Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Rick, a Scotch question for you

There just ain't any hope for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

The last cupple bottles i've gotten were McClellands Highland single malt.

Seemed alot better than Cutty Sark and some of the others I've tryed.

My favorite used to be Chivas Regal, but am liking the single malt better.

Gotta try the Islay.

Virgil B. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Virgil,

Interesting that you should mention McClellands in this particular thread. As mentioned above Westman's whisky, Bowmore is the premier Islay product of the Morrison Bowmore Group which also own a Lowland label Auchentoshan and a Highland, Glen Garioch. Not widely advertised is that Morrison Bowmore Group itself is owned by a Japanese company, Suntory. In effort to boost the bottom line Suntory decided they need a mainstream product to sell at a bargain price so they also acquired rights to the label "McClellands." The secret is that McClellands don't make whisky. They bottle - and what do they bottle? You guessed it...the products of the other distillers of the group, though at a very young age.



Sooooo, your McClellands "Highland Malt" is actually 5 year old Glen Garioch. The point of this ramble, getting back to your wish to sample an Islay is that if you buy a bottle of McClellands "Islay" you'll be getting at a very good price the exact same whisky as Westman's, only at 5 years old. And, the good news is if you can drink the stuff with that much smoke the move up to a premium Islay such as Bowmore itself will be like going from ground chuck to prime rib!



Sorry to all who don't find this interesting, but I LOVE good whiskys and just thought it kind of cool how Virgil's post closed a circle of sorts back to Westman's!

An excellent subject!

There are other regions that produce outstanding single malts as well:
Lowlands, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Northern Highlands ( I guess they could have been summed up under Highlands but there are distinct differences to the regions), Islands, and Cambeltown.

Haggis, I disagree that Islay is the only region that produces good malt. Glenmorangie is my personal favorite from the Northern Highlands - Tain to be exact.

Glenfiddich speaks for itself.

Another love affair for me would be Glen Ord. I, unfortunatley, haven't had a nip since I last visited Scotland but do have fond memories. You can taste the peat. I visited the distillery and wanted to jump in the mash! I have not been able to find it in the States. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

As for Dewers and the like -BLAH! Scots law says it has to be aged 3 yrs before it can be called Scotch, these should be renamed varnish!


Mac - Also a proud American with roots to Scotland!

I drink either Macallan or switch to Irish and go with Jameson 1780, but if any of you more expert can point me toward a real smokey single malt I would appreciate the lead.

I used to go to a bar that the manager would have me taste the interesting Scotchs and Irishs, and once he brought a great smokey nectar out. He would never tell me the name, only that it was his trade secret. I have been trying to find this whiskey or close since.

Fireplug

Fireplug
Lagavulin, Laphroig and Talisker are all smokey/peaty and favorites of mine...
art

Heathens, real whiskey comes from Ireland. Lol. tom

'Tis true, Tom, whisk(e)y does indeed come from Ireland. Whisky is from Scotland. Thus the sayings:



Whisky is for the high bred, cultured and refined - the "e" in whisk(e)y marks it as for "e"veryone else....



or



Whisky is for manly men, whisk(e)y is for the (e)ffeminate.....



<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

journeyman
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

that burnt cork stuff you guys like is nasty not whiskey. I know you guys drink it because you can not take the bite of a good irish. lol. tom

Picked up a bottle of McClellands Islay tonight. Goood stuffff!
I just found a new favorite!
Gotta work tomarrow, so I don't dare "sample" to much!
The Islay is good advice....If you like the "smokey" flavor.
The local liquer store has it on sale for $ 18.95 (no sales tax)
Me thinks I'd better go pick up a few more bottles at this price.
Virgil B. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Maybe I should try that one.
That bottle I started this post with cost $48.00 and they went up from there.

One of them is $102.00, and I am itching to try one, but don't dare.....I'll really be ruined. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If hair on one's chest is the prize, I suggest The Balvenie Single Barrel. Many good characteristics and mighty powerful.



From the same distillery, a much smoother sort is The Balvenie Double Wood. Truly good malt whiskey.



Oban works as well.



Now, La Gloria Cubana Double Corona makes my day almost as well as Arturo Fuente Canones. Keeps the skeeters away from the head while picking black morels in April. Don't forget the Punch Pyramide if spicy full flavor is your preference.



Ah, the good things......



Live, uh, well

Thanks for some leads on whisky guys.

I tried one that although good was unremarkable except for the name the other day: Sheep Dip.

Fireplug

Virgil, give the McCallan Cask Strength a try. A little more spendy, but the bottle lasts a loooooong time. Hell, I'm happy just sitting with a small glass all night smelling the stuff <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. One of those where you can swish a little around in your mouth and sit back and taste it for the next half hour. MMmmmmmm. Kids are in bed and the wife has now moved out.... Think I'd better pour myself one and put on a James Bond movie.

Starting to warm up to the bachelor life (grin).

Big Redhead
I have an unopened bottle of Balvenie Port Wood Finish, 21 year old, that was a Christmas present. Am looking forward to it, obviously! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Have found several port wood finishes that really blow my dress up, notably the Glenmorangie which I believe we only see as a 12 year old here.

Also got a 21 year old mostly Speyside blend that will do in a pinch called Lancelot. My b-i-l picked it up for me in the duty-free in Korea.

Fireplug
Sheep Dip was OK a long time ago, but I am afraid the stuff is just terribly harsh anymore... Admittedly, I am spoiled and then some...

Spot
Pour me one, will you? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
art

I guess you all are aware that all scotch is imported by the Kennedy family? At least you are funding the family swimming lessons. Forget the dead and vote for Ted, a blonde in every pond. Bob <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

BOBBALEE,

That was a cruel joke. I hope you're proud of yourself. To think that I EVER put even one penny in Ted Kennedy's pocket......ARGGGHHHHH! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Live well, in moderation

And here all along I thought Ted was on the wagon. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

yes he is on the wagon the beer wagon lol. tom