Paging the whiskey aficionados ....

[Hayden]

My kid brother once bought me a single malt in a pretty tube presentation pack, Auchentoshen .... . I ended up using it to make hot toddies with when I was poorly

By the way, you can reach the distillery for this by walking over the Erskine bridge from the hotel on the Scottish Trip, and make up for this heinous crime whilst you're there

Phew dodged that one ..... "Hayden" you've picked up the blame

[Hayden]

mmmm this is looking more and more like we need a distillery tour .... by coach

Wher do I sign

Ride to the Erskine Bridge, park bike, board coach. ..... sounds a plan

I`am not sure I can get a month off work, but I will try!..

[Daveg2812]

Glen Moray, very decent single malt on an budget, and of course, Ardbeg

[GRAgusta]

Steve

Adding water is very important, but generally a good blended whisky already contains sufficient water to obtain the optimum flavour, Chivas Regal being a good example.

By adding a few drops of water to a whisky, you can open up different, new and subtle flavours that you previously had not experienced. This is especially true when drinking cask strength whiskies that have higher alcohol levels (these can be up to and over 60% in some cases).

With cask strength whisky the alcohol and resulting burning in your mouth can overpower even the most prominent flavours. By adding some water, this dilutes the alcohol and reduces its effect, giving both the prominent and more subtle flavours a chance to shine.

I have cask strength Laphroag for example and moderate the harshness to my own optimum.

Scotland is split down the middle with the peaty whiskies in the West and in the isles, and the more delicat Speyside whiskies in the East, Spey side also has some cracking roads.



A strength cask Macallan and a jug of highland water would be perfect for a taste test.

Remember the age question to be safe to drink the whisky must spend 8 years in the cask, all single malts are 10 year old, generally the best flavours are developed after 15 years in the cask.

[Grip Fast]

The only thing I like in my whisky is...

...more whisky.

I've been known to drink Bells (sorry Bells, nothing personal) when I can't afford anything better, so I'm the last person to advise anyone. But I do like Macallan, especially when received as a birthday/Christmas present.