What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[boss302]

Tonight, I'm tasting some of Glenrothes Select Reserve. NAS, but I'd peg it around 10-12 years.

Definitely a hint of orange rind, a pinch of clove, and a nutty, yeasty dry Sherry note.

For the record, this whisky has been matured in both American and Spanish Oak.

I had been enjoying Tomatin 12-year, but that has all but completely disappeared from the store shelves in a very short time...

[JamesW]

On to another mixing of 50% Talisker 10, 30% Caol Ila, and 20% Laphroaig QC. Marvelous combination! Spicy, smokey, works great!

[boss302]

On to another mixing of 50% Talisker 10, 30% Caol Ila, and 20% Laphroaig QC. Marvelous combination! Spicy, smokey, works great!

I'd like to know what adding a heavy, sherried malt, like Aberlour or Macallan, would do to such a blend...

[Halifax]

Cracked open a bottle of JW Blk that I got for Christmas.

[JamesW]

I'd like to know what adding a heavy, sherried malt, like Aberlour or Macallan, would do to such a blend...

[JamesW]

Tonoght I started with a vatting of Black bottle and Lap QC. Next some Talisker and Caol Ila mixed and now some Bunnahabhain all on its own.

[PAspirit1]

I started with a Guinness and then moved on to a small pour of Dewars. I then realized that I have some Caol Ila 12 and it is Friday. I had a small pour. The mouth entry is as sweet as ginger ale and then quickly after is a very dry, ash-like (in a good way) flavor. The sweetness is there in the backround. From Islay I have had, aside from this, Talisker 10 and Compass Box Peat Monster and I liked them all alot. I just always want to have one around. They have to be aged though. I have had Bowmore Legend and McClellands and they just aren't the same.

[Megawatt]

I started with a Guinness and then moved on to a small pour of Dewars. I then realized that I have some Caol Ila 12 and it is Friday. I had a small pour. The mouth entry is as sweet as ginger ale and then quickly after is a very dry, ash-like (in a good way) flavor. The sweetness is there in the backround. From Islay I have had, aside from this, Talisker 10 and Compass Box Peat Monster and I liked them all alot. I just always want to have one around. They have to be aged though. I have had Bowmore Legend and McClellands and they just aren't the same.

How did you like Caol Ila compared to Talisker 10? I should point out that Talisker is not an Islay, and neither is the Peat Monster. Talisker is from the Isle of Skye whereas the Peat Monster is a blend of malts, including Ardmore from the Highlands and Caol Ila. Both great whiskies, in any case.

[Megawatt]

Enjoying some mid-afternoon drams. Started with Glenkinchie 12, one of my favourites. Bright aromas of orange and lemon. And rosewater. Delicious bittersweet balance on the palate. Oatmeal, strangely. Very full and lasting flavour. Delicious!

Then on to Auchentoshan 12, another Lowland, which is quite fantastic. Such clean malt flavour that I want to call it Longmorn Lite. Very crisp with sawdust and butterscotch on the nose. A hint of smoke on the finish. Subtle and engaging.

Switching gears, I'm finishing up with a'bunadh batch 23. Rich, fruity, cognac-like nose. Thick, oily, buttery in the mouth. Peanut brittle. Intense. No water in this dram. I can take it either way, depending on my mood. A bit funky on the finish; rubber. I'll be sad to see this one go.

[loose proton]

On to another mixing of 50% Talisker 10, 30% Caol Ila, and 20% Laphroaig QC. Marvelous combination! Spicy, smokey, works great!

though I rarely do vatting, Laphroig and Stagg 50:50 proved interesting. Not as good as either by itself, but interesting. Give it a try if you have stagg running around in the house.

[CorvallisCracker]

though I rarely do vatting, Laphroig and Stagg 50:50 proved interesting. Not as good as either by itself, but interesting. Give it a try if you have stagg running around in the house.

:skep:

"May you live in interesting times"

- ancient Chinese curse

[MrAtomic]

How did you like Caol Ila compared to Talisker 10? I should point out that Talisker is not an Islay, and neither is the Peat Monster. Talisker is from the Isle of Skye whereas the Peat Monster is a blend of malts, including Ardmore from the Highlands and Caol Ila. Both great whiskies, in any case.

Megawatt,

Your questions wasn't directed at me, but as I've been drinking Caol Ila and Talisker lately, I thought I'd throw my opinion into the mix. This isn't an apples-to-apples comparison, as the Caol Ila is a cask-strength, un-chillfiltered 8 year-old and the Talisker is a lower-proof 10 year-old (I don't know the extent to which Talisker is filtered).

The Caol Ila is a G & M bottling for Binny's. It is a powerful, almost brutal whiskey, with an initial smell and flavor of bacon/butter, followed by a wave of tasty but one-dimensional peat, and ending with some sweet vanilla. These flavors arrive one after the other -- meat, peat, then sweet. There isn't much integration and none of the individual tastes seem very influenced by time spent in the barrel (maybe the vanilla?).

The Talisker 10 is comparatively subtle and integrated, with more salt, smoke, and what I think is graininess. My palate isn't experienced enough to name every flavor I can taste, but it seems malty/grainy. These flavors are more balanced than those in the Caol Ila, and I'd happily drink Talisker 10 on a regular basis. I feel funny describing Talisker 10 as "subtle," because it's a flavorful, interesting whiskey, but the Caol Ila is a bruiser.

I'd say the Caol Ila has a nicer, oily texture, and a tasty "bacon-ness" I haven't yet found in other whiskies. It's a lot of fun, and for all its aggression, ends with that nice bit of vanilla. The Talisker wins out on sophistication, brininess, and the smooth smokiness.

[PAspirit1]

How did you like Caol Ila compared to Talisker 10? I should point out that Talisker is not an Islay, and neither is the Peat Monster. Talisker is from the Isle of Skye whereas the Peat Monster is a blend of malts, including Ardmore from the Highlands and Caol Ila. Both great whiskies, in any case.

I forgot that Talisker was not from Islay. I had a nip of it that night after the Caol Ila and I didn't notice the same big change in gears from sweet to peaty-ashy. The Talisker also seemed slightly milder but it was kind of late for any serious analysis. I guess it is not coincidence that my notes for Peat Monster and Caol Ila are the same.

I couldn't pick a favorite between them. The Compass Box was a while ago. I'll have to try a proper side by side with the Caol and the little I have left of the Talisker.

[JamesW]

Last night I started with Whitehorse (which is fast becoming one of my favorite NAS blends, second maybe to Black Bottle). The WH has a nice spicy kick (from the Talisker I presume) but surprisingly little smoke (I want smoke!). After that I had some Talisker 10 which provided the contrast of smoke etc... Last I savored some Laphroaig QC which didn't come off as well as it usually does. Not sure if it was the cold I'm fighting off or just the ordering I selected for the night.

[ILLfarmboy]

Last night I had a couple double-pours of JW Black at a local restaurant, Cerar's Barnstormer in Monmouth. We sat down at the bar while waiting for a table. I couldn't see any bourbon on the back bar. I immagine it was there, but it was very busy so I ordered the JW (which I could see) instead.

I think this was the first time I paired scotch with steak. I would have prefered bourbon but their 16 ounce ribeye was soooo gooood I could have drank water from a muddy hoof print and it wouldn't have mattered.

[Dramiel McHinson]

I just finished a Glenmorangie Nectar D'or. This expression was extra matured in a sauternes cask. It was very smooth. The sauternes flavors were very evident and worked really well with the light maltiness and oak. The sweetness makes this a great after dinner dram.

[Megawatt]

I just finished a Glenmorangie Nectar D'or. This expression was extra matured in a sauternes cask. It was very smooth. The sauternes flavors were very evident and worked really well with the light maltiness and oak. The sweetness makes this a great after dinner dram.

Sounds like good stuff. Too bad it's around $90 in Ontario.

I'm enjoying Redbreast 12. Fantastic stuff: crisp, fruity, buttery. Earlier, Wiser's 18. First-rate Canadian. A ton of oak, with butterscotch, vanilla, sweet spice and dried leaves.

[IowaJeff]

I'm going to a scotch tasting tomorrow night (with a few Americans mixed in). The tasting roster is below. I'm not going to take detailed notes, but if I can keep my wits about me will try to post some of my thoughts. I'm not much of a scotch drinker, but it should be fun.

[OscarV]

I'm going to a scotch tasting tomorrow night (with a few Americans mixed in).

I would go with the scotch.

I've never had any of those scotch whiskeys but the bourbons I do know, they are very forgetful.

[IowaJeff]

I agree. When they said they were going to do some American whiskey too I was excited to taste some side by side with scotch. But when I saw the list I was a bit disappointed. Only one bourbon and its mediocre at best.

[Dramiel McHinson]

Sounds like good stuff. Too bad it's around $90 in Ontario.

.

EGADS!!!!:bigeyes: I thought it was mighty stiff at $70. It's great stuff but the price ensures I'll have to keep the empty bottle and pray for a winning lottery ticket if I want more. The Glenmorangie Original is also very good and has a very similar taste profile. Its also only $36 here so much more likely to stay on my shelf.

[Megawatt]

Glenkinchie 12. One of my personal favourites. The floral aromas and flavours in this whisky are incredible, and I am just starting to notice the undercurrent of peat.

[ebo]

Right now, I'm having a nice little dram of Grant's Family Reserve blended Scotch. I'm definitely a single malt kind of guy, but sometimes the wallet dictates what I drink for the time being. This stuff isn't terrible, by any means, but it does taste like your run of the mill blend.

[JamesW]

Started the night (after much wine) with Ardberg Uigedail. Great dram.

[Megawatt]

Started the night (after much wine) with Ardberg Uigedail. Great dram.

This has just become available in Ontario. The price is prohibitive (aroud $165) but my brother is thinking of picking it up as a birthday malt.