For about 30 odd quid, maybe Bushmills Black Bush or the Caskmates Stout version.
For 40 odd, Johnnie Walker Black Label.
Redbreast 12 for around the 60 mark.
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30 to 40e Black bush, Crested, Caskmate stout.
40 to 50e Black barell, JWBlack, Bushmills10, Writers Tears copper pot, Talisker10.
50 to 60e Green spot.
60+ Redbreast12,
These are all the essentials that would keep a man alive. Iv all of them in the cabinet.
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@Malarkey im venturing slowly into scotch. Im good with jw black, a lovely entry level scotch. Pleasant.
Iv a bottle of Talisker10 for when i feel like being taken out the back of the bike shed to be given a good seeing to. The lovely antiseptic nose on it and the bit of peat. A fine nightcap whiskey.
Iv a Glenmorangie. Sweet. Fine but forgetable.
Where next. Medium peat medium smoke please.
Under 60e.
No bother. Am a fan of Johnnie Walker Black myself. Great pub whisky. Flavourful but not too demanding and lovely with Guinness.
Glenmorangie can be quite bland – which is probably the attraction for some drinkers. Of the more recent stuff, I like the Quinta Ruban. The best Glenmorangie I ever drank was a gorgeous Fino-finished one released about 20 years ago.
Talisker was felt to have gone into a bit of a dip, the last ten years, with overall quality down – and I agreed with this assessment, with the whisky lacking its traditional savour any time I had it over the last six or so years. But I saw comment that the blip had been righted and drank some Talisker 10 recently in a pub. Lovely stuff – again.
Going on what you said, I would recommend Highland Park 12yo. One of the best distilleries but not too full on with peat and smoke. Excellent balance, which is what you seem to be after.
HP 12 is around the €50 mark in lots of places. But I see a place online where a bottle is apparently going for €33. If so, a terrific price:
There is also €41 (under €49 with postage) available:
Have a feeling you will really like this drop. But let me know honestly what you reckon. Would be curious to hear, either way.
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What price is Oban 14 in Ireland?
It’s about $60 here if you look but I’ve seen it higher.
A good suggestion as well – if I may butt in. Always found Oban a restrained whisky – a bit like a coastal Cragganmore.
Price in Ireland €60-80. As often mentioned, though, Ireland is not the Mae West for buying whisky…
It used to be 35-40 here not that many years ago. Then it shot up to 70 or 80, but a lot of single malt did at the same time. Probably supply and demand at the time. Easy to find decent whiskey in the US now at any price point. There are some tremendous Japanese whiskeys starting to emerge.
Japanese emphasis on flavour is much to my liking. There is a view that Japanese whisky is now the most ‘oldfashioned’ drop in the world – in a good way. Need to learn more about this whisky realm.
Would like to try Chichibu. But hard to find – and most of the available bottles are mad prices. Did have Hanyu a few times – a prior version of Chichibu – and it was tremendous.
Basic Santory is about $25 here now and it’s lovely for the price. Kurayoshi has a nice range from that price up to $90. Had a few Nikkas that were nice at 50-60. Chichibu is over 300, wouldn’t pay that. Not when I can get Red Spot for 100.
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Talisker 10 goes lovely with a nice ale. Something bland and un-intrusive to counter the heavy flavour of the whiskey. John Smith’s maybe. Acts like a beer sorbet.
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Have you fallen out with the people at Ardbeg?
Lovely. What a reply to wake up to. 
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I can understand that.
Myself sometimes i like it at the end of a good few whiskeys, a nightcap. I also have had it after a late meal instead of a double espresso. Puts serious manners on everything.
Absolutely not…! Prospective bottles for courses…
Ever try Highland Park much?
I know Nikka reasonably well – but the two others not at all. Must amend…
Funnily enough tesco were clearing out their stock yesterday evening - 18 quid a bottle, maybe I should grab another before they’re gone. I’ll report this evening
Ardbeg 10 at 18 quid? Crikey… Yes, would be interested to hear.
No, unfortunately not. Highland Park 12 at 18.