Modern Classics

@BlueNote Although this is the SM that really got me into whisky, shouldnt the Laga16 be an all-time classic in stead of a modern one? It has been around for about 30 years :)

@BlueNote I totally agree on the Curiositas. I have a couple of bottles in the bunker that are closely guarded as it has been discontinued here in our local government monopoly. I believe the Malt Maniacs enjoyed it as well giving it two thumbs up last year end. A very nice peated dram.

Good point @PeatyZealot. The all-time classics are another level entirely. Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength?

@BlueNote I had my first Big Peat two months ago... Sorry but I have to say it... IT IS DAMN GOOD! @PeatyZealot Unfortunately, the Oogie is about $150 around here. Is that what you call a normal price? But I still love it!

I feel your pain @Robert99. Here in BC Oogie is $140.00, next door in Alberta it is under $80.00. I usually ask any of my friends going to Alberta to pick me up a couple. I refuse to pay the ridiculous prices here. The last bottle of Laphroiag 18 I got was $90 in Oregon, it's now $185 here.

The Macallan 10 cask strength would qualify as a modern classic if it was still available. Their new NAS stuff is a load of overpriced crap. I wish they would even keep the old 12 year old, which was far better than any of their similarly priced new offerings. The closest thing I have found to the old Macallans is BenRiach 12 yr old sherry cask matured and BeRiach 15 yr old PX finish. NCF, natural colour, 46% ABV and reasonably priced. Both get big points in the King James (Murray) Bible.

@Robert99 @Robert99 Ouch where is that? We pay about €57,- here

While browsing around for something totally unrelated, I stumbled upon this old discussion from the Whisky Advocate blog. John Hansell elicited tons of responses by asking for the benchmark whiskies of the past 20 years. I love my Connosr buddies, but I gotta give credit the Whisky Advocate crowd for naming a lot more bottles than we did (the slightly different topic notwithstanding).

Note that this discussion was from 2010.

whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2010/…

My top 3 widely-available and reasonably priced are: 1. Talisker 10 2. Glendronach 15 3. Highland Park 18

@Benancio, Nikka 17 ($116) has replaced HP 18 ($179) in my cabinet. I simply will not pay the exorbitant taxes required to liberate HP18 from the government store. HP 18 is indeed a modern classic; I would stock up if it became affordable in my region.

@PeatyZealot Sorry, I missed your post in November. I am from Montreal in the province of Quebec, in Canada. There's a state monopole on liquors sale, but the real problem are the taxes. When I think at all the good and great whislies I would be able too drink with the money I put in my hobby if I was living anywhere in the US, I weep in sorrow. Ok, maybe not.

@BlueNote I will be in BC late in february and even if the prices are as bad as those in Quebec, I will be buying a few bottles we don't have here. So you see, that's what is good about our hobby: there is always a way to find a bright side to our situation. My trip to BC offers me the opportunity to get Nikka From the Barrel. Maybe not the greatest whisky of all time but one I will be able to satisfy my curisosity about it.

Cheers!

@Robert99. I hope you get some good weather and some good whisky out here in BC in February. So far we have had a pretty mild winter. If we were not going to be in Mexico for the month of February I would have loved to get together with you for a dram or two. Google BC Liquor Stores and go to their product listings and search single malt Scotch whisky for an idea of what is available, the prices and which stores have the product you are looking for. Cheers mon ami.

Modern classics for me would include: Ardbeg 10, Talisker 10, Laphraoig QC, Highland Park 12, Glenfarclas 105, Nikka Pure Malt Black, Lagavulin 16, Macallan 12 Sherry, Bruichladdich The Laddie Ten.

@MaltyMike. I'd be very happy with a case of each of those on my dessert island. You pretty much summed up my list of modern classics. I'm only missing the Nikka. Cheers.

@MaltyMike, make one of your peaties the CS version and add something from Springbank, and I too am right there with you.

In no particular order...Yamazaki 18, Talisker 18, HP 18, Lagavulin 16 from 2011 or earlier, Abunadh (Batch 32 to be specific, in my limited experience with the series), Glenfarclas 15, Old Grand Dad 114, Uigeadail.

I would have added Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye, but it is not easily/widely available, even in the US.

@Pudge72...Laphroaig QC and the Benriach Curiositas and Herodetus Fumousas (sorry for my horrible spelling of fake Latin) would also have to make my list.

@BlueNote Don't worry, I already reserved a few bottles with an email at a BC liquor store. I hope they will really keep it for me as they promessed.