I’ve already recommended the fantastic Balvenie Doublewood (about $33-$39), for my money the best value in single malts, but for those on an even tighter budget—or who wish to try different Scotches without having to pony up $99 for a bottle of Macallen—Lismore, on sale in these parts for $15 this week, is a great value, and has ranked rather high on tasting lists, including one prominent list where it finished just behind Macallan 25 yr and just ahead of Aberlour a’bunadh cask strength at number 2.
Toffee and malt nose. Sweet palate reminiscent of the Doublewood. Professional tasters take points off for an “abrupt” finish, but I haven’t found that.
But then, maybe I’m too busy concentrating on the all the money I’m saving by drinking this stuff over, say, Glen Farclas (which is a great single malt, but about 4x the price).
Anyway, a nice Scotch to keep around, because you won’t feel guilty drinking it in volume.
Walmart had 4-packs of Miller High Life 16oz tallboys for a $1.78 last time I was there. That’s really cheap for a Mexican beer.
We live in a beautiful world.
Excellent choice. I’ve had it! I read the label a few times and I think it is actually a blended whiskey and not a single malt.
It said “pure malt” or somesuch thing and there was no actual age on it. It was pretty tasty, though.
Me? Right now I’m enjoying Glenlivet ($23 at the ‘Class Six’ store on base) Major John has been around long enough to remember when the base liquore shoppes were called ‘Class Six’….
Have you had Loch Dhu, The Black Malt? It’s pretty tasty and cheap. It’s the Guinness of Whiskeys.
Drink Guinness and Loch Dhu for an evening and in the morning you can enjoy the apparent symptoms of intense gastric bleeding <a href=”http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/otherdiseases/a/blackstool.htm” target=”melena”>….
I think I knew a Phillipino girl named ‘Melena’….
I blame the Glenlivet for the f-ed up link….
There are only about sixty kajillion of those, Gray.
(Note: “Kajillion” is an official Rosie O’Donnell “science” word. Along with “melty” and “flamey”.)
$15 for Lismore is a steal. However, you might find that John Edwards won’t associate with you at such prices, Jeff. (BTW, how much did that last haircut run you, hoi poloi boy?)
I think Jeff cuts his own hair. ;D
I do too. But I have started charging myself a couple hundred bucks so people don’t think I am cheap.
My last haircut came courtesy of my K-Mart clippers.
Just now growing back.
Lismore is enigmatic about its malt. Some people think it’s a blend; but most stores stock it with the single malts.
Either way, good stuff for the price.
I should start doing that.
Couple of things I know about Scotch faggots: they love to bloviate.
Johnnie Walker Black? Eminently drinkable in most situations. If you’re experiencing an occasion where a generic blended whisky is unacceptable? You’re surrounded by utter cuntburgers. No amount of quality whisky will overcome. Just bust out the smack–might as well, and later there’s the stories to tell. Oh, the stories!
So that’s a thumbs down on the Lismore, then, rho?
There are some pretty nice less-expensive liquors out there, once you look around a bit.
There’s a vodka called Luksusowa that’s very good, for example.
Johnnie Walker Black is the Scotch of Choice of the Saudi entrepreneurial classes.
Just a friendly warning.
(btw , a scotch faggot is a kind of rissole made from offal.)
Good News Ohio Liquor stores are now stocking Laphroig.
Enigmatic = not a single malt
For my “everyday scotch” I prefer Speyburn. It’s a quite drinkable, 10-year old Single Malt which costs about $40 for the 1.75L bottle!
Keeps me from having to dip into the 18-year old MacAllan too often.
Jeff undoubtedly owns a Flowbee.
Hmmm.
1. Remember that you don’t need a membership card to shop for liquor at a Sam’s Club. Same thing goes for some of the other big box discount club stores, depending on state.
2. For some strange reason I’ve been drinking Bushmills a lot lately. No idea why.
3. Instead of getting my hair cut I just shave my head every month or so.
4. Why the hell am I wasting my time writing this when I could be drinking??!
I’ll second that Luksosowa recommendation. A rather smooth pure potato vodka. But my fave these days is Tito’s handmade.
Gray – the portion of the PX dedicated to adult drink is still labeled “Class VI”. Heh.
Oh, thor – thanks for that first entry. That was coffee-snorted-out-the-nose funny.
Jeff – I will try your recommendation as soon as I am able to spare a night to indulge in good Scotch.
An explanation for those reading, BTW.
All material in the Army falls into one of 10 classes of supply; I-X (ie. III is petroleum products, V is ammunition, IX is repair parts and components). Class VI is “personal demand items”, which Army personnel quickly began labeling alcohol (“but Sarge, I was just securing some Class VI supplies!”). AAFES (Army Air Force Exchange Service – the people that run the stores/PXs and commissaries) actually used (and still does) the term for their alcohol sales. Who says a governmental entity can’t have a sense of humor?
Has anyone else noticed that the farther north the distillery the better the single malt?
The best are the Islay scotches for my money. The whole of Islay island is a peat bog to begin with, so the taste out of those are just phenomenal. They run from strong to incredibly strong. Bruichladdich is a reasonably priced Islay.
Highland Park man, are you, Hawise?
I have a tennis partner over here who is starting a distillery on Shetland “because there isn’t one there.”
Right sort of hard drinking international businessman…
Just imagine what Santa’s elves make…
Hmmm. I can buy an excellent bottle of Canadian whiskey for a good deal less than a fair bottle of scotch. Made from the same grains but without the annoying “old overshoes” flavour.
Assuming we’re comparing the average Canadian to the aveage SMSW it’s actually not the same grains. You’re going to taste much more barley in the single malts and more corn and rye in the Canadians.
I’m a big fan of the Dimple or Pinch or Dimple Pinch, depends on what duty-free I’m at. It’s blended, but it’s good stuff. I don’t have the time to sit and sip any more, so I don’t bother wasting my money on anything good, I just fill a flask with whatever brown likker I have left and head out to the ballfield.
It’s Canadian Club this week.
It’s wassaname, the old *belch* saying… “Volume, voleum, vomule…” *thud*
TW class89: I last drew a sober breath in school my…
For some reason the words “Phildelphia Eagles Fan” jumped into my mind reading those words…
LMC, have you ever thrown a tire chain at a referee?
“Assuming we’re comparing the average Canadian to the aveage SMSW it’s actually not the same grains. You’re going to taste much more barley in the single malts and more corn and rye in the Canadians.”
I was comparing a top quality Canadian whiskey to a less than top notch scotch, actually. I drink my whiskey neat, sir, and don’t like to breath fire. I require smooooth. In terms of price, it’s a no brainer to me. I work in the grain trade. You won’t find many ryes in that category and besides unless the label reads, rye whiskey, it’s not. As far as the better stuff (Weisers, Crown Royal, Gibsons) I assure you, it’s made from barley malt. I win bets with people who insist that Canadian whiskey, is rye whiskey.
Ardbeg is one of my favorite Islays, price/taste wise.
I don’t touch the Canadian whiskies anymore. I tend to go Irish (Tullamore Dew or Bushmill’s)when I’m looking for a decent whiskey for the dollar.
Thanks for the suggestion Jeff. I’ve been waiting for one of these posts. This weekend is a “buy some more hooch” weekend, so at that price, I can maybe get my targeted Single Malt, Caol Ila 18, and a bottle of the Lismore. (Although, it seems your prices are quite a bit cheaper than they are here in Ohio. The Balvenie Doublewood was $51.95 here). And if they have neither? I think I’ll have to get another bottle of the Balvenie Doublewood. That, so far, is indeed my favorite. Though, the Highland Park 12 is very good, too. Then again, I have come to love the Ardbeg 10. Decisions, decisions.
Fat Man, Laphroaig is available in Ohio now? I’m in the Cleveland area and haven’t seen it yet. I’ll have to look for it this weekend.
Apparently Australia has good, cheap wine in abundance right now, and the Aussies are our last real allies on earth. Just avoid the Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga.
Ahh, the Balvenie Doublewood. Excellent scotch: I think Michael Jackson puts it in the upper 80s. Another great hooch in the $30s is the Macallan ,Fine Oak 10 year old. Smooth, nice finish, not too peaty but not “clean” and “light” like Oban.
ThePolishNizel, I’ve seen Laphroaig 10 in Columbus, Ohio, there should be no reason why it’s not available in Cleveland.
I’ve also noticed prices are fairly high in Ohio, as compared to my home state of North Carolina. I’ll bet the liquor taxes are significantly higher in Ohio.
I’ve picked up the Caol Ila 18 for less than $60, in fact I still have some. If you like the 12, you’ll adore the 18.
David, I have looked at quite a few liquor stores up here and have never seen the Laphroaig. Plenty of Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, and the other Islay’s, though. Why are they keeping it from me!!!! But, it’s good to know, that it is available in the Columbus area. I make my way down there every now and then.
Yeah, taxes on everything seem to be more in Ohio. Yet, they still wonder at the myriad of problems the state is facing. A lot of people go to PA to get their whisky needs. I haven’t had an occasion to travel there lately, so I haven’t been able to do just that.
Actually, I haven’t had the Caol Ila 12 yet. I have the Ardbeg 10. At first, I was kind of turned off by the strong aroma of iodine and strong finish. But, I have acquired “that” taste very strongly now. I wanted another example of Islay scotch and read some nice things about the Caol Ila 18, so that was on the list. Actually, I haven’t met a whisky, I haven’t liked yet. My taste buds say thanks, but my liver is having second thoughts.
Except, of course, that Cleveland sucks.
Well, DUH, Rob. That’s why I am actively trying to move on down to the Athens, GA area?
BTW, you a Pittsburgher or a DC’er?
I was comparing a top quality Canadian whiskey to a less than top notch scotch, actually.
Ahh, OK. I don’t reckon I’ve had top-quality Canadian
Are you referring to export labels on Canadians or the Canadian-sold bottles? At any rate I’m still pretty certain that there is a substantial rye component to virtually every Canadian whiskey made, marketed as “rye” or otherwise. Not to say that there isn’t barley (or corn) also in the mashbill, there usually is.
I think there’s a bit of difference between what constitutes “rye whiskey” in the US vs. Canada. The US has a strict definition for rye whiskey: it’s gotta be 51% rye. Sorta like bourbon has to be 51% corn. Canada doesn’t have any such distinction that I’m aware of other than it has to have some rye. So an argument that CC or CR is “rye whiskey” would really depend on where you are. I believe that Canada markets many whiskies as being “rye” although they have very little (and yes, barley probably makes up either a plurality or majority of the mashbill).
Scotch has always tasted like Linseed Oil to me. Awful stuff, and I’m a straight whiskey drinker. Even the best stuff turns my stomach.
Regardless, being a cheap bastard, I’ll only pull out the big bucks for VSOP Remy Martin. That’s my birthday cognac.
Linseed Oil? You know you put enough sugar in that stuff it tastes just like Robitussin.
Not bad for a Friday night, but I wouldn’t waste a good meal on it.
If you like Islay malt, as I do, for its rich peatiness, The Bowmore Legend is excellent for the price. For any price, actually. I prefer it to Balvenie Doublewood. $17 a bottle here in NH. Gonna pick one up on the way home tonight.
rho: Walker is crap (well, maybe not Blue, but who can afford to drink that?).
Note that I’m not saying blends are crap, since I’m not a single-malt snob. I’d rather drink Pig’s Nose or even Chivas, however.
(And then there’s Usquebach…)
I’ll second Obi’s Speyburn recommendation, but then I prefer Speysides and Lowlands anyway, not liking to drink peat bogs.
So, speaking of saving money on spirits eh?
How about saving $200 to $400 every month and being immune to the coming gasoline shortage?
Even without lead, I would suggest you not drink spirits of gasoline, but you could think about avoiding the big auto fraud of *hybrid* and go directly to EV, electric vehicle.
France just bought 10,000 from California for postal service and now they get their mail, gas or no gas.
Are the Fwench smarter than we are?
Municipalities are buying the Phoenix EV 4 door, short box pick-up. Engineers there know you will damage your hybrid if you try to drive it without gas in the tank.
Ergo, a hybrid is as dead as a Hummer in a gas shortage.
A good site is AutoBlogGreen.com and my site has a vicious Corn Gas [E85] vs EV debate.
TonyGuitar.blogspot.com = TG
Unless said cars get torched by “youths”
Or Eagles fans.
Apparently I’m the only one who thinks Scotch is an unholy elixir distilled from Jerome Bettis’s jock, hobo urine, and methyl ethyl bad shit. Could someone please direct me to the “sassy little Shiraz” discussion board?
Cincinnatian. That’s where the compulsion to slam Cleveland at every opportunity comes from.
While I like my scotch like I like my women 18-25 and single, for my everyday drinking I go Irish. A nice Irish blended whiskey will stand toe to toe with your lower priced SMSW for the price of a cheap blend. Irish single malts though, my God! Castle Knappogue is the finest drink I’ve ever had.
Rob, LOL. Cincinnati? Damn, I was at least hoping for Pittsburgh (obvious Steeler fan animosity) or DC (as second year in a row the Cavaliers showed the wiz out the door), but Cincinnati? Though, I would probably prefer Cincinnati to Cleveland, too. Cleveland has potential to be a great city, but alas, it is run by clueless morons and class warfare waging democrats. The physical and natural resources are all there, however. But, I did my time and am heading for warmer and sunnier pastures.
tw: when78
Damn you turing word! I’ve been asking myself when for too long myself!
ThePolishNizel, I think you’ll find the Caol Ila to be a bit more robust than Ardbeg. It has a definite peat aroma, but doesn’t have the intensity of either Laphroaig or Lagavulin.
To me, the difference between the 12 and 18 is the same as that between the Glenmorangie 12 and 18, which is the 18 tends to have the sharp edges
smoothed out.
Good luck and enjoy!
I find myself fluctuating in my desire for SMSWs among ultra-peety varieties (Lagavulin and the like) but then swinging over to every other conceivable variant on the many themes. It’s interesting and amusing to sit drinking almost any good single malt (I’m not a snob about the blends, but for some reason haven’t much sought them out yet) as elucidated by Michael Jackson and then compare and contrast Jim Murray’s take on the same bottling…experts who often disagree!!!
Jamie Irons
Well, as a dedicated cheap beer and single malt Scotch guy, I will say that as far as wines are concerned a Shiraz is about the only one I find palatable.
ultra-peaty
;-(
Jamie Irons
Lost Cookies,
The EVs only cost France about 10K each.
No gas costs and a small loss if the Muzzies do torch a few. = TG
Same as Cincinnati, but at least we have relative sanity in the suburbs and on the other side of the river.
The Indiana side, right Rob?
Who dares to drink that Orangeman’s brew Bushmills?? Give me Powers or give me death!(Speaking of your sectarian violence and all…)
But anyway… can anybody tell me whether it’s permissible to enjoy Jack Daniels Single Barrel? Because my husband got a nice jug of it as graft from work and I am, in fact, enjoying it, in spite of being a dedicated SMSW fan.
In other news, I’d like to invite everybody over in, oh, six months or so, because I just started a batch of dry mead and it should be ready by then. I hope. Always a bit dicey with mead. If it turns out the way our last batch did, it’ll be great – smelled like honey, tasted like chardonnay. Yum! (As soon as my primary fermenter is freed up, on to the IPA… summer’s approaching!)
By the bye, I remember a couple of months ago somebody posted what to do to recover from posting a comment – I always get “cannot display the webpage,” etc., etc., and have to go back to the PW homepage and start over. Can anyone steer me to those instructions again? I’m finally annoyed enough to act.
I appreciate the heads up on the scotch, Jeff. I really do. But you have to keep in mind I was just about raised in “Wally’s Polish Pump Room” on Milwaukee Ave. Where the phrase that pays was, “Whattaya mean yer drunk? Yer not vomiting yet.” And any man who could lift his head off the bar was sober enough to drive himself home. The seal on the Chivas bottle was unbroken.
So I’ll have a jackblack with a lienie on the side. Cheers.
We’ve got Canada on the other side of the lake! And we get their damn “soldiers” that die by the millions and leave the sidewalks a nice inch thick crust of insect death. Pleasant.
Mmmm, Speyburn. Good stuff.
And Cincinnati sucks. Worst drivers I’ve ever seen. As soon as my wench retires, I’m putting in for a transfer. To Florida. Which also has bad drivers, but Lord knows they can’t be any worse.
At least it’ll be sunny.
Here’s a quick Cinci joke.
Q: Why doesn’t Dayton have a pro Football team?
A: Because then Cincinnati would want one!
Thank you! I’ll be here all week! Try the meatloaf!
If you need a way to tell a true Ohioan, just look for someone who thinks Art Modell deserves to burn in the pits of hell, regardless of they root for.
And with all these southern end of the state folks, nobody speaks up for a good bourbon? There’s a reason I buy our booze in NKY.
Always happy with Woodford Reserve, but I’m open to suggestions…
OK, relative sanity.
Ah. Guess that answers that question.
Prepare to be surprised. I’ve been in the City of Cin^2 on multiple occasions, and the quality of driving there is actually pretty decent. Florida? Picture: roads that are carrying too much traffic, which is heavily laced with people who have no idea where they’re going, and have semipermanently forgotten that you can always turn around and go back if you miss your exit, for example.
It’s actually not that bad if you can get past the bouquet ….
Now the Jews are angry at Jeff for driving the demand up.
stay away from islay and you will love scotch
On a budget, and these days, who isn’t – I always go back to my old, cheap, but good Lismore Scotch. It won’t disappoint you for under $30.00 for a 1.75 Liter.
Most Affordable Single Malt Scotch