Some Random thoughts based on last 10 posts using Michigan Prices (higher than most states)
Great Whiskey out of the flask: Forty Creeks - Reserve Select - It's tri-blend so it's not just a Canadian whiskey from Kitterling distillery. $23 and quite a treat for most people. Has a "toffee/carmel taste" without the Canadian after taste like Crown...I like Crown too...
Or bourbon: Buffalo Trace - $23 - Maker's Mark is the one everyone drinks, Buffalo Trace "thicker and tastes better" - Many people think this is better than Maker's Mark....
Let's talk Single Malt: Oban 14 will be more "peaty" than Balvenie 15 - Balvenie 15 is good and if you don't drink alot of scotch I would buy this over Oban 14 unless you like peat. And if you like Peat, the best Scotch you'll ever drink is Lagavulin 16 - IT IS the best and sets the standard.
I like Speyside and have started going to the smoke/peat -- My favorite speyside: Balvenie Fan plus Aberlour Abundah (Holy grail of Scotch) but have migrated to Lagavulin 16, Dalwhinnie 15 (which is coke-smoke from Coal vs. Peat) and I like Highland Park also. I drink all my scotch neat and buy cheaper scotch for the rocks except Aberlour Abundah (cask strength) _ For the rocks, I run Buchannans 12 (50% is Dalwhinnie) and Johnny Walker Black.
Current Inventory - (spelling?)
Macallan 10 Fine Oak - Nice scotch but the Miller-Lite of scotches like Glenlivet/Glenfiddich 12
Edradour 10 - Not great
Lagavulin 16 - The best IF you like smoke (phenolic content 25 -30ppm) - Takes you to almost too much smoke then releases to a smooth swallow and it does smell like your on the shoreline of the ocean in Scotland.
Ardbeg 10 - Ardbeg is highest phenol - not great - The Ugendial is smoother but you have to like iodine/phenol - not for beginners
Aberlour Abundah Batch 27 - Holy grail - great color, taste, cask strength (~63%) - Over Ice
Aberlour 12 - Don't buy get Abundah instead !!
Balvenie 15 Single Barrel - Great and it a tie between this and cheaper Balvenie 12 double wood - the 12 DW is great
Dalmore 12 - Good, cheap sherry scotch - $48 here...
Glenmorangie Nectar D'or - Good Scotch, for whatever reason not a Glenmorangie fan - liked the old Port Wood but those were replaced by Quinta Ruben, Nectar D'or and others.
Highland Park 12 - Love the HP, great taste like a speyside Blavenie but more smoke - Phenolic content (10-12ppm).
Tried/Have Bought
Scapa 16 - Good scotch with medium smoke
Bruchladdiach 14 th hole - LOVE this need to find a bottle
Balvenie 17 Madierra Cask - Too much "wine" taste for me for the $140 spend....Smooth
Websites I suggest:
whiskyintelligence.com - Great daily news
whiskeyfun.com - Daily tastings and GREAT reviews !!
THE Best Map of Distillerys
Great thread - Let's talk scotch !!! I just started 3 years ago and couldn't stand scotch until you have single malt
Cya Kev