Whisky choices

[S-Westerly]

33 minutes ago, keith1200rs said:

Try the Nikka one £40ish https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/nikka/nikka-whisky-from-the-barrel-whisky/

What he said. Used to be a shop specialising in Whisky in Cirencester and another in Cheltenham in Montpellier but I think the Cheltenham one closed during Covid.  Not sure about the one in Cirencester. There's also the Stroud Wine Co. In Witney's Yard in Stroud. They do some unusual spirits- I got an awesome rum from them last leave.

[Guest]

Quite a few deals in Tesco today, could be worth a look. 

[Guest]

I went for this one in the end as it was only £28 so in budget.  Has anyone ever tried Akashi?

[Gerontious]

Not mentioned so far is one of my favourites, Highland Park which is lightly smoked and very nice. its also widely available. lightly smoked means its not so extreme as some of the islay malts. I can also recommend Caol ila

 

But, if you want to try something different on him I can wholeheartedly recommend Old Pulteney.

 

And.. Do wait until November as that Is BY FAR the best time to buy whiskey in supermarkets. They have a cunning plan see.

 

depends on whether he is a whiskey drinker... or a drinker who prefers whiskey. there is a big difference.  Ive actually stopped buying whiskey as it goes off long before there is any chance of me finishing the bottle.

 

My vote... something different. Old Pulteney. which, as it happens is currently on offer at Asda £26 down from £36.

 

send him down a different rabbit hole.

Edited October 28, 2023 by Gerontious

[S-Westerly]

8 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

Not mentioned so far is one of my favourites, Highland Park which is lightly smoked and very nice. its also widely available. lightly smoked means its not so extreme as some of the islay malts. I can also recommend Caol ila

 

But, if you want to try something different on him I can wholeheartedly recommend Old Poulteney.

 

And.. Do wait until November as that Is BY FAR the best time to buy whiskey in supermarkets. They have a cunning plan see.

 

depends on whether he is a whiskey drinker... or a drinker who prefers whiskey. there is a big difference.  Ive actually stopped buying whiskey as it goes off long before there is any chance of me finishing the bottle.

 

My vote... something different. Old Poulteney.

Agree with you about Highland Park.  It's my son in laws favourite.  Also you are the first person who agrees with me that whisky once opened goes off. I had a long argument with someone on a distillery tour (Jura I think) and he wouldn't have it. But it definitely does go off. I never open a bottle just before I go away because if I do when I come back its pretty vile. 

[Mickly]

Personally I find the peaty malts are like drinking a bonfire or the spent ashes of a 2 week old barbecue.

My absolute favourite is Oban whiskey, I went on a distillery tour there & it was a revelation, light & a hint of sea salt, apart from that Glenfiddich is my 2’nd choice.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Whisky goes off once opened? Not round here it doesn't. Doesn't get the chance. 

 

I have a very old bottle I've never opened. Our daughters won it on a tombola. I'd never heard of it so it got shoved to the back of the cupboard.  Years later I googled it. Apparently the distillery went bust but when that happens they store all the barrels as if someone buys the distillery they need aged whisky to sell. 

 

Eventually someone bought it and started to release small batches of whisky. Obviously they have to bridge the time until their new whisky is aged enough so only very limited amounts were released. Consequently it's selling to collectors for £300 - £400 a bottle. 

 

I have no idea what it tastes like as I've never dared open it. 

 

[daveinlim]

Does it need to be scotch?

I've been to the Dingle distillery  in Ireland this summer and their stuff was amazing. 

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-dingle-distillery/dingle-single-malt-whisky/

 

Also do you know anyone passing through duty free. Even coming back from Ireland we could bring 4 bottles of booze each and tax free. 

[Gerontious]

24 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

Agree with you about Highland Park.  It's my son in laws favourite.  Also you are the first person who agrees with me that whisky once opened goes off. I had a long argument with someone on a distillery tour (Jura I think) and he wouldn't have it. But it definitely does go off. I never open a bottle just before I go away because if I do when I come back its pretty vile. 

 

I do like a drink. though only occasionally, so buying a bottle of single malt isn't something I do any more. Ive moved over to Brandy and especially Armagnac which aren't as 'delicate'. Armagnac is completely stable so never goes off.

In my cupboard I have 3 bottles of Asbach Brandy. one of which Ive had since my solo trip during the pandemic. I bought another 2 bottles from the Rewe in neuerburg in September. €12 a bottle. rainy days cometh. I also have a bottle of hazelnut schnapps. which is so nice Im having to ration it. My goal is to finish off the bottle the night before we head back to neuerburg next September.. and I'll buy 2 bottles of it next time. The bottle stays in the fridge and I bring a glass up to my office. and mull over it for an hour.

If I head to France in June.. instead of Germany then one of my goals is to visit the Armagnac region and get busy.  It might take me 6 months to work my way through a bottle of Armagnac. each glass takes hours to properly appreciate. I like a drink, but I'm not a drinker.

 

This only changes when im on holiday and away from the madding crowds. and rampaging schizophrenics. 

[daveinlim]

15 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Whisky goes off once opened? Not round here it doesn't. Doesn't get the chance. 

 

I have a very old bottle I've never opened. Our daughters won it on a tombola. I'd never heard of it so it got shoved to the back of the cupboard.  Years later I googled it. Apparently the distillery went bust but when that happens they store all the barrels as if someone buys the distillery they need aged whisky to sell. 

 

Eventually someone bought it and started to release small batches of whisky. Obviously they have to bridge the time until their new whisky is aged enough so only very limited amounts were released. Consequently it's selling to collectors for £300 - £400 a bottle. 

 

I have no idea what it tastes like as I've never dared open it. 

 

 

Every now and then I pick up bottles as an investment. I've a few from closed distillerys but you have to hold on a long time and wait for the others out there to drink them or lose them to make it rare. I pick up a few macallan very rare when in duty free each year too. Worst thing that happens is I end up with some nice whisky 

[Tiggie]

Since we are talking about Whisky I thought I'd mention that last year whilst at my brothers we opened his bottle of johnnie walker blue label he had been saving for a special occasion. Its around £120-£150 a bottle so expected something nice. We both agreed it was crap and that the bottle of tin cup american whiskey (£30) he had tasted far better 

[Gerontious]

49 minutes ago, Tiggie said:

Since we are talking about Whisky I thought I'd mention that last year whilst at my brothers we opened his bottle of johnnie walker blue label he had been saving for a special occasion. Its around £120-£150 a bottle so expected something nice. We both agreed it was crap and that the bottle of tin cup american whiskey (£30) he had tasted far better 

Theres a funny story about Blue Label. it was invented in the 1980s and first appeared in 1992 for yuppies. remember them?

Marketing executives saw a niche market among people with more money than sense and so a legend was born. And now its become iconic. but it remains a blend and really only suitable for mixing with coke. Though there will always be people who will wax lyrical about it and tell you that they can taste this 60 year old malt. or that 45 year old malt within the blend. When something turns out to be very expensive its just human nature for people to tell you how great it is. This is what marketing is all about. And who knows more about marketing than Guinness?

Edited October 28, 2023 by Gerontious

[S-Westerly]

I was given a taste or two of Blue Label JW and didn't rate it at all. It was smooth enough but that was about all I could say in its favour. Bland. As a blend I'd prefer Chivas or even Famous Grouse or Jamesons Irish. Prefer malts myself given a choice and forgot Bushmills until just now. Nice whisky. Not keen on the Welsh whose name escapes me but sharred one with my son in law last year and the verdict was no thanks.

[Guest]

Good morning everyone.  I am really grateful for all the help and info.  I am learning lots about bikes but i've also learned a lot about whisky too   Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for your help advice and making me feel welcome.

 

JJ

[skyrider]

glenmorangie 

[RideWithStyles]

Depends on if they prefer blends, single malts, peated or non peated. 

 

The japs whiskeys are actually quite nice and easy going with a clean palette are generally non peat blended.

the aldi whiskeys are quite good and cheap, just depends if you ok with blends and knowing which part of Scotlands choices you prefer.

there is a tesco own label that's surprisingly good too.

 

famous grouse as a blend isnt too bad and not wasted as a mixer, if you like smokey the dark grouse wouldnt be sniffed at.

Im not keen on the Irish whiskeys and American stuff.

JW is trash, way overpriced trash.

Now for the record a good blend is abit of a craft in its self but single malts , non peated for me but my brother likes peated too.

 

My favourites of singles in alphabetical order.

Auchentoshan even the American oak.

Bruichladdich classic laddie blue bottle is my fav and a drop of water really makes this.

Dalwhinnie, winter one is quite nice.

Glenfiddich, common as muck but the standard.

Glengoyne, a small distillery.

Glenmorangie, similar to Fiddich but easier palette.

Laphroaig.

Tamnavulin, only the one but just can't remember though.

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2023 by RideWithStyles

[onesea]

I would not recommend the English whisky.

https://thenorfolkhub.co.uk/portfolio-item/the-english-whisky-company/

 

We passed a distillery on holiday so we stopped.

The salesmen started explaining to my other half how it was a good beginners whisky not to harsh.

 

My misses then explained how she like Laggavulin, Jura Talusker etc the heavier peaty Whisky’s, let’s just say we didn’t buy a bottle.

 

I did not disagree (I could not of got a word in edgeways). The salesman was left a little confused.  Had you not of already chosen I would of looked in the cupboard to see what she would of recommend

 

[skyrider]

a lot of years ago i was working in scotland and we went into the glenfidick whisky distilery and in there in a cabinet was a bottle for four grand and i heard that a japanese guy snapped it up

[S-Westerly]

4 hours ago, skyrider said:

a lot of years ago i was working in scotland and we went into the glenfidick whisky distilery and in there in a cabinet was a bottle for four grand and i heard that a japanese guy snapped it up

There was an auction of rare and exotic whiskies recently and there were rumours of 6 figure prices being asked for some bottles.  A bit rich for me I think.

[S-Westerly]

8 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

There was an auction of rare and exotic whiskies recently and there were rumours of 6 figure prices being asked for some bottles.  A bit rich for me I think.

Just looked it up and a 1926 Macallan was sold for almost $2,000,000 ! Apparently its one of 14 in private collections.  Do you just look at it or what. Doubt you're going to drink it! 

Edited October 30, 2023 by S-Westerly

[RideWithStyles]

Yep its true! Brother bought a four figure bottle once, I said its torture to the point of evil. its proper bitter sweet as its there to be seen so close waiting to be tasted, so tempting.
Sat there its worth value can only go up but its characterless and worth only as a trinket as is because you dont know what its actually like.

Give in , Open it to find out the knowledge and experience its value is next to nowt but the experience and knowledge of so few have is worth it?
 

Hmmmm maybe its one of those things if your in the position.

[geofferz]

Penderyn is delicious and quite unusual. Tastes like pineapple. Not peated at all. Talisker is the opposite. 

 

Sounds like your friend likes a range of whiskies which means they're easy to buy for. 

[S-Westerly]

3 hours ago, geofferz said:

Penderyn is delicious and quite unusual. Tastes like pineapple. Not peated at all. Talisker is the opposite. 

 

Sounds like your friend likes a range of whiskies which means they're easy to buy for. 

Penderyn is not to my taste but as you say someone who likes Penderyn and Talisker is going to be liking just about all of them.

[rennie]

I don't drink Whisky very often,

I hope opened bottles don't go off cos I've got loads of  'em! 

 

I don't like the peaty ones!

 

McClallan is pretty good 

[curlylegend]

On 30/10/2023 at 23:26, RideWithStyles said:

Yep its true! Brother bought a four figure bottle once, I said its torture to the point of evil. its proper bitter sweet as its there to be seen so close waiting to be tasted, so tempting.
Sat there its worth value can only go up but its characterless and worth only as a trinket as is because you dont know what its actually like.

Give in , Open it to find out the knowledge and experience its value is next to nowt but the experience and knowledge of so few have is worth it?
 

Hmmmm maybe its one of those things if your in the position.

It could actually be just coloured water.  Will you ever know ?  Stranger things have happened, and again I do genuinely speak from experience....