Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with singlemalt

What Scotch has a long, campfire-like finish?

paulg — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:40:11 -0800

ScotchFilter: please ID this half-remembered single-malt whisky! What Scotch would have been available in metro Detroit around 2001 with an amazingly smooth palate and a long, campfire-like finish? I’ve started learning more about Scotch lately. I tend to prefer the peaty, smoky Islays like Laphroaig. I’ve discovered some great whiskies, but haven’t been able to identify one I drank long before I had the good sense to keep notes about such things.

Sometime between 1999 and 2003 one of my friends acquired a sampler of Scotches. It might have been a retail display rack with 6-12 different whiskies which he got from someone who owned a liquor store. I think there were a variety of brands, a couple full 750ml bottles and some smaller sample sizes. Some of them were pretty expensive-looking--12, 15, 18, and 25 years old.

One of those scotches left a lasting impression on me, but (or course!) I don’t remember the name. I don’t remember anything about the nose, but it was very, very smooth on the palate. I remember the finish best: a pleasant and dramatic warmth radiating through my body, and a long, overwhelmingly woody (oak, cedar?), smoky flavor. I said at the time that it was like swallowing a camp fire.

Thanks.

Scotchtoberfest ideas

mcstayinskool — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 08:50:27 -0800

I'm helping host a single malt whisky tasting party, potluck style. How do I ensure a wide range of choices brought from participants? Next month I'm helping to host Scotchtoberfest, a single malt whisky tasting party.

Format: Each attendee will bring one bottle of single malt. Everyone gets to sample everything, and at the end of the evening we will draw lots. Person who draws #1 gets to choose which bottle they get to bring home. #2 gets next pick, etc.

Problem: I want to make sure that a wide range of whiskys are represented, without going as far as picking what people bring. How can I do that effectively?

(and by all means, while it's not my specific question, feel free to recommend specific bottles to bring)

Scotch in Washington State?

b1tr0t — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:48:46 -0800

Where should I go looking for a good bottle of single malt scotch, in Seattle? As I understand it, all bottled alcohol sold in Washington State is centrally purchased and sold through the state liquor stores. I don't drink much hard liquor anymore, so I havn't been in a while. I'd like to get a decent (~$50-$70) bottle of single malt scotch. Is this a futile endevor in Washington State? Should I go to Vancouver or Portland to shop?

Beginner's single malt Scotch

mendel — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 10:37:59 -0800

Scotchfilter! What's a decent, inexpensive and readily available single malt or good blend for a brand-new scotch drinker whose current dram of choice is a good dark sipping rum? The intended recipient tried the Glenlivet after he'd had a lot of other things and was surprised by the strength but otherwise seemed to enjoy it and was interested in trying other Scotches. I could just get another bottle of Glenlivet, but it's a bit ordinary and generally-available, and besides, he's already tried that.

I don't want something pretending to be bourbon, but I don't want to overwhelm with iodine and peat either. Probably some sort of Speyside or Lowland, I guess. My own tastes head toward the spicy and peaty and I sometimes have a hard time telling the difference between a good mellow scotch and a boring one.

Also, any suggestions on how to safely mail/ship a bottle of Scotch are welcome too.