If you want try something different go for Monkey Shoulder out of speyside

I went round a distillery near Perth (I think!) and bought a bottle of Blair Athol and it was absolutely gorgeous. I was appalled when the guide told us that Diageo bought most of their product and blended it to make Bells!

The big outfits own quite a few malt distilleries, and use much of the malt to blend (around 30%) with industrially-made grain whisky to make your Bells etc. Can be quite interesting to find out how much of which malts end up in some of the popular blends. For example, Macallan and Highland Park go into Famous Grouse (what I'll drink if blended is on offer - and since I like both those two components, maybe that's why?)

I've a few on the go at the moment. Just finished a 12 year old Caol Ila. Stunning stuff.

The Ileach - typically Islay but not very classy
Balvenie Doublewood - Not an Islay one and tastes of Golden honey. Really nice change after a few heavy ones.
And finally I took a punt on Tescos 12 year old Islay which is incredibly cheap and a perfect starter for people wanting to try a single Malt.

I'm acutely aware that its hard not to sound like a bit of a ponce when describing these so I've tried to cut out the descriptive words!

Had a bottle of that the other Xmas! And yup, spot on, it did. Mmmm!

Think I feel an early visit to Highlander's malt emporium coming on - I'm working in Ilkley so every chance quite soon!

Yep, ice for me too only one or even half a cube, thank god I'm not on my own.

I've got four bottles of Springbank Adey; a 10 year old at 46% which is (I think the standard bottling), a 12 YO matured in rum wood bottled at cask strength 54.8%, a 21 YO at 46% and the 25 YO also at 46%. All have been broached, though I confess I'd forgotten about opening the 25.

I've got a number Islay malts: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Loch Indaal, and Port Ellen, all at various ages and strengths and all opened.

As for ice, for me it is a no-no. A little water is fine but whisky is like brandy and should be warmed to bring out the flavour, adding ice dulls all those little spicy subtleties for me. Yet another thing we have to 'thank' the yanks for!!

Brandy is one drink I still have not got to appreciate. The only time I touch it is when I am in between bottles of whisky & I have to resort to the tigresses cake brandy.

Finished the Bowmore & couldn't resist taking the top off the Aberlour & having a swig out of the bottle. Bland sums it up perfectly, but enjoyable enough until the xmas freebies at work start rolling in*

[size*If any of you want work in the construction sector it's a bottle of Islay single malt.[/size

I got the Loch Indaal when I was a member of the Malt Whisky Association a few years back, IIRC it was one of their specials and not on general sale. I did have over fifty bottles at one time but I think it will be down to forty or so now. Of course, most of the Islay distilleries are currently 'silent' and supplies of many are finite (unless things change), so I really should make sure I don't run out..............

Seeing Hobgoblin quite a lot more in my travels

there's a pub in Hull on the trail that has (or had) lots of hobgoblin posters up. My favourite was this one: beerinnprint.co.uk/description.php?prodid=1662

there's a pub in Hull on the trail that has (or had) lots of hobgoblin posters up. My favourite was this one: beerinnprint.co.uk/description.php?prodid=1662

Have any of you lot tried Buckfast?

Proper tackle that stuff is - shame you can't buy it in England!