What are you having yourself?

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Excellent comments from IWC... it is only with hindsight that you can understand the journey whiskey takes you on...

And this reminds me, it has struck me why Irish whiskey possibly gets a bit of a raw deal ... in instances it's really smooth, possibly too smooth for some palates and something which peat heads cant seem to get to grips with. I know myself as a confirmed peat head I often just want something to blast away the cobwebs like a Laphroaig. But I remember reading a passage from the wise and sagely Mr Michael Jackson that once a whiskey enthusiast gets over the fascination of the peated Islay's they should then explore the the finer points and nuances of non peated whisk(e)y and he specifically mentioned Irish and Lowland Scotch as prime examples of wonderful whiskeys that need to be explored for their subtle but multilayer-ed taste spectrum. So the next time you think a whiskey is a bit too smooth wait for a quite time and sit back and give it your full attention and see if you can get anything extra from it. Learn to enjoy some smooth time

[bredman]

Bladnoch 20 hh 5767 52.9%. On a fresh palate (unlike last night) this is lovely. Not as good as the 20yo that won wwwforum's bottling of the year last year, there is a h2h coming soon.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Started with

Tyrconnell 10yo AN finish exclusive to The Celtic Whiskey Shop. The more I drink this the more I see this as a little piece of genius. I think there is a need to congratulate Ally on a great selection of cask and a perfect marriage with the Tyrconnell Single Malt. I've always been suspect of strange wine finishes but this is class. Must do proper notes at some stage but all you'll get from me at the minute is class


Finishing with

Jameson 12yo Distillery Reserve (Midleton)

For me the perfect Jameson 12yo. The regular Jameson 12yo has always been a favourite but since I have opened this there seems to be a gulf between the regular and the Midleton Distillery reserve. In one way that's a shame as the regular 12 has been such a great stall-worth in the Jameson line up and possibly the best value Jameson in the whiskey to euro ratio stakes but the Midlton version (for me) is a clear step above. This bottling however should be treated like special limited series as you can't just pop out and buy another and further it is priced at a much higher premium too so because of this the regular 12 has nothing to prove. Panic attack over .

ENjoy which ever you have both are great

[bredman]

Glenlivet 16 Nadurra 1010K 54.9%. The expected quality, perhaps a spicier batch than previous.

I took a large and healthy sample and then finished this little gem. I did a couple H2Hs with other (previous) Nads' and i think the subtle changes are progressive, less fruit (banana) (and less %age) and more sharp barley and wood influence. Not for the better, imo. The changes are slight though, and for those looking for a bourbon matured CS malt this is still a leading contender, and a favourite.

[zenmonk]

Found a bottle of Whyte and Mackay standard blend in the press last night and had a drop, not bad... surprisingly.
Also some Johnnie Walker Black.. lovely.

[bredman]

The Ileach Cask Strength.

Corryvreckan.

Two fine drams. Very effective

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

The Ileach Cask Strength.

Corryvreckan.

Two fine drams. Very effective

What's the make up of the Ileach these days ... Been a good few years since I had one.

[bredman]

What's the make up of the Ileach these days ... Been a good few years since I had one.

This is an old bottle i found hiding at the back. I heard it was not that great on recent bottlings.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

What's the make up of the Ileach these days ... Been a good few years since I had one.

This is an old bottle i found hiding at the back. I heard it was not that great on recent bottlings.

there was a rumour that some of these were young Lagas

ANyway I have the Lap 3 Wood last night.

Not far off the 1/4 cask but not as good in my opinion especially the finish and a bit woodier. This had one of the shortest Laph finishes I've come across ... still liked though

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Hope you enjoyed it, remember to keep a sample for GaryM!!!

[bredman]

What's the make up of the Ileach these days ... Been a good few years since I had one.

This is an old bottle i found hiding at the back. I heard it was not that great on recent bottlings.

there was a rumour that some of these were young Lagas

We had a big discussion on another forum as to the source of The Ileach's whisky. I was and is a firm believer it is a Laga, as were many others. A few though felt it was Caol Ila, based more on statistics more than anything.

[varizoltan]

i am at home ground, so i am having a bit of fun here

side by side

Writers Tears, Green Spot, Powers blend 70's - 80's, Powers 12, Powers John's Lane

[Luke Gough]

i am at home ground, so i am having a bit of fun here

side by side

Writers Tears, Green Spot, Powers blend 70's - 80's, Powers 12, Powers John's Lane

A "Verticalé" Zoltan? The Powers 12 should contrast with well with the John's Lane.

[varizoltan]

i just had a wonderful day, good business done

i raise my waterford crystal glass of MIDLETON VERY RARE 20th anniversary whiskey for all the good society members health

slainte

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Powers 12yo John's Lane.

Really love this and what a brilliant nose. Still have not done notes on this as I'm just purely enjoying it. Half the bottle gone already

[Luke Gough]

Powers 12yo John's Lane.

Really love this and what a brilliant nose. Still have not done notes on this as I'm just purely enjoying it. Half the bottle gone already

Don't tempt me Adrian, I'm thinking of opening a bottle...

BTW will they continue the line after the initial 600 cases are gone? - news please!

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Powers 12yo John's Lane.

Really love this and what a brilliant nose. Still have not done notes on this as I'm just purely enjoying it. Half the bottle gone already

Don't tempt me Adrian, I'm thinking of opening a bottle...

BTW will they continue the line after the initial 600 cases are gone? - news please!

Yes I believe they will be making this a regular release but I suppose it also depends on sales too. No harm to hold on to one for posterity. I have no reason to suggest but you never know the next batch could be slightly different.

[IainB]

They've produced a new plinth with the 4 SPS bottlings - Greenspot, Redbreast 12, Midleton Legacy, Powers Johns Lane - so I guess they're planning on keeping it going fo a while. I suppose it depends on how well they all sell and whether this seperation of Midleton / SPS as a seperate brand from Jameson really takes off.

I've noticed that Redbreast, Green Sport and Midleton all previously referred to Jameson and/or Bow St somewhere on their labels. I think there's a subtle effort here to market Midleton as a completely seperate brand at this stage with emphasis on the single pot still angle as their answer to single malt. It makes sense when you think about it - most single malts, well Scotch ones anyway, are named after thier distillery.

When you look at the new designs for Green spot, Powers John's lane and Redbreast it makes very clear that they're made in Midleton and also explains in much clearer terms than before what's unique about SPS whiskey.

So again, I think the Powers Johns Lane will be ongoing.

Oh and Barry Crockett said it would when I asked him at Whiskey Live. I probably should have put that bit first.

[Luke Gough]

Oh and Barry Crockett said it would when I asked him at Whiskey Live. I probably should have put that bit first.

All Good News Iain!

[John]

Wonder why they didn't include the RB 15yo in that new plinth? Bit of a missed opportunity to widen their pure* pot still range, or does it underline the possibility that they don't regard it as being here for the long-haul?
J.

* Don't worry, I'll get around to learning off that new term eventually

[matt]

Hi John,

Is that the one you are wondering about?

Redbreast 15 y.o. SPS.JPG

Redbreast 15 y.o. SPS.01.JPG

Cheers

[John]

That's the one Matt!
Cheers,
John.

[varizoltan]

Wonder why they didn't include the RB 15yo in that new plinth? Bit of a missed opportunity to widen their pure* pot still range, or does it underline the possibility that they don't regard it as being here for the long-haul?
J.

* Don't worry, I'll get around to learning off that new term eventually

i have asked Barry Crockett at whisky live, is there an 18 years old coming out later?

he said, no, older than that

so they may have a Redbreast plinth coming with 3 bottles, 12 - 15 - and 20 or 20+

[IainB]

Finally finished of the dregs of an Edradour 10 bottle I've had for years. Just couldn't bring myself to finish it on any night - I does nothing for me. Anyway, when I added 20% Laphroaig 15 to the glass it was much much better finally allowing me to dispatch another bottle to recycling.

I'm trying to finish 2 before opening 1 at the moment. Trying, not always suceeding, but even 3:2 should reduce the open bottles over time.

Also had an Aberfeldy 21yo and a Dewars signature - always interesting to compare a blend to it's signature malt.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

i have asked Barry Crockett at whisky live, is there an 18 years old coming out later?

he said, no, older than that

so they may have a Redbreast plinth coming with 3 bottles, 12 - 15 - and 20 or 20+

Good to hear Zoltan, I would guess a 21yo so as that fits best in the general whisk(e)y Scheme of things.

Really looking forward to tasting that one. Should be good but expensive I would imagine but we can't have it every way.