Well, there's not much else to say... except that my introduction to single malts happened quite accidentally. When I was quite young I had some bad experiences with strong spirits... and grew to dislike and be nauseated by almost anything. After "exceeding" a bit too much in the 1992-1996 period, I couldn't really touch a drop of vodka, tequila, grappa or whisky (or at least the stuff that I called whisky at the time... Johnnie Walker Red, Ballantines...) without having my stomach shut as if to say "please no more". So, I became interested in beer mostly... and thus I gained my nickname "Beer" (mispronounced by my friends who say "Bear" instead) which I still have today even if I rarely drink beer anymore.
 
And then, in 2003, I started to mysteriously grow some interest again. I had some Jaegermeister and some grappa in the house, but on a whim I decided that maybe Scotch would be better: and here I was again, a bottle of JW Red, one of Ballantines, one of Glen Grant 5... all supermarket stuff. After many years, I physicaly tolerated them again, but I felt that they didn't offer me SATISFACTION. And then I remembered the words of an old (and quite alcoholic) colleague that I had met when I used to work in the military aircraft industry... I had paid no attention to his suggestions when he had preciously bestowed them upon me, but now his words echoed in my mind. He had clearly said: "If one day you will want to try some GOOD Scotch, and not the supermarket crap, try a bottle of Talisker and one of Lagavulin. A new world will open to your eyes." Now that I think of him, this colleague looked incredibly like Michael Jackson... probably something genetic! So, when at the supermarket I saw a bottle of Talisker on offer, it was mine. I bought it secretly on a Saturday morning, and as soon as I was home I immediately had a dram (on an empty stomach). I was hooked forever, and I started to slowly become a maniac: reading books, all sorts of websites, and finally Malt Madness/Maniacs with its impressive array of tasting notes and useful info. The rest is history...
 
My wife is a bit worried by my passion, by my generous daily dram.
She says I am an alcoholist... I prefer to say that I like the good vices in life (people tend to consider me quite an expert on pipe tobaccos, too: and the fact that I am N. 2 reviewer on Tobacco Reviews seems to confirm this idea).
 
I like all sorts of good whiskies with a pronounced taste, the robust stuff. I don't care for bland and friendly malts, I like some strong peat, or some strong sherry (not the two of them together, usually). I don't like overly sweet malts (a certain Springbank Port Wood comes to mind), but occasionally I find myself hooked on a delicate, refined but still tasty lowlander (like the Rare Malts Rosebank that I am enjoying these days). You will probably see that at times my ratings can be a bit weird, with normal expressions rated higher than rare and limited editions: I don't consider price as a factor that influences the rating, of course, but sometimes I think that there's so much to discover in a "cheap" malt like the Ardbeg TEN with its almost brutal intensity (but the nuances are there if you care to look for them!)... at times even more than in some expensive expressions. I like subtle hints of flavours, but I also like robust whiskies with lots of "personality". "Personality goes a long way" as a certain character in a Tarantino movie said. So keep this in mind when you stumble upon my ratings!
 
Luca

(*) I discovered SMSW in 1990 (of course it was the Glen Grant 5yr for the Italian market!), but started to study and appreciate it in 2003 (a bottle of Talisker did the trick)

(**) Favourite food: bucatini with pesto, lasagne, onions and gorgonzola pizza, bagna caoda, "raviole della Val Varaita". Piedmontese and Emilian food in general.

(***) Favourite music: Depeche Mode, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, and other rock-electronic groups. Also classic (especially '40s) jazz.

(****) Other passions: cinema (mostly American and Hong Kong), videogames (occasional game reviewer for PC and PlayStation Italian magazines since 1996), pipe smoking and collecting, tobacco tasting and reviewing (see www.tobaccoreviews.com and look for user "Beer"), photography and mountain trekking.

E-pistle #12/08  -  The Best of 2004
E-pistle #13/16  -  Common Does Not Mean Bad
E-pistle #14/06  -  Springbank in Decline?
E-pistle #14/17  -  Baladin Elixer

Top 10 not submitted yet.

On 01/01/2006 Luca's 'Malt-O-Meter' said: 204 single malts sampled and scored.

83 Aberlour 1994/2005 (46%, Berry Bros & Rudd, casks #8847-8850)
91 Aberlour NAS 'A'bunadh' (59.6%, OB, no batch #, Bottled 1998)
80 Aberlour 15yo Sherry Finish (40%, OB, >1999)
73 Aberlour 10yo (43%, OB, circa 2004)
85 Ardbeg 1974/1996 (40%, G&M Spirit of Scotland)
89 Ardbeg 27yo 1975/2002 (50%, DL OMC, 342 Btl., USA)
88 Ardbeg 6yo 1997/2003 'Very Young' (58.9%, OB, for discussion)
93 Ardbeg Uigeadail new bottling (54.2%, OB, bottled 2004)
92 Ardbeg 13yo 1990/2004 'Cask Strength' (55%, OB, Japan, 1140 bottles)
87 Ardbeg 1980/2004 'Kildalton' (57.6%, OB)
88 Ardbeg 31yo 1973/2004 (49.3%, OB, Cask No. 1143 Bourb, Committee, 216 b.)
84 Ardbeg 6yo 1998/2005 (56.2%, SMWS 33.57, sherry gorda)
86 Ardbeg 17yo (40%, OB, 1999)
86 Ardbeg 1977 (46%, OB, 2001)
92 Ardbeg 10yo (46%, OB, circa 2004)
84 Arran 'Grand Cru Champagne Cask Finish' (58.8%, OB, 308 bottles, b. 2005)
56 Auchentoshan 1995/2005 (43%, Jean Boyer)
79 Auchentoshan 10yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2002, Italy)
80 Aultmore 1991/2005 (46%, Wilson & Morgan, sherry wood)
78 Balblair 16yo (40%, OB)
84 Balvenie 1991 'PortWood' (40%, OB, 2004)
84 Balvenie 21yo 'Port Wood' (40%, OB, 2005)
80 Balvenie 10yo 'Founder's Reserve' (40%, OB, +/- 2003)
86 Ben Nevis 34yo 1970/2005 'single blend' (50.3%, Adelphi, cask #4640)
85 Benriach 28yo 1976/2005 (56.9%, Signatory, Cask #9442, sherry butt, 426 b.)
70 Benriach 10yo (43%, OB, <2000)
83 Benromach 22yo (45%, OB, 22 months Port pipes finish, bottled 2005, 3500 b.)
88 Bowmore 23yo 1974 (49%, Signatory, 25/03/74  12/09/97, C. #2104, 285 b.)
60 Bowmore 1999/2005 'Young Peaty Islay 3rd batch' (61.5%, Royal Mile W., 308 b.)
84 Bowmore 12yo "Enigma" (40%, OB, 2005)
82 Bowmore NAS 'Darkest' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1999)
85 Bowmore 15yo Mariner (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
77 Bowmore 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
80 Bowmore NAS 'Cask Strength' (56%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
78 Brora 1982/2002 (40%, G&M Connoisseur's Choice)
82 Brora 26yo 1978/2004 (57.2%, SMWS 61.22)
83 Bruichladdich 3D 'Moine Mhor' (50%, OB, 2005)
84 Bruichladdich 'Infinity' (55.5%, OB)
58 Bruichladdich 1992/2005 'Extra Strength' (50%, Wilson & Morgan)
82 Bruichladdich 'Fifteen Second Edition' (46%, OB, 2005)
58 Bruichladdich XVII (46%, OB)
86 Bruichladdich 1986/2005 (46%, OB, La Maison du Whisky 50th Ann., cask #2)
82 Bruichladdich 'Twenty Third Edition' (46%, OB, 2005)
75 Bruichladdich 15yo (43%, OB, Old, Bottled +/- 1999)
80 Bunnahabhain 12yo (40%, OB, bottled 2005)
88 Bunnahabhain 1974/2005 (46%, Berry Bros & Rudd, casks #11534-11536)
83 Bunnahabhain 33yo (45.5%, Royal Mile Whiskies, cask #6249, 201 bottles)
86 Caol Ila 21yo 1975/1997 (61.3%, Rare Malts)
84 Caol Ila 24yo 1974/1998 (46%, Wilson & Morgan)
88 Caol Ila 13yo 1990/2003 (46%, Signatory UCF, Refill Butt, Cask 13952, 861 b.)
83 Caol Ila 1990/2004 (46%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection)
89 Caol Ila 25yo 1979/2004 (61.2%, Black for Sun Fav. Taiwan, hog. #5334, 44 b.)
86 Caol Ila 1995/2005 'Extra Strength' (50%, Wilson & Morgan)
77 Caol Ila 1993/2005 (46%, Wilson & Morgan)
83 Caol Ila 1993/2005 (59.9%, Adelphi, cask #6779)
84 Caol Ila 12yo 1992/2005 (46%, Whisky Galore)
90 Caol Ila 13yo 1991/2005 (54.2%, The Whisky Fair, bourb. Hog. #4734, 359 b.)
88 Caol Ila NAS 'Cask Strength' (55%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
89 Caol Ila 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
83 Caperdonich 1997/2005 (43%, Jean Boyer)
86 Cardhu 22yo 1982/2005 (57.8%, OB, 3000 bottles)
80 Clynelish 15yo 1982/1997 (57.7%, OB Limited Edition)
80 Clynelish 1972/2005 (49.4%, The Whisky Exchange, 206 bottles)
82 Clynelish 1971/2005 (45.7%, M&H Cask Selection, refill hogshead, 228 bottles)
79 Clynelish 14yo (43%, Flora & Fauna)
87 Convalmore 24yo 1978/2003 (59.4%, Rare Malts)
73 Cragganmore 10yo 1993/2004 (60.1%, OB, Bodega Eur. oak casks, 15000 b.)
80 Cragganmore 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
79 Dailuaine 31yo 1973/2005 (47.8%, The Whisky Fair, butt #14739, 204 b.)
75 Dalmore NAS Cigar Malt (43%, OB)
76 Dalwhinnie 15yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
78 Edradour 11yo 1994/2005 (57.1%, OB, Straight from The Cask, Gaja Barolo fin.)
83 Edradour 11yo 1994/2005 (59.6%, OB, SFTC, Madeira,c. #04/316/4, 488 b.)
76 Glencadam 15yo (40%, OB)
82 Glendronach 15yo '100% Sherry' (40%, OB, Bottled late 1990's)
83 Glendullan 23yo 1972/1996 (62.43%, UDRM, 20cl)
74 Glen Elgin 1978/2005 (Adelphi, cask #4512 - ROTATION?)
82 Glenfarclas 1974/2000 (43%, OB, 2732 bottles)
79 Glenfarclas 1974/2004 (50.5%, OB for The Whisky Ex., refill sh., c. #6041, 246 b.)
82 Glenfarclas 12yo (43%, OB)
81 Glenfarclas 25yo (43%, OB)
75 Glenfiddich 12yo 'Special Reserve' (40%, OB)
69 Glenfiddich 12yo 'Caoran Reserve' (40%, OB)
78 Glenfiddich 15yo 'Solera Reserve' (40%, OB)
72 Glenfiddich 21yo 'Gran Reserva' (40%, OB)
82 Glenfiddich 30yo (40%, OB)
85 Glenfiddich 30yo (40%, OB)
69 Glenfiddich 12yo Special Reserve (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
84 Glenglassaugh 28yo 1976 (51.9%, Dormant Distillery C., c. #2376, 279 b.)
92 Glengoyne 15yo 1989/2005 'Duncan's Ch.' (55.7%, OB, sher.h. #1204, 350 b.)
64 Glengoyne 15yo 'Scottish oak wood finish' (43%, OB)
78 Glengoyne 19yo 1985/2005 (55.8%, OB, refiil sherry, cask #1227, 697 bottles)
92 Glengoyne 19yo 1986/2005 'Ewan's Choice' (51.5%, OB, sherry p. #441, 600 b.)
83 Glengoyne 22yo 1982/2005 'Ronnie's Choice' (53.6%, OB, bourb. #449, 200 b.)
91 Glengoyne 32yo 1972/2005 (48.7%, OB, white Rioja cask #985, 328 bottles)
82 Glengoyne 37yo 1967/2005 (47.6%, OB, sherry butt #975, 246 bottles)
88 Glen Grant 18yo 1977/1995 (46%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection)
85 Glen Grant 31yo 1970/2001 (45%, Samaroli, sherry cask #1025)
65 Glen Grant 5yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004, Italian market version)
81 Craigduff 32yo 1973/2005 (49.4%, Signatory, cask #2513, sherry butt, 566 b.)
81 Glenkinchie 10yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
84 Glenlivet 36yo 1968/2005 (48.6%, Duncan Taylor, sherry cask #6195, 136 b.)
77 Glenlivet 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
65 Glen Moray 12yo 'Classic' (40%, OB, Bottled Late 1990's)
81 Glen Ord 40yo (40.1%, Royal Mile Whiskies, 300 bottles)
81 Glenrothes 1989/2002 (43%, OB, dist. 8/10/1989, approved 26/02/2000)
82 Glenrothes 1972/2004 (43%, OB)
83 Glenrothes 36yo 1968/2005 (53.2%, Ducan Taylor, cask #13486, 144 bottles)
89 Highland Park 13yo 1992/2005 (65.2%, Adelphi, cask #20361)
79 Highland Park 18yo (43%, OB)
86 Highland Park 19yo 1985/2005 (54%, Signatory, cask #2911, hog., 296 b.)
75 Highland Park 12yo (40%, OB, circa 2004)
80 Highland Park 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
92 Highland Park 36yo 1967/200X (49.7%, OB for Whisky Ex., c. #10252, 138 b.)
87 Inchgower 24yo 1980/2005 (60.4%, Adelphi, cask #14152)
91 Isle of Jura 5yo 1999/2004 (60.6%, OB for The Whisky Exchange, cask #19)
79 An Cnoc 12yo (40%, OB,
81 An Cnoc 1990/2004 (46%, OB)
88 Lagavulin 12yo Special Release #2 (57.8%, OB, bottled 2002)
81 Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition  (43%, OB, 1997)
89 Lagavulin 16yo 'Port Ellen' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
89 Laphroaig NAS Quarter Cask (48%, OB, 2004)
85 Laphroaig NAS  'quarter cask' (48%, OB, second edition 2005)
84 Laphroaig 10yo (40%, OB, 2005)
91 Laphroaig 10yo 'Cask Strength' (55.7%, OB)
87 Laphroaig 13yo 1991/2005 (59.1%, SMWS 29.40)
93 Laphroaig 31yo 1974/2005 (49.7%, OB for La MW, sherry, 910 bottles)
90 Laphroaig 30yo (43%, OB, circa 2000)
91 Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength (57,3%, OB, Red stripe)
86 Laphroaig 15yo (43%, OB, >2000)
86 Laphroaig 10yo (43%, OB, 2004)
81 Linkwood 1991/2005 (46%, Wilson & Morgan, sherry wood)
87 Macallan 'Coilltean' 1992/2004 (55%, Samaroli, new Am. oak, c. #8518, 420 b.)
87 Macallan 10yo C/S (58.7%, OB, 1l, triangular neck label)
82 Macallan 15yo 1989/2005 (57.2%, SMWS 24.82)
79 Macallan 15yo 'Fine Oak' (43%, OB)
89 Macallan 18yo 1979 (43%, OB)
88 Macallan 18yo 1984 (43%, OB)
82 Macallan 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
70 Macallan 7yo (40%, OB, Italian, 2004)
79 Macallan 8yo Fine Oak (40%, OB)
81 Oban 14yo (43%, OB, , Bottled +/- 1999)
80 Old Pulteney 12yo (40%, OB)
77 Old Pulteney 17yo (46%, OB)
86 Port Ellen 20yo 1978/1998 (60.9%, Rare Malts)
79 Port Ellen 23yo 1975/1998 (43%, Signatory, distilled 14/1/75)
86 Port Ellen 21yo 1978/2000 (50%, DL OMC, 342 bottles)
85 Port Ellen 22yo 1982/2004 (61.1%, DL for PLOWED Society, cask #740, 264 b.)
85 Rosebank 22yo 1981/2004 (61.1%, Rare Malts)
75 Rosebank 1990/2005 (46%, Berry Bros & Rudd, casks #1518-1519-1520)
88 Royal Brackla 27yo 1975/2002 'Green Br.' (59.7%, TWE., cask #5471, 204 b.)
83 Royal Lochnagar 24yo 1972/1997 (55.7%, Rare Malts, US version)
84 Scapa 1993/2005 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail for La Maison du Whisky)
81 Scapa 14yo (40%, OB)
79 Scapa 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
79 Springbank 12yo Rumwood 1989/2002 (54.6%, OB)
81 Springbank 19yo 1974/2003 (46%, OB Distillery Private B., c. 1157 b. N¡44/630)
85 Springbank 10yo 100 Proof (57%, OB, 2004)
74 Springbank 14yo 1989/2004 Portwood (52.8%, OB)
65 Springbank 15yo 1989/2005 (60.5%, SMWS 27.57)
84 Springbank 21yo (46%, OB, 2005)
78 Springbank 12yo (46%, OB, red thistle, circa 1995)
84 Springbank 10yo (46%, OB, 2002)
84 Springbank 12yo '175th anniversary' (46%, OB, 12 000 bottles)
82 Longrow 10yo 1992/2002 (46%, OB)
82 Longrow 10yo 1993/2003 (46%, OB)
62 Longrow 14yo (46%, OB, bottled 2004)
83 Longrow 10yo no vintage 'Sherrywood' (46%, OB) 
71 Strathisla 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
82 Talisker 20yo 1982/2003 'Refill casks' (58.8%, OB, 12000 bottles)
86 Talisker 15yo 1989/2004 (59.9%, SMWS 14.14)
84 Talisker 25yo 'bottled in 2004' (57.8%, OB, refill casks, 21000 bottles)
78 Talimburg 19yo 1986/2005 (45.9%, The Whisky Fair, b.hogshead #1485, 252 b.)
72 Talisker '175th anniversary' (45.8%, OB, bottled 2005)
87 Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, circa 1992)
81 Talisker 1986 Distillers Edition (45.8%, OB)
83 Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, circa 2003)
86 Teaninich 19yo 1983/2002 (58.7%, Cadenhead's Authentic Coll., b. hog., 174 b.)
85 Teaninich 23yo 1972 (64.95%, OB, Rare Malts US release)
80 Ledaig 30yo 1974/2005 (48.7%, Signatory, c. #3223, sherry hogshead, 208 b.)
85 Tomatin 25yo (43%, OB)
75 Tomintoul 10yo (40%, OB)
78 Tomintoul 16yo (40%, OB)
75 Tomintoul 27yo (40%, OB)
93 Blairfindy 24yo 1980/2004 (55.9%, Black. for Sun Fav.Taiwan,  b. #5984, 182 b.)
74 Speyside 1990/2005 'Armagnac Finish' (54.4%, Celtique Connexion, 297 b.)
84 Blackadder 'Peet Reek' (61.7%, Black. for Sun Fav. Taiwan, hog BA 10571, 294 b.)
80 Blackadder 'Peet Reek' (62.1%, Black. for Sun Fav. Taiwan, hog. BA 10570, 299 b.)
88 Finlaggan 'Old Reserve' (40%, Vintage Malt Whisky Co)
83 Smoking Islay (59.7%, Black for Taiwan SMWTA, c.#BA 2005/202, 233 b.)
70 W&M House Malt 'B. on Islay' 1997/2005 (43%, Wilson & Morgan, C. #818-824)
76 No'Age Edition 2001 (45%, Samaroli, vatted, 1596 bottles)
81 The Famous Grouse 'Vintage Malt Whisky' 1992/2004 (40%, OB)
77 Special Malt Maniacs Vatting Awards 2005
74 The Rich Spicy One (40%, John, Mark and Robbo)
76 The Smoky Peaty One (40%, John, Mark and Robbo)
78 The Smooth Sweeter One (40%, John, Mark and Robbo)
61 Eleuthera (46%, Compass Box, K5073)
70 Serendipity (40%, OB, Blended Malt, 2005)
58 The Peat Monster (46%, Compass Box, K5064)
79 The Spice Tree (46%, Compass Box, Inaugural Batch, 4150 bottles, 2005)
81 Yamazaki 12yo (43% OB, Japan, Suntory, pure malt)
89 Carsebridge 25yo 1979/2005 (56.4%, Ducan Taylor, cask #32901, 154 bottles)
84 Invergordon 1964/2005 (47.1%, Adelphi, cask #57637)