Best single-malt Scotch...

Oh dear god... No water for cask strength whisky? Its wrong in my book--the intense alcohol content blows away your taste buds; you get much more flavor from a light touch of water. Don't ask me, ask the Scots...

Then again, I was recently in a shop that specialized in a lot of private label bottlings and ended up seriously confused. They had a bunch of stuff at about 90 proof labeled "Cask Strength," which is total BS. Cask Strength generally clocks in at about 70-85 *percent* alcohol, which means 140 to 170 proof, if I do my math right. I'm thinking a bunch of "cask strength" bottlings are pre-watered down in any event.

I was seriously bummed leaving that place... I thought I'd totally scored when I found a private label bottling of a 35 year old Macallan for about $299, but when I opened the box to look at it, the bottle was clearly not aged in sherry casks... just new oak. Its *not* the same.

That store, however, will always find a soft spot in my heart. About 10 years ago I wandered in there and picked up three fifths of an Adelphia bottling of 32 year old Springbank at cask strength for only $180 a bottle. Its gone now, but that had to be the damn finest dram that ever touched my palate...

Springbank 21 +,Balvenie 21+, Balmore 21 +, Talisker 30 a surprising depth and finish compared to it's younger brethren, and for those nights I want a cigar but don't have time-Lagavullin...all are complimented by an s.e.t., single driver, vinyl experience.

Edsilva,

Where was that shop!

The only placse I know like that are in London, Cadenhead's comes to mind, and another one in Kensington too but I always forget it's name. FWIW 'Cask stregth' IS NOT the same as 'single cask' which is what you are describing, ie straight from the cask. They don't usually run as high as 75% EtOH though, but can be up to about 70%.

I agree with you on the water as well, and yes, the Scots would laugh at you if you drank single cask without any!

Mmm... single cask is different... Something can be cask strength, but still blended from among a number of similarly aged to even out the flavor--I'd almost guarantee that Macallan's 15yo "cask strength" offering is a single malt cask strength, but from multiple casks. The single cask is more typical of private label bottlings because their bread and butter is buying abberrant casks that the distillers/blenders don't find it economical to use... "Look in this corner, we just found a 20 year old cask... worth too much to put it in our 18yo single malt bottling, and there isn't enough to warrant a new offering--sell it to the private labeler, who will do a run of 100 bottles."

I had thought whisky in cask could go up to the 80 percent range... I swear I had a bottle that was labeled 80% or something. I may be misremembering, but it seems strange that the variations are so huge--I check a bottle of the Macallan 15yo cask strength and I think that was over 100 proof. Doesn't seem right that a bottle labeled "cask strength" should be at 86 proof when most bottled single malts are in the 80-84 proof range.

The shop I was referring to is in DC--around 24th and M Sts NW, although I'll be dammed if I can remember the name--maybe the Wine Specialist?

interesting read about your favourite malts.
just as a side note. folks, remember - theres lotsa counterfeit whisky on the market, it a big business, just like counterfeit smokes etc.
its possible, that somewhere along the line you inadvertantly purchased a black market bottle here and there (with some unaccurately made up label on it). this merchandise does get into shops, unless a given shop is a very respectable joint of course...