Whisk(e)y Lovers thread

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I am still looking for the green Black Bottle replacement, but progress is slow and my noob taste buds are confused.
Recent acquisitions, all drank neat unless noted otherwise:
  • Glenfiddich 12: not bad, but not interesting in any way and I don't think I would buy it again.
  • Buffalo Trace: decent, but not that amazing. Might buy again for cocktails.
  • Auchentoshan American Oak: neat it has a peculiar woody initial taste which is not there with a block of ice. With ice it is great, with a fantastic aftertaste.
  • Jameson: I like it, but not amazing. Will buy again.
  • Paddy's: I can't drink this neat. Okay in tea. Will never buy again.
  • Johnnie Walker Black Label: Great, I can and have bought it again. The slight smoke is nice.
  • Johnnie Walker Double Black: too smoky and I don't detect any peat. Won't buy again, luckily it came in a 50ml bottle with the Black Label.
  • Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve: My expectations were low, but it is my current favourite. Also was a 50ml bottle.
So side-stepping the Black Bottle replacement for the moment (which at least a few years ago didn't taste smoky, only peaty to me), does anyone have any suggestions better than Gold Label Reserve which has the same delicious honey notes (bearing in mind I am a noob, it is difficult to explain the flavours). It just seems a bit pricey.
Planned acquisitions in the near future:
  • Glenmorangie 10
  • Glenmorangie Nectar D'or
  • Auchentoshan 12 year old
  • ??
 
Start with the glenmorangie 10. If you check ngf or makro you can find the gift pack with 2 other minis in as well.

www.ngf.co.za

GLENMORANGIE PIONEER PACK 750ML

Introducing the Glenmorangie 10yr The Discovery Set 750ml, a must-have for whisky enthusiasts. This exclusive set features four 100ml bottles of Glenmorangie's signature expressions, each aged for a decade in bourbon and sherry casks. Enjoy the sweet and smooth flavour profile of the Original...
www.ngf.co.za www.ngf.co.za
 
Finally cracked the Chardonnay Cask. Very interesting. Not hating it. Definitely a Glen Moray fan for their value for money. If only we could also get the Sherry Cask and Cabernet Sauvignon Cask finishes locally. Chardonnay.jpg
 
Zubizap said:
I am still looking for the green Black Bottle replacement, but progress is slow and my noob taste buds are confused.
Recent acquisitions, all drank neat unless noted otherwise:
  • Glenfiddich 12: not bad, but not interesting in any way and I don't think I would buy it again.
  • Buffalo Trace: decent, but not that amazing. Might buy again for cocktails.
  • Auchentoshan American Oak: neat it has a peculiar woody initial taste which is not there with a block of ice. With ice it is great, with a fantastic aftertaste.
  • Jameson: I like it, but not amazing. Will buy again.
  • Paddy's: I can't drink this neat. Okay in tea. Will never buy again.
  • Johnnie Walker Black Label: Great, I can and have bought it again. The slight smoke is nice.
  • Johnnie Walker Double Black: too smoky and I don't detect any peat. Won't buy again, luckily it came in a 50ml bottle with the Black Label.
  • Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve: My expectations were low, but it is my current favourite. Also was a 50ml bottle.
So side-stepping the Black Bottle replacement for the moment (which at least a few years ago didn't taste smoky, only peaty to me), does anyone have any suggestions better than Gold Label Reserve which has the same delicious honey notes (bearing in mind I am a noob, it is difficult to explain the flavours). It just seems a bit pricey.
Planned acquisitions in the near future:
  • Glenmorangie 10
  • Glenmorangie Nectar D'or
  • Auchentoshan 12 year old
  • ??
Click to expand...

Ok so old black bottle was essentially a light-medium peated islay blend. I'm a bit confused when you same JW Double Black is too smoky but we'll leave it at that. I'm not sure why you're looking for a replacement in non-scotch and non-peated scotch, it's just not going to happen.

Have you tried:
-Three Ships 5
-Glen Moray Peated
-Bell's Special Reserve
-Laphroaig Select
-Bowmore No 1.
-Highland Park 10

These are all in my honest opinion much better than old black bottle and hit a similar but not quite the same flavour profile.

I would suggest skipping Auchentoshan 12 and Nectar D'or. Glenmorangie 10 isn't something I like (tastes like Polish honey wine ugh) but it's something a lot of people do like. Private Barrel no 68. is actually really good not terribly interesting but very solid Scotch. Bell's special reserve is pretty interesting for a sub R300 bottle and a favourite for me.

Since you liked black bottle you should look at at least finding a bar to try Laphroaig 10/Ardbeg 10 and probably Lagavulin 16.

I'd again as with previous posts try to try these before buying if you can. Some restaurants have a few of these and once you've tried some of them it may be easier to help.
 
Zubizap said:
[*]Johnnie Walker Double Black: too smoky and I don't detect any peat. Won't buy again, luckily it came in a 50ml bottle with the Black Label.
[*]Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve: My expectations were low, but it is my current favourite. Also was a 50ml bottle.
[/LIST]
So side-stepping the Black Bottle replacement for the moment (which at least a few years ago didn't taste smoky, only peaty to me), does anyone have any suggestions better than Gold Label Reserve which has the same delicious honey notes (bearing in mind I am a noob, it is difficult to explain the flavours). It just seems a bit pricey.
Planned acquisitions in the near future:
  • Glenmorangie 10
  • Glenmorangie Nectar D'or
  • Auchentoshan 12 year old
  • ??
Click to expand...
OK I am officially confused and genuinely curious:

What is your definition of peaty or smoky? Or rather....what is the difference to you?

Does an Ardbeg taste peaty or smoky to you?
 
kolaval said:
Does smokey/peaty equal a darker colour?
Click to expand...
No relation to colour whatsoever.

Colour can indicate any number of things.

1. The producer added e150 caramel colourant (Most Diageo bottlings, Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, Auchentoshan and more).
2. The whisky had some sherry/wine maturation (Macallan, Glenfarclas, Glendronach etc.)
3. The whisky was produced in a warm climate and got more wood extraction e.g. Balcones Single Malt/Kavalan solist whiskies/Bains 15
4. The whisky spent a long time in a barrel (Old Malt Cask bottlings come to mind?)

Some very light whiskies are still quite flavourful e.g. Old Particular Aberlour 10 (which I just can't justify the price of for 500ml).
 
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Flavour is definitely not linked to colour when it comes to whisky. Remember when it's distilled, it's all clear (like water) anyway. That's where TONS of the flavour come from. Colour is imparted by the oak it's left to age in, and also by E150B, a caramel colouring that's legal to add to most whiskies worldwide.

That's how you can ID a good whisky (usually), just FIY. If it specifically states non-chill filtered (for the most part), natural colour and it has an age statement on it then you know the distillery isn't afraid to tell you and show you what they made, and they're not trying to hide it either. Respect.
 
I opened the Ardbeg Wee Beastie and the Compass Box Peat Monster last night for a first time tasting both.

I liked them both, but the Wee Beastie was far nicer than expected and at that price would choose it over the Peat Monster any day.
 
MightyQuin said:
OK I am officially confused and genuinely curious:

What is your definition of peaty or smoky? Or rather....what is the difference to you?

Does an Ardbeg taste peaty or smoky to you?
Click to expand...
I'm also confused.
To me peaty is a broader categorization based on the production method.
Within peaty whiskies, you can get some that are more smoky/ashy, some that taste more of salt/iodine, some that taste more medicinal, etc etc
 
Keep in mind that peat and smoke are two definitive, different tastes. Peat is peat. It can be salty and it can be leathery, but it's always smokey, but the smokey is peat smoke. Smoke does not automatically mean it's peat. Lots of whiskies are smokey, but not peaty.

Generally, if you enjoy peat, you'll enjoy smokey notes in a whisky. But it's not always that you'll enjoy peat if you enjoy smokey notes in a whisky. Peat can be VERY overwhelming, reminding people of cigarette ash, tobacco, leather, iodine, TCP, salt, etc and not everyone likes that.
 
@Toxxyc Give some examples that might be smokey but not peat vs peat?
Jameson has a less something taste than JW Black label. I don't particularly enjoy black label and assumed the darker colour had something to do with it.
 
kolaval said:
@Toxxyc Give some examples that might be smokey but not peat vs peat?
Jameson has a less something taste than JW Black label. I don't particularly enjoy black label and assumed the darker colour had something to do with it.
Click to expand...
Jameson is an Irish whiskey made in a copper pot still. No peating at all happening there.
JW is a blending house - they don't distill anything. At all. Your JW Black is a mix of 30-something single malts and grain whisky.
 
kolaval said:
Jameson has a less something taste than JW Black label. I don't particularly enjoy black label and assumed the darker colour had something to do with it.
Click to expand...
You should also keep in mind that you're now comparing Irish whiskey with a blended Scotch. Jameson is a triple-distilled whiskey, made from the get-go to be a light, smooth, easy-drinking drink. Johnny Walker, as mentioned, buy Scotch whiskies from everywhere and mix them together to get a specific flavour they're aiming for. That's why, first and foremost, there's no age statement on there, it's not a single malt whisky and also why they are consistently able to get what they want, bottle to bottle.

I'm not a huge JW fan, but for what it is and for what you're paying, it's a damn good whisky.
 
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