Smoke Head or Sherry Bomb?


Occasionally there's some discussion here about single malts. Just wondering what our preferences are?
"Smoke/peat heads"; Islay, laphraoig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg etc. or "Sherry Bombs" Macallans, Glendronach etc.
128x128rja
Currently enjoying Laphraoig Quarter Cask (very moderately priced) and Lagavulin 16 year...But I've also got some Macallan, 12 and 18, and I'm saving a bottle of 30 year old Aberlour for a very special occasion, whatever it might be. I guess that makes me a Smoke Bomb
I go for both depending on my taste that day though lean more towards sherry and wines casked Scotch. I have a 25 y/o Talisker that hits the perfect smoke balance, but alas I could only get a bottle of it....
I would lean towards the Smoke Head as my favorite Scotch (of those I've tried) is Laphroaig. I have a bottle of Laphroaig 10 and 18 right now.
As a subset of this discussion, it is curious to me that many audiophiles might think nothing of spending thousands on weirdo tweaks of dubious origin, yet balk at the price of say, 18 year vs 10 years old whiskey.

Or have some of you also spent thousands on booze?

I am not a big whiskey drinker, but I have tried Glenlivet 12 and Glenlivet French Oak. I did not like the French Oak at all, which makes me more of a smoke head?

Regards,
I like both, leaning slightly to the sherried varieties. As much as I like the Lagavulin, I can't stand the Laphraoig, tastes like iodine to me. To each his own.
Cwlondon I would venture that there are more than a handful of us who like multiple expensive hobbies. How about the wine collectors. As for whisky I never drank it much myself prefering the more than equally ridiculous Cognacs/Armagnacs, but hung with guys that drank/collected unblended single barrel, barrel strength, single vintage Whiskies from long closed distilleries. I need not tell you what some of these rarities cost.
Actually I would be very intrigued to know what some of these rarities cost!

From time to time, I try to spend more money on wine, hoping to find the best point on the value curve.

But so far I find it much less complicated to find and select good audio components than good drinks.
Here's a few from long closed distilleries that were recently released by Diageo.
These are extremely rare and obviously meant for the extremely well heeled.
1. Clockserrie 1924 (Highland) £120,000
2. Malt Mill 1909 (Islay) £135,000
3. Parkmore 1926 (Speyside) £49,999
BTW: A very nice single malt Scotch whisky can be had starting at $60-70.
Recently purchased an Ardbeg "Airigh nam Beist" for $61.99 although I wouldn't recommend it for beginners cause it's a "wee beastie" of a whisky.
Those prices are on the extreme side of the equation. I will do my research and try to find the main source from a USA importer/retailer.
I drink much less wine now but still have 300 bottles ageing. I recognize the general overall improvement of wines in many regions throughout the world. Despite what appears to be a surplus of very good wine each producer/exporter/shipper attempts to create cachet and exclusivity, with prices to match. The sweet side of the curve is generally avoiding splashy names and listening to the wine buyer of you're local sources. If your a regular they usually steer you well. I had my own predujices of course and was never absolutely slavish.
If you buy a bottle of wine at the suggestion of a wine writer a store manager or friend and it doesn't appeal to you- you drink it or cook with it and never buy it again. If you buy audio for multiple $$$K then you have a more cumbersome problem.
Audio is a real PITA to get right without some failed experimentation it seems that anyway. Perhaps there are lucky souls who audition an entire rig, buy it and live happily with no upgradeitis attacks ever after. I know I had to go through 6 years of experimentation before sticking a fork in it. That after being an audio 2 channel person for over 25 happy years before this high end business and the end of stereo shops. The amp died and off I went.
Yes, I know the examples cited were extreme but a previous poster asked what rarities might cost. These are about as rare as they get.
As mentioned, good single malt whiskys can be had for much, much less.

On Monday, a cold, rainy night I was trying to remember the thread, but could only decide on a 10 year Glenmorangie which so far seems like it was a good idea.

$38 at my local discounter, so I hope not the Bose Wave Radio of single malts, but with the savings vs. Rja's suggestions, I can buy a new car and stereo.
My usually Laphroaig 10 goes for around $42 around here. I recently purchased the Laphroaig 18 for right around $85.
I tasted the new 18yo Laphroaig on Sunday at a friends, thought it was excellent. I saw it at a local bottle shop for $64 but $85 is probably closer to normal.

We also tasted an 18yo Longrow, 1969 25yo Bowmore and 17yo Ardbeg (no longer available). Quite a night :^).

BTW: Found 1/2 bottle of the Bowmore and 2/3 bottle of the Ardbeg in one of my kitchen cabinets. Some other stuff was in front of it.

BTW2: I've tasted 25yo and 30yo Laphroaig and the 30yo might be my favorite whisky of all time.
Wow, I thought these were new strains of herb. Who would drink Scotch when man gave us rum.
Bongo, I recently polished off my RAILEAN Reserve XO gifted by my older brother. First good rum I've had in a while.

Next up is two Japanese Single malts going head to head.
12 year Yamazaki verses 12 year Yoichi