Good economical Speyside

by **pete_d** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:43 pm

Hi all,

i'm getting myself acquainted with some decent Scotches as i'm a big bourbon fan. I was looking at getting a few bottles of different styles of SMS, but am on a shoestring budget. Therefore i'd be looking at the youngest age bottlings of any particular brand. In the highly competetitive Speyside category, i can access these brands quite easily:

Glenlivet 12
Glenfiddich 12
Aberlour 10
Tamdhu Single Malt (dunno age)
Glenfarclas 8

For those who vote, would you be so kind as to indicate the general flavour profile of the one chosen. I know generally by reading here that Aberlour has a sweeter sherry note, but have only tried the Glenlivet once before (and liked it - albeit it was fairly malty and one-dimensional)

thanks

by **Drrich1965** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:23 pm

I voted for Glenfarclas 8, but actaully prefer the 12, which is very reasonble.

by **agtepstein** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:07 pm

Big fan of the one dimensional Glenlivet :lol:

It is definitely on the lighter side. Not a fan of Glenfiddich 12Yr. Very bland with no complexity IMO.

What is your budget? That is a better question.

by **lambda** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:51 pm

Out of those, I would pick the Aberlour 10. Delicious whisky for a good price.

by **Choochoo** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:39 pm

The Aberlour 10 is very good for the price, but generally I'd go for the Glenfarclas 12yo which is around the same cost and a bit better IMO.

by **Drrich1965** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:22 pm

Choochoo wrote:The Aberlour 10 is very good for the price, but generally I'd go for the Glenfarclas 12yo which is around the same cost and a bit better IMO.

I echo the sentiments on the 'farclas 12. In truth, I don't like the Aberlour 10 very much. It seems very caramely, and sort of artificial tasting. I do know I am in the vast minority on that one..

by **Wave** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:33 pm

Another one to consider is the Balvenie 10 YO Founder's Reserve. It falls in about the same price range as those mentioned and widely available.
A very decent malt!

Cheers!

by **Paul A Jellis** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:22 am

I voted 'other', and the 'other' that I would choose is Cragganmore 12yr. It may be a couple of quid more some of the bottles named, but then, pay cheap - get cheap!

Cheers, Paul

by **Lawrence** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:23 am

lambda wrote:Out of those, I would pick the Aberlour 10. Delicious whisky for a good price.

Well said, my vote also.

by **laphroaig10_65** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:35 am

Glenfarclas 12 yo would be the best among these. Aberlour 10 yo is better and more complex than Glenlivet 12 yo (I have opened a bottle last Sunday) and Glenfiddich 12 yo.
Bye
Luca

by **pete_d** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:00 am

Thank you all for your opinions. I also appreciate the other options. However the Craggenmore 12, Balvenie 10 and Glenfarclas 12 is well beyond budget. All 3 are about 60% more than the others mentioned. The import/retail situation down here is atrocious.

PD

by **bamber** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:56 pm

Out of them I'd lean towards the 'Fiddich .... Just.

by **Lawrence** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:29 pm

pete_d wrote:Thank you all for your opinions. I also appreciate the other options. However the Craggenmore 12, Balvenie 10 and Glenfarclas 12 is well beyond budget. All 3 are about 60% more than the others mentioned. The import/retail situation down here is atrocious.

PD

Where's down here? I'm curious about the Glenfarclas 8 yo.

Lawrence

by **ResIpsa539** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:31 pm

Agreed on the 'farclas 12. I personally think the Aberlour 10 isn't great, but the 15 - Sherry Wood Finish is exceptional.

by **pete_d** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:13 pm

oh sorry, down here is in Sydney, Australia. I must ask Admiral about that remoured SMS retailer in Adelaide, since there's zip around me.

PD

by **Lawrence** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:19 pm

Thansk for your location. Andrew will be the one who will know the local situation, where is he these days???

by **Wave** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:21 pm

Ahh, Down here, as in Australia!
Since I was looking more for CD's of Aussie bands (Red Eye Records) instead of whiskies in Sydney last year I'm not familiar with the prices of scotch there, sorry.

Cheers!

by **lexvo** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:57 pm

Another alternative could be the Glenmorangie 10Y. I don't know the price in your area, but it is cheap in Europe.

by **agtepstein** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:06 pm

Indeed, How can you forget the GlenMorangie 10. I think it might be a bit more costly though than the others listed, but definitely a great one to consider.

I know in the states it is around $40 a bottle in NYC. The aberlour 10 at around $35. The glenlivet is a bit cheaper at $29 a bottle and glenfiddich is around $38.

Dalmore 12 is around $25 and glenfaria is also in the $30's

by **Frodo** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:07 am

agtepstein wrote:Indeed, How can you forget the GlenMorangie 10. I think it might be a bit more costly though than the others listed, but definitely a great one to consider.

I'd vote for the Glenmorangie in a heartbeat!

by **pete_d** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:41 pm

Re: the Glenmorangie

Really? The tasting notes on this site suggest that this distillery is a Highlander. I was gonna get this one anyway as an example of a Highland Bottling, or a Dalwhinnie (i'll decide on the day of purchase)

I like the concept of the Balvenie 10, but can only see the 12 Doublewood around in the shops thus far. And that bottle is probably pushing budget (although i can be pursuaded)

PD

by **Deactivated Member** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:50 pm

pete_d wrote:oh sorry, down here is in Sydney, Australia.

Since you are all upside down in Australia, do you find that drink goes to your heads?

by **pete_d** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 3:02 pm

Nick Brown wrote:
pete_d wrote:oh sorry, down here is in Sydney, Australia.

Since you are all upside down in Australia, do you find that drink goes to your heads?

only on an empty stomach:)

PD

by **pete_d** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:27 am

can anyone give some feedback on the Tamdhu NAS and how it compares to the Glenlivet 12?

by **Lawrence** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:10 pm

I nosed some blind last Friday and I was surprised how good it was, much better than i remembered, I'm going to buy a bottle. It's a very good drinking whisky.

by **Jon Barleycorn** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:16 pm

I would certainly include Speyburn 10 on any list of good cheap Speysiders.
It is a pleasantly light and charming malt that can be had for under $20.

by **Rossco555** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 2:00 am

About glenmorangie it is an excellent whisky but it is most certainly a highland whisky and not a speyside one but i could recommend Glen Moray 15yr old. Well priced too.

by **Badmonkey** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:57 am

The Aberlour gets my vote. Not only is it reasonably priced, the last bottle I purchased came with a Glencairn glass.

by **Reggaeblues** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:01 am

Yep, Aberlour 10. Really surprised me.

I recently loaned some musical equipment to a grateful showcasing songwriter whose management promised me the malt of my choice in return. I was just out of Aberlour A'bunadh, so that's what I specified.

They couldn't find it, they said( never trust a mananger!) so palmed me off with the standard 10. i did my best to hide my disappointment, having never REALLY rated the dram - certainly not as much as the old macallan 10.

Then I opened the bottle...

by **Lawrence** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 4:14 pm

Did anybody mention Speyside 12 YO? I've not yet tried it but JM rates it 90 points. Even if it's an 80 point whisky it seems like a decent value.

Good economical Speyside

pick your cheapie Speyside

Good economical Speyside