Whisk(e)y Lovers thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
Naks said:
I don't buy cheap stuff, that's why I just kick people out :ROFL:
Click to expand...
I always have some cheap whisky for mixers. It's lekker as well.

On our whisky club - man what a success. To boot, I got to taste three whiskies I never tasted before, and at least one of them really knocked my socks off. Ardbeg An Oa - man, what a drink! Peaty, sweet, rich and VERY smooth. Interestingly I expected that most people would love the Glenmorange Lastanta most, which they did, but the number of people who asked for seconds of the Ardbeg when it was all over is what got me. It's big peat, yes, but people seemingly loved it, even more than the Glenfiddich 12YO (is it just me or is this whisky's quality dying down?) or the Springbank 10YO.

The most common ideas about all the whiskies ended up, from the group:

1. Glenfiddich 12YO - Bland, plain and uninteresting. Most scored around 3/5.
2. Auchentoshan American Oak - Woody, with someone mentioning disinfectant notes (mistaking the citrus). Most scored 2/5.
3. Glenmorangie Lastanta 12YO - Sweet, rich, warm. The big favourite in this tasting (as I expected). Most scored 5/5, with a few at 4/5.
4. Springbank 10YO - Slightly smoky, dry finish. Most said it "burned" a little. Not a favourite. Most scored 3/5, with a few 2/5. Water made it worse, according to the lot.
5. Ardbeg An Oa - Smoke. Some of the guys mentioned that it smells like an ashtray. Wasn't loved until I recommended the drop of water. Most couldn't place the sweetness until I mentioned it, and then their eyes opened up. Was the second-most loved whisky here, contrary to what I expected. Most scored 4/5, with a few 3/5 and even two people going 5/5 and "I must buy this". The most improved whisky with a drop of water (understandable at 46.6% ABV).

Overall, huge success. Next theme: Whiskies from around the world!
 
Toxxyc said:
I always have some cheap whisky for mixers. It's lekker as well.
Click to expand...

I reckon there's no such thing as a bad whisky. It just depends on how and what you drink it with.

I prefer nothing in my whisky and drink most of my whisky like that. Then depending on the sliding scale of what I have at the time, I'll add a drop of water up to a measure of water and/or ice to taste, and soda in a particularly nasty one. For example, I was on a BA flight last week and they only had JW Red. So I chucked in quite a few ice cubes to make it (more) palatable.

And now, I'm in Indonesia for work and the prices are through the roof. Single malts are just so ridiculously expensive that I'm just going to have to slum it with Bells at R600 until I go home in a couple of weeks. Next price up from Bells I saw was JW Red at R850 and the JW Black at R1200.

I haven't had Bells for years but I imagine I'm going to be adding a measure of water and ice to get it down. But hey, needs must :)

On our whisky club - man what a success. To boot, I got to taste three whiskies I never tasted before, and at least one of them really knocked my socks off. Ardbeg An Oa - man, what a drink! Peaty, sweet, rich and VERY smooth. Interestingly I expected that most people would love the Glenmorange Lastanta most, which they did, but the number of people who asked for seconds of the Ardbeg when it was all over is what got me. It's big peat, yes, but people seemingly loved it, even more than the Glenfiddich 12YO (is it just me or is this whisky's quality dying down?) or the Springbank 10YO.

The most common ideas about all the whiskies ended up, from the group:

1. Glenfiddich 12YO - Bland, plain and uninteresting. Most scored around 3/5.
2. Auchentoshan American Oak - Woody, with someone mentioning disinfectant notes (mistaking the citrus). Most scored 2/5.
3. Glenmorangie Lastanta 12YO - Sweet, rich, warm. The big favourite in this tasting (as I expected). Most scored 5/5, with a few at 4/5.
4. Springbank 10YO - Slightly smoky, dry finish. Most said it "burned" a little. Not a favourite. Most scored 3/5, with a few 2/5. Water made it worse, according to the lot.
5. Ardbeg An Oa - Smoke. Some of the guys mentioned that it smells like an ashtray. Wasn't loved until I recommended the drop of water. Most couldn't place the sweetness until I mentioned it, and then their eyes opened up. Was the second-most loved whisky here, contrary to what I expected. Most scored 4/5, with a few 3/5 and even two people going 5/5 and "I must buy this". The most improved whisky with a drop of water (understandable at 46.6% ABV).

Overall, huge success. Next theme: Whiskies from around the world!
Click to expand...

Sounds like you had a great evening. I enjoyed the Auchentoshan I got for my birthday this year, although I suspect the low score may be because of the other nice whiskies it was surrounded by.
 
I think the low score of the Auchentoshan is because of the quite dry finish. It is quite oaky, and I'm not sure everyone liked that!
 
Toxxyc, have you ever done whisky tastings "blindfolded" ? As you don't know the name of they whisky, just taste and score ?
 
HunterNW said:
Toxxyc, have you ever done whisky tastings "blindfolded" ? As you don't know the name of they whisky, just taste and score ?
Click to expand...
Nope. I'm nowhere near experienced enough to do that. I was able to taste-test the whiskies out of that list above last night with great accuracy, but that's not saying much :D
 
Toxxyc said:
Nope. I'm nowhere near experienced enough to do that. I was able to taste-test the whiskies out of that list above last night with great accuracy, but that's not saying much :D
Click to expand...
I'm sure you are experienced. Shouldn't be about the name or price, only the taste. Lady friend of mine was at a wine tasting earlier, also "blind". Wolftrap came out among the best tasting wines, and it's a cheap wine.
 
HunterNW said:
I'm sure you are experienced. Shouldn't be about the name or price, only the taste. Lady friend of mine was at a wine tasting earlier, also "blind". Wolftrap came out among the best tasting wines, and it's a cheap wine.
Click to expand...
Might be lekker to do this for an upcoming tasting. I'll take 3 whiskies, number them 1/2/3 and pour each person a bit in a glass without their knowledge of what it is. Have them taste/rate the whiskies then. Should be a nice experience as well!
 
VAT 69 as a mixer - Good stuff, in my opinion. Cheaper and more enjoyable than J&B or similar priced.
 
Toxxyc said:
Might be lekker to do this for an upcoming tasting. I'll take 3 whiskies, number them 1/2/3 and pour each person a bit in a glass without their knowledge of what it is. Have them taste/rate the whiskies then. Should be a nice experience as well!
Click to expand...
I'd like to try that ! Maybe have 5 whiskies, with 2 being bottom of the pond. See how they rate.
 
HunterNW said:
VAT 69 as a mixer - Good stuff, in my opinion. Cheaper and more enjoyable than J&B or similar priced.
Click to expand...

Haha, my first thought when you posted about a blind taste was to slip in a VAT 69. Best of the bunch of the lower priced blends (including Grouse, J&B etc) imo
 
I must be a sucker for Famous Grouse or Grants then. Good whiskies, both of those. J&B isn't "my thing".
 
Just had a birthday. For some reason people seem to think I like whiskeys :unsure:
Got
Bells, Ballentines, Money Shoulder, Haig Club and Ardbeg...yummy.
 
Toxxyc said:
I must be a sucker for Famous Grouse or Grants then. Good whiskies, both of those. J&B isn't "my thing".
Click to expand...

Yep. I used to drink J&B when I was younger, but then the world opened up and now I can't stomach it. Have you tried VAT 69 compared to those two you like?
 
Spizz said:
Yep. I used to drink J&B when I was younger, but then the world opened up and now I can't stomach it. Have you tried VAT 69 compared to those two you like?
Click to expand...
Yeah I actually had a few bottles not long ago when Makro sold them for R99 each. It's a good mixer. Famous Grouse and Grants both beat it, IMO. At that price (or slightly more last time I checked) though I honestly just add that little bit more and get me a Glen Grant Major's Reserve Single Malt. It's cheap enough so you don't feel sorry when it's mixed, but it's also not bad on it's own.
 
Had way too much jet fuel last night in conjunction with playing games until 4am. Now I feel like my pants are in bed and I'm the one hanging over the back of the chair...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X