Kepler Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 (edited) Let's have a thread for Scotch, single malts or blended. What are you drinking or purchasing? Edited January 14 by Kepler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepler Posted January 14 Author Share Posted January 14 (edited) My favorite cold weather pour at the moment. It tastes like a fireplace somehow, without tasting like an ashtray. That's key for me Edited January 14 by Kepler 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinsfan1311 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 This earlier...but switched to the 16... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDN98 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 On 1/13/2024 at 10:17 PM, Kepler said: My favorite cold weather pour at the moment. It tastes like a fireplace somehow, without tasting like an ashtray. That's key for me That's a good one. Also loved A Tale of Cake. Still have one of each in reserve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepler Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 I picked up a couple of backups of the winter for future cold snaps! Sipping some right now as a matter of fact, while watching some NFL football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepler Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 5 hours ago, NDN98 said: That's a good one. Also loved A Tale of Cake. Still have one of each in reserve. Good call. I picked up a couple of backups of the winter for future cold snaps! Sipping some right now as a matter of fact, while watching some NFL football. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadGoodPour Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 snagged the "Whisky of the Year" will pop soon, as i think itll be around stores for a bit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasking Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 (edited) Last night we got together with some friends for a tasting of a variety of Islay malts. I picked up the Ardbeg variety pack (10yo, An Oa and Wee Beastie) and realized I had a few other peaty Islays that were not the usual suspects: Islay Storm and Kirkland’s, two mystery single malts; Kilchoman Machir Bay, and the real oddball: the Octomore “Futures Bottling”. The tasting also included Laphroaig 10yo (not pictured) which a friend provided. That Octomore expression is a pretty rare bird: when Bruichladdich (not then known for peated whisky) decided to experiment with peat, they went all-in and set out to make the peatiest whisky possible. Probably because nobody knew if it would actually be any good, they sold futures: people could buy it in advance in case lots; they distilled it and when the master distiller decided it was ready they would bottle it and futures buyers would get their whisky. Some friends and I went in on a case and I got a couple bottles. It was bottled at 5 years (distilled in October 2002; bottled in March 2006). It actually turned out pretty well: the peat is very strong but the whisky has a good flavor (Bruichladdich—what’s not to like?). Since then they have made more Octomore and Port Charlotte (not quite as heavy on the peat) but this was the first peated Bruichladdich whisky in modern history. The mystery malts held up well in the comparison. I’m curious where they’re from. Caol Ila seems the obvious suspect. I don’t have a bottle of that for comparison—a situation I may have to rectify! I do note that while the Kirkland’s unambiguously calls itself “Islay single malt Scotch whisky” the Islay Storm, while having “Islay” in its name, seems suspiciously careful to never use that phrase on the bottle—just “single malt Scotch whisky.” So it might have been made elsewhere. Anybody can get peated malt if they want it. Some people on the interwebs have mentioned Talisker, which could fit. Sorry, no detailed tasting notes. But the thread is, What are you drinking? And this is the answer. Edited January 21 by chasking 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 (edited) I have a pretty healthy assortment of nice bottles of Scotch on my bar. And while I enjoy them for what they are individually, I still really enjoy Johnny Walker Black. I always have it on my bar, and drink from it relatively regularly. It remains my most purchased bottle of scotch. Sipping on it out front by the fire this afternoon. Wonderfully balanced, and easily sipped, while interesting enough to keep me engaged. Edited January 21 by smokinjoe 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 Damn! I had a lineup of Scotches to hit last night for Burns Night, but spaced on it. So, I must have at least one for the occasion tonight. Ardbeg 10. Simplish Islay, but pleasing every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulO Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 I tried one recently that I really enjoyed - Smokey Joe Islay Blended Malt. I gather "blended malt" means the contents are 100% single malt, but sourced from more than one distillery. What attracted me was non chill filtered and bottled at 46%. If you want the campfire on the beach experience, this stuff delivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDN98 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 These are finally starting to hit my area, so I picked up one a couple weeks ago at MSRP. Not sure how it won "whisky of the year", but it is tasty and quite drinkable. Definitely a little lighter on the palate than most of the Scotch I typically drink, but it reminds me quite a bit of the Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake. Definitely get the pineapple notes and a hint of spice. Good finish too. I would buy this again. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvd99 Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 On 1/28/2024 at 9:01 AM, NDN98 said: These are finally starting to hit my area, so I picked up one a couple weeks ago at MSRP. Not sure how it won "whisky of the year", but it is tasty and quite drinkable. Definitely a little lighter on the palate than most of the Scotch I typically drink, but it reminds me quite a bit of the Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake. Definitely get the pineapple notes and a hint of spice. Good finish too. I would buy this again. I found it to be good, but not a whisky of the year for me 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepler Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 I was quite surprised to see this guy sitting on a sleepy shelf at a small store. Had to come home with me. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadGoodPour Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 On 1/21/2024 at 10:50 AM, chasking said: Last night we got together with some friends for a tasting of a variety of Islay malts. I picked up the Ardbeg variety pack (10yo, An Oa and Wee Beastie) and realized I had a few other peaty Islays that were not the usual suspects: Islay Storm and Kirkland’s, two mystery single malts; Kilchoman Machir Bay, and the real oddball: the Octomore “Futures Bottling”. The tasting also included Laphroaig 10yo (not pictured) which a friend provided. That Octomore expression is a pretty rare bird: when Bruichladdich (not then known for peated whisky) decided to experiment with peat, they went all-in and set out to make the peatiest whisky possible. Probably because nobody knew if it would actually be any good, they sold futures: people could buy it in advance in case lots; they distilled it and when the master distiller decided it was ready they would bottle it and futures buyers would get their whisky. Some friends and I went in on a case and I got a couple bottles. It was bottled at 5 years (distilled in October 2002; bottled in March 2006). It actually turned out pretty well: the peat is very strong but the whisky has a good flavor (Bruichladdich—what’s not to like?). Since then they have made more Octomore and Port Charlotte (not quite as heavy on the peat) but this was the first peated Bruichladdich whisky in modern history. The mystery malts held up well in the comparison. I’m curious where they’re from. Caol Ila seems the obvious suspect. I don’t have a bottle of that for comparison—a situation I may have to rectify! I do note that while the Kirkland’s unambiguously calls itself “Islay single malt Scotch whisky” the Islay Storm, while having “Islay” in its name, seems suspiciously careful to never use that phrase on the bottle—just “single malt Scotch whisky.” So it might have been made elsewhere. Anybody can get peated malt if they want it. Some people on the interwebs have mentioned Talisker, which could fit. Sorry, no detailed tasting notes. But the thread is, What are you drinking? And this is the answer. i got the ardbeg Monster set too, too cool to resist. that octomore is a sick tick, had many old bruichladdich never seen that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvd99 Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Mrs jvd99 knows what’s up. She made a secret trip to Binnys for me…. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anwalt Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Got Rare Perfection 14 from KL at 1/2 price, recommended by geclbxf. I like it, quite a bit. Really hits the sippy sweet nice finish spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryT Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Picked up at auction a Cutty Sark Tam O'Shanter; not inexpensive after the hammer price/shipping but the lot was $130 less than the last one that was sold as it was missing the box (which I didn't give a shit about since I bought it for drinking). Never would have guessed that a Cutty Sark would be in my top 10 favs, and glad to have been able to sample Big Rich's! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinsfan1311 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 Mrs. Skinsfan gifted me this one for Christmas. Whew! This is a serious peat bomb! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepler Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 Glendronach 15 year. It just sounded good tonight, and I was right. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDN98 Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 On 2/29/2024 at 10:09 PM, Kepler said: Glendronach 15 year. It just sounded good tonight, and I was right. This one hits the spot for me more often than not. I am a big fan of the entire Glendronach line, but from a value perspective, I really like the 15 and the Cask Strength. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bourbon Boiler Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 Found an inherited bottle from the 60s or 70s that was a bit plain - perhaps oxidized. Pic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinsfan1311 Posted April 21 Share Posted April 21 The Caps are driving me to drink! It's a little cool out, so this is a perfect pour.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepler Posted April 22 Author Share Posted April 22 (edited) Saturday night at a whiskey sharing event I had my first sample of Highland Park, probably ever if I remember correctly. It was the regular 12 year and I liked it. Granted, it was the last pour of the night after trying many many small samples of various bourbons and ryes, so my palate was basically burned out. I am a Scotch newbie and I've steered clear of peated smoky scotches because some that I've tried at bars turned me off (Islays with medicinal iodine and band-aid notes). I think I should try the Highland Park 12 again at a bar in a normal setting (without palate fatigue) before buying a bottle. I guess I'm a little "peat curious" and somewhat interested in at least dipping my toe into that world gradually (very gradually) to see what it's about... but looking for trusted SB. com advice on that. Question: is the HP 12 Year or the Cask Strength the one to get? The CS gets some outstanding reviews, so just wondering what the advice is. Or are there any other "lightly peated" scotches you would recommend instead for someone like me that enjoys sherried unpeated single malts? Edited April 22 by Kepler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvd99 Posted April 23 Share Posted April 23 Opened a dusty from the bunker - Balvenie 17 year sherry cask - of course the cork broke - a perfect opportunity to try Mrs.jvd99's X-Mas present, a broken cork remover which I saw someone use on SB - welp, it didn't work, just pushed the cork in - so I I went manual and got one of my old Weller 107 bottles, a small funnel and a strainer and decanted into the Weller bottle, then back into the original bottle - found an old Balvenie cork (thanks again SB for advice to collect corks for this specific situation) but it didn't fit, but found a Springbank cork that fit - all good. This is a spectacular dram after all said and done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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