Recommend a similar malt...

[DiseasalDriver]

So, I received one of these for Christmas;

http://www.themacallan.com/shop/detail.asp?pid=841...

I broke the seal on it last night and it's one of the nicest single malts I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. It was very drinkable to the extent that I did wake with a minor headache this morning.

I'm rubbish at descriptions but initial thoughts were that it was really smooth and mellow with a sort of sweet fruity taste and quite a dry finish. Relatively pale in colour too.

Now a man of my quite insignificant means is most definitely unable to procure a bottle of this on a regular basis and so I appeal to any PHer who may be able to recommend me something that will taste similar.

The obvious answer is "the one that's 5 years younger" but I checked that out at my local supermarket yesterday and it's £32.29, still £7.29 above what I'd consider reasonable.

[MaxNg]

Try Glen Moray. It's made in Elgin, and if you like Macallan, you will probably be happy with this one. Also, it's quite a lot cheaper than Macallan.

[DiseasalDriver]

Brill, thanks! That's exactly what I'm talking about as it's half the price

[PJ S]

Highland Park, Balvenie Signature (not to be confused with the standard Doublewood), and Redbreast and Connemara (both Irish).
HP is on offer in Sainsbury's (same price as ASDA), as is the Balvenie on Tesco's site.

[DiseasalDriver]

I think I prefer the price of the Glen Moray! Ha.

[AndyAudi]

Glen Moray is a cracking dram for the price
I remember the Co-op doing litre bottles for £14.00 not too long ago.

[Lefty]

I l0ve that Macallan, it's beautiful. I much prefer it over the 10 and 21yo Fine Oak Macallans and, at $43, is a bloomin bargain. Unusually for Macallan it has a lot of american oak influence so it's not typical of a Macallan style of whisky at all.

100% agree with the suggestion of Balvenie Signature, it's a similar style: smooth and honey-sweet. It's on offer in Tesco and Sainsbury's at the moment.

You might also want to try things like Dalwhinnie 15yo, anCnoc 12, Glenmorangie 10yo or Cardhu. All great drams and in a similar style.

Enjoy!

[Bonefish Blues]

Yep, Balvenie won't disappoint.

[DiseasalDriver]

Added it to my 'silly shelf' and just about to sample with a small amount of money.

It's times like this I wished that a) it was warm outside and b) I had a nice cigar.

ETA: £16 at Asda and first impressions are positive. More of a 'burn' than The Macallan but I suppose you can't expect a £32 malt for £16.

[Wadeski]

you may want to try Monkey Shoulder as well - you can find it in most bars so taste first, buy later.



Keep an eye out for Fathers Day deals in June - many single malts will go to near half-price in supermarkets.

[Lefty]

Wadeski said:

you may want to try Monkey Shoulder as well - you can find it in most bars so taste first, buy later.



Keep an eye out for Fathers Day deals in June - many single malts will go to near half-price in supermarkets.

Actually, wadeski's right, it's pretty much exactly what you're looking for and a damn fine sippin' whisky despite the mixology marketing.

How's NYC Wadey?

[DiseasalDriver]

Sooooooo... is 5:15pm too early to crack open the bottle of Macallan I just picked up? Albeit the 10yr old and not the 15 year old I had the other day...



One of those weeks, driving home, why the hell not? I'm not going out this weekend so this should suffice.

You lot are going to lead me astray.

[Wadeski]

Lefty said:

Actually, wadeski's right, it's pretty much exactly what you're looking for and a damn fine sippin' whisky despite the mixology marketing.

How's NYC Wadey?

Pretty awesome so far, Lefty. I'm just on a plane back from the west coast launch of our $300 Joven blend tequila, super high quality & micro distilled. Its an interesting idea, quite similar to what Ardbeg are doing - combining a very high quality young spirit with a dash of very old spirit. It really shows of the distillery characteristics and stops the wood being overpowering.

I also had a sneaky taste of a Mezcal we have thats launching soon - Mezcal is tequila made from smoked Agave, giving it a seriously peaty flavour. Maybe one for the Islay-heads when it comes out!

[MrCheese]

I can completely recommend the Balvenie Signature, bought a bottle as it was reduced over christmas and I am glugging the stuff down. It is quite light but also has depth. Talisker also highly recommended. Then move on to the heavy stuff - Lagavulin, Ardbeg etc...

I've found that by regularly checking supermarkets and offers in whiskey shops you can build up a decent collection for about 1/3 of the regular prices.

[MaxNg]

I was recently given a bottle of Bailie Nicol Jarvie. (My son won it in a raffle!) It's not a malt but a very pleasant blend, which costs about the same (in Morrison's Supermarket) as a bottle of Grouse. It's nice dram which equals/tastes like some of the Speyside malts.

[DiseasalDriver]

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