Whisk(e)y Lovers thread

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Ok, I had a taste of the Laphroaig 10 Year. Peaty Stuff.

Very different than Tullies, but I like the smokey taste. My bottle of Lasanta is on the way, so can't wait...

Thank you for all the help and recommendations, will try them all in due time.
 
Sheep dip is for the father in law and the other is the famous Aldi's whisky.
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Alright ladies and gents, I got myself a R300 TAKEALOT voucher, so I'm looking for a good whisky to get from them. Now, on top of the voucher I would like to spend around R400~R500, so my target market is the R700~R800 price range. Nothing fancy, but I hope to break free from the Glenfiddich 12YO grip. I love it as a "cheaper" every day drinker, but I'm looking at expanding my horizons a bit. To give you an idea of what I like, I do enjoy a good Glenfiddich 12YO with some whisky stones and a drop of water. I also LOVE The Glenlivet 12YO (also with some stones and a drop of water) and I always have some Glen Grant's Major Reserve (cheap one, good with ice) as a quick drink at home at all times. I'm not averse to it, but I would prefer not buying a whisky that is too smokey. To give you an idea, I find the overwhelming smoke taste on Three Ships to be a bit too much. It kills the other flavours for me.

Anyway, what I've been looking at are:

https://www.takealot.com/bunnahabhain-12-year-old-islay-single-malt-whisky-750ml/PLID40687695 - Seems to be getting good reviews, and it's heavily marked down.

https://www.takealot.com/ardbeg-10-year-old-single-malt-whisky-750ml/PLID40724383 - had this once before, but all I remember is that I loved it. Can't remember the taste, and reviews are stating that it's quite smokey. I don't remember it that way, so not too sure. Price is attractive though.

https://www.takealot.com/glenfiddich-14-year-old-rich-oak-single-malt-whisky-750ml/PLID40724220 - looks good, but seems to be just a bit more than the 12YO. Not sure it justifies the price, then, to be honest.

https://www.takealot.com/glenmorangie-quinta-ruban-12-year-old-single-malt-whisky-750ml/PLID40724375 - I love the colour and the promise of "sweet", but nothing more seems to come to font. Flavours doesn't seem too complex, and it bothers me a little.

https://www.takealot.com/glenfiddich-single-malt-scotch-whisky-750ml/PLID44909058 - honorary mention, I have no idea what this is or how it'll compare to the rest of the lineup. Reviews pin it as "plain" in my eyes.

https://www.takealot.com/dalwhinnie-15-yo-scotch-whisky-1-litre/PLID41670085 - heavily marked down. Also, 1l is a nice addition. Gets very good reviews, and I'm leaning toward this one, to be honest.

https://www.takealot.com/glenfiddic...reserve-single-malt-whisky-750ml/PLID40724222 - Because I've always wondered how this will compare to the 12YO. Worth the price tag, though? Seems overpriced, and technically over my budget.

https://www.takealot.com/glenlivet-15-year-old-french-oak-in-gift-box/PLID43688670 - Again seems a bit "plain", and to me at least less worth it than two bottles of the Glenlivet 12YO instead. Over budget anyway.

So yeah, this is my conundrum. It's a nice one to have, to be honest... :D
 
It depends what you want to get out of these whiskeys. Bragging rights OR actual taste/flavour etc. Nothing wrong with either TBH. Taste is very subjective. So what tastes good to me, might be horrid to you. But I will add my 2c in any case.

Based on your taste profile of not liking 3 Ships (im assuming its the 5 year old), then I can't see how Bunnahabhain or even worse Ardbeg makes it on the list. Those are peaty whiskeys, Arberg being a bit more. I don't like Three Ships, and I hated Ardbeg, and just tolerated Bunnahabhain.

If you going for actual taste, then Glenmorangie-Lasanta-12-year-old-single-malt-whisky is worth a mention. Even Johnny Walker Green label is amazing.

If its just bragging rights then Dalwhinnie - would do ?
 
To say I'm not buying it for bragging rights would be a lie. In part, yes. I have a friend or two who enjoy some whisky with me from time to time so the Dalwhinnie would be lekker to wave under their noses when they come visit. It's not the deciding factor anymore though. I want a good taste as well, which is why I'm looking at options.

Regarding the smokey/peaty taste, I'm not sure how to describe it. Yes, I liked the Ardbeg from what I can remember. I must add though that it was a long few years ago (probably around 4 years ago by now), so my memory of that single shot in a glass might be cloudy by now. Three Ships 5YO though, yes, VERY smokey and I'm not sure I like it. My brother in law dumped a bottle here a while ago but I haven't even touched it yet.

Anyway, the flavours that I do like are those of timber, preferably sweet with a fuller body. I like to add a drop or two of water to my whiskys (to bring out flavour and to make them last a little longer in the glass), so a medium to fuller body is preferred.

Am I full of **** here and overthinking this?

EDIT: I have tasted a range of Johnnie Walker whiskys before, and I'm honestly not a fan. I find their offerings overpriced and driven by hype in a market that knows the brand.
 
Mother.F. They just pushed the price of the Dalwhinnie 15YO to much higher (like R400 more than it was). So it's off the table now.
 
Toxxyc said:
To say I'm not buying it for bragging rights would be a lie. In part, yes. I have a friend or two who enjoy some whisky with me from time to time so the Dalwhinnie would be lekker to wave under their noses when they come visit. It's not the deciding factor anymore though. I want a good taste as well, which is why I'm looking at options.
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Fair enough, nothing wrong with that. I've bought a few bottles in the past for that exact reason as well. Just for them to look good in the bar basically.

Anyway, the flavours that I do like are those of timber, preferably sweet with a fuller body. I like to add a drop or two of water to my whiskys (to bring out flavour and to make them last a little longer in the glass), so a medium to fuller body is preferred.

Am I full of **** here and overthinking this?

EDIT: I have tasted a range of Johnnie Walker whiskys before, and I'm honestly not a fan. I find their offerings overpriced and driven by hype in a market that knows the brand.
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Like I say taste is very subjective. I feel that the JW range has some real bang for buck offerings that are tough to compete with. Take JW Black for example, at the R280 price range, nothing IMO comes close, Not Chivas, or Monkeys shoulder, etc. The same can be said for JW Green. The others in the range, I think you might be quite right.
 
VikashLurker said:
Like I say taste is very subjective. I feel that the JW range has some real bang for buck offerings that are tough to compete with. Take JW Black for example, at the R280 price range, nothing IMO comes close, Not Chivas, or Monkeys shoulder, etc. The same can be said for JW Green. The others in the range, I think you might be quite right.
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Fairing off topic here, have you ever compared JW Black head-to-head with the Glen Grant Major's Reserve? IMO that's the best R260 you can spend on a bottle of (Single Malt) whisky, but again, tastes differ.

Back to topic though, now that the prices have changed so much, my choices are a bit messed up. I need to sit and look around a bit again. That being said now while I was looking at those prices on those bottles, I more considered rather just getting two cheaper bottles instead, like the Glenfiddich 12YO and the Glenlivet 12YO, and then a Glenmorangie 10YO and a Laphroaig Select or Speyburn 10YO when the next salary or SARS return arrives. We'll see. A bit bummed now, to be honest.
 
Cray said:
Intrigued by this, never tried Highland Park before - between a bottle of Laphroaig Select and this which would you guys go for?
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If there was First Watch and Laphroaig I would set the Laphroaig on fire. But thats just me, struggling to get into the more peaty whisky.

One day perhaps.
 
The_Mowgs said:
If there was First Watch and Laphroaig I would set the Laphroaig on fire. But thats just me, struggling to get into the more peaty whisky.

One day perhaps.
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:D - The peaty stuff is definitely a personal thing, sometimes am in the mood for it, other times not.
 
Cray said:
:D - The peaty stuff is definitely a personal thing, sometimes am in the mood for it, other times not.
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I just cant but I wish one could be more types of these very small bottles to taste at home. That way one could really learn to either appreciate it or to just decide **** it, this one is not for me.
 
The Highland Park of recent days isn't getting good reviews. 3/5, 3.5/5, etc. Not looking good, apparently they turned bad in recent bottling.
 
Toxxyc said:
The Highland Park of recent days isn't getting good reviews. 3/5, 3.5/5, etc. Not looking good, apparently they turned bad in recent bottling.
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Take a look at the Glenlivet nadurra olrosso or even the first fill. Can't find it on takealot via mobile, but it was there in the past. Both the 15 and 18yo are also very good.

From what you described about not linking smokey whisky; Laphroaig, ardbeg, bunnahabhain, lagavulin are probably all off the table.

Things that you'll probably like that's on takealot. Glenmorangie, singleton, macallan, abelor, balvinie, classic laddie.
 
morkhans said:
Take a look at the Glenlivet nadurra olrosso or even the first fill. Can't find it on takealot via mobile, but it was there in the past. Both the 15 and 18yo are also very good.

From what you described about not linking smokey whisky; Laphroaig, ardbeg, bunnahabhain, lagavulin are probably all off the table.

Things that you'll probably like that's on takealot. Glenmorangie, singleton, macallan, abelor, balvinie, classic laddie.
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What about the entry level bunnahabhain? It has been suggested before but I have yet to try it.

Toxxyc's taste is very similar to mine and the whiskies you suggested is all favourites of mine.
 
morkhans said:
Take a look at the Glenlivet nadurra olrosso or even the first fill. Can't find it on takealot via mobile, but it was there in the past. Both the 15 and 18yo are also very good.

From what you described about not linking smokey whisky; Laphroaig, ardbeg, bunnahabhain, lagavulin are probably all off the table.

Things that you'll probably like that's on takealot. Glenmorangie, singleton, macallan, abelor, balvinie, classic laddie.
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Just be aware that Bunnahabhain 12 is very light in smoke and peat, almost not there.Much more sweetness. I really like it.
 
morkhans said:
Take a look at the Glenlivet nadurra olrosso or even the first fill. Can't find it on takealot via mobile, but it was there in the past. Both the 15 and 18yo are also very good.

From what you described about not linking smokey whisky; Laphroaig, ardbeg, bunnahabhain, lagavulin are probably all off the table.

Things that you'll probably like that's on takealot. Glenmorangie, singleton, macallan, abelor, balvinie, classic laddie.
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+1 on the Classic Laddie.

I'd also say if he doesn't like 3 Ships 5 yo, then I'd stay away from the Highland Park 12 which iirc had a similar light smokeyness.
 
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