[MM-MALTS-L] Good & Bad whisky

[Peter Wood]

When any discussion turns on what is the best or worst malt whisky ever
bottled, the arguments about which are the best are legion. Applying
reductionist principles, the definition of the worst usually oscillates
between the infamous Talisker and the FWP Bowmore. I take it we are all old
enough to understand FWP, if not in practice, then by association (think
Newquay, Grimsby, Peterhead)? I was unfortunate never to have had the
Talisker, and have led a pure enough life not to have fully appreciated the
Bowmore perfume. But the great range of bottlings that lie within the reach
of normal people (those that spend less than 35% of their disposable income
on malt whisky) are acceptable.

I respect the Cadenhead attitude of "if we bought it we bottle it" because
that increases the available range of maturations in varied casks of varied
ages. Maybe most people wish to find the perfect malt and stick with it,
but I would have hoped that those on a list such as this would think beyond
the trivialities of perfection, and take pleasure in the endless variabilty
that single cask bottlings provide - crap to sublime. Anything beyond that
and we are engaging in religious sophistry.

Peter Wood