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[S. L.]

S. L. where do you live ? It seems you have a good selection of JP whiskies around, I'm so jealous :lol We have alcohol monopoly (by gov.) so it's really hard to get your hands on "not so popular whiskies" because they pretty much stock stuff that they know will sell. I think at the moment you can only find two different JP whiskies in here At the moment I have to import all my Japanese whiskies and most of the times delivery charges are around 25£ to 30£ it's just insane !

germany, in store pickups aren't so good. but there are a bunch of online retailers that have huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge selections at fairly cheap prices

Nikka and Suntory are pretty easy to get and here and there more obscure jp distillers are sold (Karuizawa, Kirin, Komagatake, Mars, Golden Horse, Hanyu)

edit:
damn that Talisker 10 is niiice.

i tried myself at some tasting notes for a few ones (bear with my noobishness):

Talikser 10
Nose: Honey, Walnut, a bit smoke
Taste: Honey, "Heidewiese" (German thing, dunno), peppery, a bit lemon zest
Finish: long, warm, peppery, sweet, a bit smoke and peat
Nice! Didn't expect that. Two thumbs up


Caol Ila 12
Nose: Smoke, burning wood?, Peat
Taste: Smoke Peat, Sweet, Grass/Hay, dried Seaweed
Finish: long, warm
While a favorite of mine i found this one quite tricky to write down tasting notes.


Lagavulin 16
Nose: Mon Cheri chocolate (does this exist outside of Germany?), Smoke, Peat
Taste: Smoke, Peat, sweet sherry, a bit wood/oak
Finish: Medium long, slight bitterness, dry oak
Great stuff

Bell's Special Reserve
Nose: Malaga Raisins, Caramel, "boozy"
Taste: Sweet, Caramel, Honey-tea, a bit grassy, harsh alcoholic bite
Finish: long, warm, slightly smoky
This is a pure malt, i.e. no grain whisky like in other blends, also it is amazingly cheap at 15€. But it sucks. Don't buy it.


Aside from the Bell's I'd recommend all of them.
more to come

 

[S. L.]

*bump*

Yamazaiki just/recently released a Yamazaki aged only in Mizunara casks (Japanese oak) in Japan - limited to 1000bottles.
I want this sooooooooooooooooooooooooo badly!

but it costs 25000yen >_<!

the euro releases are usually a bit cheaper (if this gets released in europe), but still...

 

[Danoss]

My Dad sent me something early for Christmas: an Australian (Tasmanian) made single malt. Non chill filtered, no added colouring either. Will open it tonight and give it a taste.

EDIT: I quite like this whisky.

As for tasting notes, my ability to single out flavours and such is pretty bad (still a noob). The only single malt I have had is Highland Park, but have had a number of blends. Nevertheless, I will give it a go.

The nose is very strong vanilla, I can't seem to move past that. The texture is amazingly smooth though, like none I have ever tasted before. It's initially mildly sweet and creamy and then quickly turns quite spicy and lingers for a very long finish.

 

[Augemitbutter]

very nutty and dry. easy to drink and doesn't need much water.

would buy again.

 

[Esch]

Not single malt but my fraternity did a secret santa and a good friend of mine got me one of these:

And a hand rolled blunt of some fine White Widow. So nice.

I'm currently trying:

Based on recs in this thread. Very good, strong, and I really don't think i could confuse it with any other Islay i've had so far. It's great. I love it, but having tried something so extreme I kind of want an "opposite" for my next bottle. Something that is the antithesis of Ardbeg.

 

[Danoss]

New pickups today.

This bottle was the original plan.

However, due to the nice looking glasses to accompany the bottle, I also walked out with this:

 

[S. L.]

I don't know what got into me, but here is my new pickup

---------

Also my tasting notes for the "Nikka - From the Barrel"
This one takes a good drop of water, else it is very sharp at 51.4% vol

Nose: Oak, dry, dried fruits (apricot?), a tad sharp
Taste: Oak, caramel candy, spices, awesome!
Finish: very long and warm, with spices and a bit smoke

amazing whisky, especially at that price. highly recommended!

 

[Chuckie]

Based on recs in this thread. Very good, strong, and I really don't think i could confuse it with any other Islay i've had so far. It's great. I love it, but having tried something so extreme I kind of want an "opposite" for my next bottle. Something that is the antithesis of Ardbeg.

If you think that's extreme you should try the Ardbeg Supernova

 

[Esch]

If you think that's extreme you should try the Ardbeg Supernova

a bit out of my budget at the moment. but it looks cool as shit! Still though, any recommendations for anything the opposite of Ardbeg?

 

[Chuckie]

a bit out of my budget at the moment. but it looks cool as shit! Still though, any recommendations for anything the opposite of Ardbeg?

Yeah it's quite expensive. I got it as a gift from my wife :lol

I am a peaty mofo so it's hard for me to pick an opposite.

A non-peaty malt I loved was the Glenfiddich 21, but that's a bit expensive too.
I heard lots of good things bout Highland Park. It's one I want to try soon.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

a bit out of my budget at the moment. but it looks cool as shit! Still though, any recommendations for anything the opposite of Ardbeg?

Yeah, i'm only just making my way through the world of Peat, and I must say I love it, so I can't recommend much. I started my journey with the Highland Park 12 which was quite nice in a non peaty kind of way.

Today I went and picked up the next on my long list, a Talisker 10.

It's not an Islay malt, but still ment to be a nice, peaty dram. I haven't popped it yet, going to wait till I finish my work and have a listen back whilst sipping.

Anyone have any Islay peat recommendations? I've gotten through a bottle of Lagavulin 16 (still my fav. thus far) and Laphroig 10, have tasted a whole bunch when out, including the Ardbeg 10 but it seemed a bit pedestrian for my liking.

On my list are;
Laphroig Quarter Cask
Lagavulin 12

But after the Talisker, i'd still like a few before getting back into the La-Zone. Probably going to try Yamazaki 12 next, but asides from drinking pints of Suntory & soda on ice in Japan, don't have much knowledge of Japanese whiskys.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

New pickups today.

This bottle was the original plan.

However, due to the nice looking glasses to accompany the bottle, I also walked out with this:

I'd like to hear your opinions in the differences between these two whiskys!

 

[Sumidor]

Quick question... So I notice for the most part, you guys seem to keep at least a few bottles on hand. So how fast do you go through them? Or do you just drink a little from each bottle, every now and then?

 

[S. L.]

a bit out of my budget at the moment. but it looks cool as shit! Still though, any recommendations for anything the opposite of Ardbeg?

I think the Glenmorangie Danoss picked up would be on quite the opposite end.
Or if you want to be totally radical you can try a Japanese one like the Yamazaki. The 10yo is quite affordable, or if you can the 12yo which is a good step up.

Quick question... So I notice for the most part, you guys seem to keep at least a few bottles on hand. So how fast do you go through them? Or do you just drink a little from each bottle, every now and then?

Takes a few months at least. You can keep the bottles open for quite a long time without having any negative effects. Just keep the away from sunlight and heat.

 

[CiSTM]

Whiskyexchange.com has new selection of Hanyu whiskeys. Get them while you can, Hanyu distillery is closed and these are old stock releases and very limited (usually from 100 to 600 bottles).

 

[Chuckie]

Quick question... So I notice for the most part, you guys seem to keep at least a few bottles on hand. So how fast do you go through them? Or do you just drink a little from each bottle, every now and then?

Depends on the bottle. But my max is two glasses per weekend and I tend to alter between bottles (and sometimes skipping altogheter) So yeah it takes a while for me to finish a bottle.

My Ardbeg Supernova is too expensive to drink too often haha, so I drink it once a month, one glass, and I skipped summer-months. So I got it in April, and it's still pretty much full :lol

Drinking one this weekend though.

So short recap:
A malt I drink 'often': About six months
A malt I drink sometimes: I guess it will be a year or so

 

[POWERSPHERE]

Quick question... So I notice for the most part, you guys seem to keep at least a few bottles on hand. So how fast do you go through them? Or do you just drink a little from each bottle, every now and then?

I've been meaning to ask people how quickly they go through a bottle.

I tend to finish a bottle and move on, only because my finances aren't that strong In an ideal world, I think i'd buy a new bottle when my current bottle gets to half which would be about a bottle a month, then I could do more comparative tasting. Takes me about 2 months on average to get through a bottle.

 

[S. L.]

Whiskyexchange.com has new selection of Hanyu whiskeys. Get them while you can, Hanyu distillery is closed and these are old stock releases and very limited (usually from 100 to 600 bottles).

105GBP >_<

 

[CiSTM]

105GBP >_<

+ 25GBP for postal fees :lol Welcome to my world.

 

[mr stroke]

Quick question... So I notice for the most part, you guys seem to keep at least a few bottles on hand. So how fast do you go through them? Or do you just drink a little from each bottle, every now and then?

I generally buy in bulk and sip a glass out of each one.

 

[S. L.]

+ 25GBP for postal fees :lol Welcome to my world.

where are you from anyways and why are you using Karasu's avatar?

 

[CiSTM]

where are you from anyways and why are you using Karasu's avatar?

At the moment I live in Sweden, next year Norway and after that who knows ? Hopefully somewhere with better whiskey selection :lol And I didn't know I was using Karasus's old avatar

 

[Esch]

I think the Glenmorangie Danoss picked up would be on quite the opposite end.
Or if you want to be totally radical you can try a Japanese one like the Yamazaki. The 10yo is quite affordable, or if you can the 12yo which is a good step up.

I think the Yamazaki sounds like a good option. And i'd like to sample a JP scotch. Thanks for the rec.

What's a good Highland Park to try?

 

[Augemitbutter]

i try to keep 3-5 bottles around from different regions. i might finish a bottle every 2-3 months, depends on how much i've shared.

 

[Mr.Squirrel]

Thinking about trying a new brand though...

 

[mr stroke]

been on a Bourbon kick as of late

Just snagged this Buffalo Trace and WOW its like fire going down your throat, feels like 100 proof Knob Creek but with a smokey sweet flavor, So good! Might be on the top list of Bourbons now

 

[Esch]

Ended up buying the Yamazaki 12. Shit looks so ballin. It actually kinda smells like bourbon.

 

[yonder]

Just snagged this Buffalo Trace and WOW its like fire going down your throat, feels like 100 proof Knob Creek but with a smokey sweet flavor, So good! Might be on the top list of Bourbons now

Just picked up a bottle of this earlier today. Can't wait to try it tonight. The only bourbon I've tried so far is Jack Daniels (not great), which technically isn't even a bourbon I think?

 

[Esch]

Just picked up a bottle of this earlier today. Can't wait to try it tonight. The only bourbon I've tried so far is Jack Daniels (not great), which technically isn't even a bourbon I think?

Jack Daniels is a Tennessee whiskey. Buffalo Trace is a real bourbon. And it's about 50000 times better. I recommend this if you enjoy your first dip into bourbon:

 

[Hawkian]

Bought a Suntory Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt today. Haven't opened it yet. Anyone tried this one?

Yamazaki is so smooth it is a fucking menace to society.

 

[mr stroke]

Jack Daniels is a Tennessee whiskey. Buffalo Trace is a real bourbon. And it's about 50000 times better. I recommend this if you enjoy your first dip into bourbon:

buying next trip out, thanks for the recommendation

 

[ChryZ]

buying next trip out, thanks for the recommendation

I bought the Woodford Reserve after Maker's Mark. I like both a lot. Surely not anywhere near as complex as single malts but there are days when a good bourbon hits the spot.

 

[Esch]

I bought the Woodford Reserve after Maker's Mark. I like both a lot. Surely not anywhere near as complex as single malts but there are days when a good bourbon hits the spot.

Agreed. They aren't very complex per se but some of the top tier bourbons are just a beautiful thing to drink and they make incredible cocktails(something scotch really just isn't as great for).

Elmer T. Lee.

Basil Hayden's

Booker's

Blanton's


Are all incredible. Pricey, but still really good. I enjoy those more than a great deal of single malts. Anyway, I tried the Yamazaki and it's really great, like a long lost cousin of a speyside. Not the most complex that i've tried, but it was a great departure from my recent choice of single malts, the packaging is great, it's competitively priced, and the fruity notes are enjoyable. thumbs up, japan.

 

[theBishop]

Jack Daniels is a Tennessee whiskey. Buffalo Trace is a real bourbon. And it's about 50000 times better. I recommend this if you enjoy your first dip into bourbon:

Fuck yes! All you scotch-drinking freedom haters make me sick. Gimme some of that old Kentucky bourbon any day. Woodford Reserve is the only thing I like about the south.

 

[Esch]

Fuck yes! All you scotch-drinking freedom haters make me sick. Gimme some of that old Kentucky bourbon any day. Woodford Reserve is the only thing I like about the south.

As much as I love Bourbon it's just nowhere on Scotch's level as far as overall quality/complexity goes. Bourbon is just kind of really starting to elevate itself above something people chug to get hammered into a premium product. I think exciting things are in the future for the small batch bourbon industry, but that time isn't now. Until then scotch remains king.

 

[sefskillz]

I'll hop in since we're talkin a little bourbon, love the Woodford Reserve. Also dig Jefferson's Reserve and just finished off a bottle of Four Roses single barrel that I enjoyed.

 

[nakedsushi]

We mostly have Japanese single malts in our liquor cabinet. There's also a Glenlivet somewhere but I didn't dig it out because it's not that exciting.

 

[Fixed1979]

Just received this bottle as a gift from one of our suppliers, it will be my first drink of 30yr. Will update once I actually open the bottle later this week. Don't know much about this brand, but they did a good job with the packaging (not my pic).

 

[Jamesfrom818]

Glad I found this thread. BevMo is finally opening up in my town. I have a bottle of Hibiki 12. I love it. Can't wait to try some other Japanese whiskey.

EDIT: Went to BevMo. Got my Hibiki 12 some company.

 

[S. L.]

The yamazaki density on gaf is getting crazy :lol

 

[Augemitbutter]

yea, wtf is going on o_o.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

Nerds <3 Japan.

 

[Esch]

Well srsly the price was really good for a speyside equivalent under 40$ at least where I live. For what it's worth I wanted to get Highland Park instead :lol

 

[Animal]

Why hello ya malty malt-mysters!

Some really great choices in here! I'm honestly impressed GAF.

Anyways I've become a Whisk(e)y/Scotch amateur over the last couple of months and I never noticed this thread till now!

I must admit I'm a little disappointed that there was only one mention of Glenfarclas in here. Pretty much the best stuff I've ever had considering price. Go for the 15 or 17 year bottling.

I'm undecided on my next purchase between a Glenfiddich 15 year Solera and a Glenfarclas 15 year. Solera is a very interesting method that I encourage you guys to read up on as it gives much younger scotchs the taste of much older scotchs. In my opinion this method beats the flavor goals of high-end Johnnie Walker blends at less than half the price.

I can't stress enough the huge difference between the Glenfarclas 12 and 15 year.

I'm currently enjoying something quite special. It's a bottle of cheap Canadian whiskey that isn't produced anymore. It was purchased by my father in 1984 upon arriving to Canada. It has never been opened till now. It's a Seagram '83. Seagram was bought out by Diaego several years back as the Bronfman family company collapsed under itself. Diaego still produces a similar Seagram whiskey called Seagram V.O. but it isn't the 83. I must say it's a very interesting drink!

Cheers!

EDIT: I almost forgot. I discovered an amazing resource of information on youtube. His name is ralf and he has a huge collection of bottles and he tastes and rates them for you. He also maintains several websites and attends several events all around the world.

Check him out: ralfystuff

 

[nakedsushi]

The yamazaki density on gaf is getting crazy :lol

I think part of it is it being Japanese whisky. I like a little peat, but can't handle the OMG PEAT of a lot of *real* scotches, so the slight peatiness of a Japanese whisky trying to be a scotch works perfectly for me. If I wanted an OMG BBQ in my mouth, I'd smoke a cigar =D

 

[Chuckie]

EDIT: I almost forgot. I discovered an amazing resource of information on youtube. His name is ralf and he has a huge collection of bottles and he tastes and rates them for you. He also maintains several websites and attends several events all around the world.

Check him out: ralfystuff

Ralfy is the best. I always check his reviews on scotches I wanna buy or just bought.
Wacthing his reviews makes you want to drink one, even if it is 10 o'clock in the morning :lol

 

[POWERSPHERE]

Ralfy's the boss!!!

I'm about a quarter through this Talisker and i'm really enjoying it. Way less complex than the Lagavulin, and really benefits from a teaspoon of water where the Laga is perfect as it's rich, oily self. Talisker is a bit thinner, but for being $30 cheaper, it might become my must have shelf whisky. Do like. Plus, having a waterable whisky makes each glass go a little bit further!

 

[Alucrid]

Is it generally looked down on to use ice or add water to higher quality whiskey?

 

[devildog820]

Is it generally looked down on to use ice or add water to higher quality whiskey?

In the highlands it is.

Nah, not really. I always add ice, but I almost never cut with water.

 

[Alucrid]

In the highlands it is.

Nah, not really. I always add ice, but I almost never cut with water.

Luckily I'm not in the highlands then. :lol That's good to know though, never bought any expensive stuff, although I'm thinking about it, but I'm glad to know that I can have it on the rocks and not feel like I'm polluting it.