What whisk(e)y are we drinking? (Part 2)

Greg81

Good, old Jack

kuang1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121693196#Comment_121693196

Definitely agree on the small batch.

I'd say I've only tried 3 different Teelings so far (can't remember what the other 2 were now) but never went back for more of any of them.

Need to give them (as a brand I mean) more chances perhaps.

DeniG2

I agree, Small Batch is nice but not outstanding, BlackPitts is interesting and a bit different but their Single Grain is a 'NO' from me, granted I'm not a Single Grain fan but I can barely finish a glass if I pour one

2011abc

I got into whiskey about five years ago via Teeling single malt in a complimentary trio testing at the airport (yes of course it was around 8am!)The Teeling Single Malt at 45 euro was my go to for years .The Brabazon at 70-75 was my 'treat' bottle .But they got dearer (and inconsistent I think also .I once had an 85 euro Super Valu 'special'(18?) Teeling bottle that was so bad I nearly cried (maybe it was grain heavy?) )to the point they dont really have anything for me to drink anymore .Which is sad :-(I know everything has gotten dearer but Id far sooner get 'stung' by a disappointing 70-85 euro 'special' in 2018 than its 175 euro equivalent today !

Its a pity Irish seems to be doing now what Scotch did with the inflated prices and marketing at the expense of quality liquor .Hopefully not too late to turn back...

JMcL

Hopefully not too late to turn back...

Is that a horse's tail I see disappearing over the hill?

Beanstalk

Doing a wee tasting with friends of this lineup tonight thanks again to @Black Sheep for the heads up!

DARK-KNIGHT

Picked up 3 bottles of the 9 cuvee 😂🫢

fmul9798

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121707212#Comment_121707212

Any verdict ?

irish_goat

Had a Dark Silkie and a Midnight Silkie side by side last night. Definite similarities to both but I think Dark Silkie just edges it. It seems to have a fuller flavour and a bit more sweetness. Midnight Silkie tastes slightly younger but has lovely chocolate notes to it. Enjoyed both anyway.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121715113#Comment_121715113

Is there any peat or smokiness to either or those?

Insect Overlord

I find the Midnight Silkie a little smokier, myself. Must try them side by side tonight.

DARK-KNIGHT

Anyone tried the teeling single pot still?

The core range bottle that is

Is it worth picking up

Beanstalk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121714170#Comment_121714170

These are our notes...

Black Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121715708#Comment_121715708

They're both peated, yes.

The Dark Silkie, after distillation, is supposed to be 22 PPM. The Midnight I think is a little more.

Beanstalk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121715708#Comment_121715708

They're both great whiskies. They're peated but not scotch level peated obviously. The dark silkie is a gorgeous drop, very well balanced and just different enough to make you appreciate that theres much more of an Irish whiskey heritage to tap into beyond our normal middleton/bushmills/teeling offerings. Its a great whiskey. The midnight Silkie takes it up a notch with the wine influence, offerring an unusual funky lactic note that works well with the peat that is just unheard of in Irish whiskies. The Dark Silkie is class, but the Midnight Silkie IMO is highly memorable. Id buy the Midnight over the Dark all day every day,

Black Sheep

...Well, they're more peated than many scotches, but less peated than others.

The Nal

1 litre bottle for 35 quid

tphase

Where's that on sale?

Insect Overlord

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121715950#Comment_121715950

Did this on Monday. Actually enjoyed the Midnight more than the (cask strength) Dark Silkie, which I didn't expect. As sometimes happens with me, the bottle has grown on me as I've made my way through it - I was a little disappointed with the Midnight Silkie when I first opened it.

Tonight I'm having a little drop of Killowen Rum & Raisin over ice. Really gonna miss this one when it's gone.

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121737249#Comment_121737249

Interesting. I'd say the cask strength Dark is my best new whiskey of the last few years (thanks to the secret santa)

Haven't tried the Midnight, must correct that omission

Beanstalk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121737249#Comment_121737249

The Midnight Silkie is a blended malt too isn't it? While the Dark is blended whiskey, though to be honest, they're bith still great quality and value. I've heard the Rum and Raisin is available in 700ml now?

The Nal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121724960#Comment_121724960

London, unfortunately.

tphase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121737893#Comment_121737893

might skip it so 😁

Insect Overlord

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121737873#Comment_121737873

Yeah, both very good blends. I was only surprised because I expected to enjoy the Dark more - I wasn't disappointed with either of them. :)

Black Sheep

None of the Silkies are every going to be aspirational or grail whiskies, but they're solid and I think they offer a surprising amount at their price points. I guess they'd be my 'supermarket Irish whiskey choice' generally.

I enjoyed the bottle of Midnight Silkie I had. I know I'd like the cask strength, but I'm just sure I would want to bump up my spend to 90 euro for it.

The Red Silkies are an underrated part of their line-up also. I've had the rioja and pomerol. Red wine finishes can be a bit tricky sometimes, but they do it well, I don't know does it come down to wine barrel selection or what.

If anyone has the chance to taste the pomerol Red Silkie, ask yourself, which prominent more expensive Irish single malt does it remind you of?

Spoiler Warning

Redbreast, was what was suggested to me, at a tasting of it.

I'd have to say, yes, surprisingly so. Undoubtedly unintended, but oddly "on the nose", if you'll excuse the pun.

DeniG2

Tough week at work, time to relax with one of these. Gets me every time, classic Speyside smoothness and sweetness, but with a lovely peaty finish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121738717#Comment_121738717

Where did you find the Silkies? I have not seen them in any off licenses near me. Would try one, maybe the red for the spoiler reason, but online prices are not far off the spoiler choice

Black Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121746927#Comment_121746927

The distillery shop... Same price as online however. I think you're right, only 15 or so in the difference?

If you get it I'd think of it more as "if I like A I might like B", and also maybe if you just want something slightly new at same time.

Greg81

Can you recommend any "groups" "exchanging" samples?

Would really like to taste first before going for full bottle.

Thanks

1901Rory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121716218#Comment_121716218

I’d say not worth it.

I tasted it first at the Teeling distillery in 2021 and I got to take some home. The overall impression was of a spirit too young yet. The nose appeared very young, grainy and chemically (is it the feints that smell more like that?). It hit all hot and peppery, which is not unusual for a pot still whiskey. But I didn’t get much else other than a hot, young spirit - it could just as well be tequila - no finesse.

Then i tasted it in Dublin airport last year, and that release seemed a good step up from what i had previously tasted. It was approx 6yrs old I was told. Who knows what a few more years will bring.

Greg81

Picked up that bottle few years back.

Cracked it open and I am pleasantly surprised. Quite sweet.

Also catching few rays of sunlight so paring it with Leon Jimenes Cigar.

Quiet Sunday afternoon.

Slainte.

tphase

Lucky for some....

DARK-KNIGHT

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121754216#Comment_121754216

Thoughts on the whiskey?

janiejones

Got the WD o connell 5 year amontillado as a present. Trying it tonight. It's nice, reminds me of something but I'm not sure. I think it's Kilkerran, where the peat comes across as burnt rubber but in a nice way, which I get is weird

Greg81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121755339#Comment_121755339

Quite sweet but also little bit smoky.

Enjoyed it but need to pair it again with dark chocolate.

Smooth.

Black Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121757093#Comment_121757093

Sounds pleasant.

It's hardly the point, but I do think the branding on that particular release looks great.

I've always enjoyed various JW offerings when I've had them. Along with Chivas Regal, their products are better, imo, than the reputation that they sometimes enjoy among whisky people, if that makes sense.

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121757411#Comment_121757411

I agree. Johnnie Walker are a very safe pair of hands (once you get past the red. Though, to be fair, that's not too bad given it's very cheap)

The black is very decent, I really like the double black, green is good and all the random editions I've tried have been nice (The Spice Road is the only one I can really remember though)

Black Sheep

I was at an Indian wedding with an open bar once, and had a good time with a bottle of JW Gold.

Greg81

Experimenting with miniatures tonight.

Bottles, labels, wax, string. Quite happy with the outcome.

While doing that I killed my can of bourbon.

Sláinte

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121752909#Comment_121752909

Young and grainy. That was my reaction as well.

Black Sheep

Was in Scotland over the weekend, and picked up a bottle of Lochlea 2nd crop Harvest.

Lochlea is an Ayrshire farm distillery, reasonably positive reviews but I've never previously tried them. A complete punt. I think the age is 3-5 years.

They're releasing this 2nd crop batch in four different cask finishes. This one is a medley of port, sherry and STR barrique finishes, I think.

I drove on the ferry, and if anyone does use Stranraer, worth popping into A.D Rattray, about an hour from the ferry... It's an independent bottler, they have a range of nice cask strength bottlings from a variety of distilleries, all priced 40-85 GBP or so. Some potential value in there, I think, depending on the cask quality.

Beanstalk

Hah what a coincidence! I got the First Crop Edition of Harvest just last week on auction. We'll have to compare notes! I think the first crop doesn't have STR but does have ex bourbon, port and sherry.

I like that John Campbell is charge at Lochlea. He's done great things at Laphroaig.

the beer revolu

STR:

https://www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk/str-casks/#:~:text=What%20is%20an%20STR%20cask,casks%20across%20Europe%20and%20America.

Beanstalk

I see Roe and Co have their own juice out. Nice to see distilleries getting to that point.

https://shop.roeandcowhiskey.com/products/roe-co-solera-single-malt-irish-whiskey

Hmm 85 quid...I think I'd hold off to reviews I still don't get the Irish pricing structure it looks has a while to go before it levels out.

Electric Nitwit

Presumably that's still pretty young, isn't it?

(Maybe not, can't remember when I first saw Roe and Co)

Sounds interesting...

...refill and first fill American Oak ex Bourbon barrels, Alligator charred American oak barrels, Chestnut barrels with custom toasting profiles, and Sherry casks converge to create a diverse wood profile

Beanstalk

5 years I read elsewhere! Aye that cask arrangement sounds great though whats alligator charred?

It's definitely a string to the Irish Whiskey industry bow to be able to use woods other than oak.

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121812340#Comment_121812340

I presume it's charred until until it resembles alligator skin, but that did confuse me too 🤣

Definitely one I'll look for in a pub, bit pricey too dive in on a whole bottle

Beanstalk

Hah well that's adventurous marketing I'll give them that. I don't know much about charring but I know in Scotland and the US that the char level has a numbering system so I presume they just char the shite out of this.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121812384#Comment_121812384

Alligator is one of the heavier chars, something like a 4 I think.

adocholiday

Would anyone be able to recommend a good gift bottle for a Jameson drinker? My Dad is turning 60 and he likes a whiskey but generally sticks to regular Jameson. He's not really a fan of things like the Black Barrel or other special/infused type whiskeys, and I think given the option he'd always go with Jameson over other brands.

I usually get him a bottle of something nicer for birthdays/christmas (say around the €50-€60 mark) but for his 60th I was going to get him something a bit better to mark the occasion, maybe pair it with some nice glasses or something. I don't want to go too crazy because he wouldn't be a connoisseur by any means, he often says that he doesn't see the point in getting more expensive stuff and I think he'd actually be annoyed if I splurged on something like Midleton, even though I'd be happy to.

I was looking at the Jameson site and the Redbreast 15 year old or the Lustau edition might be a sweet spot in terms of fancier than usual but nothing too extravagant, with the Redbreast tumblers too. I'm just interested to know people's recommendations, or if there's maybe another whiskey at a similar price point that might be a better option. Thanks!