40% bottlings.

Good topic and a very good question.

I enjoyed Dalmore King Alexander III which is bottled at 40%. Would it have been more enjoyable at 46%, probably yes.

@LeFrog I've read great things about the King Alexander III.

@Peatpete I'm a big fan of Johnnie Walker Gold Label. I think that if it were bottled at 43% that would be rather good, but I think any higher might wreck the sweetness of it while bringing out more serious flavours. Double-edged sword in my opinion.

I generally only buy either cask strength whiskies or at least a minimum of 43% but look forward to the day when distileries bottle at 46% as standard. I dont know if that day will ever come but there is at least a growing trend towards it and long may it continue. I guess laphroaig 10 is the best 40% i have had but like i say there havent been many. Funnily enough though I was gonna buy the new dalmore river series today which are 40% and sound like a good set of bottlings especially the tay, and are at 40% , but I had a last minute change of mind and bought 2 berry brothers and a whisky agency instead, maybe next month.......

And now to make myself look somewhat silly, I have just realised that JW Blue is bottled at 40%, a drop that I am pretty fond of. Would it be better bottled at 46%... I have almost no doubt at all. I am not very experienced with whiskies yet, but in general I seem to find that the lower %ABVs are a lot easier to drown than the more alcoholic expressions, and I do not believe watered down at the distillery gives the same opening up of nose and taste that you get by adding a few drops at home.

Thanks for the feedback. Now I am curious about them! The King Alexander III is a little outside my normal price bracket, but I will definitly be sniffing around for a taste of the JW Gold next time I am near a city. It will be a change for me, as I always seem to find myself drawn to younger whisky.

just a quick comment, but it should be forbidden by law to bottle any Islay malt at less than 46 % IMHO! :)

Couldn't agree more! @lucadanna1985

Though a bourbon, the Black Maple Hill 21yr (bottled at ABV40%) is one of the best bourbons I've ever tasted.

@whiskyshiba That looks like an interesting one. I have read around a little, and it gets some good reviews, but there appears to be a fair bit of controversy about who it is that actualy distills it...

@Peatpete Yes, there is a bit of a controversy. Apparently, they purchase their whisk(e)y from Heaven Hill and re-bottle it.

@whiskyshiba Of course if its good, it doesnt realy matter where it comes from...

@Peatpete Totally agree. As per most reviews, it is one of the best Bourbons out there.

@whiskyshiba I have enjoyed my 40 creek, and my Alberta Premium Rye, but I cant bring myself to buy bourbon... I just look at it and a voice in my head whispers "or you could spend the money on an islay scotch..."

@Peatpete Those whispers could be Scottish marketing gnomes trying to prevent you from straying and keep your whisky money in their buckets.

For 20-25 bucks, you could buy a Jim Beam Black Label (8 yo). A wonderful Bourbon and a nice way to get acquainted with the other side of the whiskEy world. Murray 2011 Bible gave it a 94.

(whispering)...give it a try, you won't be sorry!

@Peatpete There are many excellent Bourbons that are far better than your JWBlue and JWGold at a cheaper price. You never know, you might become a fan.

@HP12 I suppose at that price there isnt much to lose... In the absolute worst case I am sure my wife keeps a bottle of coke around the place most of the time!

@whiskyshiba I certainly hope so! The JW Blue is something I can only afford to buy when I am getting it duty free! I know the most recent bourbon I tried was a Makers Mark, I cant remember which variety, and I ended up dumping 3/4 of it down the sink. Are there any bourbons that have a smoky kind of taste to them? What I need to do is to trial some of them at a bar somewhere, so I dont have to buy a bottle that I may regret later.

@Peatpete Good, sounds like you're open. Now we need @Victor to chime in. He's one of the Bourbon aficionado's within this community and can provide some great direction.

@Peatpete Wow! That bad huh. Everyone's got their "Cutty Sark" moment.
The flavour profile of bourbons don't encompass "smokiness." Its like looking for a "peaty" MacAllan. But do try anything from Buffalo Trace up and down their spectrum. Also, maybe the Woodford Reserve Four Grain or Seasoned Oak might fit your taste.

@Peatpete Makers Mark would not be my choice that use to I'd introduce someone interested in checking out Bourbon. There are better ambassadors out there.

Coming from personal opinion, I think a Buffalo Trace would be a wonderful introductory bourbon, bottled at 45% it won't prickle your palate too much if you are just starting out, and it won't be diluted right to 40% giving a little more body and fullness to the whisk(e)y as a whole. I like Maker's Mark, I believe they have decent expressions and their main bourbon may be a little on the sweeter side, but it very well might appeal to a younger palate. I am not to sure I got any smokey notes, but for the price I would say they are both enjoyable.

And the wish list grows again...