Yes it's me again....asking about Balance

[tuddy24]

Hi all,

Here is a question that I am sure will intrigue some of you. I have tried Scotch, SM and blends, and some have really played a balancing act well while others had very focused distinctive flavors. Almost like a water color painting versus a primary red green and blue piece of art like Warhol's Beethoven. To those of you who have tried a lot of Scotch, at any price range, region, or expression, which Scotch really was so well balanced that you just could not get enough of it? Which one really walked in 40 different directions at once yet stood in the center of your palate like that oblong monolith in 2001 A Space Odyssey stood? To put it more simply, what is smack dab between a Laphroaig 10 CS and a Glenmorangie 10 (these are two extremes for me, most likely not you)? What Scotch really can give you smoke, fruit, acidity, body, spices and flowers? What Scotch gets you excited?

-Pete

[dramtastic]

Longrow CV a smorgasbord

Hart Brothers Springbank 11 1995 a flavour bomb

[pkt77242]

Highland Park 12 (though the HP 18 is even more balanced but pretty expensive) would be my choice for best balanced, though I would say that Lagavulin 16 also is well balanced but with a bit more peat.

Sean

[Ganga]

Bowmore 1968, 32 yo. It's so enigmatic. It constantly changes yet I find myself always enjoying what it is presenting at the time. Grapefruit, pepper, white pepper, whispy smoke and much more.

[pkt77242]

And if we are talking high end I vote Laga 21 for a little bit of everything, raisin, nuts, cummin, peat, smoke, tangerines and oregano.

Sean

[kyorke1]

Highland Park 12 (though the HP 18 is even more balanced but pretty expensive)

Yep.

[I_SPEY]

I would think of Lagavulin 16 yo, there's all you want to taste in this whisky, or Ardbeg 10, the same but much more peat or a Chieftain's Caol Ila 13 yo Manzanilla finish

[The Third Dram]

Which one really walked in 40 different directions at once yet stood in the center of your palate like that oblong monolith in 2001 A Space Odyssey stood?

No competition here... Chivas Century of Malts. An astounding one-off melding of 100 malts that provided a range of aromatic and taste sensations I seriously doubt ANY single malt could offer up.

Honourable mentions of recently tried single malts go to:

Bowmore 18YO (still coming to grips with this one)
Clynelish 14YO (Scotch parfait in a bottle)
Glenlivet Nàdurra 16YO CS (a classic in the making)
Longmorn 16YO (so, so complex)

[I_SPEY]

Longmorn 16YO (so, so complex)

Doug, can it be I've finally found someone who prefers the 16 to the 15?

[Minnesota Malt]

Highland Park 12 is really well balanced in my mind. It seems like it has a little of everything. Plus, it is reasonable priced.

[The Third Dram]

Doug, can it be I've finally found someone who prefers the 16 to the 15?

Nick, I'm really going to have to take the remaining 'drops' of 15YO in my possession (now transferred to a 50ml mini) and do a side-by-each comparison with the new 16YO edition. I suspect (strictly drawing from memory in terms of the 15YO, mind you) that the 15YO will come across as more vibrant and a little more salty in style while the 16YO offers up a slightly richer textural quality as well as a tad more sweetness. But the proof will be in the pudding, as they say.

[pmullin]

A few of my favourite multi-dimensional drams:
1. The Highland Park line
2. The AnCnoc line from Knockdhu
3. Several Balvenies, esp. some of the vintages
4. Bowmore 18
5. Talisker 18
6. Glenfiddich 18
7. Oban 14

Of course, I also like many others that are stereotypical of a particular style, such a a smoky Lagavulin, sherried Aberlours and Macallans

[tuddy24]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the responses. I've been away from my PC for a while, sorry I didn't get back sooner. I'm happy to see that the HP12 popped up a few times, I've had that malt and it was definitely the most balanced SM Scotch I've ever had. I'm anxious to seek out all of your suggestions and try them. Thanks

-Pete

[Reggaeblues]

Greetings. tonight i had a fellow muso + gal over for a few...

For her , the Dailuaine 16 we began with was the "best whisky she'd ever tasted..." and her bro is a whisky freak from Glasgow.

Then she tried the Glen Moray Mountain Oak...and THAT became the best ever!!
This GM is actually amazing. Southern comfort, bourbon, cinammon sticks, sherbert on lemon lollies..a whole confectionary shop.

Even outdragged the Glenlivet Nadurra.

Then she tried a 23 YO "Single Malts of Scotland " Bowmore, 60,1%

"That's the most mental whisky ever! Toffee apples and barbecued banana!"

Women. They sure show us menfolk nup when it comes to the olfactories...

[pmullin]

Then she tried the Glen Moray...

We generally don't get the Glen Moray in these parts, but I had the opportunity to try some during a recent trip to Scotland for the Speyside Festival.

I must say that I was very impressed with the drams that the manager, Graham Coull, served up after our tour. Hopefully, now that they are out from under the shadow of Glenmorangie, we'll maybe see some wider distribution of their great products.