Edited by author 03-22-2006 08:48 PM
Joshua,

Thanks for your site. I like both teas and scotch, so there you go.

Anyway, I really like the Islay style (Laphroaig (10 and 15 yr) and Lagavulin (16 yr), in particular). The 18 yr Caol Ila is OK (I can see why they give it that long, though). I don't really like the Bunnahabhain (12yr) as well. The Ardbeg (10yr) is somewhat medicinal tasting and not as full in the middle as either the Laphroaig or the Lagavulin, but I still think it's OK.

The scotch I like best from the remainder is The Balvenie. I notice you don't have the 10 year on your list. In my opinion, it is as good as the 12 year, but in a different way. It is fresher and you really get a taste of almost hay in it, which is much more pleasant than that description sounds.

Ledaig (no yr given) sherry finish (from the Isle of Mull) is interesting. In comparison with the Glenmorangie sherry cask, Ledaig is heavier. It hits your tongue like molasses, imparting the sherry finish near the back of the tongue and nose. The Glenmorangie is more aromatic and announces the sherry finish from the tip of the tongue onward.

Talisker (10yr), to me, tastes like a cross between an Islay and a Speyside. It is a nice whisky, but I think it could use some more aging to take the bite off the edge of the tongue.

On a side note: I've noticed that I think some bottles taste better if I let them breathe a little after opening, almost like a red wine. This was most noticable in The Balvenie (10yr).

Before I tried the Islay malts, I liked Glenmorangie (I've tried the 10yr, the 12yr port and 12yr sherry). Now it really seems to bite the edges of my tongue, in comparison.

My question for you is, given what I've written, can you give me any idea what other bottles you think I would enjoy trying next?

Thanks,

Scott

Sure, no problem. Pretty much any Port Ellen will epitomize the sort of south shore Islay thing you like. The Talisker 25 gives Talisker the more time in the cask that you were hoping for. Vintage Cask Balvenies take Balvenies to the next level, with wonderful aging. If the Ardbeg 10 is too medicinal, try the 17 y.o., the 1978, or the 1975, if you can find them. All are more restrained than the 10.

The "hay" descriptor you gave for the Balvenie 10 is what's called an aldehydic note, and if you like that kind of thing, look for youthful Lowlanders.

If you like Ledaig, you may like Tobermory, which is woefully underrated. The Ben Nevis 10 at 46% is also underrated, moderately peated, and inexpensive, and may appeal to your tastes.

The south-shore Islays of the tea world are black pu-erhs from Yunnan Province, China, brewed strong. Find some good-quality stuff and do a head-to-head with Lagavulin 16!

You are right about bottle breathing. Some malts are nearly undrinkable at first -- Glenfarclas 105 is the notorious example, and some fans buy it 6 months ahead of time and install a loose-fitting tapered cork to allow it to breathe. But you will sometimes find bottles, usually young ones, that are vibrant and fruity when first opened, that lose this dimension when they've been open for a while.

Good luck, and let us know what you find.

When Joshua speaks, I should rather keep quiet.
  but, following your pattern, I'm eager to suggest
   
  Ardbeg 22 (Gordon MacPhail bottling) : You can't find many 17yrs anymore Laphroaig 17 (GM) ; this one is closer to 30yr than 15yr
  Port Ellen (24-28) ; for real complex and finer notes
   
  -Partha
  

QT - Joshua McGee <qtopic+3-5DBMc2FMegg92o6HOEJ3@quicktopic.com> wrote: < replied-to message removed by QT >

Edited by author 03-22-2006 10:29 PM
Thanks for your quick reply! I'm just now about halfway through the posts here and have quite a shopping list built up...I live in Tallahassee, FL and am lucky to have a local liquor store that carries a wide variety of scotches.

Thanks to you, too, Partha.

I do like some Pu-erhs, particularly the ones that have a smokey flavor to them (rather than straight vermiculite ;^) ). My favorite is the Buddha type from the In Pursuit of Tea site that you like. I've tried a lot of teas from different sites and am thinking about starting a review site of my own on them. If I do that, I'll link to yours, as well.

Anyway, as far as scotch goes, thanks again for the response and I'll report back within a couple of weeks to let you know what my new purchases were and how I liked them.

It's so nice to have things that are produced with so many different flavors and subtle differences. I think scotch, tea, beer and hot sauces are what separates man from the beasts (though if you have too much, the separation disappears!)...

Scott

I think scotch, tea, beer and hot sauces are what separates man from the beasts

Ah, a soul mate! Count me in on all four. My favorite daily hot sauce is Marie Sharp's Habanero (the original one). My favorite salsa-style is the whole Ring of Fire range, and my favorite additive style is Dave's Ultimate Insanity. Surely you are a friend of Sweat 'n' Spice? I've been planning a hot sauce addition to mcgees.org.

And beer -- we have one of those great bars near us that allow you to collect world beers in your "passport" and then get a t-shirt and plaque (when you've reached 200!) What fun. Some favorites are Fuller's ESB, which a (different) local tavern has on tap, and Young's Oatmeal Stout. Of the four categories, this is my area with the least expertise.

You left "noble reds" off your list.... :-)

and my favorite additive style is Dave's Ultimate Insanity

It's funny that you mentioned Dave's Ultimate Insanity sauce. I happen to have a bottle of that myself. I poured it over half a sandwich at Firehouse Subs in Orlando and another hot sauce on the other half. (Firehouse Subs is a chain that sells subs and has a wide variety of hot sauces for you to put on them). Anyway, we're talkin' at least 3-4 tablespoons of DUI! Never having met a hot sauce I couldn't handle, I finished the half. Luckily, that particular store sells bottles of the hot sauces (not like in Tallahassee). I had to get a bottle and have enjoyed the sweaty foreheads and wide eyes of my friends who don't believe them when I tell them how hot it is...BTW, I made it all the way back (a four hour drive) without an unforced bowel movement, so I feel like I accomplished a manly milestone that day...

I just got a bottle of Highland Park (12yr). I like it, but I'm not in a position tonight to give it much of a review.

Ah, yes, you're right on my obvious ommission. Probably my favorite is Caymus Cabernet Savignon. I like BV Napa Valley wines, as well.

I was stationed over at Mather AFB in Sacremento for a year in the mid 1980s while going to navigator school. Needless to say, I made a lot of trips over to Napa to sample the wares. Without that experience, I can't imagine going into a store and letting some guy talk you into buying an expensive bottle based on nothing other than conversation...unfortunately, it's been so long that I'm in the position I can't imagine now...time for another refresher trip!

Speaking of experiencing first hand, I still haven't gotten to the part of the message board where you report on your trip to Scotland. I'm looking forward to reading about it.

Take care,

Scott

I have a question for scotch experts: Why is the Macallan 18 a thousand times better than the Macallan 12???

I am looking to buy a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label Limited Edition,
and live in California. Any Suggestions would be appreciated

It will make your search easier if you look for "Johnnie Walker" (J-O-H-N-N-I-E).

Try http://tinyurl.com/vole6 for US$69 plus shipping.

Good luck,

- Josh

Nice job I love the site

Is this message board still active? I loved reading Joshua's tasting notes but I noticed that there have been no messages posted since 2006. Thanks.

Thank you for the nice words!

I still monitor the board, and I know others do, too. But you're right, it's gotten quiet in these parts. Want to help? Post a question, review, or whatever you'd like! We'll get the conversation started again.

Hi, Michael. I still have an email sent to me, as well.

I have to say, probably my favorite all around Scotch, for a while now, is Balvenie.

I went to China for a few weeks last fall and have really enjoyed the green teas from there. I went to Longjing (a town just outside of Hangzhou) to get some Longjing tea. It's the most famous Chinese green tea and rightfully so. I have also really enjoyed the Mao Feng and a couple of other types of tea grown in the Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) area southwest of Shanghai and Hangzhou. They had a little sweetness to them (without sugar), which was nice. There's more good hot sauces out there than you can shake a stick at...so get two sticks!

Well, that's my update. Hope all is well with everyone.

Hi.
My boyfriend has a birthday coming up, and I would like to buy him a whisky. I think it would fit him best with a soft, sweet one - after-dinner type.
I have come down to the following 3 and would like an advice:

Highland Park 12
Balvenie 12 Doublewood
Glenlivet 18

Thank you in advance.

Ideal Soft Sweet after dinner type is
  "Dallas Dhu" (if you can get a bottle)
  

QT - Rikke <qtopic-3-5DBMc2FMegg92o6HOEJ3@quicktopic.com> wrote:
< replied-to message removed by QT >

Hi Rikke,

I would definitely go with the Doublewood. It is soft, sweet, and, if he gets more into whisky, gives great hints about what the older Balvenies are like.

The Highland Park has a bit of smoke to it, so if he's a novice, it might not be his cup of, er, scotch.

The Glenlivet 18 is very nice, and a lovely exercise in subtle sherrying, but is a bit on the pricey side (more than twice the price of the others.)