What are you having yourself?

[IainB]

Coming up;

Midleton 1973 30 years old 56%

Midleton 20th Anniversary 53%


happy days

What time should I call over??

[varizoltan]

Coming up;

Midleton 1973 30 years old 56%

Midleton 20th Anniversary 53%


happy days

What time should I call over??

the sausage festival is on, and i be home till wednesday, so anytime in between

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Been on a bit of an Irish run the last couple months and here here says I

However I did have the odd scotch and even odder bourbon inbetween ...

So tonight a Macallon 20yo cask strength bourbon cask ... was not overly impressed with this up till this (1/4 bottle gone) but tonight it was lovely and fruity (soft flesh fruits) and not bad at all ...

Next up was a Bladnoch 8yo peated ... a very interesting slant on bladnoch which is usually not peated and it seems the peating quite suits it well.

Coal Ila 18 next ... has hints of Laphroaig iodine and leathery smoke of a Lagavulin ... an excellent mix if you ask me

[bredman]

Next up was a Bladnoch 8yo peated ... a very interesting slant on bladnoch which is usually not peated and it seems the peating quite suits it well.

A favourite of mine of recent times.

For me a Caol Ila 8 Unpeated 64.2%. It's good stuff, and i note that TWE has it on offer.

[jcskinner]

On the Caol Isla myself - Zinfandel finish. V. yummy.

[IainB]

I can't really decide where I want to be tonight - so far Laphroaig 15, Midleton, Cragganmore, Tyrconnell AN Cask. About 1/2 measure of each to try and find my mood. Finally settled on an Ardmore Traditional Cask - now this is a lovely peated whisky. So where to go from here? I see Caol Ila mentioned - maybe I'll open the Distillers Edition I've been looking at for a while.

[JohnM]

I'm having the Amrut Fusion and Balblair 2000. Both pretty nice. I like the Amrut a lot, but am not sure what all the fuss is about.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

... Finally settled on an Ardmore Traditional Cask - now this is a lovely peated whisky. ...

What is so traditional about the traditional cask ... and I'm not being smart ... would like to know what they are hinting at?

[DavidH]

... Finally settled on an Ardmore Traditional Cask - now this is a lovely peated whisky. ...

What is so traditional about the traditional cask ... and I'm not being smart ... would like to know what they are hinting at?

I was curious so I looked at their website...

Founded in 1898 by one of Scotland’s most famous whisky families, we continue to have an unshakable belief in our traditional distilling methods.

We insist that all Ardmore expressions use the aromatic smoke from natural, highland peat fires to dry our barley. We are now the only Highland distillery that insists on fully peating our standard malt and we will never change.

The fermentation vessels we use are crafted from Oregon pine. It is true that they are more labour intensive but they impart a flavour that stainless steel vessels (now widely used) can never give.

Our traditional methods also extend to maturation. Traditional cask is double fermented first in the usual oak casks but then a second time in much smaller hand crafted “Quarter Casks” they were common a hundred years ago but have been largely ignored due to their high cost of construction. This intense secondary maturation gives the deeper smother flavour our whisky is renowned for.

Finally we bottle at the higher strength of 46% ABV (or higher).

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I was curious so I looked at their website...

Our traditional methods also extend to maturation. Traditional cask is double fermented first in the usual oak casks but then a second time in much smaller hand crafted “Quarter Casks” they were common a hundred years ago but have been largely ignored due to their high cost of construction. This intense secondary maturation gives the deeper smother flavour our whisky is renowned for.

Thanks David ... I first have to say fair play to them about using traditional methods etc but is this just marketing spin ... I'm still none of the wiser of what is so traditional about their casks ... except they are using a double maturation of usual Oak casks (a very loose term) and then in quarter casks.

What type of cask are they using ????

Quarter casks made from bourbon barrels are still much cheaper than wine casks which to me are the traditional cask. ????

[DavidH]

Thanks David ... I first have to say fair play to them about using traditional methods etc but is this just marketing spin ... I'm still none of the wiser of what is so traditional about their casks ... except they are using a double maturation of usual Oak casks (a very loose term) and then in quarter casks.

Quarter casks made from bourbon barrels are still much cheaper than wine casks which to me are the traditional cask. ????

Perhaps they are thinking of really small producers who made their own casks (from sherry casks, maybe) because the smaller ones were easier to transport and sell. I've no idea. It sounds like a convenient marketing hook, as you say.

[bredman]

A hat-trick of Ardbegs tonight -
Rollercoaster - Corryvreckan - Supernova SN2010.

Maybe an add on later.

[IainB]

Thanks David ... I first have to say fair play to them about using traditional methods etc but is this just marketing spin ... I'm still none of the wiser of what is so traditional about their casks ... except they are using a double maturation of usual Oak casks (a very loose term) and then in quarter casks.

Quarter casks made from bourbon barrels are still much cheaper than wine casks which to me are the traditional cask. ????

Perhaps they are thinking of really small producers who made their own casks (from sherry casks, maybe) because the smaller ones were easier to transport and sell. I've no idea. It sounds like a convenient marketing hook, as you say.

To be honest I just thought of it as a brand name - I know quarter casks are used but really I didn't give it any more thought than say "1608" or whatever. What I can say is that it might be relatively young but it's a lovely whisky.

[JohnM]

A hat-trick of Ardbegs tonight -
Rollercoaster - Corryvreckan - Supernova SN2010.

Maybe an add on later.

Very nice. I love the Corryvreckan especially.

I'm having a Jameson 18. Very nice.

[bredman]

A hat-trick of Ardbegs tonight -
Rollercoaster - Corryvreckan - Supernova SN2010.

Maybe an add on later.

Very nice. I love the Corryvreckan especially.

I'm having a Jameson 18. Very nice.

The Corry was last night's champ.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Have not tried any of those 3 Ardies ... must give them a try but afraid to buy any Ardbeg as I've not liked any of the modern ones I've tasted yet

[IainB]

Just tea tonight but last night it was another PPS night - Green spot, Green spot 10yo, Midleton 14yo single cask, Jameson 15yo. Yum yum yum. Mostly sipped alongside a Dungarvan brewing company Black Rock stout. Lovely rich stout.

[bredman]

Highland Park 1991 G&M Cask Strength 59%. I wish i bought more of this way back. Imo the greatest ever HP.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Highland Park 1991 G&M Cask Strength 59%. I wish i bought more of this way back. Imo the greatest ever HP.

I have a real soft spot for HP single casks ... if you ever spot a half bottle from Maxxium in Holland give it a go. They usually do one at least every year and are always superb.

[brettie vedder]

had a few connemara peated cask strengths last night. nice change to laphroaig for me. loads of toffee/caramel coming through the smoke for me. im starting to become a cask strength snob now cannot wait for my triumphant return to my whiskey collection in ireland. first on the list is redbreast and will be followed shortly by a greenspot. its been too long mr. pure pot still

[varizoltan]

warming up with Midleton 1967, 35 years old blend 41.1%

[varizoltan]

No Comment!

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

No Comment!

Yes ... Comment ... Please ...

Looking good Z you lucky sod

[varizoltan]

No Comment!

Yes ... Comment ... Please ...

Looking good Z you lucky sod

taste better with coke

[varizoltan]

jokes aside


after i have warmed up with the 67 blend, this is like paradise

so rich in flavour, as some know i am not a big fan of sherry, but this is very good
you could not asked for more,
have a lot of things in it,

on the nose i got sherry, honey, and i hate to say, but a bit like the Powers 12's nutty nose

so much going on at taste, i guess i could identify this if i get one blind
that sherry's nuttiness is well combined with wood

the finish is on so long and warmed with some spices

well worth the experience


if someone like to get a sample pm me