Enjoying a glass of whiskey

[wooders1978]

Has anyone tried the Redbreast stuff everyone says is really great often think about getting a bottle of that.

I've had the 12 year old (careful now!) It's amazing, honestly one of the best single malts in that price range out there

[Flatulent Fox]

Got into single malts a bit over the last few years.Great fun,but I stopped drinking for the last few months because I was pished all the time.I'm a big fan of the oily briney stuff,not into peated yet.
It's all old pishy water,but still a great hobby.

Stand outs for me are:             Glen Garioch 12 - Highland   (£45 ish)
                                                 Kilkerren 12 - Campletown   (£40 ish)
                                                 Clynelish 14 - Highland     (£45 ish)

Solid jobbing Malts :                  Old Pultney 12 - Coastal Highland (£25 ish)
                                                  Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair - Island (£25 ish)

Amazon can have some decent deals from time to time and is worth stocking up with a bottle or two.
Ralfy on Youtube is great for finding out about what to go for and what to avoid.

[Chedney Honks]

Makers Mark 46 is a bit of alright. Quite buttery and very smooth.

Yeah, I really like the 46, prefer it to the regular. Consistent with what I was saying above about higher proof = richer flavour with bourbon.

Elijah Craig barrel proof is £35 on Amazon right now - go & get it you bourbon drinkers

Good deal, nice one. And on the higher proof note, fair warning to anyone who picks this up, if you've never had cask strength before, let it breathe and open up for a good twenty minutes or so. It's coming in hot. Great classic bourbon flavours, though, and intense at that proof.

Has anyone tried the Redbreast stuff everyone says is really great often think about getting a bottle of that.

It's a lovely all-rounder, no edge to it at all, very well balanced, refined, comforting - a high quality classic Irish whiskey expression, would be a great gift to receive. Not quite my thing but that's personal taste rather than a slight on the quality.

[wooders1978]

My mistake - it is the Elijah Craig small batch and it's actually £38 quid - it's still an fantastic bottle

@kalowski - thoughts on the starward? I am undecided but I'm full of cold so reserving judgement - but seems a tad spicy (could just be the sore throat) and seems to have a "jd and coke" finish

[kalowski]

My mistake - it is the Elijah Craig small batch and it's actually £38 quid - it's still an fantastic bottle

@kalowski - thoughts on the starward? I am undecided but I'm full of cold so reserving judgement - but seems a tad spicy (could just be the sore throat) and seems to have a "jd and coke" finish

It is spicy and somewhat sweet, perhaps even rum like, but the warmth from the 50% strength gives it a kick (Gregg Wallace: "I'm getting heat, I'm getting spice") that I am enjoying. It's very drinkable with a little ice and I tried it with some ginger ale and it made for a lovely long drink. It's a malt that reminds me of bourbon, which perhaps shows my lack of experience, but links to your "JD and coke".
But as a first bottle with Summerton it's a winner for me.

[Mr_Simnock]

I don't drink much whisky anymore, currently just have a bottle of Jameson Stout Edition, not bad but not as good as the original. If I want a new whisky I go here, I'm lucky enough to live not too far from and also has a huge range.



There is another room too full from floor to ceiling.

[TrenterPercenter]

Anybody got any bockkle af ORANGEDUSSS PLEASE! any recommendations for a decent rye whiskey?

[wooders1978]

Anybody got any bockkle af ORANGEDUSSS PLEASE! any recommendations for a decent rye whiskey?

One of the Summerton club bottles was a danish rye - Stauning, I recommend it very highly but it's on the pricy side at about £55

Balcones is a very good slightly cheaper alternative but not as good as the stauning

[mothman]

Elijah Craig barrel proof is £35 on Amazon right now - go & get it you bourbon drinkers

Can only find it at £119?

My mistake - it is the Elijah Craig small batch and it's actually £38 quid - it's still an fantastic bottle

Ah, I see.

[TrenterPercenter]

One of the Summerton club bottles was a danish rye - Stauning, I recommend it very highly but it's on the pricy side at about £55

Balcones is a very good slightly cheaper alternative but not as good as the stauning

Cheers wooders - I don't mind paying a bit more if it is worth it will take a look

I should add I'm looking to make some boulevardiers and manhattans with it not really drink it by itself but that Stauning certainly gets great reviews.

[hamfist]

I visited the Lakes distillery at Cockermouth recently, did a tasting and brought a couple home.

They're a young distillery so most of their bottles are blends, but they're good - their alchemist aims for Speyside style spicy fruity outcomes and it really works.

[TrenterPercenter]

Have people had much experience with independent bottlers I bought my friends one for his birthday recently of the Ben Nevis distillery and he said it was great.

[Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth]

I found out recently that when people talk about whisk(e)y tasting peaty, they actually mean it's smoky, which is much less manky sounding.

[Chedney Honks]

Anybody got any bockkle af ORANGEDUSSS PLEASE! any recommendations for a decent rye whiskey?

For consistent, good value, good quality stuff, Bulleit Rye is a very classic tasty American rye. It's rated higher than their bourbon.

Next up the ladder is Sazerac Rye, which is made by the Buffalo Trace producer. You can find it for less than forty quid and it's a solid step up from Bulleit, more depth although not quite as bold with the rye flavours. It's quality, though.

If you want to go for it with something pretty special, and don't be mixing it, go for High West Rendezvous Rye. It's pretty much their flagship whiskey and they specialise in rye. The Double Rye and pretty much anything High West is top quality, but Rendezvous is their pinnacle. Exceptional depth of flavour. More expensive than five years or so ago when you could pick it up for less than forty quid but I'm probably due a bottle, just from how I feel talking about it.

If you get the opportunity, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection do the Thomas H. Handy and Sazerac 18-year releases. The Saz is the top tier aged juice expression of the one I mentioned earlier. You've virtually no chance of getting a bottle but they're slightly less in demand than the BTAC bourbons so you might see them out and about in a poncey bar or even be able to buy samples online. They are both top of the line rye whiskey and almost possible to get hold of. The THH regularly comes in the top three of the year in the whisky awards. Amazing stuff, and an experience in itself. A measure could last you an hour.

Beyond that, as I posted previously in this thread, if you ever come across Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, it's the greatest whisky I've ever had (I've had most Pappy bourbons and all of the BTAC, and they're all incredibly good) and the chances are I'll never have it again. I only mention it because if the opportunity ever comes, that might be your only chance in life.

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

Consumed a wee dram of Talisker tonight off the back of reading this thread. Talisker and series 1 ep9 of The Wire. Middlebrow bliss.

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

I've had the 12 year old (careful now!) It's amazing, honestly one of the best single malts in that price range out there

Couldn't find a pub that sold a single of it out in Ireland for under €10.

[Chedney Honks]

Separately, here's a good, sad article about the bourbon explosion:

https://www.gearpatrol.com/food/drinks/a707242/weller-12-bourbon-whiskey/

Seven or eight years ago, I had half a dozen bottles of Weller 12 in the cupboard for £30 each and was giving them away to friends, raving about it. These days, you're talking a couple of hundred quid on the secondary market. I went to one of my mate's recently and he still had two thirds left, doesn't really drink whiskey now he's got kids. I had a couple and stopped. It's good to know it's there but I also felt the need to string it out for as long as possible, because it's unlikely I'll ever get any again. Fucked.

[TrenterPercenter]

For consistent, good value, good quality stuff, Bulleit Rye is a very classic tasty American rye. It's rated higher than their bourbon.

Next up the ladder is Sazerac Rye, which is made by the Buffalo Trace producer. You can find it for less than forty quid and it's a solid step up from Bulleit, more depth although not quite as bold with the rye flavours. It's quality, though.

If you want to go for it with something pretty special, and don't be mixing it, go for High West Rendezvous Rye. It's pretty much their flagship whiskey and they specialise in rye.

Thanks Mini Cheds will check these out; not quite such I'm ready to go to auction and spend £900 on a bottle of plonk quite yet.

[Chedney Honks]

Not unreasonable, pouring that last drop is a loss. I enter the lottery to have the chance to buy BTAC every year on Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt, etc. More chance of hatching an egg. I fluked a refresh on some other website in 2012 and got some samples in 2013 (still got) but my only experiences in the years since have been a couple of flukes in bars.

[ImmaculateClump]

Wish I could have a glass of whiskey. It's the bottle or nothing for me.
I've been chucking the stuff down by the bucketful lately!
Best get back to nothing :(
Enjoy yourselves you lucky baaastards!

[wooders1978]

Couldn't find a pub that sold a single of it out in Ireland for under €10.

Seeing as it retails for about £40 quid a bottle I'd say you were being ripped off

[Cuellar]

Saw a 'Japanese' whisky in Aldi today.

Toilet?

[poo]

anyone a "no ice" prick?

[wooders1978]

Saw a 'Japanese' whisky in Aldi today.

Toilet?

At 25 notes I'd say it's a gamble worth taking - just be aware that there is a bit of trend of importing scotch whisky and finishing it in a barrel in Japan then labelling it "Japanese" whisky  - sounds like it's probably the case here after a quick google of it

[wooders1978]

anyone a "no ice" prick?

Yes I'm a definite "no icer" - a few drops of water here and there however...

[poo]

Got a Suntory on Clubcard. Horrible. Just thin. Nothing.

[poo]

Yes I'm a definite "no icer" - a few drops of water here and there however...

Noted

[wooders1978]

Got a Suntory on Clubcard. Horrible. Just thin. Nothing.

I would probably advise not to buy any Japanese whisky right now tbh - it's very very trendy and as a result some right old crap is coming out, especially in the supermarkets - there are much better whiskies being produced closer to home for a fraction of the price

[Cuellar]

At 25 notes I'd say it's a gamble worth taking - just be aware that there is a bit of trend of importing scotch whisky and finishing it in a barrel in Japan then labelling it "Japanese" whisky  - sounds like it's probably the case here after a quick google of it

Hmmm, interesting ta. Probably won't bother.

[bgmnts]

Saw a 'Japanese' whisky in Aldi today.

Toilet?

Apparently Hibiki is the bees knees.