[quote=D. Generate;320291]Outside of the society I am a great fan of independent bottlers. Seriously everyone who likes whisky should be looking at these guys. Particularly since in the 70s and 80s when single malt wasn't in demand, a lot of barrels ended up in their hands. They have been rising in price in the past few years but some can still be found for a bargain. [quote]

Spot on!!!:-) I've loved most of the IBs that I have had. Dewer Ratray and Murray/MacDavid are 2 ofmy favourite, but it really depends on what's in the bottle. I had a great bottle of Caol Ila bottled by First Cask. From what I have heard, IBs may become more rare because many distilleries are refusing to sell their barrels for that purpose.

[quote=D. Generate;320291]I don't like the current trend to finish everything in a sherry cask or similar. It has its place, but it's a limited place and is being abused (I'm looking at you Bruichladdich). [quote]

Them's fighting words.:-)

:-)

I happen to be a big fan of what Bruichladdich is doing, and I think they are doing a better job than most with finishing.

Beside, aging in Sherry is/was a common thing because the barrels used to be so available in the UK when Sherry sales were much higher than they are today. Bourbon barrels are plentiful and cheap, but the Sherry is a nice change once and a while.
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My girlfriend got me a bottle for my bday. Superstition is very very good!
It is one of the smoothest Islay's I've had! I'm a huge fan of Lagavulin 16 and love the smoke in it. Superstition isn't as smoky but there is a little hickory smoke in there.

I love this scotch!
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I've never heard of this one before....I had to look it up. Where did you get it? The VA ABC doesn't carry it or special order it.
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I'm big fan of Bowmore Legend, and 12.

Speaking of Scotch, has anyone tried Japanese single malt? It's supposed to be as good as Scotch and in some cases better(blasphemy!)
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I've heard that the Japanese have been making some good stuff, but I haven't tried any of it yet....
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I have a bottle at home now. I like it.

BTW it's not an Islay malt, it's from Jura, an Island adjacent to Islay.

Bruichladdie makes some very smooth malts, though most are not as peaty as the rest of the Islay distilleries.
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She works part time at a local liquor store and they had it in stock.
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It's not an Islay? I could have sworn I read that it was. Regardless I enjoyed it immensely! It might very well by my favorite now or at least my co-favorite with Lagavulin 16!
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This should help:

Isle Of Jura, Superstition Scotch

Superstition is the result of a marriage of two whiskies. The first one is characterized by its peaty taste, in the traditional style of Islay, and the other by it's delicate mildness.The dark colour recalls the Mahogany wood, with gold glints.The sweet smell due to the long stay in american oak casks mixes itself with some phenol, honey and marzipan hints.The very complex taste reveals spices, pine and peat fragrances.
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Ok I love me some bourbon but I have never, not once tried scotch! What are some good starter Scotches? Thanks in advance.

James
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You could start with JW Red or Black, but I'd reccomend starting with one of the lower end single malts like Bowmore Legend, Glenfiddich, or Glenlivet. :-)
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skip the JW red and black and even skip chivas....it is the stuff the scottish send over to the rebellious yanks, and we havent gotten the joke yet....

go for the glenlivet, or if you can find it a single malt called McClellands....good lower end single malts, although the glenlivet is considered one of the better reasonable priced ones, drink it neat or with a splash of water....not more than one ice cube if you have to
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I know I saw Islay in the description somewhere!
Thank you very much!
Great scotch!!
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Well, I am 67 years old and I have tasted one hell of a lot of different scotches, both blended and Single Malt, during my life so far. IMHO, at about $90 a bottle, not too crazy, Chivas 18yo is one of the finest scotches in the world, and it's a blend. Also, by choice, my go to scotch for the last 20, maybe 25 years, has been Johnnie Walker Black, also a blended scotch. So can you explain to me about this joke we haven't gotten yet?
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What age Glenlivet would you recommend...I am not looking to spend a fortune on my first bottle!
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whatever it was Dokk gave me, the only Scotch that didn't make me gag
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go for the basic 12 yr old glenlivet to start with....you will find it enjoyable and reasonable...my local liquor store has it at about $ 30-32 a bottle...
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sweet...thanks for the advice. Will try it out and will be thrilled if I like it 1/10 as much as bourbon
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I'm not as much a fan of blends but there are definitely some good ones. Bottom line, drink what you like and like what you drink.

Blends make scotch more accessible to the public increasing sales and saving the Scotch industry. If not for that then there would be fewer single malts to choose from and they would be more expensive.

Also, single malts are made from malt whisky only whereas blends include other grains, therefore they will taste different. Not necessarily better, because that depends on what you like.

Blends are generally cheaper than SMs because they are cheaper to make, not because they don't taste as good.

In any case, it's time for a dram!!!:-)
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I've tried several listed and I guess I'm not cool enough to drink it.
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