Favourite whiskey/whisky

There were loads of reviews not so long ago saying it was terrible. Now people seem to be saying it's not bad. I suspct a lot of the negative press is due to the name attached to it.

Speaking of names attached to whisky, I wonder what the Nick Offerman 11 year old Lagavulin is going to be like.

 

Yeah would agree, only had a few sips at the time of my message but can confirm it’s nothing special after a few more. Don’t get me wrong it’s nice, but won’t be rushing to get family to send it over from Eire again, though I think now available in UK?

That’s main reason I bought it too, drink it then have bottle on the shelf.

 

Anyone ever been to the Feis Ile Islay festival? If so what did you think of it, worth going? It's almost over for this year but I've been toying with the idea for next year.

If anyone went this year were any of the festival exclusive whiskies any good and worth getting?

 

Heard that's barkin mate. Tastes really young and rushed - which it no doubtedly is to get on the shelves quickly.

 

What this? Never tried a bad Lagavulin!

 

It was something that was floating about a few months ago. Lagavulin had made a request with the US liquor board (or something of that ilk) for importing an 11 year old Lagavulin which had a picture of Nick Offerman on the label. I think it was called Offerman as well if my memory serves. I don't know how long these things normally take. I'm guessing it is more than likely going to be a US only release unfortunately. *, it might even be a private bottling just for him as payment for his Diageo adverts!

 

Never tried the stuff, and don't really know anything about it, but coconut smell/taste comes from the barrel. I'd hazard a guess it uses either new oak or first fill bourbon barrels.

(As an aside the compounds that gives that coconut element are also an insect repellant, so if you can't drink the proper twelve you could always try and see if it keeps midges at bay!)

 

It looks like any of you scotch lovers in the US (@obafgkmlt) better stock up in the next couple of weeks, before The Donald's latest tariff hits.

This might well cripple Macallan. Poor Kirsteen Campbell is barely in the door there as well! Johnnie Walker (or Diageo in general) will also suffer badly from it I suspect.

 

I know you are more of a bourbon guy, but I think this will have a knock on effect and bump the price of that up as well, when the scotch drnkers over there switch to bourbon due to price. I expect many of the bourbon companies will up their prices to around where scotch currently sits, knowing that they don't have any competition at that price point any more. It already seemed to be creeping in that direction, from what I can tell, I think this will just hasten it along.

On the topic of bourbon I've tried a few different ones now and I do enjoy some of them. I got to try an Elijah Craig that was bottled from a single cask at the distillery, by someone that was doing a tour there. That was very nice. I'd still like to give their Barrel Proof a try as well, but the price over here for it means that probably won't be happening soon! At the more budget friendly end Wild Turkey 101 was probably my favourite from what I have tried so far.

 

Actually would say I'm more of a Scotch person, I just have much cheaper and easier access to American whiskey (for now).

Honestly, not sure what this will do to American prices. Maybe they'll get more business if people can't afford Scotch, but it's not the same. This is a * move all around, for Scotland and for whisky fans in America.

 

It's hard to tell, my thought is more people buying bourbon will push up prices due to supply/demand. The advantage the bourbon manufacturers have in dealing with that, over our whisky producers, is there is no set duration for maturation. Theoretically they can just churn it out, chuck it in a charred new oak barrel then bottle it.

Needless to say that would be at a significant hit to quality, and also a massive waste of barrels, although they could still sell them on to other whiskey producers I guess. Although there wouldn't be much of a bourbon influence to gain from them.

You can tell Trump doesn't drink.

 

I love Scotch, but Irish whiskey is such a bargain and will continue to be for folks in the States.

Exhibit A:
Red Breast

<3

 

Except irish whiskey is also getting hit by the US tariff.

 

Well, shoot. Thanks for the clarification.

Luckily, where I live there are decent distilleries. Still. Sad news. Bad for the industry.

 

Reading up a bit more and it seems it is just single malt scotch, not blends, so Johnnie Walker won't be affected after all, although the Diageo single malts like Lagavulin, Clynelish, Oban etc. will be.

 

I'm not a whisky drinker myself, but if was ever to choose one - would certainly go for the one from "YES" supporting distillery.

Springbank Distillers’ final release of 2014 is the latest edition of our Spirit of Freedom blend. This special whisky is a blend of 45 different whiskies from across Scotland and was bottled at 45% ABV. It was bottled following the Scottish Independence Referendum on September 18th 2014, in support of the 45% of the voting population who said “Yes”. The ’45’ is now available in specialist whisky retailers around the UK, retailing around £25.00 a bottle.