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Budget Peat

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@jeffilli
jeffilli started a discussion

I recently purchased a bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask @ $60 and Talisker 10 Year @ $70. They both blow me away. Absolute magic. Unfortunately they also blew away my "walking around money."

I have a very young family so dropping this kind of cash on a bottle of liquor is a tad hard to justify.

I'm a big fan of Finnlagen OR that I regularly purchase at my local Trader Joes for $18. This is easier on the wallet though I don't feel nearly as "sophisticated" while sipping it.

What is your favorite, readily available, budget peat?

11 years ago

29 replies

@GotOak91
GotOak91 replied

I can find Laphroaig 10 for $39 USD where I live. Islay whiskies are hard to come by where I live without having to order whisk(e)y via online.

11 years ago 0

@Nolinske
Nolinske replied

@valuewhisky that discussion really helped me find a few decent peated blends, but the best advice I got was that there is no replacing greats like Laphroaig and Talisker so it may be best just to save those for the special occasions and treating yourself. Cheaper peated whiskys will always leave you disappointed compared to the higher priced brethren. There are some decent ones if u must have peat but just realize there are great budget bourbons but no great budget islays.

11 years ago 0

@Nolinske
Nolinske replied

@jeffilli that previous comment was meant to be for you I accidentally linked value whiskey haha :) oops!

11 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

I'm as much a fan of single malts as anyone and an occasional peat bomb is a treat. But if you want a great Whisky, a little cheaper, try Peat Monster by Compass Box. The first dram will leave you gasping for oxygen, then it tones down a little.

It's a malt blend, what used to be called a vatted malt, so no grain Whisky in it, all malts.

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@Nozinan sounds interesting. I will check it out!

11 years ago 0

@CanadianNinja

@Nozinan, although I have yet to try the Compas Box Peat Monster I've heard a lot of great things about it. I don't know if I'd classify it as a budget peat though, here in Japan you're paying about $50 Canadian. Certainly not overpriced, but not what I'd call a budget dram either.

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@valuewhisky Great discussion and I learned a lot. But surely there has to be other peated whisky that doesn't come from Islay. The other day I saw a bottle of peated irish whiskey which I did not purchase. this though is what sparked my curiosity.

11 years ago 0

@Nock
Nock replied

@jeffilli Yes, there is peat that is not from Islay. However, it is all very different. The peated Irish whiskey (Connemara) is way less intense then the stuff from Islay (Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin). If you are looking for an inexpensive alternative to the Laphroaig Quarter Cask you already have the best possible option on the market at the best price - Finlaggan at $18 is an amazing deal! . . . I pay $29 when I find it. It has been rumoured to be baby Lagavulin. While it is a "single malt" my belief is that it changes from batch to batch. I am convinced that the last two bottles I had were from Caol Ila. The moral is keep buying bottles of it to see if it changes. And don't look down on Finlaggan . . . it is far better then baby Bowmore (aka Bowmore Legend or McClellands Islay which is basically the exact same thing).

A second great option is Ellenstown 10 year Cask Strength which is rumoured to be Ardbeg. Still, it won't be much cheaper then Laphroaig . . . but it is at 58% ABV

Nothing else is like Talisker . . . so there's that.

Ardmore is peated Highlands; BenRiach 10yo (Curiositas) and Benromach Traditional are peated Speysiders. All are decent (but a big step down from Talisker and Laphroaig in my opinion)

My go to peat fix (when I want something inexpensive) is my living blended bottle. I keep mostly blended whisky in there, but I add an ounce of Laphroaig 10yo or Ardbeg 10yo to bump up the peat a bit when it needs it. You would be amazed at what an ounce of Laphroaig will do to 12 ounces of Grant's Family Reserve. I keep it in a nice decanter and it really isn't bad.

11 years ago 3Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote replied

Hmm, Grants and Laphroaig. I'll be trying that . Thanks @Nock

11 years ago 0

@Wills
Wills replied

@Nock Nice post!

But I think differently about the Ardmore. Ofc Ardmore Traditional Cask isn't a real peatbomb but I like it. Imo it doesn't has to hide behind the big names of Islay.

11 years ago 0

@Jonesz
Jonesz replied

@Wills Plus one on the Ardmore, I have gone thru several bottles since discovering it. I will also admit to pouing a blend of say Aberlour 12 and Laph QC when I don't want the full Laphroaig blast. I mix these in a ratio of 2 to 1 Laphroaig. Quite good actually.

11 years ago 0

@Jonesz
Jonesz replied

@jeffilli surprising the regional differences in prices. I recently picked up 3 bottles of Laph QC in Alberta for $43. per out the door. I see it is $54.99 at Total wine where you live. It is $74. out the door here in Manitoba. What I mean to say is that a bargain in one place is not necessarily one in another. For example will be buying some Ardbeg 10 when I hit your neck of the woods next winter. I think it is a steal at $45.99 when I have to pay $107. out the door here. It is actually less than Smokehead where you live so you might give it a try.

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@Nock Thanks for the information! I agree that the Finlaggen does change from batch to batch I really noticed the change on my last bottle. I love the stuff though! I didn't realize how much it is in your neck of the woods. Next time im at trader joes i'm picking up 2 bottles.

11 years ago 0

@mrgargus
mrgargus replied

Got a bottle of Black Grouse for $30 just tonight, of which i'm having a Dram as I type this. I'm pleasantly surprised by it. Reminds me a bit of the Bowmore 12 but with more Sweetness. It's not a Connemara or Lagavulin but for $30, it's good value.

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@Jonesz thanks for the info, It is surprising the difference in cost depending on the region. is it illegal to mail alcohol to other countries?

11 years ago 0

@JJBriggs
JJBriggs replied

@jeffilli You know, Bowmore Legend can be found from $25 to $30 in most places. It has a mid level peating with some nice, light flavors behind it. A gentle sip, nothing too complicated. Its worth a shot, in my opinion.

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@JJBriggs actually had a dram of that last night at a local bar. was pretty good, had a weird little flavor to it that I could not put my finger on though.

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@Nozinan Cant get it for under $60 where I live here in california

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@GotOak91 Laphroaig 10 is $45 dollars here. I have a bottle of 1/4 cask, how does it stack up? I love the 1/4 cask and now that it is half empty its become a "special treat" dram.

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@Nolinske Yea I went out and grabbed some talisker 10 year and I love it! Finlaggen is so delicious for $18 where I live, I was hoping someone out there had another gem they have discovered at that price... How about Islay Mist? I had some at a tasting but it was late in the evening and I cant recall how it was.

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

Anyone had the "Ardmore Peated Non-Chilled Filter?" $39.99 here in California.

11 years ago 0

@GotOak91
GotOak91 replied

@jeffilli I have not had the QC as it is something Id have to order on the internet due to my location in rural US but I can acquire the cask strength batch #4 but for $60 it isn't really a budget dram.

11 years ago 0

@Nolinske
Nolinske replied

@jeffilli islay mist is okay it just isn't anything special. The perk about it is that it's good for the price and has some peat. I just feel like u that I wish that there were some knockout budget peats but alas there are not. :(

11 years ago 0

@PeterG7
PeterG7 replied

If you come across a malt called Smokey Joe give it a try. Retails at 35.00 in Fla. For those who like peat, you won't be sorry

11 years ago 0

@PeterG7
PeterG7 replied

Enter your reply here

11 years ago 2Who liked this?

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@PeterG7 "Smokey Joe!!!!" Now we have a connosr member that understands my question!! Another budget gem! This is what I am looking for....

11 years ago 0

@PeterG7
PeterG7 replied

@jeffilli I was pleasantly surprised about Smokey Joe. At a price of 35.00 you shouln't expect a good malt. If you are interested, I wrote a review on it. I'll definitely be buying more on my return to Fla

11 years ago 0

@jeffilli
jeffilli replied

@PeterG7 yea I guess what I learned from this is there really is no such thing as a great budget peat. o well I am picking up a bottle of finlaggen tonight!!

11 years ago 0