Whisky Galore

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Will that be a dram of Springbank 21 year then

[Malky]

I'm not a big whisky drinker but when I imbibe it's usually Springbank or perhaps Isle of Jura.

Malky

[Ranald]

I believe we can't be far off being the most expensive place in the world to buy whisky Makes you wonder really.

Yes, as somebody who doesn't know anything about whisky, this is the one that confuses me most. My husband travels the world and buys the stuff on a regular basis. Yet twice a year when we go to Islay we pay more for it from the distillery itself! I don't get that. At least at Cadburyworld they give you reduced prices on their chocolate!

Ask the government why that might be. Probably something to do with the duty being more than £21 per litre of alcohol When you also consider VAT, around 75% of the price you pay for a bottle in this country goes to the government. These taxes aren't applied to exports obviously, which is why whisky can be so much cheaper abroad.

[ionnsaigh]

Islay Mist 10 year old single malt whisky .

[Govangirl]

Islay Mist 10 year old single malt whisky .

This proves my point - I got a bottle of this for £6 in Tesco's Clearance shelf last week! I'd share it with you but the master of the hoose has polished the lot off!

[UP THE ROAD]

My partner is from the Western Isles and his brother treated himself to a bottle of Springbank 10 year old malt--said it was peaty and fantastic but had a kick like a mule. In the Western Isles they love their malts but savour them--call any other whisky 'cooking whisky'-they drink Grouse at New Year as they go out round each others houses on New year's Day and last until the next morning -hence the Grouse which isn't as strong and not the malts. My partner enjoys Highland Park, his dad who is 92 years old favours Talisker and most of them enjoy Islay, Arran and about any other malt they can get their hands on.

[Govangirl]

My partner is from the Western Isles and his brother treated himself to a bottle of Springbank 10 year old malt--said it was peaty and fantastic but had a kick like a mule. In the Western Isles they love their malts but savour them--call any other whisky 'cooking whisky'-they drink Grouse at New Year as they go out round each others houses on New year's Day and last until the next morning -hence the Grouse which isn't as strong and not the malts. My partner enjoys Highland Park, his dad who is 92 years old favours Talisker and most of them enjoy Islay, Arran and about any other malt they can get their hands on.

My other half will only drink malt too but when he has too much I have to bring out the Laphroaig that has been replaced with Bells! He's the most laid back person I know but you should hear his language when bar staff put ice or water in his whisky!!!

[EMDEE]

Must take a lot of whisky to make him mistake Bell's for Laphroaig. Laphroaig must be the most distinctive tasting whisky there is.

It's either like it or loathe it. I quite like it.

It smells like a wood fire and tastes of halogens.

[Govangirl]

Must take a lot of whisky to make him mistake Bell's for Laphroaig.

A typical Friday night, Emdee!

[UP THE ROAD]

I don't like whisky myself but Laphroaig smells like TCP to me but my partner and his brother in law like it--mind you they like any malt that's on offer.
My brothers gave up the whisky in Campbeltown as they said it was like 'fire water 'made them aggressive , which they aren't and made them swear constantly which was funny to listen to at the time.

[EMDEE]

Talisker has a really strong TCP aftertaste.

[Govangirl]

TCP, halogens, makes you aggressive - nae wonder I don't drink the stuff! Even the smell makes me wince Then my other half says, "See, you think I'm enjoying ma'sel on a Friday night!"

[EMDEE]

But it's antiseptic, so it can't be all bad.

I once read (probably one of these apocryphal stories) that Laphroaig was smuggled into the USA during the prohibition years as it was labelled as medicine.

[ionnsaigh]

Brings back memories of a holiday on Islay - His Royal Highness Prince Charles crashed the royal jet into the bog The jet had millions of pounds worth of damage - Aye many a smile on the faces that day. However what do you do with a man - who has just caused the greatest air crash in Islays history. Pretend it never happened and give him a huge cask of malt whisky. Who says we Scots aren't generous.

[Govangirl]

Brings back memories of a holiday on Islay - His Royal Highness Prince Charles crashed the royal jet into the bog .

I was there that day!!!!! We couldn't get into the Laphroaig Distillery because he was visiting!!! I reckon it was about 12/13 years ago.

Reminds me of a later time we were there and were stopped going onto The Big Strand by about 12 'detectives' because Blair was on the beach with his family!!!!!!!!!