Any whisky (or whiskey) enthusiasts out there?

I'm enjoying a bottle of Glenmorangie extra-Sauternes finished (Nectar d'Or) at the moment. I like richer/sweeter whisky though...

i picked up and old bottle of springbank 12yo green thistle a few weeks ago. near perfect whisky.

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Originally posted by JohnHansell:

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Originally posted by Chilicat:
My favorite bourbon is currently 20 year old Pappy Van Winkle. I can't justify double the price for the 23 year old.

I agree. While I've had some very enjoyable Pappy 23, the Pappy 20 works just fine for me--and at a much lower price tag.

I find that the Van Winkle "Lot B" is a great value to get the Van Winkle quality but not the huge price tag. I also am enjoying going back and forth between the George T. Stagg and the Parker's Heritage Reserve right now.

And, on the other end of the spectrum, a great value is the standard Buffalo Trace bottling.

Dale

I prefer Lagavulin, Talisker, Cragganmore, and some of the Bowmore whiskeys, with varying ages and dask aging.

My everyday whiskies would be Talisker and Lagavulin. I'm not one for those aged in sherry or port casks; however, some in cognac barrels have been pretty good. I guess I'm a "purist;" but for some, I suppose "purist" = "fuddy duddy"

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Originally posted by Rob_Sutherland:
I'm enjoying a bottle of Glenmorangie extra-Sauternes finished (Nectar d'Or) at the moment. I like richer/sweeter whisky though...

Tried that once and really didn't think it was worth the money.
It was twice the price of the port or madeira finishes and really didn't add that much. For the same price you can find the 18 year old, and it's a much better malt. The 25 year old is excellent, but the price has rocketed in recent years so I doubt I'll be replacing my current bottle.

I suppose I'm a semi-purist. I cut my teeth on Glenmorangie 10YO so long ago that I can't remember how I got started. It was my go-to malt for a long time, until I discovered The Macallan. I love sherry-cask whisky like Macallan and Glendronach so long as it's intended to be that way; the idea of taking an established malt and then finishing it in a different wood strikes me as a bit like Duchamp's Fountain or LHOOQ - okay so it's art, but does it really add anything to the original beyond marketing?

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Originally posted by Dave Tong BBP:

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Originally posted by Rob_Sutherland:
I'm enjoying a bottle of Glenmorangie extra-Sauternes finished (Nectar d'Or) at the moment. I like richer/sweeter whisky though...

I suppose I'm a semi-purist. I cut my teeth on Glenmorangie 10YO so long ago that I can't remember how I got started.

The 10 year old is a beautiful whisky. Clean, easy to drink, and subtly complex. And it has improved over the past several years.

The wood finishes, I think, comes down to personal preference.

Hi John -- just checked out the site, very good stuff. I just started getting into Whisky about 6 months ago. My everyday go-to is Highland Park 12 and Johnnie Walker Black. If I want something a little better, I'll open my Johnnie Green or Gold or my Macallan 15. If I really want to celebrate, I'll open my Johnnie Blue that I received as a gift for completing grad school last fall.

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I would compare it the Opus One of wines. Good drink, grossly over priced, and wows those who don't really know what they are drinking with label shock. Just my thoughts.

JW Blue and a 2005 Opus One are my most expensive / treasured bottles in my Scotch / Wine collection. I'll try not to get offended

HP 12 is a great regular "go to" single malt. Not expensive. Very dependable.

I have both JW Blue AND Opus One. They are nice products, but just expensive.

John, what's your opinion of the current Macallan 12YO release?
Is it just my imagination, or its it a significant step down from where it was say 20 years ago (in the white box with the water colour label)?

Are they putting the better barrels into the NAS cask strength bottling these days? It seems to have more depth of flavour, though comes across as a bit rougher, presumably due to the lack of maturity.

(2) Bottles of Green Spot hand-delivered yesterday from the Emerald Isles

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Originally posted by KSC02:
(2) Bottles of Green Spot hand-delivered yesterday from the Emerald Isles

Let me know how you like it.

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quote:
Originally posted by KSC02:
(2) Bottles of Green Spot hand-delivered yesterday from the Emerald Isles


Let me know how you like it.

ditto

Just checked to see what I have hanging around. I don't drink whisky very often but only like reasonably good stuff. There are six Scotches:

Highland Park 12yo
Old Poultney 12yo
The Singleton 12yo
Royal Lochnagar 12yo
Glenmorangie 10yo
Ledaig 1990 (b 2005)

I'm also a fan of Laphroaig, Balvenie and Bunnahabhain. I'll also admit to having a Chivas Regal, which was a gift and very pleasant for a blend, and a Grant's Sherry cask for hot toddies (never use the good stuff).

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Originally posted by KillerB:
Just checked to see what I have hanging around. I don't drink whisky very often but only like reasonably good stuff. There are six Scotches:

Highland Park 12yo
Old Poultney 12yo
The Singleton 12yo
Royal Lochnagar 12yo
Glenmorangie 10yo
Ledaig 1990 (b 2005)

I'm also a fan of Laphroaig, Balvenie and Bunnahabhain. I'll also admit to having a Chivas Regal, which was a gift and very pleasant for a blend, and a Grant's Sherry cask for hot toddies (never use the good stuff).

KillerB - I am more of a bourbon guy than a scotch guy, but i do really like the Singleton 12 yr. Another is the Glenfiddich 15 yr 'cask proof'. the extra proof seems to cut some of the bite (i know, seems back-asswards) that I don't like in most scotches.

Dale

Favorites are:

Jonnie Walker Blue
Laugavulin
McCallan's 18

Just picked up a Macallan 15 Year Fine Oak...can't wait to crack it open this weekend!

Macallan 15 Fine Oak is a very nice whisky. The Fine Oak range is not as sherried at the original Macallan line--not as heavy, less sweetness and less fruit; more easily embraced.

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Originally posted by jburman82:

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Originally posted by KSC02:
(2) Bottles of Green Spot hand-delivered yesterday from the Emerald Isles

Let me know how you like it.

Just sat down to devote some attention to this and give taste.

Rich and full bodied with a touch of spice undertones that really play on the palate. Meanwhile being silky and a bit unctuous. There's a lot going on here and it's all good. Lush. A phrase I don't typically attribute to a whiskey. Very, very nice.

Never knowing about this previously, I'm very happy to have come across this thanks to you, jburman.

Green Spot is one of two Pure Pot Still Irish whiskeys on the market. If you like Green Spot, you'll also like the other one--Redbreast!

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Originally posted by Dave Tong BBP:
John, what's your opinion of the current Macallan 12YO release?
Is it just my imagination, or its it a significant step down from where it was say 20 years ago (in the white box with the water colour label)?

Are they putting the better barrels into the NAS cask strength bottling these days? It seems to have more depth of flavour, though comes across as a bit rougher, presumably due to the lack of maturity.

I haven't had the Mac 12 recently--been focusing on the new release. But maybe I need to revisit?

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Originally posted by JohnHansell:
Green Spot is one of two Pure Pot Still Irish whiskeys on the market. If you like Green Spot, you'll also like the other one--Redbreast!

Noted. Actually, Redbreast is available here in our market (SAQ)

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Originally posted by JohnHansell:
Green Spot is one of two Pure Pot Still Irish whiskeys on the market. If you like Green Spot, you'll also like the other one--Redbreast!

Have you had a chance to try the Redbreast 15? I've only tried the 12 (great whiskey, BTW), but everyone says if you can get your hands on a 15, do it!

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Originally posted by gotapex:

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Originally posted by JohnHansell:
Green Spot is one of two Pure Pot Still Irish whiskeys on the market. If you like Green Spot, you'll also like the other one--Redbreast!

Have you had a chance to try the Redbreast 15? I've only tried the 12 (great whiskey, BTW), but everyone says if you can get your hands on a 15, do it!

Yes, I have tried the 15 and it's very good. Ihave a bottle. Now, here's the good news. Redbreast 15 is coming to the U.S. later this year. That's what my sources tell me.

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Originally posted by KSC02:

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Originally posted by JohnHansell:
Green Spot is one of two Pure Pot Still Irish whiskeys on the market. If you like Green Spot, you'll also like the other one--Redbreast!

Noted. Actually, Redbreast is available here in our market (SAQ)

I picked up a bottle of the Redbreast yesterday and tried it last night. Really like it. Thanks for the tip, because I doubt I would have picked this up on my own. Reasonably priced at $43 too.

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Originally posted by KSC02:

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Originally posted by jburman82:

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:
(2) Bottles of Green Spot hand-delivered yesterday from the Emerald Isles

Let me know how you like it.

Just sat down to devote some attention to this and give taste.

Rich and full bodied with a touch of spice undertones that really play on the palate. Meanwhile being silky and a bit unctuous. There's a lot going on here and it's all good. Lush. A phrase I don't typically attribute to a whiskey. Very, very nice.

Never knowing about this previously, I'm very happy to have come across this thanks to you, jburman.

Glad you liked it and it wasnt a let down.

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Originally posted by JohnHansell:

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Originally posted by gotapex:

quote:

Originally posted by JohnHansell:
Green Spot is one of two Pure Pot Still Irish whiskeys on the market. If you like Green Spot, you'll also like the other one--Redbreast!

Have you had a chance to try the Redbreast 15? I've only tried the 12 (great whiskey, BTW), but everyone says if you can get your hands on a 15, do it!

Yes, I have tried the 15 and it's very good. Ihave a bottle. Now, here's the good news. Redbreast 15 is coming to the U.S. later this year. That's what my sources tell me.

w00t! Awesome news. I thought they were out of production already.

I wasn't going to chime in with yet another endorsement of the Talisker 10 YO and the Highland Park 12 YO, but have to give a special nod to the Scapa 16 YO, which a friend was generous enough to share with me on the weekend. My favourite malt yet, even ahead of the Highland Park 18 YO.

In the bourbons, Woodford Reserve gets my vote. Makes one hell of a Manhattan, shaken over ice and strained.

I doin't get all the praise people are heaping on the Highland Park 12 and 18. They're good values, but relatively boring to me. I guess they're easy to like, especially for those for whom the Islays are too sharp.

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Originally posted by Horton:
but have to give a special nod to the Scapa 16 YO, which a friend was generous enough to share with me on the weekend.

I'll second the Scapa, which is relatively new to me as well. Pick it up on a whim while stopped over at Heathrow, it didn't last long. Good bottle for someone looking for something new.

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Originally posted by Board-O:
I doin't get all the praise people are heaping on the Highland Park 12 and 18. They're good values, but relatively boring to me. I guess they're easy to like, especially for those for whom the Islays are too sharp.

I feel the exact same way. Like Macallan, Highland Park has become a victim of overproduction. I tasted a late 1990s Macallan 12yo against a modern 12yo and the difference is like night and day. Same with the 18yo and Highland Park 12yo and 18yo.

I can appreciate what Michael Jackson did for the whisky industry, but his endless praise for Highland Park and Macallan has led to a major drop in quality.

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Originally posted by RedMeat:
Favorites are:

Jonnie Walker Blue
Laugavulin
McCallan's 18

Oh Yeah, a Wee Dram of the Lagavulin 16 is oh so nice!

Agreed. It's got character.

Nothing fancy, but I like VO & 7 with a lot of ice in a rock glass.

I just got an email from Olivier Humbrecht (he of Zind-Humbrecht) and he told me of his recent visit to Scotland. He mentioned really enjoying a recent release from Highland Park called Earl Magnus 15 year old.

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Originally posted by Board-O:
I just got an email from Olivier Humbrecht (he of Zind-Humbrecht) and he told me of his recent visit to Scotland. He mentioned really enjoying a recent release from Highland Park called Earl Magnus 15 year old.

That's available here for $125.

Life was so much simpler when I drank Mouton Cadet and Wiser's Deluxe Rye Whiskey.

Considering the man is a Master of Wine, I take his recommendation seriously. I usually stick to single malts about half that price, but I'd spring for this one.

I recently had the Highland Park 18 y/o...it was pretty good but no where as good as the Macallan 18 that I typically drink. Ill have to seek out this other one from Highland.