Favorite Scotch under 70$USD

**zammboss** · 07-30-2012, 07:56 PM

Single malts if possible.

Recently went through 2 bottles of Highland Park. Awesome stuff for the price!

**joshua1970** · 07-30-2012, 08:04 PM

for my taste -
Laphroaig 10 or Ardbeg 10 both substantially under $70

yummmmmmmmm

**bastimret** · 07-30-2012, 08:09 PM

Well you've already had the best, HP 12 cannot be beat IMHO. But since you are looking elsewhere, and you like Highlands region, I wold suggest Balvinie Doublewood 12. Absolutely love the sherry notes in it, another great bottle that can be had for Under $50.

Another interesting one I came across in a tasting was an Irish Single Malt Whiskey called Knappogue Castle. Nice and light in color, almost a golden blonde, has an excellent flavor with light grassy notes and a fantastic apricot/peach finish as you breath in after swallowing. Immediately went out and had my local store order a bottle.

**zammboss** · 07-30-2012, 08:20 PM

thanks :) keep em coming

**joshua1970** · 07-30-2012, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by bastimret

Well you've already had the best, HP 12 cannot be beat IMHO. But since you are looking elsewhere, and you like Highlands region, I wold suggest Balvinie Doublewood 12. Absolutely love the sherry notes in it, another great bottle that can be had for Under $50.

Another interesting one I came across in a tasting was an Irish Single Malt Whiskey called Knappogue Castle. Nice and light in color, almost a golden blonde, has an excellent flavor with light grassy notes and a fantastic apricot/peach finish as you breath in after swallowing. Immediately went out and had my local store order a bottle.

ah recommendations, yeah forgot that part (sorry a bit self obsessed today)

hmm, I'd also back the Balvenie 12 (their 15 year is sublime) check out Oban, Dalwhinnie several of the Glenmorangie wood casks (Sherry, Port Madiera and oak) can be found around $50 and Auchentoschen

so many malts, so little time :)

**bastimret** · 07-30-2012, 08:42 PM

I love Oban as well, but here it's closer to the $80 mark.

**zammboss** · 07-30-2012, 10:00 PM

Just checked out Liquor store here (govn't operated) and they dont have Balvinie or Knappogue castle :( I would have really liked to try them. The oban 14 is 107 canadian here :( i'll give it a shot anyways one of these days.

**The Knize** · 07-31-2012, 04:00 AM

Talisker

**bastimret** · 07-31-2012, 05:08 AM

They can probably order anything they don't have in stock.

**brucea** · 07-31-2012, 05:49 AM

Balvinie Doublewood is very nice in that range. Which when I first found it was around 30-35 dollars a bottle.Should have bought a couple of cases back then

**SubmarinerLV** · 07-31-2012, 08:55 AM

+1 on the Talisker, some lesser known scotches that are worth trying are: Glenfarclas 10 (one of my favorite speysides)
Glengoyne 10 (Scotch for the peatphobic. pointless information it's distlilled in the highlands but matured across the road in the lowlands)
Auchentoshan 12 (great to seek out for it's uniqueness alone the only 'irish' whisky should that be whiskey? made in scotland i.e it's triple distilled!)

Regards Grant

**SliceOfLife** · 07-31-2012, 09:30 AM

Glenfiddich Distillers Reserve was pretty tasty if it's still available. (Think the label was 102, as that was the proof). I want to say it was ballpark $60 a couple years ago?

I have a bottle of Glenlivet Nadurra beside me right now and it's like Drinking a Werther's Original but with a lot of alcohol burn at the back, if you like them like that.

Oban eh? Two different places recommended that too me, but I always shied away and went for something tried and true and $20 cheaper. ($75 at both). I'll have to grab a bottle.

**joshua1970** · 07-31-2012, 09:38 AM

holy heck!! Oban is $80 there! sheesh I better check here, been a while since I've had any - Dalwhinnie is also very good and again Glenmorangie (who owns so many distilelries, though tislef a subsidiary) has some great malts at a reasonable price - especially for the 'peataphobes'

I remember when lagavulin jumped from 65 to 80 here several years back (after a dry spell) though still worth every penny IMO

and I agree on Talisker (delish) , but it may be a bit too peaty for the OP's taste??

Glanfarclas and glengoyne - good calls!! especially for those who prefer a sweeter malt. :)

**my19** · 07-31-2012, 10:21 AM

I'll second the Ardbeg 10 if you like peaty, smokey single malts. It's like an evening on the beach --sitting by a roaring fire, wind off the water, the tang of salt heavy in the air.

**bastimret** · 07-31-2012, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by joshua1970

I remember when lagavulin jumped from 65 to 80 here several years back (after a dry spell) though still worth every penny IMO

The peat monster! Peat so thick you can stand a fork in it!

**joshua1970** · 07-31-2012, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by bastimret

The peat monster! Peat so thick you can stand a fork in it!

ahem, you're making me thirsty (hungry?) !!!!! :)

**joshmpdx** · 07-31-2012, 11:17 AM

Ardbeg 10 by a long shot.

...well, Clynelish isn't too far behind.

Great thread!

**SubmarinerLV** · 07-31-2012, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by joshmpdx

Ardbeg 10 by a long shot.

...well, Clynelish isn't too far behind.

Great thread!

Wow forgot about Ardbeg in my original post

might be a smidgeon too peaty for OP? Especially as someone thought talisker might be?
I'll chip in another couple for good measure Lagavulin if Ardbeg is ok this should be excellent? Very similar to the other islay malts but a touch more relaxed, gives less tcp aroma more lapsang souchong tea with the afore mentioned roaring Hebridean bonfire replaced by a delicate pipe tobacco? Rounded off by a still flavoursome iodine finish.

Regards Grant

**JPDyson** · 07-31-2012, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by bastimret

Well you've already had the best, HP 12 cannot be beat IMHO. But since you are looking elsewhere, and you like Highlands region, I wold suggest Balvinie Doublewood 12. Absolutely love the sherry notes in it, another great bottle that can be had for Under $50.

I am not a Scotch drinker, but I loved this stuff. I received a bottle as a gift.

**joshua1970** · 07-31-2012, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by SubmarinerLV

Wow forgot about Ardbeg in my original post

might be a smidgeon too peaty for OP? Especially as someone thought talisker might be?
I'll chip in another couple for good measure Lagavulin if Ardbeg is ok this should be excellent? Very similar to the other islay malts but a touch more relaxed, gives less tcp aroma more lapsang souchong tea with the afore mentioned roaring Hebridean bonfire replaced by a delicate pipe tobacco? Rounded off by a still flavoursome iodine finish.

Regards Grant

Lagavulin is my all time favorite!!! granted, there are quite a few vintage and special reserve malts I've not tried... but for my money Lag 16 is incomparable!