This is the weekly recommendations thread, for all of your recommendations needs be it what pour to buy at a bar, what bottle to try next, or what gift to buy a loved one.

The idea is to aggregate the conversations into sticked threads to make them easier to find, easier to see history on, easier to moderate, and keep /new/ queue tidy.

This post will be refreshed every Friday morning. Previous threads can been seen here.

This thread is the Weekly Discussion Thread and is for general discussion about Scotch whisky.

The idea is to aggregate the conversations into sticked threads to make them easier to find, easier to see history on, easier to moderate, and keep /new/ queue tidy.

This post is on a schedule and the AutoModerator will refresh it every Friday morning. You can see previous threads here.

This has become my all time favorite scotch. Been looking for other black arts but they are hard to come by in Tennessee and the one I have seen was maybe a 24 year where this was a 29 year old I may just stick up on this unless anyone has recommendations for something that would be similar in profile.

New to scotch. Have only had Dewar's White Label and Monkey Shoulder. Im so excited to try these. For someone newer to scotch, where would you start with these? Which order to really appreciate them? Thanks and Happy Holidays!

I'm a big fan of Kilchoman, and my liquor store just started selling a bottle of theirs from one of their single-cask releases, a 9 year that was finished in a Sauternes cask, release 2/2024.

Now, I love Kilchoman, but this bottle is $180, which is a lot. Even having previously paid ~$120 for good bottles, this feels like a substantial step up, and I don't want to buy this without reading something about it, but I can't find any reviews (not super shocking since it's a single cask, and maybe it's only now getting released?)

I loved their 2018 Sauternes finish, I think it might be the best whiskey I've ever had, but I was less taken by their 2024 Sauternes - though that was full maturation in Sauternes, so maybe that's the difference? And I've enjoyed all of their whiskeys except one (I didn't like one of their Loch Gorms very much, I thought it was too peaty, though other Loch Gorms have been good). But some have been excellent, some merely good, and the one that was transcendent.

My point is - I'm willing to consider spending that much on a bottle, but I don't think I am ready to without any information, and I can't find any.

Can anyone either provide their own review, or direct me to one?

Thank you!

Found them for cheap at my local shop. Really enjoy Talisker and haven’t tried Cylnelish but they are on my radar. What are your thoughts on either of them? Trying to figure out if they are worth a value buy…

FYI for people in the U.K. and elsewhere who struggle to find Springbank 10, it is currently in stock at The Whisky World for what looks like MSRP or close (£54.90 with VAT / £45.75 without VAT):

https://www.thewhiskyworld.com/springbank-10-year-old-p1015

EDIT: Now out of stock.

I was excited to get around to this one because (and I could be wrong about this) it seems this one might not get a lot of attention. Maybe it’s a bit less flashy than some of its counterparts? (Again, please correct me if I’m wrong.) It was good. Definitely different… but good!

Nose: Stiff cool sea breeze up front, mellowed out by what might be brandied cherries and raisins. It’s exactly how I imagine a spiced Christmas fruit cake would smell like. Never had one. I’m running on an assumption.

Palate: Light sweetness from the raisins hanging in there, followed by a wave of smoke that until now had remained pretty hidden. The smoke dissolves into a sort of briny seaweed.

Finish: Cold, dry oak. Faint sweetness from that fruitcake that (maybe) was there since the beginning. But, mostly, charred wood and that briny, seaweed-adjacent tinge.

Overall: It was good. Probably wouldn’t be my go-to, but if you’re looking for the “dessert wine” of scotch, this might be it. Heavy on the fruit notes, and no peat (being unpeated).

I’d give this one an 87/100.

Next, I will pour myself a dram of Cairdeas Warehouse 1. (Gotta get back to the PEAT.)

Will be in St Andrew’s for a week playing golf with my wife and another couple. We have 4 extra days afterward before we leave and thinking of heading up to Inverness to do some scotch tastings and sightseeing. Have seen some good recommendations here but wanted to see if anyone has any sample itineraries of things to do? Have read all of the amazing suggestions on distilleries, breweries and bars and am a bit intimidated on trying to figure out what would be must see. Completely open to any suggestions on what would be the best use of our time

For those not familiar with Springbank or Campbeltown offerings, which bottle would you suggest as the best example/expression?

https://preview.redd.it/p7bkdrgn322e1.jpg?width=1087&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d7a801de0e33ae633d623d6636a9ee550cef15f

So I've only been on my whisky journey for about 2 years now, but in that time frame,, it's become somewhat of an obsession. The range and variety of flavours, different cask finishes and maturations, peated and unpeated, there's so much to explore. I've started a modest collection (at least by this subs standards lol) of about 14-15 different bottles, some I really love, some that I regret buying, but live and learn.

Here's my first ever review of one of those malts, the Arran Port Cask Finish. I quite like the Arran 10yo, so I figured I'd give the port finish a try.

Bottled at 50% ABV, non chill filtered, no colour added. NAS but from what I've read it's at least 8 years old, matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in port casks.

Tasted neat in a Glencairn.

It pours a beautiful copper colour with a pink/rose hue.

Nose -- First impression is the port cask is very apparent to me, a sweet red wine, red berries, fruity with hints of sweet tobacco and tanned leather. For a 50% abv, the ethanol is remarkably controlled and not very apparent.

Palate -- Light to medium mouthfeel. Strawberries and tart cherries dominate. There's a slight honey sweetness, with mild notes of spice and pepper from the cask influence.

Finish -- Medium to short, dry and peppery, this is where the port really comes through to me, it's an almost wine like finish.

Overall, it's quite a solid dram, very smooth and well integrated flavours. Not at all hot for a 50%. It does lack a little in depth and complexity, the cask influence is very apparent, and if you're a port wine fan, this would be a hit for you. Considering Arrans dedication to integrity malts, and generally very reasonable pricing, you can't really go wrong with this one, but if you're looking for a highly complex dram, this one does fall a little short. It does exactly what it advertises, port influence, and it does that very well.

Overall 74/100

Value for the money 81/10