Single Malt Scotch Whisky 2010 Review

 

 Just in time for your New Year's Eve comparison shopping expedition: a look back at the single malt Scotch whiskys that ended up on my (mostly gardening) Twitter page during the latter half of 2010. The early 2010 reviews can be found here.

But before imbibing in 140-character alcoholic blatherings, a few notes about the year in single malt Scotch (in my cabinet, anyway):

All of these are of moderate cost. You won't find anything here that costs more than $80. Most are in the $30-$50 range. Three of them are around $20 (Lismore, Finlaggan, Ileach). The term "abv": alcohol by volume. 40% abv, for example, would be 80 proof.

Best Buy of the Year: the Lismore 3 pack, available at Trader Joe's (here in the West) for $29.95. These generous-sized samplers (200 ml) run the gamut from mild and tasty (Lismore 40% abv) to "whoosh" (Lismore 50% abv...that's 100 proof!). The standout of the three: the Lismore 21 year old (43% abv). If you can find Lismore 21 in a standard sized bottle, it would cost around $150. The sherry-honey-toffee aroma is excellent; the menthol-infused taste is smooth without being overpowering. It is warming all the way down.

Best Choices for Gift-Giving: the Lismore 40% abv, Bowmore Legend, Macallan 10 Fine Oak, and Glenfarclas 10. To call these middle-of-the-road is unfair. Their smoothness is not a weakness; their aroma and flavor are enjoyed by all. If in doubt, give the Macallan 10 Fine Oak (about $32).

Single Malt Scotch with Balls: The Big 5 of "Peaty, Smoky" include Lagavulin 16, Ardbeg Uigeadail, Laphroaig 10, Caol Ila 12, Talisker 10. This is heady stuff. The aroma alone (especially the Lagavulin) will have folks at the next table wondering what you're drinking. If you are not familiar with the term "Laphroaig headache"...well, you've been warned. 

 

Two inexpensive smoky, peaty selections: Finlaggan and Ileach, which I would swear are the same. Even their labels resemble each other.

Don't be afraid of adding water. But no ice. Adding a few drops of water, after sampling a single malt Scotch at full strength, brings out different aromas and flavors. Also, water can help cut the sting when the abv (alcohol by volume) is 43% or greater. Ice will actually bury the aromas and flavors. Add as much water as you like to make it enjoyable, but start off with a few drops. The aroma of a good single malt Scotch can be enjoyed for an hour before the liquid disappears down your throat. OK, a half hour. Well, 15 minutes, anyway.

The right glass can enhance the experience. According to Kevin Erskine in his excellent introductory book, "The Instant Expert's Guide to Single Malt Scotch", the aromas associated with single malt Scotch number more than 60. Or, maybe he didn't say that. It sure seems like it is that many. The typical tumbler or "rocks glass" does not enhance the aroma; it can actually detract from the many savorings your nose might pick up. A good glass for sampling single malt Scotch is tulip-shaped: wide at the bottom, narrowing at the neck, and then flairing open at the top. This serves to concentrate the aromas before releasing them. I prefer a wide opening at the top...better to stick my nose in. And if you want to talk knowledgeably about single malts, get Kevin's book. It covers the entire subject very concisely, making you sound like you know what you're talking about, even when you're on glass #4.

 And now, from my Twitter page that deals primarily with gardening, here are the sporadic, barley-infused Twitter postings for the latter half of 2010, the "Single Malt Scotch of the Night" series:

 

Lagavulin 16 (43% abv). Perfect blend of smoke/peat for pondering the mysteries of life on a dark night.
12 Jul

 

 

Best treatment for a sore back: a hot tub and a generous pour of 10 yr old Glenmorangie.
31 Aug  

   

 

    

Your Wednesday is my Sunday. Mmmm, Laphroaig 10 and the hot tub at 8 a.m. Back to work, you slackers!
8 Sep

Where does the time go? It's already 8:0' Talisker!
17 Sep
 

 

Balvenie 12 Doublewood. They advertise in the Wall Street Journal everyday. But that's no quality indicator. Listerine goes down easier.
30 Sep 

 

Lismore 21 (43% abv). Best of the Lismore 3 pack on sale ($30) at Trader Joes. Lismore 21 retails for $150.
3 Oct

Progress at making more room in Single Malt Scotch cabinet hits a snag. Must buy more Tamdhu 10. A back of the cabinet gem!
20 Oct
 

Stormy, cold weekend ahead. Add compost to garden beds; get frost blankets; stock up on Macallan 10 Fine Oak Scotch.
17 Nov


Hey @BevMo : Elk Grove store has no idea what Kolsch style beer is. Never heard of Black Grouse Scotch, either. Trader Joe's does!
18 Nov
Lismore = Glenfarclas.  9 Dec
 

 

Glenfarclas 10: Breakfast of Champions...Among those who have declared victory and gone home.
29 Dec

Happy New Year!

Single Malt Scotch: Short and (not) Sweet Reviews Updated

As I wrote earlier this year, it must be nice to be Jim Murray. In his annual series of  Whisky Bible books, Mr. Murray can wax poetic, on and on, about the aroma, taste and finish of single malt Scotch, without drooling on his keyboard.

I have discovered that I have a tough time translating all those sensory perceptions into flowery prose, especially if several different bottles are in, shall we say, "test mode" for the evening.

     For example, Mr. Murray says this about the Abelour 12 in his Whisky Bible:
"...just the right degree of spiciness. Silky, decisive olorosa again showing an uncanny excellence in spice; not a single off note."

My review? "Taste of farm tractor diesel."

Regarding Glenlivet 12, Mr. Murray expounds: "A surfeit of apples on nose and body. The malt is quite rich at first but thins out for the vanilla and thick toffee at the death."

Fred the future alcoholic sez: "Bland, dull, boring. On second try: no aroma, no taste, no finish. Pussy whisky."

(Taster's note: "whiskey" and "whisky" are technically the same. The latter, though, imparts an air of well-aged manure from barley-fed cattle in wood-paneled bars.)

Although lacking an alcohol-based thesaurus, I can slap together a few 140-character single malt Scotch reviews on my Twitter page, which features daily garden tips...along with the occasional whisky critique.

In 2009, these were the best single malts that found their way from my nose, tongue, taste buds, throat, esophagus, stomach lining, etc. to Twitter:
 

Macallan 10, Bunnahabhain 12, Finlaggan, Laguvalin 16. Alright...Top 4.

And here are the Twitter single malt reviews from the first half of 2010. And you can tell right away that an intervention isn't too far off:

January 2010

Single malt Scotch of the morning: Bunnahabhain 12 (40% abv). Toffee aroma with a hint of the Islay peat. The smoothest of the island.

Single Malt Scotch of the Night: Cragganmore 12 (40% abv). Aroma of medicinal fruit (banana-flavored iodine?) with an afterburn.
 

Single Malt Scotch of the Night: Bowmore 18 (43% abv). New to me. Ho-Hum. Faint aroma. Bowmore Legend is better. And much cheaper.

Single Malt of the day: Macallan Cask Strength (59.7%). Sherry aroma, smooth burn. To quote Reginald Van Gleason:

Single Malt Smackdown of the night: Lismore vs. Speyside 12: Another victory for Trader Joe's Lismore, delightful aroma, smooth going down!

February 2010

The saddest sound in the world: a full bottle of Bowmore Legend smashing against the tile floor.

Aroma of single malt Scotch on tile floor repels ants.

Saturday's Single Malt Scotch: Talisker 10. More spice than smoke or peat. Nice, but not in the same league with Laguvalin and Laphroaig.

Sat. Nite Smackdown: Laguvalin 16 vs. Balvenie 12. Not a fair fight. Like Mike Tyson fighting Woody Allen.

Single Malt Scotch of the Night: Balvenie 12 Double Wood (43% abv). Aged in two barrels, first oak...then sherry. Heavy sherry. Too heavy.

International single malt whisky battle: Connemara 12/Ireland vs. Abelour 10/Scotland. Conneamara wins for peaty aroma vs. overt toffee of Abelour.

Single Malt Scotch lists at restaurants are boring. It's mostly supermarket Scotch. Hey restaurants! Add more selections from Islay!

March 2010

Single Malt Smackdown: Macallan Cask Strength (59.3%) vs. Balvenie 12 Double Wood (43%). Spoon of sugar (Balvenie) beats vinegar barrel.

Laphroaig headache this morning? Finish your peaty experience with Ardbeg 10 and Caol Ila 12. Then, go to TJ's for Finlaggan.
 

Why is Macallan 10 Fine Oak so damn tasty? With a wonderful aroma? Please don't tell me it's that the barrels are near the bathrooms.

April 2010

After 62 mile bike ride, multi-single malt Scotch of the Night: Glenmorangie, Talisker, Finlaggan, Bowmore. Winner: Bowmore Legend.

Single Malt of the Night: Islay-based Kilchoman 3 yr (46% abv). Poured by it's managing director, Anthony Willis, tonight in Sacramento.

Single Malt Scotch of the Night: Macallan 12 (43% abv). Too much sherry, like the Macallan quarter cask. I'll stick with Macallan 10.
 

Great day on the bike! Now, a Bunnahabhain single malt soak. Then, back to writing angry, drunk diatribes. Apologies if I call you a dipshit later.

May 2010

Single Malt Smackdown: Bunnahabhain 12 (40%) vs. Ardbeg Udigal (54.1%): Can't beat the Bunna's smoothness. Ardbeg is too complex.

My goal: Finish off the mostly empty single malt scotch bottles. First up: Glenfiddich 12, Auchentoshan Three Wood. Wish me luck.

Single Malt Scotch of the Day: Laguvalin 12 (57.9% abv). Aroma: peaty smooth, but Yeow! Add water. Or die, a medicinal death.

June 2010

Cheap intro to good single malt Scotch, at Trader Joe's: Lismore and Finlaggan. Both under $20. (Not available in Arizona. Don't ask.)

Single Malt Scotch of the night: Glenmorangie Sonnalta (46% abv). Sherry aged, but not dominant. Good balance, but not citrusy.

Single Malt Scotch of the Night: Macallan Cask Strength (59.7% abv). Very sherry. Too sherry. ABV explains my rantings last night.

Twitter is over capacity. So is my single malt Scotch cabinet. Lonely bottle of Lismore sitting on counter, whimpering...

Bermudagrass ceases to be a problem after a couple of glasses of Macallan 10 Fine Oak. Getting out of the hot tub takes its place.

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And the best of 2010, so far? Bunnahabhain 12, Macallan 10 Fine Oak, Lismore, and...may it rest in peace...Bowmore Legend.

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But my favorite whisky Tweet of 2010 (so far) comes from the Fake AP Stylebook: "No matter how good the scotch involved was, the word "delicious" should never appear in a DUI story."