Something similar to an Ardbeg 17! Help

[madflyhalf]

Hi everyone, I'm new!
I'm Marco and I'm from Italy!

I've been in Scotland in 2002, when I was just 17, and in a famous shop I decided to buy a gift for my father, and I chosed an Ardbeg aged 17 (my age! :D).
Very lucky! I've bought it at 49£, and a few months ago I discovered it is now rated almost 250£!! Well my home it's not a museum, so it's better to have drink it, than to have exposed it!

So, I came back in Scotland 10 days ago, and I came back to that very famous whisky shop in Edinburgh (don't know if I can name it), searching for a substitute for my Ardbeg 17 which is almost finished (I take it for big happenings :D).

I asked to a clerk for an advice, and he showed me a bottle which... I don't remember! I decided to buy a Caol Ila, knowing my father's preference and mine for Islay Whisky (opened tonight and it left me a bit disappointed, I thought it would be better! but I'm not worried so mutch)... Anyway:
The only few things I can remember about that bottle, were: it was from Glasgow, as written on the package, it had a light green squared box with a painting drawed upon that, maybe it was 15-16 years old.
It was rated 43£.

I don't remember if it was a single malt or a blended!
I just left surprised because it wasn't a Islay whisky, but then I realize that that Ardbeg is not a typical old Islay one! It is something different!

Can you help me in my search?

Thanks and cheers!

[Mark]

Hi Marco and welcome to the Scotch Malt Whisky Forum

It may have been a bottle from the Glasgow based independent whisky bottler "Douglas Laing"

Did the bottle look like the one shown here:
www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/douglaslaingwhisky.htm

Cheers

Mark

[Andy M]

Hi Marco

The Whisky Exchange shop has Ardbeg 17 for £199

If you would like some suggestions for other reasonably priced whisky to buy in the same style as the Ardbeg 17 you liked so much i would suggest some of the other bottlings from Ardbeg such as:

Ardbeg 10
Ardbeg 1990 Airigh Nam Beist
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg Supernova
Ardbeg Uigeadail

You may also like whisky from Lagavulin and Laphroaig

Hope that helps

Andy M

[madflyhalf]

Thanks to all!

I love Lagavulin! It's my 2nd favourite scotch, but I've not been interested in try a new Ardbeg, I was afraid of spoil something that for me is divine! (a really uisge beatha)..

Can you tell me something about Caol Ila (12)?
I found this whisky very "difficult" to drink, sweet and light taste, but so dry, much different from Lagavulin and Ardbeg!
I don't mean I don't like it!! :D

[Big Mac]

Marco, Caol Ila is one of the lighter of the Islay malt whiskies. Medium-bodied with a rounded flavour. Caol Ila has a peaty nose, with distinct floral notes. It can be described as tasting slighty of seaweed/iodine, lightly medicinal, smoky, salty, sweet with a dry peppery finish. Not a peat monster like Lagavulin and Ardbeg.

I dont think trying a different Ardbeg will spoil anything, all the Ardbegs Andy lists are all different and all excellent.

[John]

Hi Marco and welcome to the SMW Forum

You may find this single malt whisky flavour map useful see here:

www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/whiskyflavourmap.htm

You can download the PDF version and save it on your computer for reference.

[madflyhalf]

thanks to all of you!