Originally Posted by jbcarioca (Post 16980149)

Lagavulin is another Diageo corporate product, marketed as if it is the real thing. Bowmore, the first legal distillery on Islay, has some quite excellent ones. Caol Ila does also, but both of those have a less phenolic taste than does Lagavulin. Port Ellen is one of my personal favorites. Although the distillery shut down in 1983 some of the old casks are still being bottled and sold. They vary widely by bottling, but I have never met one that I did not love.

I am a fan of Double Black, because at US$40 per litre it makes an affordable everyday "Islay" even though it too is just another Diageo, thus has much in common with Lagavulin.

I do miss the pre-Diageo Lagavulin and Laphroaig, which after all had much common lineage including being in adjoining towns. They still win competitions but they've lost a great deal of character IMO.

Maybe I just prefer non-multinational products when I am paying a premium price. Pretentious, moi?

Originally Posted by WCT3U (Post 17318125)

It's here! A local liquor store in upstate NY has Double Black on the shelf for $41.99, 0.750L. They said it arrived last week.

Originally Posted by WCT3U (Post 17519385)

The JW Black comes in (at least) 0.75L, 1.14L and 1.75L bottles. Is Double Black available in something larger than the 0.75L bottle?

Originally Posted by bmvaughn (Post 17519403)

The $38 bottle I bought in SIN is 1L.

Originally Posted by WCT3U (Post 17519385)

The JW Black comes in (at least) 0.75L, 1.14L and 1.75L bottles. Is Double Black available in something larger than the 0.75L bottle?

Originally Posted by jbcarioca (Post 17123147)

Despite Diageo promises I have yet to see DB outside of Duty Free.

Originally Posted by Gaucho100K (Post 17565203)

My local Diageo rep say this is supposed to stay only Duty Free for some time.....

Originally Posted by troyb (Post 17565232)

They have it at every liquor store I go to in northern NJ.

Originally Posted by broadwayblue (Post 17567528)

Same here in NY. But reviews are generally mediocre. My cousin bought a bottle and was not impressed. Pretty sure like regular JW Black it's only bottled at 40%.

Originally Posted by broadwayblue

Same here in NY. But reviews are generally mediocre. My cousin bought a bottle and was not impressed. Pretty sure like regular JW Black it's only bottled at 40%.

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 17569118)

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Well, I think it depends on the price. At roughly $40 a liter I think it is a good value. As I mentioned upthread we couldn't find it at the store and bought an Ardbeg instead. The Ardbeg was better but also like $130 a fifth.

Originally Posted by broadwayblue (Post 17570814)

Which Ardbeg are you referring to? I just opened a bottle of their 10 year old and it set me back $47...it's readily available online for that price. To me that's a better deal than a liter of double black for $40.

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 17571940)

It was one of their special bottlings. 1990 Special Reserve. Airigh Nam Beist it was called I believe.

Originally Posted by dhammer53 (Post 17776076)

Earlier in this thread I posted that I wasn't a big fan of this. The last 2 nights, I had a shot and have to say the flavor was nice and smokey. Think Islay.
Tomorrow, I'll drink this the way I usually do. A hint of water and a couple of ice cubes for sipping.

Who knows. Maybe this is meant to be chugged?

Originally Posted by dhammer53 (Post 17776076)

Earlier in this thread I posted that I wasn't a big fan of this. The last 2 nights, I had a shot and have to say the flavor was nice and smokey. Think Islay.
Tomorrow, I'll drink this the way I usually do. A hint of water and a couple of ice cubes for sipping.

Who knows. Maybe this is meant to be chugged?

Originally Posted by milepig (Post 20858596)

Double Black popped up at my Costco this weekend. $32 for .75ml.

Originally Posted by milepig (Post 20858596)

Double Black popped up at my Costco this weekend. $32 for 750ml.

Originally Posted by uszkanni (Post 20859949)

Hmmm, that's pretty damn expensive! ;)

Originally Posted by WCT3U (Post 21272686)

I just received an e-mail from Johnnie Walker... Looks like the Platinum label will be available in the USA shortly.

Originally Posted by rjkgr (Post 21317633)

what does double black mean? is that like equal a blue? or green? johnnie walker?

Originally Posted by Shareholder (Post 21313183)

I've not seen Platinum over here in NAmerica yet, but the Explorer series has been popping up in airport Duty Frees around the continent, USA and Canada, not sure about Mexico.

Originally Posted by Moving Chicane (Post 21338422)

Not a JW drinker here either (I keep one or two Blue's on hand for parties), but the Double Black (from Costco after seeing it in the Duty Free's around the world) is quite enjoyable. :)

Originally Posted by broadwayblue (Post 21320375)

no, it's just a bolder smokier version of black. still not as good as everything else except red, which nobody should be drinking anyway.

Originally Posted by Moving Chicane (Post 21338422)

Not a JW drinker here either (I keep one or two Blue's on hand for parties), but the Double Black (from Costco after seeing it in the Duty Free's around the world) is quite enjoyable. :)