Okay, so I know it's not rum, but...

[CatalinaThePirate]

I really enjoy `single-malt` scotch. It's simply wonderful, if you find the right one.

The reason for this posting HERE is that my curiosity was piqued when I was reading an interview by Rolling Stone of Johnny Depp, and he had a drink in front of him which he sipped appreciatively and pronounced, "...Ahhhh! Lagavulin! Peaty!!! Soooo peaty!!!..."

Lagavulin is a single malt scotch. I looked it up with trusty old Google, and found this WONDERFUL site about scotch whiskey:

<a href="http://www.scotchwhisky.com/focus/lagavulin.htm" target="_blank">http://www.scotchwhisky.com/focus/lagavulin.htm</a>

The site is terrific, and I learned a lot about what happens to be MY favorite (at the moment) scotch - Oban. However there are some others listed on this site that now have my attention... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

The "Tasting Notes" are particularly interesting - such as <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The Balvenie
12 Year Old Speyside, 40% vol

Appearence:
Full Gold

Aroma:
Aromatic intensity and pungency. Rich.
(straight) First impression: dark cooking chocolate and cocoa. Sherry trifle emerges after a while.
(dilute) Tight aromatic complex, difficult to isolate aromas. Sweet overall with green floral fragrance. Toffee.

Flavour:
Mouth warming, sweet, becoming oily. Very smooth. Becoming dry with chocolate and caramel in the finish. Balanced flavour.

Development:
Caramel returns after a while, and a distinct and pleasant scent of `blow-torch` blistered paint.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> They had me, until that last bit! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />

Here's another site page about Lagavulin...

<a href="http://www.whisky.com/brands/lagavulin_brand.html" target="_blank">http://www.whisky.com/brands/lagavulin_brand.html</a><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Finish - A huge, powerful, bear hug of peat.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I MUST try this! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

Any other scotch afficianadoes here?

 

[Wolfwood]

Arrr! Catalina, you traitor! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whippa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="whippa.gif" />

Ok, since pirates usually drank whatever alcoholics they could get their hands on, I'll forgive you this one time and give you a serious answer...

I've been a rum lover for a long time now, specialising especially on those well aged rums, such as Mount Gay Extra Old, Cockspur VSOR (only the one found in the Caribbean, though, the Cockspur VSOR sold in the USA is apparently rather indifferent) and others.

But I've got a German friend, who is enthusiastic about Scotch whiskies and I got to taste some of the better brands (he's got shelves full of unopened bottles that he *collects*). I must say that they cannot hold against rums, but one called <b>Glenfiddich 25yr</b> (or some such) was rather ok.

 

[CatalinaThePirate]

Oh it's not that I dislike rum, heh, to the contrary, I like it very much. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" /> It's just that I saw that Johnny Depp interview and it got me going... Heh... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

 

[Wolfwood]

<!--`QuoteBegin-CatalinaThePirate`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CatalinaThePirate)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->It's just that I saw that Johnny Depp interview and it got me going...  Heh...   <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />[/quote]

Believe me, I'm rolling my eyes too... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />

 

[CatalinaThePirate]

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/razz.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="razz.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> He's a heckuvan actor, IMO. I was hoping for some news on the new PotC film... Instead I wrote down what kind of scotch he prefers, and that he bought an entire Bahamian island for his own... (given the chance and the money, that's JUST what I'd do!) Heh!

 

[dma_overrun]

mmmm Glenfiddich! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" /> I hated Scotch, me parents drink the cheapo stuff, until I tried Glenfiddich 12 year old! good stuff! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/onya.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="onya.gif" />

 

[CatalinaThePirate]

It's incredible how TERRIBLE the "cheapo stuff" is after you've tasted a really fine liquor of any type... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />

 

[Mad_Jack]

I do love me rum, but I have another weakness... <i>tequila</i>! And you are so right, Cat. The "bargain" stuff is swill. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sick.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":eww" border="0" alt="sick.gif" /> Whoever coined the phrase "life is too short to drink cheap liquor" was dead on.

I find meself partial to Sauza tequilas. Hornitos is the lowest rung I can stand anymore, and I use that for mixing margaritas. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/buds.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="buds.gif" />

 

[Wolfwood]

<!--`QuoteBegin-CatalinaThePirate`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CatalinaThePirate)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->It's incredible how TERRIBLE the "cheapo stuff" is after you've tasted a really fine liquor of any type...   <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />  [/quote]

I agree here completely. When I first started my adventures with rum, I actually drank Captain Morgan and swallowed it down bravely, saying that "this is what _men_ drink". Then I studied the topic a bit further (I always do that when I get excited about something - read everything I can get my hands on about it) and tried some of the better stuff.

Now, Captain Morgan is good for nothing but my Christmas date cakes (the only time of the year that I bake) and even those deserve something better...

 

[Mad_Jack]

Has anyone read Bilgemunky's <a href="http://www.bilgemunky.com/reviews/rum/index.php" target="_blank">rum reviews?</a>

Excellent information, and spot on so far. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/onya.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="onya.gif" />

 

[Wolfwood]

I must admit Bilgemunky has got his hands on many great rums. Bilge, if you be reading this, I'd recommend you to try another Barbadian rum, called Cockspur VSOR. In my opinion, it is even better than Mount Gay Extra Old.

BUT: Don't buy the Cockspur VSOR from the USA. That's not the stuff I'm talking about. The real Cockspur VSOR is sold in Barbados. I have no idea why the USA import is so much worse (told to me by connoisseurs as a warning - I haven't had the USA version yet)