F' All - I Have A New Fave And The Glenfiddich 30 Isn't That Good

[Dr. Spencer]

Pardon my vulgarity, but the Balvenie 21 Portwood is incredible. I've set aside the Fiddich 30. I can't understand how the same owners can produce such disparate whiskys. You'd think for more money and 9 more years, the fiddich 30 would be the better whisky. But no - the Balvenie 21 is fabulous - I like it better than all the Glenfiddich varities from 12-30, Glenlivet 12 to the exalted XXV, and Macallan 12-18.

This stuff is so smooth, creamy, delicious, etc... Amazing

[BourbonDrinker]

Do yourself a favor and delete this and start over.

[jwise]

Hahahaha! I know, right? The only Fiddich I'll drink is the 15yr Solera Reserve, and I haven't tried a Glenlivet yet that I'll drink. Macallan makes some fine whiskies, but nothing compares to the Balvenie 21 yr Portwood!

[nitehawk55]

Best to do some research before you buy .

OLD doesn't always mean BETTER , many fine 12yo Scotch out there .

[Jojo]

Originally Posted by nitehawk55

Best to do some research before you buy .

OLD doesn't always mean BETTER , many fine 12yo Scotch out there .

And to note, one of my faves is Glengoyne 10 year old!

[nitehawk55]

Originally Posted by Jojo

And to note, one of my faves is Glengoyne 10 year old!

If I can find that here I'll try some Jojo .

[Gary Wells]

Well, at least I know that I am headed in the right direction. I probably haven't tried the right Fiddich, but if I can help it, I never will. Years back, I preferred GlenLivet 12 over Glenfiddich. I didn't quite fall in love with the new Dalmore, even the 15 YO, and 12 YO Bunnahabhain is a tad better than OK, but the 18 YO I took a real liking to. Macallan 12 is a tad better than OK, but I dearly love the 18 YO, however, the current 1991 release is not quite the dram that the 1990 release was. And I can't wait to taste / sample the unopened bottle of 21 YO Balvenie Portwood, and I've heard so much of it, I will pick up another bottle of it to have on hand. I will definitely die penniless, but with a strong scent of SMSW on my breath. God help the mortician.

[jwise]

Originally Posted by Gary Wells

I didn't quite fall in love with the new Dalmore, even the 15 YO.

This makes me SERIOUSLY question your tastebuds...

12 YO Bunnahabhain is a tad better than OK, but the 18 YO I took a real liking to. Macallan 12 is a tad better than OK, but I dearly love the 18 YO

Sounds like you have an expensive taste! Good luck with that! I'm grateful that while I can appreciate the 18yr over the 12yr Macallan, I like them both equally (which, honestly, isn't all that much).

I can't wait to taste / sample the unopened bottle of 21 YO Balvenie Portwood, and I've heard so much of it, I will pick up another bottle of it to have on hand. I will definitely die penniless, but with a strong scent of SMSW on my breath. God help the mortician.

You will indeed, sir. You will indeed...

[Gary Wells]

I did worse than expected. I bought 2 bottles of the 21 YO Balvenie Portwood @ $169.95 and they had only 1 bottle of Bunnahabhain 18 YO @ $89.95, so I snagged that also. So I am sort of broke, but content.

jwise: I take it that you like the new Dalmore 15 YO?
Maybe I will have to give that a re-try.
I really did not care for the Dalwhinnie 15 either. I preferred the Balvenie 12 YO DB to it actually, which surprised me.
Maybe I should have tried the Dalwhinnie 18 YO.

[jwise]

Originally Posted by Gary Wells

I did worse than expected. I bought 2 bottles of the 21 YO Balvenie Portwood @ $169.95 and they had only 1 bottle of Bunnahabhain 18 YO @ $89.95, so I snagged that also. So I am sort of broke, but content.

Ouch!

jwise: I take it that you like the new Dalmore 15 YO?
Maybe I will have to give that a re-try.

I was mostly referring to the new Gran Reserva, which is the replacement to the now discontinued Cigar Malt from Dalmore.

I really did not care for the Dalwhinnie 15 either. I preferred the Balvenie 12 YO DB to it actually, which surprised me.
Maybe I should have tried the Dalwhinnie 18 YO.

That's not surprising. If you like a "wood-finished" whisky, the Dalwhinnie 15yr is NOT going to satisfy. Its a bit like Cragganmore 12yr, or Glenrothes '91. Very smooth, very light, very subtle.

[Gary Wells]

Thank you for your comments, jwise.
I never really tried the Dalmore Gran Reserva, as I had seen some comments that it may not be quite as good as the Cigar malt that it replaced.

[jwise]

I don't know if it is or not, but I know it is very good, and the Cigar Malt was very good. Its been too long ago to be able to compare the two. In fact, it was one of the very first single malts I ever tasted, so I didn't really know much, other than "I liked it."