I know there's been some beer talk on here recently. To broaden the spectrum, here's an interest of mine, scotch! Gonna try to find a bottle of this after work today. Hopefully they have it at one of the specialty shops around town.
I spent the weekend in Portland with friends. Just after arriving I picked up a bottle of Highland Park 12 year. It was the first time I've had it, and I pretty much sipped it all weekend, even in coffee (which is sacrilege, I am sure). It was wonderful. My pals thought it was peaty, but it didn't strike me to be very much so. I would say smokey.
But according to what criteria? Will this scotch satisfy those who love peat? I'm just wondering how this can be "the best" when there are so many different regions that produce so many different flavor profiles. Also, have you tried the Balvenie Single Cask? I know that casks can be very very different, but surely some of the character is fairly consistent.
It has a really warm flavor, sort of a vanilla or honey scotch. I think what is meant by "the long finish" that is referenced in the article is referring to is that after the initial flavor, you get a really spicy sensation that kind of stays on your tongue for a couple seconds. It's really unique (not that I'm an expert, but I've had enough to know a thing or two). The Mortlach is incredible. It has the depth of flavor of a fine cognac. I don't even understand where the taste comes from, but it's remarkable.
Yeah "best" is such a garbage term. This sounds like a fruity/citrus scotch, so I'm sure it will leave peat lovers wanting. Personally, it sounds right up my alley, so I'm very interested to find a bottle. Apparently, it retails for $120, so not exactly chump change. I have had 15yo Balvenie single cask. It's very good. Kind of a medium flarvored scotch, a little smokey, but not peated, a Goldilocks, if I remember right. The only other Glenmorangie I've had is a 12yo sherry cask, which I enjoyed, but I wouldn't count as a favorite.
Ah ok, good to know. Hopefully the one I got for my dad's birthday will have good character. He's a big peat lover, big into Islay scotches but I wasn't sure what he had tried or what he hadn't and it was kind of a situation where I didn't know whether to get him something I knew he liked or something new. I don't drink much scotch these days (funds) but I also favor Islay scotches, though I wonder how switching from cigarettes to an e-cig will affect my preferences, if at all. I guess I could take up a pipe again, though finding a good blend to stick with can be something of a chore (but a fun one).
When I buy liquor as a gift I try to find something similar to what I know the person likes but not the same exact thing. I think it looks more thoughtful when you can say "I know you like X, so the guy at the shop said you might really enjoy this one, too."
A couple glencairn glasses would make a great gift for any whisky enthusiast. I love them.
I have one more suggestion on this topic (not to beat a dead horse, but if there's two topics I love talking about and could go on for too long, it's hockey and whisk(e)y). If your dad is into middle of the road scotches (taste-wise, not price wise; I know you mentioned he likes them peated, but still, who doesn't like a nice clean flavor), I would recommend 12yo Cardhu. It's changed my life (hyperbole, but maybe not). It retails for around $40, but it tastes as good as many things I've had at twice the price. It's not really well known, but it's available enough that they will probably have it at a high end store. Something to think about even for yourself, because if you're cash strapped and you still like drinking scotch, there isn't anything better that I've found.