Best OB regular 12y speysider!!

by **vitara7** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:25 pm

purly from the list you have id say the balvenie 12yo

by **Frodo** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:47 pm

I dunno...If you asked me which I'd buy, I'd say the Balvenie hands down. If the question was offering me a free bottle, probably Macallan because it's the most expensive and I wouldn't have many other chances of trying it.

My vote (and a good compromise choice) is Glenfarclas 12. About the same as the Mac in LCBO pricing, and I really did like it and genuinly want to try it again...

Craggenmore is one of those drams that I remember engoying in a vaguely non-discript way. Enough to be a bit curious to try in a bar "one of these days" but not enough to actually get a bottle...

by **Wave** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:28 am

It's a toss up between the Balvenie 12 and the Strathisla 12 (not listed)
The Balvenie 12 wins by just a whisper. :wink:

Cheers!

by **Deactivated Member** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:40 am

I agree with the Balvenie - a lovely dram and not so collectible - which means I can DRINK it!

:lol:

by **Quaichuser** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:38 am

I fell in love with the Balvenie 12 many years ago. I am never without 2 bottles in the house. It's hasn't always been easy to find over here. Thank God for the Duty Free.

by **Choochoo** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:15 am

I've recently warmed up a bit to Cragganmore and like it much more now than when first tried it. But Glenfarclas 12 is still one of my all time favorites, so I voted for that.

by **Frodo** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:53 am

It's funny - every Balvenie I've tried that had a finish, I've liked! Every one that I've tried without a finish (10yr, 15yr SB) I've felt lacking somehow...

by **les taylor** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:06 am

I've always got a bottle of the Balvenie.

by **Reggaeblues** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:58 am

I must be wierd! i've never been overwhelmed by Balvenie 10 and 12. but i've really enjoyed every version of the 15 I've tried!

Glenfarclas 12 for me, or the old European version of th Mac 12 from years ago. Had a bottle more recently that was disappointing...

by **TheLaddie** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:46 pm

Cragganmore for me, but in fairness I have very little experience of the others.

by **Mustardhead** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:13 am

I'd like to compare the Macallan 10 with the Macallan 12. I'd probably take the Macallan 10 over the others listed in the poll so hopefully the 12 is even better... but I don't know the Glenfarclas 12 at all.

by **Mr Fjeld** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:35 am

Mustardhead wrote:I'd like to compare the Macallan 10 with the Macallan 12. I'd probably take the Macallan 10 over the others listed in the poll so hopefully the 12 is even better... but I don't know the Glenfarclas 12 at all.

Hi Mustardhead! Glenfarclas 12 is in my opinion a very good 12yo, much overlooked in fact - and head and shoulders above Macallan Fine Oak 12 (which isn't too bad although costly) .

by **Yellowjacket** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:49 am

I believe any of the selections presented would be a good choice, but my personal vote is for The Balvenie 12.

by **DramMeister** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:52 pm

I've tried all four of the whiskies listed, so for once I know something about what I'm writing.
I voted Glenfarclas 12 by a whisker above Balvenie 12.

Mustardhead the Mac 12 has a much bigger sherry influence than the 10, I found it a bit one dimensional. I sure others will disagree. It's about 2 years since I had it.

I've never liked the Cragganmore too herbal. The other three are much more similar in character, but I'm not sure I don't like the 10 yr olds better for all these three.

by **Mustardhead** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:04 pm

After reading all the comments on the forum about Glenfarclas I decided to buy a bottle of the 10yo today. Of course the 12yo isn't readily available, just like the Macallan 12yo. But I'm sure it will be close enough.

Maybe I'll have to open some Cragganmore and have a tasting based on this poll

by **DramMeister** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:29 pm

Sainsbury's often has Glenfarclas 12 and it's one that they have on special offer quite alot. I once got one for £12.50 - half price - reduced to clear!

by **Oliver** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:53 pm

DramMeister wrote:Sainsbury's often has Glenfarclas 12 and it's one that they have on special offer quite alot. I once got one for £12.50 - half price - reduced to clear!

Wow, a that price, its almost worth it to buy a case...
Does kind of sale take place often in the U.K. ? (or elsewhere?)

by **Mustardhead** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:59 pm

Oliver wrote:
DramMeister wrote:Sainsbury's often has Glenfarclas 12 and it's one that they have on special offer quite alot. I once got one for £12.50 - half price - reduced to clear!

Wow, a that price, its almost worth it to buy a case...
Does kind of sale take place often in the U.K. ? (or elsewhere?)

Supermarkets here often have that kind of deal. For some reason they want to clear shelf space and they want to clear it NOW!

I bought loads of Glenmorangie 18yo half bottles for less than £10 each some years ago. Last month one supermarket was selling Glenlivet 15yo French Oak for about £15 - again, half price.

It is just a matter of watching and waiting I suppose.

by **Deactivated Member** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:09 am

Gotta love the supermarket mindset: "Hey, this stuff's been discontinued...the distillery's closed! Mark it down and get it out of here!"

by **Oliver** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:10 am

Wow, that's cool! Glenmorangie 18 can be found at $100 in the U.S. so wow, you got yourself a bunch of bargains there... I haven't seen this kind of thing happen on such a scale in the U.S. but maybe I am missing something.....

by **Mustardhead** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:14 am

I think the batch of Lagavulin 16 I bought cheap must have been due to the change of packaging from White Horse to Port Ellen. Not much left now.

Supermarkets are strange.....

by **Nock** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:36 am

It is funny. I have never bought a bottle of any of these malts, but I have had the opportunity to try them all on one occasion or another.

And I have to say that I was the most impressed with the Glenfarclas 12yo.
I had it after a very nice dinner in a great little place here in Fremont.

In fact, that will probably be the next bottle I buy.

by **Lee** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:18 am

I voted for the Balvenie only because it's the only one of the bunch that I have tried. I do have the Glenfarclas and the Cragganmore at home but haven't opened them yet.

by **Deactivated Member** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:17 am

Nock wrote:And I have to say that I was the most impressed with the Glenfarclas 12yo.
I had it after a very nice dinner in a great little place here in Fremont.

The Center of the Universe! (as opposed to Toronto, the Centre of the Universe.) Say hi to the troll for me!

by **badams** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:04 am

Cardhu, the Queen of Scotch!

couple of nightcaps, give me Laphroaig 15 or Highland Park 18.

for a loner nite, give me Ardbeg 10 or Talisker 10.

for extended celebrations, give me Cardhu 12, oh, yes!

by **irishwhiskeychaser** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:13 pm

If Glenrothes had a 12yo I would vote for that but unfortunately it does not. I think I actually would have to go for Glenfiddich as a spey sider favourite over the others mentioned believe it or not. Not overly keen on the macallan. I though the bottle of Balvenie 12 I had was very bland and I found no difference in a pub. Glenfarclas is sometimes too chocolately for me and cragganmore is overpriced for what it is so may as well go for the Glenfiddich 12 if anything at all. All are quite acceptable in my opinion but the fiddich is for me tops as it's the cheapest of the lot and a good pub dram which is where I would only drink any of the above.

Best OB regular 12y speysider!!

Best 12y OB?

Best OB regular 12y speysider!!