FG Malt

[whiskeyme]

The only vatted malt I've tried is JW Green Label. It's pretty darn good. I like the fact that its got some speyside, highland and Islay components. I'm interested to try a vatted malt that has more highland/speyside influence than Island influence. I've been doing some research and it seems that The Famous Grouse might be what I'm looking for. Here in my neck of the woods, the 12 Year Malt and the 18 Year Malt are available. Really, there aren't too many vatted malts around here. Hogs Head, Compass Box Eleuthera, Peat Monster and that's about it.

The 12 year FG is supposed to be fruity and nutty w/ a bit of spice. The 18 year FG is supposed to be oakier and spicier. I'm leaning a bit more toward the fruitier Malt.

[Deactivated Member]

The 12yo was rather drinkable, if I remember.

Shame about the lilac box and label.

Edit - that was the 10yo.

[Gov]

The 12yo is very good! I did a blind taste test with JWG. It was close, but I wound up picking JWG

[shoganai]

I tried the 12 and liked it well enough, but not nearly as much as JWG. I haven't tried the 18. From your list, I'd say go for the Eluethera. It's got a little bit of everything and great balance between the sweetness and the smoke.

[whiskeyme]

From all descriptions of the Eluethera, it has too many elements of smokey-tanginess for what I'm looking for. I don't doubt it has some great sweet points and is well balanced (which means I will be looking to pick it up down the line ) but for this one I'm looking for something that's more fruity and softer all the way around.

[hilliamash]

I'm not a tremendous fan of an FG product--a bit too heavy on the Sherry, I think. I did try the 18, and enjoyed it more than anything else in that range. What I really want to try is the Black Grouse!

[Stewart]

I recently polished off a bottle of FG 18 and loved it...I've been thinking about getting another bottle but have hesitated because, as I'm fairly new to the world of whiskies, I'm trying to broaden my horizons and try different ones.

I found the FG very well balanced, well "rounded"...if memory serves, a nice balance of malt, sherry, fruity notes and spicy notes...maybe just a hint of peat or smoke, I forget which. But it had some "heft" to it...not just light etc. My only quibble, just a small one, is that it seemed to be a bit too "polished," not raw enough...maybe that was because it's a blend, or maybe it was the fruity notes.

Anyway, I'd much prefer this over another blend like, say, Johnnie Walker Black or Chivas Regal 12, though I admit the FG has more sherry than those 2.

[whiskeyme]

Stewart,
Could you give me a few tasting notes on the FG 18? What was it that you liked so much? Thanks.