OT: Scotch thread

[HuskyHawk]

Johnnie Walker would probably like to make you a paid spokesperson for blended whisky which has, in general, fallen out of favor!

Compass Box made blends popular again with single malt drinkers. But they are pretty unique. They have put out some amazing stuff. Way more blended Scotch is sold than single malt. Just like Budweiser sells more than craft beer places. The name for what Fishy did is an infinity bottle.

@8893 if you like An Oa I liked Wee Beastie better and it’s cheaper. I also like the Port Charlotte stuff quite a bit for peated.

 

[Fishy]

You should write down the recipe.

You mean I should have written down the recipe...because I didn’t and I have no real hope of remembering it completely.

I basically remember most of what went in, just not really the amounts. I did avoid actual Scotch for the most part - I would say that the Monkey Shoulder is really the only thing from Scotland in there. I also tried to avoid stuff that had too much of a sherry cask influence.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Any Talisker fans here? That is pretty much my house Scotch. It’s pretty well priced and has a lightly peated maritime profile. I have loved visiting the isle of Skye really like it anyway.

 

[Fishy]

Any Talisker fans here? That is pretty much my house Scotch. It’s pretty well priced and has a lightly peated maritime profile. I have loved visiting the isle of Skye really like it anyway.

I have never tried any of them...I should. In a rut right now where I just am not enjoying anything with peat.

Personally, the rum is head and shoulders for me.

I’m not quite sure what to say about the Port Finish yet. I had it before, but this is batch 8 and it’s... “something.” Honestly, it’s almost just a rye.

I’m guessing these port barrels were not on their first or second fill here.

(Edit: The Port Cask needs a bit of water - becomes something much different.)

Need to revisit this one.

Ever notice how some bottles change pretty dramatically once there’s a little air in the bottle? I feel like the Port Cask did just that. The rye is definitely more noticeable than the Rum Cask and the port is not as prominent as the rum, but for $50, definitely worth a buy.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I have never tried any of them...I should. In a rut right now where I just am not enjoying anything with peat.



Need to revisit this one.

Ever notice how some bottles change pretty dramatically once there’s a little air in the bottle? I feel like the Port Cask did just that. The rye is definitely more noticeable than the Rum Cask and the port is not as prominent as the rum, but for $50, definitely worth a buy.

Talisker 10 is a gem and not expensive. It has mild peat but also a lemony and peppery character. The peat doesn’t overwhelm the malt.

Definitely agree air time can make a huge difference with some bottles. I find it more with bourbon and rye than with Scotch. The oxidation can bring out more nuanced flavors like it does in wine.

 

[Fishy]

Talisker 10 is a gem and not expensive. It has mild peat but also a lemony and peppery character. The peat doesn’t overwhelm the malt.

Definitely agree air time can make a huge difference with some bottles. I find it more with bourbon and rye than with Scotch. The oxidation can bring out more nuanced flavors like it does in wine.

Yep.

In this instance, with the Breckenridge, it really essentially is a bourbon.

 

[8893]

Yep.

In this instance, with the Breckenridge, it really essentially is a bourbon.

Here’s an unintentional experiment I’ve been doing: I sometimes fall asleep mid-drink at the end of the night, and I am such a cheap bastard that I won’t throw away the drink if it’s a neat whisky/whiskey, which it usually is. But I don’t want to pour it back in if it’s been sitting out for an hour or more because it would change what’s in the bottle; so I put the Glencairn or NEAT glass with the remaining whisky/whiskey back in my liquor cabinet. I usually drink it the next night and it tastes totally different—much more mellow.

And yeah, in the case of the Breckinridge Rum Cask, it tastes a lot more like plain ol’ bourbon the next night.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Here’s an unintentional experiment I’ve been doing: I sometimes fall asleep mid-drink at the end of the night, and I am such a cheap bastard that I won’t throw away the drink if it’s a neat whisky/whiskey, which it usually is. But I don’t want to pour it back in if it’s been sitting out for an hour or more because it would change what’s in the bottle; so I put the Glencairn or NEAT glass with the remaining whisky/whiskey back in my liquor cabinet. I usually drink it the next night and it tastes totally different—much more mellow.

And yeah, in the case of the Breckinridge Rum Cask, it tastes a lot more like plain ol’ bourbon the next night.

I find that happening to me as well. I just leave it in the Glencairn. Always fine the next evening. Some things are better. Some loose that edge they had. Peat will fade a bit. Consider it a science experiment, not a sign we are getting old.

Adjunct flavors in beer, like coffee, fade even while it ages in the bottle. So it makes some sense that the port or rum cask flavors might fade.

 

[Umami Zen]

Here’s an unintentional experiment I’ve been doing: I sometimes fall asleep mid-drink at the end of the night, and I am such a cheap bastard that I won’t throw away the drink if it’s a neat whisky/whiskey, which it usually is. But I don’t want to pour it back in if it’s been sitting out for an hour or more because it would change what’s in the bottle; so I put the Glencairn or NEAT glass with the remaining whisky/whiskey back in my liquor cabinet. I usually drink it the next night and it tastes totally different—much more mellow.

And yeah, in the case of the Breckinridge Rum Cask, it tastes a lot more like plain ol’ bourbon the next night.

You definitely have more discipline than me. Rarely see a reason to extend the wee dram into the next night.LOL

 

[Fishy]

Oh, yeah. I always leave the glass half-finished. Can totally relate.

No, no I cannot.

 

[8893]

You definitely have more discipline than me. Rarely see a reason to extend the wee dram into the next night.LOL

Oh, yeah. I always leave the glass half-finished. Can totally relate.

No, no I cannot.

It‘s not discipline. I’m talking about waking up in the recliner sometime between 12:30 and 2:00 with a nice pour still in your glass. If you guys down it then, more power to you. That’s never even a consideration for me at that point.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It‘s not discipline. I’m talking about waking up in the recliner sometime between 12:30 and 2:00 with a nice pour still in your glass. If you guys down it then, more power to you. That’s never even a consideration for me at that point.

I did this binge watching Cobra Kai. Slept through 3 episodes which Netflix just keeps playing. Like you, I leave what’s in the glass in the glass. Except my water of course.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Most recent bottle acquisition was a sentimental rather than rational choice. Torabhaig is a new distillery on the Isle of Skye (making it the 2nd, to Talisker). They just released their first whisky, so I bought it. It's expensive at $65 for a 3 year old single malt. It's actually quite nice, a little peated, lemon custard, better than I expected given the age. Once this stuff hits 8-10 years its going to be really good.

 

[HuskyHawk]

For all of you who like Nikka From the Barrel, and that overall profile, I have a very cheap Irish Whiskey suggestion. Roe & Co. I grabbed it because it was $34 and, what the hell? Really pleasantly surprised by this. It has that creamy, honey, vanilla rich profile I get from Nikka. I think it's from the mostly first fill ex-bourbon casks. I'll probably go get two more this weekend.

Dublin’s Newest Whiskey Tour | Roe and Co Distillery (roeandcowhiskey.com)

 

[8893]

I drained my Auchentoshan Three Wood faster than I have drained any bottle in recent memory. It ain't cheap but it will have to be replaced.

I have a friend who drinks Johnny Black in a lowball glass packed with crushed ice and when I meet him for lunch I always join him by starting with one of those. I did that last week and it gave me a hankering to have a nice blend on hand when I want to drink something on the rocks, so I replenished my Famous Grouse and have already put quite a dent in that. I had forgotten how easily it goes down that way.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I drained my Auchentoshan Three Wood faster than I have drained any bottle in recent memory. It ain't cheap but it will have to be replaced.

I have a friend who drinks Johnny Black in a lowball glass packed with crushed ice and when I meet him for lunch I always join him by starting with one of those. I did that last week and it gave me a hankering to have a nice blend on hand when I want to drink something on the rocks, so I replenished my Famous Grouse and have already put quite a dent in that. I had forgotten how easily it goes down that way.

That's the role that new Irish fills for me. I have a lot of cask strength stuff, barrel proof or high proof bourbon or rye and I need something else to reach for. Honestly the Torabhaig is doing that duty too, even if I don't usually want a $65 bottle in that role.

 

[storrsroars]

I drained my Auchentoshan Three Wood faster than I have drained any bottle in recent memory. It ain't cheap but it will have to be replaced.

I have a friend who drinks Johnny Black in a lowball glass packed with crushed ice and when I meet him for lunch I always join him by starting with one of those. I did that last week and it gave me a hankering to have a nice blend on hand when I want to drink something on the rocks, so I replenished my Famous Grouse and have already put quite a dent in that. I had forgotten how easily it goes down that way.

I have actually never had any scotch in a glassful of crushed ice. But I do have a handle of Grouse. I usually do one small cube, but maybe tonight I'll be adventurous.

 

[8893]

I have actually never had any scotch in a glassful of crushed ice. But I do have a handle of Grouse. I usually do one small cube, but maybe tonight I'll be adventurous.

I thought it would actually make me drink slower because it keeps giving me something to sip on until the ice melts. But once I started pouring my own I saw how much Scotch it takes to cover the ice. Looks like at least a triple.

Oh well, at least I am hydrating.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I thought it would actually make me drink slower because it keeps giving me something to sip on until the ice melts. But once I started pouring my own I saw how much Scotch it takes to cover the ice. Looks like at least a triple.

Oh well, at least I am hydrating.

I really wish I knew in my 20s what I know now about hydration while drinking. Although Bud Light is fairly hydrating I suppose.

Do we need a wine thread? Have we ever had a wine thread?

 

[AreBee1969]

I've been looking to reward myself for getting promoted back in March, but struggling with what to get. I've been putting aside $5-$10 here and there and have a MAX $150 budget.

I am an Islay fan first and foremost but enjoy Speysides and Island whiskies. Anyone ever have the Adbeg Perpetuum or Grooves? Never heard of them. I had a bottle of Airigh Nam Beist and Uigeadail in the past and really enjoyed them. Local Shop also has Laphroaig LORE, 16 year and 10 year Sherry Oak.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I've been looking to reward myself for getting promoted back in March, but struggling with what to get. I've been putting aside $5-$10 here and there and have a MAX $150 budget.

I am an Islay fan first and foremost but enjoy Speysides and Island whiskies. Anyone ever have the Adbeg Perpetuum or Grooves? Never heard of them. I had a bottle of Airigh Nam Beist and Uigeadail in the past and really enjoyed them. Local Shop also has Laphroaig LORE, 16 year and 10 year Sherry Oak.

I had Grooves committee release. It's good but not worth the price premium over Uigeadail. Don't pay for LORE. Laphroaig Cairdeas is less expensive (most places) and better. Airigh Nam Beist 2006 was terrific. Have you had any Springbank or Longrow? The Longrow Red series is really wonderful and different. Any Ballechin? Not sure what you have access to.

 

[AreBee1969]

I had Grooves committee release. It's good but not worth the price premium over Uigeadail. Don't pay for LORE. Laphroaig Cairdeas is less expensive (most places) and better. Airigh Nam Beist 2006 was terrific. Have you had any Springbank or Longrow? The Longrow Red series is really wonderful and different. Any Ballechin? Not sure what you have access to.

I've had Springbank 10 but wasn't really impressed. I just didn't think the profile fit my taste. I have heard the 15 was spectacular, which led me to the 10 which was the only one available at the time. I have not seen Ballechin but the local shop has a Longrow Red Cabernet Cask for $170 and another shop has the peated for $65.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I've had Springbank 10 but wasn't really impressed. I just didn't think the profile fit my taste. I have heard the 15 was spectacular, which led me to the 10 which was the only one available at the time. I have not seen Ballechin but the local shop has a Longrow Red Cabernet Cask for $170 and another shop has the peated for $65.

$170 is too much, should be about $125. The plain peated is good, but not what you are looking for in a special bottle. Nor is the ordinary Ballechin. But this might be. Single barrel selected by a panel from r/Scotch (I know most of the guys on the panel). The 2020 Laphroaig Cairdeas Port & Wine casks gets really good reviews, and I liked the 2019 Cairdeas Triple Wood.

Not sure if it is special enough, but the Cairdeas is an annual release that differs each year and is about $80-90. Lagavulin 12 will run you $150, but I don't think it's actually worth that. The Octomores are all past your price point. If you can find Ardbeg Scorch Committee Release, that's probably your ticket. It's getting much better reviews than Grooves, Drum and some other recent releases. I may grab one if I can find it.

 

[8893]

I've been looking to reward myself for getting promoted back in March, but struggling with what to get. I've been putting aside $5-$10 here and there and have a MAX $150 budget.

I am an Islay fan first and foremost but enjoy Speysides and Island whiskies. Anyone ever have the Adbeg Perpetuum or Grooves? Never heard of them. I had a bottle of Airigh Nam Beist and Uigeadail in the past and really enjoyed them. Local Shop also has Laphroaig LORE, 16 year and 10 year Sherry Oak.

I’d get two great and very different bottles: Caol Ila for your Islay; and for something totally different and decadent, Auchentoshan Three Wood, a triple-distilled Lowland that I now consider my “dessert” Scotch.

 

[AreBee1969]

$170 is too much, should be about $125. The plain peated is good, but not what you are looking for in a special bottle. Nor is the ordinary Ballechin. But this might be. Single barrel selected by a panel from r/Scotch (I know most of the guys on the panel). The 2020 Laphroaig Cairdeas Port & Wine casks gets really good reviews, and I liked the 2019 Cairdeas Triple Wood.

Not sure if it is special enough, but the Cairdeas is an annual release that differs each year and is about $80-90. Lagavulin 12 will run you $150, but I don't think it's actually worth that. The Octomores are all past your price point. If you can find Ardbeg Scorch Committee Release, that's probably your ticket. It's getting much better reviews than Grooves, Drum and some other recent releases. I may grab one if I can find it.

Haven't seen the Scorch in a while, but I did see Corryvreckan. Just saw they had Balvenie 17 year Double Wood. I've always like the 12 DW. Kills me to see what the Balvenie Portwood 21 costs now. $280! I bought it back in the mid 2000s for $119.

I’d get two great and very different bottles: Caol Ila for your Islay; and for something totally different and decadent, Auchentoshan Three Wood, a triple-distilled Lowland that I know consider my “dessert” Scotch.

The Auchentoshen is available. Hmmmm.

 

[Fishy]

I've been looking to reward myself for getting promoted back in March, but struggling with what to get. I've been putting aside $5-$10 here and there and have a MAX $150 budget.

I am an Islay fan first and foremost but enjoy Speysides and Island whiskies. Anyone ever have the Adbeg Perpetuum or Grooves? Never heard of them. I had a bottle of Airigh Nam Beist and Uigeadail in the past and really enjoyed them. Local Shop also has Laphroaig LORE, 16 year and 10 year Sherry Oak.

A Lagavulin 16 and then use the rest to buy an American or Japanese single malt just for kicks.

 

[Fishy]

If I get bored later, I’m thinking of just listing every scotch/bourbon/single malt I own and seeing if we can come up with some sort of master list of recommendations and ones to avoid.

 

[8893]

If I get bored later, I’m thinking of just listing every scotch/bourbon/single malt I own and seeing if we can come up with some sort of master list of recommendations and ones to avoid.

It seems I avoid all bourbon that tastes like bourbon.

 

[billybud]

It seems I avoid all bourbon that tastes like bourbon.

As I avoid a good scotch....no peat monsters for me....I had a shot of McCallen 12 while out for dinner last night...and that beginner's scotch suits me.

My theory of the Scots is that they are maybe a step ahead of early US whiskey makers who might put anything they could find that would turn into alcohol into a mash barrel.

But I am a bourbon drinker primarily.

 

[8893]

As I avoid a good scotch....no peat monsters for me....I had a shot of McCallen 12 while out for dinner last night...and that beginner's scotch suits me.

My theory of the Scots is that they are maybe a step ahead of early US whiskey makers who might put anything they could find that would turn into alcohol into a mash barrel.

But I am a bourbon drinker primarily.

No shame in McCallan 12.

Unless it’s one of my kids’ 21st birthdays though, I don’t do shots of anything anymore. I sip.