Whisky / Whiskey / Bourbon

I'm setting off for Islay this evening, can't wait! I'm skint but I'll have to get at least one bottle of something interesting to bring home... any suggestions?

Surely the point is to try as many there as possible and pick the one you like the best?

that's if you can remember which one you like the best, after a while of testing they are nearly all ace

surely they'll let you try stuff, buy what you like/can afford.

loving my glenmorangie aged in sauterne casks, haven't had any since NYE as i'm off the booze (apart from one slip up)

having a whiskey night with some mates next friday, will struggle to pick which bottle to take as i currently have 5 on the go, or maybe buy something new.....

what should one eat with whiskey?

Surely the point is to try as many there as possible and pick the one you like the best?

Well yeah, but I'm not going to buy a bottle of something that's readily available in Waitrose (Laphroaig 10 or quarter cask, Lagavulin 16 etc.). If there were any limited edition 'expressions' (such a pretentious word) that are hard to find but worth checking out... that's the kind of advice I was hoping for.

Incidentally, I tried Bunnahabhain over Christmas and it's really nice. Much softer than the famous Islays but full of flavour. Also Askaig, which is fan-bloody-tastic: all the smoky peat but without the wallop of alcohol. Very subtle. Askaig is limited run done by the Whisky Exchange.

Well, drank a LOT of scotch this weekend. Visited Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Bowmore and Bruichladdich. Some of it was great, really. Never fully appreciated how great Ardbeg 10 is: light, salty, seaweedy, smoky, pale. Bowmore 17 is a different kettle of fish but very classy. Bruichladdich Octomore has a phenol content of roundabout 170ppm and as such is the peatiest whisky going, but it's not at all harsh. Really nice but dries your mouth right out.

Didn't buy owt except a weird sherried Laphroaig called Triple Wood. Did however stop off at an awesome shop in Inveraray called Loch Fyne Whisky today, but there was way too much choice so I bottled it (har har). Think I'll get an Ardbeg 10 and some Talisker 18 from them online.

having a whiskey night on friday with some friends on friday, the only bottle i have worth taking is a Glenmorangie 15yo sauternes finsih which is amazing, but have shared it with a couple of them before, and suspect one of them (a bit of a sheep) has bought his own bottle for this night.

its getting a bit late for an online purchase so wondering where people on here go to buy something a bit special i'm thinking £60-80. i have a really open mind but do tend to lean towards the delicate highland whiskeys; glenmorangie and dalwhinie being favourites.

thinking berry bros but thought i'd ask here?

I'm always enjoy a visit to Royal Mile Whiskies on Southampton Row (near corner with New Oxford St).

Milroys on Greek Street?

i have a really open mind but do tend to lean towards the delicate highland whiskeys; glenmorangie and dalwhinie being favourites.
Could be worth your tracking down a bottle of Kilkerran "Work in Progress no. 2". I recently bought some for a friend, and was very pleasantly surprised by it. Whilst only 6 years old, it didn't taste harsh or unfinished, but was quite fresh and light.

having a whiskey night on friday with some friends on friday, the only bottle i have worth taking is a Glenmorangie 15yo sauternes finsih which is amazing, but have shared it with a couple of them before, and suspect one of them (a bit of a sheep) has bought his own bottle for this night.

its getting a bit late for an online purchase so wondering where people on here go to buy something a bit special i'm thinking £60-80. i have a really open mind but do tend to lean towards the delicate highland whiskeys; glenmorangie and dalwhinie being favourites.

thinking berry bros but thought i'd ask here?

Royal Mile near the British Museum. Lots of options.

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/

Give me a bell - Meet you there :)

i'm drinking this currently, not at whilst at work mind.

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/product.asp?pf_id=0010000023817

very tasty.

Or the Vintage House on Compton street. Amazing selection of independent bottlings.

Or the Vintage House on Compton street. Amazing selection of independent bottlings.

Not seen them before. This looks like their online shop - http://www.sohowhisky.com/

I think that's right. They also have a whisky and cigar terrace upstairs now for members which Kirth and I have joined. It's a great shop, I recommend them.

Hmmm.

*strokes imaginary beard...

Well, drank a LOT of scotch this weekend. Visited Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Bowmore and Bruichladdich. Some of it was great, really.

Why did you skip Caol Ila?

Can definitely vouch for the Vintage Shop in Soho, btw. Amongst other things, I once bought a beautiful 30yo Banff from there. Really going to miss that when it's finally gone.

I drank some Port Askaig, which is a limited and ace Caol Ila release. The Caol Ila distillery itself is pretty ugly compared with some of the others.

Proposal:

Around six of us club together to buy a bottle of good malt whisky, which we then drink. For fun and as a way of drinking ourselves around Scotland (and perhaps further afield...). Hosted at someone's gaff. Attendants welcome to bring personal favourites round for bonus drams. Whisky for next meeting decided on in advance.

I heard about this idea somewhere but I can't remember where. It's a bit nerdy but whatever.

Anyone up for it? I'll host first if need be. Perhaps something from Islay... perhaps Ardbeg or Lagavulin or summat? Suggestions? Maybe I'll lay on some nice salty, Scottish cheese.

Could be up for that. I have a couple of cracking bottles that I could contribute.

Great!

In!

I wouldn't mind discussing a distillery trip up to Scotland as I have been tasked with organising one at work for all the directors - FAIL...

I'd be up for the shared tasting thing. Maybe we should compile a list of things we'd like to try and people could take turns to select a bottle from the list.

Also up for a distillery trip, particularly if it means cycling around the Grampian highlands, which a) boast the highest concentration of distilleries anywhere in the world and b) happen to be where I was born and grew up.

I'd be up for that as well.

I don't want to stick Kirth in it, but as I said, we are both members of the Soho Whisky club. We can each bring 3 or so guests to the bar and they have a few hundred whiskies available for tastings.

If anybody is interested in going, It would give me a good excuse to put my membership to use.

Give me a shout if you need a wingman for that, D. Sounds ace.