Today's Single Malt

[PeteS]

We went to Islay, Jura and Arran for holiday this summer. Visited every distillery and did 3 tours (Bunnahabhain, Lagavulin & Arran).
I was surprised that of the 3 tastings (and another at Kilchoman), I actually preferred the youngest 10yo Arran. Probably the easiest drinking - light, honeyed tones - but subtly complex presumably as it is not chill filtered.
Other favourites I brought back were a quarter cask of Laphroaig and a Sherry cask Bunnahabhain (toitteach a dha). Sadly only a drop of each left but I'm sure more will arrive in a few weeks!

[Witton Park]

We went to Islay, Jura and Arran for holiday this summer. Visited every distillery and did 3 tours (Bunnahabhain, Lagavulin & Arran).
I was surprised that of the 3 tastings (and another at Kilchoman), I actually preferred the youngest 10yo Arran. Probably the easiest drinking - light, honeyed tones - but subtly complex presumably as it is not chill filtered.
Other favourites I brought back were a quarter cask of Laphroaig and a Sherry cask Bunnahabhain (toitteach a dha). Sadly only a drop of each left but I'm sure more will arrive in a few weeks!

Sounds like you have a camper or motorhome

Never managed a distillery visit Pete, but did buy a 5 x miniature gift set for a mate who was waiting for a heart transplant, when passing the Highland Park distillery shop on Orkney. Must be 12 years ago now.
a 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old and my mate thought the 18 was best.
I wish I'd have bought one for myself now, as at £40 it was great value compared to the full bottle price and I'll probably never get the chance to try a 25 or 30.

[PeteS]

Sounds like you have a camper or motorhome

Never managed a distillery visit Pete, but did buy a 5 x miniature gift set for a mate who was waiting for a heart transplant, when passing the Highland Park distillery shop on Orkney. Must be 12 years ago now.
a 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old and my mate thought the 18 was best.
I wish I'd have bought one for myself now, as at £40 it was great value compared to the full bottle price and I'll probably never get the chance to try a 25 or 30.

You are quite correct, I do have a campervan and wouldn't be without it.

I do love a distillery tour but as I am the primary driver (and Scotland has a zero tolerance policy on alcohol and driving), I usually end up taking the drams away in a bottle to be enjoyed in the evening.

I have done the Highland Park tour which is well worth a visit if only to see the malting floors and ancient Italian milling machine. Sadly we didn't get enough time on Orkney to do Scarpa as well but it will be on the itinerary next time we head that way.

[Witton Park]

It's going to be a Jura 14 American Rye Cask - had a sneaky last night.

I don't know what it is about these "specials" but they never quite match up to the plain old 10 or 12 year version.
It's not bad, but I'd give it a 6 1/2 out of 10, where I'd give the Jura 10 a 8 1/2.

Same with Highland Park 12, one of my favourites and Viking Honour 12 etc.

Still, it's better than a poke in the eye

[PeteS]

A lot of whisky and even single malt, is blended so as to give a consistent taste across the years. . These low batch size runs are probably more reflective of the process and materials used at the time so can often be a bit of a hit or miss affair but at least they may have been matured at source.
When I left Islay on the ferry, my van was next to a tanker full of whisky headed for the mainland. Sort of ruins the mystic of the maturation process. Indeed my subsequent tour of the Arran distillery confirmed that although they now have two sites on the island, neither has room to store much stock so it all heads to the mainland where not only is it massively cheaper in setup costs, it is far easier to get through planning etc.