What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[Megawatt]

While we're on the topic of blends, I'm having a glass of Johnnie Black and enjoying the heck out of it. Picked it up on sale for $39. Here are some notes from a glass I had last night:

Nose

Not as peaty as I initially thought. Very sweet. Vanilla, some sort of cherry-flavoured candy, with a tarry background. Hints of Glenkinchie and Talisker emerge.

Taste

Warm and peaty, becoming sweeter. Dried fruit (raisins). Slightly floral. Quite lovely. A soft grain bite.

Body

Medium.

Finish

Sweet. Persisting fruit, but with an herbal dryness. Medium length.

[ebo]

Ok... I had a pour of Ballentine's last night. It wasn't nearly as bland as I remember it... three years ago...lol.

Maybe I've become a single malt snob, I don't know, but I still found the Ballentine's to be nothing special. I like Johnny Black too... I always have a bottle of it, but I have to pay $35.00 for it. For $5.00 more, I can get a bottle of Ardmore Traditional Cask. I'll take that any day over JW Black.

If Ballentine's is held in such high regard amoung blends, why is it so cheap? I can get it for $11.00 and change. Maybe I should be asking why JW Black, Chivas, Dewars, etc... cost so much?

[Megawatt]

Ok... I had a pour of Ballentine's last night. It wasn't nearly as bland as I remember it... three years ago...lol.

Maybe I've become a single malt snob, I don't know, but I still found the Ballentine's to be nothing special. I like Johnny Black too... I always have a bottle of it, but I have to pay $35.00 for it. For $5.00 more, I can get a bottle of Ardmore Traditional Cask. I'll take that any day over JW Black.

If Ballentine's is held in such high regard amoung blends, why is it so cheap? I can get it for $11.00 and change. Maybe I should be asking why JW Black, Chivas, Dewars, etc... cost so much?

Ballantine's is a 3-year-old blend. Those others you mentioned are 12-year-old blends. Voila.

Unless you are talking about Dewar's White, which shouldn't cost any more than Ballantine's Finest.

[ebo]

Ballantine's is a 3-year-old blend. Those others you mentioned are 12-year-old blends. Voila.

Unless you are talking about Dewar's White, which shouldn't cost any more than Ballantine's Finest.

Now I just feel silly. I never thought about age .

I'm not really trying to say that blends are bad or inferior to single malts... just that I find them all to be somewhat similar in the taste profile. Like I said, I haven't tried the more expensive blends. I'm sure they are very good, but, if I'm going to spend $80.00 or more on a bottle, I'm certainly not going to spend it on a blend.

[Lost Pollito]

I like blends, but you gotta know what you're gettin. Grain with malt. 95% of the Scotch business. It's always gonna be user friendly, chill-filtered, and not as interesting as a cask strength non-chillfiltered single malt. For those reasons, I usually opt for the single malts at cask strength, or at least non-chill. That being said, blends can be a nice alternative. Just a lil to wee for me usually. :grin:

[AVB]

Then you are going to miss out on some outstanding drams. The latest Campbeltown Loch 30 is only $50 list and even with shipping from the UK under $80. Cutty Sark 25 was voted the best whisky in the world in 2003 and my all time favorite blend is the Whyte & Mackay 30($210 from the UK but $300+ here). In the US the Black Bull 30 (~$170) is outstanding and the new (UK only) Black Bull 40 is even better at about $180 delivered.

Now I just feel silly. I never thought about age .

..I'm sure they are very good, but, if I'm going to spend $80.00 or more on a bottle, I'm certainly not going to spend it on a blend.

[AVB]

Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 yo is tonight's dram.

[Lost Pollito]

I agree. The Bull is awesome. Also, The Last drop was ridiculous but a vat IIRC. Also the new Sheep Dip Vat.

[AVB]

That Last Drop was way overpriced and not as good as I would have thought. However, the host who bought it liked it enough so I guess that made it OK for him. Haven't had the new Dip but I have an old one on the shelf. Wouldn't take much to improve it. Reminds me I need a Pig's Nose to set next to it.

[Lost Pollito]

Overpriced is being kind. But it certainly was delicious. The new dip is better imo.

[The Boozer]

Started with a 1/2-1/2 Black Bottle and Laphroaig QC vatting. This method of mixing other Islays with Black Bottle works great! Now I'm enjoying a 1/2 - 1/2 of Uigedail with Black Bottle. Again, lots of flavor from the expensive pour with Black Bottle almost like an empty canvas. This trick really helps you stretch these expensive pours out.

James - I tried this w/Laphroaig CS and Ardbeg 10 yr. (two separate pours) Mix was 1/3 Black bottle and 2/3 SM. Very good. The Black Bottle added just a tad more sweetness to each pour. I liked the CS/BB mixture just a little better than the Ardbeg/BB mixture.

TJ

[JamesW]

James - I tried this w/Laphroaig CS and Ardbeg 10 yr. (two separate pours) Mix was 1/3 Black bottle and 2/3 SM. Very good. The Black Bottle added just a tad more sweetness to each pour. I liked the CS/BB mixture just a little better than the Ardbeg/BB mixture.

TJ

Thanks for letting me know how it worked out. I agree with the slight sweetness being added. Try using more BB and less CS and you'll see that even in reversed amounts to what you've tried you can get that high priced profile coming through. Anyways, while not the same as having your CS full-strength, it does provide a less expensive way to enjoy the profile without too much loss of flavor.

Cheers!

[JamesW]

While we're on the topic of blends, I'm having a glass of Johnnie Black and enjoying the heck out of it. Picked it up on sale for $39. Here are some notes from a glass I had last night:

Nose

Not as peaty as I initially thought. Very sweet. Vanilla, some sort of cherry-flavoured candy, with a tarry background. Hints of Glenkinchie and Talisker emerge.

Taste

Warm and peaty, becoming sweeter. Dried fruit (raisins). Slightly floral. Quite lovely. A soft grain bite.

Body

Medium.

Finish

Sweet. Persisting fruit, but with an herbal dryness. Medium length.

I haven't had the Walker Black in about 6 months. Your notes have me running out to get one that's on sale for 28.99. Also Chivas Regal 12 is 25.99 and the 18 is 52.99.... yehaaa :grin:

[JamesW]

Tonight while watching the Big Game I started with Ballantine's Finest, Bunnahabhain 12, Laphroaig QC, and now finishing off with Bowmore 17.

[ebo]

You all have me re-thinking my position on blends. I used to drink Chivas Regal, back about 15 years or so ago. I remember that I did like it quite well. It got to be too expensive, so, I quit buying it. It costs $42.00 in my part of Ohio. For a few dollars more, I can get decent single malts, which is why, I suppose, I don't give blends much thought these days.

Other than the bottle of JW Black that I always have, because it costs $35.00 and is a relatively cheap every day pour, what would you suggest I try?

My three main pours of single malt that I have on hand most of the time are: Macallan 12, Ardmore Traditional Cask and Glenmorangie 10. Are there any affordable blends that fit any of those taste profiles?

[Megawatt]

You all have me re-thinking my position on blends. I used to drink Chivas Regal, back about 15 years or so ago. I remember that I did like it quite well. It got to be too expensive, so, I quit buying it. It costs $42.00 in my part of Ohio. For a few dollars more, I can get decent single malts, which is why, I suppose, I don't give blends much thought these days.

Other than the bottle of JW Black that I always have, because it costs $35.00 and is a relatively cheap every day pour, what would you suggest I try?

My three main pours of single malt that I have on hand most of the time are: Macallan 12, Ardmore Traditional Cask and Glenmorangie 10. Are there any affordable blends that fit any of those taste profiles?

Boy, that's a tough one. In my opinion, you're not going to find an affordable blend to compete with those, mainly because the "cheaper" blends are all quite young. And if you buy a good aged blend, you are losing the price advantage.

That said, you might try Whyte and Mackay Special. It is one of the best I've had and has a nice, supple sherried flavour which could satisfy your Macallan craving for a low price. Their Thirteen is very good but approaches single malt prices around here.

Another sensible choice would be The Famous Grouse, since The Macallan is a component along with Highland Park. If you like some smoke The Black Grouse is even better. The Famous Grouse also has some excellent aged whiskies but most of them are blended malts, not true blends. Still, their 12 year old malt represents unparalleled value.

[JamesW]

You all have me re-thinking my position on blends. I used to drink Chivas Regal, back about 15 years or so ago. I remember that I did like it quite well. It got to be too expensive, so, I quit buying it. It costs $42.00 in my part of Ohio. For a few dollars more, I can get decent single malts, which is why, I suppose, I don't give blends much thought these days.

Other than the bottle of JW Black that I always have, because it costs $35.00 and is a relatively cheap every day pour, what would you suggest I try?

My three main pours of single malt that I have on hand most of the time are: Macallan 12, Ardmore Traditional Cask and Glenmorangie 10. Are there any affordable blends that fit any of those taste profiles?

[AVB]

A little Johnnie Walker Swing tonight.

[Megawatt]

A little Johnnie Walker Swing tonight.

How is that one?

[OscarV]

Not the Ardbeg Corryveckan!

I ordered one last week and the retailer told me today that they were out!

Oh whoa is me!

[AVB]

I did a review of it a few years ago here.

How is that one?

[CorvallisCracker]

Not the Ardbeg Corryveckan!

I ordered one last week and the retailer told me today that they were out!

Oh whoa is me!

Whoa is for your horse. Woe is for you.

[OscarV]

Whoa is for your horse. Woe is for you.

I stand corrected, thank you Sir.

[JamesW]

1/2 Ballantine's Finest with 1/2 Black Bottle. Next I enjoyed some HP12, and now I'm finishing the evening with a really great Bunnahabhain 12.

[unclebunk]

1/2 Ballantine's Finest with 1/2 Black Bottle. Next I enjoyed some HP12, and now I'm finishing the evening with a really great Bunnahabhain 12.

Looks like you've turned the corner of the Bunnhabhain. Tasty stuff, eh?