3 reasons for me to give Thanks this year!

Ok so the big turkey blowout fiesta was held at my casa this year and let me just say woohoo! The birds, yes 2 of them there were that many people, were prepped by a genuine gourmet chef who Ing was nice enough to hook up with in time for a tasty treat. (Thanks Ing) I provided the venue and a nice bottle of Glenlivet 12 (yes another bottle..more on that later), a guest brought Cragganmore a 13 year and my scotch buddy brought Tamdhu 10 year. Unfortunately for everyone they left their goodies behind but someones misfortune is anothers good luck, namely mine!

Tamdhu is a very light drink. Light in color, light in flavor and if I recall correctly light on the wallet. I am now convinced that distilleries in Speyside make a concerted effort to avoid all things smokey or distinct. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy the mellow smoothness that seems to dominate all of the scotches from this region but every time I drink one I think, honey who shrunk the flavor. Tamdhu is no different however I think the thing I like most about this scotch is the total lack of after taste, I mean there is really zero after taste. It reminds of when Kramer spiffs on Hennigans, the no tell no smell scotch. That is what Tamdhu is the no tell, no smell scotch. It's a good safe bet for the uninitiated but after battling the smokey monsters of Islay I feel it is a little uninspired.

The Glenlivet 12 year

I should be shot! I can't believe I forgot to catalog this beauty for you. Please forgive me I started the bottle before I had my wisdom teeth yanked and finished it after the painkillers wore off so that week was a little fuzzy. Anyhow, to any noob scotch drinker out there my advice is to start your career with this one. A finely crafted scotch that is so mellow it's almost like drinking water. Smooth and subtle though it still retains a good bit of briney flavor which lends to the lovely smokey aftertaste. I really wish I had chosen Glenlivet to pop my cherry with rather than The Macallan but hey what the hell I circled round and I'm damn glad I did. Well worth the investment and a totally solid scotch in anyone's book. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

Cost: $$$

Balvenie Double Wood

He said double wood.....he he. Once you get over the initial urge to giggle like a friggin 12 year old and pour yourself a glass you will probably never make that joke again. This little bottle of Speyside liquid gold is nothing to joke about. This is really the first non-Islay that knocked my freaking socks off, I was so impressed by this scotch I'm really at a loss for words to describe how special it is. Mellow, smooth with just a hint of hooah! When paired with a big helping of salty popcorn this really good scotch becomes great. Maybe it's the briney flavor or maybe it's the extra 2 years Balvenie put in to this bottle but this stunner is nearly as good as my true love Laphroaig. Yeah I just can't get enough smoke to satisify but I will definitely pour the Double Wood again...notice no laugh.

Cost: $$$$

McClelland Lowland

In these hard economic times I find that a constant state of sedation is the perfect coping mechanism. Okay call me a radical, call me a rebel but I really.....I mean really enjoy a good buzz. I don't know what it is about alcohol that really seems to take the edge off but damn! Yeah some may call me an alcoholic but I prefer student, I am very studious. It just so happens that my major is scotch and I cherish every last lesson. This latest lesson comes from a rarely visited part of Scotland, the Lowlands. Weird right? Well I got a wild hair and for $20 eh..who gives a shit? Okay test time: What's got a fruity start and a butterscotchy finish? That's right McClelland's Lowland, a fine summer scotch if I do say so. Definitely bereft of peat, oh how I miss the peat, but tasty never the less. I don't know what kind of witches they have brewing up scotch at McClelland's but I love every single one of those crooked nosed, warty green faced biatches. I will still chose an Islay over this any day but it's a nice treat in the hot afternoon sun.

Cost: $$

Lagavulin love #2

Back from the dead. Yeah had to go underground for a bit the pokey was chasing me and bid daddy google yanked my license to click. But you just can't keep me down and I'm back with a smoky vengeance for your reading pleasure. Yep I had a great birthday, got a bottle of Drumguish from a friend, a bottle of Laphroaig from the boss and a bottle of Lagavulin 16 year from the sista pants sorority. And really all I have to say is super yum. This scotch lives up to the hype in fact it kicks the hypes ass all over the place. Is it worth the $60 you'd shell out for it? Hell yeah! Smoky, peaty and refined. It's very reminiscent of my love Laphroaig but those extra years really smooth this one out and make it a world class drink. I guess that's why there's a whole Ford vs. Chevy rivalry going on between the two kings of Islay. You are either in camp Phroaig or you're in camp Lagavulin I don't think you can even allow your daughter to date someone whose dad is in the other camp, can't be sure about it but I think I read it in the handbook somewhere. Either way I loved this scotch and will come back for more some day....probably when someone else is buying. Just for the record I'm am most definitely a card carrying member of the Laphroaig club, but what the hell I like a little danger and mystery now and then.

Cost: $$$$$$

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 - $$$