OT: Scotch thread

[AreBee1969]

Anyone enjoy Tomatin 12? I was chatting up a bartender in Watertown about Scotch and he said "You gotta try this!" and gave me a free pour. It was impressive and only a $40 bottle. Speysides aren't usually my cup of tea but I enjoyed it enough to drink another one.

We went back to 88 Keys in Watertown last weekend. Ordered a Laphroaig 10, neat and got a four finger pour from the same bartender. "Gotta take care of my 'Peat' guys!"

I finished the night with a Kavalan Select (Taiwan) which was very nice. He also told me about a French single malt called Rozelieures Smoked that he said was fantastic for a peat lover. Wise Old Dog has it on their website, so I'm going to go check it out.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Amazing whiskey bar in Killarney. I had three pours. Kilkerran 10, a Dingle Single a malt and another 12 year Irish in PX casks. Was with a rather wealthy person who appreciated it, got some good stuff and paid the bill.

 

[AreBee1969]

In my quest for good whisk(e)y from odd places, I bought a bottle of the M&H Elements Sherry Cask Finish. This whisky from Tel Aviv, Israel won World's Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.

World Whiskies Awards 2023 - Winners

The World Whiskies Awards are the global awards selecting the very best in all the international recognised styles, award and promote the World’s Best.

www.worldwhiskiesawards.com

I bought a bottle of their entry level "Classic" version and I really liked it. Sad to say that I did not care for the Sherry Cask version.

I tried it neat and found it extremely boozy for a 43% whisky and had none of the roundedness I expect from a Sherry finish. Halfway through I added a dollop of water which took some of the boozy edge off but didn't open it up like I hoped it would. Not going to give up on it though and will give it another whirl. Maybe a bad palate day or something.

 

[Deepelm]

 

[HuskyHawk]

So I finished off my independent bottling of Tobermory (trash day tomorrow). Fantastic stuff. Looking for one more half glass of something I grab a “mystery” sample I’ve had for like 18 months. Jet Fuel. There’s only one thing that tastes and smells like Jet Fuel and that is Caroni Rum. I assume that’s what it is but I can’t be sure. Rare and expensive stuff considering it’s mostly unpleasant.

 

[Deepelm]

I was lucky enough to get a sample of Bruichladdich Black Arts 11.1, what an amazing pour. Its $600 in my market though, and no where near worth that. Still cool to try something that unique.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I was lucky enough to get a sample of Bruichladdich Black Arts 11.1, what an amazing pour. Its $600 in my market though, and no where near worth that. Still cool to try something that unique.

I've had a few Black Arts at some Loch & Key tasting events. Amazing stuff. Some of the other rare Bruichladdich too. None of it is worth the price. Still it's a lot less than that in Massachusetts.

 

[Deepelm]

I've had a few Black Arts at some Loch & Key tasting events. Amazing stuff. Some of the other rare Bruichladdich too. None of it is worth the price. Still it's a lot less than that in Massachusetts.

The fella who gave me this sample paid around $400 I think. I would at least consider it at that price, but not at $600.00.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The fella who gave me this sample paid around $400 I think. I would at least consider it at that price, but not at $600.00.

Well I'm out of touch. These used to be in the $350 range and are now twice that.

Have you had any of the rare cask series? I don't think they still release them. Here's my review of one of them. Now I'm looking at some of my embarrassing old reviews.

 

[Deepelm]

Well I'm out of touch. These used to be in the $350 range and are now twice that.

Have you had any of the rare cask series? I don't think they still release them. Here's my review of one of them. Now I'm looking at some of my embarrassing old reviews.

Not one I have ever spotted in the wild. My market is all bourbon all the time. Its tough being a scotch guy here.

 

[uconndogs]

Anyone giving American Single Malt whiskies a try? They just got designation and some of them are very good. Long way to go to rival Scotch in terms of recognition, but they are gaining market share.

 

[Deepelm]

Anyone giving American Single Malt whiskies a try? They just got designation and some of them are very good. Long way to go to rival Scotch in terms of recognition, but they are gaining market share.

Yup. I have tried a few, some good, some not so good. The folks making Courage and Conviction have a nice one finished in a cuvee cask. Stanahans has some good products as well. I am interested to see how it expands over the next decade or so.

 

[Fishy]

Anyone giving American Single Malt whiskies a try? They just got designation and some of them are very good. Long way to go to rival Scotch in terms of recognition, but they are gaining market share.

Yes.

Don’t let these stubborn nitwits convince you otherwise…they’re more interesting than scotch.

Steer clear of Virginia Distilling. Courage and Conviction is good but it’s basically scotch made in Virginia. The rest of their stuff is so hit or miss that it’s not worth it. I have three bottles of their cask finished stuff that I consider undrinkable.

Balcones, Taconic, Westward, Westland, Stranahans, Cedar Ridge….all make good ones. Balcones Texas Single Malt and their rum cask finished whiskeys are some of my favorites, but the rest of what they do isn’t for me. Lineage is highly regarded, but I did not like it.

If I had to pick one to start out with, Westwards original American single malt would probably be it - it’s like $65-70 and it’s terrific.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yes.

Don’t let these stubborn nitwits convince you otherwise…they’re more interesting than scotch.

Steer clear of Virginia Distilling. Courage and Conviction is good but it’s basically scotch made in Virginia. The rest of their stuff is so hit or miss that it’s not worth it. I have three bottles of their cask finished stuff that I consider undrinkable.

Balcones, Taconic, Westward, Westland, Stranahans, Cedar Ridge….all make good ones. Balcones Texas Single Malt and their rum cask finished whiskeys are some of my favorites, but the rest of what they do isn’t for me. Lineage is highly regarded, but I did not like it.

If I had to pick one to start out with, Westwards original American single malt would probably be it - it’s like $65-70 and it’s terrific.

I agree with Fishy that they can be really good. Also that Virginia Distilling is not the best value really (some of it is their distillate, some blended with Scotch). I don't find it more interesting than Scotch unless you mostly drink generic ex-bourbon cask unpeated Scotch. But we have fewer rules so can be quite creative. I think we see a lot of them use new charred oak, which creates something that is really between a Scotch and a Bourbon. Balcones does that. Westward and Westland are good but expensive. Taconic has been hit and miss for me. Stranahans is good. There are lots of new ones coming out now, especially from breweries, as they can distill beers (with or without hops). Mad River HopScotch is quite good and is literally a distilled beer, hops and all.

I like the Old Line Spirits barrel proof if someone wants to try one that is less expensive. I find it for under $40.

 

[uconndogs]

Yes.

Don’t let these stubborn nitwits convince you otherwise…they’re more interesting than scotch.

Steer clear of Virginia Distilling. Courage and Conviction is good but it’s basically scotch made in Virginia. The rest of their stuff is so hit or miss that it’s not worth it. I have three bottles of their cask finished stuff that I consider undrinkable.

Balcones, Taconic, Westward, Westland, Stranahans, Cedar Ridge….all make good ones. Balcones Texas Single Malt and their rum cask finished whiskeys are some of my favorites, but the rest of what they do isn’t for me. Lineage is highly regarded, but I did not like it.

If I had to pick one to start out with, Westwards original American single malt would probably be it - it’s like $65-70 and it’s terrific.

In the interest of full disclosure (and I posted on this earlier in this thread) I am an investor in Lost Lantern Whiskey.

They are bottlers (not distillers) of craft whiskies from around the U.S. They offer complete transparency regarding sourcing and purchase casks from many of the distillers you mention like Balcones and Cedar Ridge. Will be very interesting to see if American Single Malts can take some meaningful marketshare from Scotch. They offer bourbon and rye as well.

Fun way to try different whiskey......