Who likes Whisky?

[Barolojoe]

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I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Blanton....

Over the years there were quite a few different editions of Blanton's available. Some time ago, I bought one in Germany called 'Single Barrel Silver Edition', no age statement, 49 %:

http://www.spirituosentheke.de/whisk...r-edition.html


It was worth the 38 bucks, but meanwhile this special Lot is sold out and I don't know if recent bottlings are similar suitable.

From the same distillery I've also drunk the Elmer T. Lee brand in the past - Black Label, 45 %.

This was recommendable too and also available below 40 Euros.
Now the bottle & label has changed (it's still at 45 %), and I haven't tried it since then.


Judging by the quality and the price - Elijah Craig 12 years for 20 Euro is still unbeatable for me....

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[DJ Mal]

Elijah Craig 12 yr is my go to bourbon. You're right, can't beat the quality for that price. $23 US for me here. I'll throw in Ancient Ancient Age 10yr as a great bourbon for the value as well. EC Old Fashions for tonights tipple to help keep warm as the temp dips to 6F tonight.

[Barolojoe]

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Elijah Craig is furthermore a good example of how a Whisk(e)y benefits not necessarily from additional aging.

There are differences between various lots, of course. Though those two bottles of Elijah Craig 18 years (which costs more than twice as much) I've drunk in the past, were not very convincing for me: too woody, too astringent, not so well balanced as the 12 year old.

It would be interesting to taste this brand even a little younger - after 8 or 10 years in the cask....

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[Card Player]

How a whisky benefits from age depends on the climate it's in. Bourbon from KY, USA has big temperature flutuations, causing the whisky to get pulled into the wood and pushed out of the wood. 12 yo bourbon is very mature for a bourbon, but not so much for a scotch. Booker Noe years ago from Jim Beam liked his bourbon between 6-8yo, uncut, unfiltered, like Booker's bourbon is still made today. Standard Buffalo Trace with no age statement ages their bourbon 8 years. Bulleit bourbon (distilled by Four Roses) is around 8 years too. Buffalo Trace's "Pappy Van Winkle" line is wheated bourbon, and aged upto 23 years. PVW 23 is very high in demand, tough to get and very expensive. Many rave about it, I haven't had it (the Old Rip Van Winkle 12yo is the oldest I've had, and it's great)

[Rumncoke]

Well....I found a bottle of JD Honey in the local Nisa garage for £19.99...so 6 quid cheaper than tesco! Gave it a shot....uchavii!!!! God it's disgusting straight!! Pretty nice with Coke though so not all bad news!

I think my favourite bourbon so far with coke is Bulleit Bourbon. Very nice

Followed closely by Old Grandad (but 3 glasses ruins me)

[Barolojoe]

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12 yo Bourbon is very mature for a Bourbon, but not so much for a Scotch....

Of course, casks in Kentucky ripen faster than in the Scottish Highlands.

Nonetheless, two of the best Single Malts for me are still old bottles of Aberlour & Glendronach - bottled in the early seventies after eight years in the cask; fruitier & heavier than any 18, 21, or 25 year old Scotch of today.

Because and as already written: due to the much longer distilling times in the fifties & sixties, the spirit was already softer (and often oilier & more full-bodied) before it went into the cask.

Below some pictures. You can still find the fabulous old stuff in auctions from time to time - in general between 150 to 200 Euro per bottle. Happy hunting....

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http://u.jimdo.com/www12/o/sfa4e79d1...t-may-2010.jpg

http://onversneden.files.wordpress.c...pg?w=188&h=300

http://www.whisky.de/uploads/tx_mmfo...fed87e9ade.jpg




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[Rob L]

Originally Posted by Dai

Not meaning to hijack your thread but here is a video from Ralphy about what whisky drinkers think of rum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o71biqOEwew

Thanks for sharing that.

[Card Player]

Originally Posted by Dai

Will be going on holiday this June (no suprise there) and if I can't pick up a decent rum in duty free I wouldn't mind doing a nice Bourbon for a change.

Can any one tell what Woodford Reserve is like.

It's a bourbon on the lower end, not too special. Some like it because it is a bit different profile than many of the others in the same price range.

Blanton's Straight From The Barrel, is said to only be available in duty-free markets. That would probably be my pick. If I couldn't get that, maybe a wheated bourbon like Old Rip VanWinkle 10 or 12 would be nice.

[ass-assassin]

Just came back from a trip and managed to get some new Whiskys at Duty Free. Picked up 3 bourbons (Basil Hayden's, Baker's and Booker's), 1 scotch (Laphroaig QC) and 1 Canadian (Wiser's 18.) I've only tried 2 of them so far but here's my impressions:

Basil Hayden's: A very light bourbon, but very tasty. Probably good as a summer sipper. I was very impressed with it. Someone wanting more of a kick to their bourbon would be disappointed. Recommended as long as you know what to expect.

Laphroaig: My first Islay (in fact the first single malt bottle I've ever bought, although I've tasted a bunch of others) and so far I love it. I've always tended to like more extreme flavor profiles. Really smokey, smells like a campfire. I imagine it would pair well with smokey food such as lamb. Highly recommended, although for some the smoke will probably be too much.

I'm no whisky expect, just a relatively new enthusiast, so please take my impressions with a grain of salt.

[Edward Hamilton]

Do you work for Diageo? Guiness, Irish Whiskey and Bullet, actually it's Bulleit Rye from Indiana. Who knew all those high rye bourbons came from Indiana?