[magpie]

You're mis-informed and probably missing out.

I've had it with water before, it doesn't improve it for me, it just tastes diluted.   

[clm]

i sauntered in to a whisky shop in glasgow about a year ago abd asked what 30 year olds they had as it was a friends thirtieth. The shop assistant sn**gered at me and showed me a couple well over 200  quid. I looked sheepish and went off for a browse. The assistant then came over and showed me a 30 year old blended from the springbank distillery for about 45 quid. I bought it for the age connection and it is excellent. Really complex. Moral being, and id have never believed it before hand. Some blends are good.

[Sloper]

Of course some blends are good, quality in = quality out.

Magpie, have you ever tasted raw spirit?  Not exctly pleasant on the tongue.

It rather depends what you're diluting and by how much. 

[magpie]

Magpie, have you ever tasted raw spirit?  Not exctly pleasant on the tongue.

Just that one time when all the gin ran out... 

[Tris]

http://www.wikihow.com/Taste-Single-Malt-Scotch

Things You'll Need:

• A bottle of single malt Scotch whisky
• A quality glass
• Bottled spring water
• At least a half-hour, free of stress and distractions
• Additional time to allow your body to metabolize the alcohol before operating any heavy machinery or driving.

[magpie]

Add water. (Optional) as much as half-and-half or as little as a few drops. Adding water depends on the strength and style of the whisky and the taster's preference. Regular bottles contain 40% to 46% alcohol by volume (ABV) and are diluted using the distillery's water source. Some whisky purists (Jim Murray, for example) feel that as it has already been diluted, further dilution is unnecessary. "Cask strength" whiskies are stronger (generally 46% to 60%) and require more water. Avoid tap water, because the chlorine and/or dissolved minerals will interfere with the taste.

 

[Sloper]

On the back of the 97 clynelish ch lafite finish I'm enjoying at the moment it says 'adding water dilutes the alochol and not the flavour'.

[nik at work]

Surely that can only be true if the flavour is that of water? Otherwise it has to dilute the flavour, or can you add an infinite amount of water and it will still taste the same? In which case a single bottle would last eternity and business opportunities in whisky would be limited.

Methinks you may be reading from the marketeering book of FACT...

[c.j.d.]

Monkey Shoulder.  Although not a single malt, but rather a splendid Spayside blend.

No water required, just on its own.  Loveley.

[magpie]

Monkey Shoulder.  Although not a single malt, but rather a splendid Spayside blend.

Agreed, and it comes in a very nice bottle too, which is definitely not why I bought it in the first place, no siree. 

[Johnny Brown]

My favourite blend is Black Bottle - all seven Islay malts. Nice.

[clm]

aaaah, i remember the black bottle. Was it the fat lamb monday night club? I remember a very special headache and a strong desire to vomit somewhere near southwaite. Possibly also responsible for tge onset of acute appendicitus and peritonitis. Happy days

[Johnny Brown]

Aye, that was it. If anyone's ever near the Howgill's on a monday, drop into the Fat Lamb, tell them you're there for the monday night club and you heard about it on the internet. Good night guaranteed.

[c.j.d.]

I'll try that Mr B.  Magpie - I didn't by it for the bottle either, althogh the little brass monkeys are cool!  CJD.

[Fiend]

Back on the Laphroaig, me. God it's such a vulgar whisky, in a good way

[Joepicalli]

I've got to agree with sloper here. If you don't dilute cask strength you do miss out on an awful lot of flavour. I actuall y use different dilutions depending on the sort of flavour I want: a bit more water and the fruity, caramelly character is to the fore a bit less and and the smokie, peaty minerally character is more apparent. This is the beauty of whisky in general and cask bottlings in particular. The same liquid can be many different drinks.

[Baron]

Ardmore traditional cask:

http://www.ardmorewhisky.com/en/ourwhisky/traditionalmethods.aspx

Litre from Gatwick for £25. Smokey, thick and silky - like a super smooth Islay. Well good.

[jordysi]

OK so I am trying to learn to drink whisky and had some of the tesco single malt stuff and it was quite nice, though I could taste fennel or anaseed... am i going mad? are my taste buds knackered with all the curry I eat? or were the two bottles of wine i drank before starting on the Whisky effecting things?...

[Sloper]

Jordysi, get yourself to an independent shop and buy and spend £30 on an independent bottling, this will be non chill filtered, non caramelised and a totally different creature.

I know £30 is more than tesco's but think about it, it works out at around £1 per measure and you're also supporting local trade etc

If you're new to whisky then start with speyside, then move onto some lowlands and then perhaps highland and island.
 

[magpie]

Someone suggest me something to try, please, I love Laphroaig, so peaty, medicinal tasting things are good.  I also recently had a bottle of the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban which was nice but a bit too lightweight, I felt.

I need a new bottle, tell me what is good, please.  Or should I just go and let the man in the shop sell me something he likes?

[benpritch]

Someone suggest me something to try, please, I love Laphroaig, so peaty, medicinal tasting things are good.  I also recently had a bottle of the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban which was nice but a bit too lightweight, I felt.

I need a new bottle, tell me what is good, please.  Or should I just go and let the man in the shop sell me something he likes?

LAGAVULIN - oily peaty smokey.

Caol Isla - smokry

Talisker - peppery tcp


my three faves

[magpie]

LAGAVULIN - oily peaty smokey.

That sounds interesting. 

I've had Talisker before and quite liked it, so that's another possibility.

[Fiend]

Heard good things about Balvenie Double Wood, think I tried it in the pub that Sunday, but can't remember what it was like! Might be a bit smooth for you tho...

[Joepicalli]

Someone suggest me something to try, please, I love Laphroaig, so peaty, medicinal tasting things are good.  I also recently had a bottle of the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban which was nice but a bit too lightweight, I felt.

I need a new bottle, tell me what is good, please.  Or should I just go and let the man in the shop sell me something he likes?

LAGAVULIN - oily peaty smokey.

Caol Isla - smokry

Talisker - peppery tcp


my three faves

I'm not a huge fan of peaty smokie whisky but, I do like Caol Isla which to my mind is the mellowest of the the 3 Ben mentions.
You however Mags sound like a full on Islay girl so Ben's suggestions should keep you vey happy.

[Tris]

Heard good things about Balvenie Double Wood, think I tried it in the pub that Sunday, but can't remember what it was like! Might be a bit smooth for you tho...

I've got a bottle of that at home, yes - it is very smooth. I like it a lot, it's a lot nicer than Glenfiddich in my opinion. I picked up a litre bottle for £11 in Andorra 

EDIT: Why do people buy me bottles of Glenfiddich for presents, surely there must be better single malt choices in the most basic of supermarkets..