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Nikka also has a Coffey Malt that is pretty great. Unfortunately it and their imaginatively named cask strength "Whisky from the Barrel" (two of their best cost/quality ratio products) aren't sold in the USA for some reason.
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Dec 17, 2015 19:38
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My dad likes his whiskeys from Scotland and his brandies from France because he respects the traditions or whatever. I suspect it's mostly because our local liquor place only stocks/recommends those, though. He's had and loved various Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, and Chivas Regals but I want to surprise him for Christmas. He's shown genuine interest in Japanese whiskey when I talked to him about it but I think he would love anything that would surprise him. What's a good introduction to Japanese/US/wherever else whiskeys in the sub $80 range? (I hope this is the right place to ask.)
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Dec 18, 2015 03:57
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Japanese Whisky is in a bubble right now where unexpected popularity has caught the producers without enough aged product to really exploit it properly. (with some even saying they incorrectly forecast a slump and barreled less than normal) This has lead to scarcity with doubling prices in some cases and the phasing in of non-age stated "temporary replacements" in others. Suntory's Yamazaki 12y would have been the default suggestion a year ago but good luck finding any today (and the markup being charged now is a bit hard to swallow). The aforementioned NAS Hibiki Japanese Harmony might not be as good as the 12 year it's largely replaced but it still makes an impressive gift in the same elaborate bottle as the 12 and is reasonably available and affordable. Nikka also went the NAS route with their main Takesuru Malt currently being younger than the 12 years it once was. (while keeping the price and quality reasonable) Nill fucked around with this message at 08:12 on Dec 18, 2015 |
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Dec 18, 2015 08:10
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The bubble has also caused some dodgier and/or uninteresting japanese whiskies to appear on western markets, while years ago everything exported was of great value. Don't buy things like Fujikai 10, Akashi blended or Togouchi with the expectation of getting something special. It's sad really. For several years I bought Yoichi/Miyagikyo single casks for insane value, now I haven't been able to afford a few of the latest ones. Yamazaki 18 used to be available for 69€ a bottle, now it is past 200€ where it can be found. Looking at what's available on the market, Nikka from the Barrel might be the only one left giving good value for money.
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Dec 19, 2015 09:37
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I'm looking towards Ireland for the next boom, bunch of small distilleries starting up there. Gonna get it while the getting's good.
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Dec 19, 2015 14:37
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Just bought my dad Four Roses Small Batch for $36 and change. That is all.
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Dec 19, 2015 23:51
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DerekSmartymans posted:Just bought my dad Four Roses Small Batch for $36 and change. That is all. You're a good son
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Dec 20, 2015 18:43
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I'm trying to gift scotch at the ~$50 point for someone who tends to drink Speyside with a go-to of Glenlivet 12. I want to get them something with a bit more smoke and body to get them branching out because I love Islays, but I think any Islay is gonna be too much. I'm scotch noob myself so I'm really weak on the middle ground... any recs?
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Dec 21, 2015 22:29
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Highland Park would be a very good option.
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Dec 21, 2015 22:32
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spankmeister posted:Highland Park would be a very good option.
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Dec 21, 2015 22:34
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Springbank 10
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Dec 21, 2015 22:39
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Deceptive Thinker posted:Springbank 10 Was also gonna mention this but was unsure of the price point.
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Dec 21, 2015 22:40
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spankmeister posted:Was also gonna mention this but was unsure of the price point. it is slightly over $50 - usually around $55-60 though, even at overpriced stores
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Dec 21, 2015 22:43
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Thanks for the Japanese whiskey recs. I went with the NAS Hibiki Japanese Harmony largely because it was the only one I could find in time for Christmas. I'll tell my dad about the bubble so he adjusts his expectations, but I'm sure he'll be thrilled regardless.
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Dec 22, 2015 00:20
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Thanks all, I grabbed the Highland Park!
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Dec 22, 2015 00:43
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BRAKE FOR MOOSE posted:I'm trying to gift scotch at the ~$50 point for someone who tends to drink Speyside with a go-to of Glenlivet 12. I want to get them something with a bit more smoke and body to get them branching out because I love Islays, but I think any Islay is gonna be too much. I'm scotch noob myself so I'm really weak on the middle ground... any recs? While I absolutely love Highland Park12 and Sprinkbank 10, I'd have to say my slightly smoky step up from a speyside is this: First Time Caller is right. This is a delicious scotch for $50. My father-in-law prefers speysides and this was a great way for us to bridge the gap!
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Dec 22, 2015 08:28
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What a great Christmas!!! 
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Dec 25, 2015 16:17
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Bought at msrp of $149.00 too... Christmas miracle on multiple levels!
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Dec 25, 2015 16:35
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2DCAT posted:Bought at msrp of $149.00 too... Christmas miracle on multiple levels! Hot drat! Mrs. Doctor came through with a bottle of Glenfiddich 14.
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Dec 25, 2015 17:52
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2DCAT posted:Bought at msrp of $149.00 too... Christmas miracle on multiple levels! God drat thats a great find. I was pretty happy to get a 15 year for $100 earlier this winter. I also got a 12 and a bottle of EC18.
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Dec 26, 2015 05:42
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One of my Christmas gifts this year was the Master of Malt Whisky Advent calendar. My wife gifted herself the cognac calendar so we could enjoy booze together. True love drinks. Anyway, we missed a few days, so we're still backfilling, and while looking up today's (late) entry, I found this guy on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjWDaekugBQ (Sorry if he's been posted, I checked the last four pages or so but it's a big thread.) He's no Ralfy, but he's pretty entertaining, sometimes unintentionally. (His mic technique really plays up the more...organic aspects of whisky tasting.) Regarding the Glen Scotia he's tasting: I agree with him that it's quite tasty and unusual. More people should rest their scotch in first-fill white oak, rather than ex-bourbon barrels.
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Dec 31, 2015 02:57
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I have a couple of bottles of Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix I bought several years ago and forgot about. Looking at some whisky auction sites they've been selling somewhere between $300 and $370 (200-250 GBP) so I would much rather sell them and acquire some new bottles rather than drink these. The taste absolutely does not justify that pricetag. I hate to admit, but one of the reasons I bought it was the packing was so beautiful. Unfortunately as part of the packaging they used an opaque black bottle which means I have no idea what the "fill level" is. I have no experience at all in the secondary market, so I have no idea how to go about selling these. Is there a US-based auction site I should just list them on? I noticed there are a ton of whisky sites that buy "old and rare" bottles -- but I don't know if any are trustworthy or if these are valuable enough for them to deal with. Any in particular you would recommend? Chuu fucked around with this message at 15:35 on Jan 1, 2016 |
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Jan 1, 2016 15:25
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Just found some Nikka Coffey Grain in Chicago and finally got to try it. It really did live up to my expectations - a unique drink that was super light and fruity. It was a refreshing change from all the bourbons I've had lately.
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Jan 3, 2016 05:12
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Just acquired a bottle of the Van Winkle rye -- not sure if I should drink it or sell it to the frothing masses and buy ten bottles of anything else.
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Jan 7, 2016 19:34
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Turkeybone posted:Just acquired a bottle of the Van Winkle rye -- not sure if I should drink it or sell it to the frothing masses and buy ten bottles of anything else. I actually got to try it over the holidays and I liked the Sazerac and the Handy a lot more. Unless you want it for collection purposes (like me with my PVW 20), I'd probably look into doing an exchange that involved multiples from the BTAC line.
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Jan 7, 2016 19:44
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Granted, I didn't do a side-by-side testing, and I've actually ben liking Rye's less these days, so perhaps my opinion was more of me liking ryes less in general 
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Jan 7, 2016 19:47
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Do you guys do anything with your bottles after you're done with them (besides recycle them)? Some of them look quite nice and it always seems a waste to just throw them out, but I don't know what else I can do.
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Jan 7, 2016 19:50
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GrandpaPants posted:Do you guys do anything with your bottles after you're done with them (besides recycle them)? Some of them look quite nice and it always seems a waste to just throw them out, but I don't know what else I can do. I keep a couple of empty bottles on hand and recycle the rest. At the moment I'm using an empty Blanton's bottle as a small decanter.
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Jan 7, 2016 19:58
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I have dried flowers in the nicest of the nice bottles. Every time I move is a chance to edit how many make the cut to the next place.
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Jan 7, 2016 20:00
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I'd think gin bottles would be more suitable for blossoms.
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Jan 7, 2016 20:57
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GrandpaPants posted:Do you guys do anything with your bottles after you're done with them? I fill them up with random cigar bands from cigars I smoked and liked. I don't drink nearly as much any more because of a medication conflict, but I smoke a couple/a few cigars a day. Ones I like get glued back to cylinders if needed and put in the bottles. I've donated a few to my tobacconist and they look really classy in the store.
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Jan 7, 2016 20:59
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I keep a handful of bottles sort of displayed on a shelf but totally out of the way, mostly to remember standout ones I enjoyed quite a bit. Currently just Jefferson's 18 Presidential Select (but haven't liked any other Jefferson's I've tried), Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye, and Booker's. Curious whatchy'all got for some favorite bottles you had to remember?
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Jan 7, 2016 21:17
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teh_Broseph posted:I keep a handful of bottles sort of displayed on a shelf but totally out of the way, mostly to remember standout ones I enjoyed quite a bit. Currently just Jefferson's 18 Presidential Select (but haven't liked any other Jefferson's I've tried), Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye, and Booker's. Curious whatchy'all got for some favorite bottles you had to remember? I have a 2008 Birthday Bourbon I'm using for a flower pot now. In addition to really liking the birthday bourbons, I really like the bottom too 
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Jan 7, 2016 21:38
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I think the only whiskey bottle that I've kept since throwing out the rest is one from Seven Stills. It's got some really cool art on it, and it's small.
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Jan 7, 2016 21:43
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GrandpaPants posted:Do you guys do anything with your bottles after you're done with them (besides recycle them)? Some of them look quite nice and it always seems a waste to just throw them out, but I don't know what else I can do. My brother in law's friend used empty bottles as part of their wedding center pieces. A lot of whiskey was consumed... We save a few very interesting looking bottles, and my father in law uses empties to store his apple jack.
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Jan 7, 2016 23:11
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Saw a bottle of PVW for sale in a Manhattan Liquor store over the holiday for $1500. They had 2 other varieties, cant remember which but they were $900 and $750 respectively.
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Jan 8, 2016 02:19
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I cracked my bottle of rye. In truth, sure I could have sold it for a few hundred bucks, but my boss said to me, "look, is that money really going to change your life?" The answer is definitely no, so we had some at 5:01. e: Also this was the buzz at work today. http://www.foodandwine.com/fwx/there-s-no-nice-way-say-26000-worth-pappy-van-winkle-almost-certainly-about-be-destroyed Given how much poo poo we had to go through with distributing it (and poo poo we got from angry customers), this is quite sad.
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Jan 8, 2016 05:36
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i'm doing a whisk(e)y tasting party for some of my friends. the intent is to show the breadth of the whisky spectrum and give a good overview of what the various different varieties have to offer. I'm mostly a scotch guy, and i also know a good deal about bourbon and rye, so i have those departments covered without even going to the store. i'm looking for a decent irish whiskey that is representative of the style; anyone have any recommendations? how about tennessee whiskey? should i bother with canadian? I'm planning on skipping Japanese, since in my experience they basically try to emulate scotch, but are there any oddballs that i should consider?
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Jan 8, 2016 16:51
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Seems to me like you're already at about the number of samples that will be meaningful. In no particular order, I'd think you'd want at least a Highland and an Islay Scotch just to show the breadth of the styles. Add a wheater bourbon and a rye to contrast with that, then possibly an Irish, and you're well down the road to a tired palate - or at least I would be. I might do those four or five as a survey course, then think about doing return sessions with deeper dives into smaller areas as demand indicates.
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Jan 8, 2016 16:59
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Jo3sh posted:Seems to me like you're already at about the number of samples that will be meaningful. In no particular order, I'd think you'd want at least a Highland and an Islay Scotch just to show the breadth of the styles. Add a wheater bourbon and a rye to contrast with that, then possibly an Irish, and you're well down the road to a tired palate - or at least I would be. ok cool -- yeah, i agree that doing more than 4 or 5 would be a bit tiring, although this isn't going to be a super refined tasting. i mostly want to highlight the biggest differences in flavor because i'm expecting several folks to come in with some preconceived notions of what "whiskey" tastes like without having actually tried the whole spectrum.
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Jan 8, 2016 17:04
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