Whisky Forum - What are good Islay's for my next step

GBrough

I own a few Islay whiskies.
Laphroaig Triple Wood
Ardbeg Corrvreycken
Bruichladdie 10
Lagavulin 16

What are your recommendations for me to try next, there are so many out there and my whisky mentor does not drink Islay.
_________________
The Laga 16.

It even tastes like an ashtray-WM

Alexppp · Master Of Malts Joined: 16 Jul 2010 Posts: 1791

I like the Laphroaig Quarter Cask as a good value for money whisky but haven't had the Triple Cask so I don't know how they compare.

Do you like sherry in your peat? If so, definitely the Ardbeg Uigeadail and Lagavulin Distillers Edition.

Also Bunnahabhain's core range is excellent, but not heavily peated so it depends what you want from your Islay. The Bunna 18 especially is fantastic.

GBrough · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:39 pm Post subject:

Alastair · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:15 pm Post subject:

The Ardbeg Uigeadail and Lagavulin Distillers Edition are must tries. Look out for the Lagavulin 12 year old special releases.

Port Charlotte the peaty expression from Bruichladdich is excellent. Have you tried Caol ila, their entry level 12 year old is excellent so is their cask strength bottling, prices on this have been rising but so have they all. What about Bowmore, their Tempest bottlings have been great and i do like their 12 year old.

TheWM · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:16 pm Post subject:

The 'phroaig QC and Bowmore Small Batch Reserve are both excellent expressions which I always keep an eye out for deals to bag some, normally at the Â£25ish mark and think they offer a great idea of how flavoursome some small batches are.

Bunna 12 and especially 18 and Ardbeg 10 are extremely great 'go to' Islay drams.

I like the Laga 16, lots, and IMO, couldn't justify the big price hike for the DE.

Quaich1 · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:56 pm Post subject:

I would reiterate the recommendation for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Bowmore Darkest is a splendid dram. The Elements of Islay series is also excellent. I have tried the Lg2 and Ar2 and have an unopened bottle of Lg2 which I will open on a special occasion sometime.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

albo · Master Of Malts Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 1888

Yes the Lap QC is good and price wise won't hit your pocket too hard. Also the Laphroaig 10 and the Ardbeg 10. I am quite partial to the Port Charlotte stuff.

You could try any of the Kilchoman releases while they are not exactly cheap for what they are they're getting God reviews and it's the newest distillery on Islay

William · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:06 pm Post subject:

Away from the original distillery bottlings, have you tried Smokehead from Ian Macleod or the blended malt Big Peat from Douglas Laing both excellent Islay drams that wont put too big a dent in the wallet.

The Laddie Ten is a excellent unpeated Islay which you have already tried and on the peaty side from Bruichladdich they offer a few very decent peaty drams under the Port Charlotte label. Port Charlotte The Peat Project is good.

Kilchomans offerings are young and not cheap for their age but i have been very impressed with it, peat and a bit of youthfulness does seem to go well together. Kilchoman Machir Bay, 100% Islay and Kilchoman Loch Gorm sherry cask matured are very good if you can get hold of them.

Bowmore Tempest and as Quaich1 mentions Bowmore Darkest and the Elements of Islay series from The Whisky Exchange are worth a look.

As a few mention above the Laphroaig Quarter Cask is excellent and if you are ever passing through an aiport travel retail shop look out for the superb Laphroaig PX Cask.
_________________
There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

GBrough · Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 3:20 am Post subject:

GBrough · Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 3:26 am Post subject:

I think I will order the Bowmore Tempest Batch 3 here in the states, I had the misfortune of buying a bottle of Bowmore legend and i returned it a day later still if you insist that the Tempest is completely different I will buy a sample of it. I will keep my eye out for Lagavulin 12 and The Distillers Edition.
_________________
The Laga 16.

It even tastes like an ashtray-WM

Brummie · Master Of Malts Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 661

Each Bowmore Tempest has varied for me with the 2nd by far the best for me, they have a more delicate peat smoke than you would find in the standard 12 year old and being bottled at cask strength makes them worth a try. Some people just dont like the style of Bowmore and if you disliked the Legend that much perhaps the Bowmore style aint for you and you should stay clear of the Tempest.

Quaich1 · Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:04 pm Post subject:

GBrough · Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 5:09 pm Post subject:

nitram · Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:19 pm Post subject:

The legend is one of the whiskies that made Islay accessible to me. I understand your comment about it being a little one dimensional, but I'd defend it by saying it is excellent in it's one dimension and it is (was?... is it still as easily available?) priced at the lower end of the range. I have just finished off a bowmore darkest. I don't know your tastes, but it is somewhat more complex than the legend.

I haven't won the lottery so I have only tried the affordable Islay's, including the Laphroaig triple wood , and to my mind nothing beats the quarter cask.

Craven · Triple Malt Member Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 218

Something from each distillery on Islay that are worth trying IMO and wont break the bank:

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte The Peat Project & 10 year old
Kilchoman 100% Islay, Machir Bay
Bowmore 12, 15 Darkest
Ardbeg 10, Uigeadail
Lagavulin 12 Special Release
Laphphroaig PX Cask and 18
Bunnahabnain 12 & 18
Caol Ila 12, 18 and Distillers Edition and the unpeated special releases are worth a try.

Great value independent Islay bottlings:

Big Peat blended malt
Clan Denny Islay blended malt (not sure if you can still get this as i havent saw any for a while)
Smokehead