Jump the Shark

@Wodha, ...and big, big...BIG difference between new wood aging and old wood aging. How many times has that Scotch cask been filled? How much wood flavour is left? How much more 'mellowing' is it capable of rendering? And how much does the cooperage stock of any given distillery change over time? And how will we get useful accurate information regarding any of these questions? There are so many variables in this equation that it is difficult, I think, to make generalizations. Now we can follow your lead and comment on which specific current age statement expressions we like best from specific distilleries.

I've got to agree with victor here..the wood itself makes all the difference. I've had some that were too old (woody, musty and slightly bitter) in the teens and on one very special day I got to try a 42y/o Ardbeg that was in no way over aged. Interstingly you give an example of this yourself.. the Laphroig Quarter Cask is a NAS whisky, the majority of the malts that make it up are 7,8 and 9 y/o they are vatted to hit a certain flavour profile regardles of age.

I think it is valid to discuss your favorite age statement for each producer but saying something is over aged is to use term that goes beyond personal prefrence.

FWIW even standard expressions change over time as the availability of certain wood changes, The 10 y/o Talisker or 16y/o Lagavoulin seem to have changed greatly since I first started drinking them 20 or so years ago..

When you say Aberfeldy 12 is the best - does that mean that you haven't tried Aberfeldy 21, that you have tried Aberfeldy 21 but didn't think for the price it was as good value as the 12, or just didn't like the 21?

Remembering that a single malt is effectively a blend made from barrels at the same distillery - the master blenders won't put out something "bad" as a bottling, so it's personal taste.

As of yesterday though I can state that I much prefer Johnnie Walker Blue Label to The John Walker.

And Brora 30 generally is amazing, but the release from each year is different, so do you like the 2004 Brora 30 best, or the 2010?

@jasonbstanding Fair enough. I should say "In my experience...". Yes, I have had Aberfeldy 21 on a few occasions. I also purchased a bottle of Laphroaig 30 ($300 at the time). I guess I need to clear up the point I'm trying to make: Older and/or more expensive does not guarantee "better", subjectively or objectively. Just because it says "21 years old" doesn't mean it's superior to the same single malt at "12".

I have had JW Blue, and I agree it's by far the best of the JW I've had.

@Wodha, another point of agreement in your taste with mine: I would take a bottle of JW Blue if offered as a gift (to be consumed and not for resale) before any of the others. That said, I would take the same quantity of my own money and preferentially buy 2 1/2 bottles of JW Gold or 4 bottles of JW Green with it.