What Whisky/Whiskey are we drinking this month?

gozunda

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Third of rare Scotch whiskies tested found to be fake

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-46566703



Hardly surprising stuff like this would happen given the profits which can be made.

For outright collectors (who will never drink the stuff) once you can make the bottle and label look convincing you're home free, the contents could be anything!

Interesting story not of rare whiskies in this instance but wine ...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Kurniawan

A very lucrative racket altogether ...

intellectual dosser

Green Spot is €50 in O'Briens.

They're also stocking Proper 12 as are my local Spar shop, the distribution is expanding.

I couldnt leave the GS at that price, but left the Proper 12 for another day.

blondeonblonde

Just got myself a bottle of Redbreast 12 Cask strength for a Christmas present to self! Really looking forward to a sample but I think before 3 is a little early for whiskey! Is there a difference in batches? The batch no on mine is b1/18. I seem to recall a discussion on here about that before.

Next on the list to buy is a bottle of Nikka from the barrel. Still a Japanese whiskey virgin so looking to tick that off the list!

Wailin

According to Jim Murray there is quiet a variance in some batches. B1/16 got 86 in his whiskey bible whereas B1/17 got Irish whiskey of the year and 97.

I have both 17 and 18 but only tried the 18 and it's very nice. Adding a few drops of water to it really opens up the nose, try it with and without to see the difference.

Enjoy and let us know what you think!

Sirius Boner

Was given a Redbreast 12yo as an Xmas pressie by a client, nice touch.
Currently sipping the method and madness Hungarian Oak...still not it's greatest fan I'm afraid

Cazale

Wailin wrote:

I have both 17 and 18 but only tried the 18 and it's very nice. Adding a few drops of water to it really opens up the nose, try it with and without to see the difference.

Had this the other night. The water really opens it up. A bottle after Christmas is on the list I think.

Cazale

Slightly off topic but I've picked myself up four bottles of Two Hundred Fathoms. It's Galway Bay stout aged for nine months in Teeling whiskey casks. Comes in at 10% and only 800 bottles produced. Anybody try them?

Useful.Idiot

Cazale wrote: »

Slightly off topic but I've picked myself up four bottles of Two Hundred Fathoms. It's Galway Bay stout aged for nine months in Teeling whiskey casks. Comes in at 10% and only 800 bottles produced. Anybody try them?

haven't had this year's batch, maybe a couple years back. Its amazing.

beardybrewer

Picked up a bottle of Talisker 10 for €30 at Tesco yesterday. There were a lot of sales on, including the Cardhu I nearly went for, but then noticed this and it looked like their everyday price? Good value if so.

I have a decent islay line-up for the holidays including laphroaig select/10/qtr cask, ardbeg 12, lagavulin 16, smokehead, talisker 10, and a bunch of ardmore legacies.

Hotblack Desiato

Cazale wrote: »

Slightly off topic but I've picked myself up four bottles of Two Hundred Fathoms. It's Galway Bay stout aged for nine months in Teeling whiskey casks. Comes in at 10% and only 800 bottles produced. Anybody try them?

hmmm is grabbing 0.5% of the global supply maybe a tad selfish?!!

Where did you get?

Cazale

Hotblack Desiato wrote:

hmmm is grabbing 0.5% of the global supply maybe a tad selfish?!!

Very much so. I missed out the last two years though so I deserve them. I got them in O'Briens Naas.

Wailin

beardybrewer wrote: »

I have a decent islay line-up for the holidays including laphroaig select/10/qtr cask, ardbeg 12, lagavulin 16, smokehead, talisker 10, and a bunch of ardmore legacies.

That's a nice bunch of peat monsters there and no better time to have them on a cold Winter's night by the fire!

I have a few myself inc Ardbeg 10 and Uigeadail, Talisker 10 and my favourite, Lagavulin 12 2017.

I never had the Laphroaig yet, how does it compare to the Ardbeg 10?

Cazale

Dozens of bottles of Proper twelve for those so inclined in Naas Tesco today.

Wailin

Did you?

beardybrewer

Wailin wrote: »

That's a nice bunch of peat monsters there and no better time to have them on a cold Winter's night by the fire!

I have a few myself inc Ardbeg 10 and Uigeadail, Talisker 10 and my favourite, Lagavulin 12 2017.

I never had the Laphroaig yet, how does it compare to the Ardbeg 10?

Ardbeg is more akin to Lagavulin but with iodine! They are beautifully balanced yet powerful stuff and quite different with Ardbeg being more raw and Lagavulin perfectly well rounded neat.

Laphroaig revels in smacking you in the face like a cartoon mallet. You feel intoxicated by merely nosing the glass. Select is more rounded so strait, 10 more concentrated, and the qtr cask best with a small drop of water so you can appreciate all the flavours beneath the alcohol. I'm a bit of a fan. :pac:

How would you compare the Ardbeg 10 v Uigeadail?

Have a very peaty holiday!

Cazale

Wailin wrote:

Did you?

Don't be silly!

blondeonblonde

Wailin wrote: »

According to Jim Murray there is quiet a variance in some batches. B1/16 got 86 in his whiskey bible whereas B1/17 got Irish whiskey of the year and 97.

I have both 17 and 18 but only tried the 18 and it's very nice. Adding a few drops of water to it really opens up the nose, try it with and without to see the difference.

Enjoy and let us know what you think!

Just tried a drop tonight without any water & it's seriously impressive! It's just so packed with flavour and the finish goes on and on. Definitely my favourite Irish whiskey I've tried. I was expecting to be underwhelmed because I have the Redbreast 12 & in spite of all the fabulous comments on here about it, I've never been overly impressed with it... Heresy?!... Not that I didn't like its just ... nice (damning it with faint praise!) and a little over rated in my opinion.

The cask strength is a different beast altogether. I've only ever had a couple of other cask strength whiskey - Ardbeg uigeadal & Corryvreckan - & found they absolutely needed water to temper the flavour a bit but this is just liquid gold. Looking forward to trying it with a drop of water to see the difference it makes.

Wailin

beardybrewer wrote: »

Ardbeg is more akin to Lagavulin but with iodine! They are beautifully balanced yet powerful stuff and quite different with Ardbeg being more raw and Lagavulin perfectly well rounded neat.

Laphroaig revels in smacking you in the face like a cartoon mallet. You feel intoxicated by merely nosing the glass. Select is more rounded so strait, 10 more concentrated, and the qtr cask best with a small drop of water so you can appreciate all the flavours beneath the alcohol. I'm a bit of a fan. :pac:

How would you compare the Ardbeg 10 v Uigeadail?

Have a very peaty holiday!

Yes I prefer lagavulin 16 slightly over ardbeg 10. I just like the rounder, sweeter profile. Uigeadail is sherry finished, like lagavulin 16, so is also richer and more rounded than the 10.

The lagavulin 12 is bourbon casks only and cask strength so packs a big punch!

I must pick up a bottle of Laphroaig....sounds interesting!

Adyx

blondeonblonde wrote: »

Just got myself a bottle of Redbreast 12 Cask strength for a Christmas present to self! Really looking forward to a sample but I think before 3 is a little early for whiskey! Is there a difference in batches? The batch no on mine is b1/18. I seem to recall a discussion on here about that before.

Next on the list to buy is a bottle of Nikka from the barrel. Still a Japanese whiskey virgin so looking to tick that off the list!

The Nikka is great I think, one of my favourites. Was hoping to get a bottle of Hibiki Harmony through work (wholesale prices! 😂) but no stock left at all. Can get Nikka handily enough though.

Useful.Idiot

yep another praise here for Nikka from the Barrel. Nice little bite to it, but invigorating also. I love the wee bottle! have it set aside for the hols amongst a few others.

All the talk of Islay scotches has me foaming also. Laphroaig is definitely my favourite I think. I have nothing smokey for Christmas though. Might have to get that Tesco Talisker deal!

VW 1

Cazale wrote: »

Slightly off topic but I've picked myself up four bottles of Two Hundred Fathoms. It's Galway Bay stout aged for nine months in Teeling whiskey casks. Comes in at 10% and only 800 bottles produced. Anybody try them?

Where did you see only 800 bottles made? I'd be surprised, they're generally available for a few weeks across most off licenses each year, unless they're restricting it.

Pretty sure its available (very selectly) on tap as well.

Padraig Mor

beardybrewer wrote: »

Ardbeg is more akin to Lagavulin but with iodine! They are beautifully balanced yet powerful stuff and quite different with Ardbeg being more raw and Lagavulin perfectly well rounded neat.

Laphroaig revels in smacking you in the face like a cartoon mallet. You feel intoxicated by merely nosing the glass. Select is more rounded so strait, 10 more concentrated, and the qtr cask best with a small drop of water so you can appreciate all the flavours beneath the alcohol. I'm a bit of a fan. :pac:

How would you compare the Ardbeg 10 v Uigeadail?

Have a very peaty holiday!

Would mostly agree with this. I've long been a fan of Laphroaig (having tried the 10, select and Quarter Cask, the 10 wins it for me) and have recently got bottles of Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 16 (the Lagavulin just this week). All are lovely whiskies but I do find the Ardbeg very slightly 'rough' (it's a little stronger anyway) and less peaty than the Laphroaig. Just cracked open the Lagavulin Tuesday and was mighty surprised to find it with far less peat / smoke than its reputation suggested - it is very nice though and definitely the 'easiest' of the three and most likely to be appreciated by the Islay uninitiated. The Laphroaig is the Daddy though (IMHO) - head and shoulders above the other two to my tastes. As above, it's no shrinking violet though - this is BIG peat! You'll either love it, or really hate it. Handily, Laphroaig 10 is the cheapest of the three (by a significant margin), sourced from the UK at any rate.

Cazale

VW 1 wrote: »

Where did you see only 800 bottles made? I'd be surprised, they're generally available for a few weeks across most off licenses each year, unless they're restricting it.

Pretty sure its available (very selectly) on tap as well.

From O'Briens wines.

54and56

Hi all.

I need to buy 6 bottles of "decent" whiskey/whisky as Xmas presents for some business contacts.

Personally my weekly tipple is usually something like Gold Label Powers, Clontarf 1014 or Black Bush so not much of a connoisseur I'm afraid. I also like a glass of Laphroaig from time to time.

I want to get 6 decent/interesting bottles as Xmas presents for some business contacts tomorrow and am thinking of getting the following:-

2 X Redbreast 12 Year Old @ €60 a bottle.

2 X Green Spot @ €50 a bottle.

2 X Laphroaig Islay 10 Year Old @ €50 a bottle.

Am I making a good selection in terms of value for money and desirability for recipients who are unlikely to be connoisseur's but will appreciate something that's good quality and interesting?

Also, is O'Briens the best place to purchase? I know it's a bit last minute dot com but is Tesco or even Musgrave Marketplace worth going to?

Quackster

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Hi all.

I need to buy 6 bottles of "decent" whiskey/whisky as Xmas presents for some business contacts.

...

Also, is O'Briens the best place to purchase? I know it's a bit last minute dot com but is Tesco or even Musgrave Marketplace worth going to?

As has been mentioned here over the past few weeks, Tesco has a very good sale on some decent whiskies running at the moment.

Particular standouts would be Talisker 10 and Cardhu 12, both for €30. Others in the sale worth considering too are Bushmills 10 (€30) and Writer's Tears gift box (€35).

Also, there's a €10 off €45 spend voucher doing the rounds at the moment that makes this even better value again (you can use the voucher multiple times in the one transaction - €20 off €90 spend etc).

VW 1

Cazale wrote: »

From O'Briens wines.

Cheers for clarifying - I suspect I've missed the boat but will check Baggot Street Wines and Stephen Street News at lunch to see if they have anything left.

EagererBeaver

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Hi all.

I need to buy 6 bottles of "decent" whiskey/whisky as Xmas presents for some business contacts.

Personally my weekly tipple is usually something like Gold Label Powers, Clontarf 1014 or Black Bush so not much of a connoisseur I'm afraid. I also like a glass of Laphroaig from time to time.

I want to get 6 decent/interesting bottles as Xmas presents for some business contacts tomorrow and am thinking of getting the following:-

2 X Redbreast 12 Year Old @ €60 a bottle.

2 X Green Spot @ €50 a bottle.

2 X Laphroaig Islay 10 Year Old @ €50 a bottle.

Am I making a good selection in terms of value for money and desirability for recipients who are unlikely to be connoisseur's but will appreciate something that's good quality and interesting?

Also, is O'Briens the best place to purchase? I know it's a bit last minute dot com but is Tesco or even Musgrave Marketplace worth going to?

Those are three absolutely stonking whiskeys for that price range. Anyone who got them as presents should be more than happy.

Do you know what the intended recipients drink? If they don't like smoky scotch, don't give them the Laphroaig.

Whiskey Eire

Just picked up the litre bottle of Glenfarclas 105 for 42 euro at a duty free. Anyone given it a go before? It's cask strength at 60%. Never see it in ireland so said i'd give it a go.

Whiskey Eire

EagererBeaver wrote: »

Those are three absolutely stonking whiskeys for that price range. Anyone who got them as presents should be more than happy.

Do you know what the intended recipients drink? If they don't like smoky scotch, don't give them the Laphroaig.

Second this. Keep away from Islay unless you know the person is into it.

Wailin

Never had it but heard it's very nice. If you like sherried whiskies it should hit the spot.

I have Glengoyne 25 year old single malt, a christmas present so can't touch it yet:( The natural colour from 25 years in sherry casks is glorious! One to savour after the turkey and ham...

brinty

Wailin wrote:

Never had it but heard it's very nice. If you like sherried whiskies it should hit the spot.

I have Glengoyne 25 year old single malt, a christmas present so can't touch it yet The natural colour from 25 years in sherry casks is glorious! One to savour after the turkey and ham...

Looks fantastic sir,enjoy and savor it

Whiskey Eire

So beautiful that bottle - enjoy! I'm still undecided on the christmas day bottle myself. Probablly MVR for a few and then swap over to do a red breast flight.

Padraig Mor

mik_da_man wrote: »

Good stuff, I found some local too last night, so looks like they got more stock on the way just in time. Let me know if you get a metal or cardboard tube.

Got it today. Metal tube, and a free 50ml bottle of Green Spot.

mik_da_man

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Got it today. Metal tube, and a free 50ml bottle of Green Spot.

Nice!

Cazale

Wailin wrote:

I have Glengoyne 25 year old single malt, a christmas present so can't touch it yet The natural colour from 25 years in sherry casks is glorious! One to savour after the turkey and ham...

Was watching Ralfy there and he was recommending letting the whiskey rest in the glass a minute for every year it's in the cask. Lets it breathe and open up. Not sure I could wait 25 mins for this one though!

Cazale

VW 1 wrote:

Cheers for clarifying - I suspect I've missed the boat but will check Baggot Street Wines and Stephen Street News at lunch to see if they have anything left.

Thinking about it now and you might be right. I'm thinking the blurb from O'Briens might be from the first year it came out. I saw a picture of them being barreled on Twitter and it's more than 800 bottles going by that.

EagererBeaver

Cazale wrote: »

Wailin wrote:

I have Glengoyne 25 year old single malt, a christmas present so can't touch it yet The natural colour from 25 years in sherry casks is glorious! One to savour after the turkey and ham...

Was watching Ralfy there and he was recommending letting the whiskey rest in the glass a minute for every year it's in the cask. Lets it breathe and open up. Not sure I could wait 25 mins for this one though!

Pseudo scientific nonsense.

VW 1

Powers three swallows this evening, holding off for a gift or two to appear over the next few days, hopefully!

Cazale

EagererBeaver wrote:

Pseudo scientific nonsense.

It's a bit of romance isn't it.

VW 1

Cazale wrote: »

It's a bit of romance isn't it.

It isn't romance in my book if you're sitting looking at it for 25 mins, tis torture

Cazale

VW 1 wrote:

It isn't romance in my book if you're sitting looking at it for 25 mins, tis torture

Nosing the whiskey and the anticipation is part of the fun.

Kevin Finnerty

Redbreast 12 year old with a drop of water.After a Connemara peat before that this leaves it for dead. Forgotten how deep and layered it is. Nice present to myself:-)

EagererBeaver

Cazale wrote: »

VW 1 wrote:

It isn't romance in my book if you're sitting looking at it for 25 mins, tis torture

Nosing the whiskey and the anticipation is part of the fun.

Fair bit of difference between nosing a whiskey and leaving it sitting in a glass for 25 mins!

54and56

EagererBeaver wrote: »

Those are three absolutely stonking whiskeys for that price range. Anyone who got them as presents should be more than happy.

Do you know what the intended recipients drink? If they don't like smoky scotch, don't give them the Laphroaig.

Na, didn't have a clue but know I like Laphroaig and howi needs to be presented/explained to recipients :-)

Ended up buying 2 X Bushmills 10, 2 X Cardhu 12 and 2 X Green Spot.

The Bushmills and Cardhu were great value in Tesco and I got 2 X Green Spot in O'Briens for €50 a bottle which didn't feel such good value but I hope will be valued by the recipients.

I purchased one of each for myself as a Xmas treat (and to educate myself a little) and just tried some Cardhu 12 with a tiny amount of water (filtered through the fridge but literally a tiny splash) and in fairness it has a ton of aromas and flavours which I find amazing and never associate with my usual Clontarf 1014 much and all as I like it.

Thank you Quakster for your suggestions and to EagerBeaver et al for supporting such a novice!!

RasTa

Enjoyed opening the Lustau RB last night

EagererBeaver

Have just seen a new (or at least to me) Japanese blend in my supermarket, Yamazakura. Must give it a go.

Cazale

RasTa wrote:

Enjoyed opening the Lustau RB last night

Had this at whiskey live and its on my ever expanding list of bottles to buy next year. An amazing whiskey for the price. Enjoy!

Cazale

EagererBeaver wrote:

Fair bit of difference between nosing a whiskey and leaving it sitting in a glass for 25 mins!

Maybe you should be less of an eager beaver.

EagererBeaver

Cazale wrote: »

EagererBeaver wrote:

Fair bit of difference between nosing a whiskey and leaving it sitting in a glass for 25 mins!

Maybe you should be less of an eager beaver.

Maybe others shouldn't be complete twats and make up nonsense about drinking whiskey based on absolutely nothing scientific whatsoever.

Cazale

EagererBeaver wrote:

Maybe others shouldn't be complete twats and make up nonsense about drinking whiskey based on absolutely nothing scientific whatsoever.

Master Distiller (Master Twat?) Jim McEwan recommends it too. But it's only a recommendation. If you don't like it you move on.

Lets not distill something as majestic as drinking whiskey down into something as boring as science. Where is the fun in that.