OT: Scotch thread

[HuskyHawk]

Since I'm out of free NYT articles already, figured I'd post this.

America’s Oldest Rye Whiskey Is Back from Extinction - PUNCH

In "Spirit Guide," Wayne Curtis details the return of Pennsylvania and Maryland rye whiskey, and the bottles worth seeking out.

punchdrink.com

I knew the folks at Wigle quite well when I was still doing coffee and they were small enough to be having labeling parties where a bunch of us would hand label the bottles for a couple hours, then sample some wares. I pretty much only use rye in cocktails, but I've got a bottle of Wigle and it is very different from Canadians and mass produced US ryes.

Rye is pretty good young, certainly more so than Bourbon or Malt. Tends to lend itself well to craft producers.

 

[August_West]

We will just leave this here

 

[Fishy]

No.

Just no.

 

[Deepelm]

This is a beaut. Bit pricey but damn its delicious.

 

[Deepelm]

Double delicious. The boston round has a sample of the other NAS that Arran does, the Bothy Quarter Cask. Had together with this sherry cask its amazing.

 

[HuskyHawk]

View attachment 76939

Double delicious. The boston round has a sample of the other NAS that Arran does, the Bothy Quarter Cask. Had together with this sherry cask its amazing.

Bourbon cask Arran is boring, but they do a lot of nice wine, port and sherry finished stuff that is tasty.

 

[Deepelm]

Bourbon cask Arran is boring, but they do a lot of nice wine, port and sherry finished stuff that is tasty.

I love the 10 yo stuff. That and these two are the only ones I have been able to find. And the NAS I have I got from EU as did my buddy that has the other, that's where I got the sample. Getting ready to order that one tomorrow of Friday.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Ordered myself an American Single Malt picked by guys I know at r/bourbon. Came recommended. There was a lottery system to be able to order it, so it probably sold out. Father's Day to myself.

 

[Deepelm]

Ordered myself an American Single Malt picked by guys I know at r/bourbon. Came recommended. There was a lottery system to be able to order it, so it probably sold out. Father's Day to myself.
View attachment 76945

Jay's barrel program is awesome. He also runs R/Scotchit but the one bottle he did sold quite poorly. I got a Sagamore Rye from that program that is likely the best rye I have ever tasted. Its insanely good stuff. Like a boozy brachs cinnamon disc.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I love the 10 yo stuff. That and these two are the only ones I have been able to find. And the NAS I have I got from EU as did my buddy that has the other, that's where I got the sample. Getting ready to order that one tomorrow of Friday.

If you like peat at all, I highly recommend the Ultimate Whiskey Company Ballechin.

 

[Deepelm]

If you like peat at all, I highly recommend the Ultimate Whiskey Company Ballechin.

I am not the peat guy. It oddly gives me terrible indigestion. A tiny puff I can take but , say an Ardbeg or Caol Isla are out for me.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Jay's barrel program is awesome. He also runs R/Scotchit but the one bottle he did sold quite poorly. I got a Sagamore Rye from that program that is likely the best rye I have ever tasted. Its insanely good stuff. Like a boozy brachs cinnamon disc.

Yeah. He's a good guy. Traded samples with him for a long time and I'm on his discord server. For bourbon and rye, his palate and mine tend to align pretty closely. He had me do a big Knob Creek Sib tasting with him a few years ago. Guy works his tail off doing this stuff.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Ordered myself an American Single Malt picked by guys I know at r/bourbon. Came recommended. There was a lottery system to be able to order it, so it probably sold out. Father's Day to myself.
View attachment 76945

So if anybody else wants one of there are some left and sales will open to the public tomorrow on Seelbachs.com.

 

[Deepelm]

So if anybody else wants one of there are some left and sales will open to the public tomorrow on Seelbachs.com.

Did you get yours yet?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Did you get yours yet?

Hasn't arrived yet, no. They won't ship to Massachusetts. So I have my orders sent to a friend in RI.

 

[Deepelm]

Hasn't arrived yet, no. They won't ship to Massachusetts. So I have my orders sent to a friend in RI.

Such stupid laws. I will have to reread his write up on this one. Saw the overflow was going to be emailed today.

 

[Deepelm]

Fantastic dram to enjoy after a cataract procedure. I asked the Doc if I could have whisky that night and he said to have two, I earned it lol.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Such stupid laws. I will have to reread his write up on this one. Saw the overflow was going to be emailed today.

And they required signature and my friends were not home, so it was sent back. What a mess.

 

[Deepelm]

And they required signature and my friends were not home, so it was sent back. What a mess.

That sucks.

 

[storrsroars]

Was at PA Libations yesterday to finish putting together my "Taste of Pittsburgh" gift for my nephew - neat store, pretty much everything that's distilled in PA - and the counter guy mentioned this. I tried to quickly google a review, but only one I saw was a long video, so decided to plunk down $30 and give it a whirl based on the counter guy's recommendation.

Watched the video later when I got home. They hated it. I didn't think it could that bad, and it wasn't.

It's mildly peated whisky (guess they added the 'e' as it was bottled in PA) distilled in and imported from Scotland (guessing Campbelltown, but not sure), then blended with what was probably some corn mash whiskey, and bottled in Philly. So technically still a "blended Scotch". Not much character, but I didn't get the metallic off-flavors the reviewers did. It is a bit viscous. Some alcohol bite. Opens up a little with water. Butterscotch (kinda bourbon-y), vanilla, toffee, mild smoke. Not in my wheelhouse, doubt any of you would like it much either, but I think it would be a useful "intro" bottle to Scotch for a neophyte, especially at $30. That said, it's not as good as the equally inexpensive Loch Lomond, and one can only buy it at PA Libations, so this won't be a repeat purchase. I'll be using it for blending.

 

[AreBee1969]

I went with a friend to his brother-in-law's and sister's house where they have a 250+ bottle collection. I was asked what I like and said, "I lean towards peat." So the brother-in-law gave me a hefty glass of Longrow 18. Freaking amazing. Didn't realize it was a $400 bottle!

 

[HuskyHawk]

I went with a friend to his brother-in-law's and sister's house where they have a 250+ bottle collection. I was asked what I like and said, "I lean towards peat." So the brother-in-law gave me a hefty glass of Longrow 18. Freaking amazing. Didn't realize it was a $400 bottle!

Longrow is tremendous stuff. I cherish my Longrow Red bottle, impossible to get now.

 

[Deepelm]

Longrow is tremendous stuff. I cherish my Longrow Red bottle, impossible to get now.

We have a red wine finished one at work. Bit pricey but its a some what rare one, I think only 10K total world wide.

 

[HuskyHawk]

We have a red wine finished one at work. Bit pricey but its a some what rare one, I think only 10K total world wide.

The whole Springbank line, other than Springbank 10, is now super scarce. I used to see Longrow Red sitting on shelves. Bought several Springbank 15s and Greens, and Hazelburn, Kilkerran. Now all of it is treated like Pappy is in the bourbon world. You just can't find them in most stores. Julio's liquors has a huge whiskey following (Loch & Key if you've heard of that) and just put the whole line in their "hold card" lineup for people to bid on. It's wild, and sad for me. I was tempted to drive up and put in my hold cards.

 

[Deepelm]

The whole Springbank line, other than Springbank 10, is now super scarce. I used to see Longrow Red sitting on shelves. Bought several Springbank 15s and Greens, and Hazelburn, Kilkerran. Now all of it is treated like Pappy is in the bourbon world. You just can't find them in most stores. Julio's liquors has a huge whiskey following (Loch & Key if you've heard of that) and just put the whole line in their "hold card" lineup for people to bid on. It's wild, and sad for me. I was tempted to drive up and put in my hold cards.

A store near the place I work has the 15 AND 18, they are $240 and $260. Its stupid. Another place has a few bottles of 10 at $100 so not terrible.

 

[storrsroars]

Stopped by Caraluzzi's when I was up in Danbury to get some tequila for my brother, whom I introduced to Palomas this weekend. While there, figured I'd browse the scotch aisle. Nothing really jumped out at me, but the Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair looked like it was worth a flyer at the price. Just opened it. It's, um... interesting.

While I was aware Bunnahabhain doesn't do peaty, and this was a younger version of the 12, I still wasn't expecting what I got hit with. After a couple sips, I went to look at reviews, and while most of the notes mentioned were there, there was something I was experiencing that none of the reviewers mentioned - on the nose and even in my first couple of sips I got a significant note of hard Italian cheese rind, like parmigiana or romano. It wasn't off putting, but I was surprised at that note from an Islay scotch. It also has some of the burnt microwave popcorn "butter" flavor I dislike in Laphroiag 10 (but without the heavy iodine). I don't know if that's what reviewers mean when they say "nutty", but I find those flavors distinctly different than nut butters. Anyway, it's got its place in my small but growing collection, but definitely not an everyday sipper and definitely benefits from a couple drops of H2O.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Stopped by Caraluzzi's when I was up in Danbury to get some tequila for my brother, whom I introduced to Palomas this weekend. While there, figured I'd browse the scotch aisle. Nothing really jumped out at me, but the Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair looked like it was worth a flyer at the price. Just opened it. It's, um... interesting.

While I was aware Bunnahabhain doesn't do peaty, and this was a younger version of the 12, I still wasn't expecting what I got hit with. After a couple sips, I went to look at reviews, and while most of the notes mentioned were there, there was something I was experiencing that none of the reviewers mentioned - on the nose and even in my first couple of sips I got a significant note of hard Italian cheese rind, like parmigiana or romano. It wasn't off putting, but I was surprised at that note from an Islay scotch. It also has some of the burnt microwave popcorn "butter" flavor I dislike in Laphroiag 10 (but without the heavy iodine). I don't know if that's what reviewers mean when they say "nutty", but I find those flavors distinctly different than nut butters. Anyway, it's got its place in my small but growing collection, but definitely not an everyday sipper and definitely benefits from a couple drops of H2O.


View attachment 77380

Bannahabhain is well known for a lactic quality. So the cheese and butter notes make sense. You're not imagining it. They do have peated versions, but not many. I think it really needs to be in a sherry cask to make that lactic spirit work properly. Dry sherry is very nutty and sweet sherry is more fruity, either one marries to their malt.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Anecdotal note: prices are climbing. We might have hoped to see some impact from the tariff elimination, but it seems whatever cost increases exist have wiped that out. Or perhaps demand is just up. I don't really know. Since it lasts forever in a dark place, buy what you like when you see it at a decent price.

 

[Deepelm]

Anecdotal note: prices are climbing. We might have hoped to see some impact from the tariff elimination, but it seems whatever cost increases exist have wiped that out. Or perhaps demand is just up. I don't really know. Since it lasts forever in a dark place, buy what you like when you see it at a decent price.

I can back you up here. Our store sells Arran 10, as does a local " super market " type of place. They are still selling it at old price, $49.99 ( a steal ), our COST is $58.00 now. The other store doesnt seem to sell much of it, so they still have old stock. Will be curious what they do moving forward and once they get the newer priced stuff.

 

[Deepelm]

Had to wait a month with transit time, cant wait to crack them open.