What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[Jono]

"I ended up dumping it."

Ouch! Too bad you did not enjoy it. It seems people either love or hate sherry barrel aged whiskey. I have enjoyed Macallan as one of my first single malts.

[boss302]

I wish I knew someone who liked it in my area about two years ago. I bought a bottle and didn't care for it at all. Way too much sherry. I ended up dumping it. It would have only served as a reminder to the wife how much I spent on something I didn't drink. I actually bought it because I thought the sherry influence would be comparable to what I had experienced from Irish whiskeys. Boy, somehow it was totally different, sharp, like when you burp up in your mouth. I hope I didn't gross anyone out with that description.

It really is better at around 86 proof. The cask-strength MacAllan does have a ton of Sherry taste.

It's also worth noting that the Irish whiskeys you're referring to (I'm guessing 12-year or 18-year Jameson) still use a lot of American Oak, with only a smaller portion being Spanish.

Secondly, MacAllan is one of the few distilleries that can actually get their hands on ex-sherry casks-- most "Sherry Matured" whisk(e)y nowadays are not matured in Spanish Oak casks used for Sherry exactly once, but used several times. High grade ex-sherry casks are difficult to get a hold of nowadays, hence the rise in popularity of French Oak, Port Pipes, and Madeira Drums.

[ILLfarmboy]

It really is better at around 86 proof. The cask-strength MacAllan does have a ton of Sherry taste.

It's also worth noting that the Irish whiskeys you're referring to (I'm guessing 12-year or 18-year Jameson) still use a lot of American Oak, with only a smaller portion being Spanish.

Secondly, MacAllan is one of the few distilleries that can actually get their hands on ex-sherry casks-- most "Sherry Matured" whisk(e)y nowadays are not matured in Spanish Oak casks used for Sherry exactly once, but used several times. High grade ex-sherry casks are difficult to get a hold of nowadays, hence the rise in popularity of French Oak, Port Pipes, and Madeira Drums.

That's informative.

I never understood why such a different "sherry" influence. The sherry influence in Jameson 12, 18, Bushmills 10 and Redbreast 12 is soft and fruity where that that I tasted in the Mcallan was sharp and not to my liking.

[Luna56]

Back home tonight after a grueling ten day trip away from home. A nice, big pour of Talisker was my reward for my labors and is greatly appreciated.

Got the flu while traveling and after I healed up some I decided to try to locate some good bourbon to no avail. In a decent restaurant in the Los Angeles area the best whisky I could find was Macallan 12, an utter disappointment.

Back home with the Talisker is really working for me now though, and all prior miseries are forgotten.

Cheers!

[Gov]

Macallan is an aquired taste

[JamesW]

Clynelish 14 and now Bowmore 17

[Gov]

Yamazaki 12 yrs old. Lemony, ginger, zesty, a bit of smoke, fruity. Its very nice and a great change of pace

[Megawatt]

Yamazaki 12 yrs old. Lemony, ginger, zesty, a bit of smoke, fruity. Its very nice and a great change of pace

[Stu]

We had a dregs party tonight . First we killed a bottle of Redbrest. Then we finished the Glenlevit Naddurra, then we finished with an Old Ballantraun (a peated Tomintoul) not available in the US (darn it!) Just about a dram apiece in each of the bottles. Then a supper of deer marinated in Kaluha, rum, and bourbon served over noodles with port wine. You wonder why I'm fat?

[Lost Pollito]

Stu, that meal sounds fantastic. What dreg did you favor the most?

[Stu]

Stu, that meal sounds fantastic. What dreg did you favor the most?

[JamesW]

Fighting off a cold with some Ardberg Uigedail. What's not to love about this one?

[JamesW]

Hitting the Ardberg again and again. Just magnificent! It's truly rare that I only drink from one bottle all evening. I am truly smitten!

[Megawatt]

I'm going international tonight: Jim Beam Black, McClelland's Speyside, and Alberta Premium Limited Edition.

[Tennessee Dave]

Glenfiddich 15 yo Solera Reserve.

[JamesW]

Last night it was Clynelish 14, Ardberg 10, then Ardberg Uigedail. Yum

[Martian]

Ballentine's Finest. This new bottling is an outstanding everyday blend. I would rather sip this than many much more expensive single malt Speysides or Highlands.

[PAspirit1]

Ballentine's Finest. This new bottling is an outstanding everyday blend. I would rather sip this than many much more expensive single malt Speysides or Highlands.

I've been drinking alot of blends lately. I've been pleasanty surprised. I have that one open now and I like it too.

[Megawatt]

Ballentine's Finest. This new bottling is an outstanding everyday blend. I would rather sip this than many much more expensive single malt Speysides or Highlands.

I don't know about taking it over single malts, but I prefer it to other blends like Teacher's and Grant's. Nice balance between grain, sherry, and smoke.

[Gov]

First it was Black Bottle NAS with a splash of Caol Ila 12

then Dewars 12 and now A'Bunadh #21

[PAspirit1]

I don't know about taking it over single malts, but I prefer it to other blends like Teacher's and Grant's. Nice balance between grain, sherry, and smoke.

[Martian]

I've come to the conclusion that if I'm going to spend the money for a single malt Scotch it's going to be an Islay. Otherwise, it's going to be a blend for me. The one exception is the northern highland Dalwhinnie 15 that I would buy for a special occasion.

[ElasticalGomez]

I've come to the conclusion that if I'm going to spend the money for a single malt Scotch it's going to be an Islay.

Was just about to say:

I did my taxes today and $700 magical dollars more than I expected appeared out of seemingly nowhere. I celebrated this immediately by picking up a bottle of Laphroaig, my favorite scotch. Unfortunately only the 10 year, since I had to pick up a new bottle of my first love (bourbon) and keep it under an even buck.

:grin:

[JamesW]

Starting the evening with Glenlivet Nadurra. Just the right proof (~120) to knock this cold out of me.

[Lost Pollito]

Attended a Rosebank tasting last night. 9 different bottles, with the winner being a 25 year old Flor & Fauna. Suprising to me, was that these triple distilled lowlanders were quite complex, and very very good. Just a wonderful old distillery lost to Diageo. They're ( not Diageo..but the new owners) ,are turning the old place into Condo's. So lame. Followed that up with a 6 year old Laphroaig that was fantastic, and a new batch of Wasmunds. I have not cared for Wasmunds at all, but this lateset batch..25, is really starting to show promise. Batch 5...not so much.