What is the next bottle you purchase or open?

@Nozinan, @talexander, I started in 1976 on a bottle of Seagram's V.O. ...slow learner

@nooch, I can't recall having tried Oban 14 YO.

@Astroke I read good things about Cadenhead shop. I will consider it for sure. I hesitate to buy from a shop at the beginning of my trip since I planned to visit a few distilleries, but if I am not charmed by a few suggestions before my return to Edinburg, I will probably make a stop to Cadenhead’s shop.

@RikS Yes, I meant Single Cask. I didn’t precise the distillery since I like all styles. Since I am not able to bring back more than 3 bottles, I planned to get bottles of Scotch that are not available in Canada and preferably some older ones. Single cask and Cask Strenght would be a big bonus.

@Robert99 as a heads up I found distilleries surprisingly lacking for choice. We went post spirit of Speyside and they were picked over of special bottlings and their core range. Not sure what will be available when you go but you might be surprised to find distillery exclusives lacking depending on when you go. If you see something you want at a cadenhead shop I would say pick it up.

As a Canadian side note: my brother in law brought back 4 bottles and paid no duty. I brought back 2 1/2 and was fine. Between you and your wife I would imagine you could get by with 4-5 easily. The duty free selection at the airport in Glasgow was very strong as well.

@Nozinan I think it was 2011? I'd have to go back through emails or something....and no, I don't think I necessarily have more experience - maybe a bit more variety?

@nooch Thanks for the heads up. I will not visit the Speyside on this trip since my wife interest will bring us to the Islands and the Highland. Do you know if it is the same for most distillery?

@Robert99 I don’t know if it’s the same for most distilleries but I do know feis Ile is the end of May on Islay. Those distilleries might be picked over of their exclusives. Anyone have any insights on that?

@Robert99 When are you going? I know that there are lots of special bottlings available in September around the Lagavulin Jazz Festival.

@BlueNote Unfortunately, I will go in August. My wife is a teacher so September is not possible.

@Robert99 You are going to love it. The weather should be good, the distilleries will be busy, and you will find exclusive bottlings available at all of them. You and your wife will love the deep history which is apparent everywhere you look. Are you renting a car? Or using public transport?

Bidding at the LCBO/Waddington's auction for the Hakushu 12 Year Old is up to $230 right now (it closes in 1hr15min) - should I bid? Seems really high!

@talexander 12 YO, if it's not CS it's probably a bit rich....

@Nozinan Not CS - 43% - I agree.....sob.

@Nozinan The damn thing sold for $325!

@talexander someone with too much money in their wallet.

would you have opened it or sold it in the future? The bubble will burst soon.

@talexander There were 2 others that went for $240 and $275, still too high although I have only had a sample.

Some idiot paid $300 for The Macallan Select, the duty free 1 litre bottle that sells for $66 cdn.

3 bottles of VW Lot B all outsold by $100, 2 bottles of William Larue Weller hahaha

I have opened my home to a Wiser's 35 YO. This neglected bottle was languishing on a store shelf in western Canada.

@Astroke fascinating.... Why would someone sufficiently into whisky to get on an auction... Know so little to still pay 5x the price of an existing retail item??

@talexander Hakushu 12 is still readily available from many shops in US that have an online presence. It doesnt have the sex appeal of Yamazaki so gets overlooked. I've purchased it between 70-100$USD

Auction fever often overtakes common sense, you see that on Ebay a lot. I read a recent article on the Cadenhead blog about this same phenomenon of auction bids for bottles still available at list.

@Nozinan I would have opened it....and no, I don't see a bubble bursting anytime soon.

Next up for for:

A Lagavulin 12 (not sure which edition yet though)

Amrut Portonova

Both purchases inspired by the good people here!

@Nickh you're in UK right? I saw one place that had a good price (and availability of the Portonova) but can't recall where now... Should be on Google shopping or hotdealsuk

@RikS yes..UK. Cheers. Cheapest ive seen it is £79 on Master of Malt

@Nozinan - 'The bubble will burst soon.'

I hope so! Watched a Ralfy video earlier from 2011 in a spirits shop in Glasgow. Laddie Ten was £33. Given the specialist nature of the shop I'd guess on line prices were even lower than that. The Ten 2nd Ed cost me £60+ and that was a bargain given some of the prices. So that's a 100% increase (maybe more) in 7 years . . . ouch!

That whisky has become an investment commodity seems to be the real killer. Anything remotely one off or small batch is just snapped up and secondary market prices soon double at the least.

I guess it's all part of a cycle that will inevitably go full circle but I'm struggling to see where the 'bust' part of the cycle comes in . . .

(I curse that I got into whisky when I did - a few years too late it seems and all those trips to Scotland wasted . . . wasted I tell thee! )

@RianC Yup. £33 in 2011 should be £40,25 today in inflation terms. Then again... bubble bursting, incentives go away, distilleries go under and there'll be a lot less experimental successes on the market? :-)

@RianC: "Anything remotely one off or small batch is just snapped up and secondary market prices soon double at the least."

Yeah? I guess I've seen that for some products that over under-priced or over-hyped, but it seems far from universal in my shopping experience. Laphroaig Cairdeas releases usually kick around for a year+. My local specialist shop still has a shelf full of 46% Ardbeg Kelpies. They also still had a couple different Springbank Local Barleys last time I was in there. I don't pay attention to Glenmorangies, but it seems like their one-offs are usually sitting on the shelves, too. That's all in the US.

I'm not really trying to disprove your point, as much as I'm wondering: Are you finding those same kind of one-offs unobtainable in the UK? Or is your comment about different releases?

@MadSingleMalt I wonder if some of the difference there is to do with population base? I'm not familiar with where you live but the UK has a of of bodies squished into a pretty small island = demand. I too see bottles which some find hard to get hands on here in my city of 80 000 in NZ. Just because there isn't the interest in paying for quality spirits. It doesn't really fit the stereotypical Kiwi drinking culture.

I seem to find the Ardbeg release is easier to buy as a committee member and the Laphroaig Cairdeas a little harder. The pricing of Ardbeg puts me off though usually NAS releases with BS story and huge price.

I would like to see good availability of Springbank but as soon as you hear of a site with it for sale it is gone. Lucky my local store stocks then SB10 and 15 so no complaints could be a lot worse.

@RianC I think there are a few of us who feel we entered into this hobby just a year or two late.

Of course, had I known in 1995 what I know now, I would have snapped up a dozen or 2 Black Bowmores selling for $100 each. Sure it's taken 20 years but $15k would still represent an excellent return on investment.

@MadSingleMalt Just for the fun of it, for how much goes the Springbank LB? I was interested until I saw the price around me.