Law of dimishing returns

@Piero Actually that Macallan 30yo review was mine but it got connected to another user with a similar name. Anyway, I see a rather clear £ 100 mark (+/- € 120). Above this mark, you should be aware that you don't always get better quality. There's another mark around £ 180 / € 200 which I hardly ever pass. Above this price, you pay for the name or exclusivity most of the times, not for extra quality. Under £ 100, I guess it's fair to say that "what you pay is what you get" (with a few exceptions of course, there certainly are crackers to be found below £ 50).

@Piero @WhiskyNotes - In my experience higher price does generally mean more enjoyment. Simply put, below AU$50 - you will find almost no fantastic drams, a few decent drams, and heaps of crap drams. Below AU$75 - a couple of fantastic drams, a lot of decent drams, a few crap drams. Below AU$100 - quite a few fantastic drams, a few decent drams, and hardly any crap ones. But the further above $100 you go, it's hard to go beyond fantastic! I'm yet to find a malt that I though was worth more than AU$200 on taste alone, when compared to some malts that sell for less than $100. You start paying because of age, scarcity, novelty or some other factor (like whiskies from now closed distilleries). I don't know exactly how Aussie prices match to European prices, but I imagine that something similar would be true.

@whiskynotes I've updated the review so its assigned to you. JL

OK so you've got £100/€120 or equivalent (around 175 Aussie Dollar I think). What would you buy? Feel free to suggest more than one bottle!

Although I've tasted a few, I've never really considered buying a whisky above the £120 mark.

That's a lot of money for an earthling... and I'm not sure I'd be willing to spend it on Scotch. Having said that, I might spend it on a special occassion, one of which is my upcoming birthday, where I'll be getting the 1988 Auchentoshan Bordeaux Finish (£105). There are a few expressions, like the Glenmorangie Signet (£95), that caught my eye, but I've been putting off the purchase, because there are still so many other bottles I would like to get (see my wishlist) and for that money, I can get two or three. Tough call...

As value goes I don't think you can beat Laphroaig Quarter Cask at under £25, you get a lot enjoyment for the money. I've just bought a few bottles as Christmas presents for my clients and it doesn't hurt the wallet too much.

Bah! £25 for the quarter-cask? That's about $50AU - and I can't find it for less than $100AU over here. I have to move to Europe... :p

I payed 46 EUR for a litre of QC at Frankfurt airport at swedish "systembolaget" 0.75 litre is about 44 EUR. TWE has it for 24 pounds, I'm obviously living in the wrong country...

@piero I've not tried it but I hear excellent things about Laphroaig 30 Year old, though that comes up at around £350 which is a whole different realm.

Lately, I've found numerous good whiskies for about € 30/35 - € 50/80: Laphroaig 10yo, QC, CS, Caol Ila 15yo, Glendronach 18yo Allardice, Dalwinnie 15yo and even a Caol Ila 18yo! Btw, markjedi1, I realy can advice The Glenmorangie Signet(chocolate!!) - you get addicted to this liquid, so be carefull. I warned you!

Find what you like, then explore the many expressions of that taste. There's no point spending the cash on an expensive bottle if it's not to your liking. I am exploring the many tastes of Scotland, right now, so I'm not willing to spend too very much on any one bottle.

I will say, that I do think it's worth the money to buy single-singles. For nothing else but to encourage the distilleries to continue the practice, and to enjoy what the "real" malt tastes like at its truest form (even if you prefer a different expression).

Something that always amuses me about the world of the Whisky Connosr is that if you look at the majority of top awards that are given in the different catergories, it is generaly bottles that cost $180 AUD or less that come out on top, often when in competition with expressions that cost 5 or 6 times as much.

@markjedi1 I heartily agree with I_SPEY; go for the Signet.

@Jean-Luc Laprhoaigs 25 & 30 (and the Ardmore 30, too) are terrific, but at about $500 USD I don't think they're ten times better than Laphroaig 10. It was fun to try them at a festival, but I wouldn't buy a bottle.

Another price / quality-of-enjoyment comparisons come with Highland Park. Like the Laphroaigs, the 25 and 30 year olds are terrific festival drams, but for the money I really enjoy the 15.

@markjedi1, For God's sake, Mark, do not put off getting Glenmorangie Signet!!!

@Victor @two-bit_cowboy: You are replying to a two-year old message! :) I have 11 Glenmorangie samples on my desk right now, in fact. Having said that... The Signet is not among them... I'll try to get my hands on a sample... (I'm disallowed the purchase of full bottles for the remainder of the year by dearly beloved...)

@markjedi1 Hi Mark, I would be a great joy for me in sending you a sample of this dearly beloved liquid, so give me a sign and it wil be settled!

@markjedi1 A cruel embargo! However by the sounds of it your collection is not lacking in any way...

One of the keys to a happy marraige is to never let yourself think "If I were single I could__________"

@markjedi1, you're going to like the signet. I've been through 8 different Glenmorangie expressions this year and the Signet is truly their crowning achievement. You can taste the best of all the rest wrapped into it.

Thanks, all. @I_SPEY, how can I turn down such a generous offer? Let's make arrangements!

@Piero

What you have to decide is the Whisky you like best and the age of your Whisky will to a large extent dictate the price you have to pay: Time in wood is an expensive exercise!

An old Speyside distiller told me that well made Whisky did not need to be older than 12yrs. and that after 12yrs. it lost freshness and started to become 'slimy'. This may not be universally true but he did punctuate his bold claim by introducing me to a 12yo. that had spent all those yrs. in a single Oloroso cask; the Whisky was superb.

I have several 12yo. Whiskies that couldn't be improved upon.

What I'm saying is, 'Find a Whisky you really like the taste of and choose an affordable package - avoid fancy boxes, ceramic containers and 30yo. Malts'.

The most exciting Malts are often found in distiller's edn's. cask strength Whiskies (A'bunadh, no age statement et al.)

The most exciting Whishy I have in my cabinet at the moment is a 12yo. Glengoyne, Au. $65.

@markjedi1 as I like to be carefull with my emailaddress these days, how do we solve this little, but sincere problem, Mark?

@I-SPEY I've sent you a PM.