Whisk(e)y Lovers thread

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So I finally got around to cracking the seal of that 18yo Glenmorangie, and I'm sipping on it as I'm typing this.

I can honestly say, this is worth every penny (no matter how much the wife spent on it), and if you enjoy woody, peaty tastes, then you have to put this on your list of must-haves!

The color is exceptionally clear, which tricked me into thinking it was going to be a lot lighter on the palate, but it really takes you by surprise. It really has a bit of a bite to it, and then goes very smooth as it warms up a little in your mouth.

Will I drink this every day? Probably not. I will likely stick to the 10yo Original as my go-to drink. This is one I'll save for those "missing people you don't know" nights, but I'll always make sure I have a bottle in my bar somewhere.
 
srothman said:
The color is exceptionally clear, which tricked me into thinking it was going to be a lot lighter on the palate, but it really takes you by surprise.
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Whisky colour can be deceptive like that, some of the most potent peaty whisky out there don't look like they will be at all.
 
So, whisky live last night. Here are the whiskys I tasted along with my comments

Balvennie 12 YO - Typical Speyside whisky so you can taste the sweetness coming through but that could be because it's aged in sherry casks. I would drink this after dinner as a dessert whisky.
Balvennie 14 YO - Same as above but this this is aged in Caribbean rum casks. A lot of toffee, vanilla and sweet fruit. Another one for after dinner.
Bowmore 15 YO - Lovely stuff. Such a complex whisky. I could spend an entire evening delving through the different layers of complexity.
Laphroig Quarter cask - Need to get a bottle of this asap. Lovely super peaty islay malt.
Bunnahabhain 25 YO - Unpeated Islay malt but the clear winner of the evening for me.
Arran Amorene - My wife liked it but I didn't. Just a bit too spicy for my tastes
Macallan Sienna - I was underwhelmed by the Macallan. It's a crisp, refreshing citrus taste but meh. YMMV
Black Bottle - They've changed the bottle and the blend back to the original recipe. It's lost something for me. Much less peat. Biggest disappointment of the evening for me.
Smokehead - If you like peat, then this is the whisky to get.
Coal Isla - Always a winner in my books but then I love Islay malts. Just get a bottle and thank me later. :)
Tullabardine Sovereign - Top notch stuff another must get whisky for me.
Vat 69 - I had one token left, got this and was pleasantly surprised. Think I may have found a new dopping whisky.
J & B Honey - Nice apertif whisky. Too sweet for me but the SO liked it.

All in all I really enjoyed last night. I just wish that they'd stop having promo girls who don't know much about whisky and parroting the same old story about the whisky. The tastings I really enjoyed were those where the whisky master actually gave you some insight into the process of making the whisky.

Cheers
 
Sounds awesome, Gnarls! I agree, I would much rather have an old fart telling me about whiskey and know what he's talking about, than some eye candy to try and sell me something.
 
Nothing better than a good old bottle of Chivas Regas.
The royal salute is nice but my back pocket feels better if I get the 12yr old.
 
If you don't have soda water on hand is sparkling water acceptable for mixing?
 
If I had to mix, I would rather do so with still water. I've never cared for fizzy whisky drinks.
 
Gnarls said:
So, whisky live last night. Here are the whiskys I tasted along with my comments

Balvennie 12 YO - Typical Speyside whisky so you can taste the sweetness coming through but that could be because it's aged in sherry casks. I would drink this after dinner as a dessert whisky.
Balvennie 14 YO - Same as above but this this is aged in Caribbean rum casks. A lot of toffee, vanilla and sweet fruit. Another one for after dinner.
Bowmore 15 YO - Lovely stuff. Such a complex whisky. I could spend an entire evening delving through the different layers of complexity.
Laphroig Quarter cask - Need to get a bottle of this asap. Lovely super peaty islay malt.
Bunnahabhain 25 YO - Unpeated Islay malt but the clear winner of the evening for me.
Arran Amorene - My wife liked it but I didn't. Just a bit too spicy for my tastes
Macallan Sienna - I was underwhelmed by the Macallan. It's a crisp, refreshing citrus taste but meh. YMMV
Black Bottle - They've changed the bottle and the blend back to the original recipe. It's lost something for me. Much less peat. Biggest disappointment of the evening for me.
Smokehead - If you like peat, then this is the whisky to get.
Coal Isla - Always a winner in my books but then I love Islay malts. Just get a bottle and thank me later. :)
Tullabardine Sovereign - Top notch stuff another must get whisky for me.
Vat 69 - I had one token left, got this and was pleasantly surprised. Think I may have found a new dopping whisky.
J & B Honey - Nice apertif whisky. Too sweet for me but the SO liked it.

All in all I really enjoyed last night. I just wish that they'd stop having promo girls who don't know much about whisky and parroting the same old story about the whisky. The tastings I really enjoyed were those where the whisky master actually gave you some insight into the process of making the whisky.

Cheers
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Nice list and interesting comments, thanks.

And good to see you have the same thought as me about VAT 69. I can't understand it's low price when it is an equal to or better than many more expensive blends such as Bells, Grouse etc.
 
Was also at the whisky live and my new favorite is the Balblair 2003.
 
Hermes14 said:
A good whiskey should always be drunk on the rocks.
Watering it down spoils the taste
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A little bit of water opens the whiskey up...I prefer it that way.

At work, I also drink it in a tall glass with more ice and water during my lunchhour...mizawari style.
 
Hermes14 said:
A good whiskey should always be drunk on the rocks.
Watering it down spoils the taste
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A single malt should never have anything added. That's never. Ever.

A blend, yeah, ice, water, creme soda, it's all good and depends on where you are, what you are doing.

For me, for a Chivas for example, a small spot of water, for a VAT69/Ballantines/Bells/etc as a long drink in the sun, then it's ice and soda. For a Jack Daniels, then it's a couple of blocks of ice.
 
100%. Single malts, neat. Depending on the drink, one, maybe two blocks of ice is fine. I enjoy my drinks cold.

What I have found quite nice (surprisingly) is JW Red with some sprite and lots of ice. Makes for a very nice cooler on a warm day with lunch. JW Red used to be my go-to drink whenever I'm out, but haven't had in a while. Will give that Vat 69 for a bit too, sounds promising.
 
You drink it how you like and the way that would bring the most enjoyment for yourself. Whether you like it in a tall glass with Cola or neat in a sippy cup, you decide.
For me, any glass, with ice and water.
Also, Single Malt on the lable doesn't mean its not blended. And some Blended Whiskey's can be superior.
 
beans100 said:
You drink it how you like and the way that would bring the most enjoyment for yourself. Whether you like it in a tall glass with Cola or neat in a sippy cup, you decide.
For me, any glass, with ice and water.
Also, Single Malt on the lable doesn't mean its not blended. And some Blended Whiskey's can be superior.
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Sure, but there is a definite distinction between single malt and blended whisky to separate two different types of types of production.

But otherwise, yeah, drink it as you like it. Same with wine and anything else, hence my reference to creme soda in may last post :)
 
So upset with post office.

I bought one of these off Ebay - Sphere Ice Mold - specially for my whiskey and when it got here is was damaged. Looked like someone had actually stuck a screwdriver through it :mad:
 
I once saw a lady mixing JW Blue with, if I remember correctly, Fanta Orange. Figured hey, you paid for it, have it like you want it. I'm too much of a stingy bastard to experiment like that. I have my single malts like my dad used to, so probably also more sentiment than anything else.
 
srothman said:
I once saw a lady mixing JW Blue with, if I remember correctly, Fanta Orange. Figured hey, you paid for it, have it like you want it. I'm too much of a stingy bastard to experiment like that. I have my single malts like my dad used to, so probably also more sentiment than anything else.
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:wtf:

I used to know a guy who would drink JW Black and Coke, but Blue and Fanta :D
 
in the R150-250 range, I have fallen in love with Jim Beam.
Quite a lovely bourbon for a very decent price!

Checkers liquors sells it for R170 and I actually prefer that over Jack.
 
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