Favourite whiskey/whisky

Yeah, there is an awful lot of style over substance out there, thankfully there are a lot of very good lesser know whiskies as well. Although even the price of those are creeping up as well now. You can't really blame the industry though when 80% of the price is taxes here. A £40 bottle and the manufacturers, bottlers, distributors and retailers get to share £8 between them.

 

My best was Ardbeg 75, drank it last time for 15 years ago. I love ardbeg and most of it forms. But that 1975 it was gold in yer mouth.

 

I've liked all the Ardbegs I have tried, but I've never had anything like that. Sounds like a cracker.

 

In sweden it Went out back i Think 15 years is going in a haze in this thing..could be 20 years ago..
Befor it Went gone it was pretty cheap, like 6-8 euro centiliters. then it got up

 

Tonight, I'm drinking this.... Writer's Tears.



I’m always eager to try out new whisk(e)y of any kind.

Scotch:
Was on a huge Islay kick for the longest time. Love the peaty stuff. Also like drams from Orkney (Highland Park). Lately leaning more towards Oban, Glenmorangie, and The Balvenie.

Irish:
Still learning a lot about what’s out there, apart from Jameson’s, Powers, and Tullamore. Have loved Red Breast the most, with new findings in Writer’s Tears (by Walsh) and West Cork for a more peaty surprise of a finish.

Welsh:
Totally new to this space. Just tried Pendryn last month and it was enjoyable but not sure I’d pick up again.

American:
- Rye whiskey is probably my favorite. Anything small batch and not out of the 2-3 Indiana distilleries that make most of everything in the States. Love McKenzie Rye in particular for boutique stuff. Bulleit isn’t bad for the price point and is always my go-to in mixed drinks at most low key bars, despite its mass production.
- Bourbon is hit and miss with me. Not a big fan of corn mash, but can be done right in limited cases. Some of the Old Forester runs that use recipes from early 1900s not too bad. Just hard to justify the price of faulty bourbons most of the time.
- White lighting (or un-aged corn whiskey) is well worth the price if homemade or from small batch distillers. Especially delicious if procured from the hills and hollers of Appalachia.

Canadian:
Too much blended whisky for my taste. But I’m honestly lazy with Canadian and haven’t sought out much small batch stuff.

Japanese:
Pricey and cannot recall most brands I’ve tasted. To be fair, incredibly delicious from what I have. Probably best that I do not remember them!

 

Am loving a litre bottle of duty free 12 year old Glenlivet at the minute and usually enjoy their special reserve 10 year old that's always in tesco/Co op usually for £35 but often on sale for £22 BARGAIN. They're both proper single malts a soft interesting taste on your tongue which turns to burning in your throat to remind you it's 40 proof.

 

80 proof (40% ABV) is the minimum for scotch whisky. I'm not a huge Glenlivet fan, I do like their cask strength 16YO Nadurra a lot though. I've not tried the latest version, or the peated one, as I have an older batch, so I don't know if t is still as good as it was.

For cheaper bottles Tamnavulin isn't bad at all for the money, and can often be had for arond £18-£22 in supermarket deals. I wouldn't pay the RRP for it though.

 

Auchentoshan Triple Distilled American Oak Single Malt is beyond lovely

 

I haven't tried that one. I've had the 3 Wood, the 12 and I think it was the 15 (might have been an 18) as well. Not my favourites by any stretch and yet my brother (and many others) absolutely swear by their 3 Wood. It just shows how subjective taste can be.

 

Scapa The Orcadien a nice easy to drink whiskey for beginners, if you like your stuff really peaty try Kilchoman Machir Bay.

 

Has anyone tried the unpeated Caol Ila 15? 61.5% and blows the head off you.

 

Is that the 2016 version?

 

Yes, lad. Caol Ila 12 is my favourite whisky and this is entirely different.

 

I like Caol Ila 12 as well, not tried the unpeated yet, I did think about getting the 2018 version which is a slightly lower abv. But there are just so many whiskies out there I want to try and not enough time, or money, to do them all!

 

I went on the Glengoyne Gold Medal Parade tour this week. Got to try their 12 (which I already have), 18, 21 and Cask Strength. I also got a small sample of their new Legacy whisky, although that wasn't part of the tour. All really enjoyable, especially the 21 and the cask strength.

If anyone is thinking of going the gold medal tour is £30, you get the 4 drams (12, 18, 21 and CS) and a Glengoyne Glencairn. Well worth the money in my opinion. I would suggest at least going for the Wee Tasting Tour, at £14.50 it's only £3 more than the very basic tour and you get a glass of the 12 and 18 to try.

I really enjoyed the experience, having said that I was already a fan of their whiskies, I already have the 10, 12 and teapot dram. Now I have another teapot dram and the 21 and will no doubt pick up the cask strength and new legacy bottle as well at some point.

 

Got a bottle of Proper Twelve, Conor McGregor’s whiskey. So far so good