OT: Scotch thread | Page 18 | The Boneyard

OT: Scotch thread

HuskyHawk said:
Better to let @8893 know, I'm in MA. That's a hell of a price, even lower than the $40 I pay for the 8 year.

Meanwhile, I scored a Benromach 10 for $46 today. That was a nice win. One of my favorite base original bottlings along with Talisker 10. Really doesn't taste like anything else.
Expand ...
I was just at Total Wine in Milford and they were out of it, and the 8 was $59. Pazzz.
 
pretty soon, wait, check that, now
Covid supply woes hit alcohol in the US (medicalxpress.com)
im bettin that youse won't be caught up in 'price' discussions, moar like availability discussions, me thinks. i know that Pennsylvania is firmly innit today. not woke yet to the slow rolling mess of unforced errors that we're now in to (top gas price today in kali is $7 -why?), well, p and g just moved bath tissue production into 24/7 mode.
back on topic, alcohol. have sum,
Australian authorities now confiscating alcohol to ‘limit number of drinks’ residents in lockdown can have (bizpacreview.com).
 
8893 said:
I was just at Total Wine in Milford and they were out of it, and the 8 was $59. Pazzz.
Expand ...

Hard pass. Come up here and get a case of 8 for $40 Each
 
For anyone who is open to experimentation on Whisky that is finished with different types of barrels/aging. .Good article in this month's Wine Spectator (Bon Jovi on cover) Article titled "Whisky's Finishing Touch".Pg 77. Categories:Single Malt Scotch/Irish Whiskey/Bourbon-American/U.S. Single Malt.

Maybe not for the purist but interesting read..
 
Umami Zen said:
For anyone who is open to experimentation on Whisky that is finished with different types of barrels/aging. .Good article in this month's Wine Spectator (Bon Jovi on cover) Article titled "Whisky's Finishing Touch".Pg 77. Categories:Single Malt Scotch/Irish Whiskey/Bourbon-American/U.S. Single Malt.

Maybe not for the purist but interesting read..
Expand ...

I haven't subscribed since the early 2000s. Could be interesting.

What everyone now thinks of at the normal (purist you said) barrel treatment of Scotch is really just an accident of economics. So is Sherry cask aging as well. Initially French oak casks were used as they were in wine, either new or those that held wine. Bourbon, by law, has to be aged in brand new charred oak barrels. So after prohibition the U.S. had a lot of barrels it couldn't use so the Scottish bought them because they were cheaper. Sherry casks came into vogue much earlier. The English used to love Sherry, and every pub had a cask of Sherry behind the bar. Those empty casks were cheap to acquire, and Scotch distillers used those to age their sprits.

So it's likely that wine casks were first, then Sherry, then ex-bourbon is the most recent, part of a shift to lighter styles that is fairly recent. So, what would purists really consider the original? Not ex-bourbon. Note that most sherry cask Scotch now uses new barrels that hold a garbage version of Sherry that is never consumed, solely to season the cask, since wooden Sherry casks are no longer shipped overseas while full since 1981. Sherry casks today cost far more than ex-bourbon.

Bourbon, because it must be aged in New Charred oak, can only be "finished" in a wine, port or sherry cask and still be called bourbon. American malt can be aged in any wood cask really. Irish too, although they use ex-bourbon for the same reason the Scottish do.
 
HuskyHawk said:
I haven't subscribed since the early 2000s. Could be interesting.

What everyone now thinks of at the normal (purist you said) barrel treatment of Scotch is really just an accident of economics. So is Sherry cask aging as well. Initially French oak casks were used as they were in wine, either new or those that held wine. Bourbon, by law, has to be aged in brand new charred oak barrels. So after prohibition the U.S. had a lot of barrels it couldn't use so the Scottish bought them because they were cheaper. Sherry casks came into vogue much earlier. The English used to love Sherry, and every pub had a cask of Sherry behind the bar. Those empty casks were cheap to acquire, and Scotch distillers used those to age their sprits.

So it's likely that wine casks were first, then Sherry, then ex-bourbon is the most recent, part of a shift to lighter styles that is fairly recent. So, what would purists really consider the original? Not ex-bourbon. Note that most sherry cask Scotch now uses new barrels that hold a garbage version of Sherry that is never consumed, solely to season the cask, since wooden Sherry casks are no longer shipped overseas while full since 1981. Sherry casks today cost far more than ex-bourbon.

Bourbon, because it must be aged in New Charred oak, can only be "finished" in a wine, port or sherry cask and still be called bourbon. American malt can be aged in any wood cask really. Irish too, although they use ex-bourbon for the same reason the Scottish do.
Expand ...
Always good to hear your input and experience in this space. Appreciate folks with real world exposure.

Keep putting your knowledge out there for those looking to learn. Wine is an interesting food group as well.
 
.-.
Heading to total wine.

Recommendations? No parameters - just blurt ‘em out.
 
Fishy said:
Heading to total wine.

Recommendations? No parameters - just blurt ‘em out.
Expand ...

Glendronach 12 for sherry cask. Benromach 10 for something a bit different. I'll always recommend Talisker 10.
 
Fishy said:
Heading to total wine.

Recommendations? No parameters - just blurt ‘em out.
Expand ...
Zü vodka (bison grass) if they have it.

I'm just about at the end of the GoT Lannister Lagavulin I bought in Danbury back in August. It wasn't a full-on replacement for the 16, but I was surprised how good it was for something I considered to be just gimmicky marketing. IIRC, under $60
 
One of these days, I will buy a bottle of Talisker 10.

Ended up with two Americans.

I really like Courage and Conviction from Virginia Distilling - I also have their Cider Cask whiskey which really underwhelmed me. I bought that instead of the Port Finish at some point and Total Wine having the Port Finish on sale for $37 tonight made a sale.

Stopped at the liquor store near the Danbury Airport on the way home - they usually have some interesting things. Ended with with a bottle of Barrell Dovetail - basically a high-proof whiskey finished in rum, port and cabernet barrels. That lands pretty close to where my tastes are these days.
 
Fishy said:
One of these days, I will buy a bottle of Talisker 10.

Ended up with two Americans.

I really like Courage and Conviction from Virginia Distilling - I also have their Cider Cask whiskey which really underwhelmed me. I bought that instead of the Port Finish at some point and Total Wine having the Port Finish on sale for $37 tonight made a sale.

Stopped at the liquor store near the Danbury Airport on the way home - they usually have some interesting things. Ended with with a bottle of Barrell Dovetail - basically a high-proof whiskey finished in rum, port and cabernet barrels. That lands pretty close to where my tastes are these days.
Expand ...

What does that Dovetail go for where you are? MSRP for most of their expressions where I am is $90/750ml. Rave reviews of most of their offerings, especially the one you have, but I have not pulled one off the shelf to buy just yet.
 
.-.
Deepelm said:
What does that Dovetail go for where you are? MSRP for most of their expressions where I am is $90/750ml. Rave reviews of most of their offerings, especially the one you have, but I have not pulled one off the shelf to buy just yet.
Expand ...

TotalWine is usually like $90-92.

Caraluzzi’s always has the full line, plus their own barrel selection, for $72-74.

I paid $74 for the Dovetail.
 
Fishy said:
One of these days, I will buy a bottle of Talisker 10.

Ended up with two Americans.

I really like Courage and Conviction from Virginia Distilling - I also have their Cider Cask whiskey which really underwhelmed me. I bought that instead of the Port Finish at some point and Total Wine having the Port Finish on sale for $37 tonight made a sale.

Stopped at the liquor store near the Danbury Airport on the way home - they usually have some interesting things. Ended with with a bottle of Barrell Dovetail - basically a high-proof whiskey finished in rum, port and cabernet barrels. That lands pretty close to where my tastes are these days.
Expand ...

The Courage and Conviction sherry cask is pretty good. Blend of Scotch and Virginia malt. Agree with you on the cider cask. Dovetail is nice but it’s certainly pretty bourbon like in some ways. Hope you like it.

Definitely grab a Talisker 10 sometime.

As for blended concepts, I’m drinking a Bull Run Rye aged and tequila barrels. Just wild really. Truly an interesting look at how blending whiskey with rum, wine, tequila etc. produces interesting results.
 
Things like that are just more interesting to me these days. Do something different.

A local distillery has a cooper on staff making their own barrels. After aging, the bourbon does into a black walnut syrup barrel….sounds kinda weird, but outside, sitting next to a fire, it works.
 
Fishy said:
Things like that are just more interesting to me these days. Do something different.

A local distillery has a cooper on staff making their own barrels. After aging, the bourbon does into a black walnut syrup barrel….sounds kinda weird, but outside, sitting next to a fire, it works.
Expand ...

Well then you may want to check out Seelbach's. Unlocking Craft Spirits - Online retail dedicated to craft distillers – Seelbach's (seelbachs.com) I've ordered from them several times. Free shipping on 1st order over $100 (and there are codes to continue that later). All craft stuff from around the country, and a lot of it is creative things like you're describing. It's where I got that Bull Run Rye.
 
Fishy said:
Things like that are just more interesting to me these days. Do something different.

A local distillery has a cooper on staff making their own barrels. After aging, the bourbon does into a black walnut syrup barrel….sounds kinda weird, but outside, sitting next to a fire, it works.
Expand ...

Actually sounds interesting.
 
.-.
Am a Mezcal rookie that just received a "gift" of three bottles of Ilegal Joven Mezcal Special Edition. Reviews are varied. Anyone with any familiarity with this producer?

Mixer for cocktails/Margs or a sipper? Have more experience with Anejo/Cristalino
 
Umami Zen said:
Am a Mezcal rookie that just received a "gift" of three bottles of Ilegal Joven Mezcal Special Edition. Reviews are varied. Anyone with any familiarity with this producer?

Mixer for cocktails/Margs or a sipper? Have more experience with Anejo/Cristalino
Expand ...
That was the first bottle I bought because it mentioned that it was smoky. It is. I liked it as a mixer. I remember reading some reviews where people thought the smoke tasted too chemical; I didn’t think so, but I was (and still pretty much am) a Mezcal rookie, too.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Well then you may want to check out Seelbach's. Unlocking Craft Spirits - Online retail dedicated to craft distillers – Seelbach's (seelbachs.com) I've ordered from them several times. Free shipping on 1st order over $100 (and there are codes to continue that later). All craft stuff from around the country, and a lot of it is creative things like you're describing. It's where I got that Bull Run Rye.
Expand ...
What whiskies have you tried that aren't categorized as either bourbon or rye?

Some of the "malt whiskies" sound interesting, but I'm having a hard time figuring out just what they are. I'm really not interested in bourbon or rye at this point as I use those only for mixing. Looking for some new sippers.

The Rua sounds intriguing. Couple of the single malts might be worth exploring due to the low price point (Tualatin Valley, Tire Fire, Rimfire). Even some of the Amari seem interesting.

I swear the Good Deeds Malt Whiskey flavor note descriptions were taken off notes from a coffee cupping I did with Intelligentsia in Chicago back in 2008, lol.

However, truffle vodka sounds disgusting, lol.
 
8893 said:
That was the first bottle I bought because it mentioned that it was smoky. It is. I liked it as a mixer. I remember reading some reviews where people thought the smoke tasted too chemical; I didn’t think so, but I was (and still pretty much am) a Mezcal rookie, too.
Expand ...
Good to know.FWIW..Once I got into the gift box with more enthusiasm --I had actually received the Reposado and Anejo bottles vs three Jovens.

Received from a Miami biz associate who says its pretty popular down that way.
 
storrsroars said:
What whiskies have you tried that aren't categorized as either bourbon or rye?

Some of the "malt whiskies" sound interesting, but I'm having a hard time figuring out just what they are. I'm really not interested in bourbon or rye at this point as I use those only for mixing. Looking for some new sippers.

The Rua sounds intriguing. Couple of the single malts might be worth exploring due to the low price point (Tualatin Valley, Tire Fire, Rimfire). Even some of the Amari seem interesting.

I swear the Good Deeds Malt Whiskey flavor note descriptions were taken off notes from a coffee cupping I did with Intelligentsia in Chicago back in 2008, lol.

However, truffle vodka sounds disgusting, lol.
Expand ...

Quite a lot. That Dovetail (Barrell) Fishy bought is one. There are many American Malts now, including the best known from Westland, Balcones, Virginia and Stranahans. All in PA. There are also corn whiskies (Mellow Corn, Baby Blue from Balcones). Mellow Corn is the best $12 whiskey you'll ever find...not that it's good. Light whiskey is another category.

Rua is still a bit young. The real challenge is age, and while young bourbon picks up wet cardboard notes, young American malt really picks up wet cardboard notes, especially if they put in smaller barrels to speed it up. It gets mixed reviews.

The Chattanooga bourbon is "high malt", really quite nice but still technically a bourbon.
 
Some comedy

242160170_1282643558862032_1370305231041830766_n.jpg
 
.-.
Not Scotch, bourbon instead, but I'm buying a bottle from Greens Farms Spirits in Westport. They are working with the R/Bourbon Reddit guys I know who pick barrels and I decided to snag one (lottery allocated). If I was local I'd go pick it up. Have you guys been there? Looks like it might have a nice Scotch selection.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Not Scotch, bourbon instead, but I'm buying a bottle from Greens Farms Spirits in Westport. They are working with the R/Bourbon Reddit guys I know who pick barrels and I decided to snag one (lottery allocated). If I was local I'd go pick it up. Have you guys been there? Looks like it might have a nice Scotch selection.
Expand ...
I haven't been there in a while, my son in law worked there in college! It's a couple of miles down the post road from my offie so maybe I'll swing by! Ninety Nine Bottles in Westport used to get a lot of specialty whiskies - they keep the specials hidden. My b-i-l bought three bottles of AM Hirsch in humidors there a few years ago.
 
Trying something different tonight.

I keep trying to make bourbon happen for me, so breaking open a bottle of Old Forester 1920.
 
Fishy said:
Trying something different tonight.

I keep trying to make bourbon happen for me, so breaking open a bottle of Old Forester 1920.
Expand ...

That’s a very good bourbon but also near barrel proof. Some air time will help it. I find BP bourbons need oxidation like some wines.
 
My cousin is a bourbon drinker and he was over for dinner last night. He loved the Breckinridge Rum Cask; it was a great nightcap.

A client gave me a bottle of Woodford Reserve last year and I haven't made a dent in it because it's not my taste, but it's one of his go-tos so I sent him home with it. Even though it was merely one of dozens of bottles in my liquor cabinet, I feel oddly relieved that it has found a proper home with someone who will enjoy it.
 
8893 said:
My cousin is a bourbon drinker and he was over for dinner last night. He loved the Breckinridge Rum Cask; it was a great nightcap.

A client gave me a bottle of Woodford Reserve last year and I haven't made a dent in it because it's not my taste, but it's one of his go-tos so I sent him home with it. Even though it was merely one of dozens of bottles in my liquor cabinet, I feel oddly relieved that it has found a proper home with someone who will enjoy it.
Expand ...

Folks love that Woodford, especially their double oak. It did nothing for me either, very meh.
 
.-.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,094
Messages
4,553,025
Members
10,436
Latest member
Bovrilandja


Top Bottom