Rug Burn Junky on 17/12/2007 at 18:44

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Most liquor stores can special order it for you, but probably not in time for christmas. I haven't been able to find any sources online that get me a substantial discount, so that's the route I usually go for the high end stuff.

I have a liquor store in my home town that I trust, and the owner keeps his eye open for new things that would interest me, and will sometimes order them *just in case* to tempt me when I come in. And he's let a bottle or two slide my way at cost.

A relationship, incidentally, that began when my mom bought me a bottle of 30 year old Laphroaig for Christmas three years ago (I'm still sitting on the last two fingers of it, and I have a vacuum cork in it that hasn't been popped - even to smell it - since the last time I drank it a over year ago).

I think she paid about $200-250 for it, but I never asked because it was a gift. I must commend you on your taste - it's one of my absolute favorite whiskys of all time (being just barely edged out by the 25 year old Talisker that I got for Christmas last year).

tungsten on 17/12/2007 at 21:23

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RBJ: I already have a 21y Lagavulin and a 25y Caol Ila, so Talisker might be a worthy alternative. But I'd really like to find the 30 Laphroaig (I tried this and the '66 bottled by Signatory). The distillery just very recently listed it as sold out (it was more than 200£!!). Now the shops around here offer it for 500-650$ which is out of my range. I've heard it would be possible to find it between 200 and 260$. If you know a place, let me know. I'll check the Talisker over here. Did you try the 30y Talisker? I wonder which one is better since the 30y is only about 25% more expensive than the 25.

Mingan:
Laphroaig: if you buy a cheap one, get the "quarter cask". Much better than the regular 10 if you ask me.
Ardbeg: the regular 10 is not good. The distillery knows this. They changed the process back to the "old" recipe just exactly 10 years ago. Last year they offered an "almost there" (9y) which is again wonderful. I'd go for that one or the "new ten year old" which is supposed to come out this or next year.

Best value for the price I've found with the 18y Caol Ila or maybe (2nd place) 16y Lagavulin. But the best thing is to go to a tasting. - You'll want to save money after that for the really expensive ones :tsktsk:

belboz on 17/12/2007 at 23:49

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hic whiskey, hic, lush.:ebil:

Tocky on 18/12/2007 at 02:38

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Actually I thought my brother described it best as aged iodine. I seem to recall we drank it anyway and it was a bad decision. Anything which cannot be improved by being snockered is truely bad.

Scots Taffer on 18/12/2007 at 03:47

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As soon as I finish the 21 yr old Havana-club Glenfiddich I am moving straight onto some Macallans.