Whisky

For honey/ malt go for The Balvenie. For Peat,Laphroaig Owner of The Wombat membership number 10765

MacAllan Single Highland Malt. Recommended by the author of a book I can't remeber the name of by an author I can't remember the name of featured on BBC Book Of The Week about a month ago about a tour of all of the highland distilleries by a whisky fancier. Selected as the author's favourite.

Iain (M) Banks I think it was

Macallan 25 years - one of the best ever !

As it's Burn's Night (or thereabouts?) I've just finished a virtual Island "tour" with the following: Ardbeg (not quite as intense as Laphroaig) Jura (a one time favourite - it was the British Airways "house" malt during a period when I was travelling a lot - but not as appealing these days. Tastes change...) Arran (a new one, very light now but should get better in the coming years) Scapa (actually Waitrose "Island" from Orkney - lighter than Highland Park) Even as a very keen Malt drinker like Luke it took me many years to come to terms with the Islays, but now I'm sold. Still prefer Ardbeg to Laphroaig, though. Talisker is a real favourite, as is Macallan, but Springbank deserves a special mention. Hell, they're all nice really - just different degrees - although I find Glenfiddich rather bland (I'd rather have a Jamiesons or even one of the better blends, such as Grouse or J&B). Jamiesons in fact is my favourite "quaffing" spirit, if there's such a term! For buying, I can really recommend Oddbins. They've often got offers on (e.g £10 off 2 bottles) and really know what they're talking about in my experience.

Cheapskates option: Majestic own brand Islay - 14.49 a bottle if you buy two - bearing in mind you've got to buy 12 bottles of spirits and/or wine at a time. They've got La Frog at 17.99 a bottle if you buy two as well. Mmmmm....

Blimey, no one's mentioned Bowmore - probably some of the most delicious and subtle Islay Malt, but the question is which Bowmore, I think there are at least four but I feel sure there's more...anyone fancy organising a tasting ?

Giles wrote

quote:Micky. Laphroaig is my favourite tipple.. it's my wife who objects.

Of course Jack Daniels is creosote. Glen Moray is drinkable here The 1959 vintage is pleasingly expensive at a mere £600 per bottle... a proper Blatchat price, none of this cheapskate stuff

My personal favourites are Macallan, Talisker, Laphroaig and Highland Park (even if the last of them sounds like some sort of American estate car). Got a bottle of Jura for Christmas so I'll have to investigate it soon. Micky - you're not some sort of Westfield chappie sending us all up now, are you? Edited by - Meldrew on 26 Jan 2004 08:35:07