Boards
Whisky thread
I'm not very well, and have just had a whisky to take the edge off.
Unfortunately, the only one I have left that is open is a jar of Georgia Moon Corn whisky- a moonshine which is only aged 30 days, is almost seethrough and tastes of sweetcorn- it's doing the job though.
So, to make it seem like i'm drinking something nicer, has anyone else had any good whisky's recently? Sorely tempted to open the small bottle of Jura Origin that I have.
-10 Indie points for "I don't like whisky"
-20 Indie points for "I only like JD"
haven't had any good whiskey for ages
might treat myself on pay day next week
What whisky do you like?
my go to drink is johnnie walker black
and i'll probably get a bottle on friday. i am however, incredibly open to drinking almost anything! i went to a whiskey tasting night for this guys birthday a few months ago. actually a lot of months, like may. he had some very good whiskeys there that blew my head off. i will try and look up the names of some of them. i have a list at home somewhere. i can't remember anything
That was Christopher Hitchens' whisky of choice.
The reason being was that if you're going to get addicted to whisky... you might as well get addicted to one which is a) inexpensive, b) widely available and c) nice. Can't fault the logic really...
saddam hussein's favourite as well
He also advised not getting too attached to good booze.
As he said, when you're 200 miles north of Baghdad and haven't showered for a week, a good single malt can be hard to come by.
Have you tried the Johnnie Walker Double Black?
You should definitely get a bottle if you can
io don't really know what the difference is
i get black because black is on the shelves. i've seen blue, red, green and double black in duty free magazines. what do they even mean?
double black is peatier than black.
As for the others, they are different blends of whiskies. I can't remember which is which, but they go all the way up to Gold and Blue and get increasingly expensive.
I shouldn't
but I do often have one at the end of a session. Partial to Laphraig, Monkey Shoulder, Makers Mark. Used to drink JD but can't really stand it now. I appreciate that it's a Bourbon.
Bourbon talk is allowed here.
I loved Laphraig, but it's definitely one that needs a bit of water in to dilute the complexities.
*sour mash
Makers Mark
I had a bottle of that last year and really enjoyed it.
Good Bourbon!
georgia moon is possibly the worst drink of all time
i like Ardbeg a lot but i've only had the 12 year old one i think
georgia moon, ffs
I bought it for a whisky night, where we had tohave a non-UK whisky
That was 6 months ago.
To be fair, I can barely taste anything, and the terrible burning sensation feels great in my current state.
weren't you embarrassed to take a drink sold in a JAR?
D:
apparently this is a good corn whiskey but i haven't tasted it
http://m.vcst.net/wines/mellow-corn-kentucky-436266.jpg
It was between family, so the talking point made it well worth every penny.
I'd definitely pick up a bottle of that if I saw it.
their special editions are usually very nice
have tried supernova, uigeadail & correyvrekan
have a uigeadail at home now
not tried that alligator one, that looked interesting
Seriously try some of this
I'm not biased in anyway:
http://www.welsh-whisky.co.uk/
already on it.
I've had both the Peated and the Madeira. Both were amazing, but I enjoyed the Madeira slightly more. Why are you biased?
I am a Welsh
Ahha.
It's very very good!
yup
I don't really know anything about whisky and don't drink it often, but I really like Penderyn. Seems to have become a bit of a 'standard' present for me from my parents for birthdays and that, as it's Welsh. Which I am fine with.
I love penderyn
My friend who is a whisky teacher/ ambassador introduced me to it as an alternative to scottish whisky.
not that fussed by penderyn
but tried it after a few islays, so needed something more complex at the time
I can't say it enough: Balvenie will cave your face in with its excellence
Double Wood - good.
Signature - heavenly.
16 Year Old Lagavulin
But most of the time i'm happy with Bushmills or Jamesons. Penderyn is quite nice too.
All of the peaty single malts I love
Laphroaig and Talisker (12 and 10 year old respectively, I think) are 2 particular favourites.
Currently making my way through this bad boy http://www.smokehead.com/ which is very, very smoky (but lacking the sophistication of other malts)
If we're talking bourbon, I always have a decanted bottle of Jim Beam in the house for a quick one after work (the best of the cheap bourbons in my mind) but Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve are two of my favourites if at a bar/being choosey.
Whisky = amazing.
totally agree with you about Jim Beam
Jim Beam Black is especially nice for a cheaper bourbon.
Obviously a few whisky snobs have been round my gaff and scoffed at it...
...but it's just a really, really nice drink. Really nice. Regardless of what it is...
Really not a fan of Jack Daniel's. Really, really not a fan.
I agree with you.
There is a certain itch that only a bourbon can scratch, and Jim beam does it well.
Oh yeah, Talisker too
That's always a good choice.
I don't know much about whisky
but I do know that I love a bit of Talisker.
It's a exceptional way in.
friend of mine's middle name is talisker
as he was conceived on it, in both senses
as in on the island, whilst they were drinking it
I've never seen the smokedhead one, but will look out for it next time.
As it sounds like something i'd like
For the price...
...and for the hassle of having to go to a specialist whisky stockist to get it, you might as well stick to one of the more well-known ones (Talisker etc.). It's nice, but it's a one-tricky pony (smoky and peaty but nothing else).
Okay, point taken!
have you tried the "big Peat" whiskey? That's properly amazing.
Nope!
It's now on the list to devour when I get some money though...
This thread has definitely increased my shopping list.
10 yr talisker
workign through at the minute, it's pretty good
not very well either
p sure whiskey aint gonna help though
it definitely is.
But maybe im a bit pissed.
Laphroig with a bit of water
only time I've drank whiskey and thought "YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"!
Turns out it was a small bottle of Jura Elixir that I had.
Not gonna have any more, as I can't taste it too well.
jura is so light
but pretty good
At uni, the Co-op near my halls made an ordering mistake on Jura
and had so much they sold it for £12 a bottle at one point.
Anyone had any Chivas Regal?
The 12 year old one is beautiful but the 18 year old one is even better. Really, really lovely blended whisky. Really lovely.
Expensive as fuck though.
If you like Chivas Regal you should try Strathisla
Most Strathisla goes straight into the Chivas, but it's a damn tasty malt in its own right.
Noted.
Thank you!
if you've got a bit of a sweet tooth
That Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey is surprisingly good. And I say that as someone who thinks neat JD is nasty (although JD and coke is my standard short).
I've not had it.
I won't buy a bottle, but am interested in having a taste of it, just to see what it's like.
it was £16 a 70cl bottle at Co-op for ages
I'd definitely recommend it at that price.
I'm not sure how I feel about all these flavoured whiskies
I think I prefer it if a whisky gets it's extra flavour from different barrels rather than just sticking honey or cherry in it
I bring at least one bottle of this back from Scotland every year
http://www.benriachdistillery.co.uk/our-whisky.html
It's pretty pricey so I make that shit last. The Pedro Ximenez Sherry cask is sublime. The peated is incredible and really complex.
Also seconding the previous love for the Balvenie Double Wood and Laphroaig.
If you're in London, try here some time:
http://www.fancyapint.com/Pub/london/britannia/3822
i'll second the ben riach peated
was a gift as mention down thread & not sure would have chosen it myself, but will definitely make sure i have another one when it's finished
need to get a balvenie, had a double wood as one of my first purchases & not got round to replacing it yet
Third!
The Ben Riach catalogue is pretty good across the board
Ardbeg Uigeadail is my favourite
Incredibly full-flavoured with a good level of peatiness to it.
I'm a sucker for Japanese whisky too. Yamazaki 12 = yum.
I love both of these too
Has anyone tried any of the english whisky company stuff?
Single malt man
Currently working my way through some 18-year-old Glenfiddich. Lush.
yep
yeah
I thought it was surprisingly good seeing as the first batch is only just reaching a decent maturity. Go for the oldest they've got though (think it's a 12 yr old) as the other stuff is not that good.
Yeah, I had the 5 year old.
It was obviously rough as balls, but I thought that it showed promise for the later botttles
Just finished a 12 year old Bunnahabhain
which was awesome but needed more water than I'm used to.
Got a bottle of Springbank 18 from my girlfriend for my birthday which is amazing. Really trying to pace myself with it as it's too good to chug down quickly...
I only drink it in the pub when I'm showing off about being Scottish
Really struggle to see how most people of dis's demographic can have an interest in single malts
unless you have a proper job and lots of disposable income (which i guess isn't much of the dis population)
I usually just think that anyone under 30 is faking it.
`DiS Demographic`
`Under 30`
Hmm, interesting...
There's lots and lots of people on here with proper jobs and disposable income.
You fucking idiot.
Nah bollocks.
You find money for the things you want to get.
But cheers for your input.
having worked in a bar with a big range of whiskies, some pretty expensive ones
I can tell you that young people who come in with the money to buy whiskey are -
1. posh
2. annoying
3. pretentious
Due to it being a luxury product (go on, tell me its not a luxury product) it seems to encourage the a sort of dick swinging amongst student yuppie types. In order to have even a basic knowledge of whiskey you need to spend a lot of money, that's a fact. Having a basic knowledge of whiskey goes beyond knowing that laphroaig is pretty peated by the way.
The point is, if somebody under 25, maybe 30 depending on the person, tries to come up to me and show off about whiskey as if they sit sipping a nice port ellen with a cigar in their study of an evening, i'm not buying it, and nobody else should.
Plus, nobody in scotland except old middle class men drink malts, so people should stop trying to give it this folksy aura though thats mainly the distilleries fault, (about 90% of which are owned by Diageo by the way. I think its only balvenie and a few others that are scottish-owned)
Anyone who does that with any drink is annoying though
I'd never drunk a single malt until I did a whisky tasting with my Dad in Scotland about 5 years ago. I really liked it, picked up enough of a knowledge to sort of know what I'm ordering, and am not really bothered about which ones are subjectively 'better' than others. Like ale drinking, there are levels of dickheadedness and it's possible to just like to drink it without being a cock.
agreed
but whiskey is undeniably more prohibitively priced than beer (if we're discounting certain stupid 'craft beer' breweries and pubs), which, when amplified with the misunderstanding of tasting jargon just amplifies the dickhead rate.
I don't know about the price thing,
The Britannia where I used to live had a lot of really good singles for under £4, and around London Bridge you'd struggle to get a very average pint for that. The rest of the point is conceded though, any drink which comes with such a steeply raking price index is bound to attract dipshits who want people to see them drinking something worth £9. Probably the same with wine I guess. If they sold £9 pints some cock would buy it and drone on about hops. Best to ignore said cocks and just drink what you want. As long as you're not too precious about it it's not really a big financial burden to drink some nice whisky every now and then.
Weird!
I was in the Britannia for the first time ever on Sunday, it's a ten minute walk from my flat and I was looking for a place to have a quiet pint and read the paper. I saw the huge whisky list and was intrigued to go back and give it a whirl - are the staff pretty knowledgable? Would be good to go with some mates and do an evening of tasting.
The barman who was in there most often
was always up for making a recommendation, I'm sure if you asked they'd be up for sorting you out with a selection to do a tasting. They seemed pretty cool and non-judgmo about it, I never felt like I was a being a clueless neophyte even though I kind of am. Nice pub. Kind of the definition of a hidden gem. Shame I don't live that way any more, I haven't been in ages.
I'm sorry that you've had bad experiences with people in your bar.
I wouldn't profess to having any particular knowledge about whisky. I like to try different things though, and don't understand what you anger about the whole thing is.
Diageo is a beast that is impossible to outrun.
I stopped trying ages ago.
By the way, you sound like way more of a cunt than anyone you are describing. Do stop it.
I know a lot of you guys think you're being well 'liberal' by saying anyone should be allowed to do enjoy whatever pasttime they like
but really what you're saying is that any legal financial transaction should not be critisised.
Drinking malt whiskey is a treat. You should thank your lucky stars every time you have a dram, not treat it as any other commodity that you have earned the right to co-opt because you have to money to.
Drinking malt whiskey is, in most cases, ostentatious. Like a sports car habit.
YOU stop it.
The fuck are you talking about?
I know plenty of people who are `poor` and `working class` or whatever who still managed to claw £80 or so together each weekend to get hammered with. They spend more on lager a month than I do on whisky - why don't you go after them with your ill-thought-through prejudices?
And yes drinking whisky can be a bit of a luxury, sure, and yes I am fortunate that I can enjoy a bit of whisky now and again without having to worry financially. Why you're attaching such disproportionate weight to this, and not myriad other things you could kick off about, I have no idea.
Yeah, let's chat about prejudice.
So whiskey it's just as accessible to you as it is to those horrid proles who "claw" (with their claws)? I guess you just fortuitously have the discernment to not piss away your money on "cheap lager". Yup, no prejudice there.
Do you know who has a sports car collection? The guy from jamiraqui. That's you.
.
There was no prejudice in my post.
If people want to spend £80 a week on lager - they can. You were the person who added the suffix `cheap`, not me. My point was that most people who spend money on booze can afford to drink malt whisky. They just choose not to. And I'm not judging anyone either way.
Plus, the people I referred to in my post are my friends. I'm not making a broad stroke against any class in society.
Maybe there is a fortuitousness in my ability to discern between poisons. Maybe there is. Doesn't make you any less of an idiot for pointing it out though...
Anyway, I'm going home now - have a nice evening.
some of my best friends are lager drinkers!
You should've picked up that I wasn't really saying is pure chance that you can appreciate whiskey. Think about it, JK.
Most of the whisky I own
Has been a present or £25 treat from the supermarket which has lasted me a year.
It's really not that big a deal. People spend that on 4 extra COD maps...
wtf are you on about champ.
Can you compare even a hefty bottle of single malt (say £50) to a Sportscar. No.
Nobody in Scotland except old middle class men drink malts?
That is utter pish. I am Scottish and live in Scotland, and virtually -everybody- I know (both male and female) drinks and enjoys single malt whisky both in the house and in bars. Yes, it can be expensive, but a dram at £3-4 on average for a pretty standard single malt is much better value than £3-4 for a pint of fizzy yellow pish. Perhaps there are pretentious student yuppie types flashing wads and selecting the most expensive bottle on the shelf to show off, but don't think for a second they're representative of the whisky drinking population. My demographic is neither posh, middle-aged or rich, yet everybody indulges in single malts and has done for many years. And you know why? Because it tastes great. Nothing more, nothing less.
And just to clarify, it's "whisky" when you're talking about Scottish single malts. Laphroaig is most definitely not a "whiskey", and nor is Port Ellen. Methinks your basic knowledge could do with some refreshing.
Oh, and to join in with the thread
My favourites include:
Old Pulteney (both the 12 and 17 year old)
Laphroaig (the 10 and the sadly-discontinued 15 year old)
Ardbeg (any, they're all wonderful. Except for the unpeated one, Blasda. It's not so good)
Kilchoman (very new and young Islay distillery. Promising up-and-comers)
Bruichladdich Infinity 3
Aberlour a'Bunadh
Ardmore
Talisker
oo not tried the kilchoman
but love all the islays - even the more medicinal laphroaig - so had this on the list to look out for when the barrels had aged
is it out there now?
"methinks" you've just displayed the pedantry
And elitism that I was talking about the whole time. "Fizzy yellow pish", give me a break. Thank God you're not a slave to that sort of thoughtless consumerism. No, you've nailed you're colours to the mast of a more refined slave ship.
Eh?
Elitism? No, I just called you out on your nonsense statement. I don't deny that single malts aren't expensive but they're certainly not elitist.
Consumerism? I say "fizzy yellow pish" because the lager you get in pubs doesn't taste nice. Most of the time I'll buy a decent ale if they have it (which is usually less expensive than a lager).
Pedantry? Perhaps slightly, but your post was setting you up as an unassailable authority on the subject, so I pricked your ludicrously inflated bubble in the most obvious way possible. Plus I knew it would press your buttons ;)
One bad experience in your life gets generalised to everything and everybody. And your attempt to nail class hatred -out of absolutely nowhere- to posters contributing to this discussion is contemptible at best.
<3 ^what he said
listen, I've been trying to guide you through this in a Socratic way
But you are not a good pupil.
This is undeniable: "good taste" is not accessible to all
Whisky thrives on the idea of "good taste"
To deny this is class warfare.
beautiful
Ooh, citing the Socratic method. That means we must listen to you.
I suspect much of what you purchase or consume is not accessible to all, either. Does that not put you on the frontline of the class war?
I agree with you on one thing: people who fall for "thoughtless consumerism" and those who select their drinks etc on the basis of cost, bolstering their image or whatever are ludicrous fools.
But to reiterate: you may have witnessed a group of odious wankers turn whisky drinking into a penis-measuring display of conspicuous consumption, but that does not mean that the whisky industry, or the consumption of whisky, is class warfare. A common example of fallacy by generalisation. Our current government's policies, plus those of every government for the last thirty years? Now that's class warfare.
this is fun and everything
but I still think I preferred the carefree Red Hot Chili Peppers loving _yes of yore
class warfare
:D
gotta pay the troll toll
its not a luxury product
You're wrong
It's all about your perception of value
As others have pointed out, anyone who can afford to buy a pint in a pub can by definition afford to buy a measure of single malt instead. A decent, common brand will cost either roughly the same or less than the pint (witness the big chains with their £2 "malt of the month deal".
So, because they cost the same, the final purchase depends on the consumer's perceived value of each product. You clearly do not consider single malt whisky good value. I don't know why; perhaps it's because there's too little volume of liquid present for you; because you hate the taste; because you drink it too quickly; because it contains less alcohol than a pint and therefore gets you less pissed. These are all perfectly valid arguments and reasons. Whatever yours is, don't try to dress it up in offensive, sloganeering political clothing, because it's patent bullshit and misguided inverted snobbery. All alcohol is a luxury product, and don't try to pretend otherwise. Get over yourself.
(washes hands of this particular discussion)
Pubs that sell good whiskies generally
sell it for around the same as a pint of premium lager, or less in a lot of cases. I drink mine straight and have a glass of water as well. That way, a whisky generally takes the same amount of time to drink as a pint, as long as you're doing it right. Also, reduces the need for constant urination in the pub. It's a win-win. I won't bother buying one in a pub unless they have a range that makes it worthwhile, but if they do it's no more expensive than lager drinking. And you can generally get a good bottle from a big supermarket for around £25, which will last you a long time as long as you don't go nuts on it and just have it as a special occasion kind of thing. I do have a proper job, but I am under 30, it's doable.
12 year old mcallan is my workhorse
ablerlour and talisker too, but my all time favourite is Caol Ila. Oh my god. I would fuck a barrel of that and then continously text it every hour to get it on a second date.
Got a bottle of Aberlour 16 for Christmas.
Good stuff.
You are the best, sheeldz.
The very best.
My sister got a load of taster bottles of a Welsh single malt when she worked at the Ryder Cup.
It was well tasty but I looked at how much it'd cost to buy and the taster bottle was about £15. I now can't remember what it was called either.
#imthirtyone
Penderyn
and is mentioned ^ up thread.
^Yes!
You won't get a nicer whisky for your money than
http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-414.aspx
Yeah, it's a blend, but it's genuinely a brilliant whisky with a very high single malt content. You can often pick it up in supermarkets. I can't recommend it enough.
If you like peat, Caol Isla is a good one. 12 years old, a bit more subtle than a Laphroaig, but well tasty and not too expensive.
I like the idea of whisky
some of the descriptions people come up with sound mind-blowing, plus the whole idea of getting a bottle of something which has been sitting in a barrel on a remote Scottish island for 12 years is quite romantic. The problem is I have only ever really gone for crap blended stuff and found it beyond foul, so I have never been tempted to try something better. Jameson and JD are what I tend to mix with coke and they go down OK. I got hammered in an experimental evening aged 14 when my parents were out many years ago which didn't help matters as far as scotch is concerned. I have been tempted however to ask for a good bottle of something for my birthday so I don't have to shell out £30 for drain cleaner.
What on earth does peat taste like and is it a good thing?
peat tastes earthy and smokey
I think its a great taste for whisky but others will disagree.
I'd go for a Highland or Speyside whisky for your first expensive one, they tend to be a little bit more 'accessible' than the Islay ones which are generally the big peaty ones.
Also, go to a nice bar with a good whisky selection, talk to the barman and try a couple in an evening. You'll soon get an idea of what you like/don't like.
Try one in a pub one time,
something less harsh like a Dalwhinnie. That way you won't have wasted £25. It's a totally different drink to the off the shelf blended stuff. Most of that tastes like acid reflux.
Pro-tips
When I first drank whisky when working for Highland Park, I hated it. Then the master blender watched how I drank it and explained how to do it right, and it became amazing straight away.
We included the instructions on the Highland Park carton in the end because for beginners, it's revelatory.
First thing to do is try and give it three long sniffs. It gets you used to the alcohol strength.
Also worth noting, your first taste of ANY whisky will always taste pish. So take a swig in your mouth, swish it about and coat your mouth with it. It'll be a bit horrid but it'll get you accustomed to the neatness. Do it again and you'll start to find different whiskies make different parts of your mouth 'tingle', usually down to how salty / aged / peaty they are.
Then the third mouth should be great from thereon in. A dash of water is said to open up the flavours to some people, likewise letting a bit of air in / almost gargling it seems to work for others. Swirling it around a glass too. Think that stuff is just more of a ritual though personally than a 'must do'.
Would recommend a whisky tasting course if you can find one as they're generally fun, cheap and drunken. My wife was happily drinking it neat by the end.
You can read the tasting notes we wrote here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sean_thomas/1742547422/sizes/o/in/set-72157600264888686/
Best whiskies I've ever drunk
Highland Park 18
Highland Park 30
Macallan 15
Dalwhinnie 15
On their day, these cheaper ones are good too:
Balvenie 12
Talisker 12
Ancnoc
Highland Park 12
That Macallan 15 is so nice
Johnnie Walker Black man myself
I actually prefer this to most single malts, but I only started drinking whisky a couple of years ago so my tastebuds probably need to develop before I can fully appreciate the better quality stuff. I'm in no rush though.
Anyone who lives in or visits Brighton simply has to try one of the Whisky Trails at the Great Eastern. You pay 10/15/20/25 quid for a selection of whiskies varying in quality depending on your chosen "trail". Tasting notes and a history of the whisky is provided and the bar staff know their stuff too.
The Waggon And Horses in Brighton has a huge whisky list too
well worth a visit just for that
I love caol ila
And lagavulin. Im yet to try a Balvnie that i dont adore. Their signature blend is special. Also like old pulteney.
Can't drink bourbon on account of it making me too mischievous.
my favourite when younger was tamdhu
& had a bottle of 30 yo given to me for my 40th
but now tend to enjoy the islays more
still like the speysides
picked up a couple on my last trip to scotland that you don't tend to see down south, an oban cask strength & a linkwood from the flora & fauna range
surprised nobody has mentioned bowmore yet, always go down well
got given a ben riach peaty by a houseguest last year which is rather tasty
i try not to finish a bottle so i still have some left for when friends come round so they can try a range so still have some glenfarclas i bought when i was 20 odd, some aberlour, some dalwhinnie, some springbank, an almost full ardbeg uigedail, a talisker & a regular tamdhu on the go.
i'd recommend trying the different regions, seeing which appeals most from that & then explore more
there are charts & stuff to help you - the if you like this, try this sort of things & most supermarkets are quite good at laying them out now like they do wines, with different characteristics grouped together
On the whiksy tasting I went on recently, the guy told me
that whisky should be drunk within 6 months of opening or else it loses it's taste. Which I question hugely, as the 30 year old Highland Park I got given as a thank you for working on the job still tastes amazing and I opened it 5 years ago.
yeah the ones i have put that into dubt as well
http://www.whisky.com/forum/showthread.php?t=219
this thread suggests they were wrong
assuming kkept out of sunlight & air doesnt get to the spirit
guyz
I drink whisky with ice in it normally
You should drink it how you like to drink it
Like sure, there are optimum ways to taste it, but it's a generalisation because peoples tastes are different. The main thing is you're drinking my national export, which always makes me happy.
single malt I'll always take straight
blends I like with ice. don't really drink blends often though.
Interesting post me.
I quite like ice in a blend sometimes too
But it ouldn't iccur to me to put ice in a malt. I think i just copy unthinkingly what my dad does.
you'd have your scotizenship revoked if you even tried
Yep, drink it the way you want it
Neat, a dash of water, half-and-half, it's different for everyone and different for each whisky too. Just enjoy :)
water only
its the rules
Jameson is so far the only one I can enjoy on its own.
WHISKYYY!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeovTxMwrhY
Hello all whisky tastes the same
Don't understand people who drink alcoholic drinks because they like the taste rather than just for getting drunk
There's no alcohol in the world that tastes nicer than things like coke or sprite
I think it's past your bed time.
getting drunk is the worst reason for having nice whisky or ale
you're wasting it
Yep, and you only eat food to stop you being hungry.
post/ user name
I you are in Wales and have spare time
Definitely look up Penderyn and see how much their whisky tasting/tours are. I was lucky enough to get a freebie last summer and I can confidently say I don't think i've felt so drunk yet damn respectable at 1 o'clock in the afternoon before. But yeah, Penderyn is lovely, not sure you can get it in abundance outside of wales, but definitely worth a pop. Not too expensive, but avoid the one made in Peat casks- very very smoky. The one cherry casks is ruddy divine
Cherry?
I was drunk but I'm fairly sure I remember it being Sherry. Freudian slip, my Dad must be Dr. Pepper or something.
Haha
I was reading that and doing my OOOOOOH CHERRRYYYYY face before i realised that it was unlikely to be a thing :D
Late to the show but here are some favourites
Ardbeg Uigeadail - This is the best whisky I've ever tried. It is great.
Glen Moray Mountain Oak - I realise how looked down on Glen Moray is, but this stuff was gorgeous. Cask strength but best (for me) without water.
Dalwhinnie 15yo - My uncle made this so it has a special place for me.
Bowmore 15yo - Mmm!
I tend to drink Bruichladdich Rocks, Jura Superstition or 12yo Highland Park though. All readily available as a last drink in all the pubs I frequent for about £3 a pop.
Oh - my current bottle is a Ledaig which is Tobermory's peated dram. It's stupidly cheap (<£20) and smells amazing. The taste is good, and reasonably peaty, but almost a let down after how smokey the nose is. Well worth picking it up considering how cheap it is.
Anyone here been/going to a whisky festival?
I've been to the Brighton one for the last 3 years running and it's always been amazing. A huge number of whiskies to taste all under one roof, and you don't have to pay a penny once you're in.
Currently on a 2-for-£40 deal ( http://www.thewhiskylounge.com/book-now-whisky-festivals/brighton-whisky-fest-2013-2-for-50/ ). Previous years I've had single glasses of whisky that were worth the best part of the cost.
I've been to the Edinburgh Whisky Fringe every year since 2008
£25 for a ticket, 300 or so whiskies from 30 or so companies and you can try as much as you like. As you say, it's a fantastic way of tasting whiskies you're not sure about, getting to sample rare bottlings and trying whiskies you can't afford in the normal scheme of things :)
Oh my god.
So glad I posted this thread just for this.
I got 2 tickets to the london one. Wahey!
anyone
here had a go on a Glenfarclas 105? It's a cask strength sherry bomb and by god its good. Same sorta area as Aberlour A'bunadh if you've had that.
I got my dad a bottle of that for Christmas
Proper sherry monster, it might be cask strength but it doesn't need a drop of water to make it palatable.
any Glen
had some Yamazaki (Japanese) 12yo single malt whiskey recently and enjoyed it a lot. Really smooth with a sweet finish. I think you can get it in Booths supermarket iirc.
Never had a Japanese one.
There's a few of them isn't there?
I've a bottle of that
Bought it on the way back from Japan. They've won loads of awards in recent years and a lot of people say they're the best in the world right now. Personally, still find it a bit 'raw' compared to a decent, slightly older single malt. Well worth a try though.
allegedly the yamazaki lot learnt all they know
from auvhentosh. the son of the founder worked at auchentoshan for a spell and topok all of the knoewhow back to japan (they also use copper stills although i think yama is only twice distilled instead of triple.)
Gradually making my way through a bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
FEEL THE BURN*
*it's well nice.
finished now. Need more whisky.
Just returned from Scotland, went on the Scottish Whisky Experience in Edinburgh which was great fun,
but didn't really help me narrow down what I wanted to start buying... In the end, we went on a tour of Edradour distillery, the smallest in Scotland, which I'd never heard of before, but it was so charming I bought a bottle of their standard 10 year-old. Anyone else had it?
Indeed I have
Went around the place myself.
Found the younger ages a bit neat compared to their older ones but still pretty drinkable. Nice little distillery isn't it?
It was lovely, especially on the nice sunny day we saw it!
I'd told myself after the experience that I wanted to get a serious Isla or something, but I couldn't leave Edradour without buying something - will see how fast I get through it and think about spreading my wings...
Since this thread I did actually get a bottle of whisky for my birthday
Glenmorangie. I like it a lot, I can just sit and sip a couple of glasses no problem. I would quite like to just get a bottle each birthday now and build up a collection, I can always mix the crap ones with ice and coke if needs be.
Since this thread was last in town I have changed my 'standard decanter fodder'
from Jim Beam to Johnny Walker Black.
Just thought you should all know.
*Johnnie
I have read a review of Johnnie Walker Black
It is right twattish, but it does make me want to try it:
Nose 23.5: Pretty sharp grain: hard and buffeting the nose; a buffer of yielding smoke, apple pie and delicate spice cushions the encounter.
Taste 24.5: If there is a silkier delivery on the market today I have not seen it: this is sublime stuff, with the grains singing the sweetest hymns as they go down, taking with them a near perfection of weighty smoke lightened by brilliantly balanced barley which leans towards both soft apple and crème brulée.
Finish 23.5: Those reassuringly rigid grains re-emerge and with them the most juicy Speysidey malts imaginable; the lovely sheen to the finish underlines the good age of the whiskies used.
Balance 24: Here it is: one of the world's most masterful whiskies back in all its complex glory. A bottle like this is like being visited by an old lover. It just warms the heart and excites.
JW Black was £20 in Tesco last week, and I ignored it because I was about to go to Scotland.
Schoolboy error.
They sell it in my local off licence for £22.99 a bottle.
Not sure if they know what they're doing...
If there's a better blend for c.£25 then I'll be very, very surprised.
Obviously it's not in the same league as some of the malts, but as a blend it's lovely. Just lovely. A giant leap from Johnnie Walker Red.
Never had the Double Black but I imagine that's wonderful too.
I would like to become a whiskey drinker
How best to start? Are mixers terribly gauche?
You can do a tasting session
They're a really good way to start out.
Also, this:
http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/social/4424828#r7316252
Blends aren't terrible at all, some are very very good. But I always think a really good middle ground is Highland Park 12. It's usually on offer in supermarkets for £20 and is a really great whisky. It's bang in the middle of the flavour profiles so if you like the subtle smokiness, add a touch more water then try something more like Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Bowmore... If you don't, try something a bit smoother.
thank you!
Don't really like the peaty ones.
Am in no way a connoisseur.
Remembered recently that I have a bottle of Oban in my old house, am gonna find out if it's still there and get it back.
Bought some Jura Superstition recently
Really enjoyed it, peaty but not overpoweringly so, AND the bottle and design are great. Think it's on offer in Waitrose atm actually.
Question. Can anyone recommend any other good whiskies out there with less 'traditional' branding?
the lamest of all weird badges of honour.
Yeah, would much prefer a tin of Tenant's Super
I'll just add to the love for Talisker (10 or 12 yr old), Laphraoig and Old Pulteney.
That said I like a lot of Speysides too. I currently have a bottle of Old Pulteney 12 year old and Jura Superstition of my own, and then there are the many, many bottles my dad got for retirement. Also got a bottle of Ardmore from my friends for my birthday and it's an underrated little malt.
I wish I actually drank more blends though. People treat with them with disdain, but I'd like to know more about them.
Best whisky drinking experience: Drinking Talisker whilst fishing for mackerel of the pier right in front of the distillery on Skye...brilliant but brief, fucking midgies!!
*off the pier
Mackerel of the Pier is my new tribute act.
Budget whiskey of choice?
mine is probably Teachers.
Currently got a Old Pulteney 12yo on the go. I hate finishing off a bottle - have about 6 bottles with an inch in. Might just have my own little tasting session, or try blind guessing which is which.
Why has everyone introduced bourbon with honey in it?
Oban 12 yo is rather fine.
As for blended, Coleraine made by Bushmills is very good. Not available in England unfortunatley.
^appropriate username for a thread on whisky
My dad tried to get me drinking single malt for many a year
and I never took to it until I tried a Macallan 12 year old. Absolutely love whisky now. I don't have a clue about it, just know whether I like one or not. Tend to stay clear of the peaty ones and Laphroig gives me the boak (tastes and smells like TCP.) The wife splashed out on an 18 year old Macallan for my Christmas and it was immense - so smooth.
Would also second Yamisake, the Japanese malt and as far as the 'newer' brand whiskies go, Monkey Shoulder is nice and good value.
I found Laphroaig tastes more like freshly laid tarmac
oddly moreish though. Like it reminded me of a warm summer's day in my youth (which had just had roadworks done).
I bought a bottle of Balvenie recently.
I'm unconvinced to be honest. Laghroaig is far better tbh.
Might try another glass to make sure, though.
I bought a block of cheese recently.
I'm unconvinced to be honest. Chalk is far better tbh.
I'm not a huge fan of Balvenie either
Though I've not tried the older ages
by GOD yes_ is good
:D He properly trolled me.
Great thread
I stand by most of what I said here.
Though especially accusing that guy of being JK from jamiraquoi. I'll never top that.