Anyone ever read the 1947 classic Whisky Galore by Compton Mackinzie?
The author was the British Secret Service Bureau Chief in the Middle East during WW1 and was Ian Fleming’s model for the character “M” in the James Bond novels
There was also a film version that’s pretty solid,
Awesome summary!
Holy Crap Dude!!! I had to re-read what you said 6 times!!! That is the BEST break down I think I have ever read.
The one thing I noticed with single malts is that some are great sippers, others need food and in the case of Dhalmor needed a cigar. I got nothing on @Dave17.
That said many good ones to be had for $50 - 80. Just have to pick your flavor, I prefer the smokey dark ones that fill your mouth as opposed to the ones that hit your nose.
Cheers,
Craig6
I’ll take a serious look next trip to liqour store, see what they have and price ranges…and the sampler I think is a GREAT idea I may try first, as it is clearly a good way to try something new - thanks @Paul008 
@Dave17 - Daaaang I’ll have to read that a few more times! Thx for the info.
Angel’s Envy is a bourbon that is finished in sherry barrels I believe it is. I didnt like it very much but did finish a bottle once over a long period.
You’re totally right about the rules with bourbon being strict. The older ones are, IMO, typically better.
Ya all take care & stay safe!
It’s not a single malt, but give Johnny Walker double black a go. It’ll set you back in the vicinity of 35-40 a 1/5.
To be honest, JW has a lot to be desired; even the blue is not up to par with a good single.
I’m with you on most of their line … I rather get 4 bottles of Lasanta than one Blue; you’re paying for the name and the hype. That being said, I did enjoy the double black before I migrated to bourbon.
I will have to politely disagree. Macallan is over-rated and over-priced. There are numerous sherried single malts that are far superior. For one, the Aberlour cask strength batch series 46 - 61 that I had more than several of were supremely better. At 43% the Macallan is barely Scotch, mostly water.
I’m more of a Bourbon fan myself, however do enjoy single malt as well and particularly the cask strength varieties. In fact I have the Glenmorangie 14yr old Port Cask Finish and some Macallan 18yr Sherry Oak Cask in the dry bar right now.
I don’t drink enough to join any sort of club/society (although Bourbon is another story, lol 
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And yes of course only AFTER all shooting activities for the day are done and I’m safe back in my fortress of solitude (aka the home office) and even then only a couple of fingers.
I had a friend in from the Northeast a few years back who comes from Scottish heritage and we went out and had a couple and he introduced me to this single malt I cannot recall the name of but it was so peaty that it might as well have been garnished with the moss!!! 
Too much for me, but he loves the stuff. As you say to each their own, live and let drink in peace.
Most likely it was one of the ones I mentioned earlier, Corryvrecken, Uigeadail, or Octomore. Those are some of the most heavily peated and most well-known - and quite good. You can keep nosing the glass for at least a 1/2 hour after it is empty and it still smells wonderful. They are definitely intense, but have so many nuances of flavor, amazing experiences.
One of the reasons cask strength tastes better is because it is not watered-down, leaving all the smells and tastes intact. When water is added, there are sensory notes that become vaporized. When that mixture is bottled, those flavor notes, still present in the undiluted Scotch, don’t get into the bottle, making it a shell of its former self. Most of what is on the market is sold at 40-46%. It’s not to say that these Scotches at lower proofs are bad, it is just that they could be that much better.
When I was much younger, I bought the liquor for the private bar at our wedding reception in the church hall, made a list and took it an old hunting pal of my dad, who owned the best liquor store in town. When he got to Scotch he crossed it off the list saying “you don’t need any”
Why? I asked. He replied that Scotch drinkers prefer their brand Scotch over all others—Dewars drinkers won’t drink Johnny Walkers won’t drink Cutty Sark or Cluney, and a die hard Scotch drinker is more apt to bring a flask of their own rather than risk imbibing a lesser Scotch. Since you can’t please them all you’ll only disappoint by pouring one brand, so let 'em drink Vodka, Gin or Bourbon instead.
That may be true for some or many, but I do not suffer those inhibitions, if it is good, I like it, which is why I like all different styles from many different distilleries and independent labels, as well as cask strength single malt, aqua vitae its truest, purest expression.
Rum man myself!!! Nothing better then a nicely mixed spiced rum soaking in ice.
I like my rum the same as my Scotch, neat, no ice. I prefer aged rum, such as the Zacapa 23 or OX. I recently had the Villa Rica 23 Anos, and Pilar 24 which also were pleasant, though a bit sweeter, not that they are sweet.
Alright party at Dave’s house he’s got all the different brands and ages. sounds like he knows what he’s doing over there. 
Well, I know my preferences, and I do have quite a few bottles of Scotch; I believe about 15 different ones currently, it might be a bit more, as one cabinet is almost all Scotch, and another one has a few other bottles. I only have a few bottles each of Rum and Cognac, and a handful or so of assorted liqueurs. So it’s not the most diverse assortment, but it is filled with what my wife and I like.
Well I can tell you my wife’s a bourbon drinker but she said bring on the scotch. But it also sounds like you need to beef of your rum selection… lol
My wife likes Bourbon, too. The 1792 small batch (?) and the Woodford Reserve small batch (?) are a couple of her favs.
As to Rum, what would you recommend? I have had Captain Morgan’s spiced and liked it. I have had several rums from small Caribbean distilleries that we’re good, but can’t get in the states. I do prefer aged rum, though.