McClellend Islay

I apologize for the long delay between posts, I've been fighting an upper respiratory infection that has slowed my consumption somewhat. I was, however, able to sample a bottle of McClellend Islay before I was consumed with phlegm. Oddly enough the wife and I were going to another function with some friends and I opted to bring this inexpensive bottle along for a tasting, as it turned out a friend brought the same bottle to the party. Yippee! Let me start by stating that McClellend is not in fact a distillery but rather a reseller of other companies products..which leaves them a little bit suspect in my mind but whatever lately the wallet has been dictating my drinking choices and this fit the bill nicely. McClellend offers selections from the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside and luckily Islay. Their Islay offering comes directly from Bowmore and I want to say it is in the 5-8 year range although the bottle never states how long the contents were aged. Never the less for $20 this is a tasty Islay scotch, heavily medicined, light on the smoke but heavy on the dank peat and very reminiscent of Bowmore Legend. Legend has a little more smoke to it and if offered a selection of the 2 I'd choose the Bowmore every time, not that McClellend is a bad drink I just love the smoke that Legend has to offer. All in all McClelland is a really good inexpensive choice for an everyday Islay scotch.

Cost - $$

Speyside 12 year

Just popped the cork on this one and 1st impression is a good one. Smooth and mild if not unremarkable. This is a wonderful scotch and really suited for people without much ability to discern the different flavors in scotch. If someone had directed me to this bottle to start with I definitely would not have had reservations about my scotch conquest going forward like I did with The Mcallan. This malt is worthy of a good, long look and possibly a permanent spot on the shelf right next to the Laphroaig and Bowmore. A very solid scotch even if it is lacking character.

Cost - $$$

Half Bottle Down

Update on the Drumguish for you.

1/2 down and 1/2 to go and I'll hold firm to my original statement that this is a decent everyday scotch. Great by no means and it certainly doesn't leave me pining for it the next day but it is drinkable. I wish I could say more about it but it's just so nondescript that I can't seem to generate any creative emotion about it. I am looking forward to the bottle of Speyside 12 year that's sitting at home, I can only hope it has more character than Drum.

Drumguish

Finally moved off the island of Islay and moved in to the Highlands, although I liked the island so much that I will be going back often. After polishing off my second glass of Drumguish I realized that this inexpensive scotch is beautifully paired with cheese nips..that's right cheese nips. Salty, cheesy and crunchy are the perfect combination to set off this mostly drinkable single malt. Granted this is just a first pass and my perception of Drumguish may change once I get closer to the bottom of the bottle but right now it is palatable. Is it great? By no means, but it is passable and it certainly wont kill your wallet at 16 bucks a bottle. I guess the German chick at Specs knew what she was talking about when she recommend it along with The Speyside 12 year, yes The Speyside is cued up for the next review. Drumguish does not list how many years they age their scotch, a fact I found a little off putting. Still at 16 bucks it is very affordable but if you're like me and you long for the peat and smoke you'll pony up a few more sawbacks and spring for Bowmore Legend.

Cost - $

I haven't forgotten you

I know you are still there...I can hear your glasses clinking every time you put them back on the table. No I haven't been neglecting my scotch drinking duties, as a matter of fact I have been working on my second bottle of Bowmore Legend the past week. I liked the 1st so much that I thought I'd give it a second, third and forty-fifth look right away. I did receive a 21 year old Glenlivet in the mail the other day....ah ahh nahh I won't be popping the cork on that one any time soon. Given the cost of the bottle I'm going to wait until I win the lottery or retire or have another kid (yeah right) or maybe just run out of liquor and get desperate before I open that one. I'm still here and still drinking and plotting my next choice for review carefully.

As a side note I've been very busy with my new websites and if you are so inclined please visit the links to the right.

Dalmore should be Dalless

This will be an abbreviated and inebriated review of Dalmore Cigar Malt. I don't get this one, some days it's good and tastes like liquid chocolate and other days it tastes like leftover drops of kitchen cleaner. I've said it before and I'll say it again.. I don't like sherry! This isn't an overpowering sherry like The Macallan but it's still there. I need smoke and lots of it but for your sake and to satisfy my overwhelming curiosity I'll keep straying off the island frequently, although I will always keep going back. Give me something with some peat next time.


Cost - $$$

Happy 13th honey

My wife and I celebrated our 13th anniversary by going out to eat (a rare kid free treat) at Perry's Steakhouse and Grill and I must say it was divine. Service was impeccable and the food was terrific and the bill was...well wallet crushing but it was worth it. The walls are literally lined with hundreds of bottles of wine, not my bag but damn impressive none the less! The waiter stated they had upwards of 2500 bottles in stock worth in excess of a million bucks, can you imagine liking wine that much? A million on scotch, no problema. Speaking of scotch I had the opportunity to sample Lagavulin 16 year while we were dining and I liked it. I liken it to Laphroaig's little, weaker cousin. It had the same smokey, briney flavor it just didn't overpower me like Laphroaig did. It was solidly drinkable but for a 1/3 less dollars a bottle I'm chosing Laphroaig 9 times out of 10.