Looking For Very Cheap Islay-Style or Imitation
 

I don't really want to say what it is for, but I would like to find a whiskey that shares the in-your-face peatiness of an Islay style, but is as inexpensive as possible. The quality of the Scotch itself really doesn't matter for the purpose I am looking for -- seriously, it could be pretty foul by itself, as long as it has the extraordinarily pronounced peat flavor of an Islay style.

I'm not sure this is even necessarily a single-malt question, since for the purpose I am intending for this it doesn't matter. I just figured I'd ask it here since I've never tasted a blended malt that was as peaty as, say, Lagavulin.

Any thoughts?

Black Bottle is about as cheap as it gets for Islay. But it's not that cheap, and not too bad.

Signatory Vintage is bottling a non age statement Islay single malt - distiller unknown (though I think it's Caol Ila) - under the Signatory brand. In the U.S., if you can find it, it runs $26-28 bucks and has a lot of brine and iodine.

Another iodine latent reasonably priced whisky is Benromach, Traditional. It runs $28 - 32. This would be, though I use the phrase very loosely, in the Islay style, as Benromach is in the northwestern reaches of Speyside.

The best part is both are quite good.

Look for McClelland Islay. Goes for about $25 around here. Rumor has it that its actually Laphroaig.

U can't go wrong with Laphroaig 10 yr
 

Super strong and peaty, rich and smoky. $30 a bottle or so. Definitely the cheapest I've seen that gives the full authentic Islay experience. Good luck!

If McClelland's is Laphroaig it's a very young and one-dimensional bottling.

One tablespoon Glen Moray Classic (No age statement single malt) cheap stuff, to one drop of Wrights liquid smoke.;)
Seriously. I'm trying this now because i don't want to dump it down the drain.
Ok. It's no Lagavulin or Corryvrckan but it makes it drinkable.
It' more of a 2 buck chuck.:eek:

Here's another addition to my recommendation. Islay Mist. It's a blend that is about a third grain whisky (so higher percentage of malt than most blends - especially at its price) and I'm told it's 50% Laphroaig. It surely shows the iodine-peat Laphroaig is famous for. Retails under $25, and is VERY good!

An Islay-influenced blend that is inexpensive here in southeast Florida is The Black Grouse ($23). Smooth, somewhat spicy and very drinkable.

The Black Grouse you say? Had its Famous cousin last fall and thought it enjoyable enough and since I've had no luck finding the Black Bottle, I'll see if I have any better luck with this one then.