I am looking for a good reco on a Single Malt for a friend that's turning 50. He's a Lagavulin 16 fan.
What's the next step up from there?
I am looking for a good reco on a Single Malt for a friend that's turning 50. He's a Lagavulin 16 fan.
What's the next step up from there?
I am a fan of Laphroig, one of the Islay scotches.
I have an old Scottish friend who likes Lagavulin but he said it's so smoky, it's like licking the inside of a barbecue grill.
Cragganmore 25. Nothing else I've tried comes even close.
Of all the laws Brandolini's may be the most universally true.
Deep thought for the day:
Your bandsaw weighs more when you leave the spring compressed instead of relieving the tension.
I happen to like it as peaty and smokey as possible. The more phenolic, the better...although my instinct is this is not good for us.
I just happen to be a bit of a Single Malt aficionado. I'm of Scottish heritage, in fact 3 sides of my family tree go straight back to Clan Ross in the Scottish Highlands. When it comes to Scotch Whisky (NOT WhiskEy, Scotch is unique), I tend to agree with the Scots, who favor the Whisky from Glenmorangie (pronounced glen-more-angie, or glen-m-orange-e). It is by far, the number one Single Malt in Scotland. Of their varieties, I have found all to be extremely good. Even their "Oringinal" is quite excellent. In fact, it's my go-to table whisky.
Glenmorangie has the tallest goose-neck stills stills in Scotland, they allow the "vapours to rise a wee bit more towards heaven". There are several "Emergency" levels in Great Britain. The area around the Glenmorangie distillery is zoned with the same level as their nuclear power plants. The Sixteen Men of Tain have been making the worlds finest whiskys there since 1703. The whole area around the distillery is saturated with alcohol. There are species of moss that grow on the trees in the surrounding area that grow no where else in the world that live solely on the alcohol. It is because of the level of saturation, that the Government has classified the whole area at that highest level because of the amount of destruction that would result if something catastrophic happened there.
I have been fortunate to have attended several of their tastings at various Highland Games throughout the Midwest. In fairness, I have also attended tastings of many other brands as well as those of various distributors. In my humble opinion, my recommendation for a special occasion is their "Signet". It's rich, complex, aromatic, silky smooth, an immensely flavorful. My all time favorite is their 25yr. It is so smooth, it's like drinking warm whisky flavored butter. My favorite (within my economic means) was their 15yr, which unfortunately they no longer produce. It tasted like a much much more expensive whisky. The secret was in the specific maturation it received. I always highly recommended it.
Below is a link to their website. You will need to input your date of birth (day first, then month). On the home page, hover over "Our Whiskys" and click on the variety of your choice. It will take you to a page with a great video explanation of it. You should also check out the videos under the heading "Our Stories".
OH, by the way, Glenmorangie owns the company that makes the oak casks used by Jack Daniels. Once used by Jack, they are transported to Scotland where they are then put to use for the initial aging process. Having Jack use them once, tempers the charring so that it doesn't impart the harshness as it does in Tennessee Whiskey (notice, I put the "E" back in).
So here is the link, let me know what you think:
https://www.glenmorangie.com/us/
Last edited by Stew Hagerty; 11-02-2016 at 3:41 AM.
Stew, that's way too much temptation. Lucky I'm broke... Cheers
There is no "step up" from Lagavulin. It's the best there is, end of story.
Any of the other Islay whiskeys are nice to have on occasion-- they remind you of just how good the Lagavulin is.
Roger, that's my fear
Everyone, thanks for the reco's.
Stew, your post was particularly inspiring. Now if I could just get a bottle of Signet shipped 2-day air economically!!!!!!
Reporting back...
My father got a bottle of for father-and-son-only Glenmorangie Signet last week. It was Heaven in a glass, but I can't figure out if it's because we paid so dearly for it or because it was really that good.
BIRKIN!