your favourite Islay 10-12yo?

by **Marvin** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:56 am

Which Islay malt is your favourite (aged 10 to 12 years) - eg the common version, no special editions allowed!

by **Drrich1965** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:07 am

Guess I voted first, and seleted Ardbeg. Laph 10 is just about tied, depending upon my mood.

by **TheLaddie** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:33 am

The Ardbeg just about pips it for me too. I enjoy the Bruichladdich 12 and Laphroaig 10 almost as much but at different extremes of mood.

by **Di Blasi** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:13 am

For me Ardbeg. I do also really like the Bruichladdich 10. And I'm curious about the Bruichladdich 12y too, hope it's as good or better since the 10y is on its way out.

by **TheLaddie** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:48 am

Di Blasi wrote:And I'm curious about the Bruichladdich 12y too, hope it's as good or better since the 10y is on its way out.

I certainly think so. Your view may be entirely different though. At the price though it's definitely worth the punt.

by **Wave** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 7:38 am

The Caol Ila 12 is my all-around favorite Islay with the Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength coming in at a close 2nd.

Cheers!

by **les taylor** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:13 am

Bruichladdich for me. (have the marketing men done their business I wonder?) With like wave Laphroaig Cask Strength very close behind.

by **Dubois** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:26 am

On first place : Lagavulin 12 Yrs.
On second place : Ardbeg Ten.
On third place: Caol Ila 12 Yrs.

by **Mr Fjeld** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:05 am

1. Ardbeg
2. Laphroaig
3 Caol Ila

Isn't Lagavulin 12 really a special edition and the 16 more or less the standard? Think I would have had problems with the rating if both were to be included. Maybe then the Lagavulin 16 would be on second or even first and Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength up in the top too. The Caol Ila 12 is a recent surprise. It really is a much overlooked single malt. Very good indeed!

by **arnehd** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:49 am

1. Laphroaig CS (even though I am greater fan of Ardbeg I just have to give it first place due to the extra strength , besides it is such an amazing dram !!)
2. Ardbeg 10
Thats it for my Islayknowledge considering the specific agerange ( the Laphroaig 10 I have tried on several occasions , but I just do not really get it )
I'm looking forward to the Lagavulin 12 though , but thats something for next year and while I'm at it I might as well give Caol Ila a try!!

Hope your weather is better than ours, Arne

by **bamber** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:56 am

Ok, I'll bite:

1. Lagavulin 12yo CS (the only Lagavulin in your age range)
2. Ardbeg 10yo
3. Laphroaig 10yo CS
4. Caol Ila 12yo
5. Bowmore 12yo
6. 'Laddie 10yo (much better Laddies around)
7. Laphroaig 10yo
8. Bunny (to be fair I've only ever had one dram of this stuff).

by **Reggaeblues** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:15 pm

Ardbeg Ten, closely followed by another Ardbeg 10...

by **Marvin** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:24 pm

Ardbeg seems to be running away with this. Why is that?

by **bamber** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:26 pm

Marvin wrote:Ardbeg seems to be running away with this. Why is that?

We're all JM (Jim Murray) aliases.

by **bamber** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:27 pm

Also it did not help that I said Lagavulin and voted Ardbeg, because it did not seem like a fair fight ot me: CS vs. 46% NCF.

by **Marvin** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:35 pm

bamber wrote:Also it did not help that I said Lagavulin and voted Ardbeg, because it did not seem like a fair fight ot me: CS vs. 46% NCF.

Yes I think the CS should be diluted to 40% for this poll. How much does the CS cost anyway?

by **bamber** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:17 pm

About £40. It's worth it, but you'd better be ready for an oily peat monster.

by **Marvin** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:42 pm

bamber wrote:Ok, I'll bite:

1. Lagavulin 12yo CS (the only Lagavulin in your age range)
2. Ardbeg 10yo
3. Laphroaig 10yo CS
4. Caol Ila 12yo
5. Bowmore 12yo
6. 'Laddie 10yo (much better Laddies around)
7. Laphroaig 10yo
8. Bunny (to be fair I've only ever had one dram of this stuff).

Not allowed!

by **bamber** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:31 pm

Well at as little as £25 a bottle, I figured it was pretty common.

by **Marvin** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:33 pm

bamber wrote:Well at as little as £25 a bottle, I figured it was pretty common.

Yeah but there's a non CS one as well so you have to use that.

by **Spirit of Islay** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:47 pm

Gotta be the Ardbeg Ten , more bangs per pound !

by **lexvo** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:52 pm

Ardbeg 10 for me too

by **Mark** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:54 pm

Ardbeg 10 for me and IMO the best value for money Islay you can get.

Mark

by **irishwhiskeychaser** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:19 pm

I prefer the Laga 16 over the 12 so far and Ardbeg unfortunately does not do it for me.

So Lap 10 rocks my world in this vote

by **Paul A Jellis** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:00 pm

No contest - Caol Ila, the rest make good screen wash!

by **Marvin** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:47 pm

This is interesting - the Bowmore has no votes currently. Is it the worst? Bowmore 12 anyone? (I know I dont like it, I had a miniature of it recently).

by **Jan** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:02 pm

Marvin wrote:This is interesting - the Bowmore has no votes currently. Is it the worst? Bowmore 12 anyone? (I know I dont like it, I had a miniature of it recently).

Nah, don't like it all that much.... and it is up against some real heavyweights

by **bamber** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:04 pm

I don't think it is the worst, but there is no way it is the best.

by **Wave** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:39 pm

Marvin wrote:This is interesting - the Bowmore has no votes currently. Is it the worst? Bowmore 12 anyone? (I know I dont like it, I had a miniature of it recently).

I won't say it's the worst either since I tend to like older Bowmores much better. I'd take the Bunnahabhain 12 over the Bowmore 12 any day!

Cheers!

by **Reggaeblues** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:10 am

Screenwash?? Ardbeg your pardon?

Ardbeg to differ, my friend!

(Yes, that pun again...)

...not that i have anything against Caol ila 12 either(except me lips...)

by **Wave** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:23 am

The Ardbeg 10 isn't bad but I've been spoiled on much older Ardbegs including the '77 (1 unopened left) and a 30yo Signatory sherry cask (long gone :cry:

).

Cheers!

by **Scotchio** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:21 am

I've always like Bowmore although the current 12 seems to have a little too much going on and is perhaps rather poorly integrated,the 15 and 17 are better. It's hard to compare it to the south islanders as it is mid peated and less full on likewise it has more peat than classic Bunny and Laddie. Being somewhat piggy in the middle for Islay styles it's unsurprising that it is not getting votes.

by **Bullie** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:30 am

As I'm not always in the mood for peat & smoke, I voted for a really good allrounder:

Bunnahabhain 12yo.

by **Photon** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:34 pm

I voted for Bowmore - someone had to. As I said before, Bowmore 12 is what got me hooked on malts.

But this is just an unfair question... (and the runaway leader is the one I like least...)

-P.

by **Reggaeblues** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 3:55 am

Photon, I presume you are referring to Ardbeg as the runaway leader?

Well, it's been described as "screenwash" on this very forum and thread: by my mother who sniffed it across the dining table as "something to clean the toilet with," by my lady as "Aardvaak", but I love it!

I've seen it set upon by a gang of whisky novices at a party I threw, who demolished a bottle in 45 minutes...with more than a few falling seriously in love with this, their FIRST whisky...how about that?

So be respectful! Speak in hushed tones! As someone said, ardbeg is God on this forum!

...but I will admit, Bowmore 17 is one of the finest whiskies I've tasted...and I once had a 22 YO single cask,46% NCF, which was stunning.

your favourite Islay 10-12yo?

favourite Islay 10-12 year old single malt

your favourite Islay 10-12yo?