590164 Fri Jan 23 09:19:29 -0800 2009 15 36 Spirits 0 4350859 The Independent recently ran an article on the 10 best scotches. Those named are: Johnny Walker Black Lagavulin 16 Year Glenrothes 1985 Old Pulteney 12 Year Clynelish 14 Year Auchentosan 18 Year Compass Box Asyla Highland Park 18 Bailie Nicol Jarvie Talisker 10 It was nice to see both Clynelish and Old Pulteney on the list, as they are from the east coast of the northern Scottish Highlands, a region that is often overlooked. It was also a pleasant surprise to see Bailie Nicol Jarvie on the this, as BNJ is a blend and not a single malt. Unfortunately, BNJ is not available in the U.S. If you are ever traveling in Britain, I would suggest seeking it out. Here is a link to the article: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-ten-best-scotch-whiskies-1488408.html Fri Jan 23 09:19:30 -0800 2009 23776 DavidT 1 4351013 as BNJ is a blend and not a single malt. Aye laddie as is Johnny Walker Black, JWB. Fri Jan 23 10:02:01 -0800 2009 4350859 105235 wolfe 2 4351041 I presumed EVERYONE would know Johnny Black was a blend! Fri Jan 23 10:07:32 -0800 2009 4351013 23776 DavidT 3 4351212 Not me. I had to look it up. Never presume. Paraphrase Spencer Tracy "Deck Set". Fri Jan 23 10:44:55 -0800 2009 4351041 105235 wolfe 4 4351386 The Compass Box Asyla could also be considered a blend as well, although I believe it is a blend of single malts only (I could be wrong about that). The JWB and the BNJ are blends that do include grain whiskies as well as single malts. The BNJ is reputed to have a higher proportion of single malts than many other blended whiskies. Fri Jan 23 11:31:39 -0800 2009 4351212 23776 DavidT 5 4351495 Asyla link. I would say never believe but that is not the same as presumption. http://www.compassboxwhisky.com/home.html Fri Jan 23 12:02:34 -0800 2009 4351386 105235 wolfe 6 4362725 I've never had the Asyla, but i'm a huge fan of compass box in general. In the past I've had Peat Monster and am currently loving the bottle of Flaming Heart Tue Jan 27 12:31:23 -0800 2009 4351495 12821 ESNY 1 4353042 I have recently been ooing and awing over a bottle of Ardmore whiskey. http://www.ardmorewhisky.com/index.aspx It is a single malt, JUST released this year by a distiller that was only producing spirit to be blended into Teacher's Whiskey. Good, drinkable peaty, under-priced stuff. But very hard to find as they've only released a few cases this year. If you see it, BUY it (But only if you don't live in the SF Bay Area!!! ;). You won't be sorry. Sat Jan 24 02:18:13 -0800 2009 4350859 93758 BeanBoy 2 4353454 Who is selling it in the SF Bay Area? How much does it sell for? Sat Jan 24 08:15:19 -0800 2009 4353042 23776 DavidT 3 4353999 I've seen it at Bevmo. They have a bottle of it every now and then. I might check some of the other specialty places. It sells for about $30 at Bevmo, seen it only 2x there in the past 6 months. Sat Jan 24 12:05:27 -0800 2009 4353454 93758 BeanBoy 4 4354104 Thanks. I will keep an eye out for it, but don't worry, I will not try to corner the market! Sat Jan 24 12:57:18 -0800 2009 4353999 23776 DavidT 5 4355082 good luck in your search. Hope you like it. If you don't, don't come seeking revenge. :P Sat Jan 24 21:34:59 -0800 2009 4354104 93758 BeanBoy 1 4362923 This is one of those articles which has no real meaning and no real winners or losers because tastes are so different and the pool from which the "best" scotches are pulled from is so large. Granted, there are some good choices here, but I think there are lots of people that would have their own favorites they would like to add. Tue Jan 27 13:17:23 -0800 2009 4350859 42270 HaagenDazs 1 4367443 Johnny Walker, Compass Box and Bailie Nicol Jarvie are blends of single malt and grain alcohol. They are not single malt. Aside from that, this is purely subjective. From the looks of it, the primary criteria was to choose from scotches that were widely available. If they had gathered a group of collectors, I'm sure the list would look completely different and include the likes of Black Bowmore, Ardbeg 31 and various other single malts that are either no longer available or in extremely limited distribution. Wed Jan 28 17:29:12 -0800 2009 4350859 169678 foodieseattlelady 2 5142636 Its an interesting point, but I have seen many "top 10" lists for whisky online, and very few of them include rare or ancient whiskies, even when the lists are made by people who have access to just about anything. Makes you wonder if in a lot of cases the only thing that the incredibly exclusive whiskies have got going for them is that they are.... incredibly exclusive? Fri Oct 30 07:45:19 -0700 2009 4367443 1111773 PeatPete 3 5142727 Generally you don't want whiskeys aged more then about 20 years. They often don't benefit after that point. Fri Oct 30 08:12:56 -0700 2009 5142636 10169 StriperGuy