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.
