What's your latest whiskey purchase?

[bredman]

Collected these from the post office. ( the worst case of polystyrene dust i ever seen - put me right off SMD ). The Campbeltown 20cl gift packs were half price though.

[John]

Nice selection there Bredman.
Is there an age statement on any of the Campbeltown bottles?
J.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

It appears that the Half price offer may be gone

You had my hopes up there for a moment. I'm presuming SMD is Single Malts Direct???

[bredman]

Is there an age statement on any of the Campbeltown bottles?
J.

No. It's the 'CV' bottlings ( Curriculum Vitae ), just a NAS bottling. I know the Logrow CV contains whisky aged 6-14 years from sherry, port, bourbon, and rum casks. I assume it's similar with the other two.


edit: They're all 46%.

[bredman]

It appears that the Half price offer may be gone

You had my hopes up there for a moment. I'm presuming SMD is Single Malts Direct???

Yes i just noticed myself. It is Single Malts Direct. I got them for £18 ( £36 is a lot though! ).

[IainB]

2 deliveries this week:

Speyburn 25yo and Benriach 21 authenticus. Along with a free copy of Beer Hunter Whisky Chaser book which is proving to be a nice little read - half way through already.

3 Glenmorangies - a 1977 vintage 21yo, and a 35cl twin pack of the old Port wood and a single cask port wood.

[Carl]

After I started on my first bottle of Bushmills Black Bush last week, I told myself that it is so good, there is really no need to try any more Irish
Whiskies! On Friday, I found the 16 year on sale at the liquor store. It is normally $88.00CAD here in BC, but was discounted about $14.00.
My next find was a bottle of Bushmills 1608 400 year Anniversary edition. It was $115.00. Prices are high here - taxes etc. - but you get what you pay for. At least, I can get nearly all of the whiskies that I really want. I am itching to try the 1608, but also think I might want to save it for a while, although I am not usually one for saving things for special occasions. After all, what occasion is better than this moment? I tell myself that, yet I will probably hold off for a while longer. The 16 year is fantastic. Bit harsher than what I would have thought. The 3 cask thing is very interesting: Bourbon, Sherry, and a Port Wine finish. I actually do detect the Port Wine on the finish of this dram, and think that it will be exceptional with a good chunk of Stilton cheese!




Out for brunch today, I tried a couple of glasses of Bowmore 12 year old, a Scotch malt whisky which I never had before. I think that I may be getting a bottle of that very soon. A very pleasant surprise for me. More like an Irish Whisky to me than the other Scotch single malts I have tried, in that it doesn't finish off with the lingering sweetness which I often find a bit much after a few glasses. Like an Irish Whiskey I feel that I could go on and on drinking the Bowmore.

Cheers,
Carl

[Carl]

Another Bushmills joined the ranks tonight: 10 year single malt. I have to admit, I have a real hard time so far trying to figure out which is better: the Black Bush or the 10 Year Single Malt! I think they are both better than the 16 Year, although the 16 definitely has it's own merits and character.
I am loving the warm and peppery finish of the 10 Year. It really is a winner, this one! If I had nothing but Bushmills whiskies to go on for the duration, I could be quite happy indeed!
Cheers,
Carl

[JohnM]

Another Bushmills joined the ranks tonight: 10 year single malt. I have to admit, I have a real hard time so far trying to figure out which is better: the Black Bush or the 10 Year Single Malt! I think they are both better than the 16 Year, although the 16 definitely has it's own merits and character.
I am loving the warm and peppery finish of the 10 Year. It really is a winner, this one! If I had nothing but Bushmills whiskies to go on for the duration, I could be quite happy indeed!
Cheers,
Carl

The Bushmills 10 gets some bad press, but I think it's a pretty decent effort. I remember tasting it blind once and being surprised how much I liked it, because I always thought I didn't like it...

[IainB]

My rediscovery of Glenmorangie continues - arrived today:

1981 Sauternes Finish
25yo Malaga wood finish
Madeira finish.

and another 1977 (I loved this - now one of my top 5 single malt scotches).

Also took delivery of a Blue Hangar 4th Release, and an Amrut Fusion.

[John]

My curiosity has gotten the better of me Iain; what's Malaga wood?!
J.

[IainB]

My curiosity has gotten the better of me Iain; what's Malaga wood?!
J.

I didn't know until a few days ago - It's a spanish fortified wine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaga_(wine)

[John]

Sounds interesting. The Pedro Ximénez influence should be positive; how the Moscatel influences the spirit is another story. Let us know what you think of it.
J.

[bredman]

Eagle Rare 10 Single Cask 45%. Very spicy, vanilla, and very smooth. £30 - a bargain.

[bredman]

( 3 x 20cl ) x 2 = and for a good price. A true eBay bargain.

[Carl]

Today's weekend purchase is a Bowmore 12 year. I tasted it last week, at a local bar, and liked it a lot. Definitely Islay, with the smokey peat. Just enough to make it interesting, without being too peaty or smokey. And it doesn't have a lingering sweetness like so many of the sherry casks. It also has a bit of a bite, or harshness - and I mean that in a very good way - which turns into a nice warm finish. It actually seems to me like a bit younger one, say a 10 year, would be. And that's not a bad thing either. I find as I get more acquainted with the Irish and Scotch whiskies, that I am preferring the younger ones.
My first Bowmore tasting was at a local restaurant, where I was offered an 18 year old at New Year's. It did not appeal at all. So I was reluctant to try the 12 year last week, but that turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
Funny how sometimes you think that by spending more money on an older whiskey, it will be more appealing. And you would think that a less expensive, younger one would not be so enjoyable. I am finding in most cases that it works the other way. There are a couple of the more expensive ones, in particular the Oban 14 year and the Lagavulin 16 year that I will eventually try - they cost $114.00 and $125.00 respectively, in Canadian funds - but I am in no real hurry, and for the most part will try to stay around a maximum $60.00 bottle. The Bowmore 12 year is exactly 60 bucks here. There are doubtless exceptions, like the Laphroaig Quarter Cask at almost $80.00, but that is in a league of it's own.
Cheers,
Carl

[IainB]

Sounds interesting. The Pedro Ximénez influence should be positive; how the Moscatel influences the spirit is another story. Let us know what you think of it.
J.

Opened this the other night - it's one of the most oily / viscous whiskies I've ever tried - almost the consistency of cough mixture (in a good way) or a liqueur. And from my limited experience of PX the influence is very strong - lots of raisin on the nose and taste - again in a good way. It takes a few goes to get the head around this but definitely worth a go in my book.

[zenmonk]

Hi Carl,
Snap on the Bowmore 12, had a dram myself last night. Very good a real taste blast. Smokey and peaty yet smooth and refined finish.
Got a Valentine's present of a Glenlivet 12 so looking forward to 8pm when the boy goes to sleep!

[uncle fester]

Avoca whiskey from Aldi. It's actually rather good and infinitely superior to the bland Superquinn branded whiskey. I think we've found our new general-drinking whiskey. The bottle is nearly finished now so we'll have to get more.

[varizoltan]

Midleton single cask at T2, nr 49

[John]

Very nice Zoltan. Enjoy
Did you happen to notice how many bottles were left? It would be interesting to see how quickly the release was moving. Have you picked up the 19yo cask strength Greenore yet?
J.

[varizoltan]

Very nice Zoltan. Enjoy
Did you happen to notice how many bottles were left? It would be interesting to see how quickly the release was moving. Have you picked up the 19yo cask strength Greenore yet?
J.

can't effort everything right now , i just got the Midleton for now:( ,

regards to numbers, i got 49, next lowest was 63, and than some 80's, 90's, so i believe they are nearly halfway through, and it is selling faster than some expected

they even have a small book at the counter and they keep record of numbers sold, so if you are looking for a specific number, they can check in a second if they have it or not, which is handy, just ask for it

they said a lot of that went to the states

i didn't ask for the numbers on the Greenore, but i believe that will sell a little slower, but it is just my thinking

[IainB]

Very nice Zoltan. Enjoy
Did you happen to notice how many bottles were left? It would be interesting to see how quickly the release was moving. Have you picked up the 19yo cask strength Greenore yet?
J.

can't effort everything right now , i just got the Midleton for now:( ,

regards to numbers, i got 49, next lowest was 63, and than some 80's, 90's, so i believe they are nearly halfway through, and it is selling faster than some expected

they even have a small book at the counter and they keep record of numbers sold, so if you are looking for a specific number, they can check in a second if they have it or not, which is handy, just ask for it

they said a lot of that went to the states

i didn't ask for the numbers on the Greenore, but i believe that will sell a little slower, but it is just my thinking

Let me know the next time you're flying!

[VTPack]

Being that St Patrick's Day is coming up soon, the Liquor Stores here in North Carolina are starting to put Irish Whiskey on sale. I was able to pick up a 2009 Midleton Very Rare for under $100 (good deal for here, about $40 off) as well as a bottle of the Jameson Gold Reserve.

[bredman]

Connemara Cask Strength
Connemara Single Cask