What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[ebo]

Cracked open a bottle of Macallan Cask Strenghth. This scotch is a deep brown with a noticeable ruby glow. At 58.6 ABV, it has a nice grip on the taste buds. In fact , I thought my buds were going to abandon ship when I first poured the Macallan on top of them. It could just be me, but I would give this pour the mouth grenade label. If you like the regular Macallan 12 yo, you will love this one. It has the same nose and taste with the addition of 21 inch biceps and a grip like a pit bull. The sherry and nutty oak palate is balanced with a sweet malty background.

I have about one pour left in my bottle. Been saving it for some unkown reason. I need to get another bottle of this. I like the regular 12 very much... and the 18 even better (can't afford it). The cask strength is wonderfull, IMO.

[ebo]

Killing off the last of my $22.00 bottle of McClellend's Islay. I probably won't get another. It isn't very good.... even at that price.

[Gillman]

Spice Tree Malt Scotch Whisky, the current release. It has an appealing flavour, peat-accented with notes of orange and spice, and a pillow-soft body and texture. Some French wood is used in the finishing stage. Not to be missed and a bargain IMO.

Gary

[Megawatt]

Killing off the last of my $22.00 bottle of McClellend's Islay. I probably won't get another. It isn't very good.... even at that price.

Agreed. It has a dirty taste to it.

[ebo]

I decided as good as the OGD BiB was tasting, what I really wanted was a nice, Toffee, butterscotchy Scotch. So... Cragganmore 12 is filling the need/want nicely.

[boss302]

Spice Tree Malt Scotch Whisky, the current release. It has an appealing flavour, peat-accented with notes of orange and spice, and a pillow-soft body and texture. Some French wood is used in the finishing stage. Not to be missed and a bargain IMO.

Gary

... Talk dirty to me! LOL!

But, yeah, Compass Box releases some amazing whiskies!

[unclebunk]

What do you guys think about the lowland whisky, Auchentoshan? I saw a great deal on Auchentoshan yesterday and nearly pulled the trigger but thought I'd research it a bit before making the purchase.

[ebo]

My favorite Auchentoshan is the Three Wood. It's matured in Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks.

The Classic Auchentoshan is light and crisp like an Irish. It's good, but I definitely prefer the Three Wood.

[unclebunk]

My favorite Auchentoshan is the Three Wood. It's matured in Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks.

The Classic Auchentoshan is light and crisp like an Irish. It's good, but I definitely prefer the Three Wood.

Thanks for the info. I found the standard expression for $28 and couldn't believe the price, so I think I'll grab it first and then pick up the Three Wood to do a side-by-side.

[TBoner]

I'm starting the evening with some Balvenie Signature. This will be followed by a Signatory bottling of Cragganmore. Then, probably some American whiskeys, but maybe Glenfarclas 105.

Best,

T

[aaronbarker]

Just opened a Gooderham & Worts Small Batch #4. Like a Glengoyne with spice and a peppery finish, nice!

have fun,

aaron

[Dramiel McHinson]

Popped the cork on a Glen Garioch 8 year old at 40% ABV. Nice looking bottle art. I wasn't expecting much from an 8 year old but was pleasantly surprised by a nicely balanced nose and palate that was well developed. The oak tannins were crisp but not dominating the nice blend of honey, citrus, heather, roasted cereal and a little white pepper at the finish.

[BigRich]

I hit the Macallan 12 pretty hard over the week.

[unclebunk]

Finally picked up my Auchentoshan Three Wood. Very full flavored lowland whisky and impressed several of my hard-to-please friends.

[ebo]

Finally picked up my Auchentoshan Three Wood. Very full flavored lowland whisky and impressed several of my hard-to-please friends.

[Dramiel McHinson]

After a stressful day of trying to learn how to play Barbies with my 4 year old grand daughter, I decided the Glenfarclas 17 year old would be just the thing to ease me back into reality. Great blend of sherried smokey oak with all the required toasted cereal, dried dates, and a nice hit of pepper and allspice.

[BigRich]

I had poker night at my place last night and we hit the liquor cabinet pretty hard. Personally, I was rotating between Royal Salute, Dewar's Signature, and Lagavulin.

[unclebunk]

I had poker night at my place last night and we hit the liquor cabinet pretty hard. Personally, I was rotating between Royal Salute, Dewar's Signature, and Lagavulin.

Sounds like a good time! Just received an unexpected check in the mail, so I'm pouring a splash of Balvenie DoubleWood to celebrate. Nothing like a mid-day dram.

[smokinjoe]

I know this shouldn't be in the "foreign whiskey" section, but I didn't know where else to put it. Anywho, sipping on a McCarthy's Single Malt. Peaty, smoky, and plenty tasty. As blasphemous as this may sound to the dark siders...(of which, I have been known to trod, from time to time...but, don't tell anyone...) ....I'll take this over Ardbeg 10 any day of the week. Which, reminds me...I need to get one of those Ugedales...Ugedells...Uhgadeals...Ugahdails....Ugad....Uggas (Go Dawgs!!!)...Ugh...You know what I mean.......

[unclebunk]

Powers Irish Whiskey. I don't usually buy whiskey from duty free since I can usually get it cheaper on line here in Japan, or off the street in the US, and the selection often isn't so great either.... but I was flying back through Detroit and found liter bottles of Powers (nas), two for $33. Thanks to this thread, Mr. Gillman in particular, I believe, for touting this juice, I snatched up a couple Ls. Yesterday, I opened it up with a couple colleagues, an Englishman who makes narrowminded snooty snipey comments about bourbon , and a new guy, a Scotsman. All three of us liked it too much, ...silky, coppery, shamrocky?... I finally put it away for safety's sake. (We're all on bicycles, and had to go home downhill running high-grade switchbacks.) We all made it back this morning feeling fit and sound.

Powers has become my "house" Irish whiskey, the one my friends and I turn to when we want to enjoy a flavorful Irish whiskey without killing the wallet. It's inexpensive and has enough character to please even the finicky types. Next stop on the "house" ladder tends to be Black Bush when I score a bottle on sale (the last two were found at $20!) but BB is generally considerably more money. You really got a good deal at $33, so dig in!

[unclebunk]

Cracked another bottle of Springbank 10 last night. Single malts in this price range rarely get better IMO. Next stop will be Springbank 12 Cask Strength or Springbank 15. If only I had a money tree.:grin:

[moose]

Figured I'd drop in here and see if anyone has a tip or two. Going to pull the trigger on a new scotch soon and have narrowed it down to two, Highland Park 12 year, and the Aberlour 12 year (tried both at an event this weekend). I lean towards the Highland Park, but I fear that the sea mist taste that I picked up on may become off-putting somewhere down the line. The Aberlour came off as more appealing and versatile to me (maybe generic). I will likely add both to the cabinet, but not sure which to add first.

[Brisko]

Well, for what it's worth, the "sea mist" is one of the things that I really like about HP. Your mileage may vary, though.

Either is a solid choice, but I'm a bigger fan of HP personally.

[clingman71]

I enjoyed a few fingers of OWA last night. After a splash of water and 10 minutes or so, it opened up nicely. The bottle is about 1/3 gone and getting better.

[unclebunk]

Figured I'd drop in here and see if anyone has a tip or two. Going to pull the trigger on a new scotch soon and have narrowed it down to two, Highland Park 12 year, and the Aberlour 12 year (tried both at an event this weekend). I lean towards the Highland Park, but I fear that the sea mist taste that I picked up on may become off-putting somewhere down the line. The Aberlour came off as more appealing and versatile to me (maybe generic). I will likely add both to the cabinet, but not sure which to add first.

Both are very fine single malts and among the best out there in their age group. However, the Aberlour is a classic Speyside whisky and the HP an "island" whisky, so you should expect different flavors/aromas such as the "sea mist" you referred to. The HP will also have a bit of peat and smoke that you won't find in the Aberlour, though not in a heavy way, so don't be put off by that. As Brisko said in his post, those are characteristics that make us HP lovers seek it out, as its heathery peat is quite different from Islay peat, and the effects of the sea only add to the flavor profile. Get them both and get to know each bottle on its own before comparing and contrasting. I think you'll find that they are both great!