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Scotch is funny - I just don't take to McCallan - I serve it to guests when I get it as a gift - doesn't do anything for me.
OT: Scotch thread
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Scotch is funny - I just don't take to McCallan - I serve it to guests when I get it as a gift - doesn't do anything for me.
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Yeah, although (like everyone else) I found myself switching to mezcal in the last few years. I'll drink bourbon on occasion but have not developed a taste for scotch.
HuskyHawk
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Mezcal >>>>> Tequila. What I’ve really turned to is Rum and Armagnac. Even Calvados.
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I go in phases. Bourbon is my starting point. I was a Macallan guy, but I came to realize that what I liked about it was features that were closer to bourbon. I've come to enjoy quality (doesn't have to be super high quality, just not garbage) tequila of late. My wife likes Mezcal, I have to acquire the smoke taste. I'll also incorporate some gin sometimes.
I had a big party in March 2018. I bought the alcohol on retainer but the bartenders opened too many bottles. I tried to buy decent stuff that I'd be fine keeping (bottle of Macallan 12, Bulleit Bourbon, Patron Silver/Anejo, Hendicks gin, Titos Vodka). The one thing I didn't care about was rum. I even brought a half bottle of Bacardi for them to use first. For some reason, the bartender opened the other bottle of Bacardi that I bought so I couldn't return it. The other stuff will go over time (or when my kids start to sneak it), but that Bacardi will be around until I die.
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I bought a bottle of mezcal a few weeks ago, figuring I was a huge scotch fan, and love tequila now. I was underwhelmed. I thought it was fine, but I'd rather have a scotch or a tequila on their own, rather than their weird basterd son
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Was looking for lagavulin 16 for a gift but it's sold out everywhere or $90. Ended up getting it at total wine in Manchester for $64 today
Was told unless a store has it there no inventory to even order it until after the new year
Was told unless a store has it there no inventory to even order it until after the new year
8893
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Wow. I got four bottles for $60 per at Total Wine in Milford on the day before Thanksgiving. I thought it was strange that I haven’t seen any at Coastal in Branford the two times I’ve been there since.
storrsroars
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hey, I could've gotten you all you wanted for $92 plus shipping
glad my brother brought two $62 bottles with him from CT for T-day.
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The Lagavulin 16 is so damn good. Now I wish I bought even more at $60. Saw it at my local yesterday for $90. I still don’t understand the reason for the price differential.
Oh, and one of my daughters got me these cool large ice sphere molds for Christmas. Loving the massive ice ball. Melts much slower than cubes and adds a nice chill.
Oh, and one of my daughters got me these cool large ice sphere molds for Christmas. Loving the massive ice ball. Melts much slower than cubes and adds a nice chill.
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Looking for some input, so cirlcling back to above post. Typ drink JWB and Macallan 12. Used to drink Cutty way back for the 'smoky' taste'. Received bottle of Glenfiddich 12. This tastes noticeably 'different'. Is this indicative of other single malt? or is this a wierd taste brand since I don't thnk it was mentioned in thread?
HuskyHawk
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There is no indicative really. Glenfiddich is a mild, ex-bourbon barrel aged unpeated (no smoke) single malt from Speyside. It's fairly "clean" meaning it's not very funky and uses a clean yeast. Just as Belgian beer (for example) takes flavor from yeast, so does distillate. It has a lot of what I'd call cereal notes and a bit of apple.
Macallan 12 is from the same region and is made similarly except that it generally uses at least some ex-sherry casks and not all ex-bourbon casks. That gives it a different profile. If you like that look for other sherry cask malts. I can offer suggestions.
If you like the smoke, that will mostly come from Islay malts, and other "Island" malts (but not entirely).
HuskyHawk
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It's stupid priced every since Parks and Rec made it extra popular. $60 is a solid price for it. $75 is too high in my opinion and $90 is crazy. The Lagavulin 8 is now regularly $40-45 and is pretty good.
I've got a big death star ice mold but I stopped using ice at all a few years ago. Sometimes I'll break that out in the summer.
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Agree or disagree: The best invention for scotch (bourbon, etc.) is the rocks that you put in the freezer for your drinks to get cold, but not watered down. I mean, however, it's the best invention for the inventors to make money for selling... rocks. They priced and marketed them perfectly for them to be given as Christmas, Hanukkah, Father's Day, Birthday presents. I've never seen anyone actually use them. I gave mine to my 3 year old nephew who "collects rocks."
HuskyHawk
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Worst invention ever. Everybody on the bourbon and Scotch groups I'm in hates them. They are considered the worst whiskey enthusiast holiday gift. Not sure why booze needs to be cool anyway, that reduces flavor. It should be roughly at the temperature of red wine. Plus they can slide and break your teeth.
That said, we have the soapstone rocks in the freezer and my wife likes them in white wine. That seems a better application to me.
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Just rediscovered this thread.
OMG, Lagavulin 16 for $60 ?!?! It's my favorite, but I've never seen it anywhere for less than $88. Just checked out the price down here (infamous Broward Cty, FL) at a major chain -- $112.99 !!
OMG, Lagavulin 16 for $60 ?!?! It's my favorite, but I've never seen it anywhere for less than $88. Just checked out the price down here (infamous Broward Cty, FL) at a major chain -- $112.99 !!
HuskyHawk
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I bought Lagavulin 8 for $40 recently. Great buy at that price. It doesn't have as much age, but is higher proof, and a little more punchy on the peat side.
Got an Exclusive Regions Speyside sherry cask bottle as well (not labeled but mine is Glentauchers). Really solid sherried Scotch for $55. The independent bottler that made it is gone now, so if you see any, they won't be available for ever. Great values across the range.
HuskyHawk
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This is the Scotch thread, but this just arrived at my house yesterday and it's excellent; I think most whiskey drinkers would like it--even those who don't typically like Irish whiskey.
Very cool. This one is aged in a NEBCO stout barrel? I see that they did one with Fuzzy Baby Ducks too. Very nice to see that 50.2% on the label. The bane of Irish whiskey is that it's triple distilled, which saps some character and then usually 40% meaning it just lacks any real character.
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Sadly that price is gone and it’s jacked up everywhere again here. I’ve settled on the Nick Offerman 11 year reserve edition, which I believe I paid around $70 for. I like it.
HuskyHawk
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What other peated Scotches do you like? Lagavulin is generally the priciest of the bunch. I don't know if you are on Reddit, but my reviews are on r/scotch (and r/bourbon).
8893
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Yes. From what I gather it's aged in a bourbon barrel that is "finished" with NEBCO's Imperial Stout Trooper. I don't love the nose on most Irish whiskeys except for Pure Pot Stills like Green Spot, Redbreast or Powers, and this has a bit of the nose I don't love, but once you taste it is anything but. Lots of character and you don't taste the 50.2%; I was shocked when I saw that. Very deceptive and very warming. I have not tried the FBD one.
You helped me with a bunch in that taste profile upthread and I tried and liked them all; I had settled on Caol Ila but now am back on Lagavulin after grabbing those $60 bottles of the 16 year.
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HuskyHawk
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I had a stout finished Irish whiskey from Glendalough that I rather liked. It had a certain creamy element that made it interesting.
Yeah, I was going to suggest the peated Bruichladdich, which I quite like. I'm not usually a Laphroaig man, but the Triple Wood was pretty decent (and is cheap).
8893
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Yes, this one definitely has a creamy mouthfeel and a little bit of smoke to it.
storrsroars
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@HuskyHawk - I get a Liquor.com email every night and tonight's was 11 Scotches to try, basically covering a number of brand extensions/new releases.
www.liquor.com
Was wondering if you were familiar with any and whether you'd recommend.
For calibration purposes, Laga is my "special occasion" bottle while Famous Grouse is my everyday, although at the moment I've also got a $25 bottle of Loch Lomond Original, which while not in my wheelhouse for single malts is actually pretty good, especially for the price.
5 New Blended Scotches You’ll Want to Try
Blenders are drawing on a range of whisky trends, from barrel finishing to high-rye blends, to offer a diverse array of bottles.
For calibration purposes, Laga is my "special occasion" bottle while Famous Grouse is my everyday, although at the moment I've also got a $25 bottle of Loch Lomond Original, which while not in my wheelhouse for single malts is actually pretty good, especially for the price.
HuskyHawk
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@HuskyHawk - I get a Liquor.com email every night and tonight's was 11 Scotches to try, basically covering a number of brand extensions/new releases.
Was wondering if you were familiar with any and whether you'd recommend.5 New Blended Scotches You’ll Want to Try
Blenders are drawing on a range of whisky trends, from barrel finishing to high-rye blends, to offer a diverse array of bottles.
For calibration purposes, Laga is my "special occasion" bottle while Famous Grouse is my everyday, although at the moment I've also got a $25 bottle of Loch Lomond Original, which while not in my wheelhouse for single malts is actually pretty good, especially for the price.
Wee Beastie is a lot of fun if you can get it at $55 or less. Its younger Ardbeg, but with some sherry cask. I have a near finished bottle and I plan to replace it. This is probably the winner on this list for you. Lagavulin 8 is also worth buying if under $50. Some places are putting the GOT Lagavulin 9 on sale now.
Skip that Compass Box. There are others cheaper CB you would enjoy. if you like peat then Flaming Heart is excellent.
The Glenlivet Caribbean is rum cask unpeated and not very old. A little sweet and different. Better value than the Balvenie Caribbean cask, which costs twice as much. Better still try Glenlivet Fire & Cane, young rum cask but also partially peated.
Skip Johnie Walker. Kilchoman is younger peated stuff from Islay, very good, very well made but always overpriced in my mind. Think of it as “craft” Scotch.
The Macallan is excellent but not at those prices. You want to spend that much I can point you to way better options.
Since you are in PA you might consider looking at finedrams.com. It’s an online retailer out of Denmark, and I know the owner Jonas. They won’t charge VAT and they will ship anywhere in the US. There are shipping charges but if you get say, 3 bottles, you can easily come out ahead over paying PA prices, and have a broader selection.
HuskyHawk
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I just got a bottle of Laphroaig Cairdeas Triple Wood, which was the 2019 edition. It was under $70 which is a steal. As an alternative to Lagavulin 16 it’s a really nice bottle. Doesn’t have the Laphroaig medicinal notes I usually get. It is a powerful dram Though at cask strength.
As with my suggestion to Storrsroars, for any peated Scotch fans Ardbeg Wee Beastie is a winner (in a way the more expensive An Oa is not), and Lagavulin 8 is a bargain near me at $40. About 3/4 as good as the 16. The GOT 9 year was initially sought after, then massive stocks of GOT bottles showed up and stores are trying to get them off their shelves. Diageo played that very badly.
HuskyHawk
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And seriously people, this stuff will blow your mind. The only peated scotch I’ve had that is as good is from the Longrow Red series.
www.finedrams.com
Ballechin 11 Year Old 2007 Cask Strength (Cask #172) - The Ultimate Whisky Company
Balllechin is the name given to Edradour’s heavy peated spirit. This particular offering has been bottled by Dutch bottlers, the Ultimate Whisky...
www.finedrams.com
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