Best bang for the buck of the 10-12 yr Single Malts

[talisker10]

Which one of these has the best quality to price ratio for you. I am going with Laph 10 at $40 USD.

[Ganga]

Hm, I think we should set up some parameters on the cost of these as I think they will vary regionally.

Glenlivet 12 - $22-25
Laphraoig 10 - $30-35
Glenmorangie 10 (Original) - $40-45
Highland Park 12 - $32-40
Macallan 10 FO - $26-35
Caol Ila 12 - $50-55
Balvenie 10 - $36-45 (difficult to find too)

I would suggest that Macallan Sherry 12 is a better bang for the buck than the FO 10. Price is $38-45.

[talisker10]

Yeah, not the best idea for a poll I guess since prices do vary widely. Should have thought of that.

[talisker10]

I am jealous of those prices, BTW. I tend to think of everything in CA being a LOT more expensive than in TX (gasoline, real estate)..but obviously that does not apply to SMS!

[Holysinner]

I voted Laph 10. HP12 would be a somewhat distant second.

I haven't tried any CI yet, have an unopened bottle of Balvenie 10 which I haven't tried either, and have only had Mac 12 (sherry cask), not the 10FO.

[Liechtenstein]

Laph 10 will be the hands down winner because most of us are peaty smoke lovers.


You can be sure no one would ever mistake Laph 10 for brandy...

[borgom]

Laph 10 for me too.

[Minnesota Malt]

I had to think about this one for a second, but ultimately I went with Laphroaig 10. I'm a huge Laphroaig fan, but I almost went with HP 12 since it seems more complex and multi-dimensional then Laphroaig 10, but you gotta go with the phroaig 10 based on the in your face shock/taste value!

[pkt77242]

I voted Glenlivet 12, and while someone else also voted for it, I am the first person to admit to it . I really enjoy the Glenlivet 12 for the price. The other inexpensive bottle that I enjoy is Macallan 12 though it is not on the list. CI 12, HP12, and Laph 10 would fall in the next group for me.

Sean

[Knolly]

Abso-friggen-loot-ly Laphroaig 10!!!

Then, after that a whole bunch of stuff: Caol Ila 12, Balvenie (I would pay the extra for the Double Wood though myself), maybe the highland park...

I would put the Macallan Fine Oak 10 at the bottom of the list, though the 15yo F.O. is a serious improvement on the 10 and worth investigation if the price is reasonable (though again, there are bunch of other whiskies I'd go for first for the price of the F.O. 15yo...).

[Dubois]

Caol Ila for me

[Reggaeblues]

I think all these on the list are good value, depending on your tastes...milder would for me be Glenmorangie. harder would be Laphroaig 10 or HP12.

However, when the deals are on(which is usually when I stock up ) I'd say Talisker 10 and Ardbeg 10 are also great "bang for buck 10 YOs" esp. considering the higher ABV (45.8/46%)

[Ardbeg311]

Laph 10 will be the hands down winner because most of us are peaty smoke lovers.

That is why I voted for the Caol Ila 12yo. The last couple bottles of the Laphroaig 10 (40%) have been really disappointing in that they have seemed thin and the finish died too quickly. It's not on the list, but for my money it is very difficult to beat the Laphroaig 10yo CS for best Bang-for-the-Buck!

[v1p]

Caol Ila 12

[Wave]

Even though Laphroaig 10 ($35) is less expensive than Caol Ila 12 ($45) here I'd still have to go with Caol Ila 12 with the Balvenie 10 Founders Reserve a close second.

[quote="Liechtenstein"]Laph 10 will be the hands down winner because most of us are peaty smoke lovers.
I love peaty Islays, Laphroaig 10 however isn't one of them, too weak IMHO. The CS on the other hand is pure peat heaven!


Cheers!

[Ganga]

Hm, some further thoughts here. Ardbeg 10 2 years ago was great value at $38-44. However, the current prices are generally north of $60 with a sale price around $55.

Laphroaig 10 CS is around $55 and is a much better whisky than the 10 for peat lovers. I actually like the new style of Laphroaig 10 because it IS less peaty and more fruity than previously.

Glenfarclass 10 and 12 are way over priced around here with the 10 at $40 and the 12 at $50.

Dalmore 12 used to be about the best bang for the buck when it was $19-22 (only 1 year ago). Now it is a minimum of $27 with many places asking $40. This is the older, less sherried version.

Bowmore 12 is a nice value at $36-40. It is very different from the others making it difficult to compare. Love it or leave it whisky; no tweeners here.

Talisker 10 is also north of $50. Much better to go up the scale on this one.

Old Pulteney 12 is very underated. Great value at under $30.

Glenfiddich 12 for those that like an apply whisky. It runs around $24.

[The Third Dram]

In my locality, Caol Ila 12YO is, currently tied along with the now overly price-inflated Glenmorangie 10YO, the most expensive of those single malts you've listed. The Macallan 10YO Fine Oak counts a very close third cost-wise.

Nonetheless, I've voted for the Caol Ila. Not only is it a great all-rounder in terms of flavour delivery. It's also quite simply a superb whisky in its own right.

[ClubSmed]

Purely based on the prices listed above (rather than the prices I can obtain these at) I am going to have to go for Highland Park 12

[Ganga]

CS, what prices would your market reflect? Given some differences in cost, I would likely change.

[dramtastic]

Prices in Australia.

$45-60
From the list in the poll, Glenlivet 12 $47.00
Alternatives are
Aberlour 10 $50.00
Glenfiddich 12 $60
Old Pulteney 12 $60
HP 12 $60
Glenmorangie 10 $60
Benriach 10 Curiositas $60

$60-70
From the list in the poll, Macallan FO 10 $70.00
Alternatives are
Cragganmore 12 $65.00
Macallan Sherry oak 12 $65.00

$70-80
From the list in the poll, Laphroaig 10 $80.00
Alternatives are
Ardbeg 10 $75.00
Bowmore 12 $80.00
Glenfarclas 12 $80.00
Talisker 10 $75.00
Macallan FO 12 $80

Caol Ila 12 and Balvenie FR 12(the 10 doesn't seem to be available in Australia) are both $100.00
There are no real alternatives in 10 or 12 year olds in Australia at those prices but you could buy,
Glenlivet Nadurra $100.00
Laphraoig QC $100.00
Lagavulin 16 $100.00
Longrow CV $100.00
Aberlour A'bunadh $100.00
Balblair 97 $100.00

From the list in the poll my vote went to Glenlivet 12.
If Aberlour 10 was on the list that would have gotten my vote purely on a bang for buck basis.

[Knolly]

Ya, Laphroaig 10 CS is definitely an awesome whisky - love that stuff!

[ClubSmed]

CS, what prices would your market reflect? Given some differences in cost, I would likely change.

Glenlivet 12 - £22-25
Laphraoig 10 - £25-30
Glenmorangie 10 (Original) - £18-25 (often on offer)
Highland Park 12 - £25-35
Macallan 10 FO - £25-30
Caol Ila 12 - £30-35
Balvenie 10 Founder's Reserve - £36-45

[Ganga]

Ok, I would be pulling the CI 12 and like the Glenmo if at the bottom of that range. Thanks for the info ClubSmed.

[lincoln imp]

I voted for the Founders reserve closely followed by the Glenlivet 12.
The Laph 10 is too expensive as an alternative to white spirit

[Willie JJ]

CS, what prices would your market reflect? Given some differences in cost, I would likely change.

Glenlivet 12 - £22-25
Laphraoig 10 - £25-30
Glenmorangie 10 (Original) - £18-25 (often on offer)
Highland Park 12 - £25-35
Macallan 10 FO - £25-30
Caol Ila 12 - £30-35
Balvenie 10 Founder's Reserve - £36-45

I think those are very local prices Matthew. Most of these come on offer in supermarkets during the year in Scotand at prices closer to £20 than £30. I can currently get The Mac FO 10 for about £17, if I remember correctly.

I picked the HP, but i'm not sure why as I probably drink more of the others. Maybe I'm just in the mood for one right now.

[bbrownri]

I've just tried the Caol Ila 12, but I'm already a fan. It's got lots of flavor but also some good nuances and a satisfying texture. It's about $45 at my liquor store which puts it at about the same price point as the Lap 10. While I like the Lap 10 a lot, I think the CI 12 has the edge in the flavor department.

Now, if the Lap QC were on this list, I'd might go with that: I like the peaty-sweet balance and it's also around $45 at my local store, which I think is a great bang for buck ratio.

::edit::
I guess I should qualify my Lap QC comments: I suppose if we're going by the strict title of the thread, the Lap QC is out because it's probably younger than 10. Still, though, I think it fits the spirit of the category.

[talisker10]

The QC is fantastic, but for me it is $57 vs. $39 for the 10. The variation in pricing really makes this a difficult call..likely not a great idea I had for a poll.