Talking about Whisky

[HighlandDougie]

How does Laphroaig compare to say Jura, Glenmorangie or Glendfiddich. I like to try the less well known malts as well.

In reverse order, not anything like Glenfiddich (in its bog-standard 10 year old form about my least-favourite malt whisky, although I'd be happy to hear that it has improved), not very like Glenmorangie (what used to be described by malt-whisky bores as a, "lady's tipple", i.e. it's highly drinkable) and, although just across the water from Islay, Jura (which has, alas, been "brand-ised" - the 16 year old used to be good value but has leapt up in price, although a great drink) a bit like it but then not really ...... If you like Lagavulin, then Laphroaig might be a good next step. If Glenfiddich is the Karajan Beethoven cycle, Abbado the Glenmorangie and Jura the Bruggen, then Laphroaig might well be the Krivine. Springbank - that would be my BaL choice (but you absolutely cannot go wrong with Highland Park). Glenfarclas and Mortlach are "old-fashioned", well-made whiskies which you might enjoy. But I'm beginning to sound like Mr McTumshie, the whisky bore, with his You-tube page .....

[BBMmk2]

In reverse order, not anything like Glenfiddich (in its bog-standard 10 year old form about my least-favourite malt whisky, although I'd be happy to hear that it has improved), not very like Glenmorangie (what used to be described by malt-whisky bores as a, "lady's tipple", i.e. it's highly drinkable) and, although just across the water from Islay, Jura (which has, alas, been "brand-ised" - the 16 year old used to be good value but has leapt up in price, although a great drink) a bit like it but then not really ...... If you like Lagavulin, then Laphroaig might be a good next step. If Glenfiddich is the Karajan Beethoven cycle, Abbado the Glenmorangie and Jura the Bruggen, then Laphroaig might well be the Krivine. Springbank - that would be my BaL choice (but you absolutely cannot go wrong with Highland Park). Glenfarclas and Mortlach are "old-fashioned", well-made whiskies which you might enjoy. But I'm beginning to sound like Mr McTumshie, the whisky bore, with his You-tube page .....

Thanks, HD! Most interesting! It's the Scottish in me, most likely!

[vinteuil]

... grateful for any advice here : I know nothing about whisky (tho' I seem to remember enjoying some Lagavulin years ago... ). But we seem to have in a cupboard under the stairs a couple of bottles of single malt - a Knockando and an Oban. Are they any good - perhaps HighlandDougie could give us a steer - a possible conductor comparison??

[french frank]

a Knockando and an Oban.

I used to like Oban - not too fiery, not too peaty, not too anything very much. But I liked Jura too - liked the analogy with Bruggen

[Old Grumpy]

This ONE is worth investigating.

The first batch of malt should be available in just over two years - I am looking forward to that!


OG

[Beef Oven!]

Conductors as whiskies?

Wynn Morris (one of the most underrated, ever) - Teacher's with an extra splash of Ardmore!

"Morris' talent was balanced by a disregard for authority and a love of alcohol" - Obituary in The Telegraph 2010

[HighlandDougie]

... grateful for any advice here : I know nothing about whisky (tho' I seem to remember enjoying some Lagavulin years ago... ). But we seem to have in a cupboard under the stairs a couple of bottles of single malt - a Knockando and an Oban. Are they any good - perhaps HighlandDougie could give us a steer - a possible conductor comparison??

They are both very good whiskies, in my wholly unhumble opinion. Understated (they don't shout their provenance) but well-made, hmm, how about Hans Schmidt-Issertsedt and Sir Charles Mackerras ....

[HighlandDougie]

Conductors as whiskies?

Wynn Morris (one of the most underrated, ever) - Teacher's with an extra splash of Ardmore!

"Morris' talent was balanced by a disregard for authority and a love of alcohol" - Obituary in The Telegraph 2010

Bennevis - a vatted malt (I'm not sure that it's even still available) of considerable strength (was it 50 per cent?), unforgettable character but somehow ruinous the day after. Wyn Morris - truly gifted but it somehow all went a bit wrong. Anyway, enough nonsense from me about whisky as conductors.

[vinteuil]

.

... grateful for any advice here : I know nothing about whisky (tho' I seem to remember enjoying some Lagavulin years ago... ). But we seem to have in a cupboard under the stairs a couple of bottles of single malt - a Knockando and an Oban. Are they any good - perhaps HighlandDougie could give us a steer - a possible conductor comparison??

.

They are both very good whiskies, in my wholly unhumble opinion. Understated (they don't shout their provenance) but well-made, hmm, how about Hans Schmidt-Issertsedt and Sir Charles Mackerras ....

... many thanks - "both very good whiskies". Most gratifying to hear!

Second question - again as someone pretty iggorant when it comes to whisky - what is the best advice as to water. Any? A little? Ice?? All help here welcome!

[Sir Velo]

A splash unlocks the flavour I find - but don't for god's sake dilute it as if it were a cordial!

[Dave2002]

Wynn Morris (one of the most underrated, ever) - Teacher's with an extra splash of Ardmore!

"Morris' talent was balanced by a disregard for authority and a love of alcohol" - Obituary in The Telegraph 2010

Morris wasn't the only conductor who had a liking for bevvies!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A splash unlocks the flavour I find - but don't for god's sake dilute it as if it were a cordial!

- a very very few can be taken "neat" (Lagavulin being one), but a drop or two of (non-chlorinated!) water takes away the "burn" on the tongue that most neat whiskies cause. (Guidance I learnt from this very Thread - I used to quaff everything neat.)

[Old Grumpy]

Second question - again as someone pretty ignorant when it comes to whisky - what is the best advice as to water. Any? A little? Ice?? All help here welcome!

Few drops of water (to release the flavour - as per #340), but ice - never!!

OG

[umslopogaas]

As much or little water as you wish, depending on how quickly you wish to get mellow (read drunk). But ice? No, never,all it does it dull the taste of the dram.

[HighlandDougie]

There's nothing wrong with putting ice, per se, in whisky if that happens to be one's taste but the problem is often that the volume of water in an ice cube tends to over-dilute the whisky. I'm of the view that you can put too much water in it (unless it's something like White Horse or Cream of the Barley, when you probably can't put enough in). Those of our forbears who drank whisky, "with a splash of soda", were on the right lines as, after a good deal of experimentation, I've found a (very) small amount of the right kind of - carbonated - water produces the optimum effect in terms of releasing the nose and the taste of the whisky. Perrier - non! St Yorre - non, non et non! It has to be "sparkling spring", not "mineral" as the taste in the latter often fights with the flavour of the whisky. Sparkling Strathmore tops my list but no doubt others have their own English, Welsh or Scottish aqeuous favorites.