Like everybody on the planet, over the course of my young life I had tasted the very well marketed Glenlivet 12-year-old and Glenfiddich that every gin joint seems to have just in case somebody orders a single malt. My first impression was probably like yours, "Why would anybody drink this crap?"

I met my friend Rob in the late 60's. We grew up doing almost every stupid thing young men do and still survive. At one point Rob decided to have a party and he wanted to serve food and beverages that reflected his maturing tastes. He decided to buy a couple of single malt scotches. After a little research (if I remember correctly) his choices were the 10-year-old Laphroigh and 16-year-old Lagavulin.

Rob invited me to have a taste with him before the party (he hadn't tried it either) and I said, "Gee, no thanks. I've had single malt scotch before and it's awful." He prodded a bit and I believe it was the Laphroaig I tried first. WOW! Now I would never spring the 10-year-old Laphroaig on anybody as their first venture into the world of single malt scotches, but we didn't know any better. Rob had bought 2 scotch whiskys that were highly rated so what are you gunna do?

The Laphroaig was a bit of a shock to the system, but I realized that there was a lot more to single malt scotch than the standard issue Glenlivet 12-year-old and Glenfiddich had shown me.

Not much of the scotch was actually consumed at Rob's party, but it got Rob and I inspired enough to dig a little deeper. We first explored the Classic Six (Lagavulin, Oban, Talisker, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie and Glenkinchie), which is a great place to start because of the diversity of these 6 malts.

With the help of Michael Jackson's book on single malt scotch, a few other references and a lot of sampling we've managed to expand our single malt horizons to the point where we've been refered to as Northwest Single Malt Scotch Aficionados.

Over the years Rob and I enjoyed many fine whiskys ranging in taste and price from mild to wild and everywhere in between.

Rob has been working on a Physics project for several years and as tough a decision as it must have been, he has had to separate himself from this web site and the active pursuit of fine single malt scotch to stay focused on the project.

We wish him great success with his project and naturally, when we come across an extraordinary find, he'll be among the first to know.

I was only able to have one single malt scotch outing with my father before he passed away, but it was glorious!

Since discovering my lust passion for single malt whiskys, I've met some very knowledgeable folks that share my interest in the single malts and I've indoctrinated several more.

It is my hope to keep this web site as an information source and forum for like-minded individuals who share the fun and complexity that the single malt scotches bring.