The Whisk(e)y Thread (Irish, Scottish, Miscellaneous)

[duke]

Off to Machrahnish the week after in the van for a few days. I have promised myself a tour and purchase some Springbank. Perhaps 15 year old ...

One of my favourites- really enjoyed travelling down to the distillery from Oban as well, beautiful part of the world

[Slick]

Off to Machrahnish the week after in the van for a few days. I have promised myself a tour and purchase some Springbank. Perhaps 15 year old ...

I once spent a very odd month sitting on my arse at either the Machrihanish airbase or the Navy fuel base down the road reading War & Peace and getting paid.

[Tichtheid]

Glen Marnoch 12 year old

Twenty quid.


Given that it comes in at around a tenner less than the usual suspects Speysides do, when they are not on offer at your local supermarket, I thought this was worth a try.

It's okay, it has the same blandness that I get from many of the big names you see now at the supermarket (with the exception of Talisker 10), all the parts you want on the nose, palate and finish are there, just a bit less long-lasting or impressive. I'm sure the drive is to make whisky appeal to a wider audience but I think they are missing a trick, the wider audience will add soda, coke, water, whatever else, so there is no need to sandpaper off the rough edges of whisky.

This would be decent enough with a few more percent alcohol, ie a little less water, 40% is the minimum legally required to call it Scotch Whisky, but a couple of more points usually makes a huge difference and I'm always prepared to pay a few quid more on the bottle for that.

By contrast the cheaper Glen Marnoch Islay is excellent, it can only come from one of the distilleries on the island and they know their stuff. I read a review saying it was "undrinkable, like medicine, awful" and I knew it had to be good.

[PCPhil]

The one I always liked the most was Glengoyne. Had a happy Easter holiday in Glen Shiel with friends many years ago and this was the favoured cordial. Trouble is it has rocketed in price lately.

Edit: you bstards. Just bought myself a 12 year old Glengoyne.

[Slick]

The one I always liked the most was Glengoyne. Had a happy Easter holiday in Glen Shiel with friends many years ago and this was the favoured cordial. Trouble is it has rocketed in price lately.

Edit: you bstards. Just bought myself a 12 year old Glengoyne.

My gran used to live just up the road from the distillery so spend a lot of my youth there with my dad and grandad blagging free nips

[Yr Alban]

Off to Machrahnish the week after in the van for a few days. I have promised myself a tour and purchase some Springbank. Perhaps 15 year old ...

I once spent a very odd month sitting on my arse at either the Machrihanish airbase or the Navy fuel base down the road reading War & Peace and getting paid.

I did a week’s locum years ago at the private hospital in Aberdeen. The patients were all there for elective surgery. The nurses clerked them in, and the anaesthetists and surgeons did their notes, wrote up their drugs and fussed over them. The only reason I was there at all was so they could say there was a doctor in the building at all times in case someone actually became unwell. Nobody did. I assisted at one operation and wrote up one drug chart. In a week. Fortunately I had anticipated it might be a bit slow, and taken my PlayStation with me.

[Blackmac]

The one I always liked the most was Glengoyne. Had a happy Easter holiday in Glen Shiel with friends many years ago and this was the favoured cordial. Trouble is it has rocketed in price lately.

Edit: you bstards. Just bought myself a 12 year old Glengoyne.

My gran used to live just up the road from the distillery so spend a lot of my youth there with my dad and grandad blagging free nips

One of the best distillery tours out there.

[Blackmac]

Glen Marnoch 12 year old

Twenty quid.


Given that it comes in at around a tenner less than the usual suspects Speysides do, when they are not on offer at your local supermarket, I thought this was worth a try.

It's okay, it has the same blandness that I get from many of the big names you see now at the supermarket (with the exception of Talisker 10), all the parts you want on the nose, palate and finish are there, just a bit less long-lasting or impressive. I'm sure the drive is to make whisky appeal to a wider audience but I think they are missing a trick, the wider audience will add soda, coke, water, whatever else, so there is no need to sandpaper off the rough edges of whisky.

This would be decent enough with a few more percent alcohol, ie a little less water, 40% is the minimum legally required to call it Scotch Whisky, but a couple of more points usually makes a huge difference and I'm always prepared to pay a few quid more on the bottle for that.

By contrast the cheaper Glen Marnoch Islay is excellent, it can only come from one of the distilleries on the island and they know their stuff. I read a review saying it was "undrinkable, like medicine, awful" and I knew it had to be good.

About 10 years ago I was able to get one of their 34 years olds which was a ridiculous price and some reviewer claimed was one of the best whiskies ever produced and should be in the £3k to £4k range. Needless to say it was drinkable, on a par with the likes of the more sensibly priced 18 year olds but generally the review was complete and utter bollocks.

[Blackmac]

Glen Grant 10 year old must be the best value whisky out there. Superb dram for only about £25

[Tichtheid]

Glen Marnoch 12 year old

Twenty quid.


Given that it comes in at around a tenner less than the usual suspects Speysides do, when they are not on offer at your local supermarket, I thought this was worth a try.

It's okay, it has the same blandness that I get from many of the big names you see now at the supermarket (with the exception of Talisker 10), all the parts you want on the nose, palate and finish are there, just a bit less long-lasting or impressive. I'm sure the drive is to make whisky appeal to a wider audience but I think they are missing a trick, the wider audience will add soda, coke, water, whatever else, so there is no need to sandpaper off the rough edges of whisky.

This would be decent enough with a few more percent alcohol, ie a little less water, 40% is the minimum legally required to call it Scotch Whisky, but a couple of more points usually makes a huge difference and I'm always prepared to pay a few quid more on the bottle for that.

By contrast the cheaper Glen Marnoch Islay is excellent, it can only come from one of the distilleries on the island and they know their stuff. I read a review saying it was "undrinkable, like medicine, awful" and I knew it had to be good.

About 10 years ago I was able to get one of their 34 years olds which was a ridiculous price and some reviewer claimed was one of the best whiskies ever produced and should be in the £3k to £4k range. Needless to say it was drinkable, on a par with the likes of the more sensibly priced 18 year olds but generally the review was complete and utter bollocks.

There's a lot of subjectivity in the tasting, imo.
I had one of the Aldi 25 year olds a couple of years ago and I thought it was really good, one of the guys who runs our tasting sessions didn't think very much of it at all, whereas he rated the Irish 28(?) they released a year or two before it as one of the best he'd ever had.
I thought it was good, but I didn't like it as much as he did.

For the price these are really good whiskies, 18 year olds with a distillery branding cost around a hundred quid now, if you go for one of the independent bottlers it's probably another twenty to thirty quid on top.
The current Aldi single malt 18 offering is £40.

[PCPhil]

The one I always liked the most was Glengoyne. Had a happy Easter holiday in Glen Shiel with friends many years ago and this was the favoured cordial. Trouble is it has rocketed in price lately.

Edit: you bstards. Just bought myself a 12 year old Glengoyne.

Couldn’t resist. Just sipping my first dram from aforementioned above. So smooth, no burning, brings back memories……. Sigh. ……

[Slick]

The one I always liked the most was Glengoyne. Had a happy Easter holiday in Glen Shiel with friends many years ago and this was the favoured cordial. Trouble is it has rocketed in price lately.

Edit: you bstards. Just bought myself a 12 year old Glengoyne.

Couldn’t resist. Just sipping my first dram from aforementioned above. So smooth, no burning, brings back memories……. Sigh. ……

Bastard. I’ve given up the booze for an unspecified time and the only drink I miss is an occasional dram…

[PCPhil]

The one I always liked the most was Glengoyne. Had a happy Easter holiday in Glen Shiel with friends many years ago and this was the favoured cordial. Trouble is it has rocketed in price lately.

Edit: you bstards. Just bought myself a 12 year old Glengoyne.

Couldn’t resist. Just sipping my first dram from aforementioned above. So smooth, no burning, brings back memories……. Sigh. ……

Bastard. I’ve given up the booze for an unspecified time and the only drink I miss is an occasional dram…

Was on a Teams chat with one of our engineers yesterday. He was in a Whisky syndicate for a few barrels that chose Glengoyne because they all loved it. As he said could have turned into vinegar for all they knew but they struck lucky and selling for £175 a bottle! Said it was the nicest Whisky he knew. Smooth and delicious.

Er, however. None of this should any way tempt you into buying any...

[Tichtheid]

Couldn’t resist. Just sipping my first dram from aforementioned above. So smooth, no burning, brings back memories……. Sigh. ……

Bastard. I’ve given up the booze for an unspecified time and the only drink I miss is an occasional dram…

Was on a Teams chat with one of our engineers yesterday. He was in a Whisky syndicate for a few barrels that chose Glengoyne because they all loved it. As he said could have turned into vinegar for all they knew but they struck lucky and selling for £175 a bottle! Said it was the nicest Whisky he knew. Smooth and delicious.

Er, however. None of this should any way tempt you into buying any...

The likelihood of a single barrel whisky turning out to be anything less than very good is small, hence the success of the independent bottlers.
The distilleries blend between their own barrels to achieve consistency of taste and alcohol content. When they sell "Single Barrel" expressions they charge a premium.
They also charge a premium when they sell their whisky as "double barrel" or "X barrel" finish, X being any number of things.

I'm not knocking it per se, they have to shift the stuff and by far the biggest price hit on a bottle of whisky is tax. Plus it all tastes different, it's just the marketing guff that annoys me sometimes.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Bastard. I’ve given up the booze for an unspecified time and the only drink I miss is an occasional dram…

Was on a Teams chat with one of our engineers yesterday. He was in a Whisky syndicate for a few barrels that chose Glengoyne because they all loved it. As he said could have turned into vinegar for all they knew but they struck lucky and selling for £175 a bottle! Said it was the nicest Whisky he knew. Smooth and delicious.

Er, however. None of this should any way tempt you into buying any...

The likelihood of a single barrel whisky turning out to be anything less than very good is small, hence the success of the independent bottlers.
The distilleries blend between their own barrels to achieve consistency of taste and alcohol content. When they sell "Single Barrel" expressions they charge a premium.
They also charge a premium when they sell their whisky as "double barrel" or "X barrel" finish, X being any number of things.

I'm not knocking it per se, they have to shift the stuff and by far the biggest price hit on a bottle of whisky is tax. Plus it all tastes different, it's just the marketing guff that annoys me sometimes.

While whisky isn't my main interest I do enjoy it from time to time. For the most part I don't like all these <xxx> barrel finishes. If I wanted something that tasted like Pedro Ximenez then I'd buy a bottle of that.

I'm unconvinced that buying barrels/shares in barrels is good value anymore. A friend did it about 25 years ago and got lucky with a barrel of Springbank that turned out very well at 18yo. However distilleries mostly don't need the money anymore so there isn't much of a discount compared to the past.

[Happyhooker]

I'm never touching the stuff again.

Jesus

[Sandstorm]

I'm never touching the stuff again.

Jesus

[Hellraiser]

Glen Marnoch 12 year old

Twenty quid.


Given that it comes in at around a tenner less than the usual suspects Speysides do, when they are not on offer at your local supermarket, I thought this was worth a try.

It's okay, it has the same blandness that I get from many of the big names you see now at the supermarket (with the exception of Talisker 10), all the parts you want on the nose, palate and finish are there, just a bit less long-lasting or impressive. I'm sure the drive is to make whisky appeal to a wider audience but I think they are missing a trick, the wider audience will add soda, coke, water, whatever else, so there is no need to sandpaper off the rough edges of whisky.

This would be decent enough with a few more percent alcohol, ie a little less water, 40% is the minimum legally required to call it Scotch Whisky, but a couple of more points usually makes a huge difference and I'm always prepared to pay a few quid more on the bottle for that.

By contrast the cheaper Glen Marnoch Islay is excellent, it can only come from one of the distilleries on the island and they know their stuff. I read a review saying it was "undrinkable, like medicine, awful" and I knew it had to be good.

About 10 years ago I was able to get one of their 34 years olds which was a ridiculous price and some reviewer claimed was one of the best whiskies ever produced and should be in the £3k to £4k range. Needless to say it was drinkable, on a par with the likes of the more sensibly priced 18 year olds but generally the review was complete and utter bollocks.

There's a lot of subjectivity in the tasting, imo.
I had one of the Aldi 25 year olds a couple of years ago and I thought it was really good, one of the guys who runs our tasting sessions didn't think very much of it at all, whereas he rated the Irish 28(?) they released a year or two before it as one of the best he'd ever had.
I thought it was good, but I didn't like it as much as he did.

For the price these are really good whiskies, 18 year olds with a distillery branding cost around a hundred quid now, if you go for one of the independent bottlers it's probably another twenty to thirty quid on top.
The current Aldi single malt 18 offering is £40.

It was a 26 year old Bushmills. It was a decent drop in it's own right but when you try it next to other 26 year old Bushmills released by either themselves or by an independent bottler (and it's the Gelston's 26 I have in mind) the difference in quality is immediately apparent. Granted it was only 40% but that really doesn't suit Bushmills liquid.

[robmatic]

Took advantage of the collapsing Turkish lira to buy a bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban for under 30 quid. That'll do nicely for a Christmas dram.

[Blackmac]

At the recent Whisky Stramash, the group I was with all pretty much agreed that the Mackmyra Svensk Ek was the outstanding whisky we tasted on the night.

[Tichtheid]

At the recent Whisky Stramash, the group I was with all pretty much agreed that the Mackmyra Svensk Ek was the outstanding whisky we tasted on the night.

We had a presentation by Mackmyra at our group, they are innovative in their distilling process and make very good whisky imo

[Hellraiser]

At the recent Whisky Stramash, the group I was with all pretty much agreed that the Mackmyra Svensk Ek was the outstanding whisky we tasted on the night.

We had a presentation by Mackmyra at our group, they are innovative in their distilling process and make very good whisky imo

I have a tasting set of three of their whiskies around somewhere. Must get to it at some point.

[Tichtheid]

At the recent Whisky Stramash, the group I was with all pretty much agreed that the Mackmyra Svensk Ek was the outstanding whisky we tasted on the night.

We had a presentation by Mackmyra at our group, they are innovative in their distilling process and make very good whisky imo

I have a tasting set of three of their whiskies around somewhere. Must get to it at some point.

That reminds me, I've had a Highland Park tasting set for years, I've just not gotten around to it, it has a 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old in 5cl miniatures

[inactionman]

Anyone care to recommend a reasonable bourbon for 40 to 50 notes?

[robmatic]

Anyone care to recommend a reasonable bourbon for 40 to 50 notes?

Elijah Craig is decent.

[inactionman]

Anyone care to recommend a reasonable bourbon for 40 to 50 notes?

Elijah Craig is decent.

[Hellraiser]

Anyone care to recommend a reasonable bourbon for 40 to 50 notes?

Eagle Rare 10 Year Old

[Hellraiser]

We had a presentation by Mackmyra at our group, they are innovative in their distilling process and make very good whisky imo

I have a tasting set of three of their whiskies around somewhere. Must get to it at some point.

That reminds me, I've had a Highland Park tasting set for years, I've just not gotten around to it, it has a 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old in 5cl miniatures

Highland Park is a distillery that I still am not sure whether I really like their spirit or not, and I can't quite put my finger on why.

[Hellraiser]

If anyone is interested in some historico-contemporary insight into Irish whiskey they may like to take a listen to these:

https://potstilled.com/2021/12/19/fionn ... vm-part-1/
https://potstilled.com/2021/12/21/fionn ... vm-part-2/
https://potstilled.com/2021/12/21/fionn ... vm-part-3/

Fair warning it's 2.5hrs or so of listening.

[Tichtheid]

I have a tasting set of three of their whiskies around somewhere. Must get to it at some point.

That reminds me, I've had a Highland Park tasting set for years, I've just not gotten around to it, it has a 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old in 5cl miniatures

Highland Park is a distillery that I still am not sure whether I really like their spirit or not, and I can't quite put my finger on why.

Highland Park are one of the distillers that have, to my taste buds, blanded out their lower cost whisky. There is a rush to sell whisky to a younger palate and there seems to be an opinion that blander will do this.
Talisker and the Islays have avoided this route, there are far too many others to comment on.

It's a real shame, as when you taste HP from an independent bottler such as Signatory at around 46% (iirc) the stuff is dynamite.


I'm not sure I can commit to the hours of listening in the next post, but someone I know from our group will almost certainly be interested in that, I'll pass it on.

Do you know Ralfy's whisky tastings on youtube?

I find I'm in agreement with a lot of what he says.

I say that having fallen away from it for a while now.

[Hellraiser]

That reminds me, I've had a Highland Park tasting set for years, I've just not gotten around to it, it has a 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old in 5cl miniatures

Highland Park is a distillery that I still am not sure whether I really like their spirit or not, and I can't quite put my finger on why.

Highland Park are one of the distillers that have, to my taste buds, blanded out their lower cost whisky. There is a rush to sell whisky to a younger palate and there seems to be an opinion that blander will do this.
Talisker and the Islays have avoided this route, there are far too many others to comment on.

It's a real shame, as when you taste HP from an independent bottler such as Signatory at around 46% (iirc) the stuff is dynamite.


I'm not sure I can commit to the hours of listening in the next post, but someone I know from our group will almost certainly be interested in that, I'll pass it on.

Do you know Ralfy's whisky tastings on youtube?

I find I'm in agreement with a lot of what he says.

I say that having fallen away from it for a while now.

Never trust a multinational; bland is king to appeal to as broad an audience of philistines as possible. Look at Ireland, Jameson is nowadays a by-word for bland, inoffensive, blended crap, aimed at shot drinking Americans. Whereas old Bow Street Distillery JJ Jameson & Sons was a fusel oil heavy, diesely, complex, single pot still spirit not for beginners. Alas if want any of that vanishingly small amount of bottled spirit still around you'll be paying hundreds, if not thousands of Euros at auction for it.

[Blackmac]

That reminds me, I've had a Highland Park tasting set for years, I've just not gotten around to it, it has a 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old in 5cl miniatures

Highland Park is a distillery that I still am not sure whether I really like their spirit or not, and I can't quite put my finger on why.

Highland Park are one of the distillers that have, to my taste buds, blanded out their lower cost whisky. There is a rush to sell whisky to a younger palate and there seems to be an opinion that blander will do this.
Talisker and the Islays have avoided this route, there are far too many others to comment on.

It's a real shame, as when you taste HP from an independent bottler such as Signatory at around 46% (iirc) the stuff is dynamite.


I'm not sure I can commit to the hours of listening in the next post, but someone I know from our group will almost certainly be interested in that, I'll pass it on.

Do you know Ralfy's whisky tastings on youtube?

I find I'm in agreement with a lot of what he says.

I say that having fallen away from it for a while now.

Absolutely spot on assessment of Highland Park. The 12 year old is a shadow of its former self. Add that to their obsession with Viking themed, NOS special editions and you clearly see a theme of quantity of quality.


I find the Dalmore 12 to be the same. Always used to have one in the cupboard but now just don't bother.

[robmatic]

Highland Park are one of the distillers that have, to my taste buds, blanded out their lower cost whisky. There is a rush to sell whisky to a younger palate and there seems to be an opinion that blander will do this.
Talisker and the Islays have avoided this route, there are far too many others to comment on.

It's a real shame, as when you taste HP from an independent bottler such as Signatory at around 46% (iirc) the stuff is dynamite.

I've only had the airport special editions of Highland Park recently and they are pretty uninspiring. However, back when I used to be in the SMWS the Highland Park bottlings were always worth checking out because the variation between casks was amazing and they were often both distinctive and very good.

[PCPhil]

Highland Park are one of the distillers that have, to my taste buds, blanded out their lower cost whisky. There is a rush to sell whisky to a younger palate and there seems to be an opinion that blander will do this.
Talisker and the Islays have avoided this route, there are far too many others to comment on.

It's a real shame, as when you taste HP from an independent bottler such as Signatory at around 46% (iirc) the stuff is dynamite.

I've only had the airport special editions of Highland Park recently and they are pretty uninspiring. However, back when I used to be in the SMWS the Highland Park bottlings were always worth checking out because the variation between casks was amazing and they were often both distinctive and very good.

Shame about Highland Park. It was my dad’s favourite back in the day.

[Tichtheid]

You can still get great Highland Park whisky, just go for the independent bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail or Signatory or the aforementioned SMWS, their whisky is still very very good.

The company, or their parent company, have chosen to change what goes into HP bottles, but if you get single barrel stuff from the indy bottlers it is always good

[Lobby]

A few weeks ago I opened a bottle of Famous Grouse 1992 vintage, which was bottled in 2003. I've had the bottle for years, and can't remember how I acquired it. I think it may well have been a present at some point.

Anyway, it was really rather good, so I looked it up online to see if I could find out anything about it and was astonished to see various whisky retailers selling it for prices ranging from about £170 a bottle, to a surely ridiculous £2000, along with claims that it is a rare vintage edition.

I was wondering if any of the whisky aficionados on here have heard of it, and if so if they could tell me any more about it.

[Jock42]

I'm sure the purists won't approve but I've just bought the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment.

[Blackmac]

I'm sure the purists won't approve but I've just bought the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment.

That's a very decent, affordable dram.

[Jock42]

I'm sure the purists won't approve but I've just bought the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment.

That's a very decent, affordable dram.

Good to know. Was actually drawn to the site by an ad gor the orchard experiment but clocked that instead.

[dpedin]

I'm sure the purists won't approve but I've just bought the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment.

That's a very decent, affordable dram.

Good to know. Was actually drawn to the site by an ad gor the orchard experiment but clocked that instead.

That sounds very interesting indeed! I remember many years ago, after a session in a pub (Canny Man for Embra folk), I went back to a mates house and we started on a bottle of Springbank that had been matured in a dark rum cask. It was dark green in colour and a lighter shade of dark green when we added the water. Absolutely feckin delicious. I think we drank about half of it. Apparently it is now worth a few bob if only he had kept it sealed and in the box! Never mind, I appreciated it at the time.