I do like Jameson select reserve. I usually ordered a personalised bottle for the birth of any relatives, very good service, 4 days to Melbourne.
Looking forward to trying Leitrim whiskey when it matures in th next couple of years. The Shed distillery has won many awards for its Drumshando Gunpowder Gin and has me on the waiting list for a bottle.
I do like Jameson select reserve. I usually ordered a personalised bottle for the birth of any relatives, very good service, 4 days to Melbourne.
Looking forward to trying Leitrim whiskey when it matures in th next couple of years. The Shed distillery has won many awards for its Drumshando Gunpowder Gin and has me on the waiting list for a bottle.
Scottish whisky has to be matured in old barrels, whereas a lot of bourbons have to be in new barrels. The Scottish distilleries will ship new casks over to the us to be used under lease, and then ship them back for use!
Is that correct? I was under the impression that our oak was just not as good for barrel production as American White Oak which has different characteristics. Also we just no longer have the available trees any more. According to this explanation even most french barrels are made from American wood. https://bruichladdich.com/article/what-kind-oak-used-in-our-whisky-casks
Scottish whisky has to be matured in old barrels, whereas a lot of bourbons have to be in new barrels. The Scottish distilleries will ship new casks over to the us to be used under lease, and then ship them back for use!
Is that correct? I was under the impression that our oak was just not as good for barrel production as American White Oak which has different characteristics. Also we just no longer have the available trees any more. According to this explanation even most french barrels are made from American wood. https://bruichladdich.com/article/what-kind-oak-used-in-our-whisky-casks
Ah yes. This is from the wiki page on malt whisky
Reused casks The selection of casks can affect the character of the final whisky. Outside of the United States, the most common practice is to reuse casks that previously contained American whiskey, as US law requires several types of distilled spirits to be aged in new oak casks. To ensure continuity of supply of used oak casks some Scottish distilling groups own oak forests in the US and rent the new barrels to bourbon producers for first fill use. Bourbon casks impart a characteristic vanilla flavour to the whisky.
Sherry casks are also commonly used. This practice arose because sherry used to be shipped to Britain from Spain in the cask rather than having been bottled, and the casks were expensive to return empty and were unwanted by the sherry cellars. In addition to imparting the flavours of their former contents, sherry casks lend maturing spirit a heavier body and a deep amber and sometimes reddish colour. Stainless steel shipping containers, however, have reduced the supply of wooden sherry casks, to the extent that the Macallan Distillery builds casks and leases them to the sherry cellars in Spain for a time, then has them shipped back to Scotland.
Other casks used include those that formerly held port wine, madeira, rum or cognac.
My brother bought me a bottle of Japanese whisky a few years ago - Nikka, I think it was called. Absolutely gorgeous.
My favourites are probably Laphroaig and Lagavulin though. My dad occasionally buys me a bottle of Talisker, which I can't stand. Can never find the right way to tell him that though
Like malts and blends and do like to try varieties I have never tasted ...... but the stuff is so expensive and I don't know where to start in terms of less well known makes.
So two questions;
(1) Where has good range (beyond the more popular brands ) at reasonable prices?
Like malts and blends and do like to try varieties I have never tasted ...... but the stuff is so expensive and I don't know where to start in terms of less well known makes.
So two questions;
(1) Where has good range (beyond the more popular brands ) at reasonable prices?
Ok. This is what I have open at the moment. (working through them slowly) Aberlour 10yo Aberlour A'Bundah batch 41 59% Aberlour A'Bundah batch 52 60.5% Dalmore 12yo Dalmore 15yo Dalwhinnie 15yo Glengoyne 14yo Glenkinchie 10yo Glenlivet 18yo Glenmorangie 10yo Glenrothes 1998 10yo Laphroaig 10yo Old Poultney 21yo Rosebank 14yo (sipping VERY slowly) and a bottle of famous grouse for visitors
Which one I drink depends on my mood. If I want something light and gentle it'll be a Dalwhinnie, Glengoyne or Rosebank. If I want something to fight with it'll be a Laphroaig. If the mood is for something sweeter it'll be Aberlour or Dalmore.
I generally only take water with the cask strength Aberlours, they can be a bit fierce at 60%
I've been to a few tasting evenings which are great for discovering Whiskies you'd not usually find in your average bar. The also give the chance to sample things I couldn't dream of Buying. @eaststandmike - your earlier link hasn't passed my lips yet but I live in hope
For the peat heads out there if you ever hear of an Ardbeg tasting evening snap up a ticket, they're thoroughly recommended.
I might put the unopened stache on this thread later.
Off to the states in a couple of weeks so will be teaching myself to drink bourbon. Not previously been all that keen but it would be rude not to try.
Don't forget to try some rye whiskey - Whistlepig Straight Rye, Sazerac 18 year old - both very good, and Rittenhouse 25 year old (spectacularly good).
It seems there are a few fans of Scotlands biggest export on CL
Tony Watt?
In seriousness I'm in the middle of moving house and the 'collections' thread coincided with me moving 5 boxes all labelled 'Whisky' into the mancave. I'm building a cabinet for it this week and will be unpacking it all into it so I'll post up my collection soon.
My favourites off the top of my head - Lagavulin 16yo, Jura Superstition, Glenfarclas 10yo, Highland Park 12yo.
I'm also into my blends and bourbons though.
Highland Park was my lovely Dad's favourite. I can't stand the smell/taste of whiskey. The Islay ones taste like a can of beer at a party which people have used as an ashtray (a friend told me).
It seems there are a few fans of Scotlands biggest export on CL
Tony Watt?
In seriousness I'm in the middle of moving house and the 'collections' thread coincided with me moving 5 boxes all labelled 'Whisky' into the mancave. I'm building a cabinet for it this week and will be unpacking it all into it so I'll post up my collection soon.
My favourites off the top of my head - Lagavulin 16yo, Jura Superstition, Glenfarclas 10yo, Highland Park 12yo.
I'm also into my blends and bourbons though.
Highland Park was my lovely Dad's favourite. I can't stand the smell/taste of whiskey. The Islay ones taste like a can of beer at a party which people have used as an ashtray (a friend told me).
Drinking a Laphroaig as I am reading this and am only getting seaweed and peat.
Islay whiskies are the Lord's way of saying he loves us and wants us to be happy.
Off to the states in a couple of weeks so will be teaching myself to drink bourbon. Not previously been all that keen but it would be rude not to try.
Don't forget to try some rye whiskey - Whistlepig Straight Rye, Sazerac 18 year old - both very good, and Rittenhouse 25 year old (spectacularly good).
Cheers for the tip Bob. We have a night in Monument Valley which is dry so will have to make sure we buy a bottle along the way to take with us to watch the sun go down to. Will look out for those you mention.
Comments
Get help, mate. :-)
What I am drinking at the moment.
Octomore 4.1
Bowmore 17
(ri)1 Rye
or
Yamazaki Single Malt 12 Years Old
£40-£45 Waitrose/Bargain Booze (well my local one anyway) etc
Reused casks
The selection of casks can affect the character of the final whisky. Outside of the United States, the most common practice is to reuse casks that previously contained American whiskey, as US law requires several types of distilled spirits to be aged in new oak casks. To ensure continuity of supply of used oak casks some Scottish distilling groups own oak forests in the US and rent the new barrels to bourbon producers for first fill use. Bourbon casks impart a characteristic vanilla flavour to the whisky.
Sherry casks are also commonly used. This practice arose because sherry used to be shipped to Britain from Spain in the cask rather than having been bottled, and the casks were expensive to return empty and were unwanted by the sherry cellars. In addition to imparting the flavours of their former contents, sherry casks lend maturing spirit a heavier body and a deep amber and sometimes reddish colour. Stainless steel shipping containers, however, have reduced the supply of wooden sherry casks, to the extent that the Macallan Distillery builds casks and leases them to the sherry cellars in Spain for a time, then has them shipped back to Scotland.
Other casks used include those that formerly held port wine, madeira, rum or cognac.
My favourites are probably Laphroaig and Lagavulin though.
My dad occasionally buys me a bottle of Talisker, which I can't stand. Can never find the right way to tell him that though
Now I don't brush my teeth with anything else.
Like malts and blends and do like to try varieties I have never tasted ...... but the stuff is so expensive and I don't know where to start in terms of less well known makes.
So two questions;
(1) Where has good range (beyond the more popular brands ) at reasonable prices?
(2) Can anyone recommend a whiskey guide?
PS
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10430685/Thinking-Drinkers-a-beginners-guide-to-single-malt-whisky.html
This is what I have open at the moment. (working through them slowly)
Aberlour 10yo
Aberlour A'Bundah batch 41 59%
Aberlour A'Bundah batch 52 60.5%
Dalmore 12yo
Dalmore 15yo
Dalwhinnie 15yo
Glengoyne 14yo
Glenkinchie 10yo
Glenlivet 18yo
Glenmorangie 10yo
Glenrothes 1998 10yo
Laphroaig 10yo
Old Poultney 21yo
Rosebank 14yo (sipping VERY slowly)
and a bottle of famous grouse for visitors
Which one I drink depends on my mood. If I want something light and gentle it'll be a Dalwhinnie, Glengoyne or Rosebank. If I want something to fight with it'll be a Laphroaig. If the mood is for something sweeter it'll be Aberlour or Dalmore.
I generally only take water with the cask strength Aberlours, they can be a bit fierce at 60%
I've been to a few tasting evenings which are great for discovering Whiskies you'd not usually find in your average bar. The also give the chance to sample things I couldn't dream of Buying. @eaststandmike - your earlier link hasn't passed my lips yet but I live in hope
For the peat heads out there if you ever hear of an Ardbeg tasting evening snap up a ticket, they're thoroughly recommended.
I might put the unopened stache on this thread later.
Islay whiskies are the Lord's way of saying he loves us and wants us to be happy.