What are you having yourself?

[Malt-Teaser]

Sadly I don't have any actual bottles to view the labels, only what various websites 'say'.

Next time I get the chance to read the labels in a whisky shop I'll specifically look and report back.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Yes a very interesting topic and if your at a loose end Keith you might be able to put a clearer picture on it ... it would be nice to know one way or the other.

[bredman]

IWC, just for the record the German site i used was -

http://www.whisky.de/tws/index.php?cat=c515_Irland.html

primarily as it was recommended as accurate, we have referred to it on similar issues on another forum.

( perhaps this could be dragged into it's own thread )

[JohnM]

They insist on it and have all the sherry casks shipped during the winter to stop spoiling.

That's good to hear John. I was just thinking out loud with the sulphur comment, for the record i haven't detected it at all in the Irish i've tried so far.

BTW, all OB Laphroaig are coloured, even the CS, afaik.

That's interesting. I didn't know that. I assumed that the Laphroaig 10 was so pale that it wasn't coloured.

I'm not sure if I can detect caramel colouring in whiskey, but there's something about the older version of the Michael Collins that I suspected was colouring.

[varizoltan]

IWC, just for the record the German site i used was -

http://www.whisky.de/tws/index.php?cat=c515_Irland.html

primarily as it was recommended as accurate, we have referred to it on similar issues on another forum.

( perhaps this could be dragged into it's own thread )

i cant see anything on this site about caramell, but i willcheck my bottles tomorrow

[Malt-Teaser]

IWC, just for the record the German site i used was -

http://www.whisky.de/tws/index.php?cat=c515_Irland.html

primarily as it was recommended as accurate, we have referred to it on similar issues on another forum.

( perhaps this could be dragged into it's own thread )

i cant see anything on this site about caramell, but i willcheck my bottles tomorrow

"Mit farbstoff" means with colouring; E150a (caramel).

[varizoltan]

is it should be on the back lables?

[bredman]

They insist on it and have all the sherry casks shipped during the winter to stop spoiling.

That's good to hear John. I was just thinking out loud with the sulphur comment, for the record i haven't detected it at all in the Irish i've tried so far.

I just listened to Mark's Whiskycast Ep 302, with an interview with J Murray. Largely about sulphur - very interesting that he singled out IDL's policy of 'demanding/requesting' that they didn't want sulphur candle treated casks. He admitted that some got through but that they are "very rare". Also that as we were currently drinking IDL Bushmills that explained why Bushmills was sulphur free. For now, as he believes the reused sulphur casks are also tainted, explaining why it still shows up in young Scotch and grains/blends etc. We'll see - concerning Bushmills ( i believe that Diageo have poor quality control ) - but well done IDL.

On another forum i guessed that 30% of people can detect sulphur in whisky, in the interview he quotes 40% cannot. !?



edit: also interesting that he claims the sulphur problem is at it's worst this year, partly due to sulphured blends.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Yes sulphur can be a bit of a pain.

Some of the worst sulphured Whiskies I've had have been IB Glenrothes however conversely some of my favourites have been OB Glenrothes ... there is often a light sulphuring in these but along with some liquorice flavours I actually think it adds to to the flavour profile. Sulphur can really ruin a good whiskey but a little is not an issue for me.

[JohnM]

They insist on it and have all the sherry casks shipped during the winter to stop spoiling.

That's good to hear John. I was just thinking out loud with the sulphur comment, for the record i haven't detected it at all in the Irish i've tried so far.

I just listened to Mark's Whiskycast Ep 302, with an interview with J Murray. Largely about sulphur - very interesting that he singled out IDL's policy of 'demanding/requesting' that they didn't want sulphur candle treated casks. He admitted that some got through but that they are "very rare". Also that as we were currently drinking IDL Bushmills that explained why Bushmills was sulphur free. For now, as he believes the reused sulphur casks are also tainted, explaining why it still shows up in young Scotch and grains/blends etc. We'll see - concerning Bushmills ( i believe that Diageo have poor quality control ) - but well done IDL.

On another forum i guessed that 30% of people can detect sulphur in whisky, in the interview he quotes 40% cannot. !?



edit: also interesting that he claims the sulphur problem is at it's worst this year, partly due to sulphured blends.

I wonder where he gets this information. I'm not saying it's not right or anything. I'd like to see the source, though.

Some people might have 1,000 times more sensitivity to some flavours than others. Don't ask me where I got this information!

Another thing bandied about is the flavour map of the tongue. Apparently it is a fallacy.

[John]

Why do you believe that Diageo have a generalised poor QC function bredman? Can't say I've seen any evidence of this myself.
J.

[bredman]

Simply because blends are their thing. Little effort goes into the malt market. They are fortunate to have some decent distilleries, and now and again they do a decent bottling. I read that even some of their expensive Manager's Choice bottlings could be from better casks, why the problem with finding the better casks? I don't think they have enough people on the job. But i should state that i'm fussy, i think Talisker 10 and Lagavulin 16 ( Diageo's big guns ) are not good enough and are going down hill, an opinion shared by many forumites on other forums.

But anyway, it will be interesting to see how Diageo Bushmills will fare against the spirit they inherited with the distillery, particularly regarding the wood policy.

[varizoltan]

Jameson Golds side by side

L21835127 2002 bottling
L723431051 2007 rebranded bottling
L008531184 09 26/03/10 2010 bottling

some difference in these 3

[mulltea]

I am new to Scotch. With that said I am trying new whisky everyday. The latest is Glen Ord cask strength. I found it wonderfully spicy as well as complex. I hope to one day soon experience an exquisite whisky of this nature. Any recommendations are welcome.

[zenmonk]

Had my first real taste of Green Spot last night. Was expecting a dram very like Redbreast 12 but it is alot zestier and less oily and complex. Looking forward to trying it again later. Wasn't blown away but it may be a grower.

[varizoltan]

just opened an old bottle of Powers Gold Label

lovely whiskey, reminding me to the Dungourney

[JohnM]

I get that too, which is why 500 euro is too much for a Dungourney when you can have an old Powers...

[varizoltan]

I get that too, which is why 500 euro is too much for a Dungourney when you can have an old Powers...

...for 30 euros, that is what i have paid for this bottle

[bredman]

Caol Ila 30 Bladnoch forum HH 4684 53.3%. A fine dram.

[IainB]

Back to Bushmills this weekend - various 12yo Bushmills to be more precise. Last night had the 12yo Select Casks (that's the one with some rum cask), Distillery Reserve, and Knappogue 12yo and 1998. Tucking into the remains of the Select Casks tonight (it's been open a while). I'd forgotten how much I like this one. Is it still available does anyone know?

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Blackbush & Schofferhofer hefeweizen

Not sure if the Weiss bier is rich enough for the Blackbush but they don't clash either.

Need to do further investigation

[bredman]

English Whisky St Georges Chapter 9. Roll on the next few years.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

English Whisky St Georges Chapter 9. Roll on the next few years.

Have you tried many and how is it progressing?

[bredman]

Have you tried many and how is it progressing?

I tried several. They are all excellent so far, for 3 yo they are up with the very best. Lacking wood complexity currently, as you would expect, but by age 10 this will be coming along nicely. It will be interesting as they cannot dump unwanted spirit into a blend, all of it will be single malt.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Excellent to hear ... Looks like an lovely set up too ... must try some soon but will not be opening my First edition one just yet (Can't remember which chapter it is but the one that was pre-sold and was bottled in a decanter type bottle.