My Islay go-to whiskies! | The bottles I reach for the most from every Islay Brand 

"the sheep is not naturaly black, it's been colored with e150a"... 😂😂😂😂

Ardbeg - Uigeadail, Lagavulin - 8, Laphroaig - Quarter Cask, Bowmore - 15, Caol Ila - 12, Bunnahabhain - 12, Bruichladdich - Port Charlotte 10, Kilchoman - Sanaig. I try to keep the go to category below 60 UK pounds

I laughed out loud at the Ardbeg joke.

Great list - and I actually got a different go-to on each distillery: Ardbeg TEN Bowmore 15 Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Bunnahabhain 12 Caol Ila 12 Kilchoman Sanaig Lagavulin 16 Laphroaig PX Cask 🙂

Great idea for a video! Love this one and the list.

Very nice "sherry picking" from Islay distilleries. I enjoy these bottles as well.

Great list buddy, love the subtle humor 😂

“Don’t worry, they’re not all going to be 18 year olds.” My court order says I can’t go any younger mate.

Thanks Geoff, another belter if a rundown, certainly made me chuckle.

I really enjoyed this style of video, well done!

Loved it mate 🤣 good stuff

Another great vid. Your list did a great job of introducing house styles to anyone who may be new to the region.

Great list, I've added a couple to my "Must Buy" list. Love your deadpan delivery of the "that's what she said" lines. Keep up the great videos!

I'd love to try the Bowmore 18 Deep & Complex. Unfortunately that is a very difficult bottle to find in my market. Great episode. I hope it's the first in a series as you work your way through each region

Thanks Geoff thats a nice lineup! haven't tried any of the 18 year olds apart from a Caol Ilsa Unpeated. Love the Lagavulin 8 and your whiskey of the year is definitely an underrated classic. Very refreshing and a nice wine cask influence that isn't overwhelming!

Great list of go-to Islays Geoff. I am currently going through so technically goto's : Ardbeg Weebeastie, Classic Laddie, Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak, Laphroaig QC, Benromach 10. I will include Ardbeg Ugi, Port Charlotte 10 that are next to open.

Cool concept!

Thanks for sharing, Geoff. Unnecessary to say this is up my sleeve 🙂 And to add some content to this comment. My go to bottles from each distillery are (alphabetical order): Ardbeg: Corrtvreckan Bowmore: nope / none (not on the shelf and no intention to change that) Bruichladdich: difficult as they have really different brands, so cheating here: Bruichladdich bere barley and Port Charlotte Heavily peated (and if on the shelf: de Octomore that is present there) Bunnahabhain: 18yo (but worth checking out the CS Staoisha's) Caol Ila: One of the SMWS bottles I have Kilchoman: 100% Islay Lagavulin: 16yo (only reason: it's the only one I have) Laphroaig: 10CS Slàinte mhath

Agree with most of your choices. The Bowmore 18 was a very surprising one for me too considering that I hated the 12y (15y was ok). Given the right price I would definitely get it again.

Ah, the classic “that’s what she said” joke! That never gets old… 😂 Great video as always G. Love it.

Guess I’m a little late .. Well, that’s what she said. Man, I have to admit, I love your weird humour, Jeff .. Bowmore - It’s the *Bowmore 18 Deep & Intense* (Yeah, I know .. Strictly speaking, it’s the only Bowmore I like. And I’m still wondering how anyone would spend the money for a Bowmore Aston Martin. Well, I guess I do .. *cough* Marketing ..) Caol Ila - *Caol Ila 18* (Not very original, but again, it’s my favourite from their core range) Kilchoman - *Loch Gorm* (I know .. seriously, I’m not just copying from you. It’s currently my favourite distillery from Islay, I also love the 100% Islay from 2022) Lagavulin - *Lagavulin 16* (It was my first love, and in spite of Diageo trying everything to ruin it, it still has that beautiful signature. But you can’t blame them for a lack of effort .. Same as with Talisker, such a beautiful signature, and Diageo is really trying to destroy it. Your video about Lagavulin might be controversial, but you’re 💯right, and people just get mad because of some weird kind of brand affiliation). Bruichladdich - *Port Charlotte 10* (It’s just a beauty. I do love the Islay Barley from 2013, but it’s not as consistent as the 10 year old). Bunnahabhain - *Bunnahabhain 12* (I go for the regular 12 year old. I know most people like the CS more, but I had some really sharp, harsh bottles of it. And the 12 year old is such great value) Ardbeg - It’s still the *Uigeadail* (I know it’s not nearly as great as it once was, but I still love it. I think the core range is still very good, the Ardbeg 10 is still an affordable, great Islay Malt) Laphroaig - Same here: Not the biggest Laphroaig fan, but I do love the *Lore*

Great idea for a new series, Geoff! Regional favs. :). It might be a longer video if you hit Speyside though ... ;)

I wholeheartedly agree with The Classic Laddie. I LOVE Port Charlotte 10 but it's hard to find in my area. The Laddie is delicious and my nearest grocery store has it at a reasonable price.

Last year we visited islay. Bowmore and lagavulin impressed the most. Why. I had a totally not fair impression of their stuff. Impressive tour too. Especially the warehouse tasting led by Ian MacArthur. My favorite is Ardbeg with their core range and coal is the twelve.

Laga 8 is young but a great one. I found for $30 per bottle and grabbed 20 of them.

Great video, not tried any Kilchoman yet to my detriment so thanks for the steer, bang up job (That’s what she said)

Hey Geoff. Intricate topic and a solid list. I can share my go-to from Islay based on what I have access to in Bulgaria nowadays. Kilchoman - Loch Gorm is my go-to and a guilty pleasure, given its kinda steep price. Kilchoman is the best presented Islay whisky in Bulgaria. We get the new releases a good half a year later than the rest of Europe, but the prices are good, assortment is good, we also get single casks exclusive for Bulgaria, etc. Great distillery, great whisky, competent importer :) Bruichladdich - Port Charlotte 10 yo. All Bruichladdich available here consists of PC10, Classic Laddie and a couple of Octomore expressions which I don't care for :) Looking forward to taste the Classic Laddie though. Bunnahabhain - regular 12 yo gotta be my go-to bottle. The 18 has been not available for quite a while now and even when it was available its price was absurd. I have had the Toiteach A Dha and liked it quite a bit. A few bottles of the 12 Cask Strength 2021 actually had made it to our market but sold out before I knew. The 2022 release will not reach Bulgaria according to the importer. The best we can hope for is the 2023 release if there is any; Ardbeg - the Ten. Solid malt, OK value. So far I've had the Ten and Wee Beastie. Like the Ten better. Have a bottle of Uigeadail, but haven't tasted it yet; Laphroaig - Don't have a go-to whisky. I've only had the 10 yo and very brief experience with Quarter Cask. Have a bottle of Lore in the stash, still unopened. The brand is blatantly overpriced in our market. Poor availability: 10 yo, Select, Quarter Cask and occasional Travel Retail stuff. Never seen things like Cask Strength, Cairdeas, etc. Given the prices of the basic bottles I don't dare to think what those high end ones would cost here; Caol Ila - never had any. The only available expressions are the 12 yo and Moch plus occasional DE. Inadequate prices, especially nowadays. Funnily enough, the first Caol Ila I'll taste is probably going to be from an indie bottle or even from a blended malt :) In fact, I have already tasted it in Johnnie Walker :) ; Bowmore - never had any. Poor presentation, poor value. I've been ignoring the brand and most probably will continue to; Lagavulin - never had any. Absolutely cynical pricing, poor availability. The only widely available (kinda) expression is the 8 yo and it is more expensive than Kilchoman Loch Gorm and Port Charlotte 10. Still there is a good chance to taste the 16 yo thanks to a friend of mine, but I doubt there will be a go-to Lagavulin for me in the foreseeable future. Cheers!

Nice vid, nice list, and funny jokes as always. Keep up the good work. Also, if you haven't, try the Cask Strength Machir Bay. The latest batch is my favourite whisky right now.

havent tryed that much of islay whiskey. I really like kilchoman sanaig. Got port charlot 10, kilchoman bay and laphroig select banked to try in the future. Thanks for your videos!

Laphroaig 10 CS, Laga 8, Ardbeg Ugie are always my picks. Need to try Kilchoman!!!!

Kilchoman. Machir Bay Cask Strength. Great stuff!

Hi Geoff, if we’re going on, go to bottlings and of what I’ve actually had then my list would be:- Ardbeg Ugi Bruichladdich port Charlotte 10/ Islay barley bottles, Kilchoman Saniag Caol Ila 12 yr, Laphraiog CS 10 yr, Lagavulan 8 Bowmore 18 ( but prefer the tempest 10 yr) Bunnha 12, the IB’s Staoisha at CS , well worth trying. Excellent list video Geoff, slàinte

Lovely video, I chuckled way more than I should have at all the jokes. :D Gotta say Caol Ila and Bowmore have not been visited in my whisky journey yet, but I do love Kilchoman and honestly my favourite is good old Machir Bay (CS if I can get it).. its just such a nice contrast to so much sherry peat we usually get from Islay, full of citrus, vanilla and I just love that creamy mouthfeel (almost like almond milk), always makes me beg for more (thats what she said? too much? :D). Agree with the rest of the picks pretty much, just feel like Ardbeg An Oa isnt getting the love it deserves universally (it usually kills in all the blind tastings Ive seen so imo its some weird bias :p ). I honestly never grab the 10 nowadays after trying it.

+1 for the Classic Laddie! I don't think it gets enough praise for how stand-out it really is.

A hard one Geoff...that's what 🤣 Bowmore I would say 15 Aston Martin Caol Ila - 12 Ardbeg - Corryvreckan Laphroaig- Lore but if it's hard to find then the PX Kilchoman- Machir Bay Cask Strength and yes I absolutely agree with the single cask comment. Bruichladdich - Port Charlotte 10 for me please Lagavulin- 16 normally or the 9 Game of Thrones, which I actually like a lot and I still see them around Bunnahabhain- damn it I haven't tried the CS yet so the standard 12 for me Cheers 🥃

I’ll put in a vote for Bowmore Tempest, they have had several versions and it seems widely available. Otherwise I totally agree. Great idea for a video!

I feel like bunnahabhain are underrated. I have enjoyed everything ive tried from them. Lagavulin 8 is insanely good value imo. Great content as always!

I think the list could change a lot depending on area of sale...I can't believe what my area will charge for some and not others. Maybe it has something to do with supply and volume, but I end of rating by bang-for-the buck and that can color a list a lot. Lagavulin 11 Offerman. Good peaty punch with a bit more smoothness and complexity like the 16. I think 16 is overrated...great, but not for what they ask. Bowmore 15. Great price for a 15 year old and much improved over the 12. Port Charlotte...love what they are doing with it. 50% too. Smokehead and Peat Monster can be had on great sales and I will fill a pantry with those for the value. Can't wait to get a few others. I have no #1, just good memories.

A bit bummed for your Bruichladdich choice, but it is what it is 😂!!! I think my list is: Laproaig--> 10 CS (just obvious) Ardbeg--> Corryvreckan (like it just a bit more than the Uigeadail) Lagavulin--> 12 CS (although I´m not buying it anytime soon, I share your Lagavulin rant) Kilchoman--> Loch Gorm (100% Islay is also a pretty nice choice) Bowmore--> I´d have to go with the 10, just to have a mixer in my list... Ardnahoe--> Scarabus (Batch Strength) it´s not that expensive, you should try it! Caol Ila--> 12yo it´s an easy whisky but i does the trick... for me Bunnahabhain--> 12 CS, the best unpeated whisky I´ve tried, so far Bruichladdich--> Give me an Octomore... any Octomore, I don´t care!😅

I second Bowmore 18. Surprisingly, there is a lot of a difference, when compared with the 15. Kilchoman Port Cask is insanely good in my opinion. One of my all time favorites. There was this Byzantine aristocratic meal in the middle ages - smoked fish with strawberry jam. That's exactly what this aristocratic Kilchoman tastes like.

Just tried the port charlotte 10… that was delicious. Im gonna have to try the laddie

good reviews! tastes are always more important than de price....collectors fall often for the way a bottle looks....I think most of the 10 years whisky's are the best and the rest....is making money....we make the "Oerfrysk"- single malt whisky in Sumar, in the north of Holland...we now sell only 3 year old ones and hope to reach 10 year old whisky's.

I love this review. So much to relate. No Bowmore for me please. And yes, singling out a Whisky from the other great distilleries is not easy. It's way too damn hard! (**** In Michael Scott's voice....****)😂😂😂. The review gets an additional point for so many "that's what she said'

Bowmore 18 Aston Martin was AMAZING. Kirkland Islay single malt is fantastic. The bunnahabhain 12 is the best Islay on a budget

I tend to like the Bowmore 15. It has a stronger Sherry element than the regular 18 which I enjoy and is perfectly balanced. I can’t get the Dark and Complex so I’d love to try that. Would also like to try more Caol Ila but only had the 12 it is unusually expensive here. For Ardbeg Uigee hands down. Friends don’t let friends drink Laphroiag. The others I’m with you on.

With an empty bottle of Ardbeg 10, my whiskey journey was just started.

Port Charlotte is my easy go to. Never had the classic laddie, I have the laddie 8 though.

Great video Geoff! If I factor in price, availability and reachability, here is my list: Bowmore, Kilchoman and Caol ila are really hard to pick. I haven't bought a Bowmore for years now. But if pushed, I am with you on the 18. Kilchoman, definitely the Loch Gorm, Caol ila, I'd pick the 15 unpeated cask strength. Its a fabulous whisky and has the true, Caol ila signature. None of these are available in the PA state stores though. Ardbeg: The wee beastie. At 42$ here and for the quality I get, its a no brainer for me. In the core range, both the Uigi and the Corry are great, but also almost double the price of the Wee beastie. Laphroaig: Quarter cask purely because for me it has stayed the most consistent Laphroaig (I know you have never quite warmed up to it). The 10CS changes every year and is in a different league though and definitely my favorite Laphroaig in general. Lagavulin: With you there on the 8. Bruichladdich: Port charlotte 10 Bunnahabhain: Im going for the standard 12. Has been consistently good ever since I have started my single malt journey. The 2022 CS 12 was spectacular. If they produce that level consistently, it will definitely replace the standard 12. Ardnahoe doesn't have their own line yet. I enjoyed visiting their distillery and visitors center last year on my way to Bunnahabhain. Beautiful locations and they have quite a few tasting tours. Innovative and very enjoyable. I got to taste some rare older whiskies from Port Ellen, Auchroisk etc. Generally, I quite enjoy their old malt cask range and Scarabus whiskies. I had a few tastings of their "journey" series of blended malts. Not too bad either. Eagerly waiting for their own single malt bottles.

An interesting list, I’ve tried a few of them. Personally I’d go for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask over the 10yo. I don’t know if it gets dismissed as a gimmick but it’s an excellent peated malt.

Here we go, thanks for this hot topic: 1. Lagavulin 16, got to be, simply the best. I know the price is storming up, luckily I have many bottles stashed from the happier times, so it's my go-to! 2. Laphroaig 10- Not a fan of Laphroaig, I've had their Select and PX, but 10 was the most representative I guess. 3. Ardbeg Corryvreckan- The most reachable one when I have it on the shelf, that's the unbearable one. Deep, strong, sophisticated one. 4. Bunnahabhain 12, a classic one, I love it, not too complex, not too heavy, good everyday dram. 5. Caol Ila 12, the most dependable, budget-friendly, consistent, and great quality. 6. Kildonan Senaig, I love the way it's crafted, looks a lot like Lagavulin 16 to me. 7. Bowmore, never had one. 8. Port Charlotte 10, I simply love this one, I wish I had at least 10 of them stashed, just in case.

Interesting list. Have tried a few of them. I'm waiting for the Bunnahabhain 12yo CS to reach Sweden. Not a big fan of Bowmore, they had a CS bottle some years ago that I liked. With Ardbeg it's an quite easy choise...The Corryvreckan. With Laphroaig, well this bottle is probably not available anymore buy The Cairdeas 2013 Port wood Finish was amazing. Agree with the CS botteling, but I think it has become really over priced. Agree with you, Bruichladdich is fantastic, right now my favorite is Port Charlotte 10YO, but I've never been disapointed with Bruichladdich. Tried a few Kilchoman, agree with the Loch Gorm, but the best so far was a Port wood singel cask, I think it was from 2009. Also agree about Caol ila, the best stuff is the indie bottelings.

Despite the flaws I love Bowmore 12, 15 and yest the 18 however it is almost Eur 130 where I am so too pricy for what it is. Bunna would be next - anything really, then Coal Ila my favourite the 18 but as with Bowmore too expensive. number 3 is Corry hands down, then Laga 16. Great vid, well done

The old Bowmore 10 of around 15 years ago was superb. My favourite all time Bowmore is an Independent bottling of Bowmore 8YO by Single and Single released around 5 - 7 years back. Other than that, can't really argue with the list. I am having a strange love hate relationship with Ardbeg at the moment. I find that they have become inconsistent. For years the 10 and Uigeadail were staples for me and I also enjoy the Wee Beastie, but I just do not seem to be drawn to Ardbeg at the moment. Laphroaig is one where I do not like any of the core range. The cask strength is OK and generally really only like the older stuff like some independent 15's I've had and their 18 (no longer available). I have been hunting for the Bunna 12 CS in Europe. Just cannot find a bottle and most retailers, even the online ones do not have in stock. Hoping they release it 2023 and that it rivals the 2022.

Love Coal Ila 12 (Haven't tried the 18). I have a soft spot for the Lagavulin 16 as it was the first Islay I tried and it was wonderful, but I just aint prepared to pay the price for it now. The 8yo is pretty good though. Ardbeg 10, always on my shelf. Bunna? I found the Stiuireadair getting better as I go down the bottle. I have a 2022 CS, but haven't broken the seal yet. My go to though, (depending on mood etc.) is the Classic Laddie. Pretty astonishing dram for the price.

I always liked the idea, price and transparency (and cool-looking bottle) of the Classic Laddie, but found it too young and harsh for me. I just discovered the [2013] Islay Barley, and it’s like a grown-up Classic Laddie. Amazingly good stuff. And of course, when I’m in a mood for peated Scotch, Port Charlotte 10 is my go-to.

Same as you with Ardbeg Uigeadail. The price difference here is not all that much higher than the 10, and it is generally easy to find. Though I do get An Oa from time to time as it often has pretty steep discounts, and is a nice 'gentle Ardbeg' if such a thing exists. But the Uigeadail is a fantastic fall/winter bottle. I never touch Lagavulin 16. It costs about the same as Craigellachie 17 or Ledaig 18 for me. I know those two aren't Islays, but bottles in that price range are quite rare and special for me. At that price point they are both bottles I can really get into, savor and explore much more.

The best Bowmore was the Atlantic salt release, shame it was limited edition. Cask strength bourbon Bowmore is delicious

Not a fan of Bowmore 18 - 40% ABV for $145! Kilchoman Sanaig (easier to find than Loch Gorm), Laphroaid 10 CS, Ardbeg Uigeadahl, Laga 8, Port Charlotte 2013 Islay Barley, Bunna 12 (great value), and an independent Port Askaig 110 Proof (Caol Isla?) would be my list.

Pretty much agree with all those…. Apart from the Bruichladdich, - the PC10 is easy winner from them for me. I’d also happily forget all about Bowmore altogether.. at present..

kilchoman Sanaig is my go to, have not tried the loch gorm (sad face). Ardbeg 10 or Ugi (really liked the 8 for discussion, but something was lost after the bottle had been open for a while), Port Charlotte 10. only tried Laga 16 it's pretty good but way to expensive, now i need to get my hands on a bottle of the 8 year. legit list G

Big, intense and satisfying 😂

Nice vid: Corryvreckan by a mile, Lag 16 still, Bruichladdich- PC- Octomore's are generally better but $$, have not found a bowmore i like but did not try 18 yet, caol ila needs to kick up the punch a bit but i'ts fine. Agreed on Laphroaig but yes hard to get- the 16 is not bad. But i'm not a big fan of the medicinal peat...

"why do I keep talking like I'm dating Ardbeg?? ........I should call them tho" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Bowmore 15 Darkest was my choice over 18 :)

It pains me to say it because Bowmore 12 was my gateway single malt, but given their abysmal quality/price ratio, I can't recommend any of their stuff, but that 18 is probably the best of their Core Range, although their Vault Editions are considerably better if you can find any at a decent price. Port Charlotte 10 tops The Classic Laddie from Bruichladdich on my list, but I pretty much agree with all of your other choices 👍

Go to Bowmore would be the 15, Caol ila the 12yr, Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha not sue if that's a core range though. I'm a big fan of Laphraoig 10yr cask strength and Cairdeas. Agree with you on Lagavulin 12 CS really like the whisky but can't afford it anymore.

Great video. We agree on most of the lineup except for: 1) Caol Ila: DE; 2) Kilchoman: 100% Islay; 3) Laphroaig: LORE (if its still available?) ... cheers

Always on hand: Bruichladdich Black Art, or Bruichladdich Classic Laddie Laphroaig Lore (must try!) Ardbeg Corryvreckan Lagavulin 16 Bunnahabain Aonadh or 12 CS Not always on shelf: Caol Ila 18 Bowmore 18 Kilchoman Hard Pass (not a fan)

Spot on. and you have to old that line all year with the Classic Laddie. Peat is not always the answer. If want to try a really good Bowmore you just have to buy an Aston Martin. I'm sure they throw in a bottle.

That's good list. No complaints from me. For my list, I would say there are no "go to whiskies" from Caol Ila or Bowmore - not according to your definition. Overpriced and watered down. Bowmore in particular is committing suicide with their pricing and weak presentation. If I really had to choose a bottle it would be the Bowmore 15 and the Caol Ila 12, but honestly, I don't recommend them. Love Bruichladdich. The classic laddie is a totally respectable choice, but I'm a peathead and the PC10 is the overwhelming choice for me. Fabulous stuff, available everywhere and great value. So much promise from Kilhoman, but they're still a little new and I don't know them very well. I tend to agree that the Lock Gorm probably gets the nod. Bunna 12 is the bomb, but I would take the regular bottling over the cask strength, simply because I've never seen a bottle of the CS available for sale. That's a bit of a drawback. Laphroaig 10 cask strength is in the running for my fave whisky of all time. i like it so much it almost makes all other Laphroaigs obsolete. Just buy the 10CS. Ardbeg is such tough call. The Wee Bestie costs just as much as the 10, but isn't as good, so I'm left with 10, Oogie and Cory. The Cory is overpriced at 120 USD when the 10 is only 50 USD. I love the Uigeadail - big peat, big sherry and big ABV. But I felt like I would go with the 10 year just because I wanted someone's flagship bottle and the 10 is unbelievable value for money. Lagavulin - wow, they're pretty close to Bowmore and Caol Ila. They're just pricing themselves out of existence. Some of the Offerman bottles are decent (Guinness cask, I think, was good). But you're probably right to choose the 8. It's just not a real strong offering, IMO. cheers

Lag8 is a fantastic choice, I think I like it more than the 16. Although the 16 is quite reasonable in my area. Have found it as low as $80-90 USD. It is one of the only 12+ age stated whiskies that I actually saw go *down* in price during the pandemic.

I’m waving from the Orkney island with a highland park 18 years 46% edition 😅

Honestly bowmore is the most underrated of the islay scotchs and I kind of like it that way so it stays cheap.

There is a Cask Strength Loch Gorm edition, usually released around xmas.

" it's a hard one!" Said the actress to the Bishop!

Well....The Port Charlotte 10 went over very well. So well, that it has ascended to the High Council since it's introduction and has basically entirely displaced Talisker in the selection. On the strength of that exploration, I tried Kilchoman Sanaig, to good effect. I adjudged it not quite as good as PC10, but a 'keeper' none the less. The Islay surprise for me was Scarabus. It caught my attention with the ornate steampunk labeling and I caught several online reviews where reviewers were attempting to discern the mystery source distillery (most pointing at Caol Ila). I had it on my list, but urged a friend, who was exploring their peat tastes, to give it a try....their NAS is only a bit over $30 US. Tasting that gave me quite the cred with my friend; we both liked it. If that resembles Caol Ila, then I'm a mark for sampling a full bottle (but Scarabus comes in at 1/3 the cost).

Can I ask you, as a whisky collector, how do you preserve your opened bottles of whisky? And also,after what time you.ve noticed changes in the taste? Thank you! PS:very informative and good chanel,go on with new interesting whisky topics!👍

The now discontinued Laphroaig 18. Why it was discontinued remains a great mystery. Fantastic whisky.

I've only tasted the Bowmore 12 and it comes in far and away the best peated Islay in my collection from Islay. I will be trying their 15 soon. I've never tasted Kilchoman, but of the others, I tasted Laphroaig 10 and decided I never needed to try any other of that label. I have a bottle in my cabinet. A very similar situation transpired with Ardbeg, but I've never purchased a bottle of Ardbeg. I've never tasted a Caol Ila, other than as an additive to JW Black. Bunnahabhain 12 has an honored place in the pantheon of my single malts. I went through a bottle of Classic Laddie and wasn't particularly impressed. I presently have a bottle of Port Charlotte 10 which was recently opened; we are still getting acquainted. I'm struggling to understand the peat style of Ledaig, as it is not an Islay peat, but it is an Island distillate; coastal influences. Is the peatiness different from that of Laph/Ard/Caol? Is it similar to Bowmore, or Benromach? The same with Kilchoman, which is an Islay. I've learned that peat flavors differ, sometimes significantly, and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with location on Islay. To me, the Talisker peat flavor is similar to that of the 'typical' Islay peateds. The peat flavor I really resonate with is Benromach, a peated Speyside. I guess it's the 'white heather', rather than all the coal oil dumped from bilges.

Bowmore 10YO Dark & Intense Aston Martin LM10 is not bad at all for the money. BTW what about Port Ellen? 😉

Like ! Slainte !

You mentioned that Caol Ila is typically less peated so if I find Ardbeg 10 is a little too smokey then would Caol Ila 12 be good option for me to try? That might be the only one available around here.

The Bunnahabhain 12 cask strength is the best whisky I'll never get to try. Bottles are nonexistant in the Chicago area. I think it's too limited to call it a core range product.

Lagavulin 8 is great and punchy

First easy

I'm willing to exchange my bottles of Lagavulin 8 for yours of Lagavulin 16.Without thinking about it😂.

Bunnahabhain 12yo Cask Strength: in my opinion the 2021 version is better than the 2022. The 2022 is Sherry all the way, comparable to some Edradour expressions. The 2021 is more complex with layers and has got enough sherry, however Bourbon casks shine through a bit, too. So for me 2021 is clear favourite. In my opinion 2021 many RU-vidr didn't even taste and the few who did didn't rave about it, because at that time the question still was: is it worth the price in comparison to the standard 12yo? With the 2022 this did change and nobody questions the price anymore. From my point of view more than 70% of the people with a high visibility didn't even taste the 2021, they only jumped on the train in 2022 Lucky me, the 2021 is better in availability. 😀😀😀 - and: yes, every Batch is worth the premium

how would you say the bowmore deep & complex compares to the vault editions?

I can't get along with the lagavulin 8 it was just a little to much peat and not enough fruits I like finding hidden in there and for the price it is in my area its never going to be replenished

Best bottle from Islay is port Charlotte 10 at £47

Totally agree! Nothing more to say 🤷. Sorry

I prefer the regular 18y Bowmore over the Deep & Complex so there you go. Totally agree on the Caol ila, Kilchoman. Laphroaig has to be Lore, Lagavulin 16y, Bunnahabhain 18y, Ardbeg, for now at least, 8y for discussion.

My most recent finding: Kilchoman Madeira

Caol Ila 12, PC 10, Bunna 12CS for me

Nice attempt to show your favorite stuff, thats what she said ;)

Caol isla 15 non peated cask strength 😀

that's what she said😂

G- you sound a little under the weather- you ok? Nothing a few drams can’t cure, I hope.

My own list... the best whiskies (which most of them no one can get anymore) which I have 😏 1) Bowmore - 21 Astin Martin 2) Dewar's 21 and 32 double double 3) Bunnahabhain Ceobanach 4) Glencadam 15 5) Glendronach 21 Parliament 6) Springbank 15 7) Stagg Jr. 8) Blantons Gold 9) Glen Garioch (chapters 1, 3 and 4) 10) Laphroaig 10 Sherry oak 11) Macaloney's Caledonian Searaidh Braiche 12) Arran 18 13) Glenmorangie Signet 14) Lochlea first release 15) Balblair 17 Limited travel exclusive 16) Bimber Canada Cask 17) Glenfarclas 185 18) Lum Reek 10 If I wait 10 years or so, I might be able to retire early

Are you sure that Classic Laddie not getting the "love it deserves", as you put it, is because it doesn't deserve to get any love?