Your Own Blends???

[IainB]

You mentioned that before and, in fairness, you were right. I'm not sure what you said but i think you were right - on one of my "Black Bush" type experiments the 8yo worked much better than the 15. Which is kind of the same point - the less character the Grain has, sometimes the better. Not to malign grain - a good single grain is a thing to behold but for blending purposes it's not always what you want.

[JohnM]

I think it's because the grain loses its punch as it gets older.

I like the Greenore, but find all the vintages quite similar. Not sure I could pick out a favourite. However, the one I tasted at the distillery from the cask was superb. An 18 yr old. Hopefully the one they are bottling will be similar. Tasted very much of bananas.

[IainB]

Was it the Banana wood finish?

[JohnM]

I'm not sure what kind of wood it was, but it did say Fyffes on the side of the barrel.

[IainB]

That explains it!

I really like the 15 - went through a phase of it being a regular drink though I haven't had it in a while.

Just had a thought - what would Midleton VR be like with a drop of Connemara added.

I'll get back to you!

[varizoltan]

just had the Lagavulin 21, and was not a big fun of it, so i have improved it with a bit of my own Tyrconnell 17.5
i think it is time to bed now

[IainB]

just had the Lagavulin 21, and was not a big fun of it, so i have improved it with a bit of my own Tyrconnell 17.5
i think it is time to bed now

I think that was wise. Even I wouldn't do that. Anyway the 21 is my favourite Laga.

[varizoltan]

just had the Lagavulin 21, and was not a big fun of it, so i have improved it with a bit of my own Tyrconnell 17.5
i think it is time to bed now

I think that was wise. Even I wouldn't do that. Anyway the 21 is my favourite Laga.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I'll take it off your hands Z ... how much left in the bottle

Let me know what you want for it.

[varizoltan]

I'll take it off your hands Z ... how much left in the bottle

Let me know what you want for it.

just had a little sample bottle, and i had the second go with it but no joy for my taste, so i tryed to improve it as i said,

about 10-15ml left, so not worth post it

i may blend it with the lidl stuff, see if it helps that

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I'll take it off your hands Z ... how much left in the bottle

Let me know what you want for it.

just had a little sample bottle, and i had the second go with it but no joy for my taste, so i tryed to improve it as i said,

about 10-15ml left, so not worth post it

i may blend it with the lidl stuff, see if it helps that

No problem ... thought you had a full open bottle, I think it is a cracking whisky but that is what makes whisk(e)y great we all have different tastes

For myself currently a Bushmills single sherry cask at cask strength uuummm

[varizoltan]

having all thi disappointment, started with the 16 years old distillers editon, and now with the 21...

i have 2 bottles of 25 years old cask strength 1977-2002 one of 9000 bottles edition

is that worth opening or should i leave it

anyone who have tasted it, please give me tasting notes and comments how is it like

[JohnM]

I am in the process... So far, I've mixed Ardbeg Rollercoaster, Balblair 2000, Dalmore 1990, Bladnoch 19, Nikka from the barrel, Jameson Gold and Ben Nevis 25. It's interesting at the moment, but now I'm going to think a bit more about what it needs to improve it. I think it needs a bit more sherry, so I might add Glendronach next.

[IainB]

I am in the process... So far, I've mixed Ardbeg Rollercoaster, Balblair 2000, Dalmore 1990, Bladnoch 19, Nikka from the barrel, Jameson Gold and Ben Nevis 25. It's interesting at the moment, but now I'm going to think a bit more about what it needs to improve it. I think it needs a bit more sherry, so I might add Glendronach next.

The sherry is very heavy on the Glendronach - you might want to add a little at a time??

[JohnM]

I am in the process... So far, I've mixed Ardbeg Rollercoaster, Balblair 2000, Dalmore 1990, Bladnoch 19, Nikka from the barrel, Jameson Gold and Ben Nevis 25. It's interesting at the moment, but now I'm going to think a bit more about what it needs to improve it. I think it needs a bit more sherry, so I might add Glendronach next.

The sherry is very heavy on the Glendronach - you might want to add a little at a time??

I've made up over half a liter... I'm adding about 5cl at a time. I think it's worked out pretty nice. I added a bit of Nadurra too. Needs a bit more sherry... I think.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

A large Connemara with a touch of midleton port pps (or should that now be sps single pot still) a t which I was amazed at now it rounded if off. Really nice but the washing up liquid character of the Connemara still shone through. A touch of sherry pps sorted this. What I found interesting was how little of the sherry or port pps is required to alter the bourbon cask.

[IainB]

A large Connemara with a touch of midleton port pps (or should that now be sps single pot still) a t which I was amazed at now it rounded if off. Really nice but the washing up liquid character of the Connemara still shone through. A touch of sherry pps sorted this. What I found interesting was how little of the sherry or port pps is required to alter the bourbon cask.

Midleton Port PPS?? What's that like on it's own?

[IainB]

I'm thinking of attempting a Vatted PPS with maybe 5 different distilleries. My question for all of you out there is, given that by definition only one of these is still in existence - IS THIS A GOOD OR A REALLY STUPID IDEA??

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Midleton Port PPS?? What's that like on it's own?

Hey Iain tried this on my trip to Midleton, have to say it was my favourite, sweet & luscious, to be sipped very very slooooowly

[IainB]

I've been using up the "dregs" on a few home made blends along with my trusty bottle of Cameron Brig (CB).

(1) Probably the best - 50% Dalwhinnie 15, 25% Aberfeldy 12, 25% CB - Just wasn't enjoying the Dalwhinnie - this was much more interesting
(2) 30% Bowmore 15, 30% Auchentoshan 3 wood, 40% CB - a bit much on the sherry / port
(3) Auchentoshan 3wd, Bushmills 15, Hazelburn 8 - a triple distilled cross country vatted malt. Don't tell the SWA.
(4)Diageo vs Cooley - 10% Connemara NAS, 10% Greenore 8, 40% Dalwhinnie 15, 40% CB

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I've been using up the "dregs" on a few home made blends along with my trusty bottle of Cameron Brig (CB).

(1) Probably the best - 50% Dalwhinnie 15, 25% Aberfeldy 12, 25% CB - Just wasn't enjoying the Dalwhinnie - this was much more interesting
(2) 30% Bowmore 15, 30% Auchentoshan 3 wood, 40% CB - a bit much on the sherry / port
(3) Auchentoshan 3wd, Bushmills 15, Hazelburn 8 - a triple distilled cross country vatted malt. Don't tell the SWA.
(4)Diageo vs Cooley - 10% Connemara NAS, 10% Greenore 8, 40% Dalwhinnie 15, 40% CB

Some interesting crosses there Iain, must start doing a few myself ... one of these days you'll create the monster of all whiskies but be ware you might not be able to get it back in the bottle

[IainB]

Don't tell anyone but I also mixed the last measure of 10yo Greenspot with the last measure of Jameson RVR. Sacrilege I know. But it was magnificent! I'm not claiming credit or anything - they are both very very god whiskeys but the mix of the two was a thing of beauty. Transient. Fleeting. And now gone forever. Or at least until I get some more. Though given the cost of a bottle of each it would be a very costly experiment.

[IainB]

I've been using up the "dregs" on a few home made blends along with my trusty bottle of Cameron Brig (CB).

(1) Probably the best - 50% Dalwhinnie 15, 25% Aberfeldy 12, 25% CB - Just wasn't enjoying the Dalwhinnie - this was much more interesting
(2) 30% Bowmore 15, 30% Auchentoshan 3 wood, 40% CB - a bit much on the sherry / port
(3) Auchentoshan 3wd, Bushmills 15, Hazelburn 8 - a triple distilled cross country vatted malt. Don't tell the SWA.
(4)Diageo vs Cooley - 10% Connemara NAS, 10% Greenore 8, 40% Dalwhinnie 15, 40% CB

Some interesting crosses there Iain, must start doing a few myself ... one of these days you'll create the monster of all whiskies but be ware you might not be able to get it back in the bottle

I'll be careful. If it all goes wrong I'll give it your address!

No.1 was best. It's sometimes to interesting to mix malts from different groups. They seem to have different approaches to blending. I find I'm really starting to appreciate the elements and how they integrate better now. The percentages are approximate - sometimes I'll add a little more of one thing or other. And I'll always put some aside in a smaller bottle to try a few days later to allow time for the to marry properly.

[IainB]

Wow nearly a year since I posted one of these. Anyway I'm still at it. Tonight I've being thinking about JRVR. So look away IDL employees and purists. (%'s are approx)

20% Midleton 26 pps port finish
30% Redbreast CS
30% Redbreast 15
20% Greenore 18

Not quite JRVR but a beaut nonetheless.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

I've just accidently blended Bushmills 10 year old malt with Jim Beam Devils cut. I was watching Primetime and reached for water and picked up the Bushmills, well it's not bad at all.

I've lots of odd bottles that I haven't finished and I think I'm going to try a few blends from now on.