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Alex Edwards Shin pad said:
Favourite of mine 20 quid in Tesco with the clubcard
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😱 I was on holiday just outside Elgin many years ago and me and the FiL got a bottle of that as it was the local whisky. Fuck me, it was horrific. We had one mouthful and poured the rest down the drain. The worst drink I’ve ever experienced. My FiL had to start taking lanzoprazole after that and I suffered the worst indigestion of my life.
 
Are Islay malts a sub-group of Island malts? - I ask this first in case I have misunderstood something basic 🤫

If not, what's the biggest perceived difference in taste between Highland malts and island malts?

I'm fairly sure the island malts are mainly peaty and/or smokey and probably slightly sweeter than highland malts?
 
HaarlemShuffler said:
Are Islay malts a sub-group of Island malts? - I ask this first in case I have misunderstood something basic 🤫

If not, what's the biggest perceived difference in taste between Highland malts and island malts?

I'm fairly sure the island malts are mainly peaty and/or smokey and probably slightly sweeter than highland malts?
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No, Islay is a region in its own right. There isn't officially an Islands region but some suggest there should be since Skye, Arran, Raasay, Orkney, Mull and Harris all have distilleries.
Islay is know for the big, in yer face, peat monsters of the south coast; Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. However there are some unpeated ones, notably Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich, although the latter produces a peated line called Port Charlotte and an ulta-peated release called Octomore; the vindaloo of peated whisky, if you will.
Bowmore and Caol Ila are somewhere between the two extremes, being peated but not excessively so. Kilchoman is a farm distillery and while not that old produces some really good whiskies, particularly their Sanaig expression.
Ardnahoe is the most recent distillery to start producing but I haven't had their debut release as it seems pricey for a young whisky. It has had good reviews though.
 
Sancho Panza said:
No, Islay is a region in its own right. There isn't officially an Islands region but some suggest there should be since Skye, Arran, Raasay, Orkney, Mull and Harris all have distilleries.
Islay is know for the big, in yer face, peat monsters of the south coast; Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. However there are some unpeated ones, notably Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich, although the latter produces a peated line called Port Charlotte and an ulta-peated release called Octomore; the vindaloo of peated whisky, if you will.
Bowmore and Caol Ila are somewhere between the two extremes, being peated but not excessively so. Kilchoman is a farm distillery and while not that old produces some really good whiskies, particularly their Sanaig expression.
Ardnahoe is the most recent distillery to start producing but I haven't had their debut release as it seems pricey for a young whisky. It has had good reviews though.
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Thx, interesting overview!

But - to veer back to the general from the specific - what might the taste difference between a typical Highland malt and a Strathspey malt be?
 
HaarlemShuffler said:
Thx, interesting overview!

But - to veer back to the general from the specific - what might the taste difference between a typical Highland malt and a Strathspey malt be?
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I'm not too sure, to be honest, about the differences between Speyside and Highland malts. I tend to think of Speysides as lighter, sweeter and fruitier, while Highland malts are more powerful and robust but I think there is a fair bit of overlap. The definition of the areas can be weird too. Glengoyne is classed as a Highland malt but is made near Campsie.
This wee diagram I found is quite helpful.

 
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Sancho Panza said:
I'm not too sure, to be honest, about the differences between Speyside and Highland malts. I tend to think of Speysides as lighter, sweeter and fruitier, while Highland malts are more powerful and robust but I think there is a fair bit of overlap. The definition of the areas can be weird too. Glengoyne is classed as a Highland malt but is made near Campsie.
This wee diagram I found is quite helpful.

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You da dram man SP, cheers 😎
 
A good pal of mine at work is leaving. I have been tasked with getting him a decent bottle of whisky. He likes Glenlivet, Jura and Tamnavulin. Any recommendations or deals at the moment.
 
1875 said:
A good pal of mine at work is leaving. I have been tasked with getting him a decent bottle of whisky. He likes Glenlivet, Jura and Tamnavulin. Any recommendations or deals at the moment.
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How much you looking to spend, mate?
 
Haven't had this but the standard 10 year old is great. It's more or less cask strength so will last a while. Arran is rated very highly in the Online Scotch Whisky Awards.


Got a litre of this one on a golf trip to Morocco in February. Everyone loved it including my mate who only drinks bourbon. We all bought it again since.


Glenfarclas 15 year old, GlenAllachie 15 year old and Glendronach 15 are all good sherried single malts in your price range.
 
blue toon hibby said:
Early Father’s Day present (£35 for £24.50 with the Club Card). At that saving it would be rude not to.
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Noice. How is it? Had the 12 year old but not that one.
I'm polishing off my Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year Old Rum Cask Finish. Lovely stuff if you like smoky, peaty whisky.
 
Sancho Panza said:
Noice. How is it? Had the 12 year old but not that one.
I'm polishing off my Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year Old Rum Cask Finish. Lovely stuff if you like smoky, peaty whisky.
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I’m not a big fan of the peaty ones - waiting for Bunnahabbain (sp) to appear in the offers though. Haven’t tried the Old Pulteney yet but will report back.
 
Quiz of the week. Which highland malt is this the barest remnants of?

Aka malt bingo.

Other material provided for further research in photo. Replies to pointless@w_o_time.com

20250607_014713.jpg
 
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