Scotch and Whiskey

[f0rge]

I had a glass of Highland Park 18 at a restaurant last week (she only charged me $9!). It was good, but given the price ($179 locally) I really can't see myself buying it...well ever lol.

It's like the 12, but slightly better, slightly smoother.

[f0rge]

Originally Posted by litemup

Ooo, that would work better! I'm such an amateur.

It's just that it takes me so long to finish a bottle the whole bottom half gets all sharp. I guess I need some drinkin' buddies. :-D

Does that matter? Given they're corked it's not like you're losing liquid anywhere...and whiskey is pretty stable.

Maybe you're going back to an old bottle and it's just not as good as you remember? I've been there several times.

[Talus1]

Originally Posted by f0rge

I had a glass of Highland Park 18 at a restaurant last week (she only charged me $9!). It was good, but given the price ($179 locally) I really can't see myself buying it...well ever lol.

It's like the 12, but slightly better, slightly smoother.

We splurged on a bottle of that a while back, when it wasn't quite so dear. Really nice whiskey.

These days, to keep costs down , we are branching out a bit. First we tried the "local" malt, Glen Breton from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Too light for my tastes. (We toured there, too, a few years back on a driving tour to Newfoundland. Let's just say it isn't quite as charming as any of the Scottish distilleries. They have a lot to learn). We've also tried Amrut from India, Mackmyra from Sweden (quite good), and a South Island from New Zealand. Makes for a nice diversion.

[litemup]

Originally Posted by f0rge

Does that matter? Given they're corked it's not like you're losing liquid anywhere...and whiskey is pretty stable.

Maybe you're going back to an old bottle and it's just not as good as you remember? I've been there several times.

Oh, it absolutely matters. Just google scotch oxidation. It loses its smoothness pretty quickly.

http://www.aspiringgentleman.com/sco...scotch-whisky/

[f0rge]

Originally Posted by litemup

Oh, it absolutely matters. Just google scotch oxidation. It loses its smoothness pretty quickly.

http://www.aspiringgentleman.com/sco...scotch-whisky/

Luckily I already do all of those things except the wine preserver.

I guess maybe I drink them fast enough that this isn't a concern.

[f0rge]

Originally Posted by Talus1

These days, to keep costs down , we are branching out a bit. First we tried the "local" malt, Glen Breton from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Too light for my tastes. (We toured there, too, a few years back on a driving tour to Newfoundland. Let's just say it isn't quite as charming as any of the Scottish distilleries. They have a lot to learn). We've also tried Amrut from India, Mackmyra from Sweden (quite good), and a South Island from New Zealand. Makes for a nice diversion.

There's so many scotches from actual Scotland that I haven't tried that I really struggle with grabbing something else when I'm standing at the LCBO.

I've wanted to try a Japanese for a while but can't bring myself to actually ever buy one.

[litemup]

Originally Posted by f0rge

I guess maybe I drink them fast enough that this isn't a concern.

Cheers, all.

[Talus1]

Originally Posted by Talus1

The guy whose job it is to turn the barrels everyday so the wood stays wet and sealed is the happiest guy I've ever met. The alcohol fumes in that place were something else.

LOL, I was looking around on the Bunnahabhain website and they have a picture of the guy, "Long" John McGillvary! Looks a bit older now, but definitely him!

http://bunnahabhain.com/the-distillery/our-people

[sato]

Just tried the Glenfiddich 12 at a tasting event... My first single malt. Being the whiskey noob that I am, I'll say I enjoyed it. Taste is better than the blends I'm used to. Looking forward to trying the 12 and 15

[robwbright]

It ain't scotch, but it's unique and pretty darn good.

http://www.nikkawhisky.eu/whiskies/coffey-grain/

http://www.japanese-whisky.com/tasti...y-grain-whisky

http://malt-review.com/2012/10/31/ni...-grain-whisky/

[f0rge]

I was in the states for my brother's wedding last week and we did a small scotch night, there was only a couple of us so we only got 3 bottles.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban - very nice but not sure I liked the port cask aging, they put me off a bit but i think that's just personal preference.

Laphroig 10 - most of us have had this at some point, way too peaty for me.

Hibiki 12 - easily my favorite of these 3. Is a blend but super smooth and easy drinking. I would buy this again for sure.

At the wedding itself my bro had a bottle of Glenmorangie 18 in the back for the groomsmen. Holy crap I love this stuff, sweet mercy it's smooth and does just about everything else right. One of my personal favorites of all time, also the first real scotch I ever tried that got me hooked on this hobby. Worth it even at almost double the price of the others listed above.

Also grabbed a couple of bottles to bring home with me but I'm still detoxing a bit after the wedding so I haven't cracked them yet. Bought a Glenmorangie Nectar D'or and a Macallan 12. Hear good things about both of them can't wait to try.

[f0rge]

Originally Posted by sato

Just tried the Glenfiddich 12 at a tasting event... My first single malt. Being the whiskey noob that I am, I'll say I enjoyed it. Taste is better than the blends I'm used to. Looking forward to trying the 12 and 15

IMO, the 15 is the best of that bunch, I have the 18 and found it was less good than the 15. Save your money.

[chiefshayan]

I'm not 21 yet

[serialk11r]

I finally got to try Macallan the other day at a friend's bday at the bar, I had a glass of the 12. I can see why some people don't think it's worth the money, it's extremely smooth but maybe doesn't have as much character as some other whisky. I enjoyed it a lot (I'm pretty into the sherry), but at 46 a bottle I think you can probably do better. I haven't had the 10 which is in a better price range, but if the 12 were a bit under 40 I'd probably grab a bottle without hesitating. It's definitely good to have something pleasant and easy to drink like that. Decidedly better than the Glenmorangie 10 I paid 36 bucks for, but Glenmorangie Lasanta and Quinta Ruban are the ones the 12 has to compete against, and I'm not sure it wins.

EDIT: I put Nectar d'Or, but I just realized that one is way more than Lasanta and Quinta Ruban. It is also freaking delicious, but my personal limit is 55 a bottle lol.