Johnny Drum Black Label 12 Year Old – This whisky was new to us.  It is an American bourbon and bottled at 43% alcohol by volume.  We sensed fruit and a hint of orange peel to start.  The palette was surprisingly big for its alcohol content but it was not complex.  Pepper and spice dominated and there seemed to be a presence of red apple – quite pleasant.  The finish was warming, and a pleasant oiliness lingered.  See Johnny Drum Black Label 12 Year Old

Master of Malt 12 Year Old Islay – This malt was also a new adventure.  The dram was the lightest of the three and bottled at 40% alcohol by volume.  As we opened the bottle, we noted hints of soft seaweed and peat.   The palette presented us with an interesting blend of coffee and licorice.  The finish was sweet but short with a hint of petrol.  See Master of Malt 12 Year Old Islay

Laphroaig Quarter Cask – This is a favorite friend and our latest tasting of this Islay malt did not disappoint.  Bottled at 48% alcohol by volume, its nose was not over powering.  There was a faint but important interplay of peat and smoke.  At first, we noticed sweet charcoal, followed by smooth, rich sugarcane syrup.  The finish was peaty, sophisticated, and powerful throughout.  In our view, this malt is much more pleasant than its 10 year old cousin.  See  Laphroaig Quarter Cask

The ScotchHunter iPhone App is your #1 guide to Single Malt Scotch. It allows users to browse our Tasting Notes, Save your Favorites, Create a Wish List, Create your own Tasting Notes, and Share those Notes with your friends.

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Balblair 1979 (46% – £84.99) is amber in appearance with radiant golden honey highlights. A superbly balanced malt with warm aromas of honey, toffee and vanilla that come from the long years of maturation in American oak barrels. Cloves, oranges, bananas and pears can also be detected in the aroma adding to the complexity of this exceptional Vintage. Sweet, honey vanilla flavors combine with cloves and spices leading to a rich, full-bodied, long-lasting, finish.

Balblair 1989 (43% – £45) is mid-amber in appearance with honey-gold highlights. A full-bodied malt with aromas of raisin, green apple and hints of banana and lemon. The American oak barrels, used in the distillate’s maturation, lend a warm toffee, vanilla fragrance. On the palate there are raisins and fruits with a rich spiciness leading to a long, complex and ultimately smooth finish.

Balblair 1997 (43% – £28.99) is subtly amber in appearance with rose-golden highlights. This full-bodied malt is fused with the aromas of pineapple, apricot and lemon to create a long-lasting sweet finish. On the nose, the American oak barrels used in the distillate’s maturation, produce an inviting, spicy fragrance. Hints of oak, spice and raisin combine with the sweetness of vanilla to create a long-lingering, creamy smooth finish on the palate

The Balblair Vintage Lounge promises both jazz and whisky enthusiasts an unforgettable experience, and plans are currently in place to stage events at luxury venues in Paris and New York, following the official campaign launch in Edinburgh during the festival season this month.

The Edinburgh event saw an exclusive range of media and guests attend the prestigious National Museum of Scotland venue on Thursday 26th August to enjoy an hour-long intimate performance by Nikki King and her three piece band. Hosted by Distillery Manager John Macdonald, guests sampled a selection of Balblair Vintage single malts in a specially created bespoke lounge, which recreated a classic vintage style and atmosphere.

Balblair is the only distillery to solely produce vintage expression whiskies which are handpicked by the Distillery Manager after a complex tasting and nosing process. Only the finest whiskies – those that have reached the peak of their perfection – are chosen and named by the year that they were laid down in cask. Like Balblair whiskies, jazz is all about perfect timing and this new creative partnership provides the ideal platform to showcase classic vintages which are timed to perfection.

Scottish born singer Niki King was a natural choice to launch the first of the Balblair Vintage Lounge events. Catapulted into the international spotlight in 2001, when she won the prestigious Perrier Jazz Vocalist of the Year award, she has since released four critically acclaimed albums. Hailed by reviewers for her beautiful reworking of Jazz classics, Niki’s enthusiasm for vintage jazz sees her perfectly placed to launch the first of Balblair’s unique experiences.

With further events to be scheduled globally over the next two years fronted by a selection of leading jazz artists, the initiative aims to introduce Balblair’s award-winning whiskies to new international audiences.

Has any other distilleries marketed cask strength besides Macallan?

Dwayne, thanks so much for writing. Your question is a good one and I am happy to report that the short answer to your question is yes! In fact, most distilleries bottle one or more of their malts at cask strength. Frankly, Don and I prefer to drink single malt at cask strength. By doing so, we get to add the amount of water we prefer based on the weather, temperature, or even our mood. The Aberlour a’bundah, Glenfarclas 105, and Glenlivet 16 year old Nadura are three of our favorites.

We’ve just redesigned our web site and are still adding information to our data base. We’ll be adding a cask strength designation and independent bottling information in the near future.

Thanks so much for your inquiry and your interest in Scotch Hunter.

Slainte,

Scotch Hunter Steve

Good Afternoon ScotchHunters!

I am wondering if you could help me in search for perfect scotch gift for my husband’s 30th Birthday in September!

To start, I am less than a beginner when it comes to scotch, my husband has a small collection and loves to sip on good Highland Park or Macallan (those are his favorites) after dinner. That is why I started searching for Highland Park and Macallan in different ages and came to find out that Highland Park 25 or 22 would be the best gift for him. (Of course he would be hoping to try Highland Park 30 one day, but this is after I make my 1st million of dollars).

I was wondering (don’t get me wrong, I know I could insult scotch lovers asking this question) if you know anything about tasting / sampling size bottles? (real one 25years old, 750ml is over 300$, I could go with 22years old for almost 200$, but don’t know the difference between those two). Or maybe full sets of Highland Park (or Macallan) samplers? I know Johnnie Walker offers one. If that option would be out of the question, what would you recommend? Other Single Malts with similar taste palette? Would appreciate your knowledge

Sincerely,

Aleksandra

From Scotch Hunter Steve:

Aleksandra, thanks so much for writing. Your husband has good tastes in single malt and your question is a good one.

In my travels abroad, I have found dozens of mini-bottles of even rare single malts in whisky shops in England and Scotland. Single malt mini-bottles and sets are harder to come by in the USA. If you live in a major city and are fortunate to live near liquor superstores, you are more likely to have better luck at finding them.

With respect to a selection for your husband, many scotch lovers share the notion that hundreds of excellent single malts can be purchased in the $75 to $150 range and that doubling this price range does not mean that the malt will be twice as good. If your husband likes the taste of Highland Park and Macallan (my favorite is the 18 year old), I can make several other suggestions that might be a little easier on your pocket book.

The Glenfarclas 21 year old is an excellent malt – full of fruit, sherry, and honey. It sells for about $110. The Balvenie 15 year old, 17 year old finished in rum casks, and the 17 year old finished in maderia casks are also fruity, sherried malts that are excellent. These run about $125.

One of my favorite cask strength malts is the Aberlour Abudah. Cask strength means that it is not been diluted with water as it was bottled. The drinker adds the water to taste. It sells for about $70.

Let me know if this helps and write back if you want to chat some more.

Thanks so much for your interest in Scotch Hunter.

Steve Janosik
ScotchHunter.com

Thank You very much Steve!!!

It shows how little I know about Scotch!! But I am getting used to its taste more and more so maybe knowledge will come to me, too hahah

I will try to look for the scotches you have suggested to purchase. I live in San Francisco and we have pretty good local store here my husband always goes to called Cask. You can take a sneak peak at their website if you like: www.caskstore.com Cool thing they offer – they do custom engraving on bottles, so I think it would be a nice touch to put some personal note on the gift

Also, good friends of mine live in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) so I may try to ask them for help in search for some rare samples.

I totally agree, the taste doesn’t get better with price. I think my husband tried Macallan 25? and said, he likes the 18 and 12 way much better.

I will check the Glenfarclas 21 and Aberlour Abudah availability in San Francisco before I go with the Highland Park 25. I do really like your description – more ‘wine like’ notes are my husbands favorite!

PS. And I love your last name!!!!! do you know what it means? I am Polish (I moved to the US 4years ago) and Janosik is our national legendary hero!!! he is a polish version of Robin Hood!!! every person in Poland knows Janosik’s stories shown in TV series from 80′ !!! I remember spending countless hours in front of TV watching them over and over again…..have you ever heard about the story?

Thank You once again for your help!
I will let you know how my shopping goes

Alcohol:	46%/vol
Region:	Campbeltown
Color:	Antique gold
Nose:	Toffee, salt, and notes of peat
Body:	Medium to full, robust
Palate:	Sweet with hints of peaches and smoke
Finish:	Medium to long, nutty and smoky
First Tasted:	March 2010
Price:	$$
Number:	270
Don	★★★★★
Steve	★★★★

From Jonathon

Dear Don and Steve,

My name is Jonathon. I am from Louisiana, and I am trying to get a business plan together to open a tavern devoted primarily to single malt scotch There are none in this area that I can find so I think it is a long over due concept that I would like to pursue.

The reason I am contacting you is because I am trying to put together a purchasing list of roughly 100-150 bottles ranging from moderate to a few bottles of distinction. I was wondering if when you have the chance at your convenience of course if you could put together a few suggestions for me. It would be greatly appreciated. I understand you men are busy and if you don’t have the time I would completly understand. Thank you for your time.

From Scotch Hunter Steve:

Jonathon, this is an interesting request indeed. I’ll be happy to help.

Don (my fellow scotch hunter) and I have traveled all across the U.S. and the U.K. in search of the perfect single malt. Of course, the perfect malt depends on your mood, the season, the time of day, etc. In that sense, no one malt is perfect for all occasions.

We have tasted just about 275 malts. We have no connection with any
distributor or distillery.

Given that brief introduction and context, I’d suggest the following list as a place to start. There are about 95 malts in this list. The number after the age (yo) represents our rating of the expression on a five point scale. I have not included the region or the primary flavor but could, if this information is of interest. The retail price for these malts ranges from $45 to $150. I have not included any 30 year
old malts but a bar of distinction should have one or two. Don and I also prefer cask strength (cs) or undiluted malts. Only a very few are listed here.

You are probably aware many Americans prefer sherried and lighter tasting malts. Macallan, Glenlivet, and Glenfiddich are most common and are moderately priced. For those a little more adventuresome, Bowmore and Oban represent popular malts that are moderately priced and are known for their peaty, smoky flavor. Most bars and restaurants don’t stock much more that these.

Your state liquor laws will determine if these malts will be available to you.

Aberfeldy 14 yo – 4
Aberlour 16 yo – 4
Aberlour a’bundah CS – 4.5
Arbeg No Age Uigeadail – 4
Auchentoshan 16 yo (cs) – 5
Auchentoshan 21 yo – 5
Balvenie DW 12 yo – 5
Balvenie 15 yo – 5
Bowmore 11 yo – 4,5
Bowmore 14 yo – 5
Bruichladdich 12 yo (2nd Edition) 4.5
Bruichladdich 15 yo – 5
Caol Ila 12 yo – 4
Caol lla 18 yo – 4.5
Clynelish 12 yo – 5
Clynelish 14 yo – 5
Cragganmore 12 yo – 5
Dalwhinnie 15 yo – 4
Glendronach 15 yo – 5
Glenfarclas 15 yo – 5
Glenfarclas 105 CS – 5
Glenfiddich 12 yo – 4
Glenfiddich 18 yo – 5
Glengoyne 10 yo – 5
Glenkinchie 12 yo – 4
Glenkinchie 1991 14 yo – 5
Glenlivet 15 yo – 4
Glenlivet Nadura 16 yo – 5
Glenlivet 18 yo – 4
Glenlivet 21 yo – 5
Glenmorangie Astar – 4.5
Glenmorangie 12 yo – Sherry – 5
Glenmorargie 15 yo – 5
Glenrothes 11 yo – 4
Glenrothes 1991 17 yo – 4
Glen Grant 10 yo – 5
Glen Keith 1983 – 5
Glen Kirk 8 yo – 2
Glen.Scotia 17 yo – 4.5
Highland Park 14 yo – 5
Highland Park 18 yo – 5
Highland Park 25 yo – 5
Imperial 14 yo – 5
lmperial 15 yo – 5
Inverarity 10 yo – 3
Isle of Jura 10 yo – 3
Isle of Jura 16 yo – 4
Knockando 12 yo – 4
Lagavulin 16 yo – 5
Laphroaig Quarter Cask – 3.5
Laphroaig 10 yo – 1
Laphroalg.15 yo – 4.5
Linkwood 11 yo – 5
Linkwood 15 yo – 5
Linlithgrow 21 yo – 4
Littlemill 8 yo – 3
Littlemill 12 yo – 4
Longrow 10 yo – 4.5
Longmorn 10 yo – 5
Longmorn 16 yo – 4.5
Macallan 10 year old – 5
Macallan 18 yo – 5
Macallan Cast Strength – 5
Milburn 27 yo – 5
Mortlach 16 yo – 5
Mortlach 21 yo – 4
North Port – Brechin 24 yo – 5
Oban 14 yo – 2
Old Fettercairn 10 yo – 4
Old Pulteney 10 yo -4.5
Port Ellen 23 yo – 5
Rosebank 12 yo – 4
Royal Brackla 18 yo – 4
Royal Lochnagar 12 yo – 4
Scapa 12 yo – 3
Scapa 14 yo – 4
Singleton 11 yo – 3
Speyburn 10 yo – 3
Speyside 10 yo – 2
Springbank 10 yo – 4.5
Springbank 15 yo – 5
Strathisla 12 yo – 3.5
Talisker 10 yo – 2
Talisker 18 yo – 5
Tamnavulin 12 yo – 4
Teaninieh 12 yo – 3
Teaninich 14 yo – 4
Tobermory 10 yo – 3
Tomatin 10 yo – 3
Tomintoul 16 yo – 4
Tomintoul 27 yo – 5
Tormore 12 yo – 4
Tullibardine 10 yo – 3

Remember, if you want to know more about single malt or reference our tasting notes, visit our web site or our iPhone App.

Please let me know when you open and if I can be of more help. Heck, Don and I just might drive down to do a scotch tasting for you and your customers. Good luck with this important venture.

From Elizabeth:

Help! My husband has colleagues coming in from around the world to a meeting in DC. They are big fans of single malt. I need to be able to serve a bottle that will impress. Can you make a recommendation or two that I can buy here in Northern Virginia? Many thanks for your assistance.

Yours, Elizabeth

From Scotch Hunter Steve:

Yikes! Elizabeth, this is a tough call; not because there are not plenty of good single malts but because I don’t have enough information. Price and preference are key. Most experienced malt drinks (and especially those from the UK) prefer the smoky, peaty malts from the Isaly. The rest will want something robust and complex. There is no need, in my opinion, to be concerned with the softer malts from the Lowlands and Campbeltown. Since the weather has
warmed, stay away from the cask strength malts that will be too powerful for the season.

My favorite stores in DC are the Wine Specialist (2115 M Street, 202-833-0707) and Central Liquors (917 K Street, 202-737-9463). Both can be found on the Internet and stock quite a few malts that sell for more than $100. I am going to pick a few bottles in the $100 – $160 range. These are superior malts that are easily found in good liquor stores. If this is too high, right me back and I can lower the
bar.

Highland malts that are robust and complex:

Glenmorangie 18 year old – smooth and fruity
Macallan 18 year old – thick, sherry, sweet
Talisker 18 or 25 year old – toffee, nutty with a hint of sherry and peat

Isaly malts that are smoky and peaty:

Lagavulin 16 year old – thick, rich, and smoky (one of my personal favorites)
Caol Ila 18 year old – salty, smoky, hot and peppery

Let me know if I can be of more help. Thanks so much for writing.