Eff Glenlivet, Laphroaig, Macallan, Ardberg, Lagavulin..

[sir pball]

Bruichladdich is the be-all and end-all of Scotch distilleries. They still use, exclusively, the original Victorian equipment (literally the only computers are in the offices, and for the webcams), and run the only actual bottling plant on Islay.

Like peat? Octomore. Like sweet malt? Islay Barley. (My personal favorite Scotch of all time - while I appreciate a peaty, smoky, heavy brew I prefer a Speyside.) Like a single-origin proto-barley? Bere Barley. Shit, small-batch Islay gin? The Botanist. You name it, they make it.

My fish cook just came back from visiting her family in Japan, and while she got to drink the legendary Yamazaki Sherry over there she couldn't find a bottle to buy...but after I took her to my old spot and got her some Islay Barley, she's not so sad anymore

[shenmue]

1. Do they cost a gazillion dollars?

[sir pball]

3. Nah, they're in the same league as any other good but reasonable whisky.

Most of their brands are $50-75; the rarer stuff like the ultramegapeaty Octomores are in the hundreds but on the whole it's in the same price range as the other "standard" single malts. IMHO, for the most part they're better than the 20+ year old bottles that go for $200+ (yes, I've tasted many of them - I used to run the kitchen at one of the best Scotch bars in NYC)

[peacefreak]

2. Do love the Islay whiskies

But crossed the small distance to Jura & found true love. Had some of their Tastival & Taru Mara. We were lucky enough to be there for the whisky festivals.

[sir pball]

4. Their Dirach's Own is mighty tasty

Try one of the Bruichladdich unpeated brews, they're much in the same vein. A little more caramel/toffee burnt sugar and less fruitt maybe, but still almost like candy in a glass