What is the next bottle you purchase or open?

@RikS - I did something similar with the blind test but tried to also see if I could guess them correctly. Not the most difficult of blind tests it must be said but I did succeed. What was most telling was that the 12 and 17 were hardest to separate; the Caribbean cask stood out a mile

@RianC, that is one above average batch of Balvenie 12 Doublewood which could possibly be confused with Balvenie 17 Doublewood. If 17 Doublewood were less expensive I'd have put away (could be interpreted either as 'having drunk' or as 'having put into storage'--both will work here) half a dozen bottles of it already.

@Victor - Or a less than stellar 17? They were 100 ml bottles though so you don't always get the same picture as a full bottle. The 17 was definitely more refined but they had a very similar profile from memory.

@RianC, that would sadden me if a recent batch of Balvenie 17 Doublewood were not up to the extremely high standards of the batch I bought and tasted 2 years ago. It is certainly possible that a batch of 17 Doublewood could be merely so-so, just as it was possible that batches of 12 Doublewood were in fact far more delicious than was my first bottle of it from 9 years ago.

@Victor @RianC This was a fun little test. I scribbled some notes -

On the nose - The 12 has a rather faint sherry, but its a more pronounces sweetness than the 17. Having recently sampled the Dronach 12 and Farclas 15, I'd say it's a 'typical sherry' like the Dronach. The 17 has a slightly more pronounced nose in terms of sherry, but it's also more interesting as it has additional nuances. I'm picking up burned toast and some fruit mutation of banana-pineapple if that's possible. The Caribbean is more reminiscent of the 17 in terms of sweetness by which I mean that it's less syrup like the 12 and more dark-fruit sweetness, but it's a different kind. It has spice in it, and I think I'm even picking up some salt. And (don't laugh) a wee faint fairy washing up liquid!?

Palate and finish - the 12 has that same thing that I found hard with the Dronach 12; oily sherry coating of the tongue that reminds me of grainy mud. It's a fairly short to medium finish. Some oak. Some sour apple (red) peels. The 17 has a different sweetness than the 12, much more agreeable and less aspartame intense. There's just no alco-bite what so ever. That burned toast is coming back again, this time with some marmelade on it. What surprised me was the shortness of the finish, it's almost abrupt (makes me wonder what it would have been like at higher ABV). The Caribbean has a very different sweetness to it. It's dry and more oaky. Toasted coffee and a slight nutshell bitterness, like aged walnuts. Longest finish of the three.

The 12 is out, I won't go there. But I like both the 17 and Caribbean. If I want sweet + burned toast + marmelade I'll go to the 17, and if I want sweet + toasted coffee + old brown walnuts I'll go to the Caribbean. Just a tad disappointed with that strange finish on the 17, but maybe it's just me that's weird today - so now I have an excuse to revisit it tomorrow!

@RianC I found the 12 and the 17 to be quite discernibly different with the 17 much more to my liking - but I'm fascinated by the total absence of alco-nip of the 17, and surprised (not to say a wee bit disappointed) by what I perceived as a finish on the 17 that just came to almost an immediate halt.

Pity it's just 100 ml of samples in your kit, but that's certainly plenty to do reviews, if not delayed bottle longer-open observations.

Balvenie's biggest crime in my book is discontinuing the lovely 10 yo Founder's Reserve about 8 or 9 years ago. That one has many fans, including me. If you guys ever taste chez moi, you can try that one too.

@RikS I'll be all over the 17DW when I get over there in September. It's a hideous price here.

@BlueNote well, when you come, let me know and well have a dram and talk photo. If you're coming into Gatwick or Heathrow, also don't forget to check the airport prices on the internet - sometimes they have some very good offers going on and they often carry Balvenie (though I've mostly seen the triple cask).

Curious to hear the experience of some other scotch hounds here:

As you’ve gotten further into your habit do you find your acceptable price per bottle rising? Ie. when I first started $85 for Balvenie doublewood was considered at the edges of what I would pay. In the last year I’ve purchased redbreast 21, highland park 21, and Glenlivet 21. On sale yes, but significantly more than what I would even consider 5 years ago. Has anyone else felt this dangerous expansion of their scotch buying budget?

@nooch Funny, I've gone the other way! It's harder for me to pony up big dollars for whisky (though I still do from time to time!)

@talexander how long have you been at it? Maybe I’ll feel the same way in 5 more years.

@nooch I guess about 6 years. The most expensive bottle I ever purchased was about two years ago, but that was an investment - so if I'm counting bottles I plan on opening, then I would say I'm trying to find the ones that have good value for money.

@talexander which leads to my next question...what are your value for money Malts?

@talexander, just 6 years? We first met you in Dec 2011, which is 6 1/2 years ago! Did you consider yourself a noobie at that point, or does 6 years refer to the length of time that you have been willing to pay the big bucks for stuff at auction?

@nooch, I think that we have spent over US$ 200 per bottle on only 4 bottles we own, and over $ 150 but less than $ 200 on maybe another 6 or 7 bottles...out of 300 bottles. I am sure that if a lot more money became available to me that there are 10 or 20 pricier bottles which I would probably buy. Our money spent is a little deceiving with respect to the quality of our cabinet because we do own several dozen bottles which are worth more than $ 200 each now in the marketplace.

@Victor Well, I guess give or take 6 months or so! Maybe more like 7 years.

@nooch Bowmore 12, Oban Little Bay, Talisker 10 and Laphroaig Quarter Cask, to name a few.

@nooch, my budget remains fixed. My desire does not.

I allocate $50 per week and a $1000 top up on an annualized basis. I've exceeded that limit twice this decade, 2013 and 2016, but barely. My middle shelf buys have transitioned into top shelf purchases. I treat myself to one or two very nice top shelf bottles each year and the rest of my spend is determined by availability. Johhnie Walker Green Label 15 YO is my only Scotch purchase in Ontario since late 2015.

I tend to buy multiples when I discover a value play, it must specifically something I would very much like to have in the future if it was discontinued today. This strategy has served me well.

Trading has thus far allowed me to obtain bottles I would otherwise not consider purchasing; a couple of examples: Laphroaig 18 YO, Glendronach Parliament 21 YO, Alberta Premium 25 YO, and Four Roses sm batch Ltd Ed 125th Anniv.,

I like to know what I'm buying, my hard earned dollars are seldom wasted on "flyers".

This topic is worthy of a thread, If one doesn't already exist.

@talexander, @Nooch, Oban Little Bay is definitely a value play. Johnnie Walker Green label 15 YO too, and can't forget about A'Bunadh.

Here in the UK, the market / price segments (I'm not making a judgement call on quality...) seem fairly defined -

£32-37 entry: typical example HP12, Glengoyne 12

£40-59 one notch up: typical examples Laga 16, A'bunah, Farclas 15

£60-80 with a lot hovering on the $75 mark: Balv 17, GD 18 D.E. of Lava, Caol Ila, Talisker

£85-110, with most around £100: GD 21, Glengoyne 21

Above this... I'm not even looking myself...

And, frequent offers at 20% - 33%, like HP12 down to £27, Balv Caribbean £42, Talisker 10 £29.

@RikS As I am planning a trip to Scotland, I am wondering if for 100£ I would be able to catch some SC of 20 yo or older?

@Robert99 Maybe try Cadenhead's Whisky Shops

@Robert99 Sorry Robert, what does SC stand for?

@RikS Single Cask I would guess

@Astroke Single Cask... of what though?

@RikS add 30% (min) to each price you mentioned to get the Ontario ballpark. I have bought maybe 2-3 bottles in Ontario in the last 2-3 years - largely because there was a real, honest to goodness sale or because prices were equivalent to Alberta (where most of my buys come from). My cabinet is not nearly as extensive as most here, but I’m getting a little more discerning as my palate evolves. I spend more than I should but not as much as I’d like!

@Robert99 hmmmm. You’ll have to look for an independent bottler I would think. I actually considered ordering from master of malt and having it delivered to my hotel (which they indicated happens from time to time). Free delivery within the uk , seemingly great prices, and amazing selection.

@paddockjudge I’ve had Oban 14yo. How does little bay compare?

@talexander You started in 2011? I started in 2011. I've always felt you had tonnes more experience than I do. I think you still do...

@Robert9 @nooch if you're here in London / UK it is worth shopping around a bit. Master LT malt, the whisky exchange, a few other well stocked ones tend to have different offers on which sometimes means big savings.