Which Single Malt have you consumed the most?

That's a really good question. I guess I'd want a little more specificity as to what that means.

I'm assuming that in my 6 1/2 year career drinking whisky, the number of bottles I've finished correspond roughly to the amounts of each bottle I've consumed myself. A lot of what I consume I share.

If we're talking single expression, I think hands down Aberlour A'Bunadh would be the one I've had the most. I've opened 8 bottles of my own (finished 6) and tasted from a few others.

But if look at a distillery (because technically all the expressions are a single malt), Arut would be a contended. I've finished or almost finished 8 bottles, all of them really good.

I've had quite a number of expensive one-offs over the years and sometimes buy them again if the price is right. The ones I always have on hand and open are not spectacular, but they are, for me, essential: Laphroaig 10, Ardbeg 10, Talisker 10, HP 12, Glenfarclas 12 and Springbank 10. I probably drink more Ardbeg 10 than anything else lately with the Laph 10 running a close second. The old Macallan 12 (when I can get it) and the Glenfarclas are my go to drams for sherry. A'Bunadh has just got too pricey for me.

@Wodha I was just fantasizing about Brora 30 being my everyday drinker. Even if there was plenty of it around I don't think my pockets are deep enough. I've never had the Aberfeldy. Must try it sometime.

Cheers

Springbank, Talisker, & Ardbeg.

More specifically, Springbank 10/12CS, Talisker 10/DE/18, Ardbeg 10/Oogie.

Talisker 10

Interesting question! I guess my best estimation would be finished bottles from my own cabinet. That would be Ardbeg Uigeadail and Aberlour A'bunadh. Not a shabby duo if I might say so...

Ardbeg Ten

Nozinan has a good point. I'm specifically asking for one single expression of single malt.

@Wodha what about an expression with specific batch numbers, like A'Bunadh?

Macallan Cask Strength tops my list as one single expression of single malt (measured by total volume consumed).

Broadly, it would be Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Ardbeg and Laphroaig, in no particular order.

@paddockjudge That's because the question was limited to malts only...

@Nozinan,

you raise a good point about single malt = single distillery. I will not deviate from the spirit of this thread by listing bourbon or blends, although it would make for an interesting thread(s) on its own.

@paddockjudge I was just thinking about FC Portwood.... surely that would exceed the Mac CS...

@Nozinan, it would be a close call. I know I have opened and emptied thirteen bottles of FC Port Wood. AP 30 YO exceeds that by a factor of 2.

What about AP 25?

By volume....either Laphroaig 10 or Glenlivet 12. Budget constraints and all that...

Balvenie 15 Sherry cask, as far as I remember it is the only SM that I have finished more than 2 bottles of. Bourbon and Canadian, well that's a different story.

Ardbeg Uigeadail most. Laphroaig 10 43% second. Third and fourth, probably Amrut Intermediate Sherry matured and Aberlour A'bunadh. Like @Astroke, the most I have consumed by myself of any malt is a little over two 750 ml bottles, but less than three bottles. This is mainly because I like a lot of variety and constant research and experimentation with different drams.

I have probably downed four 750 ml bottles of Thomas Handy Rye, three bottles of Sazerac 18 Rye, and two and a half bottles each of George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Eagle Rare 17, Pappy Van Winkle 15, and Van Winkle 12.

If I narrow it down to one distillery it would be Laphroaig. I just checked my count on the FOL site since 2011: 32 bottles total. 15X10 yr. old, 9XQC, 5X18, 2XCairdeas, 1X15.

If it is one single malt: Laphroaig 10 @43%.

Ardbeg 10 running a close second.

@BlueNote, that is good taste on your part being a Laphroaig specialist. Laphroaig gets my vote as most consistently good Scottish distillery. I have only purchased about half as many bottles of Laphroaig as you have...but I would get nervous if I didn't have at least 6 or 8 bottles of it in stock.

@Victor My only regret is that I did not bunker a few more 18s when they were around.

@BlueNote I regret never having tasted the 18...

@Nozinan I only had one bottle of the 200th anniversary 15 year old and it was very good even at 43%. If they do an OB of that one at 48% it will be a worthy replacement for the 18. I heard that rumour sometime ago, but haven't seen anything since. Fingers crossed.

@Nozinan & @BlueNote : Get over to Madison, Wisconsin and I'll point you to place that still has a shelf full of Laphroaig 18 at $100 a pop. I bought one recently, though, and wasn't all that impressed. It's good, but only good.

To respond to the thread: Laphroaig 10 CS, easily. Distant seconds: Springbank 10 and Knappogue Castle 12.

@MadSingleMalt

Sadly, the closest I'm likely to get to Madison is Sorensen, the setting of the Mattie Winston Coroner murder mystery novel series.

Mind you, I learned enough to call the coroner for one of my pronouncements over the weekend...

By distillery - Glenfarclas, Macallan, Ardbeg, Highland Park.

Laphroig seems to be getting all sorts of love on here. I've had their QC and didn't find it good enough to start hunting other expressions. What am I missing here?

This is a good question, particularly for the nerds who document their buying and drinking habits. Having been given the excuse to consult the inventory spreadsheet, I find I’ve bought (or occasionally been given) 164 full bottles for my own home-consumption since getting into whisky in late 2008. I find Bladnoch is my most commonly purchased dram (9 bottles, though several different expressions). Followed by Bunnahabhain (6) and Dailuaine and Invergordon (both 5). The individual expression I’ve had the most is actually Rittenhouse Rye 100 proof, with 3 purchases in that time. I’ve also had 3 A’bunadhs, different expressions. This all reflects my interest is in exploring different types above anything else. In fact 117 of the 164 bottles I’ve bought have been unique, so there really is very little I go back to time and time again.