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EL BROMANCE posted:Sounds good to me. I’m not one to buy something just for a brand name, and saving money is never a bad thing! See if they can get you a bottle of Alberta Premium. It's the same whiskey in a non-fancy bottle and sells for ~25 bucks. It's pretty decent, just not $70 decent. Edit: It might not be available in the states. I had a friend bring me a bottle from when he visited Montreal so we could compare it to Whistlepig, but trying to find a vendor for it in the states is coming up dry. Weltlich fucked around with this message at 03:03 on Jul 9, 2018 |
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Jul 9, 2018 02:52
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| # ? Apr 27, 2024 10:19 |
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I'm pleasantly surprised how drinkable Mellow Corn is. Thanks goons.
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Jul 9, 2018 03:45
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Let's be reasonable here, whistlepig is a far better expression of the spirit than Alberta Premium. Not to say it's worth the extra money, but it's not "exactly the same stuff".
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Jul 9, 2018 07:31
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Weltlich posted:See if they can get you a bottle of Alberta Premium. It's the same whiskey in a non-fancy bottle and sells for ~25 bucks. It's pretty decent, just not $70 decent. It's pretty much impossible to get decent Canadian rye in the US. Almost everything is some type of weird blend, has additives, is of unknonwn provenance, etc. For whatever reason the Canadian distilleries just suck at exporting decent products. You simply can't find something equivalent to a Whistlepig barrel pick (cask strength 10 years, straight rye, 100% rye mashbill) with a Canadian label on it. At least, I can't find that sort of thing locally, and we tend to get a really solid selection of whiskey here. The Whistlepig marketing materials glibly mention rescuing the stock from "misuse as a blending whiskey" which in most cases would be profoundly insulting to the actual distiller but in this case I almost agree, Canadian producers just blow. Vox Nihili fucked around with this message at 23:42 on Jul 9, 2018 |
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Jul 9, 2018 23:38
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Yeah I couldn’t find the Premium locally looking on that one site, just normal.
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Jul 10, 2018 00:06
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Speaking of WhistlePig and whether or not their stuff is just an overpriced redistribution: I lucked (apparently? hard to find?) into a Batch 002 bottle of their FarmStock Rye the other day -- for under MSRP! "Only" $69 USD! It's still largely other makers' whiskey, Indiana with some Canada, but a third of it is from-their-own-farmstead local rye. Plus it's aged in barrels made from their own oak trees (not sure if they do this for their other stuff too?). It wasn't bad, definitely young-tasting, probably still overpriced, but kinda unique. Might snag one from subsequent batches to see how it changes as they keep increasing the percentage (and I assume age) of the local rye.
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Jul 10, 2018 03:07
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This thread makes me feel guilty about spending all my money on whiskey and scotch.
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Jul 10, 2018 03:28
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bitprophet posted:Speaking of WhistlePig and whether or not their stuff is just an overpriced redistribution: I lucked (apparently? hard to find?) into a Batch 002 bottle of their FarmStock Rye the other day -- for under MSRP! "Only" $69 USD! I'm somewhat excited to try their make in maybe 2-3 years when they can release a straight rye. I can only imagine what the price tag is going to be, though.
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Jul 10, 2018 04:08
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Whistlepig like $90 here. I can get actual good whisky for that 
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Jul 10, 2018 05:48
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fwiw, the only reason I was interested in Whistlepig was because I went to a bar that also sold bottles, looked through their supply and saw they had really good reviews online. Now I’m sad that despite never seeing their marketing directly, I’m a victim of second hand bullshittery!
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Jul 10, 2018 06:58
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Went back to look at what I thought of other WhistlePigs and I apparently wasn't super into their main (10/100) rye when I tried it a while back. I did honestly enjoy the FarmStock and I'm well off enough that I don't mind the high-ish price tag as an occasional "whatever". But there's absolutely better and cheaper stuff out there. Speaking of my notes (which are...woefully inadequate besides a "liked/meh/disliked" scale), I recently put them in an Airtable: https://airtable.com/shr2qsCr1u0t3mhoU/tblzYWabFrOs6okta - eg one presumably-cheaper rye I apparently liked was Bulleit's offering; and while I think they go towards the higher end again, High West seems to make a lot of good bourbons. I still haven't hunted down all their stuff yet, but I want to. Feel free to yell at my bad opinions, confirm that I should try stuff listed as 'recommended/recognized', or suggest whiskeys I haven't heard of yet!
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Jul 10, 2018 17:31
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Noticed two new whiskeys in the US market (listed at K&L now). Nikka from the Barrel finally has their export bottle out, 750 ml selling at $65 (pretty easy pass at that price, but among the better values for Japanese whiskey). Willett also seems to have finally released their in-house four-year rye in a non-limited format, bottled at barrel proof like their three-year. Priced at $55 at K&L, but I'm hoping maybe I can snag a bottle at Total Wine for ~$40 at some point.
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Jul 12, 2018 21:24
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Hm. I'm trying the Ole Smoky again out of a different glass (basically a rocks glass with a stem so it shouldn't really be different) after it had spent some time sitting in a hot house with no AC, and it's actually better? The harshness is gone and I can now taste some of that sweetness and apple fruitiness from the nose.
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Jul 13, 2018 00:15
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The flavors typically change a bit after a bottle is opened. Oxidation generally causes them to mellow somewhat. This means that offensive whiskeys will get less offensive, and big, bold whiskeys will never be quite as potent and flavorful as the first time they are opened. A bit of the alcohol may bleed off as well, but that is probably less detectable. Of course, tasting is a subjective process and you may also find yourself experiencing the same exact whiskey differently on different tastings.
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Jul 13, 2018 00:26
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I used to think people who cared about glassware were snobs, but on a lark I bought a glencairn and dammed if it doesn't make a difference. So does rinsing with filtered water after washing.
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Jul 13, 2018 00:50
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Vox Nihili posted:The flavors typically change a bit after a bottle is opened. Oxidation generally causes them to mellow somewhat. This means that offensive whiskeys will get less offensive, and big, bold whiskeys will never be quite as potent and flavorful as the first time they are opened. A bit of the alcohol may bleed off as well, but that is probably less detectable. When I gave the initial review, I was about halfway through the bottle. Now it's a few weeks later toward the end of it and it's definitely different.
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Jul 13, 2018 00:51
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Enigma posted:I used to think people who cared about glassware were snobs, but on a lark I bought a glencairn and dammed if it doesn't make a difference. So does rinsing with filtered water after washing. Glass shape makes a huge difference when trying to tease out flavors and aromas. Every time I offer someone whiskey in a Glencairn and they drink it like it's a shooter, I die a little inside.
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Jul 13, 2018 00:54
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I don't think I've ever done a whiskey shot? Vodka and rum, sure, but I've only ever sipped whiskey or had it in a cocktail. It just feels like the sheer amount of flavors would knock your mouth for a loop if you tried to shoot 2 ounces at once.
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Jul 13, 2018 00:58
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Do poorly advised fireball shots at a networking/bowling event count?
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Jul 13, 2018 01:06
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The only time I've had Fireball was spiking an eggnog shake. It made an otherwise good shake almost undrinkable.
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Jul 13, 2018 01:11
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I had a friend take a shot of some MacCallan 18 that I poured for him and I was so sad. It just all happened so fast.
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Jul 13, 2018 01:11
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Internet Explorer posted:I had a friend take a shot of some MacCallan 18 that I poured for him and I was so sad. It just all happened so fast. I would have made him spit it back up if he insulted me like that.
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Jul 13, 2018 01:17
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chitoryu12 posted:I don't think I've ever done a whiskey shot? Vodka and rum, sure, but I've only ever sipped whiskey or had it in a cocktail. It just feels like the sheer amount of flavors would knock your mouth for a loop if you tried to shoot 2 ounces at once. Witnessed the tough friend do a shot of Bookers at a bar, it was worth the price.
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Jul 13, 2018 01:20
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Internet Explorer posted:I had a friend take a shot of some MacCallan 18 that I poured for him and I was so sad. It just all happened so fast. That's normally how it happens. It's only happened a few times, but normally I have a silent "Are they goin...no no no no no!" during the split second when they knock their head back and swallow without tasting. It's also why I've stopped giving people "good stuff" without pouring them something lower end first to see how they respond.
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Jul 13, 2018 01:22
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Weltlich posted:It's also why I've stopped giving people "good stuff" without pouring them something lower end first to see how they respond. I give cigars to my friends all the time ‘cause most want one when we are celebrating or playing cards. My really good friends get Padron 1964s and even a Padron 1926 if we’re in a small-group-smoke. Drinks are usually Scotch or Bourbons, but we are trying Mellow Corn next week in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee. Non-smokers/drinkers get reasonable replacements like Rocky Patels and Glenlivet 12. I saw some folks drinking tequila shooters so when I got done sipping I progressed to shots of tequila and hid the bourbon. I don’t pour bourbon shots, but I’m always willing to teach young 25-35 girls and boys decorum and good taste and sometimes even good drinks & smokes manners.
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Jul 13, 2018 03:08
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DerekSmartymans posted:I give cigars to my friends all the time ‘cause most want one when we are celebrating or playing cards. My really good friends get Padron 1964s and even a Padron 1926 if we’re in a small-group-smoke. Drinks are usually Scotch or Bourbons, but we are trying Mellow Corn next week in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee.  That's about the age where you've been able to have fun being dumb, and now it's time to learn to come to where the flavor is.
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Jul 13, 2018 03:24
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Enigma posted:I used to think people who cared about glassware were snobs, but on a lark I bought a glencairn and dammed if it doesn't make a difference. So does rinsing with filtered water after washing. I've been considering buying a Glencairn, I needed another excuse, true or not. 
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Jul 13, 2018 04:46
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Do it. It's black magic but who cares cause it works.
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Jul 13, 2018 04:52
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chitoryu12 posted:When I gave the initial review, I was about halfway through the bottle. Now it's a few weeks later toward the end of it and it's definitely different. Oh, well, bottles will still evolve/oxidize over time (particularly when there's a lot of air in there) but yeah, might just be perception, too. wormil posted:I've been considering buying a Glencairn, I needed another excuse, true or not. Just do it. There are some cheaper knock-offs that are just as good as the Glencairn (TM) and look pretty much the same, too. Definitely helps with nosing. The rest is probably bullshit but it's fun, so hey! Vox Nihili fucked around with this message at 05:02 on Jul 13, 2018 |
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Jul 13, 2018 04:59
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Anyone got an idea as to how the Reidel whiskey glasses line up against Glencairn? It's a rather different design so I'm wondering if anyone has tried side by sides or anything.
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Jul 13, 2018 15:15
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Reidel glasses are decidedly less durable than the Glencairn, and won’t be as good for nosing. If you want nosing glasses either get a Glencairn, a copita nosing glass or a brandy snifter.
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Jul 13, 2018 15:40
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For anyone else in the Bay Area/possibly California more broadly, Total Wine just got the Willett 4-year barrel-proof rye into stock @ $47 and it's absolutely cracking. This is their own distillate rather than the MGP-sourced stuff they used to sell. Big, bold, and bright at 63% abv, with rye spice in spades and then some. A rye-lover's rye. (It was in the back rather than on the shelf at my location, but the staff helpfully fetched a fresh case.) Yes, I may be drinking some right now. Vox Nihili fucked around with this message at 06:34 on Jul 14, 2018 |
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Jul 14, 2018 06:31
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And before anyone scoffs at 4-years-old, that's not really that young for a rye IMO.
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Jul 14, 2018 06:47
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Honestly for any whiskey other than scotch, 4 years is a perfectly fine age statement, and for $47 it sounds like a good value as well. I'll have to poke around NY and MA to see if any of that made its way to the northeast.
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Jul 14, 2018 14:43
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Also.... 126 proof is pretty zesty. That $47 is going to go a long way.
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Jul 14, 2018 14:53
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I ran across what seems to be the 3-year (and ~109 proof) version of that in my travels today (didn't pick it up though) - is that going to be similar, or does the extra year and higher proof make a noticeable difference? Probably moot as I'll be swinging by an actual Total Wine tomorrow too, but curious now. Speaking of rare cask strength stuff, has anyone seen the cask strength Redbreast 12 recently? Ran across mention of it today but didn't see it in my local stores and all online mentions are ~2 years old, implying it's gonna be real hard to find now. Had regular Redbreast 12 the other month and really liked it, trying to find something similar. May settle for the 15yr or the sherry cask thing they put out.
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Jul 14, 2018 23:01
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bitprophet posted:I ran across what seems to be the 3-year (and ~109 proof) version of that in my travels today (didn't pick it up though) - is that going to be similar, or does the extra year and higher proof make a noticeable difference? The 3-year is OK but not nearly as good (in my estimation). It's been out for well over a year and is pretty easy to find at this point; it's also about $10 cheaper near me. I expect that the 4-year will also be pretty easy to find once the distribution broadens a bit. I see Redbreast 12 CS on shelves all the time, it's ~$55-$65 in the Bay Area. It's gotten popular and sells out on occasion but it's by no means a rare find at this point. It's my favorite Irish whiskey by a decent margin, FWIW, though admittedly I've only tried 4 or 5 Irish whiskeys in total.
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Jul 16, 2018 20:11
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Forgot to post an update! I did find that cask strength at Total Wine, and splurged on that plus the Lustau and a cute little Jameson 'trilogy'. 20cl each of their regular, black barrel, & stout Caskmates. Never had Jameson and figured I should try something besides Redbreast (though, granted, both are apparently owned by the same company now). On top of that I also grabbed a High West Bourye (I usually only see the 'Son of') and Angel's Envy's new (?) finished rye. My extremely small liquor cabinet is now totally full 
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Jul 16, 2018 22:57
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Has anyone had Blender's Dog from Jameson? I enjoyed Cooper's Croze and the best equipped bottle shop near me has both.
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Jul 17, 2018 00:39
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I tried Glendronach 12 the other day and I have to say I was pretty disappointed. I expected it to be something a bit special after the reviews and general positive statements I've read, but it tasted like a pretty standard sherried Scotch. No enormous depth of flavor, no chewy mouthfeel, just OK and a bit thin.
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Aug 4, 2018 00:15
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