Advice on whisky

[Cynicor]

I agree with punter that Yamazaki is decent. If your partner has not had a decent Japanese whisky before then I would consider a nice bottle or an aged Yamazaki or Nikka. As a bonus, they can make some excellent coughtails in the form of modified Manhattans and other "old man drinks" as I like to call them.

 

[OATEK]

On the blended front, has anyone ever tried Old Inverness! Hard to find outside of the Highlands, but I found it was what the locals drank up around the Black Isle!

 

[Danger UXB]

Hi Keith
6 years at uni in Scotland means I've tried but a few of the great drinks from Scotland. I can tell you it is all about how it tastes for you. For some the Islay Malts are magnificent for others they are medicinal like that cough mixture you hated getting as a kid. I will definitely agree scrub the grain whisky from your list straight away. The blended is just not for me as it lacks character , just stick to the malts.
Personal favourites
Talisker
Oban
Knockando
Lagavulin
The Macallan
Highland Park

The last 2 are particularly good for those that are new to the malt experience. I have converted more people to the delights of malt with Highland Park than I care to remember. They both come in an 18yr version which fit nicely in your price bracket. And just for the unusual HP also comes from Orkney, the islands just off the northern tip of the Scottish mainland.

Happy hunting
Danger UXB

 

[Febs]

Paging Febs and notzac....

I hear this blog ain't bad.
http://www.timeforwhisky.com/

$150 AU retail or duty-free elsewhere?

I'll echo what others have said - determine what style he likes. Does he like a big, sherried whisky (Speyside), or does he like something smokey/peaty (Islay, Skye). Or does he like something really light and fruit (lowlands)? Heck, you don't even need to stick with Scotland. There are some amazing bourbons out there, not to mention Australian whiskies, Japanese whiskies, I even tried a very nice French whisky last year.

While Japanese whiskies are (generally) excellent (and very true to the Scottish style), I wouldn't buy them in Australia - the markup on them puts Scotch whiskies to shame. A mate recently came back from NRT and picked me up a Hibiki 17 (blend, but considered an excellent blend) and Yamazaki 12yo (single malt) for $120, combined. Here those would set you back ~$200 and $100 each, respectively.

So...there's a lot of theory...but here are a few possibilities:

Smokey/peaty: Laphroaig Cairdeas ($159) Laphroaig Càirdeas Scotch Whisky 700mL | Dan Murphy's | Buy Wine, Champagne, Beer & Spirits Online
Sherried: The Macallan Sienna - a no-age statement whisky (sacrebleu!) but, it's excellent, and generally considered better than the ~$220 Ruby ($159): The Macallan 1824 Series Sienna Scotch Whisky 700mL | Dan Murphy's | Buy Wine, Champagne, Beer & Spirits Online
Something a bit different: Overeem Port finish (Australian, one of my favourite Aussie whiskies): Overeem Port Cask Matured Single Malt 43% 700ml || The Oak Barrel ::: the oak barrel's online store
Irish: Jameson 18 ($119): Jameson 18 Year Old Irish Whiskey 700mL | Dan Murphy's | Buy Wine, Champagne, Beer & Spirits Online
Bourbon: Pappy van Winkle (any age): Though difficult to find in Australia. More readily available is the Jack Daniels Holiday release. Has a cool back story and costs $129: Jack Daniel's Holiday Select 2013 Tennessee Whiskey 700mL | Dan Murphy's | Buy Wine, Champagne, Beer & Spirits Online (Brown Forman sent me a bottle of this for Christmas so I'll have tasting notes up on the blog soon)

....but given you just FB'd me and told me some of the flavours he likes, I'd consider the first one (even though you said he doesn't like Scotch, if he likes Peaty whisky, he should enjoy Laphroaig, and this is an excellent Laphroaig), or maybe the JD Holiday Edition (JD isn't a Bourbon, but is basically a bourbon..)

Hope I haven't confused you!

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Keith009]

Right, so I gather that he likes an Irish or bourbon whiskey. The brand Red Breast was mentioned. He tends to prefer liquorice notes and sour mash (??). He also likes a peat "on a good day", prefers single malt, doesn't mind the blended stuff, avoids Scotch whiskey. Upon pointing out that a lot of whiskeys are Scotch whiskey, he says he doesn't like "those that are marketed as Scotch whiskey" but doesn't mind whiskey from Scotland per se.

Hope that makes sense to someone... But the Overeem one seems a goer based on my conversation with Febs.

 

[Ansett]

My favourite

I highly recomend Glen Devron 30 YR old an extremely well rounded and balanced Whisky that is matured in apple barrels. Only seen it available in the UK at 150 pounds a bottle

 

[TonyHancock]

I'll second Febs on the Laphroaig....and it might be a little corny, but the company was giving a small piece of land away, with a certificate etc. Laphroaigs then lease the land back for a glass of whisky per year. (The catch being you need to turn up at the distillery to receive it.)

 

[Keith009]

Thanks all for your help in pointing me in the right direction! Went out on a limb and purchased the Overeem Port Cask Matured Single Malt 43%. The reviews are excellent by all accounts and from what I gathered (with my extremely limited understanding of whisky), it's generally what the OH likes in a whisky whilst also being a little 'different.'

Fingers crossed he likes.

 

[Febs]

Thanks all for your help in pointing me in the right direction! Went out on a limb and purchased the Overeem Port Cask Matured Single Malt 43%. The reviews are excellent by all accounts and from what I gathered (with my extremely limited understanding of whisky), it's generally what the OH likes in a whisky whilst also being a little 'different.'

Fingers crossed he likes.

Great choice. Their new Bourbon cask release is excellent too, but won't be back in stock until later this year.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[OATEK]

Thanks all for your help in pointing me in the right direction! Went out on a limb and purchased the Overeem Port Cask Matured Single Malt 43%. The reviews are excellent by all accounts and from what I gathered (with my extremely limited understanding of whisky), it's generally what the OH likes in a whisky whilst also being a little 'different.'

Fingers crossed he likes.

So when do we find out?

 

[Keith009]

So when do we find out?

In slightly over a fortnight.

 

[samh004]

I'll second Febs on the Laphroaig....and it might be a little corny, but the company was giving a small piece of land away, with a certificate etc. Laphroaigs then lease the land back for a glass of whisky per year. (The catch being you need to turn up at the distillery to receive it.)

I have my "square foot of Islay" though I'm not sure if I'll manage to get there this year... each bottle comes with a code to a free square foot, but after you've claimed it, future codes give you credits that you can use towards purchases online, and they routinely run caption contests and auction rare bottles.

 

[SamR]

If your mate likes the Peaty Islay taste, then you can't go past an offering from Ardbeg, Lagavullin, Laphroaig or Caol Ila. I enjoy a dram of Yamazaki every now and again as well. So much to choose from.

I loves me a good, peaty Islay single malt. I can never turn down a Lagavulin, Ardbeg or Laphroig. My Bloke can't quite handle the Arbeg. The peat is strong in that one.

 

[MarkD]

Just make your own

 

[Keith009]

... and it's a hit!

 

[Major]

I noticed that NZ Duty Free has a Lagavuilin for NZD $124. Not sure whether that's a good price or not

http://www.dutyfreestores.co.nz/Sho...ail&utm_term=0_16a84dc849-fed63c5080-10864549

 

[Happy Trails]

Local drop makes good:

Tassie whisky named world's best single malt

 

[a330j]

Probably a bit off topic but Tasmania's Sullivan's Cove has just been named Whisky Mag's 2014 World Single Malt Whisky of the Year

Tasmania Distillery's Sullivans Cove takes world whisky title for single malt - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Edit: 2 minutes too slow getting the news out

 

[RooFlyer]

Probably a bit off topic but Tasmania's Sullivan's Cove has just been named Whisky Mag's 2014 World Single Malt Whisky of the Year

Tasmania Distillery's Sullivans Cove takes world whisky title for single malt - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Beat me to it

Here's the awards link: World Whiskies Awards 2014 Might have to wander down there tomorrow and see if I can take up a new habit.

That said ... is it a drink or a ... ? haystack?

Tunnock’s Caramel wafers. With a touch of smoke. Excellent balance. Ed Bates

Toasted almonds, grated nutmeg and some fruit toast on the nose. Burnt almonds, autumn fruits stewed with golden raisins. Light, peppery and intriguing. Seáneen Sullivan

Keeping it simple in a very good way. Honey, vanilla and haystacks. All combine with apples and caramel. Jason Thomson

Campfire smoke that enriches the malt and wood. A match made in heaven with a smooth buttery feel. Joseph Cassidy

Great balance, lovely spices come through with time. Jamie Milne

 

[a330j]

snip: Might have to wander down there tomorrow and see if I can take up a new habit

Might want to hurry News - Sullivans Cove Whisky - Demand for Tasmanian Whisky leads to shortage