Caol Ila is splendid.
cheers for all the advice . looks like i may plump for the auchentoshan(sp) one or the jura as hes a bit of a novice
single malt is crafted by a single distillery from a single water source, usually a spring in some highland glen.
blended is mass produced in a large city based distillery using water from the tap.
You don't actually know much about whisky do you? Yes, Bells and Teachers might be what you describe,
I like Bellsnope. i'd have thought it was clear from the desciption i was refering to the Bells of the world. if there are well made blended that are nice, its a shame they havent found a different name by which to call themselves, to seperate them from the cheap harsh industrial rubbish.
You don't actually know much about whisky do you? Yes, Bells and Teachers might be what you describe, but most blended malts are a blend of a few single malts and can be amazingly complex in nature picking up some of the characteristics of each malt included. Try a Blue Label Johnnie Walker (around £200 a bottle) which includes in its blend a single malt from 1876 from a long since closed distillary - probably the best whisky I've had, but not surprising at that price. However, I usually prefer drinking lots of single malts seperately. My favourite entry level would be Ardbeg - preferably the 15 yo but 10 yo if not. But it is VERY peaty / smoky and certainly not for everyone's tastes. Whoever mentioned Japanese whiskies - spot on too, they're currently some of the best around - they even import some of the old distillary equipment from Scotland to ensure they get the older characteristics embedded in their newer whiskies.
Laphroig and Lagavullin are great, powerful, peaty and smoky malts.
If you're looking for something more aromatic and fruity try a Macallans 10 year old finished in sherry casks
If you want something light and quaffable go for a Dalwhinnie 15 year old.
You can pick both up for around £30
Still loving that Highland Park I mentioned on a prior thread.Not an expert but I've had Talisker and Highland Park and they were both very good. Someone at work said 'The Glenlivet' is not bad as well.
I'd go for Highland Park - great taste but, as others have said, not too peaty compared to some of the other malts.
Still loving that Highland Park I mentioned on a prior thread.