Whiskey/Scotch Thread

[Hawkeye]

This thread already exists... it is the What Are You Sipping On thread. Tons of information and suggestions.

https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1221304

[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

This thread already exists... it is the What Are You Sipping On thread. Tons of information and suggestions.

https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1221304

As someone who doesn't really stray from whisky and into other spirits, I like the idea of a whisky specific post.

I'm a SM Scotch fan, and only recently started getting into bourbon. Fav bourbon right now is Eagle Rare, which is aptly named as it can be tough to find where I'm at.

10 whiskys I own and drink regularly (not bringing in the unicorn ones like Pappy) in no particular order.

Highland Park Dark Origins (sadly not much left and discontinued)
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14yo
Talisker 10yo
Glendronach 12yo
Laphroaig 10yr CS
Oban Nights Watch (GOT)
Eagle Rare
Buffalo Trace
Red Breast 12yo
Kavalan Solist Port Cask

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by WhiskyPat12

As someone who doesn't really stray from whisky and into other spirits, I like the idea of a whisky specific post.

I'm a SM Scotch fan, and only recently started getting into bourbon. Fav bourbon right now is Eagle Rare, which is aptly named as it can be tough to find where I'm at.

10 whiskys I own and drink regularly (not bringing in the unicorn ones like Pappy) in no particular order.

Highland Park Dark Origins (sadly not much left and discontinued)
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14yo
Talisker 10yo
Glendronach 12yo
Laphroaig 10yr CS
Oban Nights Watch (GOT)
Eagle Rare
Buffalo Trace
Red Breast 12yo
Kavalan Solist Port Cask

That's a great list....the one thing I'll say to you and everyone else who says they are Single Malt fans or only drink single malts. Don't sell blends short. A blend is only made from Single Malts that are blended, the age statement is the youngest whiskey in the blend. So a 12 year old blend may also have 18 and 20+ year old whiskeys in it. There are some fantastic blends out there so don't be shy to give them a try.

[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by Salty Dog

That's a great list....the one thing I'll say to you and everyone else who says they are Single Malt fans or only drink single malts. Don't sell blends short. A blend is only made from Single Malts that are blended, the age statement is the youngest whiskey in the blend. So a 12 year old blend may also have 18 and 20+ year old whiskeys in it. There are some fantastic blends out there so don't be shy to give them a try.

Oh I don't sell blends short, I just haven't gotten into them deeply. I don't mind Chivas 12yo or the Johnny Walkers and I've heard amazing things about Compass Box. SMS is where I started, so that is kinda home base for me.

Some quick notes about Blends and SMS:

• Single Malt Scotch means that it comes from a Single Distillery, and is malted barley. Unless it's single barrel or batch # it's likely multiple ages from that distillery in the bottle

• Age statements only tell you the youngest age of spirit in a bottle, so you are correct on that point. The word BLEND doesn't have anything to do with age.

• NAS or No Age Statements whiskys are awesome too, age is just a number, and does not really mean it's better

• Blend means it has multiple distilleries and could mean other cereal grains that just barley (unless it specifically says Blended Malt, then its barley distillate from multiple distilleries)

[Violator]

Here is the issue with these "recommend a whiskey/vodka/rum" threads, our taste/palates are so different it’s almost useless to make a recommendation.
Example, I find Eagle Rare to be horrendous and probably won’t even use it in a cocktail. I have an almost full bottle of ER that will remain that way until someone comes over and drinks it. Others on here and elsewhere really enjoy it.

My recommendation is to buy them all and try them for yourself, then you'll end up with 50-100 bottles to enjoy with friends and family.

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by Violator

Here is the issue with these "recommend a whiskey/vodka/rum" threads, our taste/palates are so different it’s almost useless to make a recommendation.
Example, I find Eagle Rare to be horrendous and probably won’t even use it in a cocktail. I have an almost full bottle of ER that will remain that way until someone comes over and drinks it. Others on here and elsewhere really enjoy it.

My recommendation is to buy them all and try them for yourself, then you'll end up with 50-100 bottles to enjoy with friends and family.

Is that an invitation? I like the stuff, and FTR I don't generally mix most of my spirits.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by Salty Dog

Is that an invitation? I like the stuff, and FTR I don't generally mix most of my spirits.

Open invitation to anyone around my area... I have tried to get UncleWede to stop by but he has yet to make it over when visiting family.

This is most of my collection, I still have a few items in the back room and in the safe as well. Along with a few of my different Elijah Craig BP and store picks.

[BMW F22]

^ damn!! Where you located? Lol

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

^ damn!! Where you located? Lol

Central Iowa. Not many reasons to come here I realize but if you ever get lost and find yourself in the area let me know. I like just about every type (including tequila and rums also).

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Open invitation to anyone around my area... I have tried to get UncleWede to stop by but he has yet to make it over when visiting family.

This is most of my collection, I still have a few items in the back room and in the safe as well. Along with a few of my different Elijah Craig BP and store picks.

Very Nice.....here's mine. All the Scotch, Irish and Canadian whisk(e)y on the three shelves, Bourbon, Rum and Tequila on the two shelves....

[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Open invitation to anyone around my area... I have tried to get UncleWede to stop by but he has yet to make it over when visiting family.

This is most of my collection, I still have a few items in the back room and in the safe as well. Along with a few of my different Elijah Craig BP and store picks.

How is that Dark Cove I see peaking behind the other Ardbeg?

[BMW F22]

Jebus. How do you guys decide what you want to drink on any given day?

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Jebus. How do you guys decide what you want to drink on any given day?

I'm retired now, so I take my time.

[WhiskyPat12]

Here's my current collection. You guys use any apps to track inventory? I use Whizzky, which is very clunky

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Jebus. How do you guys decide what you want to drink on any given day?

Like when I introduced my middle son to sushi. We usually went to the same place so he'd pick up the menu and goes "OK, I finished here last time, the next three are..."

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by Salty Dog

Very Nice.....here's mine. All the Scotch, Irish and Canadian whisk(e)y on the three shelves, Bourbon, Rum and Tequila on the two shelves....

I cannot tell which Bunnahabin that is (have a really good sherried one), but that Glendronach 15 is one of my all time favorite sherried whiskys.

If OP likes the Quinta Ruban, they would love this Glendronach 15/18. The 12 is a tad too sweet for me, and the 21 just doesn't have much more to add over the 18 IMO.

Originally Posted by WhiskyPat12

How is that Dark Cove I see peaking behind the other Ardbeg?

Yes it is, and it is amazing. It has a little less peat and more fruit come through than their closer comparables like the uigeadail and the an oa. The only Ardbeg I don't really enjoy is the Corryvreckan as there is way too much going on for me, straight punch in the face.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by WhiskyPat12

Here's my current collection. You guys use any apps to track inventory? I use Whizzky, which is very clunky

Nice collection, big HP fan I see.

I tried using apps to track my whiskey and cigars and it just is too much effort. I can barely remember to track beers in Untapped and that has a great interface.

How do you like the Kavalan? I have had some pretty poor reviews on their offerings, which has led me away from actually buying any of it.

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I cannot tell which Bunnahabin that is (have a really good sherried one), but that Glendronach 15 is one of my all time favorite sherried whiskys.

If OP likes the Quinta Ruban, they would love this Glendronach 15/18. The 12 is a tad too sweet for me, and the 21 just doesn't have much more to add over the 18 IMO.



Yes it is, and it is amazing. It has a little less peat and more fruit come through than their closer comparables like the uigeadail and the an oa. The only Ardbeg I don't really enjoy is the Corryvreckan as there is way too much going on for me, straight punch in the face.

The Bunnahabin is the 18 year old, fabulous. The Glenlivet 21 is just off the hook too. The Benromach was a gift from my best friend, he's the Whisk(e)y Consultant for Johnny Walker. It was a limited run and is no longer available which is killing me because I just love it, but don't want to finish it. He gave it to me for my 55th/retirement gift. Then we drove to Kentucky and did the bourbon trail and bourbonfest.

[UncleWede]

So would we recommend OP get in one of those whiskey clubs?

How about me?

[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Nice collection, big HP fan I see.

I tried using apps to track my whiskey and cigars and it just is too much effort. I can barely remember to track beers in Untapped and that has a great interface.

How do you like the Kavalan? I have had some pretty poor reviews on their offerings, which has led me away from actually buying any of it.

HP used to be my favorite. I definitely like the older style HP more, but do still enjoy what they offer. The collection just kind of kept building, as I had a practice of buying two of an offering (one to drink, one to save). I'm probably done buying HP for a while after the Valfather gets in stock locally. Sadly the 15yo and Dark Origins were my favorite and both are discontinued.

I'm curious where the poor reviews from Kavalan come from, as I typically see them lauded as a great young distillery. I haven't had any of the lower proof offerings, but the Soloist line (which I believe is single cask) and Cask Strength offerings are amazing. I'm lucky, my wife's family is from Taiwan and I got to go to the Distillery. They came to prominence fast winning World's Best Single Malt Whisky 2015 and were only open for like 10 years. The climate in Taiwan plays a part in how the whisky ages 'faster' and thus competes with distilleries from around the world that have been doing it a lot longer.

[Violator]

Originally Posted by Salty Dog

Is that an invitation? I like the stuff, and FTR I don't generally mix most of my spirits.

Sure, let me know when you're in the area.

I like mine neat as well, but you have to put something in your Whiskey Sour! ER wouldn't make the cut for that.

[ECSTuning]

I've been a big fan of Monkey Shoulder as of late, neat or mixed it's pretty tasty. I'd call it a great "intro" to Scotch blend, even though many of my more palate expanded buddies even say it's dam good for the price.
-James