Bowmore 12-yr-old single malt scotch...Giant Killer!

[exerciseguy]

A sales man @ Park Avenue Liquors in NYC turned me on to this scotch a few years back. It is perpetually on sale for $25 and is absolutely the best value up to about $80+, IMHO. It's a hard whisky to find, I've seen it here & there for up $40, so shop around.

If you love PEAT SMOKE in your Isaly whisky, then it's for you. It compares very favorably with PINCH and even COMPASS BOX PEAT MONSTER.

http://www.bowmorescotch.com/html/12yearold.html

Be aware, Bowmore makes a blended scotch named Legend in the $25 price-range that is vastly different, so be careful when shopping.

[mparker762]

Spring for the 18yo (or is it 17yo?) stuff sometime. It's a real treat.

[exerciseguy]

Spring for the 18yo (or is it 17yo?) stuff sometime. It's a real treat.

I'm cheap, but I like good stuff.

I've enough whisky (and whiskey) in my house to float the Queen Mary 2, so I have to just keep it in mind for now. Thanks.

[joel]

To each their own.... my Bowmore doesn't TOUCH my Compass Box Eulethera. :drool:

[Stauff]

Bowmore is one of my favorites. 'It's like drinking and smoking at the same time', a friend of mine commented. Great scotch.

[jazzman]

A good friend recently sent me The Balvenie New Wood 17-year old. Mmmm.

[180gVinyl]

Once attended a malt whisky tasting where cask samples of Bowmore were available at various ages

The 1 yo sample was clear like Vodka

The 3 yo had leeched a little more colour from the cask

The 5 yo was heading towards that amber glow that we all love

The 12 yo is a very palatable dram and if you're getting it for $25 then it's a lot cheaper than in it's home market (£20/$37)

[SSLStudio]

A sales man @ Park Avenue Liquors in NYC turned me on to this scotch a few years back. It is perpetually on sale for $25 and is absolutely the best value up to about $80+, IMHO. It's a hard whisky to find, I've seen it here & there for up $40, so shop around.

If you love PEAT SMOKE in your Isaly whisky, then it's for you. It compares very favorably with PINCH and even COMPASS BOX PEAT MONSTER.

http://www.bowmorescotch.com/html/12yearold.html

Be aware, Bowmore makes a blended scotch named Legend in the $25 price-range that is vastly different, so be careful when shopping.


Would you say this Bottle that is advertised as Single Legend is deceiving?
I would of thought it is Single Malt. but it doesnt specifically say so. so this is the Legend that is blended ?

[ScottS]

I probably have 18 or 20 scotches on my shelf. I rarely drink them, but when I do, I know just which one I want. Lately, I've been hitting my Loch Dhu.

My pride and joy is my unopened Macallan 25yr Anniversary edition, in the little wood suitcase. Same bottle just recent went for $500 on eBay. I think I paid a smidge over $100.

[catatonic]

I'm a big fan of the 12yr as well. I'm currently torn between it and the Balvenie DW for which is my favorite scotch.

Yes, the finish will put some hair on you, but the entire character, aroma, and taste of this whiskey screams quality, and I love that.

[SSLStudio]

I probably have 18 or 20 scotches on my shelf. I rarely drink them, but when I do, I know just which one I want. Lately, I've been hitting my Loch Dhu.

My pride and joy is my unopened Macallan 25yr Anniversary edition, in the little wood suitcase. Same bottle just recent went for $500 on eBay. I think I paid a smidge over $100.

Awesome !

What do you think of Talisker 18Yr ?

[exerciseguy]

Would you say this Bottle that is advertised as Single Legend is deceiving?
I would of thought it is Single Malt. but it doesnt specifically say so. so this is the Legend that is blended ?

I think so, but check the Bowmore site to be certain.

I have nothing against blended scotch, I love very many of them, but the Legend is just not to my taste.

[chop-chop]

A favorite of mine is the one below. I haven't seen it in a while, since moving nearly 3,000 miles from the liquor store where I used to buy it... but, it's a great product.... just as smooth as our shaves! The best thing about it was the price. It was less than half of the cost of Glenfiddich, and far less than Macallan's.

Speyside Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky:thumbup1:

TOMINTOUL (pronounced “Tom-in-t’owl”) is the highest village in the Highlands, in the heart of the renowned Speyside-Glenlivet region. Tomintoul is also the name of a classic Single Malt whisky.

The distillery was built in an outstanding location – Ballantruan spring – which was discovered after spending many years in search of the purest water in Scotland.

The water emerging at the spring has spent millions of years seeping through the surrounding mountains.

Ballantruan spring water is used exclusively to produce Tomintoul Single Malt.

Renowned for its delicate flavour, Tomintoul Single Malt Whisky is the creation of our Master Distiller, Robert Fleming, whose family has been making Speyside-Glenlivet whisky for four generations.

Inspired by the family tradition and know-how, he produces a Single Malt of exceptional quality that appeals to connoisseurs for its smoothness and roundness.

http://www.mariebrizard.com/en/gamme,41,1,,tomintoul-single-malt-whisky.html

chop-chop

[doctorsimon]

We do like our Islay malts here.

I got a little worried about my bottle of Bowmore, but it is the 15 year Mariner. I checked out my little whisky bible, the 1999 edition of Michael Jackon's malt whisky companion for guidance which reveals:

There are a few bowmore whiskies that have no age statement on the bottle: legend, cask strength, and darkest. Some of you may be correct in suspecting that these are blended malts. So are the Glenfiddich special reserve and classic for example (though I am not a great fan of Glenfiddich personally.)

This does not mean that it is not a 'single malt' the term means that all the whisky comes from the same distillery. The addition of an age on the bottle refers to the youngest whisky in the blend, that is the bottle of 15 year old Bowmore infront of me now will contain a mix of bowmore whiskies of at least 15 years cask age. The distillers will mix the contents of different casks to produce a consistent product with the same label.

If you want something more 'pure' then you'll need to source a single cask or single barrel bottling or even a vintage edition. These cost a lot more still and each bottle will vary in character. They do make great gifts, so feel free to send me a 1974 year whisky for my birthday for example.

[180gVinyl]

Doctor S is correct

Legend is a "non age statement" single malt, a bit like NV champagne I suppose. On Islay, Bruichladdich also has similar offerings such as "Rocks".

From the Tobermory Distillery on Mull, there is the peated Ledaig with no age statement.

As it is distilled exclusively with malt from a single distillery, it is a single malt.

If it was pure malt from a number of distilleries

e.g. Famous Grouse Malt, Pride of Speyside, Monkey Shoulder and Jon, Mark and Robbo's offerings, it would be a vatted malt.

Blended whisky is a mixture of malt and grain whisky

The oldest bottle that I currently have is Glenfarclas 30 yo

The most valuable that I have owned was the special commemorative
"Private Eye" bottling of Macallan from 1996. The day that it was delivered, I cursed that I'd only bought one bottle and it got to the point where its value was increasing by such a rate that I couldn't face opening the bottle.

I eventually sold it, bought myself a nice vintage Eterna watch, some records, a bottle of Macallan 12yo and a couple of other malts. (And still had money left over)

Rob

[ScottS]

Awesome !

What do you think of Talisker 18Yr ?

I like peaty, like lagavulin and laphroig, but edge away from the saltier scotches. Of the salty scotches, Talisker 18 is among the tops.

For the newer scotch drinkers, I'd point them toward the Speyside sherry casks.

[exerciseguy]

What is your favorite bang for your buck scotch?

[ScottS]

What is your favorite bang for your buck scotch?

Glenfarclas, I believe

[180gVinyl]

What is your favorite bang for your buck scotch?


That's a tight call with some classics of various styles available around the £20 mark over here.

Macallan 10 yo (Not the Fine Oak but the classic version)
Glenfarclas 10 yo
Talisker 10yo
Laphroaig 10yo
Highland Park 12 yo

One malt that is in a similar style to the Macallan and Glenfarclas and is frequently on offer in the UK is Aberlour 10yo

Cheers

Rob

[TimmyBoston]

I'm not a Bowmore fan, but give me Laphroaig, Lagavulin, or Ardbeg; I love those!

[Mama Bear]

I'm not a Bowmore fan, but give me Laphroaig, Lagavulin, or Ardbeg; I love those!

Oh Timmy! I love your taste...

[ScottS]

One malt that is in a similar style to the Macallan and Glenfarclas and is frequently on offer in the UK is Aberlour 10yo



A very nice inexpensive Scotch, available in a number of "flavors" I believe. Probably even a better bang for buck deal than the Glenfarclas

[jazzman]

What is your favorite bang for your buck scotch?

Getting away from the Islay's, and sticking with single malts, I love the normal-aged Glenfidich.

[mysticmaster]

I just absolutly LOVE Dewer's 12yr old for every day sippin' and famous grouse even though they are not single malts just my 2 cents.

[johnniegold]

Fav Single malts:

Oban
Glen Keith
Clynelish
Glenmorangie (Sherry Wood Finish)
Dalwhinnie

Fav Blend: Johnnie Gold :wink:

[BrianP]

What is your favorite bang for your buck scotch?


Glen Dronach

[DirtyDave]

The only Scotch I like is The Balvanie. A friend of mine says that is because it is slightly sweet, and that is why I prefer a bourbon like Booker Noe's and he is probably right. Everytime I get a good deal, I like to go to a certain bar with my wife. She has a red wine and I have a shot or two of Booker Noe's. Just a nice way to celebrate.

[BrianP]

The only Scotch I like is The Balvanie. A friend of mine says that is because it is slightly sweet, and that is why I prefer a bourbon like Booker Noe's and he is probably right. Everytime I get a good deal, I like to go to a certain bar with my wife. She has a red wine and I have a shot or two of Booker Noe's. Just a nice way to celebrate.

You might like Dalwhinnie too. Definitely worth a try.

[philamac]

Would you say this Bottle that is advertised as Single Legend is deceiving?
I would of thought it is Single Malt. but it doesnt specifically say so. so this is the Legend that is blended ?

I thought that 'Single Malt' applies to a whiskey/whiskey which is the produce of a single distillery. There could be an amount in the bottle from diffferent casks distilled in different years.

A 'blend' is a bottle containing whiskey (malt and grain varieties) from several different distilleries. A 'vatted malt' contains a mix of single malts (no grain whiskey) from more than one distillery.

I probably have not expressed that very well but hope that it is of some interest:smile:

[boboakalfb]

You might like Dalwhinnie too. Definitely worth a try.

I agree.

[Phil]

This is my first post to this forum as you can tell, but my favourite is also Lagavulin followed by 15 YO Glenfiddich I also have but not yet opened

Lagavullin 1990 Distillers Edition Double Matured
Glenfiddich Toasted Oak reserve Limited edition
Glenfiddich 1991 Vintage Reserve
Glenkinchie 1989 Distillers Edition Double Matured
And my prize Whisky to be opened on my 30th Birthday in July a bottle of Glenmorangie 1977 Limited edition

Currently open and drinking at the moment I have a bottle of Glenmorangie Sherry Cask and a bottle of Old Pultney both of which are very nice especially on these dark cold winter nights.

Phil

[Doc4]

I'm not a Bowmore fan, but give me Laphroaig, Lagavulin, or Ardbeg; I love those!

Ditto for me, and I love Talisker too. I tried Bowmore's 12, and the Cask Strength, but never could warm up to the taste. Given my fondness for Talisker, Laphroaig and Lagavulin, I don't think it's a 'wimp' thing, though.

To each his own ... here's mud in your eye!
:a54: :a17:

[Doc4]

What is your favorite bang for your buck scotch?

Laphroig #1
Glenlivet #2

When I was a student 'bang for buck' meant a simple $$$:alcohol ratio; now of course it means enjoyable quality at an unusually affordable price. For me, prices depend a lot (a LOT) on provincial taxes!!