Scotch aged in bourbon wood

[Dave_in_Canada]

Although I haven't bought a scotch in some 2 years, a good client just did a trade with me, so I recieved a bottle of Bruichladdich 15yr.

I chose this bottling because it's from 80-85% first fill bourbon casks (OK, barrels, but once they're taken apart and put back together, they're casks). In any event it was really neat to nose and taste the bourbon in this product, which I have been unable to detect in other scotches aged with that much "first fill" bourbon wood.

Anybody have a similar experience with any other scotch brands?

[voigtman]

Dave, that Bruichladdich 15 is certainly a good one (as was the twenty)! I suggest trying the Glenmorangie 15. This is what it says on the tube the bottle comes in:

start quote

This ... whisky has been matured for fifteen years is casks of American White Oak, from the Ozark Mountains in Missouri, which have previously been used in the making of Bourbon. ... The 'seasoning' of these casks with bourbon removes the harsher oak characteristics ... we have found that transferring the mature whisky to air dried, freshly charred 'new oak' for a further period of 'finishing' adds other unique flavours and an intriguing spiciness. ... This craftmanship produces a malt with a uniquely rich and spicy character. The subtle and refined characteristics ... are all there: the floral bouquet and balance of flavours, enhanced and enriched with notes of vanilla, almond and raisins. The 'new wood' finishing adds a further flourish of toastiness, chocolate, allspice, wood shavings - all balanced by a rich fruitiness.

end quote

I bought a bottle because it is as close to a bourbon as a single malt might get: all ex-bourbon barrels for a long time, then freshly charred oak barrels for the finishing period. No idea of fill numbers, periods of maturation and finishing, etc. But it tastes very good indeed (I bought another bottle for the bunker) and the text on the tube sure sounds like bourbon lingo: vanilla, chocolate, raisins, etc. To me, it also has a pronounced honey note that is quite nice. And, of course, those pesky 'harsher oak characteristics'! Cheers, Ed

[Dave_in_Canada]

That's the only GM I haven't tried except for the Millenium. I don't care for their "finished" series althought they make a nice display on the mantel. Thanks for the advice on the 15.

[voigtman]

I don't like the finished series either. I think it's a stupid pet trick that needs to fade away. I like the 10 and 18 (which is now absurdly expensive), but I like the 15 best by a considerable margin. The only other Glenmo I've tried is the Sauternes finish, which is awful on all counts: weird nose, major confusion in the taste, and fast, pathetic finish. Luckily, it wasn't my bottle. Ed V.

[Jake_Parrott]

Slightly O/T, but Clontarf Irish is also aged in Bourbon barrels. Schneider's in DC is closing some out right now, and it's mightly tasty, with more taste of grain than cask (as is normal)...verrry smooth too, wanting no more than a drop of water.

[Ken Weber]

I believe that used Jack Daniel's barrels are used by Glenmorangie.

Ken

[chasking]

I believe that used Jack Daniel's barrels are used by Glenmorangie.

Ken

Glenmorangie and Jack Daniel's are linked through Brown-Forman. I'm not sure if Brown-Forman owns or just distributes Glenmorangie, but there's some connection there---Glenmorangie is listed as one of their brands on Brown-Forman's web site.

Last year I saw Jack Daniel's barrels at the Ardbeg distillery on Islay, waiting to be filled with their smoky spirit. (Ardbeg is owned by the same people who own Glenmorangie.)

[TNbourbon]

...I'm not sure if Brown-Forman owns or just distributes Glenmorangie, but there's some connection there---Glenmorangie is listed as one of their brands on Brown-Forman's web site...

Brown-Forman is the U.S. distributor for Glenmorangie, which was recently (October 2004) purchased by LVMH -- the French/European conglomerate -- for approximately $300M.