Best blended Scotch?

Found a bottle of Laphroaig quarter cask this afternoon, looking forward to tasting it this evening.

 

You guys should give "Compass Box" a try. This is hands down the best blend I've ever had. For $35 you can't go wrong.

Here's a review of their "Asyla":

http://www.liquorsnob.com/archives/2006/06/compass_box_asyla_scotch_review.php

 

this. though, i havent had 30.

 

I normally drink Chevas. I think it finishes MUCH nicer than JW Black. That being said Johnny Walker Blue, (VERY Expensive), is the KING of blends. To me, none other come close.
If I'm going the Single malt route, Cragenmore.

 

Wow...so many of you are Lowland & Islay fans! Peat monsters! I'm more of a Highland fan.

JW really jacked their prices up as the single malts got popular. Seems they thought that if they rasied the price, there would e the preception they are "better" than any other blend, thus people would pony up the extra $$. I use to enjoy JW Black as the house blend at home, but not after they raised their prices.

I now cycle back and forth with Glenfiddich and Glenlivet depending on mood. Picked up a 1.75L of Glenfiddich at Costco for $39.95 last night. Now that's a pretty good deal! Late mother-in-law use to always have a bottle of Passport. Considering its price point, toss in some ice and splash of water and its drinkable.

For reference, I usually take mine neat or rocks unless cask strength and I go with just a splash.

If you want to get into my fav for the house, its Oban. Price has doubled on it in the last couple of years due to supply/demand. Currently running $80 in Indy. Peat scale would be 7/10 and sweetness 3/10. Laphroaig is 11/10 on peat.

Isle of Jura is an interesting scotch for the money. only distiller on the island.
Cadenhead cask strength are always winners with me.
Cask Strength are always sticker shock until you get it in your head that you will be cutting it yourself with a splash that suits YOUR pallet, so the bottles always last longer than normal. And in this house, that's an important consideration!
I need to find some Islay that really show some salty brine and flint, but aren't overpowering in peat.

 

opinions on Cutty Sark?

 

For those out there that like the Blue, you really need to try the Gold. It's their finest blend. Blue is their rarest. Great impressive gift and all but the Gold is a much better snort and it's almost half the price. I've attended 2 tastings held by JW and their representatives freely admit this. But, try it for yourself! I do like the Green as well for a change and the Black is the old standby. So tasty.

Bruichladdich is my current Islay favorite. Bevmo has a good selection of that delicious stuff.. got me to switch from the Lagavulin, talk about heady! Love it though.

I do love that Macallan Cask Strength with the red label. That'll knock you down.

xraygun

 

I love, love, love the JW Blue but as a man of casual means I do enjoy Dewars White Label quite a bit

 

LAAPHROAIG 10 yr

Just picked up a bottle and was wondering what you guys think? I'll post my results,LOL.

Also, I didn't want to spring for something over $60 but the person at the store recommended the Glenfarclas Cask Strength for next time at about $100...opinions on that?

Although I will be getting McCallan Cask Strength soon since it seems to be well received here.

 

At first the peatiness of the Laphroaig was heavy on the nose but it actually finished quite nicely. Seems like a nice Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure #2 would go well with it since they aren't strong enough to battle for dominance with the scotch.

For fun I thought I would post what the back of the bottle says because everyone last night found it to be immensely entertaining!

"Laphroaig (La-froyg) single malt Scotch whisky has always kept itself a bit remote, like the islanders of Islay themselves. A touch aloof at first, but make the effort, broach aquaintance, and you'll have a warm and genuine friend for life."

LoL!

 

I got a bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask as a gift last year, it was really nice. It took me a year to drink it. Followed it up with a bottle of Glenmorangie 12 year aged in Port, it was good but inferior to the Laphroaig. Got a bottle of Dalmore single malt last week and I opened it tonight, not as good as the other two but nice over ice.

Crown Royal, Canadian Club and JW Blue and Gold are really nice blends.

 

Macallan 21,25,30 is some of the finest scotch ever to touch a bottle. A nice hint of almonds and caramel with a nice toasy nose. Im not a blended guy myself, but if i HAD no choice (not everyone has a good selection of single malts) i would get the johnny walker blue. I have drank lots of scotch and would like to think i have a pretty good pallet. Im not wealthy and am in my late 20's, so i have been open to all scotches,,age doesnt always matter as much and the technique, BUT it help refine the flavors and take off some of the bite and smooths everything out. In scottland you can actually have 5-8 yr scotches that they are not allowed to sell outside scottland that taste as if it were a special reserve 30+ yr. Single malt scotches TRULY are an artform and that is why there is so much discussion about the single malts. The johnny walker blue is a world class blend, but true scotch in my opinion is a single malt.

 

Johnnie Walker Gold Label is the best blended scotch I've had thus far. I challenge anyone who is a fan of blue label to try it and say that blue is better because it simply IS NOT and it is a rip off. Blue is a good scotch but it is marketed for conspicuous consumption. It is not worth $250 a bottle it is worth more along the lines of $70 a bottle considering Gold is around $85. I always have black label in my flask and when I'm out and about I always order black. I drink my gold at home and love every second of it. If you haven't tried Gold Label, you don't know what you're missing!

 

I'm a Laphroaig fan with the 1/4 cask being my all time favorite so that tends to color my taste in blends considerably. Tough to live up to a standard like that...

JW Blue, blahblahblah. I know its old. I know its rare, I know its "special". I also cannot justify the price tag for what it actually delivers. Impress yourself by paying an exorbitantly high price for a medium blend if you like buy it takes a lot more than well financed hype to please me.

Chivas. Well marketed, overrated, lacking any character whatsoever. 12 yr or 18, it just doesn't deliver on the name "Regal", unless you define "Regal" as snooty, drab, and boring.

There several blends that I think are reliable, predictable, and serve their own purpose.

If you like it extra smooth, sweet, and silky go get a bottle of Teachers Highland Cream. It has a velvety smooth feel, softly sweet, little if any bite, and if you think Chivas is great Scotch you'll think Teachers is the Nectar of the Gods at half the price. You can even serve it to Chaste Virgins with no fear of repercussions.

If you like JW Red, Black, Green, White, Gold, Swing, Blue, etc... and have a taste for a wee bit of "pepper" 15 yr old Pinch should do you. Less $$ than even the Black but delivers more pepper and smoky punch to the pallet.

If the Pinch is too much and the Teachers is too little pick up a bottle of Grant's Family Reserve. The inexpensive blend from the makers of Glenfiddich that easily qualifies as "Goldilocks" Scotch for casual sipping. Mild smoke, smooth drinking, soft nose, mildly sweet, and it is a safe blend for almost anyone. If I had to pick a blend to safely serve almost anyone Grants would be it.

But the Laphroaig 1/4 cask is what I toasted the birth of my Granddaughter with...

 

Generic, with a white label and big black lettering, lol

 

Laphroaig is the truth

 

Correct, but not a blend...