oh and i'll prob be watchin Braveheart tonight to ! ! !

Some say always go for a single malt, but there are some excellent blends, Ballantines 21 year old, and Johnnie Walker's Gold Label are both prime examples.  Forget the Blue Label, its a marketing gimmic, and not half as ancient as Johnnie Walker would have you believe.

The most complex tastes: Speysides - Macallan, Ballantine's are winners.

The most peaty and seaweedy: Islay - Laphroiag being the most popular.

Then you have Lowlands and Highlands which a lot of people think are rather bland, but Highland Park and Auchentoshan are pretty damn good.

There's also a number of modern style whiskies worth contemplating: Arran, Scapa,  Jura, all from the islands.

Some say drink neat, some say with half and half whisky and water. Depends on the taste.

Then you have the effects of ageing and different barrels, in short a lifetime's worth of exploration. 

My mission this christmas is to get hold of some Glenfiddich 30 year old and some extra rare and old malts from the '60's.

There's only one nation that produces whisky and that's Scotland, all the rest is whiskey and not as good, only the Japanese whisky is equal.

Had wir haggis (Macsweens excellent veggie one), neeps and tatties at the weekend. No kilts, no tartan jackets, no bagpipe music.

Black Grouse is what's on the go at Maclennan Castle at the moment.

Last edited by AQG (2009-12-01 12:00:40)

Fortunately, I get to Maryland fairly often.  Liquor stores there are privately owned and the size of supermarkets.  I take advantage of the variety and stock up. 

Not so very long ago, though, Pennsylvania Liquor Control agents would sit in unmarked cars outside of Maryland liquor stores.  If the spotted a car with PA plates leaving, they'd follow across the border, stop the car, crack open and pour out the booze and issue a hefty fine.

We can finally order booze by internet.  There was a big lawsuit funded by major California wineries to break those prohibitions.

God bless the Dupont corporation for napalm and agent orange.