114 replies to this topic

[Meanderer]

I'm a great fan of the Clynelish 14 year old so when I saw a bottle today I bought it. Now, as I sit here typing this, I am regretting that I didn't buy two bottles because the place I found it is two hours away and it isn't available anywhere nearby.

[ChrisTaylor]

'Shackleton's whisky'--Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt. It's really quite mediocre. It might even verge on 'shit', but maybe I'm doing some statistical bullshitingaround given the price tag. The $200AUD asking price? It's for the story, not the dram. For that I could buy a 25 year old Glenfarclas (beautiful stuff ... and I'd have change) or some Laphroaig, Oban and something else.

Edited by ChrisTaylor, 07 March 2012 - 01:52 AM.

[ChrisTaylor]

Things I've tried in the past few days, scotch and bourbon and rye

• Springbank 18: I've heard big things about the Springbank still, so I guess I expected a lot. It was ... okay. I'm glad I didn't blind-buy it like I was tempted to only recently.
• Eagle Rare. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time I've had Eagle Rare ... and I admit I haven't really tried any bourbon below the Buffalo Trace/Woodford Reserve/Blanton's price point (purely because, in Australia, the true entry-level stuff is ~$5-10 cheaper than these, which isn't so bad when you're talking about a $40 vs $50 bottle of something). But. Yeah. I disliked this. I mean, if someone gave me a bottle as a gift I wouldn't regift it--I guess I'd find a use for it--but it's not something I'd purchase by choice.
• Russell's Reserve in its bourbon and rye forms. Both good, but I'm a bit surprised that I enjoyed the bourbon version more. Which is ideal, I guess, as it's much easier to buy bourbon in Australia than it is rye.
• Van Winkle rye. Amazing. Truly amazing. Up there with Thomas Handy. And $110 cheaper than Thomas Handy ... meaning it's still a $190 bottle of whiskey, but hey, it's a nice $190 bottle of whiskey.

[thirtyoneknots]

Things I've tried in the past few days, scotch and bourbon and rye

• Eagle Rare. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time I've had Eagle Rare ... and I admit I haven't really tried any bourbon below the Buffalo Trace/Woodford Reserve/Blanton's price point (purely because, in Australia, the true entry-level stuff is ~$5-10 cheaper than these, which isn't so bad when you're talking about a $40 vs $50 bottle of something). But. Yeah. I disliked this. I mean, if someone gave me a bottle as a gift I wouldn't regift it--I guess I'd find a use for it--but it's not something I'd purchase by choice.

Interesting x2, partly because this is the first time I've ever heard of a whiskey drinker who didn't care for Eagle Rare, and partly because Eagle rare is usually 20-30% more expensive that Buffalo Trace over here (and neither is as expensive as Woodford or Blantons).

[ChrisTaylor]

Revisited Booker's for the ... third? time. It's grown on me a whole lot.

[FrogPrincesse]

Isn't Booker's a bourbon?

[ChrisTaylor]

It is. I'm a bit of a rebel that way, posting musings on blends and rye and bourbon and Irish and Australian whiskies in a single malt scotch thread.

[mkayahara]

It is. I'm a bit of a rebel that way, posting musings on blends and rye and bourbon and Irish and Australian whiskies in a single malt scotch thread.

Australian whisky? Did I miss that upthread? Tell me more...

[ChrisTaylor]

Er, I'm assuming at some point I've posted one liner reviews of something like the Smith's Angaston or Hellyer's Road or Sullivan's Cove or the new 100% rye (white spirit only at the moment--the still is only very new). Maybe. But yeah. Australian whiskey exists. Most of it is young due to low demand/low production/real need to get the product to punters asap to make any kind of money at all. It's also often expensive. Some of it's imported or, through some ninjagoogling and the wonders of the postal system, might make its way to Guelph, Ontario.

Lark: the original, I think, in the sense it was the first legally operated still and brought about a change in laws that, well, let people make whisky. Sort of trying to be an Islay. I don't like it very much. They also make a gin, a vodka (I think), a liqueur and some other stuff.

Sullivan's Cove: only had the double barrel variant, as that's what's avaliable on the site in a 150mL mini (the large bottles are very expensive). It's just okay.

Bakery Hill: yet to try that or some other smaller (a couple of them closed) 'stills, such as Nant (meant to be excellent)

Hellyer's Road: decent, I guess. The peated and pinot noir finish variants are my favourite. From memory these guys and Bakery Hill sell boxes that contain minis of each variant. I'd recommend this over buying a whole bottle if you're only just curious about this. And even then, the mini price is pretty expensive.

Smith's Angaston: very limited run. Product of a monster-sized company that purchased a plot of land and, hey, cool, there's a still here. Made some whiskey, aged it for some time (8, 10, 12 and I think there's an even older variant coming out eventually). Possibly the one Australian whiskey I've had that's not trying to be scotch (more than a few nod to Islay: I guess because, if you have consumed both a bottle of Lark and a bottle of Laphroaig and were travelling blind-folded with a busload of bagpipe-playing Scottish tourists, Tasmania could easily be confused for Scotland) and sold it every so often. Stumbled on it by chance. Very good. The only one I've had that I'd rate up there with the rest of the world's offerings, altho' some locals will frown and say that Hellyer's/Bakery/etc, young as they are, are perfectly fine and really only just need more age on them. I hope at least one of those 'stills has thought to put, say, half of their batch in barrels for 10, 12 years and to start selling that. Altho' if I need to pay ~$100AUD or even more, in some cases, for a three or so year old whisky, I hate to think of what I'd pay for some 10 year old Lark.

EDIT

Just so you know, New Zealand also makes whisky. At least one of their stills sells their product internationally. In the sense you can find it fairly easily in Australia. I think it's even meant to be okay. Nice, super-tourisity packaging, too, with a big map of Middle Earth the country and everything, so maybe it does go even further afield.

Edited by ChrisTaylor, 21 June 2012 - 01:58 PM.

[Chris Amirault]

This Bruichladdich Port Charlotte An Turas Mor is tasty, if a bit light -- remarkable to say for something as peaty as this. But I'm comparing it to the otherworldly Aberlour A'bunadh 19 that I found, miracle of miracles, on the shelf of a local store. It may well be that I'm a fan of a great big sherry fruitcake cuddle, but this thing is a black, burnt caramel bombshell.

[tanstaafl2]

It is. I'm a bit of a rebel that way, posting musings on blends and rye and bourbon and Irish and Australian whiskies in a single malt scotch thread.

And to be fair it only says "Favorite Single Malt". Doesn't mention Scotch or even "whisky", anywhere...

(OK, I know that was probably what was meant!)

But for a pleasant and generally easy to find whiskey I concur with Chris and find that the Bushmills 10yo Single Malt always hits the spot. Although I do also like a bit of the Black Bush now and again as well even it is a mere blended whiskey.

[ChrisTaylor]

Other recent whisk(e)y tastings that I remember

- Whistlepig rye. Amazing, amazing, amazing. That is all.

- Jack Daniels Gentleman Jack. Don't remember if I've had the standard Jack. Don't think so, I mean. Bought it because of a couple recipes--in PDT, maybe, or the Beta book--called for Tenn. whiskey. And I didn't have any. The whiskey both books recommend, George Dickel, is really hard to find here and very, very, very expensive in AUD terms. So fuck that, right? Anyway. Gent Jack is okay. I mean, there's nothing about it that compells me to buy the, er, more premium Jack, but there's also nothing about it that makes me want to off-load the bottle onto someone who'll enjoy it more.

- Dalwhinnie and Oban. Enjoyed the former a whole lot more than the latter. The Oban was nice enough, I mean, but I'm glad I only have a 200mL bottle, as I except a full 700mL would be lingering around for a good while. The Dalwhinnie, tho', I think it'd be a nice entry point to the scotch side of the whisk(e)y world. As in if a non-whisk(e)y or scotch drinker wanted a starting point, that'd be it, before a more standard Glenlivitfiddichetc.

Edited by ChrisTaylor, 13 September 2012 - 05:20 AM.

[ChrisTaylor]

And another

- Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Very good. I mean, I've liked all of the Wild Turkey products that I've tried (granted, I've only had the regular bourbon and rye whiskies--I haven't any of their special editions, the honey liqueur or their pre-mixed beverages), but still. Rare Breed is a full-flavoured bourbon, the kind that can take you to a dark place. The kind of bourbon you want when listening to Tom Waits, which I am. I mean, I've warmed to the milder, underdone Maker's Mark/Booker's kind of thing, but still, this. I guess it's maybe the bourbon version of Islay: it's for people who are already sold on that format of whiskey.

[ChrisTaylor]

More (non-scotch) whiskies:

Woodford Reserve rye: good, probably on par with the entry level Saz, but I prefer their bourbon. Fairly sweet for a rye, I think.

Knob Creek single barrel: nice enough but ... I'm glad I tasted this buy the glass. I don't think I'd buy a bottle given it's hard to find and expensive here.

Pappy Van Winkle 15: amazing. The only * Van Winkle I'd had prior to this was the Old Van Winkle rye. The Pappy 15 was easily as good as the Old rye that I have. Tempted to acquire some, even tho' I think it's overpriced ($200AUD--which, sure, is a full $400 cheaper than the 23).

Bulleit rye: only newly avalible here. Sweet-ish and probably on par with Wild Turkey rye. Yet to land in bottleshops but I get the impression it's going to be priced at a similar level to WT and Jim. Which is nice, as they're the only two reasonably priced ryes you can get in Australia (if you can find them, you'll spend about $100 on the basic Ritt and Saz offerings).

Crown Royal: first Canadian I'd had aside from the entry-level Club. Not particularly nice. Not terrible ... but again, this is hard to find and expensive here (and it's the only Canadian I've seen for sale by the bottle here aside from Canadian Club) and I'm very glad I didn't give into temptation a while ago and purchase a bottle.

[KD1191]

Anyone tried the new Balvenie Doublewood 17 Year? I'm quite fond of the 12 and the 21...would appreciate any notes.

[ChrisTaylor]

Hudson Manhattan Rye. Seen the Hudson whiskey range here and there--by the glass, by the bottle occasionally--but never got around to trying any of them. It's expensive here. Really expensive. As in, what you'd pay for the ... what, 350mL bottles is what you'd pay for half a bottle of a really, really, really nice top shelf bourbon (or rye). By the glass it's on par with Thomas Handy, Pappy Van Winkle, George Stagg, et al. So. Yeah. That rye. It was ... man, I didn't really like it. It was harsh. I mean, yeah, it's ~45% APV, but I wouldn't say either Thomas Handy or Old Van Winkle Rye--both stronger than the Hudson--were that blunt on the palate. Not a winner.

Jim Beam Devil's Cut. Don't recall having a Jim Beam whiskey before. Well. That's incorrect. I've had Booker's and a few other bourbons released under other names, but I'd never had Jim Beam Jim Beam. Stuff that's sold openly as Jim Beam whiskey. Not out of snobbishness or anything, but I'd never got around to it. Woodford Reserve was, I think, the first bourbon I ever had and after that I just sampled things or blindly bought things I heard about on eGullet. But the other night a friend brought over some Devil's Cut and ... you know what? For a cheap whiskey it's nice enough. Or, rather, the opening is nice. Sweet in that pleasant bourbon sweetness kind of way. The finish is a bit rough around the edges, but yeah, I could drink this. And I will, as I was left with a half-full bottle.

[gfweb]

Oban single malt.
Woodford reserve for routine bourbon and the estimable Pappy VanWinkle for whenever I deserve it.

Jim Beam isn't bad stuff, better I think than Old Granddad and Wild Turkey, but a couple notches below Woodford.

Some of the fancier artisan bourbons lose that bourbon taste and are a little scotch-y to my tongue.

[gfweb]

Airline bourbon is a variable situation. Usair only has Jack Daniels which isn't even a bourbon. Good only to clean the tray table. Otherwise a fine airline.

Delta has Woodford, which is the sole redeeming factor for the whole hopeless company IMO.

United and American have Jim Beam Black...adequate, just like the carriers.

Edited by gfweb, 03 October 2012 - 06:59 AM.

[EvergreenDan]

Chris, Devil's Cut is made by a unique (to my knowledge) process of extracting the spirit and flavors that have soaked into recently-emptied barrels using water and steam. I haven't had it, but I would expect a corresponding unique flavor profile.

I couldn't readily find a age statement for the Hudson Manhattan Rye, but my recollection was that their Hudson line is pretty young, which my explain the harshness.

[haresfur]

Chris, Devil's Cut is made by a unique (to my knowledge) process of extracting the spirit and flavors that have soaked into recently-emptied barrels using water and steam. I haven't had it, but I would expect a corresponding unique flavor profile.

I couldn't readily find a age statement for the Hudson Manhattan Rye, but my recollection was that their Hudson line is pretty young, which my explain the harshness.

So it's kind of like the bourbon equivalent of Newfoundland 'swish' to get the last of the rum out of the barrel?

... and Chris, a little rough around the edges can be a virtue.

[ChrisTaylor]

... and Chris, a little rough around the edges can be a virtue.

Indeed it can. And I'd say in this case it was. I enjoyed it. A nice contrast to how ... refined something like Woodford is. 'Tis interesting as I was reminded of something ralfy said about scotch, about how sometimes a particular bottle isn't very nice as they've bottled even the dregs from the cask or some such. When I saw Devil's Cut being marketed I couldn't shake that video from my memory. Altho' I guess maybe they've refined it a bit before bottling it.

Some of the fancier artisan bourbons lose that bourbon taste and are a little scotch-y to my tongue.

Have started to notice that. I think it's only a few, tho'. It's not a quality I find endearing.

I couldn't readily find a age statement for the Hudson Manhattan Rye, but my recollection was that their Hudson line is pretty young, which my explain the harshness.

They are. They're charging a lot for young whiskey. As in it's roughly ~$80/350 mL. And for that I could buy a full-sized bottle of basically any kind of bourbon or rye that's not in the super premium category (i.e. the afore-mentioned Stagg/Van Winkle/Handy) category. Granted, most Australian stills do exactly the same thing. Most Australian whiskey is very young and very expensive, altho' there are some nice examples.

[ChrisTaylor]

Elijah Craig. Just their default bottling. Not the small batch single barrel fancy option. A nice bourbon. An interesting bourbon. When I heard it was a sweet bourbon I imagined that it'd be a whole lot like, say, Woodford Reserve, but it's a bit more complex than WR.

[ChrisTaylor]

Elmer T Lee single barrel. Wow. I mean. Wow. Just took a sip and at first it was like, well, yeah, that's nice but then it lingered. There's a complex sweetness that just sits there, takes its time with your palate, doesn't hit you with the oak--which is there, no doubt--right away the way, say, Templeton does. A nice blind buy.

[ChrisTaylor]

Overeem Sherry Cask from the Old Hobart 'Still. A little harsh--still young, I guess--but overall one of the best Australian whiskies I've had. Seems to be shooting more for the Speyside kind of thing than the Islay. I know that those guys doing the rye spirit are obviously aiming that way, but it'd be nice if Australian whiskey either did its own thing (hi, Smith's Angaston, it'd be nice if you did another release) or maybe, if it has to poach ideas, borrowed from Kentucky and not just Islay.

Altho', yeah, price is a real issue with our whiskey. The 'reem is nice $125 for the standard bottling of the sherry cask (about $40 more for the cask strength version). And it's nice, sure, as I said, but again, it's young whiskey and I could buy a couple of nice bottles--say, a Talisker and a Woodford Reserve--for that money. Easy. And, I get supply vs demand. I get the small market size. All of that. But ... I mean, $300 for a bottle of Sullivan's Cove? I've tried the overpriced mini. Just ... no.

[KD1191]

Anyone tried the new Balvenie Doublewood 17 Year? I'm quite fond of the 12 and the 21...would appreciate any notes.

Answered my own question...to the unfortunate tune of $120. This is a hella-rich, sweetish dram. I'm sure that it'll suit some particular mood, but I still think this'll be on the shelf for a long time.

Edited by KD1191, 12 November 2012 - 10:42 PM.