Talking about Whisky

[johnb]

£92.99 isn't bad for a 21 year old malt.

The Old Pulteney 17 is also reputed to be extremely good and is one that I would very much like to try (when my bank balance has recovered from recent purchases) - a "snip" at ~£65. (Well a "snip" in comparison to Highland Park 18 @ ~£98 and the refashioned Mortlach, which is now targeted at the bling market and Russian Oligarchs.)

Last night I opened a bottle of Balblair 1997 which I had recently bought and am beginning to fall in love with it. I'm not good at describing a whisky - it isn't peated and it isn't a "sherry bomb" - just a delicious, beautiful and harmonious dram.

[Old Grumpy]

just a delicious, beautiful and harmonious dram.

Good a description as any, johnb!

[Beef Oven!]

Blimey, at ninety three quid it had better be a best buy! One for those with deep pockets, I'll stick to the 12 year old.

A bit of context is required.

Yesterday I popped into a local pub to see a man about a dog, and a friend offered me a drink. Because I was driving, I had a half of Guinness. He had a pint of Fosters (). I couldn't help noticing that he was charged £6.25 for these two drinks, which I thought was a rip-off (local E8 dive of a place).

A double Old Pulteney 21 year old, as discussed, comes out at £6.64. A splash of water, a bit of Stilton, some Green and Blacks - 'nuff said.

[Beef Oven!]

Was given a bottle of this as a Xmas present today by my Godmother. A very nice tree present, but I don't know anything about it. Anyone got any previous with this single malt Scotch?

[johnb]

I've never sampled any of the Ancnoc whiskies but they are very well regarded. The brand name Ancnoc is the brainchild of Inver House Distilleries for the Knockdhu distillery. Why you might ask - well they have another distillery called Knockando and they thought the similarity of the names might cause confusion. They, of course, over looked the confusion that might be caused by selling Knockdhu under the rather odd name of Ancnoc.

Anyway, Jim Murray in his 2015 Whisky Bible rates the 12 year old as 94.5, which is pretty high. His summary reads "A more confident or complex Speyside-style malt you are unlikely to find. Shimmers with everything that is great about Scotch Whisky". Different "experts" have different tastes so you can't take one person's opinion as gospel but Ancnoc 12 seems to be widely liked and admired.

It isn't usually stocked by supermarkets (though it is widely available online) so give full marks to your Godmother for searching out a very interesting Scotch that seems to be undeservedly neglected by supermarkets and the general public.

[Beef Oven!]

Thanks John for taking the trouble for such an informative post. Looks like I've something to look forward to here!

I don't know where she got it, but she's quite a resourceful octogenarian!

[gurnemanz]

By strange coincidence, I received a bottle of anCnoc rascan from our daughter and her partner. She lives in Balham but he grew up near Aberdeen. I don't think they know Beef's aunt. I had never heard the name before. They had enjoyed another one in the range and thought I would like it. Not cracked it open yet but will report back.

[johnb]

Amazon again has three of Diageo's gift packs on Lightening Deals, all starting at 18:00 today for Prime subscribers (non-Prime buyers have access to them 30 minutes later).

As well as being very nice gifts, these do strike me as a particularly good way of exploring different malts without having to fork out for full bottles.

The packs on offer are:

Talisker Gift Set (3 x 20cl bottles):
Talisker 10
Talisker Distillers Edition (where Talisker is finished in sherry casks, giving it a richer texture)
Talisker 57° North (cask strength - much admired)
Estimated deal price: around £33

Classic Malts Costal Selection (3 x 20cl bottles)
Caol Ila 12 (one of the lesser known Islay Malts)
Clynelish 14 (one of Diageo's "hidden" malts)
Talisker 10
Estimated deal price: around £28

Classic Malts Strong Collection (3 x 20cl bottles)
Lagavulin 16
Talisker 10
Cragganmore 12
Estimated deal price: around £34

For me, the Talisker and the Coastal Malts are the more interesting. I already have a bottle of Caol Ila so I might well buy the Talisker set (though I would live to try Clynelish).

[BBMmk2]

That looks rather good1 :)

[Dave2002]

Strathisla 12yo seems rather good. Fairly mellow, with hardly any smoky peaty flavour.

[johnb]

I like Strathisla 12 too - a very pleasant and very drinkable dram. Luckily, I was able to buy a bottle for £22 in one of Amazon's Lightening Deals.

Strathisla is reputed to be the oldest Speyside distillery - it is very pretty and much photographed. The distillery was rescued in 1950 by Chivas Bros and has served as their public figure-head distillery for the Chivas blends. (Chivas is, in turn, now owned by Pernod Ricard.)


By the way, Tesco still has Highland Park 12 on offer at £23 but only until 31st January. The normal supermarket price seems to be around £33.00 so this is a good opportunity to stock up. It is a lovely, balanced malt and a bargain at this price.

[Dave2002]

Not sure that I dare buy any more - though I don't have any Highland Park. I received the Strathisla in my Christmas "stocking" - apparently bought on offer for around £23, and I "gave" the bottle of Old Pulteney away to others who live here, so we can drink that later on this week. I think some offers do come around from time to time, but there may not be so many now for a few months. OTOH, if the Lagavulin bottle is emptied (it is near the bottom), then on the one out, one in principle - hardly ever observed here - then there might be room in the cupboard for Highland Park.

[Beef Oven!]

There will be some new, but possibly final, offers in the supermarkets leading up to New Year - a tactic to get shoppers (men?) into the shop and do the other shopping.

As that good old Hackney boy made good, Shaw Taylor used to say, "keep 'em peeled"

[BBMmk2]

I might have a large dram of highland Park tonight! L:)

[Dave2002]

This looks like a cheapie - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Macallan-Ann...eywords=whisky !!!!