you can't enjoy them but hope that one day you will get a chance to find one that will change your mind.

***

For me, whisky is something I enjoy best just as you say, in quiet contemplation, with some nice easy tunes on the side. It is not a party drink for me, on such occasions I let beer or wine be my poison. As Lime said, I should hope that you, Sarge, will one day find a whisky that turns you around, but if you don't then that is actually quite fine as well.

**English Bloke** · 25th July 12, 12:21 PM

Good choices both. I've not tried them either but I imagine they are most delectable. Do we have a 'drool' smiley?

Whisky is a sipping drink and Malts are a million miles from your average blended. It's a drink for quenching your curiosity and desire to explore, rather than your thirst. I don't think there is such a thing as a bad Malt. They are ALL good, it's just most of them are very good, and some of them are very, very good indeed.

Thanks for bringing those two to my radar, I'll look out for them. Do let us know how they fare.

{Edit:} By the way, you need to add a small splash of water to a measure of cask strength to bring it down towards standard bottle strength or it will tear your taste buds off. No harm in putting water in your whisky, it's what the distillers do to bring it down. I'd suggest you don't drown it though.