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Headed to my local Whisky dealer on Friday to get some bitters. Ended up with my first bottle of Buffalo Trace as well. So an Old Fashioned it was, then! Not bad for my first attempt. No oranges in the house, so that's a little twist of mandarin peel instead. Seemed to work. Also got to try Glendronach Cask Strength (Batch 4) while I was browsing and chatting. Ridiculously good, spicy and warming. Right up there with Lagavulin for best whisky I've ever tried. Too bad it was the last dram of the last bottle they had managed to import.
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Jun 28, 2015 10:23
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| # ? Apr 29, 2024 17:14 |
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Big Bidness posted:Yup, ever since the "Weller 12 is basically Pappy" bullshit started, it's impossible to find for most of the country (although some places like Texas are swimming in it for some reason) and it goes for $90- $120 on the secondary market. So is it similar at all, or is it just because it's made by the same distillery?
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Jun 28, 2015 18:19
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22 Eargesplitten posted:So is it similar at all, or is it just because it's made by the same distillery? Unless I'm wrong (which is pretty possible); Basically uses the same mash, just isn't aged for as long and in different spots in the warehouses. I found a bottle of Yellow Spot the other day. Pretty excellent.
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Jun 28, 2015 18:56
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Sticky posted:Unless I'm wrong (which is pretty possible); Basically uses the same mash, just isn't aged for as long and in different spots in the warehouses. Yep, you're right, it's the same mash. Basically Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Lot B is honey barrels of Weller 12. So Weller doesn't make the cut to be Lot B, and Lot B doesn't make the cut to be aged more for other VW's. So it's really not "basically Pappy" like, at all. Where it's aged, how long it's aged, and barrel selection make all the difference in the world. It is a great bourbon at its original price, which is about $25- $30. I think it's probably worth paying $40- $50 for, but it's not Pappy, and it's not worth $100. Then again, I don't think Lot B is worth $100.
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Jun 28, 2015 19:40
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Maybe I'll see if I can still find it for a good price at my local store. How does it compare to the standard Weller? I'll need to find a bottle to empty, though. My cabinet is pretty full.
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Jun 28, 2015 21:24
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Had two drams of the Lagavulin 16, thank you to those who suggested it. The spiciness is what did it for me. Excellent whisky and one I will certainly be purchasing again in the future for special occasions.
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Jun 28, 2015 22:33
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Success! Glad to hear. Did the bachelor enjoy it as well?
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Jun 29, 2015 15:21
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Leopold Stotch posted:Success! Glad to hear. Did the bachelor enjoy it as well? He did, though I think he's still going to be a Johnnie Walker loyalist. Old habits die hard, I suppose.
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Jun 29, 2015 17:29
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2DCAT posted:That's really, really odd. I usually note the inverse, with crap selection/regulated state-wide pricing at VA stores and good selection, but often inflated pricing at MD stores. Looking at the VA ABC site though, that price is correct, meaning... that MD-based store might just be the super combination of good variety and good pricing! Heck yeah, that's just a 15 minute walk from my office. Scotch prices in MoCo are pretty great, I generally get my Quinta Ruban at the nearby liquor store for around $45 which is good for the area as far as I recall.
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Jun 29, 2015 18:39
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Alman posted:He did, though I think he's still going to be a Johnnie Walker loyalist. Old habits die hard, I suppose. Maybe, although IMO nothing wrong with blends or JW in particular. I drank black for a long time before I developed an interest in single malts. I still have black, green, and explorer's gold on my bar, and eventually I wouldn't mind trying the full range. I had double black while travelling and liked it, I'll probably pick up a bottle next time I am heading through NH, where a 750 sells for $40ish
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Jun 29, 2015 20:13
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if I am looking for Hibiki 12 year is there like a website I use to find it in stores in my area or is it time for me to hit the streets?
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Jul 1, 2015 04:39
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Herr Tog posted:if I am looking for Hibiki 12 year is there like a website I use to find it in stores in my area or is it time for me to hit the streets? Man I'd be down for this too, the two liquor stores I go to most frequently have been out of stock for weeks now
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Jul 1, 2015 05:23
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Like I'm going to go pround some pavement tomorrow I guess
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Jul 1, 2015 05:43
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Is it getting hit by the Yamazaki effect?
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Jul 1, 2015 13:33
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Herr Tog posted:Like I'm going to go pround some pavement tomorrow I guess I've had no problem finding Hakushu 12 for what it's worth. A worthy whisky though I'm not sure it's worth the price point ($70 here)
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Jul 1, 2015 15:30
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I like Japanese whisky a lot but the recent shortages and price increases makes it less interesting. Sure Hakushu 12 is great but it's not $70 great. I'm looking towards Ireland now as a upcoming whiskey market. Lots of stuff happening and new distilleries starting there!
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Jul 1, 2015 16:26
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Yamazaki and Hibiki (and, on a different topic the low-end Weller's) are back in stock at my local stores after the Yamazaki was missing for a few months. Of course for the current price of Yamazaki 12 ($85 at one store, $95 at another) I could pick up pretty much any 15-16 year old Scotch that I haven't tried and still have enough for a bottle of bourbon
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Jul 1, 2015 22:39
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Deceptive Thinker posted:
What kind of magical place are you visiting that has decent 15-16yr scotch for less than $70/750ml bottle? What's up with this Japanese whisky thing? I have never paid it enough attention to even realize there was a shortage. I've never tried it, something worth looking into? I'm really more of a highland or Islay Scotch Drinker.
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Jul 1, 2015 22:52
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trauma llama posted:What kind of magical place are you visiting that has decent 15-16yr scotch for less than $70/750ml bottle? I find it to be a lot smoother than most Scottish whiskies. A little less bite, sort of a tame sweetness to it. I'm not very good at describing whisky tastes though so that's just my experience with it. I'd still pick a Nectar d'or over a Hibiki 12 but IMO at least one of your bar spots ought to be Japanese if you're a whisky drinker.
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Jul 1, 2015 23:05
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Japanese whisky is very similar to Scottish as they basically copied the production methods right down to the little pagodas on the chimney. Generally it's very rich and flavourful and very well made, it oozes quality and care. At the same time it almost seems "manicured". Such great care is taken that it loses some of the inconsistencies that scotch has and its those inconsistencies are the thing that give character and what makes scotch so great. It's like Japanese whisky is an extremely well made version of scotch that lost its soul. Doesn't make it any less enjoyable, just different.
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Jul 1, 2015 23:12
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trauma llama posted:What kind of magical place are you visiting that has decent 15-16yr scotch for less than $70/750ml bottle? I live in RI, there's a store in RI and a store in MA that I usually go to, plus Costco and NH liquor stores every so often Glenlivet Nadurra 16 is <$70 if you know where to look Glenfiddich/Glenlivet 15 are usually <$60 Highland Park - $65 Aberlour 16 - $60 Lagavulin 16 is $66 at Costco, Oban 14 is $58 Sure, some of the independents or less known distilleries are in the $80-$110 range for their 15-16 (and Balvenie/Macallan now too...sigh) - but the point was that if I'm going to spend that much, I'm going to get something that's worth that much
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Jul 1, 2015 23:35
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If I like Gold Label, what else should I try? The only time I ever bought scotch, it was Speyburn, so I don't have much of a frame of reference. I have had glenlivet and fiddich 12, and glenmorangie 10, but I don't remember much about them. I'm not sure how soon I would actually buy a nice bottle of scotch, because holy hell is that stuff expensive. But I would like to keep it in mind, at least for the next time I'm out drinking. Also, I asked up the page, but no response. How is Weller 12 vs standard?
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Jul 1, 2015 23:42
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22 Eargesplitten posted:If I like Gold Label, what else should I try? The only time I ever bought scotch, it was Speyburn, so I don't have much of a frame of reference. I have had glenlivet and fiddich 12, and glenmorangie 10, but I don't remember much about them. I am kind of a peat freak, but I've enjoyed the Glenmorangie and Balvenie expressions I've had. Balvenie double wood should be somewhere around $50 a bottle. Glenmorangie Qunita Ruban and La Santa should be simliarly priced and IMO delicious at their price points. I say these because I don't think Gold label has much peat/smoke, although I've never had it.
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Jul 2, 2015 03:01
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Leopold Stotch posted:Balvenie double wood should be somewhere around $50 a bottle. Glenmorangie Qunita Ruban and La Santa should be simliarly priced and IMO delicious at their price points. I wouldn't even say Balvenie has that much peat presence, but then again I enjoy the boggiest islay scotchs. I would suggest looking for good Speysides if you enjoy gold label but aren't that well versed in scotch yet. I'll leave recommendations up to the others, because that's not my cup of tea. However, I agree with Leopold, Balvenie Double Wood is a solid choice for about $50, and I always recommend Highland Park 12. Although the highland park might be touch smokier than you'd like. Currently deciding whether I should have a dram of dalmore 15 or journeyman's silver cross.
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Jul 2, 2015 03:59
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Yeah I was unclear, I suggested those bottles, including the balvenie, because they aren't peaty.
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Jul 2, 2015 13:46
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I've tried: Double wood 12, Nikka coffy grain, Yamazaki 12. Favorite: Yamazaki 12 Least favorite: Nikka coffy grain Which should I try next, Hibiki 12 or Lagavulin 16?
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Jul 2, 2015 22:51
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Google Butt posted:I've tried: Double wood 12, Nikka coffy grain, Yamazaki 12. Lagavulin, leave the Hibiki for me when it comes back
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Jul 2, 2015 22:58
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Google Butt posted:I've tried: Double wood 12, Nikka coffy grain, Yamazaki 12. Laphroaig for 1/2-2/3 the price of Lavagulin
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Jul 2, 2015 23:18
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Deceptive Thinker posted:Laphroaig for 1/2-2/3 the price of Lavagulin Are they that similar?
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Jul 2, 2015 23:51
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Google Butt posted:Are they that similar? No - Ardbeg Uigedail is probably the closest I've had to Lagavulin, but Laphroaig is divine
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Jul 3, 2015 00:00
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Deceptive Thinker posted:No - Ardbeg Uigedail is probably the closest I've had to Lagavulin, but Laphroaig is divine How is it different from the yamazaki? I don't know poo poo about whisky
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Jul 3, 2015 00:09
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Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg are Islay whiskys, which means they can have strong smoke and peat flavors. I love that kind of thing, but it's hardly a universal love, so you'll want to approach these things with that in mind. It's like cilantro in that some people love it and others think it tastes like death. I have a Scottish friend who won't get near an open bottle of my budget favorite, Finlaggan, much less drink any.
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Jul 3, 2015 00:18
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Deceptive Thinker posted:No - Ardbeg Uigedail is probably the closest I've had to Lagavulin, but Laphroaig is divine Ardbeg Uigedail might be my favorite at its price point.
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Jul 3, 2015 00:28
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Jo3sh posted:Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg are Islay whiskys, which means they can have strong smoke and peat flavors. I love that kind of thing, but it's hardly a universal love, so you'll want to approach these things with that in mind. It's like cilantro in that some people love it and others think it tastes like death. I have a Scottish friend who won't get near an open bottle of my budget favorite, Finlaggan, much less drink any. Ahh. If I really enjoyed the yamazki, is there anything similar but different you would recommend? Slightly cheaper wouldn't hurt.\ edit: I ended up getting a bottle of Oban 14, will report back. Google Butt fucked around with this message at 05:52 on Jul 3, 2015 |
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Jul 3, 2015 00:40
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Google Butt posted:Ahh. If I really enjoyed the yamazki, is there anything similar but different you would recommend? Slightly cheaper wouldn't hurt.\ Evan Williams Single Barrel?
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Jul 3, 2015 05:31
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Google Butt posted:Ahh. If I really enjoyed the yamazki, is there anything similar but different you would recommend? Slightly cheaper wouldn't hurt.\ Oban is nice but is going to present more smoke than the Yamazaki. You might want to see if you can find Edradour 10 year if you liked the Yamazaki, or the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, which will be sweeter but have a similar overall profile.
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Jul 3, 2015 14:07
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Google Butt posted:Ahh. If I really enjoyed the yamazki, is there anything similar but different you would recommend? Slightly cheaper wouldn't hurt.\ Oban is a great balanced yet still very unique tasting scotch I spoke to my super-connoisseur friend and he said Yamazaki resembles lowland scotch - so Auchentoshan 12 or Glenkinchie 12 might give you similar profiles while still being different
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Jul 3, 2015 14:16
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ChickenArise posted:Ardbeg Uigedail might be my favorite at its price point. I agree. I like the corryvreckan more than those two too.
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Jul 3, 2015 18:34
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KhyrosFinalCut posted:Oban is nice but is going to present more smoke than the Yamazaki. You might want to see if you can find Edradour 10 year if you liked the Yamazaki, or the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, which will be sweeter but have a similar overall profile. You're absolutely right. It's quite different, but still very good.. I can get used to the smoke, although I find the Yamazaki to be easier to drink. I'll have to drink some more to really see which I prefer. Thank you all for your suggestions.
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Jul 3, 2015 19:28
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Does anyone here have any insight on what happened with the Kilkerran WIP7 (Bourbon Wood)? The day I learned it was available it had already sold out everywhere. The earlier ones were never that popular and my understanding is that this was still a run of several thousand bottles. Is there some background story to this?
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Jul 3, 2015 22:51
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