354652 Wed Dec 27 11:17:25 -0800 2006 17 36 Spirits 0 2130811 I like Laphroag single malt Scotch because of its smoky character but it can be incredibly expensive. I need to replace an almost empty bottle. Any suggestions about equal Scotches, lower in price, that match the taste and quality? We have access to most major stores here in Orange County, including Trader Joes, Costco, BevMo, etc. Wed Dec 27 11:17:25 -0800 2006 23583 EclecticEater 1 2130916 Your best bet is to try the Finlaggan, which is sold at Trader Joe's (in San Francisco) for about $18. It is an Islay-made malt that should be similar to Laphroag, although I cannot promise you will like it as much. There is a thread on "The Return of Finlaggan to SoCal Trader Joe's" from last week on this board. Check it out for more info. Also check out: http://www.vintagemaltwhisky.com/product-finlaggan.html Wed Dec 27 14:06:42 -0800 2006 2130811 23776 DavidT 1 2131159 Laphroig, which I can get for $30 at TJ's, is about the most affordable Islay malt out there. The only alternatives would be unnamed malts such as Finlaggan or blends: The Smokey Peaty One from JMR Easy Drinking Company goes for about $23 but doesn't have as smokey a bite as Laphroig. Wed Dec 27 16:14:24 -0800 2006 2130811 10132 sku 2 2131874 Jeesh, I just paid over $40 for 10-yr Laphroag this weekend at our local state-run liquor store, and according to the price, it was on sale for about $7 off the regular price. Even in St. Thomas earlier this month, the duty-free shops both in Charlotte Amalie and at the airport had it for $35. $30 sounds like a steal.... Wed Dec 27 20:10:39 -0800 2006 2131159 40295 MGC 1 2131175 Islay malts are among the smokiest out there. All the "known" distilleries are generally in the $30+ range. Your alternatives are therefore somewhat limited, and the above suggestions are quite possibly your best bet. (In other words, there's no great "undiscovered" Islay malt out there.) Wed Dec 27 16:18:10 -0800 2006 2130811 28122 zin1953 1 2131753 You could also look for a line of whiskies produced by "Jon, Mark & Robbo." I have seen them at BevMo. One of their whiskies is from Islay malts. It is called "The Smokey Peaty One." I think their whiskies sell for around $25. I see I have duped what SKU mentioned above, here is a link to JM&R: http://www.jonmarkandrobbo.com By the way, if you do try the Finlaggan or any of the alternatives suggested here, please let us know how they compare to Laphroag! Wed Dec 27 19:30:52 -0800 2006 2130811 23776 DavidT 1 2132161 Finding something with the "peaty" smokiness of Laphroaig at a cheaper price would seem to be a difficult task. YOu might try Bowmore Legend, which you might be able to find at around $20. See: http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions/islay/1. I can find bourbon and other whiskeys with a smokey flavor. Bourbons have a smokey flavor, because they have to be aged in newly charred barrells. Some Irish whsikeys from the Cooley distillery have a prety smokiness, but it's not the same as Laphroaig. Connemara is peat and smokey, but it's not anything like, imo, Laphroaig, and a bottle of Connemara is going to cost you at least $30. Wed Dec 27 21:30:56 -0800 2006 2130811 18017 Captain 1 2132967 I second the Bowmore Legend-excellent value and has that lovely peaty punch. Not as smooth as Laphroaig, but my choice for an everyday-type scotch. Another option that is fairly inexpensive and packed with peat is Black Bottle, which is a blended scotch containing malts from the 7 active Islay distilleries. I've seen here in New England priced in the mid 20s. Laphroaig, meanwhile is usually at least $40. I've always been fascinated by the price variations from store to store and even more so now by region... Thu Dec 28 02:42:55 -0800 2006 2130811 46703 pork_chop 2 2134062 The pricing/profit margins/tax issues relative to how spirits and wines are sold often amaze me as well. I can buy a bottle of 12-year old Dalmore whisky (a very good single-malt from the Scottish Highlands) for $20 at Trader Joe's in San Francisco, while the same bottle would cost me at least 70% more in Scotland. Thu Dec 28 17:05:07 -0800 2006 2132967 23776 DavidT 1 2135388 Dun Bheagan has an unchillfiltered 8 year old Islay Single Malt that's very good. Up in Toronto, it's priced just over $40, which is a bargain compared to most single malts. If it is available in your area, it should be in your price range. Thu Dec 28 23:54:55 -0800 2006 2130811 49045 Pantz 1 5059495 Consider yourselves lucky guys, I am in Australia, and have not been able to find a decent peated whisky for under $70 a bottle. Laphroag and Lagavulin both run around $100 a bottle. Sat Sep 26 02:50:20 -0700 2009 2130811 1111773 PeatPete 2 5072130 On the Finlaggan issue, I have a thread here on what used to be a fine peaty scotch. Finlaggan has changed. The color has changed from a dark brown to an amber and so has the nose and taste. The stockers at Trader Joe's do not rotate their stock. When I go hunting for the old Finlagan I remove all the bottles looking for what dark treasure I might find in the back. Thu Oct 01 09:02:24 -0700 2009 5059495 90689 ozbuc 3 5099106 Bowemore Legend is excellent for the price. Also, you should seek out Black Bottle. it's a blend of Islay only malts. Ususally around $30. Tue Oct 13 06:29:22 -0700 2009 5072130 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 3 5142555 Chances are the darker samples have caramel coloring in them, and the paler color is the natural color, unless they hace realy changed the product... you may be rejecting their attempt to give you a more pure whisky! Fri Oct 30 07:16:16 -0700 2009 5072130 1111773 PeatPete 4 5143001 PeatPete, I recently sent an email to the good folks at Finlaggan and their reply was almost word for word to what you stated in your last post. I still believe that this scotch has changed. This is not a bad product but just different. There is a theory out there that Finlaggan is not a distiller itself but a company that purchases left over product from other distilleries. Fri Oct 30 09:42:31 -0700 2009 5142555 90689 ozbuc 5 5144091 It's not a theory, it's fact. Finlaggan is not a distillery. They purchase their whisky from other distilleries and bottle it under the Finlaggan label. This is common practice in whisky, so there is nothing devious about the practice so long as they aren't claiming they distilled it themselves, which I don't believe they are. http://recenteats.blogspot.com/2008/07/whiskey-wednesday-mystery-of-finlaggan.html Fri Oct 30 16:40:43 -0700 2009 5143001 10132 sku 6 5145083 SKU thanks for the link, it provided some interesting reading. One thing I found interesting is that the email I received from Finlaggan had a Glascow address. They may purchase their whiskey from Islay but it seems that at least their office is elsewhere. Sat Oct 31 09:43:05 -0700 2009 5144091 90689 ozbuc 7 5154249 Sounds like it would be an interesting way to buy whisky. I have only had a bit of a look around, but so far I havent been able to find any sign of Finlaggen in Australia. Wed Nov 04 02:07:16 -0800 2009 5145083 1111773 PeatPete