My observation from tastings is that many people do like peated whiskies, but few people like all peated whiskies.

The biggest hits I see in tastings are Talisker 10, Lagavulin 16, and about any Kilchoman. I haven't kept track but I'd say 70% of people find themselves really enjoying one or the other (Tally is pretty lightly peated). Ardbeg 10 and Laphroaig 10 are the most divisive...people love or hate them, and to that point yeah, maybe 40% of tasters love one or other. Bunnahabhain, Bowmore, about 50/50.

I was at the Talisker distillery a couple of months ago. Like you said, the Talisker 10 year is a very approachable medium smoke whiskey. I enjoy the laphraig and lagavulin. I brought home a nice assortment of ladaigs I picked up in Tobermory. The 18 year oloroso finish was quite nice.

Very jealous. After the Islay "holy trinity" (Ardbeg/Laph/Laga) Talisker is on my must visit list whenever I go to Scotland.

I've never had much Ledaig, I think only the 10 year. I'm going to have to grab a bottle of that 18 year sherry finish, that sounds good.

That's understandable, but it's complicated, right? I can deal with a certain level of phenolic, but I really dislike iodiney seaweedy flavors. But there are other wood flavors that I really like and that might read as "campfirey"; I love resiney and vanilla-ey flavors.

My point is: sure, if you don't like pungent alcohol flavor (another suggestion: dilute with water!). But there are other flavors you can get in your whiskey besides swamp muck. :)

What's your daily driver/cheaper bottle of choice? You seem to have similar tastes to mine, personally I love Eagle Rare for the price point but would like to find some other good ones.

My daily is Very Old Barton (so: much cheaper). My basic rule is that you can't go wrong with anything that is also sold in a bonded expression (and you can't go wrong with the bonded expressions themselves), and that it comes down to whether you like rye-spice-dry (Four Roses, Old-Granddad, VOB) or wheat-sweet-mellow (Weller, Makers, Fitzgerald).

Top comment - I’ve been drinking bourbon for years but don’t know much about it, I just try to get a bottle of something I haven’t tried before whenever I run out. Of those six you categorized, I’ve only tried Four Roses and Makers, and I do prefer the Four Roses but didn’t know why - now I will be sure to try Old-Granddad and Very Old Barton to see if your categorization holds!

Also I could google it but it’s more fun to discuss - what is a bonded expression, and why do you consider a non-bonded expression of something available bonded to be better than a non-bonded expression of something that isn’t available bonded?

Bonded whiskeys are legally certified to be (and kept in custody to ensure they remain):

* The product of one distillery

* The product of one distilling season

* Aged at least 4 years

* Bottled at at least 100 proof

For the most part, as a consumer, you don't care about these particulars. For instance, 50% ABV is on the high side for what's pleasant without dilution.

However, a distilling brand that can produce a bonded bourbon or rye expression is probably not playing games with their non-bonded bourbon or rye; that there is a bonded VOB strongly suggests that all VOB bourbon comes from VOB distilleries (and isn't sourced from MGP or simply relabeled Heaven Hill). So you can pay a little extra for the bonded VOB, or just buy regular old VOB trusting that their ability to produce bonded bourbon means their non-bonded bourbon is just as good (which is a safe bet).

An annoying thing to be careful about: just because someone produces a respected (or bonded) bourbon doesn't mean their rye is trustworthy, and vice versa. Distilling brands do brand extensions into other whiskeys by sourcing from other distilleries and rebranding.

You might find this interesting for comparing bourbons:

https://www.gq.com/story/bourbon-whiskey-family-tree

That said, I find from year to year my preferences change, since I doubt it’s the whiskies themselves changing very much.

Throw a Wild Turkey in there and if you spend a little bit more a Makers Mark also.

When trying Wild Turkey make sure to take note of which heat version you are drinking.

I've had the Wild Turkey 101 (aka about the most "regular" one I could find) and I don't recall it making any particular impression - though I don't keep notes either, nothing really stood out about it that I can remember less than a year later.

I live in NC where Old Weller Antique has become unobtainable. It’s annoying since it was my favorite wheater. So I make do with Makers. I’ve tried Larceny a few times but it isn’t winning me over (I know it isn’t a bourbon).

Is there a place in the US where any Buffalo Antique is reliably obtainable? It's been years since I've been able to get my hands on any here in Chicago; I manage to get my hands on a bottle about every 18 months or so.

If you like Eagle Rare, give Henry McKenna a taste.

Aye, and the aroma is a source of most of the enjoyment.

I like to pair a peaty Scotch with a heavier cigar from time to time. Lovely.