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[vitacola]

Hm. Tried it (Edradour 10yo) today:

I think it's a little bit too young.
The nose is too alcoholic in my opinion. Couldn't get the aroma and the "creamy" taste either. The spice and the fruity flavour at the finish was nice.

Maybe the miniature was not the best option to try it? Maybe it wasn't the best day to try it? I don't know Wouldn't buy a bottle of it after the tasting, but I think I'll try it again, when I'm in the pub again. Some whiskies have to grow on me, like the Aberlour a'bunadh: The more I drink of my bottle, the more I love it

I want to give the Edradour a chance, because I like the idea and the structure of the distillery. Did anyone in here try the 12yo Edradour Caledonia yet?

 

[mr stroke]

New pick up-

120 proof


Holly mother of god, its like drinking Satan's seamen. Bold, Strong, and burns like fire. Amazing stuff and worth the high price.

 

[arotator]

I love the knob creek single barrel. Probably my favorite bourbon. Gotta get another bottle before they go bye-bye.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

so...I didn't even know I've had a malt whiskey bottle in my house since 2001. would it taste any good?

I've never had malt whiskey before, only tried black label blend whiskey and it was smooth.

What is it? Take a photo, post it up.

 

[S. L.]

man i'm really loving that springbank 10
will pick up some other ages/single casks of that for sure

 

[aperman]

I turn 21 at the end of October and will start drinking (holy shit, someone who actually held out?! the fuck?!) and I'm most looking forward to craft beers and single malt scotch whisky.

Any recommendations for a good start?

Also, one of my friends made this commercial for Laphroaig. Check it.

http://vimeo.com/19632622

 

[POWERSPHERE]

I turn 21 at the end of October and will start drinking (holy shit, someone who actually held out?! the fuck?!) and I'm most looking forward to craft beers and single malt scotch whisky.

Any recommendations for a good start?

Also, one of my friends made this commercial for Laphroaig. Check it.

http://vimeo.com/19632622

Have you never drunk a drop of alcohol? I think it's great you want to start on the right foot, not ploughing into rubbish for years, but take it slow & easy so you don't form a taste aversion from an intense experience. Like anything, alcohol is an acquired taste, and the more 'refined' versions are even more so. It can be good to start on rubbish to know what you don't, or at the very least, have something to look forward to. But really, if you can enjoy the good stuff from day one, or have a desire to, then more power to you.

I would still recommend, as we're in the scotch thread, to start with something very easy & basic. Get a 7 & 7 (seagrams & 7 up) or Johnny Walker Red & some Dry Ginger Ale to form a taste for scotch, as going in too hard too early could be brutal. It took me a good 20 years of drinking to appreciate scotch properly, it used to smell like bad dads to me. I would like to know what it would be like to try a Laphroaig or a Lagavulin as your first ever Scotch though, but chances are the complexities would be lost and you'd just feel like you sipped a bushfire face first.

Good luck with your quest!

 

[aperman]

I have stolen sips of various drinks (mostly craft beer) when I'm with my friends at a bar (use a friend's old ID to get in, just to hang out - not to drink), but have never had a full glass to call my own - or ever felt buzzed.

Looking forward to it.

Thanks for the recommendation. Yeah, I do think starting slow is probably safest. My logic for trying some of the higher end whisky is based off the fact that I've developed a certain sharpness to my palette with drinks such as coffee (which I'm told has complexities similar to wine), what with all the different flavor notes, hints of acidity, and finishes. Obviously, alcohol - and hard alcohol at that - is a whole other beast but the little sips of single malts that I've stolen didn't seem too off putting. I suppose all I can say is; we shall see.

Thanks for all the pointers!

 

[vitacola]

I would like to know what it would be like to try a Laphroaig or a Lagavulin as your first ever Scotch though, but chances are the complexities would be lost and you'd just feel like you sipped a bushfire face first.

Lagavulin was my first Scotch and it was an instant love. Don't remember what I thought or tasted, but the whole experience was amazing.

@aperman:
I would recommend you to taste a Glenrothes in a Pub/bar. They are quite expensive, but a smooth and fruity experience. It's hard to recommend though, because many persons I know (and myself) started with the Islay whiskies and they enjoyed it and wanted more.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

I have stolen sips of various drinks (mostly craft beer) when I'm with my friends at a bar (use a friend's old ID to get in, just to hang out - not to drink), but have never had a full glass to call my own - or ever felt buzzed.

Looking forward to it.

Thanks for the recommendation. Yeah, I do think starting slow is probably safest. My logic for trying some of the higher end whisky is based off the fact that I've developed a certain sharpness to my palette with drinks such as coffee (which I'm told has complexities similar to wine), what with all the different flavor notes, hints of acidity, and finishes. Obviously, alcohol - and hard alcohol at that - is a whole other beast but the little sips of single malts that I've stolen didn't seem too off putting. I suppose all I can say is; we shall see.

Thanks for all the pointers!

Then ride the stallion and get a glass of Lagavulin neat! Just know that putting ice in these whiskeys isn't the best thing to do, as it dullens the flavour and experience, well for Islay whiskeys anyway. A bit of water is ok, though. I enjoy a block of ice in Highland Park and the like, but never in a nice peaty beast.

 

[aperman]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Building my list now.

If not from the start, I do intend to eventually be able to enjoy these fine drinks straight.

October approaches..

 

[GoldenEye 007]

So I just picked up a bourbon. Knob Creek Single Barrel. I've been wanting to try more as I've really only had Knob Creek and Woodford's Reserve.

Best on the rocks I assume? Straight-up? Splash of Coke?

 

[mr stroke]

So I just picked up a bourbon. Knob Creek Single Barrel. I've been wanting to try more as I've really only had Knob Creek and Woodford's Reserve.

Best on the rocks I assume? Straight-up? Splash of Coke?

Straight up. I only do bourbon/scotch on the rocks if its cheap or really strong and I want to mask the taste a bit.

Definitively try it straight first then decide if you want it on the rocks

 

[arotator]

So I just picked up a bourbon. Knob Creek Single Barrel. I've been wanting to try more as I've really only had Knob Creek and Woodford's Reserve.

Best on the rocks I assume? Straight-up? Splash of Coke?

Neat, but since it is cask strength you may want to put a drop or two of water in it.

 

[Animation-Imp]

Ahh this is a thread I feel at home in...

My current bottles:

Soft, long tasting, fruity with a touch of butterscotch... very nice

Nice islay whiskey, not my favourite, but very affordable and nice.

My absolute favourite islay whiskey, nice ballance, perfect taste... and the smell... heavenly

Belgian Single malt, very special, soft and pleasant taste, won some prices last year...

Like it a lot, not really my style so I was surprised when tasting it for the first time.

Very nice speyside whiskey.

And several blended whiskey's... I really like Old Smugler, although it's one of the cheapest blends around, it's remarkedly better than most brand whiskeys. I especially dislike J&B and William Lawson, crap whiskeys that cost way too much. You can never go wrong with a smugler.

Also got this for my father's day:

Amazing blend, competes with many if not all single malts.
Won best blend in the Japanese whiskey department in 2007.
Very happy with this one, complexity blew me away in comparisson to scottish/irish blends and bourbon.

For those new in the single malt world a bit of advice:

There are lot's of different flavours out there, experiment and I'm sure you'll find something that's right up your alley.

Whiskey is at it's best in a big glass. A cognac glass for example is ideal.

Add a couple of drops of water before drinking, that'll loosen the flavours. Try using water that's as neutral tasting as possible.

For the love of god NO ICE, don't just don't fuck up a good single malt by adding ice. It's a crime, it really is.

 

[S. L.]

Ahh this is a thread I feel at home in...
*nikka from the barrel*

yeah the from the barrel is great for the price, BUT the quality can vary from my experience.
I had an absolutely stunning bottle/batch of From The Barrel and then i had a merely "good" one. But for the price you can't go wrong either way.

 

[Divius]

Bought a bottle of Dahlwinnie 15. It's been a long time since I had this, but I remember it being quite nice.

 

[VPhys]

Bought a bottle of Dahlwinnie 15. It's been a long time since I had this, but I remember it being quite nice.

<3 this stuff.

 

[choodi]

A friend just brought me this back from overseas.

Can't wait to try it

 

[glaurung]

Finally received this baby this morning at the office.

I am sad that I missed the Alligator, it has become almost impossible to find anywhere.

 

[walbertsmith]

Nice! How was it? Do you have others from the Ardbeg line?

For myself, went to a private testing for a Signatory Vintage and picked up this guy:

If you love the 10 year, this is right up your alley

 

[glaurung]

Nice! How was it? Do you have others from the Ardbeg line?

For myself, went to a private testing for a Signatory Vintage and picked up this guy:

*** Signatory ***

If you love the 10 year, this is right up your alley

Haven't cracked the Corryvreckan open yet, so I cannot comment upon it yet. Earlier this year had a chance to drink Supernova and I really, really liked it.

I have also tasted the regular 10-year olds and I have loved those as well. Overall I can say that Ardbeg is very high on my favorites list. A proud member of the Ardbeg Committee too.

 

[arotator]

A friend just brought me this back from overseas.

Can't wait to try it

Lucky duck! One of my favs.

 

[S. L.]

Finally received this baby this morning at the office.

http://glaurung.planet.ee/img/loot/corryvreckan.jpg[IMG]

I am sad that I missed the Alligator, it has become almost impossible to find anywhere.[/QUOTE]
i think the standard alligator bottling is more or less around the corner now

 

[Divius]

Picked up

Lagavulin 16, based off GAF praises.

 

[ChryZ]

I'm was down to my last single malt bottle and picked up the Springbank 10. Great stuff, especially for its price. Diamond in the rough, lots of character, but also a few imperfections. Unfiltered oiliness, briny, yet sweet, fruit, caramel, hint of peat, oak and nice little burn. Long finish that starts nice and tangy but leaves a slightly unpleasant sour aftertaste.

Picked up

Lagavulin 16, based off GAF praises.

What do you think?

 

[Animation-Imp]

A friend just brought me this back from overseas.

Can't wait to try it

Damn the A'Bunadh 60% 5 to 25 year old goodness.
Will have to pik up one in the near future.

 

[jamieson87]

Everytime I visit this thread it makes me so proud be to Scottish.

Enjoy guys.

 

[vitacola]

Damn the A'Bunadh 60% 5 to 25 year old goodness.
Will have to pik up one in the near future.

Do it as fast as possible. You'll have a lot of fun with it as it grows on every sip you take.

Everytime I visit this thread it makes me so proud be to Scottish.

Enjoy guys.

Haha, yeah. You Scottish people must be the most loved on earth

 

[Divius]

What do you think?

Wow. This was my first islay whisky and quite different from what I'm used to. When I opened the bottle and took a sniff I actually said: what the fuck. It smells delicious and is unlike every other whisky I've ever tasted. It's so peaty and smokey. I love it. Too bad it's pretty expensive. (or maybe it is because I'm broke)

 

[Chuckie]

Wow. This was my first islay whisky and quite different from what I'm used to. When I opened the bottle and took a sniff I actually said: what the fuck. It smells delicious and is unlike every other whisky I've ever tasted. It's so peaty and smokey. I love it. Too bad it's pretty expensive. (or maybe it is because I'm broke)

Peaty whiskies rule this earth (well at least in my opinion )
Haven't tried the Lagavulin yet though.

It's summer and somehow in the summer I don't drink whisky a lot. Although everytime I visit this thread I am in the mood for one.

 

[ChryZ]

Wow. This was my first islay whisky and quite different from what I'm used to. When I opened the bottle and took a sniff I actually said: what the fuck. It smells delicious and is unlike every other whisky I've ever tasted. It's so peaty and smokey. I love it. Too bad it's pretty expensive. (or maybe it is because I'm broke)

Glad you enjoy it. It was also my first Islay experience, hehe. It's a bit of an assault on the senses, but if you already like it then you'll love it more and more with each dram. The Lagavulin 16 goes for 45eur here, excellent value if you consider the quality of the spirit.

 

[glaurung]

I actually have a bottle of Lagavulin 16 under the table at work here.

It retails for a lot more around here, but it is a great whiskey. Definitely not something I could drink more than every few months, it has a powerful, potent palette and an even mightier nose.

 

[Chuckie]

Glad you enjoy it. It was also my first Islay experience, hehe. It's a bit of an assault on the senses, but if you already like it then you'll love it more and more with each dram. The Lagavulin 16 goes for 45eur here, excellent value if you consider the quality of the spirit.

How much of an 'assault' is it compared to Laphroaig 10, Laphroiag QC and Ardbeg Supernova?

 

[glaurung]

How much of an 'assault' is it compared to Laphroaig 10, Laphroiag QC and Ardbeg Supernova?

Its aroma contains very intensive smoke tones, that is what stuck with me. Taste-wise it has plenty of proper peats, but I have forgotten.

I could uncork the bottle I have here at the office, but I suppose I would get weird looks from the HR manager from across the table.

 

[ChryZ]

How much of an 'assault' is it compared to Laphroaig 10, Laphroiag QC and Ardbeg Supernova?

Assault in regard of having your first strongly peated whisky, either Laphroaig or Ardbeg would prolly leave a similar first impression.

Laphroaig with a little less sophisticated and more bolder impact. Ardbeg at least as sophisticated and complex as Lagavulin, but with slightly more umpf.

Lagavulin, Laphroaig or Ardbeg, they're all serious business. It's the deep end of your peaty swamp pool

 

[S. L.]

picked up some new samples, some islay goodness
Bunnahabhain 13yo peated sherry cask
Kilchoman spring 2011
Port Charlotte An Turas Mor
and
Abelour Abundah Batch 26

 

[ChryZ]

picked up some new samples, some islay goodness
Bunnahabhain 13yo peated sherry cask
Kilchoman spring 2011
Port Charlotte An Turas Mor
and
Abelour Abundah Batch 26

Have you tried them yet? Thoughts?

 

[S. L.]

Have you tried them yet? Thoughts?

nope, maybe sunday night.
kilchoman had tons of hype so i'm looking forward to see what all the fuzz was about.
the nose seems Ardbeg'ish

 

[S. L.]

stock wiki pic

so i tried a bit of the Aberlour Abunadh Batch 26 - 60.6% abv
Nose: sherry, raisins, plum spread, wood, dry'ish, a tad resin
Mouth: soft, sherry, speyside'ish
Finish: Sherry, wood, warming, medium long, grassy, tad bitter

great stuff for the price. lotsa sherry and well rounded.

pic also from the web - looks like my bottle, except mine is almost empty ;_;

since i have another sherry beast bottle open, i tasted it against it right after
the Yamazaki Sherry Cask at 46% abv
Nose: even more sherry, more plum spread, wood, raisins, heavy underlying sweetness.
Mouth: Sherry, dry woods, a lot to it
Finish: Sherry!!! lots of it, very slight sourness, slight bitterness, lots of woods again, maybe a bit dark chocolate

generally i'd say the Yamazaki is quite a bit more of a sherry monster.
The Aberlour is rounder and smoother in it's whole composition and maybe a tad more complex as well whereas the Yamazaki is in full Sherry and Wood attack mode. The wood in the yamazaki also makes it dryer and generate a slight bitterness at times. what I really enjoy about the Yamazaki compared to the Aberlour is the great mouth feel. there just is a lot flavor to it, while the Aberlour sort of feels 'standard speyside' in the mouth.

overall i think the Aberlour has a broader appeal, while the Yamazaki especailly with its fairly pronounced wood influences at times might not be for everybody.

prices for both are in a similar region i think, with the Aberlour a bit cheaper

 

[themustardman]

Howdy friends and colleges.

Amateur whiskey enthusiast looking for some scotch advice. I love me some bourbon(Wild turkey, bullet, makers mark, knob, red stag) and love me some rye(crown royal, forty creek, gibson). I typically drink both straight. I bought myself some glen livet 12 a while ago and I'm finding it to be a bit too intense for me to drink straight most times. Am I just a pussy? Should I just kill it with water? What scotchs would you recommend with this in mind?

 

[S. L.]

So while i am at it i tried the
Port Charlotte An Turas Mor (its made from Bruichladdich, and is supposedly more or less a peatly laddich line)

Well this one is interesting
Nose: sulphuric, gummy with solvent, mineral, peat , smoke, slight sweetness
taste: smoke, peat, has a freshness to it - sorbet ice??
finish: smoke, peat, peat sweetness, mineral

wowie, the nose is VERY springbanky - in fact it seems almost identical to the springbank 1997 Vintage batch 1 i tasted. Very mineral.
the turas mor is a vatting of several vintages - tendentially more young - but this has a lot of promise. i'll try to get a sample of one of the older port charlottes with age statement.
like springbank not a beginner malt for sure.

Howdy friends and colleges.

Amateur whiskey enthusiast looking for some scotch advice. I love me some bourbon(Wild turkey, bullet, makers mark, knob, red stag) and love me some rye(crown royal, forty creek, gibson). I typically drink both straight. I bought myself some glen livet 12 a while ago and I'm finding it to be a bit too intense for me to drink straight most times. Am I just a pussy? Should I just kill it with water? What scotchs would you recommend with this in mind?

weell, the glenlivet 12 is pretty mild and mellow - so if it is too harsh for you try to add a teaspoon of water or half one - experiment a bit, and sip it. you'll get used to it in no time

 

[themustardman]

weell, the glenlivet 12 is pretty mild and mellow - so if it is too harsh for you try to add a teaspoon of water or half one - experiment a bit, and sip it. you'll get used to it in no time

Yeah I'm not quite sure why it's an issue. I drink plenty of other varieties of liquor straight with no problems. I think it's just the smokiness that effects me.

 

[Augemitbutter]

start with a few drops of water and go higher until you feel more comfortable. don't add too much or you will ruin it, take your time.

 

[arotator]

S.L.

I'll have to get some Yamazaki (I plan to purchase it in my next 5 or so bottles), I can't believe anything could have more of a sherry influence than Abunadh. Glad you liked it though, since it was my gateway scotch.

 

[S. L.]

S.L.

I'll have to get some Yamazaki (I plan to purchase it in my next 5 or so bottles), I can't believe anything could have more of a sherry influence than Abunadh. Glad you liked it though, since it was my gateway scotch.

if you have a bit money to spare there are quite a few japanese single cask bottlings which are MASSIVE sherry (sherry cask whisky seems rather popular in japan).

my thoughts for the Kilchoman 2011 Spring release (3yo, 46% abv)
Kilchoman is a new much hyped Islay distillery if you didn't know

Nose: peat sweetness, vanilla, smoke, medical, salty, something ashy?
Taste: peat, sweetness
Finish: dry, peat, smoke at the end

kinda like a not very complex middle road between Ardbeg and Laphroaig.
nothing that will knock you out of your socks at this point, but should be quite good in a bunch of years.

 

[Divius]

This Lagavulin 16 is treating me so nicely, just want to thank GAF again for the recommendation. <3

 

[POWERSPHERE]

This Lagavulin 16 is treating me so nicely, just want to thank GAF again for the recommendation. <3

Great news! The best thing is there's a bunch more Islay whiskys to get through, like Laphroaig 10 & Quarter Cask, Caol Ila, Ardbeg and such. The worst thing is Lagavulin is a hard drop to match.

 

[S. L.]

just got a sample of this baby

http://nonjatta.blogspot.com/2007/06/kagoshima.html

a Kagoshima from 1984 - 25yo, fairly unknown since the distillery closed in 1984.
it's a vatting of three sherry casks. smells really nice.

 

[S. L.]

more tasting spam from S. L.
some initial impressions:

(not my pics)

Akashi White Oak blend (Japanese):
Nose: a bit alcoholic, slightly malty, grainy(?) - typical blend
Mouth: mild, a bit flowery
Finish: malt, sweet, medium long, slightly bitter
-fairly unremarkable, afaik this sells for less then 10 bucks in japan, i had a lot worse for that price - buuuuuut it is not at all worth the import price premium

Akashi White Oak 5yo:
Nose: funky!, mineral (slightly reminiscent of springbank), dry
Mouth: flowery, slight bitterness
Finish: dry, slight woodyness, a tiny bit bitter
the nose is nice but the rest falls short, generally it's alright, but not worth the import price premium it carries here in europe

next and islay, and this one should be a goodie
Bunnahabhain, C&S Dram, single cask 13yo peated sherry cask 59.5% abv 13yo
Nose: Hazelnutty (typical for Bunna from my experience), peat, smoke, earthy, sherry (with water)
Mouth: earthy!
Finish: smoke, peat, hazelnut again, earthy, sherry
hmmm, i expected more - peated + sherry is usually a killer combo, but here it didn't deliver the kill. have to taste it again some other day.
it's not bad or mediocre by any means thou, just expected more