What is the best single malt scotch?

[tismyself]

I've tried Penderyn, Oban, Glenmorangie, Dalwhinnie. Love them all, but still... there's something missing.

[XemaSab]

1. Talisker

:9

[tismyself]

2. well now

I've just read about it, sounds interesting. Adding that to my list to try. Thanks for the tip!

[XemaSab]

3. It's like heroin

It's not something you "try." :P

[petronius]

4. Asked and answered - this thread has served its purpose

(Although a mention of Lagavulin would not be amiss!)

:)

[tismyself]

6. greeaaat

Something else I'm going to have to research -thanks heaps!

[tismyself]

7. Consider it added to the list as well.

I like the story behind it too. Thanks again!

[petronius]

10. You will not be disappointed - Islay malts are quite good

Just save the Laphroig until you've had a bit more experience. :)

[tismyself]

13. it's going to be a great winter

Now I've just read about Laphroaig and it too sounds wonderful. I like the description of it being peaty.

And this is why I put the question out there to DU'ers, I knew there would be some great suggestions.

[petronius]

14. Laphroaig is also described (not inaccurately) as sea weed and iodine

I like it, but it's a bit of a shock at first...

Enjoy the winter!

[tismyself]

19. Errr...

Oh dear. I think I read it is the only single malt given a Royal Warrant. Ahem.

[lizerdbits]

5. I worked with a guy who liked Glenlivet

But apparently it's $50 or so a bottle.

[JVS]

8. That's like asking what the best color is. It's a matter of taste.

[Blue-Jay]

9. The one nearest me is the best.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. My husband likes MacCallum (sp?) He liked Dalwhinnie as well.

[petronius]

15. Macallan? (nt)

[buzzycrumbhunger]

17. That's Macallen

. . . and it is damned good. Highlight of our year is Highland Games season because there's usually a representative doling out generous samples. (Need a sugar daddy to supply me otherwise. . .)

[tismyself]

21. That sounds like so much fun!

I love the Highland Games. I wanted to go to the games at Grandfather but couldn't bring myself to get on the chicken bus going up around those hair pin curves.

Macallen huh...

[kedrys]

26. Mmmmmm. The Macallan.

http://www.themacallan.com/splash.asp

My current favorite is the 10 year old finished in oaks casks. It doesn't have those heavy sherry notes you'll find in other malts, and it goes down smoooooooooooooth.

[IndianaJones]

12. what is the best value for a newbie to single malt? nt.

[tismyself]

18. My first was Glenmorangie.

It was a gift from some friends who had just returned from Scotland. I knew I was a goner from the first sip.

Just here recently though I've started this quest for the perfect single malt, the only painful part that makes it feel more like a true hero's journey is not passing out at the check out counter.

Single malts are for me an extension of literature, history, and an ancestral connection. I read stories, like The Scottish Chiefs or the Lady of the Lake, with wonderful descriptions of the land, the people, and so on, and somehow I've convinced myself that it's captured in the waters and the land - and so, scotch.

Well, I'm rattling on, and way off from your question now. Get thee to a pub and order a glass!

[mwooldri]

16. I think you need to:

1) Book plane tickets to Edinburgh.

2) Rent a car. (Sorry public transit isn't going to do it for this trip, would be real inconvenient when the only bus service is once a week in some of these places).

3) Book in lots of B&B's for one-nighters around the Highlands of Scotland.

4) Visit a good few distilleries.

If you can't drive then don't do 2) and instead do 3a) book a nice hotel in Edinburgh, and 4a) do a good pub crawl instead.

Either way I'm sure you'll find a single malt you'll love.

Mark.

[Wapsie B]

20. My palate wouldn't know the difference between something great

and something so-so or worse with scotch. I've tasted differences in qualities of wine but with the hard liquors? No.

[tismyself]

22. other way around for me

I can't taste any difference with wines. And for some reason, wine liberates my inner juvenile delinquent.

[Paladin]

24. Wish I Had Your Problem

I went into a liquor store the other day with the firm intention of getting a moderately priced bottle of blended scotch.....and emerged with my usual bottle of Glenmorangie (Sherry Cask). Such is my cross to bear....:)

[DarkTirade]

23. I tend to look for price/quality ratio rather than just quality...

and for that, a good 30-35 dollar bottle of Dalmore or a 40 dollar bottle of Glenfiddich is fine by me. Not the greatest, but damn good for its price.

[Canuckistanian]

25. Dalwhinnie is the Nectar from the Gods.

Can't stand the Islay scotches -they taste of medical bandages and sweat.

[cemaphonic]

27. The answer is held in this book: (if there is really a truly definitive answer of course)

http://www.amazon.com/Raw-Spirit-Iain-Banks/dp/0099460270

It's one of Glenfiddich's whiskeys, but unfortunately, we can't buy it here in the US thanks to our utterly ridiculous Cuban embargo - the whiskey is finished in rum casks, and it is a matter of vital national security to deprive Castro of the lucrative *USED BARREL* trade income.

Ah here we go: http://www.shoppersvineyard.com/product_new.asp?pID=32417&utm_source=Vinquire&utm_medium=WineFeed&utm_term=winebottle&utm_campaign=base

Anyway, it's a really interesting book that many here would probably find enjoyable, even if you're not familiar with Banks' fiction. It's written in a travelogue style, and it's about growing up and living in Scotland as much as it is about whiskey, with many funny tangents into a wide range of subjects. (especially politics - Banks is a committed lefty, even by Scottish standards, and he started writing the book right around the beginning of the Iraq war, so he frequently segues into amusing, heartfelt rants against Bush and Blair.)