by gillmang » Sat May 24, 2008 12:15 pm
I suggest adding small amounts of malt whisky to a good blend (e.g., Teachers, Something Special, White Horse, Ballantine), you can use Irish malts too such as the Cooley brands which sometimes are cheaper than Scots malts of similar ages. For all practical purposes the Irish malts are the same as the Scots ones, for this purpose anyway. The initial investment will pay off over time, and you will end up with something tailor-made that you like (because you can adjust it to the taste you want). Say you buy Glenfiddich, Aberlour and Laphroig (the least costly in each range). Add to 20 ounces of Teachers, 1 ounce Laphroig, 2 ounces Aberlour and 3 of the Glennfiddich. The perms and combs evidently are endless. I consider that my own blends are superior to most malts I can buy except the very best such as Highland Park 18 years old, Talisker 10 and 18 years old, and one or two others.
Another option: buy a bottle of a good whisky (maybe find a 12 year old blended on sale), and three miniatures of the malts mentioned. You now have a quart of fine whisky for under $40.00...
Gary