So what AREN'T you drinking now?

@NamBeist I saw a collection on Whiskybase the other day in excess of 1 million euros and the collector had 4 bottles of this one.

@Astroke That guy is a talented investor.

Sometimes you read a review about a very appealing whisky, about one you really would love to sniff and to taste. But hey we still have Springbank 10 yo and Amrut Peated Cask Strength. There's no reason to complain. . .

It'd be fun to put that "best whisky ever made" in a blind lineup and others that aren't terribly different and see whether it really stands out.

@MadSingleMalt Yeah, I sometimes wonder just how much better can they actually be. Would 'ordinary' drinkers be able to pick them out?

Folks who've seen this before, please forgive me for posting it again. But it's probably my favorite piece ever written on whisky:

lawhiskeysociety.com/pages/…

@Hewie

@MadSingleMalt, some posts merit re-posting. Thanks for bringing that one back!

There is a ton(ne) of BS and mental chatter in the world of whisky reputation. Tasting the goods in front of one is all that really matters...and, as L.A.Whisky Society points out, trusting and accepting the experience of your own palate as being all that determines what you like.

@MadSingleMalt that is GOLD. Thanks for sharing again - it's pretty much what I expected. As I think I've shared before, an old colleague of mine who used to work in the the wine industry told me "the golden palette is in your own mouth" - it doesn't matter what others like or think. @Victor has it right about the amount of BS surrounding certain distilleries or particular bottlings - trust your own experiences and palette.

@MadSingleMalt thank you for (re)posting this! it's a must read, and a reminder that our personal tastes/enjoyment and experience with a whisky is what matters - and not slick marketing, rave reviews, and a distillery's reputation to dictate what we ought to like or not.

@Hewie ughh I can't believe I used the incorrect spelling of palate twice in the same comment (getting in before the language police do). Mind you, I was up a number of times during the night with my youngest who is sick - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

@MadSingleMalt Terrific article. I’m convinced the best someone can do is find some friends and/or writers whose palates closely match their own to use as a guideline. And that’s only because my funds aren’t unlimited. I can’t just buy everything and taste for myself.

I’ve got a sample from @Nozinan I’ll be tasting blind soon (though not as soon as I’d like thanks to our new Premier canceling a curriculum revision session I was to participate in, but I digress). I’m really excited about the opportunity and I really want to make sure I have time to do give it the full attention it deserves.

I’ve also profered the following opinions on whisky (in a Facebook group) and they have caused a bit of a stir:

• I like Laphroaig Select. No it’s not the greatest Laphroaig ever, but it’s still nice.
• I’ve never tasted a Macallan I thought was worth the asking price. No, I haven’t tasted a ton of Macallan expressions. No they aren’t bad whiskies, just not my thing. This one brought the trolls out. Apparently thinking Macallan is overpriced means I’m a raging, jealous poor person who hates rich people. Uhm, ok.
• Blended whisky can be excellent. Yes, even in this “new golden age” of whisky, many people think blends suck. And they think anyone who likes blends suck. Oh well.

@Hewie, I do it all the time. It's okay, no harm done... until you attempt to stack freight on your palate.

@OdysseusUnbound

• I like Laphroaig, but I've never tried Select. I think Lore is a very nice whisky.

• The Macallan I like best is the least expensive Macallan I have purchased, or at least it was the least expensive when it was purchased for CDN $72 - $100....it is now discontinued (no shit) and commands a king's ransom if it can be found.

• The best whiskies on the planet are blends and anyone who doesn't agree SUCKS!

@OdysseusUnbound wise words... Technically, many Canadian whiskies, if made in Scotland, could be classified as blends...at least not single malts

I was wondering if the changes announced were related to your new job... does that mean you'll be keeping your old job?

@paddockjudge Where the heck did you get a macallan for $72? I've never found one for less than $73...

@OdysseusUnbound I didn't really care for Laphroig select. The 10yo is the same price here so it's the obvious choice.

I agree with you about Macallan. The 12yo sherry oak is nice but not worth what it goes for around these parts. Glenfarclas 12 is better anyway in my opinion.

@Nozinan My new job is unaffected....yet. The curriculum revisions were a two week gig that got canceled.

@casualtorture Oh yeah, the 10 is better for sure. The price difference is about $20 here.

@OdysseusUnbound, what kind of sick & twisted Facebook groups do you belong to that give you flack for calling Macallan overpriced?!?! I thought that was the one opinion that the whole world wide whisky web could agree on.

@MadSingleMalt The group is called Scotch Addict and the troll in question was inadvertently hilarious. He once stated that a very expensive (read: overpriced) bottle of THE Dalmore was undoubtedly worth it because expensive things are expensive because they’re the best. He then compared THE Dalmore to a very expensive Ferrari (can’t remember which one; I’m not a car guy) which is also “the best car in the world”. I tried to keep it light by suggesting that a Ferrari is not the best car in the world if one needs to tow a boat or pick up some sheets of drywall, and that a pickup truck is better than a Ferrari in those instances. He replied by calling me an idiot because I “think a pickup truck is better than a Ferrari”. The Internet is fun.

Side Note: I believe the troll has been banned from that group.

@OdysseusUnbound It's hard to share an opinion on the internet and not get some push-back from something these days. I also follow Scotch Addict (I shared my thoughts on your rum post), but keep my comments to a minimum, as it's easy to tumble down the rabbit hole.

@Mancub I believe @talexander does as well. Most there are pretty cool. But it’s the Internet and there are always, uhm, different characters.

@OdysseusUnbound @Mancub - Well, that's just, like, your opinion, Dudes!

@Mancub: "It's hard to share an opinion on the internet and not get some push-back from something these days."

No it's not.

@OdysseusUnbound

Try running for office and posting on twitter...

@Nozinan, Edmonton...and a discount on top of that, it covered the tax. Although $73 is a good price, I would have paid as much as $90...and today the price is in the hundreds of dollars, if not more, for a Mac CS.

@paddockjudge Yes, remind me that we left 2 at $93 on the shelf...nay, returned them to the shelf!

And left one for $73...

@Nozinan, apparently it is just overpriced hype-juice bought only by show-off wankers , so in hind sight, we did the right thing

@casualtorture, what is the going price in your region for the macallan 12 YO sherry wood? It seems to be priced in the same range as Glenfarclas 12 YO, $40 - $65...horses for courses, I'd take the Mac 12 Sherry over the glenfarclas 12 on most days.

@paddockjudge in Nashville the 'farclas is generally $10-20 cheaper, $59.99 vs $69.99 or higher for the Mac. I'm kind of a Glenfarclas fanboy though. I really enjoy their style of sherried whisky; even the 10yo.

@paddockjudge Oregon had the Mac on sale for $45 in May. Back up to $65 now. I would have bought a couple when I was down there, but had to go with Talisker DE, Corryvreckan and AnOa. Probably should have got the Ten at $52 instead of the AnOa.