View Full Version : Laphroaig, thanks Graeme !!!
Damien Molineaux
01-10-2007, 07:06 AM
Some time ago, on DVXuser, a thread somehow drifted onto the topic of Whisky. I clearly recall Graeme talking (ie writing) about Laphroaig as one of his favorites. Not being a expert in whiskys by any means I didn't intervene in that discussion. I do indulge in a glass every once in a while. Whisky is definitely an aquired taste, which I developed while in Egypt making a documentary about the effects of the Aswan high dam on Nubia.
One of the key persons in my film is an old lady, who has since passed away, peace be with her, by the name of Margo Veillon. She lived up to the ripe old age of 94 drinking her whisky everyday at 5pm. That was the best time to go see her. She had her character, she was a painter and photogrpaher who lived all her life in Egypt and has some rare images of Nubia from before the Aswan high dam (1964). Anyhow, I had the chance to spend a few happy hours with her, and she started me on whisky. Some time later a friend of mine made me discover Talisker, which is a smokey whisky and was my favorite up until this christmas. While visiting my aunt in the south of France, one evening I mentioned I wouldn't mind a glass of whiskey and out she pulls, from I don't know where, a bottle of Laphroaig. Well... that's my favorite whisky now!!! Thanks Graeme, for this new taste and for your Red Raw, Red Cine and everything you're bringing to Red!
Cheers,
Damien
Graeme Nattress
01-10-2007, 07:27 AM
I've just got a bottle of the Laphraoig "quarter cask", and being matured in smaller casks, it's more strongly flavoured. Very nice.
One thing that people may not realize about Laphraoig is that although it's certainly one of the best regarded whiskys, it's also, especially in it's normal 10yr old form, very reasonably priced for a single malt.
I also just picked up another Islay malt, Caol Isla 18, and that's quite a pleasant drink, a less falvourful, but mellower drink, with a hint more sherry, which along with the warmth, makes for a pleasant drink indeed.
Graeme
Blaine Golden
01-10-2007, 01:30 PM
The Islay malts are definitely my favorites, Laphraoig is my favorite of those with Bruichladdich running a close second.
Shawn Nelson
01-10-2007, 01:34 PM
All this talk of Islays is making me sick. Try the Glenlivet Nadurra 16 year cask strength, you'll taste hints of pears and honey. Now there's a whiskey! :-)
Graeme Nattress
01-10-2007, 01:45 PM
Shawn, sounds like a nice malt! I tend to like the Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15yr when I fancy a sweet spice cake malt.
Damien Molineaux
01-10-2007, 03:36 PM
hmmmm that quarter cask sounds good. I had just bought a bottle of Talisker before discovering the Laphroaig, so I'll be drinking that fot the time being, it's quite nice. Indeed, I noticed the 10 years of age Laphroaig was quite reasonably priced, I may not resist and buy a bottle one of these days. I caught myself perusing the whisky section in a local store today.
Cheers,
Damien
PS I think I'll indulge in a little glass right now.
Mark Thorpe
01-10-2007, 04:00 PM
So do you mix these with ten year old Pepsi too .......... :D
Jason Ramsey
01-10-2007, 04:06 PM
Natural Light, Baby :)
The most expensive whiskey I have ever had was a whiskey scotch blend: Johnny Walker Black Label. Aged 12 years.
Snobs. I wish I could be one too. I do like whiskey :)
Jason
Adrian Correia
01-10-2007, 04:47 PM
Laphroaig actually makes a cameo in Notes on a Scandal (saw it today)....bottle right there on the table being shared by Dench and Blanchett...
Graeme Nattress
01-10-2007, 06:42 PM
Talisker is a nice malt too. It's sort of the same flavour group as Islay malts with the smokey / peaty taste and smell, but it's not from Islay.
Here's a list of what I like:
Glenfiddich 12 - very afordable, available everywhere, sweet like xmas fruit cake
Glenfiddich 15 Solera Reserve - like the 12, but mellower, a touch fuller
Talisker - a classic
Ardbeg 10 - peat monster, not as medicinal as Laphraoig, touch pricier but still very good value
Ardbeg "very young" - 6 yr old, sweet, young, fresh, totally enjoyable and shows that it's not the number of years that make a great whisky. Being cask strength helps.
Lagavulin - 16 - another classic peat monster. Full flavour, but warm. Full of smoke.
Dun Bhegan 8 Islay - really Lagavulin. Half the price of the 16yr old, but a lot of the flavour. I think you only get this on in Canada.
Laphraoig - 10 - most affordable classic Islay. Peat, smoke and medicinal, but balanced. Very full flavour.
Laphraoig - 10 cask strength. Superb. Very.
Laphraoig "Quarter Cask" - Like the 10, but more so.
Laphraoig 16 cask strength - Need I say more. Adds "warmth" to the above.
Graeme
Jason Francois
01-10-2007, 06:51 PM
I think it's a bit easier to get in Europe, for some reason, but if you can find the Glenfiddich 21 Rum Reserve it's amazing.
Glenmorangie (spelling?) Port or Sherry Finish are great as well.
Jason-I can see we're going to busy with you showing me how to use the RED and me showing you a bunch of Scotch. :)
Blaine Golden
01-10-2007, 06:58 PM
I recently had some Duncan Taylor Cask Strength Rare Auld (Distilled at Tomatin) and aged 37 years, thanks to khmuse. Man, that was some incredible whisky.
Graeme Nattress
01-10-2007, 07:11 PM
Sounds fantastic Blaine. It's such a shame that I'm in Canada, and very limited to the stuff I can buy in the shops. I do try to get more interesting malts when I travel, but that's often tricky.
Graeme
Lagavulin - 16 in the winter.
Highland Park - 18 in the summer.
:)
Shawn Nelson
01-10-2007, 07:14 PM
Shawn, sounds like a nice malt! I tend to like the Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15yr when I fancy a sweet spice cake malt.
So I'm going to be at NAB. If you and some other guys were interested we could do a Red scotch tasting session one night. We could all bring several bottles that would be fun to try. It could be the best one-night scotch bar assembled :-) We could line up the tulip tasting glasses, drink fine scotch and talk of Red. I would bring the Nadurra 16 year cask strength, an Oregon small batch "scotch" that got rave international reviews (it tastes like an islay), and something else...
Blaine Golden
01-10-2007, 07:49 PM
an Oregon small batch "scotch"
I had an interesting scotch at the Portland Brewing Co. I guess it is made for them in Scotland. Don't remember the name, though.
Joe Carney
01-10-2007, 08:12 PM
Glenlivet, 60 year old, numbered bottles and it's own leather pouch. 500+ USD. Impossible to get in VA.
I'm going to have to find some of that Laphraoig though. Limited options in the state controlled stores in VA. Maybe jump over to Maryland where the stores are private and less expensive.
If any Aussies are coming to NAB, we should be good hosts and introduce them to single barrel bourbon.
Joe C.
Jason Francois
01-10-2007, 08:56 PM
Glenlivet 60? That would be something for sure. I can't even imagine how strong that is. This weekend I had the MaCallan 25 and it's really good, but it's so strong neet that it almost tastes like Cognac. Of course it rolls off very soft.
After reading this thread I had to tap into the bar. As I'm typing this I'm sipping the Macallan Cask Strength, but I had to splash it down.
If zeke brings up bourbon again, I'm really going to be in trouble. Luckily the wife won't let me keep it in the house. :)
Martin Jäger
01-11-2007, 03:24 AM
it makes me feel one with you :) since laphroaig was and still is my favourite since years.
Red & Whiskey - me like :D
skål! martin
btw: i had once a special bottled ardbeg - damn - i can't remember what year and age and so on.
it was super creamy cherry smooth... try to find it - any hint?
Joe Carney
01-11-2007, 01:35 PM
Glenlivet 60? That would be something for sure. I can't even imagine how strong that is. This weekend I had the MaCallan 25 and it's really good, but it's so strong neet that it almost tastes like Cognac. Of course it rolls off very soft.
After reading this thread I had to tap into the bar. As I'm typing this I'm sipping the Macallan Cask Strength, but I had to splash it down.
If zeke brings up bourbon again, I'm really going to be in trouble. Luckily the wife won't let me keep it in the house. :)
I'm heading to Annapolis tonight, gonna try to find some laphroaig while there.
Joe Carney
01-14-2007, 02:16 PM
Okay, found laphroaig in VA after all. Complex taste, might take getting used to.
Not for everyone, but willing to try some more (since I have a whole bottle, hehehe).
Graeme Nattress
01-14-2007, 04:47 PM
Oh yes, it's a "acquired taste". But once you acquire it....
Graeme
Blaine Golden
01-14-2007, 05:07 PM
I have found that people either love or hate Islay scotch due to the peaty flavor (or should that be flavour?). Bowmore is usually a little more approachable. Laphroaig seems to have the heaviest peat flavor...maybe Caol Ila.
Graeme Nattress
01-14-2007, 05:10 PM
Bowmore's can be quite nice indeed, a rich flavour, without being a full-on peat monster.
Laphraoig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg are all very peaty indeed. Caol Ila I find a touch less so, but I've not had the chance to enjoy many Caol Ila's.
Graeme
Shawn Nelson
01-17-2007, 08:49 PM
Does Jim drink scotch?
Graeme Nattress
05-02-2007, 06:02 PM
Just got an Aberlour 12. Very nice. A real sherry monster, making a nice change from the Islay malts I usually drink. It's warm, sweet, nice mouth-feel and long, finish. And not expensive either.
Graeme
Jeremy Hughes
05-02-2007, 06:42 PM
This thread is back from the dead. :blink:
Clint Johnson
05-02-2007, 07:16 PM
My whisky of choice is much more modest - Forty Creek from the Kittling Ridge Distillery in Grimsby, Ontario. Graeme, if you are looking for some sherry in your whisky then you might want to give this a try. One warning though, I don't think that I have ever tastes a smoother whisky and you won't find any peat or smoke here. You might find it too soft for you're liking.
Graeme Nattress
05-02-2007, 07:22 PM
Worth a shot as it's local! I'll look out for it. Yup, thread back from the dead. And why not. It's great to have some real culture on this forum!
Graeme
Graeme.. weekend is only 2 days away!
Thats if you RED guys even have "weekends"!
Graeme Nattress
05-02-2007, 07:35 PM
I think I've had the odd weekend off in the last 6 years or so... You know, getting married, Megan being born etc. :-)
Whisky is for life, not just for weekends!
Graeme
Shawn Nelson
05-02-2007, 08:57 PM
Aye! Before I started my diet, I'd do a shot of scotch every night. Hey, wait a sec, maybe that's why I'm not on a diet! d'oh!
Glenfiddich 18 works for me. Not a big fan of the "TCP" flavour of Islay malts (ducks for cover...)
Priyesh P.
05-03-2007, 04:23 AM
boozehounds...
:-)
Graeme Nattress
05-03-2007, 09:33 AM
I'd think only the Laphroaig tastes medicinal. Lagavulin doesn't - very warm, smooth and peaty, but not medicinal. Bowmore is also without medicinal taste. Ardbeg is somewhere inbetween I think. So, if you're not into the Islay's try the Aberlour I mentioned - like Glenfiddich, but more so.... Much more so....
Graeme
Aye all good brands. Here's a fun book on scotch - "Raw Spirits-In search of the perfect dram" by Iain Banks. Available in the UK.
I'm partial to the bottle of Bunnahabhain 18 I picked up duty-free at Heathrow airport recently. SSSUUPPPEERR smooth!