Need to choose the best single malts for my husband's tastin

[shrahh]

Hi there!
Hoping you whisky experts can help.
I'm planning a surprise single malt for my hubby for his upcoming birthday.
Let me give you the truth - I know almost nothing about whisky! My husband is very passionate about single malt on the other hand. He even went to Scotland to learn how it's made.
His favorite distilleries are Glenlivet, Highland Park, Ardberg and Macallan (can't remember the rest)
I want him to have a unique experience, and get to taste some exclusive malts he hasn't had before. Would really like everyone's help in choosing.
The Connoisseur has decided on these based on what I told him:
Glenlivet Alpha
Highland Park Dark Origins
Redbreast 21
Kavalan Sherry Cask
Kilchoman Port Cask

He mentioned a Balblair 1990 that he could put in instead of the Redbreast or Kavalan. What do you guys think? From what I've seen online, Dark Origins hasn't gotten the greatest reviews so maybe have the Balblair instead of that, or keep it because it's a brand he loves and a newer release?

Very confused and want it to be super special. Look forward to receiving all your thoughts.

[opelfruit]

Hi and welcome.

First, for a tasting event of special whiskies that's a pretty good lineup. Most of these are whiskies that you would not get to try; Kichoman Port cask and Glenlivet Alpha were limited releases so he's unlikely to get to try these again.

Redbreast 21 is very good and out of a lot of peoples price range, so again it's a good one to do at a tasting as he's unlikely to purchase one himself.

Balblair 1990 2nd release is again limited. I've just finished a bottle of this and it was superb.

The one that would excite me the most would be the Kavalan; never tried it and I know they produce some wonderful stuff, but again the UK allocations are usually limited and it's fairly pricey to "take a punt" on a bottle for personal purchase.



.............can't comment on the HP Dark Origins as I've not tried it.


Given the distilleries he likes I think it's a good tasting and he would get to try whiskies that he's unlikley to get to sample again any time soon.
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[Quaich1]

I concur. Good choices. Haven't had HP Dark Origins either. For what it's worth, Jim Murray, the whisky pundit and guru doesn't seem all that impressed with Dark Origins based on some of his comments.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[shrahh]

Thanks a lot both of you for your time. That's already very helpful.

Opelfruit thanks for all the info, puts it into perspective and sounds like I'm really on the right track so I'm thrilled! I want him to have exactly that - a unique tasting that he won't forget and won't be able to have again.
I think he'll also be thrilled with my new whisky knowledge

I'm thinking, based on what you both have said and what I've read online to cut the Dark Origins and make sure the Balblair is in there. If I remember correctly, DO was also the lowest priced of all the bottles.
That must say something too?

[opelfruit]

As a bit of an extra treat, maybe ask the place that is doing the tasting (I assume a specialist whisky shop?) if they would do a good discount on a purchase of the bottle he liked the most during the tasting. They know he's going to want to buy and know they'll have a guaranteed sale of a pricey whisky, shroud be around £100ish ......Redbreast is £150 and the most expensive. See if they knock 20% off


Most specialists will knock 10% off if you ask nicely anyway.....and it is his birthday
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[William]

Hi shrahh

You would be very lucky to get hold of the Glenlivet Alpha, but if you are interested in something from the Glenlivet the 21 year old and 25 year old are outstanding whiskies.

As an alternative to the sherried Highland Park Dark Origins how about the Balvenie Single Barrel Sherry Cask 15 Year Old www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/balveniiesinglebarrelsherrycask.htm or if you want to spend a little more the Glengoyne 25 Year Old is very good www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/glengoyne25yearold.htm a little cheaper is the equally good Glengoyne 21. Just a thought, if he is a Highland Park fan, has he tried the Highland Park 25 year old which is really outstanding.

The Redbreast 21 is excellent www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/redbreast21yearold.htm

The Kilchoman Port Cask was excellent but it was a limited release and you would be lucky to find a bottle now but as an alternative how about the Benriach 17 Year Old Solstice 2 Peated Port Finish.
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There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

[shrahh]

That's great advice opelfruit, thanks! Will definitely ask them!

What's your take on William's choices?

quote="opelfruit"]As a bit of an extra treat, maybe ask the place that is doing the tasting (I assume a specialist whisky shop?) if they would do a good discount on a purchase of the bottle he liked the most during the tasting. They know he's going to want to buy and know they'll have a guaranteed sale of a pricey whisky, shroud be around £100ish ......Redbreast is £150 and the most expensive. See if they knock 20% off


Most specialists will knock 10% off if you ask nicely anyway.....and it is his birthday [/quote]

[shrahh]

Hi William,
Thanks so much for your thoughts.

So we already have the alpha ready I believe. I think he's had the 21 and 25 and he does love them... That's why I didn't think of them.
Same with Kilchoman. We already have it ready.
I think we'll keep the kavalan in too because it's gotten such great reviews.

But you've given me great options to have in case. I think he's had the HP 25 yr old that's why thought I'd give him something different. But still going to have these as back ups.

Thanks so much .

[shrahh]

Hi William,
Thanks so much for your thoughts.

So we already have the alpha ready I believe. I think he's had the 21 and 25 and he does love them... That's why I didn't think of them.
Same with Kilchoman. We already have it ready.
I think we'll keep the kavalan in too because it's gotten such great reviews.

But you've given me great options to have in case. I think he's had the HP 25 yr old that's why thought I'd give him something different. But still going to have these as back ups.

Thanks so much .

[sorren]

This sounds a great idea, I'm sure your other half is gonna be blown away with this, I hope he enjoys it..😀

[Grant M]

If he is a fan of Redbreast he will love the Redbreast 21, it has become a favourite of mine since its release.

[shrahh]

Thanks guys. I think he'll be blown away too, that's the idea!
Will actually post a quick one on how it went

[sorren]

Great, can't wait to hear about it, you could always send samples so we can gauge how happy he was too

[shrahh]

So guys,
The presenter just contacted me and says he wants to switch out the Kilchoman Port Cask for a Benriach 20 year old...
What are your thoughts???

The tasting is this Sunday so would love your opinions ASAP.

I sneakily managed to ask my husband's thoughts on Benriach last night and he says it's not his preferred whisky. Finds it on the salty side which is not something he particularly enjoys...

I also saw the new Kilchoman is out.

What do you guys suggest???

[opelfruit]

Hmm, has he said why the Kilchoman is no longer possible? Benriach is a speyside whisky and totally different from Kilchoman which is peated and from Islay.


Benriach do a heavily peated range, did he mean this? It may be a 21yo called Authenticus. It's a very good peated whisky but also very different from Kilchoman.


Kilchoman is young and oily vegetal peat whereas Benriach uses mainland peat so it's smokier/woodier and very mature at 21years.


The new Kilchoman (Loch Gorm) is good, I'll be buying one his year.....its released each year and is about 5/6 years old. It may be a good one to go for instead.

You can also ask him if he has anything else from Kilchoman avaliable or anything limited from Ardbeg.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."