Whisky ride - Islay next spring/early summer

a little taster of things to come

Brian has sent me down a parcel of laphroaig corks, perfect as bar end caps

if anyone wants a couple PM me and we can arrange collection

haha. I've been using a Laphroaig cork on my bullhorn for ages. I just did it as a temporary bar end and didn't expect it to last but it's held up through everything. I've got an Ardbeg one on reserve for when it does give out, but it's not as noticeable as the Laphroaig.

I just got a bottle of Oban Distillers Edition. Absolutely gorgeous.

Bring This On

I went to a whisky tasting last night with the Mrs and sampled 10 varities. Had a lovely time but felt a bit rough this morning.

On the bright side, after 10 sample sized measures, my Mrs agreed to purchasing a case of single cask Laphroaig. I now know where the line lies. ;)

A case?

That's keen. I'm impressed.

A case consists of six bottles, and 3 of them will be Christmas presents so I won't exactly be swimming in Laphroaig but I won't complain.

There was a pretty good discount on the case price that made it worthwhile. It's the first time I've ever purchased more than 2 bottles of whisky at a time, but am looking forward to opening my share of them. ;)

Splendid.
I am so looking forward to this. It sounds better and better.
I have some Lagavulin 16 year old at home. It is fantastic stuff.

More like a Bruichladdich 32 year old, not the finest of vintages but still goes down a treat!

Currently in Scotland visiting a few distilleries in Perthshire and Speyside, and thought of this. I'm very much up for it so thought it'd be worth a bump. Bump.

Which distilleries are you doing?

So far visited Edradour (tiny, independent, twelve-casks-a-week-output place), Aberfeldy (the core malt for the Dewar's White Label blend), Cragganmore (Diageo-owned but surprisingly unusual) and Glenfarclas (bleak, weird place).

Also stumbled across little newsagent type place in Pitlochry that is also a whisky merchant and sells countless malts at really good prices, so picked up bottles of Highland Park (12yr), Laphroaig (10yr) and some of that Hendrick's gin to go with the Edradour. Looks like I'll be pissed and broke for most of 2010.

I quite like Edradour 10 yr. I've tried their 'port finish' too, which had an insanely caramel finish after initially tasting a bit, er, porty.

Sounds like you're having a nice trip :)

SP - Did Edradour and Speyside a couple of months ago. Good fun. We still have some left over Edradour Cask Strength that is lovely.

Did you manage to book at The Balvenie? Best 3 yours you can spend up there and worth it for the sniff of the 45 year old and the taste of the 30.

Also, if going to Glasgow get to Auchentoshan or I also recommend Glen Goyne.

So far visited Edradour (tiny, independent, twelve-casks-a-week-output place), Aberfeldy (the core malt for the Dewar's White Label blend), Cragganmore (Diageo-owned but surprisingly unusual) and Glenfarclas (bleak, weird place).

Also stumbled across little newsagent type place in Pitlochry that is also a whisky merchant and sells countless malts at really good prices, so picked up bottles of Highland Park (12yr), Laphroaig (10yr) and some of that Hendrick's gin to go with the Edradour. Looks like I'll be pissed and broke for most of 2010.

I loved Glenfarclas - having to go down that long lane to get there. It was thick snow when we went last year. The whole place was frozen up so they gave us a free tour. Didn't you think the visitor centre was ace, with the cool wood panelled room? Glenfarclas 105 FTW.

SP - Did Edradour and Speyside a couple of months ago. Good fun. We still have some left over Edradour Cask Strength that is lovely.

Did you manage to book at The Balvenie? Best 3 yours you can spend up there and worth it for the sniff of the 45 year old and the taste of the 30.

Also, if going to Glasgow get to Auchentoshan or I also recommend Glen Goyne.

I've done Balvenie in the snow. I was the only person on the tour with the old distillery manager. Awesome day.

Glenfarclas 105. Lucky you.

Did the Balvenie on a nice cool clear autumn day - just me and GF wandering around with Rob the tour guide. I could have spent all day in the cooperage.

I quite like Edradour 10 yr. I've tried their 'port finish' too, which had an insanely caramel finish after initially tasting a bit, er, porty.

I wondered about the wood-finished ones at Edradour. They had about a dozen different ones including madeira, which I fancied trying. Thought best to stick with the 10yr unchillfiltered for the much-deliberated purchase; nearly blew £150 on a bottle of 'farewell to 1983' 26 year old cask strength from their last cask from that year (that also of my birth).

SP - Did Edradour and Speyside a couple of months ago. Good fun. We still have some left over Edradour Cask Strength that is lovely.

Did you manage to book at The Balvenie? Best 3 yours you can spend up there and worth it for the sniff of the 45 year old and the taste of the 30.

Also, if going to Glasgow get to Auchentoshan or I also recommend Glen Goyne.

Nearly stopped off at Speyside (the distillery, do you mean the area?) but didn't unfortunately. Didn't try Balvenie either and I'd have liked to have tried their 'doublewood'. No time for Glasgow either. Bugger, next time.

I wondered about the wood-finished ones at Edradour. They had about a dozen different ones including madeira, which I fancied trying. Thought best to stick with the 10yr unchillfiltered for the much-deliberated purchase; nearly blew £150 on a bottle of 'farewell to 1983' 26 year old cask strength from their last cask from that year (that also of my birth).

Those other ones are a bit wanky and not really up to the standard of the 10yr or the cask strength (I don't think I'm alone in that summation).

The only 'notable year' whisky purchase I made was the distiller's 1993 edition of Talisker, as that was the year me and my wife met. Whereas regular Talisker finishes with a smoky note, the 1993 finishes with more a dried fruit hit.

But I'd be happy to drink myself to death with Ardbeg & Ledaig 10yr in a post-apocalyptic scenario :D

The only 'notable year' whisky purchase I made was the distiller's 1993 edition of Talisker, as that was the year me and my wife met. Whereas regular Talisker finishes with a smoky note, the 1993 finishes with more a dried fruit hit.

This is my very favourite malt.

It was a very good year.

I like to take a nice Ardberg 10.. throw in some ice.. some lemon and then fill the rest of the highball with diet cola (preferably something cheap.. Coca Cola is so over-priced these days, don't you think?) and then add some of these..

Lovely.

You're such a snob.

So josh

how is the whisky town bike? Am assuming it went on the trip.

We need to start sorting out the whisky ride. I have been a little preoccupied of late. Can anyone get the ball rolling?

No whisky town bike cos the conditions have been terrible and its freeeeezing. The snow started to melt yesterday and the rivers here are swamped so no doubt there'll be Travel Chaos Britain when we leave.

What I really need is a winter hack rat-beater bike with a porteur rack (basket), but the Land Rover will do for now.

On the whisky front we had some Glenturret and Lagavulin last night, the latter of which is tremendous. It has been a crash course of a week.

We need to start sorting out the whisky ride. I have been a little preoccupied of late. Can anyone get the ball rolling?

what exactly needs doing? Do we need a list? An idea of travel costs? Accommodation (camping)? Had someone better sort out the LFGSS hip flask at last? A date, we could do with a date...?

Balki is looking for a date.

Balki's coming?