Blimey never heard of half of these Normally drink Black Bush or Writers Tears on the Scottish side i like Oban single malt
@TelMc32 do you remember the night I asked the blonde barmaid if she had a black bush?
The one where the landlady heard you and was less than impressed!! She was a Charlton fan too (not Mary of the Black Bush), Jackie the landlady!!
Isn't she in Game of Thrones?
That would get me watching it! Although I suspect Jackie would turn up as a witch/dragon!! Was trying to remember the bar...Roses down Hare Street.
Back on track a little...The Big Easy bar/restaurant in Canary Wharf has an amazing whisky/whiskey bar. Well worth a visit for a good few on here by the sounds of it.
I do like RedBreast (ooer missus) - I know it's a Jameson but at around £50 a bottle, it's as much as I will spend, and it's the best tasting whiskey I've had.
Back on track a little...The Big Easy bar/restaurant in Canary Wharf has an amazing whisky/whiskey bar. Well worth a visit for a good few on here by the sounds of it.
I find most Whisky bars in London overpriced. My favourite is in Aberdeen, The Grill in Union Street. It has the most amazing selection I've seen.
Glenkinchie distillery tour in near Edinburgh is great... Glenkinchie itself is nothing special, but they have the full range of United Distilleries whiskies, and if you are lucky you can get quite a few freebies!
My favourite is Clynelish 14 year old. Was always an Islay fan, but as I get older beginning to prefer Highland whiskies where the salinity isn't obliterated by peat. Whilst it's good to taste with water..... spring water not North Downs tap water, I nearly always prefer to drink without.
Always wanted to drink Baillie Nicol Jarvie a top blended whisky, but my meaness wouldn't buy it without a supermarket offer now it's discontinued and bloody well 2.5 times the price.
Had a Macallan 18 year old for a fiver in the London Lib Dem club. Was lovely and smooth but not a patch on Clynelish 14 to my palet. Still the Eastern European bar manager was quite angry with his barman when he found out they'd charged me the price of their shit grain whisky.
The 2015 Whiskey of the year was produced right here in Alberta, Canada and its lovely - I doubt you will find it in the U.K. - it's certainly worth tracking down though
I'm also partial to Jack Daniels, Makers Mark (a particularly fine bourbon IMHO) and Canadian whiskeys. Need to discover some Irish Whiskeys besides Bushmills.
Don't object to a decent Cognac/Armagnac either, and might also investigate craft gin which seems to be getting popular.
Having recently moved to Medway it's interesting that there is a distillery just opened in Chatham Dockyard. Gin and Vodka are available now and it looks like whisky will be run off soon too - although you'll be buying the that in advance before it's laid down to mature....
Also a Real Ale fan - but that *really* is another thread...
I like my malts but enjoy the "utility" blends for the everyday.
Blends: Famous Grouse (my general utility blend of choice) Grants (raffle prize and ideal for guests who don't appreciate the good stuff) Naked Grouse
Interesting re: drinkable blends - do you think the above are superior to say Highland Cream, Bells etc?
I enjoy Johnnie Walker Black and Double Black but am also seeking another day-to-day blend.
Personally I rate the Grouse family of blends (there are five including the "original") above most others although it's hard to beat the Johnny Walkers and Chivas Regal.
There is very much a growing niche in the whisky market for premium blends, and the owners of Grouse are trying to capitalise on it. Given that the highest slice of sales is in the overseas market where the distinction between blend and single malt as far as "superiority" goes is far more blurred than in the UK, that's understandable.
But, does it actually deteriorate, especially an opened bottle?
I believe so. I heard it will remain drinkable in the bottle for about 10 years. Never had one anywhere near that long!
Whisky in a sealed, unopened bottle will keep pretty much indefinitely. Once opened it will begin to deteriorate dependent on how much air is in the bottle - a one third full bottle will therefore deteriorate faster than a two thirds full bottle. It's still drinkable but the taste will change. It will also slowly evaporate!!
A relative has had a 21yo bottle that's been open for at least 20 years now. Once every few years I'm treated to a small dram of the stuff and it tastes brilliant. I'm unable to say whether it tasted any better or worse when it was first opened but I never turn it down!
Comments
Back on track a little...The Big Easy bar/restaurant in Canary Wharf has an amazing whisky/whiskey bar. Well worth a visit for a good few on here by the sounds of it.
Good job I'm not working tomorrow!
Always wanted to drink Baillie Nicol Jarvie a top blended whisky, but my meaness wouldn't buy it without a supermarket offer now it's discontinued and bloody well 2.5 times the price.
Had a Macallan 18 year old for a fiver in the London Lib Dem club. Was lovely and smooth but not a patch on Clynelish 14 to my palet. Still the Eastern European bar manager was quite angry with his barman when he found out they'd charged me the price of their shit grain whisky.
http://gearpatrol.com/2015/11/19/the-worlds-best-whiskey-look-to-canada/
Blends:
Famous Grouse (my general utility blend of choice)
Grants (raffle prize and ideal for guests who don't appreciate the good stuff)
Naked Grouse
Malts:
Glenturret 18yo
Macallan Gold
Glenmorangie 10yo
Aberlour 10yo
Highland Park 12yo
Laphraoig Quarter Cask
Need a few more to widen the collection.
I'm also partial to Jack Daniels, Makers Mark (a particularly fine bourbon IMHO) and Canadian whiskeys. Need to discover some Irish Whiskeys besides Bushmills.
Don't object to a decent Cognac/Armagnac either, and might also investigate craft gin which seems to be getting popular.
Having recently moved to Medway it's interesting that there is a distillery just opened in Chatham Dockyard. Gin and Vodka are available now and it looks like whisky will be run off soon too - although you'll be buying the that in advance before it's laid down to mature....
Also a Real Ale fan - but that *really* is another thread...
I enjoy Johnnie Walker Black and Double Black but am also seeking another day-to-day blend.
There is very much a growing niche in the whisky market for premium blends, and the owners of Grouse are trying to capitalise on it. Given that the highest slice of sales is in the overseas market where the distinction between blend and single malt as far as "superiority" goes is far more blurred than in the UK, that's understandable.
As for drinking on their own, if you like them great! Not worth being a snob about it... either you like it or you don't. I quite like Ballantine's.
I also quite like black bottle, which is an islay-centric blend
Vatted malts (blended malt only from different distilleries) can be nice, and I like Johnny walker Green as an example.
...not that I'm going to give any of them away
Here is my collection:
Aberlour:
16y. - 40%
A’Bunadh - 59,6%
Ardbeg:
10y. - 46%
Arran:
10y. - 52,2% - Sherry Cask
12y. - 50,8% - Limited Bottling for Whisky Club Luxembourg (No 95/124)
14y. - 46%
Sleeping Warrior - 54,9%
15th Anniversary Bottling - 54,6%
Auchentoshan:
1998 - 54,6% - Sherry Cask
BenRiach:
1994 - 55,1% - Special release for Belgium & Luxembourg (No 79/167)
Benromach:
Sassicaia Wood - 45%
Bladnoch:
Gordon & McPhail Connoisseur’s Choice - 40%
Bowmore:
Small Batch Bourbon Cask - 40%
Cask Strength - 56%
Black Rock - 40%
Bruichladdich:
The Dark Art 2 - 51,1%
Infinity 3 - 50%
Rocks - 46%
Islay Barley 2004 - Kentrow Farm - 50%
Cask Evolution 2001 - 62,3% - one of 242
Bunnahabhain:
XVIII - 43%
Call Ila:
Moch - 43%
18y. - 43%
1983 - 54,2% - Signatory Vintage Bottling (No 201/248)
Edradour:
12y. - 46% - Caledonia Selection
Famous Grouse:
12y. - 40%
Glenfiddich:
12y. - 40%
Snow Phoenix - 47,6%
Malt Master’s Edition - 43%
Glenfarclas:
Heritage Collection - 60%
105 Cask Strength - 60%
Glenmorangie:
12y. - The Lasanta - 46%
PX Sonnalta - 46%
Highland Park:
1986 - 53% - Signatory Vintage Bottling (No 186/240)
Jura:
Superstition - 43%
Kilchoman:
Single Cask Release - 55,2%
Lagavulin:
16y. - 43%
Laphroaig:
10y. - 40%
11y. - 40% - Special Bottling for the Friends of Laphroaig
18y. - 48%
Lore - 48%
Select - 40%
PX Cask - 48%
QA Cask - 40%
1995 - 60,3% - Signatory Vintage Bottling (No 44/234)
Longmorn:
17y. - 50% - Chieftain’s Special Bottling for the Whisky Club Luxembourg (One of 90)
Longrow:
18y. - 46%
Macallan:
Ruby - 43%
Old Poulteney:
12y. - 40%
Talisker:
Port Ruighe - 43%
Dark Storm - 45,8%
1999 - 45,8 - Distiller’s Edition
Springbank:
10y. - 57% - 100 Proof
Tomatin:
25y. - 48,7% - Special Bottling for the Whisky Club Luxembourg (One of 60)
I also have a couple bourbons and blends for those that want to mix them or who want to put ice in them!
I'm exhausted now, I think I'll have a wee dram or two !
Edit - really nice price! https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/31012/jameson-caskmates-stout-edition
But, does it actually deteriorate, especially an opened bottle?
Shame the same doesn't apply to wives.