Thanks for the Balvanie mention, picked up a bottle and am enjoying it.

Has anyone tried the Costco (Kirkland) 20YR Sherry Cask Speyside?

Was thinking about picking up a bottle (or more) since its only $45 but was curious if anyone had tried it. Last year's version was sourced from Macallan, I'm assuming its from someone else since I haven't seen that mention this year.

I suspect that isnt what they meant by a budget scotch. Also, in that price range I would likely prefer a single malt rather than a blend. YMMV as they say.

At that price, how bad could it be ? IMO sherry cask highland scotch gets worse after 18 though. It ends up tasting like sherry, not whiskey. At blind tastings Mac25 always finishes below the 18. Not so with Islay, due to it's funkiness. I've tasted 45yr olds that were still distinctively Islay.

Like my best Scottish friend's father said: ''A fine Single Malt is like a fine lady; one needs proper genes and breeding to age gracefully"

I stopped at a newly opened wine and liquor store to pick up a bottle of wine for dinner tonight. They had a scotch tasting going on. I tried three of the 7 or so they had out. A Talisker Distillers Reserve, a Lagavulin Distillers Edition and JW Blue. The Lagavulin was my favorite. I like the Lagavulin 16 but the Distillers Edition was a real treat.

Costco has the Glenrothes Select Reserve gift set, including two etched logo crystal tumblers, for $34. Quite a bargain, considering that it is $44 at Total Wine without the tumblers.

I had Shieldaig Speyside Single Malt 12Yr at my brother in law's the other day and liked it. Today, I found it at Total Wine for $28, half of what I expected it to cost.

Black grouse and Famous grouse are excellent Value for money IMHO.

Just got a 1 litre bottle of Famous Grouse from the local Tesco for 14 GBP. :D:D Thats a good price for the UK

Thanks for the info. In the past, I've been not so fond of the sherried whiskeys but at that price the Glenrothes is worth another look.

How would you describe the Lagavulin Distillers Edition? the 16yo is one of my absolute favorite Islays and I'm curious about how it compares to the DE. My local Wine House has it at around $120/bottle (I can probably find it cheaper). Is it worth 2x over the 16yo?

The Wine House hasn't been a serious discounter in years, at least as far as hard liquor is concerned. For example, the Glenrothes Select Reserve is $46 there, $2 more than at Total Wine and $12 more than at Costco.

For largest selection of single malt Scotch Whiskeys in the Los Angeles, area I recommend the Wine and Liquor Depot, a discount wine and liquor store located in Van Nuys on Saticoy just west of the airport. They carry hundreds of different varieties.

I agree that TWH is generally overpriced on whiskeys and other "spirits." If you want an even worse deal (and who doesn't like spending more? ;)), try Walley's on Westwood blvd. Just by way of example and from their websites:
Lag 16 yo/DE @ TWH - $80/120
Lag 16 yo/DE @Walleys - $90/125
Lag 16 @ Costco (last time I looked) - $65ish
Called Wine Depot (no web access) and their prices were a few bucks less than TWH.

That's my brother-in-law's favorite purveyor of Scotch Whiskeys, but he is a big firm lawyer so he can afford to overpay.

What's more impressive than their prices is their incomparable selection of fine single malt and single cask Scotch Whiskeys.

Other retailers with great selections of Scotch Whiskeys in the Los Angeles area are K&L Wine Merchants and Mission Wine & Spirits.

Best whisky ads ever too :D

For my father's Christmas, a maltophile, I've just a got a half bottle of 11 yo, single cask Laphroaig. Not cheap and he'd better like it.

(I know he likes Laphroaig).

My local Trader Joe's has a private label 18 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, distilled in 1993, matured in oak casks and bottled by Alexander Murray & Company, Aberdeen, Scotland. It's $25.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0783.jpg

I never heard of Alexander Murray & Company.

Has anyone tried it?

Pretty sure AM&C does the Kirkland stuff for Costco. An 18 year single malt for $25 is certainly worth a try.