Favourite single malt whisky?

[Lastyearsmodel]

Want to get DP a holiday treat but I'm not a whisky drinker. Can anyone recommend a good single malt (pref one available from the supermarket)?

And do did you have it with a drop of water, or neat?

Oh yes - I'd forgotten! Highland Park is lovely, lovely, lovely. And I'm not even a whisky drinker!

neat, slub, all the way...

my mum likes Highland Park or Talisker.

with water.

from a proper whisky jug

DH does neat, but I prefer it with a drop of water.

I have just asked dh what a whisky jug is for, and he shrugged. Either he is not the expert I thought he was, or this Indian thing is at a gripping point.

isn't the jug for the water, so you just get a wee drop in?

it's just a nice clay jug for your water.

some whiskies need water to release them.

I am not a whisky drinker, but you absolutely MUST get him this. It's so smooth, even I could drink it neat and really enjoy it. Lovely stuff.

Oh OK. Well that makes sense to have a little jug if you are about to commence some serious drinking.

I just told DH (ad break) "I knew that" he said

I love Macallan and Bruichladdie (sp?).

I've done quite a bit of work on whisky - one project involved visiting various distilleries. (It was hard work but someone has to do it... ). Without fail, the head distiller always mixed the whisky with water. Never offered it neat.

the Bruichladdich. our vintner sells a huge range of their products.

lagavulin 15 yo

if you're not sure, I'd avoid Islay malts as they can be an acquired taste. Glemorangie is pretty safe (and easily available) and there's a Speyside one that is nice which escapes my memory... begins with L...

That's interesting BIWI. DH went on this whisky piss up course with his father and came back going on and on about how adding some water changed the flavour of the whisky. I tried it like that and will never go back to neat.

Jameson's or Bushmills.

Both Irish whiskeys but probably available in UK supermarkets.

Belvenie

not an L

Balvenie Doublewood is gorgeous

Penderyn - Welsh, very smooth and gentle - available in aldi now or on here

Those Irish whiskies are readily available in Scottish supermarkets.

Wow Aldi, thanks for that tip Blueberry.

Was very excited to find it Now if only they sold Merlyn, DH would be in heaven. Might even raise a bloody smile from him.

What a bunch of lushes connoisseurs you all are.

You'll be pleased to hear I've doubled my budget (although still fall short of IAteRC's kindly recommendation) and will be presenting it with MNetters' advice to drink with water. Alas I can only offer big jugs.

What's Merlyn? Another welsh whisky?

We spent our honeymoon on Islay and loved the refreshments!!

My favourite is Bowmore, but DH who is a lot more earthy prefers Laphroiag.

Isle of Jura
Laphroaig

Try edinburgh.wmcadenhead.com

or

www.royalmilewhiskies.com