The best pub I found for tasting malts was the Pot Still, at 143 Hope St in Glasgow. They had more than 300 different malts for sale, at prices from #1-40 to a little over #6 ($2.50-$12), most at the low end of that scale. Although the bartender I had didn't drink (!!), the other patrons were friendly and more than happy to talk about whisky. The next best spot was the Ubiquitous Chip, at the other end of Glasgow, just off Byers Rd. The 'Chip is a quite good restaurant, too, and served its whisky in portions a good bit larger than the usual 25ml. The 'Chip has an "off-license," which means they also sell whisky by the bottle at an attached store. However, because of the weak dollar, prices started at $45/750ml and went up quite a bit from there. Even the duty free prices were higher than what I pay here in DC. Perhaps the best whisky I tasted, the 40 year old Talisker, I had in an excellent restaurant on the Isle of Skye, called the Three Chimneys. They also had an off-license, but a bottle of 40 year old Talisker was about #88, or well over $175. How I wish I could have afforded that one!! At any rate, here are my notes. I sorted them by geography, and then alphabetically. In parens after the name is the age, proof and the name of the town where the distillery is. Highlands: Aultmore (10 year old/80 proof/distilled in Keith) An adequate example of highland malt, but lacking in character. A bit harsh. Balvenie (18/80/Dufftown) Refined, almost Cognac-like. Nuanced flavor, light peat, excellent finish. Dark, almost carmel color. Balvenie (10/80/Dufftown) Not nearly as subtle as its older relative. Pleasant, but unexceptional. Cragganmore (18/80/Ballindalloch) Crag' 12 year old is one of my favorites at home. The 18 year old was spicier, but had an even smoother finish. Lovely. (I also visited the Cragganmore disterelly, which is not open to the public. They sold only the 12 year old, and basically told me to get lost. Oh well.) Glendronach (12/80/Huntly) Unlike the Glendronach I see in the States, this did not say "100% sherry cask aged" on the label, and the color was much lighter than the dark, nearly red stuff available at home. It still tasted strongly of sherry, but much less overpoweringly so; I prefered this to what I was used to. Glenfiddich (24/92/Dufftown) Quite different than its younger and very popular sibling. Although still light, the older version has much more unique character, and a more complex undertaste. As I recall, the heavy marketing push started in the mid-70's.... Glen Grant (21/80/Rothes) A striking highland malt; one of the best I tasted. A smooth start, complex flavor, light peat, light smoke, spicy, clean finish. The Pot Still had only one bottle of the 33 year old left, and they wouldn't open it, so I didn't get to try that, but I bet it would be even better. Glenmorangie (10/40/Tain) The second most popular (and 2nd most highly marketed) malt in Scotland. Much more interesting that Glenfiddich to my tastes, but still relatively little character of its own. Available everywhere, though. Linkwood (15/114/Elgin) A barrel proof malt. Undiluted, it has an almost astringent quality, making the first sip a bit rough. Real depth & character, though, and wonderful with just a splash of spring water. It is quite instructive to take a barrel proof, and taste it while diluting little by little. I find that for me there is an optimum point somewhat below 110+, but (guessing) higher than 80. Lochnagar (12/80/Balmoral) Undistinguished highland; good, but not great. I tasted this as part of a wonderful meal at the Raemoir House Hotel, about 20 miles outside of Aberdeen. I selected it because it was the malt from the nearest distillery. Not a great heuristic... Macallan (18/86/Craigelliach) Perhaps the defining highland malt. Amazing depth of flavor, with a lingering finish that goes through several stages. Slightly higher proof than many others, corresponding to my experiment diluting the barrel proof version (see below). I only wish I could have found the Macallan 25 year old... Macallan (??/120/Craigelliach) "As we get it." Barrel proof Macallan, undated, although I suspect it to be about 10 years old. Extremely astringent at first taste, but with all the Macallan character. Like with the Linkwood, my slow dilution test leads me to think that this is best at higher than 80 proof, which is apparently Macallan's judgement, too, since they bottle at 86 proof. Scapa (24/92/Kirkwall) An unusual highland, lighter bodied, but still some depth of character. Astringent, perhaps better with a splash of water. Singleton (12/80/Auchroisk) One of the major surprises of the trip. I had never head of this before, but found it to be a new favorite. It is a very new distillery, founded in 1975, and just started releasing whiskys. The modern techniques lead to a malt that is so smooth it is almost invisible. A great malt to start with, especially for someone who doesn't usually like hard liquor. At the same time, an interesting experience for the more serious drinker. This kind of scientific approach to creating great spirits is in a way similar to the results that Germain-Robin (California) has had with brandy. Strathisla (21/104/Keith) An excellent highland. Slightly diluted, it has a distinctively smokey taste, with a very clean finish. On the label the small print says "Strathisla-Glenlivet," since Glenlivet has bought a large number of distilleries, including Aberlour-glenlivet, Glenburgie-glenlivet, Longmorn-glenlivet, Milton Duff-glenlivet, etc. The bottle that Americans think of as Glenlivet is known in Scotland as "The Glenlivet" or sometimes as "Smith's Glenlivet." Tamnavulin (10/80/Tamnavulin) Another Glenlivet owned distillery, opened in 1966. Quite good, although not exceptional, and generally very low priced. A bargain if you find it. Teaninich (26/92/Alness) Sweet and smokey at the same time. Best diluted a bit (indecipherable notes -- perhaps too late in the evening to be trusted fully?) Maritime/Island: Talisker (10/40/Carbost, Skye) Tastes of the sea, with a hint of iodine, and much smoke and peat. A classic malt. Talisker (40/102/Carbost, Skye) Perhaps the best malt of the trip. Unbelievable depth and character. A finish that left a pleasant memory for HOURS after my last sip. The perfect combination of all the elements of malt: smoke, peat, smoothness. Did not need to be diluted, despite the high proof; perhaps some of the alcohol had evaporated over the years? Springbank (15/92/Cambeltown, Kintyre) This malt makes clear why Cambeltowns are often put in class by themselves. Thick and rich, with relatively little of the iodine that distinguishes the other Maritime malts. Wonderful. Glen Scotia (8/80/Campbeltown, Kintyre) Much less distinguished than the Springbank. Isle of Islay: [Islay is my personal favorite region for Malts; I love them all...] Ardberg (15/92/Islay) Rich, but not as deep or smokey as the other Islays. My least favorite of the class. Bowmore ("1970"/86/Islay) Rich and smooth, with the characteristic peat and trace of iodine of Islay. Bruichladdich (10/80/Islay) Not quite of the character of its erstwhile competitors, but smooth and deep for a 10 year old malt. Often an excellent value if you find it in the States. Bunnahabhain (12/80/Islay) Somewhat sweeter that the other Islays, and with a bit rougher finish. Still a fine malt. Caol Isla (14/80/Islay) A bit lighter than its competitors, with less smoke and peat. A good introduction to the taste of Islay. Lagavulin (16/86/Islay) Arguably the best of the Islays because of its balance. A bit of iodine, a bit of smoke, moderately peaty. It has the smoothest finish. Laphoig (15/80/Islay) The Islay with the strongest character; very iodiny, very peaty. You either love it or you hate it. I find the 15 year old to be much more palatable than the 10 year old, which is more common. Port Ellen (15/80/Islay) Another milder Islay. I prefer the Caol Isla for this style. Lowland: [I discovered that I didn't really like the lowlands that much. They tasted fairly similar to each other, and with less character. Personal taste only, of course.] Auchentoshan (10/40/Dalmuir, just outside Glasgow) Light, little character, harsh finish. Bladnoch (8/80/Wigtown) Light, little character, somewhat harsh. Kinclaith (16/80/Glasgow) Some character, smoother finish, but still not that interesting. Best of the lowlands I tried.