Whisky Recommendations, please!

by **ChicagoDan** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:44 am

Greetings all!!

First time posting here. Its a pleasure to meet you all!!! I currently have two bottles of whisky in my house. A bottle of Macallan 10 Year Old Cask Strength, which I feel the alcohol level overpowers the flavor, and a bottle of 10 year old Talisker, which my fiancee and I really enjoy. We really enjoy the spicy and smoky flavor of it. I want to expand my horizons a bit and am looking for a recommendation or two for a whisky with similar character the Talisker. Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

Dan

by **Deactivated Member** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:24 am

Yes--find a few whiskies with characteristics entirely different from Talisker! Sorry to be a smart*ss, but hey, if you like Talisker, drink Talisker. To me, the great fun of whisky is what a huge range of flavors and styles there are out there to experience. Don't shortchange yourself!

And hey, there's nothing really like Talisker, anyway--it's unique, and that's part of what makes it great.

by **peergynt323** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:30 am

For the Macallan 10yo Cask Strength: add water! If you are a beginner, the alcohol will definitely overpower the whisky. I would recommend starting of at 2 to 1 whisky to water and then graduate to 3 to 1, which is what I do with cask strengths. Some people here drink those straight, but this is my contention.

As for Talisker, I agree with TH. There is nothing really quite like that. I find it simple--a perfect match for food, but not all that enjoyable by itself. Talisker 18yo is the exact opposite--very complex and multidimensional.

by **Frodo** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:53 pm

Other mid-peat styles (for my palate) include Bowmore and Clynelish...

by **Ann-Helen** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:03 pm

If you want to try something different i`d go for Glen Ord 12 yo ,Old pultney 12 yo or ledaig 15 yo (if you want something with a wee bit peat)

by **Drammer** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:45 am

I'd say a coastal highland, like Oban 14 YO.

by **irishwhiskeychaser** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:29 am

It may well be worth your while trying a Connemara nas. This is a peated Irish single MAlt and is a great way of building up to the islay whiskies. Smokey and peaty but with a nice smooth sweetness.

But the fact you have tried Talisker and liked it you might as well and go for a Lagavulin 16 or a Laphroaig QC as starters in those distilleries. I'm not going to suggest Ardbeg as it is not my cuppa tea but I'm sure others will suggest the best start off Ardbeg.

by **Muskrat Portage** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:42 am

Chicago Dan:
Welcome to the forums and I'm pleased to hear that you and your fiance both enjoy Talisker. Tasliker and Oban were two of the next SMs that I was able to acquire bottles of, after Glen and his brother by a different mother (Glenlivet and Glenfiddich).
If you enjoy Talisker, I would also propose several of the following Islays: Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, after which some milder Islays are Bruichladdich, Bowmore and Bunnahabhain.
Check out the Whisky Tasting Froum and especially http://www.whiskymag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3593 which Jan has done a masterful job of creating and maintaining.
Muskrat

by **ChicagoDan** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 4:42 am

Cool!! I'll have to check with the local liquor store to see what they have in stock.

thanks for all of the comments

Dan