A question for Laphroaig addicts.

[WoodfordReserve-Neat]

I am a Bourbon lover and that is a fact. However, thru osmosis and this forum, I have taken quite a fancy to Laphroaig scotch...big time. At around $50.00 USD a bottle and a couple of bottles a week it is well, possibly habit forming. Thank goodness I don't have any other vices like RAD or SRAD...sure.
Well, long story short, I bought a bottle of blended "Black Grouse" today at 1/2 the price of Laphroaig on a hope to find something that resembled Laphroiag but much cheaper at 1/2 the cost. WOW, was I surprised..burp, excuse me. This stuff is not half bad. Is it me or do others find that smokey briny fix in Black Grouse ?
TIA

 

[Legion]

I haven't tried Black Grouse. I am a fan of famous grouse, when buying a cheaper blend. I don't know if the black is available here, but I'll keep an eye out for it.

PS. Think yourself lucky. Laphroaig is usually $80+ here.

 

[cb91710]

Couple of bottles a week?

Okay... I've dusted more than my share of bottles in 24 hours, but in general, one bottle lasts at least a month.

The $50 stuff? Definitely not chugging material

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Interesting....I'll have to try it. As a Laphroaig nut (are you a "friend of Laphroaig with your own plot of land at the distillery? LOL), I'm torn with drinking anything other than Laproaig when I want killer peat!

 

[brucea]

Laproaig is my favorite. Been getting the triple wood as of late. Just picked up a bottle of Ardbeg also very nice.I will keep my eyes peeled for the Black Grouse.Probably going to read a few reviews as well.My main issue with the cheaper bottles is that they have a different finish than the pricier ones. How is the finish on the Black Grouse?

 

[WoodfordReserve-Neat]

Couple of bottles a week?

Okay... I've dusted more than my share of bottles in 24 hours, but in general, one bottle lasts at least a month.

The $50 stuff? Definitely not chugging material

LOL. I don't don't drink that many all the time... Twas just during our getting to know each other period did I do that. My wife would seriously have to intervene in that kind of regular usage. I am a sipper, too..I don't cowboy it. Although, when I was a younger man - and less wiser - I could swallow the worm after finishing a full bottle Mezcal shooters in one night...I would pace myself and drink plenty of water during the session and don't recall a hangover from it ? I take life at a little slower pace these days.
While the 'Black Grouse' blended is not Laphroaig it is fine by me for $24.95 US a bottle..a few straws of spring water will open it up nicely. I have to wonder, and will research it, which Islays they blend with ? Might just have some young Laphroaig in it as far as I know ?

 

[joshmpdx]

Thanks for the tip, looking forward to giving it a run.

Can you compare it to some of the other Islay's?

 

[ReAndyMator]

I'm (possibly un)reliably informed that it used to contain a little ardbeg, but currently contains a small amount of a heavily peated Glenturret, produced especially for the blend.

There's 'Alpha Edition' as well, which is significantly more peated than the standard Black Grouse.

 

[nano]

Laphroaig and a piece of dark chocolate... GREAT!

 

[Jeff C]

If you like Laphroaig but find Black Grouse not peaty/smoky enough as I do, try Islay Mist 8 year old. It is a blended scotch, around $15-20 in my area. I suspect it is made with Laphroaig too, very smoky, but 1/3rd the cost of Laphroaig. It is much better than Black Bottle (another Islay blend) or the single malt McClellands Islay (an undisclosed producer, McClellands just slaps their label on it).

 

[arghblech]

I find little in common between Black Grouse and Laphroaig. There is no blended replacement for a straight Island whisky. I've tried Black Bottle, JW Double Black, and a few others but all are lacking.

Drink the first few drams of the single malt then switch to Black Grouse or whatever you choose.

 

[WoodfordReserve-Neat]

If you like Laphroaig but find Black Grouse not peaty/smoky enough as I do, try Islay Mist 8 year old. It is a blended scotch, around $15-20 in my area. I suspect it is made with Laphroaig too, very smoky, but 1/3rd the cost of Laphroaig. It is much better than Black Bottle (another Islay blend) or the single malt McClellands Islay (an undisclosed producer, McClellands just slaps their label on it).

Islay Mist has been on my list for a good while now and I have read some good things about it. I have not been able to locate a bottle where I live. But I will.
McClellands Islay was just not briny enough for me...don't laugh now but I took a little olive mud and, well, I got some brine Laphroaig is a wonderful whisky and I will definitely keep it around for weekend sipping. I want to try some Ardbeg but its about 15 bucks more than Laphroaig where I live...sheesh.
I didn't even like Scotch until these heathen drinkers in here pointed me to the Islay whiskys

 

[brucea]

Islay Mist sounds like something worth giving a shot.

 

[the_edski]

The only blend I've found with smoke and peat in it is Johnny Walker Green Label. But it's not a price break at all over Laphroaig, it's actually more expensive, so it's a total wash.

 

[Legion]

The only blend I've found with smoke and peat in it is Johnny Walker Green Label. But it's not a price break at all over Laphroaig, it's actually more expensive, so it's a total wash.

I get a little peat even from JW red. Not a lot, but it is there. The green I've never tried, for precisely the reason you mention.

 

[The Chandos]

If you like Laphroaig but find Black Grouse not peaty/smoky enough as I do, try Islay Mist 8 year old. It is a blended scotch, around $15-20 in my area. I suspect it is made with Laphroaig too, very smoky, but 1/3rd the cost of Laphroaig. It is much better than Black Bottle (another Islay blend) or the single malt McClellands Islay (an undisclosed producer, McClellands just slaps their label on it).

Islay Mist sounds like something worth giving a shot.

+1, think I'll give it a go. I keep a bottle of Laphraoig and a bottle of Highland Park on hand at all times. I don't drink them often, however. I like to keeps some less expensive ones around to draw them out. Islay Mist sounds like a good option. I have been drinking some McClendan's and some Bowmore Legend recently and while both of them are ok I was surprised by how good my recent dram of Highland Park was. Head and shoulders above in quality. Drink some "cheap" stuff long enough and the good stuff will taste like liquid gold. Curious about the Black Grouse, too, now - will have to give that a shot, too.

 

[the_edski]

I've only ever tasted charcoal from Red in the past. Maybe my palate wasn't developed then, should revisit it just for kicks.

I get a little peat even from JW red. Not a lot, but it is there. The green I've never tried, for precisely the reason you mention.

 

[brucea]

+1, think I'll give it a go. I keep a bottle of Laphraoig and a bottle of Highland Park on hand at all times. I don't drink them often, however. I like to keeps some less expensive ones around to draw them out. Islay Mist sounds like a good option. I have been drinking some McClendan's and some Bowmore Legend recently and while both of them are ok I was surprised by how good my recent dram of Highland Park was. Head and shoulders above in quality. Drink some "cheap" stuff long enough and the good stuff will taste like liquid gold. Curious about the Black Grouse, too, now - will have to give that a shot, too.

The owner of my local liquor store just pushed me to try a blended scotch called Black Bottle. Not as smokey as the single malt Islay stuff but not bad at all for around 24 dollars, It is supposed to be a Islay blend. Not very smokey but very nice in its own way. A very slight sweetness in the beginning but a Islay heat at the end.

 

[ReAndyMator]

Black bottle contains a lot of Islay. A good blend if you like smoke.

 

[brucea]

Black bottle contains a lot of Islay. A good blend if you like smoke.

I do like the smoke. Black Bottle is like a Marlboro Ultra light while Laphroaig and the other single malt islays are like a Camel