The Ten Best Scotch Whiskies

The Belfast Telegraph ^ | 22 January 2009 | Chosen by Charles Maclean

[Daffynition]

Take a load off with one of these wonderful scotch whiskies.

[1]Johnnie Walker Black Label Perfectly rounded, deep and full, this is the blended Scotch most admired by blenders. If I had to take only one whisky to a desert island, it would probably be this one. 40 per cent ABV

[2]Lagavulin 16 Year Old The prince of the Islay malts, this is deep and dark, with notes of fruitcake and sweet seaweed. A voluptuous texture and a fragrant, smoky finish. For drinking with poetry, late into the night. 43 per cent ABV

[3]The Glenrothes 1985 A big, rich Speyside, with notes of dried fruits and peel and some spicy or tannic dryness. Drink with roast Aberdeen Angus beef. The last remaining drops of this vintage have now been bottled. 43 per cent ABV

[4]Old Pulteney 12 Year Old An elegant malt from Wick in the far north of Scotland, this has a lightly "maritime" character and goes well with fish and seafood. The distinctive bottle features a traditional Wick herring drifter. 40 per cent ABV

[5]Clynelish 14 Year Old A North Highland malt, from the coast of Sutherland. Fresh and heathery, with waxy notes reminiscent of a High Church. Drink from the deep freeze in chilled glasses with dessert ? you will be amazed! 46 per cent ABV

[6]Auchentoshan 18 Year Old A triple-distilled Lowland single malt, from a distillery overlooking the River Clyde. Refreshing, even invigorating, and light in style, this makes an excellent apéritif. 43 per cent ABV

[7]Asyla An uncommon (and uncommonly good) blended Scotch, from the Signature Range of the artisan whisky maker Compass Box. Sweet and delicate, this is ideal as an aperitif. 40 per cent ABV

[8]Highland Park 18 Year Old bA distinguished, rich, complex and slightly smoky malt from the Orkney Islands, to accompany coffee, dark chocolate and cigars. A most satisfactory balance of sweet and dry, with dryness winning in the finish. 43 per cent ABV

[9]Bailie Nicol Jarvie An entirely different creature ? light in style, clean and zesty. Easy to drink, this is a blended whisky from the Glenmorangie distillery in the Highlands, named after a character in Walter Scott's novel, 'Rob Roy'. 40 per cent ABV

[10]Talisker 10 Year Old From the Isle of Skye, this is THE malt to accompany haggis (and many other dishes). Sweet and lightly smoky, but watch out for the chilli-pepper hit in the finish. Robert Louis Stevenson regarded Talisker as "the king of drinks". 45.8 per cent ABV

[Daffynition]

I’m taking notes. Thank you for the suggestion.

[garykfd]

ty...

[chesley]

yw... :)

By the way, I’d be willing to judge a contest between these fine suggestiions, if I could only find a sponsor. :))

[antisocial]

It is about $5 a fifth, you can’t beat the price!

[Zeppo]

This thread is a dangerous one. I must be out of my mind to do this, but I've decided to do some private 'taste tests' to evaluate the recommendations that I've seen here.

Unfortunatly for my wallet (but perhaps fortunately for my tasting), I have had only limited success in finding single-malt Scotch Whisky in 'sample' size bottles (only found Macallan and a threesome of Glenfiddich in the tiny bottles), so I've had to mostly shell out real $$ for the big bottles.

I started out with the 15-year Dalwhinnie this evening (well, actually it's 'this morning' already). Good stuff, and a good place to begin my journey.

I did some shopping and (besides the Dalwhinnie) came home with (if I can remember all of it), some:

• 14 yr. Oban
• 12 yr. Macallan
• 16 yr. Lagavulin
• 18 yr. Talisker
• The Glenlivet (12)
• Glenfiddich 12, 15, and 18 yr (I found a sampler package)
• and just for a comparison, some Johnny Walker Black and Red.

So, what "must-haves" am I missing from my 'taster's choice' starter collection?