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On the "Cool" thread Futtocks posted as one of his Cool things was Islay single malts.

I' m a big fan, my favourite being Lagavulin.

Because of this my favourite blended used to be White Horse because Lagavulin was the base single malt.

White Horse is rarely seen these days as it appears to be export only. My Son in Law brought me a bottle back from India recently and I was very disappointed as there didn't seem to be any Lagavulin in it.

I tend to stick to Bells in the blended whisky range as I find Grouse a bit sweet. I sometimes buy the Aldi 8 year old blended which came out tops in a recent tasting test.

The best value Islay I have found is the Tesco Islay single malt which they sell for about £16/£18.

Ron Banks

Midlands Hurricanes and Barrow

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I do love a good Islay malt but if I had to have a Desert Island bottle it would be either Highland Park or The Glenlivet.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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My wife bought me two bottles of Laphroaig for my birthday, the cask strength version at 57.2% (this year's 005 batch) :)  One gets opened tonight!

 

I treat myself to a bottle of the Laphroaig 18 year old every time I get the first payment in from a new customer or a brand new contract.

 

My mum sent me a bottle of Talisker and one of my friends bought me a nice Bowmore, decent stuff but not quite Laphroaig.  I have a standing instruction with good friends and family I know are likely to send presents "whisky, must say Islay on it somewhere".

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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My wife bought me two bottles of Laphroaig for my birthday, the cask strength version at 57.2% (this year's 005 batch) :)  One gets opened tonight!

 

I treat myself to a bottle of the Laphroaig 18 year old every time I get the first payment in from a new customer or a brand new contract.

 

My mum sent me a bottle of Talisker and one of my friends bought me a nice Bowmore, decent stuff but not quite Laphroaig.  I have a standing instruction with good friends and family I know are likely to send presents "whisky, must say Islay on it somewhere".

Wow cask strength! Do you cut that with water? I've found that a little goes a very long way.

Ron Banks

Midlands Hurricanes and Barrow

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Wow cask strength! Do you cut that with water? I've found that a little goes a very long way.

1 cube of ice per finger of whisky. That's the formula I was given by the distillery master distiller. His view was that cask strength is wasted without water, I just prefer the stuff slightly chilled by the melting ice.

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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Jamesons.

 

I was going to say should we start a "whiskey" thread as well as "whisky"  I prefer Irish - I prefer Bushmills - I have a bottle of Black Bush which I drink very sparingly, and a bottle of Bushmills 10 year old single malt which I only drink on special occasions - the last time was 13-06-13 when my new grandaughter was born.

I went to Cuba a few years ago and got the taste for Havana Club Siete Annos rum - but it's an absolute fortune in the UK.

“Few thought him even a starter.There were many who thought themselves smarter. But he ended PM, CH and OM. An Earl and a Knight of the Garter.”

Clement Attlee.

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My wife bought me two bottles of Laphroaig for my birthday, the cask strength version at 57.2% (this year's 005 batch) :)  One gets opened tonight!

 

I treat myself to a bottle of the Laphroaig 18 year old every time I get the first payment in from a new customer or a brand new contract.

 

My mum sent me a bottle of Talisker and one of my friends bought me a nice Bowmore, decent stuff but not quite Laphroaig.  I have a standing instruction with good friends and family I know are likely to send presents "whisky, must say Islay on it somewhere".

 

 

Was that the "quarter cask" whisky they brought out?  I had a bottle of that a few years ago - wonderful stuff.

www.fatalerror.co.nz - A Musical by Lattimer & McRae

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Was that the "quarter cask" whisky they brought out?  I had a bottle of that a few years ago - wonderful stuff.

No, quarter cask is the stuff you get in most supermarkets along with the standard 10yo.  Cask strength is only available in special stores or from the distillery, I get mine from the distillery website.  They used to sell it more widely but it was criticised too often by people who know nothing so it was restricted to specialist and distillery only.

 

It's a genuine meaty hit of a whisky that certainly hits hard if you're not used to it.  If you like your Islay whisky though you should enjoy it, it's far harder hitting on the peaty side and a proper sipping whisky.

 

That said, the 18yo is by far and away the best whisky I've ever tasted, it's not a cheap purchase but a very worthy reward for myself for hard work.

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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Gordon and McPhail sell a range of cask strength whiskies. Their website is interesting too.

For anyone that hasn't tried cask strength they really do give a big whisky hit.

Ron Banks

Midlands Hurricanes and Barrow

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My favourite Islay whisky is Caol Ila, but I found out recently (confirming the suspicions of my tastebuds) that they also supply Sainsbury's own brand Islay single malt, which is only about £20. Ker-chinggg!

 

Mind you, I'd still splash out occasionally on one of their special expressions, like the Distillers edition, finished in Moscatel casks.

 

I've also been impressed with Penderyn, a fairly new Welsh whisky company. I've found it in Waitrose and in one of the really big branches of Sainsbury.

 

Anyone in central London should visit the Aladdin's cave that is Milroys of Soho.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I went to Cuba a few years ago and got the taste for Havana Club Siete Annos rum - but it's an absolute fortune in the UK.

I don't buy it very often, but I do like Angostura Rum.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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My favourite Islay whisky is Caol Ila, but I found out recently (confirming the suspicions of my tastebuds) that they also supply Sainsbury's own brand Islay single malt, which is only about £20. Ker-chinggg!

 

Mind you, I'd still splash out occasionally on one of their special expressions, like the Distillers edition, finished in Moscatel casks.

 

I've also been impressed with Penderyn, a fairly new Welsh whisky company. I've found it in Waitrose and in one of the really big branches of Sainsbury.

 

Anyone in central London should visit the Aladdin's cave that is Milroys of Soho.

On that, anyone near London Bridge station, there's a proper pub, not one of the fancy ones, called The Britannia about 5 minutes walk away that does 80+ different types of whisky.

 

Here's their whisky menu:

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IMG_0121.jpg

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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Visiting a friend a while back he produced a bottle of cask strength Talisker I think it was, even with water twas powerful stuff but very drinkable.

 

Dalwhinnie is a firm favourite, I visited the distillery a few years back for the tour and a few different bottles to bring home. Also a big fan of Cardhu.

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Wow cask strength! Do you cut that with water? I've found that a little goes a very long way.

 

I go for having a small glass of water alongside the whiskey, although some bar staff find this a difficult order to understand.

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A quick note for the discerning customers amongst you, that the supermarket own label whiskies usually change supplier each year.  My mate works for HMRC and lets me know which is which - although a taste challenge is no hardship!

 

Islay own labels are great - there are only eight (?) distilleries there so the odds are good!

 

Bunnahabhain (spl) is a fave as it is much easier drinking than the others....

 

 

Just been having a discussion half an hour ago on the merits of Islay whisky with the bar owner in the little village near here who once threw me out for being a rugby league fan.  He has mellowed....  

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Visiting a friend a while back he produced a bottle of cask strength Talisker I think it was, even with water twas powerful stuff but very drinkable.

 

Dalwhinnie is a firm favourite, I visited the distillery a few years back for the tour and a few different bottles to bring home. Also a big fan of Cardhu.

Bottom of your post is a caveman saying big brother is watching you...anyone care to explain.

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My wife bought me two bottles of Laphroaig for my birthday, the cask strength version at 57.2% (this year's 005 batch) :)  One gets opened tonight!

 

I treat myself to a bottle of the Laphroaig 18 year old every time I get the first payment in from a new customer or a brand new contract.

 

My mum sent me a bottle of Talisker and one of my friends bought me a nice Bowmore, decent stuff but not quite Laphroaig.  I have a standing instruction with good friends and family I know are likely to send presents "whisky, must say Islay on it somewhere".

 

Nothing is like Laphroaig - beautiful stuff.  My favourite.

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Bunnahabhain (spl) is a fave as it is much easier drinking than the others....

My friend's wife can't pronounce it but loves it, she calls it "Bunny Heaven" :P

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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I had some Japanese whisky* a year or so ago. It was okay, but a little bland. Mind you, it was their bottom of the range blend, and some of their whiskies are very well thought of.

 

*I think it was Yamazaki, but can't remember definitely.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Anyone tried Big Peat? A vatted whisky containing Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen sounds very interesting.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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My favourite Islay whisky is Caol Ila, but I found out recently (confirming the suspicions of my tastebuds) that they also supply Sainsbury's own brand Islay single malt, which is only about £20. Ker-chinggg!

 

 

I went to Sainsburys today and got a bottle of their own brand Islay on your recommendation. I am now sat here enjoying a generous measure so wanted to say thank you, it's rather nice.

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I went to Sainsburys today and got a bottle of their own brand Islay on your recommendation. I am now sat here enjoying a generous measure so wanted to say thank you, it's rather nice.

Especially at that price! :) 

 

I've just bought a bottle of Bowmore, with a bourbon cask finish, and very nice it is too.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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  • 2 weeks later...

Try the POT STILL pub on hope street glasgow if you want a large selection of whisky.

  I like the JURA whiskies from Orkney.

But for a west of scotland weejy WHITE AND MCKAY is the daily tipple.

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