The definitive cheap islayer

[Lugarteniente]

Ardbeg 10 35€
Caol Ila 12 34 €
Laphroaig 10 28€
Laphroaig Quarter Cask 33€

Best quality-price islayer

[badgerbrown]

Has to be the Ardbeg 10. A dram like that for £21 in the supermarket is unlikely ever to be beaten for value.

[Reggaeblues]

Agreed, tho' Lap QC at around the same - cheaper even than the ten in Waitrose - makes a worthy alternative, but if it was one or t'other it'd have to be the Ardbeg...

[K-Mile]

I agree on the Ardbeg 10

[pmullin]

A very tough call These are all great drams...

[TheLaddie]

Everyone likes a cheap Islay...

[pkt77242]

I voted Caol Ila 12, though really it was a toss-up with the Ardbeg 10 but I felt bad for Caol Ila for not having a vote. All four of the choices are great whiskys and I would gladly take any of them.

Sean

[K-Mile]

I just had a 5cl of the Black Bottle Islay vatted malt. I don't know about the price for a full bottle, but this is also a really decent dram. Not as complex or rich as some of the single malt Islays, but nice nonetheless.

[The Fachan]

K-mile,

Unless thats either very new or very old Black Bottle dont do a vatted/blended malt.

[Di Blasi]

In the blind whisky tasting with Jim Murray in Oslo a few weeks back, I picked the Laphroaig Quarter Cask as my favorite out of the 11 tasted, truly fantastic, love the stuff! But without Ardbeg Ten, I wouldn't have ever learned to appreciate the Laphroaig Quarter Cask, or any whisky for that matter!

[Mr Fjeld]

The combination of Di Blasi and Ardbeg Ten is what brought me into the fold again after many years in exile. The definite cheap Islayer for me isn't Ardbeg Ten however good it is but Caol Ila 12! It's simply lovely and one of my favourites regardless of price!

[Di Blasi]

The combination of Di Blasi and Ardbeg Ten is what brought me into the fold again after many years in exile. The definite cheap Islayer for me isn't Ardbeg Ten however good it is but Caol Ila 12! It's simply lovely and one of my favourites regardless of price!

Just part of my promise to Ardbeg as a committee member, to share with friends their wonderful whisky! As it was introduced to me by a friend too! An in general, to share my passion for all whisk(e)y to others curious, a real pleasure.

[Wave]

My vote goes to the Caol Ila 12, one of my favorite in-production Islay's and second only to the Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength, plus I can get the CI 12 in my neck of the woods for just $40 a bottle.

I love Ardbeg but my tastes tend to go with the older expressions having been spoiled on the '77's, 17yo's and a 30yo sherry cask Sig that started my Ardbeg love affair.


Cheers!

[Ganga]

What, no Bowmore. I can get the Bowmore Legend for $17 or about 8 pounds.

[Ganga]

I should also add that for me, the Ardbeg 10 is slightly more than $40, Lap 10 is $30 or less, Lap QC is near $45 and the Caol Ila is about $48.

[Reggaeblues]

Wha'??? with your weak dollar Ardbeg's cheaper over there!!

[Ganga]

Well, the prices haven't really changed in years. Lappy 10 is by far the cheapest. I'd say the Ardie is probably my favorite but at $10-15 more a bottle than the Lappy? Caol Ila isn't even a question. I really like it but it is the most expensive and not really any where near the Ardie.

[Wave]

Wha'??? with your weak dollar Ardbeg's cheaper over there!!

Not to mention that they are 75cl (750ml) bottles as opposed to the 70cl's you guys get across the big pond!


Cheers!

[randall fairbrook]

Ardbeg 10 $45.99
Ardbeg Uigedal $84.99
Caol Ila 12 $39.99
Caol Ila 18 $49.99
Laphroaig 10 $28.99
Laphroaig Quarter Cask $42.99
Laphroaig Cask Strength $56.99
Laphroaig 15 - $59.99

local prices, southern california


i would pick the ardbeg 10

[Reggaeblues]

Me too. I'd also pick up a Lap QC at that price...

[woodhill]

Ardbeg 10 $45.99
Ardbeg Uigedal $84.99
Caol Ila 12 $39.99
Caol Ila 18 $49.99
Laphroaig 10 $28.99
Laphroaig Quarter Cask $42.99
Laphroaig Cask Strength $56.99
Laphroaig 15 - $59.99

local prices, southern california


i would pick the ardbeg 10

I'd pick them ALL at those prices

[Di Blasi]

Just thought of one here in Norway!! 458kr for Ardbeg Almost There!! The standard Ten is 494kr, and with alcohol content being taxed here, that's funny!

[Ganga]

Laphroaig 10 $28.99
local prices, southern california

like ganga, are you trying to make me cry over the laph 10

Hey, I only need you to cry once. Randall is the one that posted this one. Randall is likely posting the prices at Hi-Time as I know somewhere else that has the Ardbeg 10 for around $40 and the Uigedal for $80. The Caol Ila prices are very good for around here though.

[hiccy]

Oooh and Ardbeg noses into the lead!

Horrible choice though, I'd buy that and Laphroaig. "Definitive cheap Islayer" had to be the CS Laphroaig I picked up in Asda this year knocked down to £20.

[Willie JJ]

Too much hype on the Ardbeg (mostly Jim Murray inspired). Don't get me wrong, I love it, but I am more looking forward to the release of the new ten year old.

And the Laphroiags are great. No doubt.

But, forget all the stuff about Caol Isla being a factory malt, not matured on the island and, therefore an inferior dram. Try it in a blind tasting and it will surprise you.

I think partly for the reason that it gets all this stuff written about it and putting it down, I vote for the Caol Isla. It is one of my stock drams and something I doubt I could live without.

It is currently £21 in Tesco. A price I am told that is less than that of the Diageo staff shop. Sounds like a bargain to me.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

The Lap QC is Lord of the Isles for me out of that lot

[mattbuty]

I like them all, but again no mention of Bunnahabhain? Seems I am the only fan around these parts...

[Willie JJ]

You're not the only fan, but you're right about Bunna not getting much of a mention.

Perhaps its for the sophisticated drinker

[Di Blasi]

Speaking of affordable Caol Ila, we have the 20cl size available here at 130kr, perfect for gift-giving, or bringing over to a friend's for some sampling.

[Spirit of Islay]

Must say the Ardbeg Ten is the one for me especially at the under £20 mark i've seen it for recently .
The CI 12 in my eyes doesn't represent what CI is , the CS is closer in my opinion for the O.B.'s . As for the Laphroaigs it's very rare i touch them now as the taste has went back IMHO .
I'm drinking a lot more Bunnie these days , the 12 and 18yo are wonderful (and the older bottlings are stella , tho most of the affordable one's are I.B.'s) .
Must get around to getting a Laddie 12yo 2nd edition , proper Bourbon matured Laddie !

[Di Blasi]

The Ardbeg Ten will probably continue to be priced below 20£, or even lower, until they release the new one next year. Hey Gordon, (Spirit of Islay), and idea on a release date for it?? I heard already in May or something??

[Spirit of Islay]

Hi Jonathan ,
Haven't a clue , even Mickey when he was on the chat the other week was keeping his cards close to his chest about any new releases , only saying good things come to those that wait......

[Di Blasi]

Yes, I'm sure! And perhaps that 1999 Burgundy cask will be released, beautiful stuff!!

[lohssanami]

I was brought into the great world of single malts with Ardbeg 10, and I have since welcomed in two more scotch lovers with an Ardbeg tasting. I must say though that Caol Ila is a close second, followed by Lap QC, then Lap 10.

I just bought a new bottle of Caol Ila 12 today at the bargain price of $45.99 up here in the South Bay of Northern California.

[Di Blasi]

Hey hey lohssanami!! Welcome to the forums! Exciting to see someone new here from San Jose!! (I'm from Los Gatos, living in Norway now.) Enjoy yourself around here, great fun, very informative, and lots of great folks!!