Whisk(e)y Lovers thread

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BartSimpson said:
Tonight's Friday Whisky Mafia tasting line up - as always interesting opinions and new insights.

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So my feedback, @morkhans @DramBuddy @Quad Pipe Chris and others, feel free to add.

With all of these being rare or hard to get, they invariably sell at prices that are quite high. Trying to judge any of these with price as a factor is tough. Almost always you get to the point where you like the dram, but not at the price.

Daftmill 11 Year Old: Single Malt 46% abv, Summer Batch Release (European), distilled 2009 bottled 2020. 1 first fill ex-oloroso & 3 ex-bourbon casks. Optic barley from 2006. 1785 bottles.
First off it is light - farmyardy - very well made and I am glad to have tried it. For most on the evening this came in 3rd or 4th place.

Single & Single Cambridge Circus 32 Year Old: Blended Malt 47.3% abv, cask strength 32 YO blend of Macallan, Dalmore, Glenfarclas, Glen Elgin, Tormore & Highland Park in Oloroso cask. Bottle 270 of 310.
Lovely whisky, beautiful in the mouth, a long finish that belies the abv. I can write more, but this is stunning. The price is tough though. This was 1st or 2nd for most.

Kilkerran 16 Year Old: Single Malt 46% abv, oldest release to date, released November 2020, 96% ex-Bourbon casks, 4% ex-Marsala casks.
Really liked this one - the extra age just rounds the 12 year old off so well. For me, I think the Peat in Progress and the CS versions are better, but this is well worth trying if you can find any. This was 2nd or 3rd for most.

Bimber NAS 2020 Peated Cask: Single Malt 54.1% abv, batch 1/2020 bottled 30th July 2020, Initial maturation in first fill ex-bourbon, then ex heavily peated ex-Islay quarter casks. Bottle 533/1750.
The quality of the spirit is very good indeed. Guessing the quarter casks are from Laphroaig - but it sonly a hint. Hopefully longer maturation will make this so much better. This was highly rated by many so also 1st or 2nd for most.

Price on these as follows and is the issue in judging relative to anything else. Sadly, if you want to try these, this is what you are likely to have to stump up:
DaftmillSummer 2009 11 YO: R2500/700ml (GBP160+ on auction)
Single & Single Cambridge Circus 32 YO: R5590/750ml
Kilkerran 16 YO: R1280/750ml (GBP90+ on auction)
Bimber 2020 Peated Cask: R2150/700ml (GBP95+ on auction)

For me, Single & Single, Kilkerran 16, Bimber and the Daftmill at the end.
 
Any idea of where I can find a Balcones True Blue? I really really want to try it. WB maybe has samples at R195 each, but still trying to confirm.
 
heartbroken said:
Any idea of where I can find a Balcones True Blue? I really really want to try it. WB maybe has samples at R195 each, but still trying to confirm.
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Samples could be tough. Bottles sometimes master of malt. MoM often also have samples you can order but that will add up quickly.
 
BartSimpson said:
So my feedback, @morkhans @DramBuddy @Quad Pipe Chris and others, feel free to add.

With all of these being rare or hard to get, they invariably sell at prices that are quite high. Trying to judge any of these with price as a factor is tough. Almost always you get to the point where you like the dram, but not at the price.

Daftmill 11 Year Old: Single Malt 46% abv, Summer Batch Release (European), distilled 2009 bottled 2020. 1 first fill ex-oloroso & 3 ex-bourbon casks. Optic barley from 2006. 1785 bottles.
First off it is light - farmyardy - very well made and I am glad to have tried it. For most on the evening this came in 3rd or 4th place.

Single & Single Cambridge Circus 32 Year Old: Blended Malt 47.3% abv, cask strength 32 YO blend of Macallan, Dalmore, Glenfarclas, Glen Elgin, Tormore & Highland Park in Oloroso cask. Bottle 270 of 310.
Lovely whisky, beautiful in the mouth, a long finish that belies the abv. I can write more, but this is stunning. The price is tough though. This was 1st or 2nd for most.

Kilkerran 16 Year Old: Single Malt 46% abv, oldest release to date, released November 2020, 96% ex-Bourbon casks, 4% ex-Marsala casks.
Really liked this one - the extra age just rounds the 12 year old off so well. For me, I think the Peat in Progress and the CS versions are better, but this is well worth trying if you can find any. This was 2nd or 3rd for most.

Bimber NAS 2020 Peated Cask: Single Malt 54.1% abv, batch 1/2020 bottled 30th July 2020, Initial maturation in first fill ex-bourbon, then ex heavily peated ex-Islay quarter casks. Bottle 533/1750.
The quality of the spirit is very good indeed. Guessing the quarter casks are from Laphroaig - but it sonly a hint. Hopefully longer maturation will make this so much better. This was highly rated by many so also 1st or 2nd for most.

Price on these as follows and is the issue in judging relative to anything else. Sadly, if you want to try these, this is what you are likely to have to stump up:
DaftmillSummer 2009 11 YO: R2500/700ml (GBP160+ on auction)
Single & Single Cambridge Circus 32 YO: R5590/750ml
Kilkerran 16 YO: R1280/750ml (GBP90+ on auction)
Bimber 2020 Peated Cask: R2150/700ml (GBP95+ on auction)

For me, Single & Single, Kilkerran 16, Bimber and the Daftmill at the end.
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For me was single and single then kilkerran. Wasn't blown away with daftmill. Bimber I appreciate the sentiment and will certainly try future releases, but won't run out and buy what we tasted. S&S was really unique, very grateful to taste it, but too poor to own a bottle. Kilkerran 16 I'd buy and drink. Great dram.
 
morkhans said:
Samples could be tough. Bottles sometimes master of malt. MoM often also have samples you can order but that will add up quickly.
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Buying samples are for the weak. Bottle share and among friends, for sure, but paying premium to taste is a no go.

The hunt continues…
 
heartbroken said:
Any idea of where I can find a Balcones True Blue? I really really want to try it. WB maybe has samples at R195 each, but still trying to confirm.
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They are all gone on the retail/commercial markets.

You will need to hunt for them on online auctions in Europe. But I doubt you will find any TBH...the recent big bourbon auctions did not have a single Balcones on offer.
 
MightyQuin said:
It's impossible to buy alcohol online in the US and then ship it to SA. That's why I specified Europe as a source.

You cannot even buy between certain states online, as their Excise Laws are nuts in the Us.
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Yip, I have seen that, but if you have a friend in one of those states you can ship it to it could work. And as I mentioned I dont know you would get it but it is available on that site :p
 
ands45 said:
Yip, I have seen that, but if you have a friend in one of those states you can ship it to it could work. And as I mentioned I dont know you would get it but it is available on that site :p
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Unfortunately that friend would not be allowed to ship it to you anywhere outside of the US. And this is such a PIA, as there are so many amazing Whiskey's/Bourbon we cannot get our hands on.
 
MightyQuin said:
Unfortunately that friend would not be allowed to ship it to you anywhere outside of the US. And this is such a PIA, as there are so many amazing Whiskey's/Bourbon we cannot get our hands on.
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Really, so for example my sister has recently moved to the US, she wouldnt be able to send me anything? Assume she would be allowed to bring it in person? Crazy laws there, didn't know that
 
P&P almost giving these away now
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ands45 said:
Really, so for example my sister has recently moved to the US, she wouldnt be able to send me anything? Assume she would be allowed to bring it in person? Crazy laws there, didn't know that
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Nope she will not be able to send you anything.

She may bring stuff with, within her allowance though...I think 5 liters.

But that will have to be declared and taxes and duties paid on it when landing in SA. But that is worth it for sure.
 
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