I have a bottle of Grand Old Parr 12 year old that I got from a customer in the mid 90's. She told me it was her husbands who passed away 15 years prior. From the look of the bottle, it was sitting in their wine cellar for some time.This blend seems to get good reviews and after reading this thread, I am eager to try it.
Last edited by t.shamone; 02-10-2013 at 08:54 AM.
Got my bottle of Talisker 10 last night. Good times were had by all.
I was cleaning/dusting the liquor cabinet yesterday (boss' orders) and had a couple of things jump out at me that I thought I'd share. First, for us 'Mericans that don't spend much time in British grocery stores, here's something I picked up in Oxford several years ago. Apparently Sainsbury (huge grocery store chain) has their own private labeled, well, everything...canned foods, dry goods, etc. We have the same thing here. Well, what we don't have is private labeled single malt whisky! I wasn't brave enough to get a big bottle, so I bought a sampler set...
One is still not opened after all these years, so I'm planning on having it for my birthday this weekend.
Since I was reminiscing about travels past, I pulled out my bottle of Macallan that I carried back from another trip to Oxford. It was an old 18 year back then, so it's really old now...
Wanting to just sniff that amazing bouquet again, I attempted to open the cork when it snapped off! After carefully removing the remnant and installing an emergency cork, I've decided to have this for my birthday too. Only a couple of servings left but it's time to drink it before something bad happens to the rest.
This will be a special birthday for me this year.
I bought a bottle of The Balvenie a couple months ago and finished it recently. It was pretty good, very drinkable, but a little too mellow for me - like it was a little watered down.
The Bovine Fury <-- stream and download our album "Eleven by Twelve" for free.
05 Custom 22 with DGT pickups ~ 07 Mira with old birds ~ 08 SE Baritone Fralin/Suhr pickups ~ 03 SE Santana
Oh I just knew there'd be a Scotch thread here! Got the bug last year when I visited family in Sweden... Swedes having a rep for being drinkers, all the uncles and some cousins there preferred Scotch. I was an Irish Whiskey drinker at the time but finally was able to make the leap to Scotch... I'm half Irish and I havent' looked back.
If you're looking to get into Scotch, It did take me a few years in order to understand it. Like many say, it's an acquired taste. I tell people when they first try it to use enough water to mellow it enough to suit your taste. That may mean, when you're first starting out, that you use quite a bit or even... err... and I kinda hate to say it now, but consider putting it on ice. That way you're actually able to taste all the different levels of flavor depending on how diluted it gets. Then gradually you can back off the water more and more until you use just a few drops or so. I'd say 90% of the time I have at least a little water in my Scotch in order to open it up.
Like some here I prefer the Islays. Love the big and bold smoke and peat. My faves in this category are:
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Laphroiag Quarter Cask (excellent for it's price point and one of my all time faves. The quarter casks helps mature the whisky faster and adds outstanding flavor)
Lapthroiag 10 Cask Strength (58.6%)
Lagavulin 12 (quite unlike the 16 I'd say. Hands down the best 12yo I've tried)
I generally don't like the Sherries as much but if I were to recommend a couple that compares to a Macallan but are less expensive (are Macs overpriced??) it would be:
Glendronach 15 Revival (Excellent beginner Scotch. Low smoke/peat. Make sure it's the Revival)
The Dalmore 15 (Big Sherry bomb. Very little smoke and peat. Low alc/vol)
One Sherry that's remarkable is:
Abelour A'bunadh (60% alc/vol and wicked smooth at that! I don't put water in this one which is pretty unusual for such a high alcohol content... oh and usually I've had a couple before I get to this one.)
Someone mentioned Talisker and I have to say that the 18 is one of my all time faves! Extremely smooth and balanced smoky peat, vanillas, lite florals and carmel. Think I finished that bottle the fastest out of any.
A great and trusted review site I've found is LAWS. I've found it much better than Jim Murray (who steered me wicked wrong on a very expensive bottle)
http://www.lawhiskeysociety.com
I don't really buy the HPs any longer. I've found the quality to vary too much. Plus I find that I prefer others now. However that HP 18 is definitely tasty and the 12 is outstanding for it's price point. Try Bruichladdich 18, maybe, if you like HPs.
Unfortunately, I haven't been drinking any Scotch lately cause I got hit with some bad stomach problems (too much Scotch and Habanero salsa maybe??). I'm hoping to get back to it soon enough.
Cheers!
Ardbeg commanding the lineup...
Last edited by Kine; Today at 02:00 AM. Reason: Decided Glendronach 15 Revival to be a better beginner Scotch than The Dalmore 15
If you don't want to drop a bunch of cash on a bottle initially, I would recommend Highland Park 12 as a starting point. I only say that because I find Mac 12 a bit too sour imo and the HP 12 is certainly less expensive to get going. If you want a Scotch with very little to no smoke or peat, consider Glendronach 15 Revival. It's going to be one of the lightest Scotches with sweet fruity Sherry notes. Otherwise, Mac 18 is certainly an extremely good expression of the Speyside style imo, oily smooth and well balanced with some lite smoke in the background. Nothing overpowering. However, Mac 18 is a chunk of change to drop for a bottle. The good thing is that Mac 18 can be found in most good bars and restaurants where a dram will still set you back a bit but sometimes you just have to sacrifice!Originally Posted by Shawn@PRS
A better way to go would be to find a good bar with a lot of Scotch to try. That way you can sample several, I mean a couple, let's not get too crazy now...
Oh and a beer back is nice! Have a Pale Ale or IPA with an Islay. The flavors definitely complement. Of course Guinness Draught or Murphy's Irish Stout is good with just about any Irish Whiskey or Scotch Whisky imo.
Last edited by Kine; Today at 01:58 AM. Reason: decided Glendronach 15 to be a better starter than The Dalmore 15
Clase Azul Reposado or Silver(chilled) are unreal imo!I'm sipping Tequila mostly these days - Don Edwardo, Don Julio, 'Tres Generations, Cazadores Anejo...Patron if there's nothing else around. I don't drink much so I only drink the good stuff!
Last edited by Kine; 05-22-2013 at 06:20 PM.
ohhhhhhhhh .. Lewnes
I miss it so.
Plank Owner
Guitars - PRS
Amps - PRS, Orange, Bogner
I find it interesting that the two recent threads that have received the most posts have been 1) What kind of car do you drive? and 2) Let's Talk Scotch, man.....says a lot about you guys!
I love to drink and drive!!I find it interesting that the two recent threads that have received the most posts have been 1) What kind of car do you drive? and 2) Let's Talk Scotch, man.....says a lot about you guys!
(this is one of my dry, sarcastic posts nobody ever laughs at)
The Bovine Fury <-- stream and download our album "Eleven by Twelve" for free.
05 Custom 22 with DGT pickups ~ 07 Mira with old birds ~ 08 SE Baritone Fralin/Suhr pickups ~ 03 SE Santana
ROFLMAO
Shared a bit of my stash today with a neighbor. A few splashes of Lagavulin 16 and it was off for steaks. Good times.
Nice spread Kine. Your cabinet looks quite like mine.
Off to Scotland in three weeks. Time for some good single malt.
rocking in Africa.
PRS P22 Erize Verde / Martin GPCPA4 Rosewood / Blackstar HT5TH
SE Korina One and bass to follow.
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