WHAT'S OUR FAVORITE?? (a piece written in 1998, prices and availability will have changed - inevitably) If you know about whisky you know about Ardbeg, Springbank and Glenfarclas. If you really know about whisky you know about Aultmore, Bruichladdich, Clynelish, and Johnnie Walker Black Label (and Loch Fyne Whiskies). Bound to stir controversy and debate, here’s a list of our more esoteric favourites which should feature in any self respecting whisky buff’s cellar book. We’ve tried to list them by way of a developing portfolio towards the ultimate booze cabinet. Hopefully you will be encouraged to try something new as a result. The streamline drinks tray. For those in a boat or bed-sit accommodation, three whiskies to impress the expert and yourself (and the only ones we keep at home—honest!) Loch Fyne Blend £14.60, Inverarity 10yo £19.90 and Inverarity Ancestral £27.90. No surprises there. Now we have the self promotion out of the way we can expect some respect for our independent advice. For the corner cupboard. Next to that collection we would add our 1998 bottling of the year, OB Highland Park 18yo £36.90, rich and spicy, a truly superb after dinner dram. Then the magnificent OB Ardbeg 17yo £28.80; not a great Ardbeg, not peaty enough, but a supreme single malt and suitable for all malt fans. Something with such softness, no mouth feel just a wash of flavours, is the OB Old Pultney 12yo £22.20. Time to include the proprietor’s past and future (once the Ancestral is all gone) favourite; Clynelish, either the OB or CC £24.50 which is as good, but better value. A Lowlander should be represented about now and the OB Auchentoshan 10yo £21.90 fits well, light and creamy—typical of the region. Progressing through our taste rating to—2 brings G&M’s Scapa £22.90; our—3 would be OB Glenfarclas 15yo £28.90; —4 the sublime OB Bruichladdich 15yo £33.30, the favourite of drinkers on the Island of Islay (when you can find them!) and completing our one-to-five matful would be the cheeky but very quaffable S Ardbeg 8yo £19.90. Now a few to suggest before we start to spend some real money. Sherry fans need the smoky and sherried OB Dailuaine £29.90, OB Glendronach 15yo £23.50 and the champion OB Macallan 18yo £39.90. They (and others) should also have a bottle of OB Glenmorangie’s port wood finish £29.90. More sophisticated Speysiders (or style of) will delight in the complexity of OB Glen Rothes 1982 £34.50, Adelphi’s Macallan 9yo at cask strength £34.90, and G&M’s water loving Strathisla £25.00. Peat nuts will be lacking without OB Bowmore 17yo £35.90 and MM Caol Ila 9yo £22.70, a bit of a Talisker in that one. Now your rich old uncle's died... ...and answered all your prayers... Those of you who have more money than a horse has hairs—but still seek the canny value that made you a millionaire, will have a special display cabinet to show off your... OB Glenfarclas 30yo £69.00 (that’s almost cheap!) Hold it in your mouth and chew it until you nearly drown! OB Glenlivet 18yo £42.20 shows just why all the other distillers wanted the name. The juicy OB Glenturret 1966, £86.60 and OB Springbank 21yo £44.90, one of our top sellers, but for a real champ drink, OB Springbank 1966 £95.00, umpteen flavours—go on count them! More sophistication in the nectar of the distillers, OB Knockdhu 21yo £46.90. Those sherry fans have to buy the cream of the Macallan—Gran Reserva £76 or the Loch Fyne lookalike Mac’ 30yo £157 and, combining sherry with peat, OB Bowmore 30yo £154. Finally, Whyte & Mackay’s 21yo £59.90 is the (blended) whisky that I will be drinking when my ship comes in. It’s distressing the number of visitors to our shop who reject any suggestion that blended whisky is as good or better than the best single malts but many in the industry will call for a Johnnie Walker Black Label long before the majority of malts. Subtlety and complexity with a drinking cleanness make blends immensely satisfying. Next time at the bar, ask for a 12yo blend and take some time to enjoy its company. Personal recommendations are Black Label, Grouse-Gold Reserve, Spey Cast and the very peaty Black Bottle 10yo.