Modern Classics

My starter list:

•Ardbeg Ten

•Laphroaig 10 Cast Strength

• Aberlour A’bunadh

(The idea I was trying—not so clearly—to get across with the "OB or ongoing blend" bit was to exclude IB single casks and other one-offs.)

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Definitely Ardbeg 10...

Oh! And Old Grand Dad 114...

@OlJas Knob Creek Single Barrel 60%ABV, I hope not. Most if not all Kentucky distilleries have added more Rick Houses and have filled them. If demand keeps on the way it's been growing they won't be able to keep up. If demand drops we will be swimming in bourbon in 5 years.

Highland Park 18y, in 20 years I bet I wish I had stored a few of these away.

Ditto on the Ardbeg 10. And while others may disagree, I have consistently enjoyed Talisker 10yo over the years too. From the irish side of things, Redbreast 12yo has been pretty darn good over the seven or eight years I have had the pleasure to purchase in Michigan. But I have noticed it's flavor profile has changed, with less vanilla notes now versus seven years ago (IMHO).

@Benancio Ditto on the HP 18 for me. I have had better, but I keep coming back to this one. And yes, I stockpile it.

I would have to put in a plug for Bladnoch 10-12 year at 55%.

I would strongly agree with Aberlour A'Bunadh, though even if still available we may look back fondly on the older batches. And springbank 12 CS.

I would probably go as far as to suggest the following as well:

Booker's

Amrut cask strength and peated cask strength (among others)

Compass Box Peat Monster

@cherylnifer, I'd have to agree on the Talisker 10. Even though I only like it—not love it—it tastes the way that you expect scotch to taste. Say somebody wanted a single oversimplified answer to the question "what does scotch taste like?" The answer would be Talisker 10.

Lagavulin 16

Talisker 10 and 18, I very much enjoyed The laddie Ten while it was available. Another I think will become a classic is Scapa 16.

Great topic @OlJas. Gibson's Finest Rare 18 YO is produced in Valleyfield, Quebec. In a few years it will likely be a product from Walkerville, Ontario where Gibson's now distills its whisky.

Ardbeg 10 for sure. Highland Park 18. Talisker 18. And maybe Glenmorangie Nectar d'or 12 yo and Glenlivet Nadura 16 yo (not the NAS version!).

@Lars, Scapa 16 is a surprise pick. What's the big draw for you on that one?

I just had a sample once at a tasting event and I (vaguely) remember finding it nice but unremarkable.

Ancnoc Peter Arkle series.

The Lagavulin 12 yr Cask Strengths are fantastic. Earlier vintages may be hard to find or expensive, but they keep releasing new ones every year, so it is ongoing. Some years may be better than others, but I've greatly enjoyed all the ones I've tried.

Oh, and Caol Ila Cask Strength.

@hunggar I agree Lagavulin 12 yr Cask Strengths, it's one of my favorites. I'm having a problem finding it now.

@Benancio, in my experience Laga 12's need to be snatched up kind of quickly. They sell out reasonably fast, and then you're left either waiting for next year's to come around, or you're paying a mark-up on something that was cheaper just a few months ago.

@hunggar

Haven't tried the 12 yet but a couple of years ago I saw one bottle in London Ontario (on the LCBO website so I asked a friend (doesn't use alcohol for religious reasons - so no danger of losing it to him) and he agreed to pick it up for me.

Thing is, it was a few months later that we finally met, and he refused to let me pay him back...

Now THAT was a nice gift.

I think I would add Glendronach Revival 15 yo and, for the story and all the fuss about is finish, the Compass Box Spice Tree. I do agree with Ardbeg 10 if you are talking about the release from a couple of years ago, the last one I got had too much vanilla and the minerality that I like was crushed by it. For the same reason I prefer Laphroaig Quarter Cask to the 10 yo because it got less vanilla and the peat is coming out more raw and meaty making the QC one of a kind.

@OlJas Had Scapa 16 this summer thought it was great, very smooth, honeyed fruits and spice. I bought a bottle and sampled it to new whisky drinkers. To me it offers a great starting point for the new whisky drinker and just enjoyment for the more experienced ones. Is it an Ardbeg or Tali no but we have those brands already.

Great Thread BTW

Definitely agree with the Ardbeg Ten and Aberlour A'bunadh, two readily available bottle that I have really enjoyed, and are excellent representatives of their style. I will always have a soft spot for the Talisker 10 and I do still love it, but I can't help feel it's not quite as good as the others.

The Glenfarclas 15 I also think deserve a mention, I've tried it a few times and thought it was fantastic, but haven't got round to buying a bottle yet. I'm also really enjoying my way through a bottle of Old Pulteney 17 which for me just has the most lovely sour-salty-bitter-sweet balance and complexity.

Definitely a great thread.

Mine are as follows:

Ardbeg 10 Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength Highland Park 18 Glenfarclas 15 Lagavulin Distillers Edition

Ardbeg Uigeadail, Kilchoman Loch Gorm, Bunnahabhain Toiteach and Tomintoul Peaty Tang are the most modern ones that come to mind

@Peatyzealot You are right about Ardbeg Uigeadail but as for the others, I think you will be Just a bunch of happy few to talk about them. To pick a classic, I try to remember those who create a buzz. Maybe I'm confusing Classic and Blockbuster...

For me : Talisker 10 Lagavulin 16 Ardbeg 10 Glendronach 12

From other lands : Amrut Fusion Nikka Pure Malt Black

Not too expensive, and great values for the money

I agree @Robert99. A blockbuster makes a brief and very impressive appearance and is gone. A classic is much more enduring and consistently excellent. Certainly Uigeadail and A'Bunadh fit the definition, as do Lagavulin 16, Laphroaig QC, Caol Ila 12 (IMHO), and BenRiach Curiositas (a superb Speyside peated whisky at a great price). I could go on, but these are a few that I think will have enduring appeal.

@BlueNote I really like the definitions you gave. I also like your list except for the Curiositas that had some mixed reviews and to which Irefer by far the Arumaticus.

@Robert99. If I can ever find the Arumaticus I will certainly give it a try. If Douglas Laing keeps on producing Big Peat, I think it could qualify as a modern classic. Talisker 18 for sure.

@Robert99 Yeah and I had 2 different Oogiebatches side by side and the differences where so small they weren't worth mentioning. We are quite lucky that sey sell it for a 'normal' price :) Also the Laddie 10 should be in my list.