Whiskey: The Awesome Thread

[KmanSweden]

If you like Islays you should try a Port Ellen.. *yummy* Port Ellen is not a working destillery any more, sadly.
Bowmores and Ardbegs are nice too. And so is the Yamazaki 12 and 18 yo.
Glenmorangie had/has some funny bottelings, like one matured in Cuban Rum casks. You couldn't get it in the US because of the embargo agains Cuba.

Burbons taste like vanilla perfume. *gag*

[rtw]

If you like Islays you should try a Port Ellen.. *yummy* Port Ellen is not a working destillery any more, sadly.

Thanks for the tip, will see if I can find a stray bottle somewhere!

[professor ganson]

How much should I pay, for an Ardberg bottle? I need to evaluate an offer at the local supermarket.

I got the Ardbeg 10 yr on sale for $50. The usual price is supposedly $60. I'm pretty sure it won't disappoint, as long as you like the complex Islay single malts.

[GaijinPunch]

Apparently duty free is actually not as useless as I thought.

Picked up from the shops in Narita
Yamazaki 12 year (old faithful)
Hakushu 12 year

Both are from Suntory. Same price (4500 yen -- cheap). Hakushu is a bit smoother... less defined. Still awesome.

The shop around the corner has Yoichi 15 year for 5500 yen -- cheapest I've found it in town is 9800, so that's quite a steal. Will buy a couple of bottles next time on my way out!

We have some scotches here in the office but most have only a glass or two left so not sure if they're okay to drink.

[drboom]

Thought I'd also offer up my cheap choice - Tullamore Dew. Sweet, easy to drink, good for chilling on nights when you don't have deep pockets. Not fancy, not hard to find, but solid.

[GaijinPunch]

Staying w/ friends that were gifted a bottle of Glenlevit 18. Not my brand of choice, but the 18 wasn't bad. Apparently I killed almost the whole bottle. It was a messy night, but fun.

[GaijinPunch]

After seeing a bottle of Talisker 10 year in a grocer in California for the low price of $79.99 (I paid 3400 yen in a high-end store in Japan) I need to find an online solution if I'm going to keep this getting drunk hobby going. Anyone know of a site that has good deals on Scotch? There's a discount booze place in Dallas that had it for roughly $40 which I can totally live with. So yeah, not sure what this 2x shit is about.

[Ed Oscuro]

In memory of recent startling events (or non-events, as it happened), what does the esteemed band of tasters think about Drambuie? Legally speaking, it's not a whiskey, but a liqueur. However, I can't imagine a discussion of whiskies being complete without reference to some of the imaginative (and worthwhile) mixes. Easy to drink - the honey and spices only make it more sticky, but don't overpower the whiskey base.

[CMoon]

Goddamn there's a place in LA that where this guy will actually let you try scotches and whiskeys. I drink so little scotch that dropping a small fortune on a bottle isn't really a big deal, and this guy had me sold on a couple bottles of $100+ scotch. Ardbeg's uigeadaunpronouncable is my normal go-to scotch, but next time 'round I think I'll be buying a bottle or two from this shop. When that time comes, I'll unveil the awesomeness I found.

[rtw]

In memory of recent startling events (or non-events, as it happened), what does the esteemed band of tasters think about Drambuie? Legally speaking, it's not a whiskey, but a liqueur. However, I can't imagine a discussion of whiskies being complete without reference to some of the imaginative (and worthwhile) mixes. Easy to drink - the honey and spices only make it more sticky, but don't overpower the whiskey base.

Not too keen on Drambuie by itself, but if you mix it 50%/50% with brandy you get what the Portuguese call: meio/meio, serve with ice.

[GaijinPunch]

Ardbeg's

How much you pay for it and where? I'm getting a tingling in my balls when I think about importing Scotch from Japan.

[KindGrind]

Lagavulin 10 Cask or the classic Lagavulin 16 are my ultimate pleasures, but Ardbeg comes second for me. When I go to a place and I'm offered a Scotch, there is no better scenario than seeing the product of one of these 2 distilleries on the shelf.

Just thinking about it now and I salivate...

The Ardbeg 10 has a good value if you are in the States (I bought a bottle for 45$ in Maine), but it's 90$ in Canada... Any Ardbeg you buy in the province is at least twice the price it is in the States. Not very tempting... Caol Ila 12, on the other hand, is priced at 76$ here, which is closer to the value it has in the States, and is also an excellent Scotch for peaty/iodiny/briny malt lovers.

Scotch whisky is popular around these parts, and the prices got jacked up in the recent years. Everytime I go to the "Société des alcools" the price is up a buck or two on everything. Quite depressing... If only that disguised tax money (which goes to the State) was better spent...

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Was surprised to see that most Whisky in Japan is a bit to a lot cheaper than what we have to pay here in Germany. This is what I bought:

Macallan Fine Oak 12y: just the most wonderful "standard" whisky I know. Smooth, malty, fruity, an all around pleasure. Have always wanted to get a bottle of this but since it costs 60 Euros in Germany I never took the plunge. Was 30 Euros in Japan, yay!

Macallan Sherry Oak 12y: Even more fruity, tastes a lot like Cognac according to my mother in law. Great.

Knob Creek 9y: I like Bourbons, but apart from a select few (Elijah Craig, Eagle Rare) most tend to taste largely the same. Knob Creek is good, but nothing too out of the ordinary, and I drink it mixed with cola.

Glenfiddich Malt Master's: I always have at least one bottle of Glenfiddich 12y in the house, it's fruity and light and just a great beginner's whisky. 18y was awesome, too, so I bought this on a whim. Lots of fruit, malt, wood and spice, well balanced.

These are some whiskys I've sipped in the past:

Bushmills Three Woods 16y: What a pleasant surprise this was, it's incredibly fruity (it tastes like what I've always wanted gummybear juice to taste like, lots of berries and wood) and very easy to drink.

Scapa 16y: Flowers, heather, wood. Along with Macallan 18y my favourite whisky, but too sweet for many of my friends who are also into Speyside whiskys.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Since my wonderful wife bought a bottle of Glenfiddich 12y for me today I'm resurrecting this thread for all of you whisky lovers out there...

Glenlivet 12y: Just like Glenfiddich 12y, a great "beginner's whiskey" that never gets boring. Lots of wood and fruit, especially pear.

Blanton's Single Barrel: Definitely a special bourbon, probably one of the smoothest you can get. Everything I like about Bourbon in one sweet caramelly package.

[GaijinPunch]

Was surprised to see that most Whisky in Japan is a bit to a lot cheaper than what we have to pay here in Germany. This is what I bought:

I've basically given up in America so far. I found an online place where I can get okay prices, but to make it worthwhile w/ the shipping I need to get like 4-5 bottles, totalling about $200. In Tokyo I could walk down the street and get some good shit. Ironically, the higher end Japanese stuff is priced okay here. I can get Yamzaki 12 year for about $60 a bottle which is similar to Japan when the yen isn't taking a huge shit. Taketsuru 12 year, however, retails for $70 for some weird reason. O_o It's 2000 yen in Japan.

Glenlivet 12y: Just like Glenfiddich 12y, a great "beginner's whiskey" that never gets boring. Lots of wood and fruit, especially pear.

Agreed -- a good bargain. Again, cheaper in Japan though. :-/

[Randorama]

The local systembolaget* has Yamazaki 18 years for 600 SEK.

I think that Christmas will be this+watching old Gundam movies+mame stuff+whatever the waifu is up to (intimacy-wise).

The trick is to reach Christmas unscathed and free, given the workload I have so far.







*systembolaget=state-owned liquor store chain in SVE. Surprisingly, each shop has ample autonomy on what they can sell, beyond a "core" set of beers, liquors and wines that every shop must sell.
The local manager seems to be a whisky conoisseur .

[GaijinPunch]

That's a bargain! Get in there. It's the black label one, right?
It's like 20,000 yen in Japan, and even more here.

My best bang for buck whiskey transaction was that very whiskey, in San Francisco. I bought one for $15 (which as already very cheap)and the guy gave me a freaking triple.

[Randorama]

That's a bargain! Get in there. It's the black label one, right?
It's like 20,000 yen in Japan, and even more here.

My best bang for buck whiskey transaction was that very whiskey, in San Francisco. I bought one for $15 (which as already very cheap)and the guy gave me a freaking triple.

I think so. it's actually 700 SEK (11,000 yen or so), but I am going tomorrow morning or so, lest I will lose my chance.
Consider that the offer is limited: 2 bottles max per client, in perfect Swedish egalitarian style.
Considering also that my father and uncle will probably come over a few days, we should be set for the holidays.

This begs the question: what chocolate to eat, with it?

I usually for dark, 70% chocolate (the bitter, fiery type), but peaty whiskeys work well with game meat, too.
The perfect combo is deer heart, strong gorgonzola and crackers, then Novi chocolate, as far as I am concerned.

[GaijinPunch]

Yamazaki isn't super peaty. It's good... really good, but you can tell it apart from Lagavulin, Laphroaig, etc. Lemme know how you like it. I think even in the duty free shop at Narita it's more than that. Best bargain there though is Yoichi 15 for 5500!

[rtw]

Is systembolaget is anything like our vinmonopol surely you can order whatever you want and pick it up in store ?

On the ironic side of life, I could not buy Hibeki when I was in Japan since Narita did not have tamper proof bags needed for the transfer in Copenhagen

[Randorama]

rtw: yes it is.

In both cases, I guess that the price would be much higher than having the same liquor in stock on a regular basis.
My guess is that the manager had a way to import a relatively big stock at a good price, knowing that he would easily sell of it, and perhaps create a demand.

GP: I will, although from what I read a better match would be gentler chocolate, creamy types of cheese or some sushi.
We will try out which combo works best, but I am sure that I will enjoy it while watching the old Gundams and similar other nostalgia material (!).

[opt2not]

I was able to try out a bottle of Nikka: Pure Malt this weekend at a local shebeen here. Excellent whiskey, slightly peaty with a very smooth finish without too much bite. I'm definitely going to see if I can get a bottle for home.
The Japanese whiskeys have been taking the world by storm lately, and I can see why.

[GaijinPunch]

On the ironic side of life, I could not buy Hibeki when I was in Japan since Narita did not have tamper proof bags needed for the transfer in Copenhagen

Well, you probably did yourself a favor. I'm not a big fan of it. It's a blend for starters, and a very sweet one. And expensive.

We will try out which combo works best, but I am sure that I will enjoy it while watching the old Gundams and similar other nostalgia material (!).

[/quote]

So, just typical Scandanavian holiday stuff.

[rtw]

So, just typical Scandanavian holiday stuff.

No no, typical Scandinavian holiday stuff is a warm fireplace and watching:
. Donald Duck And His Friends
. Three Nuts for Cinderella (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%99i_o ... ro_Popelku)

As for my whisky favourites I'm more of an Islay man with some Talisker thrown in.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Tried out some Japanese whiskys, among else the Hibiki 12y, but since I'm not much of a fan of peaty whiskys (prefer Speyside, Highland, and Bourbon) I haven't had much luck yet in finding something I really enjoy. WHen I hung out in Japnese arcades this summer, I used to have a small bottle of the cheap shit with the Renaissance dude on the label in my pocket. It sucked tastewise but I was getting drunk as shit while playing Mushihimesama matsuri version for 10yen/ game and really that's my ideal vision of a holiday to be honest.

Bought a bottle of Macallan 12y Sherry in Japan for around 34 Euros, if I remember correctly. Was shocked to see it sell for around 90 fucking EUros in Germany!! Insane. It's great, but not any better than the Glenfiddich 18y I have here, which retails for under 50 Euros and is worth every cent of it.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

I totally forgot I ordered some whisky acouple of days ago. I left the prices in for those of you interested in what German shops usually ask for.

[Randorama]

I have been drinking the Yamazaki 18 years with both sides of the family: the younger and older brother in law (and my wife's sisters), my father and uncle.
The plan is that in the next five days we spend more time at home, since it is relatively cold (-10 C...above average for Stockholm, I'd say), and marathon SF anime, old and new.
It's nice to see that my father and uncle really like "newer" series (Gurren Lagann and Cowboy Bebop).
We watched Honneamise together, too, with my older sister in law crying a bit (probably she was too drunk...).

According to my uncle, the whisky in question is awesome because it is relatively fruity/zesty, but I need some more to get used to its flavour.
I am clearly struggling with the idea that a strong, peaty whisky can have a gentler type of taste.
We are trying it out with French-style cheese and crackers, but my hunch is that it would work well with sushi or kim-bap, too.
Given the price I bought it at, it is without a doubt a steal: in fact, my uncle bought another two bottles.
Luckily I am on full holiday until the 6th of January...

[GaijinPunch]

Glad to see you went there. It's a good whiskey, but I still think Yoichi 15 is the best Japan has to offer.

Sorry about your sister in law. Not sure if Honeamise is tear-inducing, but hey, whatever.

-10

Fuck. I just went for a 10k jog in some pretty cold weather. Technically about 1C but the wind here really is bullshit. It's windy just about anywhere, but I jogged next to the lake which is like the size of a state. It's nothing like typhoon wind but it as a constant breeze which drops the effect temperature down many degrees... and annoys the shit out of you.

[rtw]

Enjoyed a 15 Year old Longmorn last evening, very pleasant, nice flavour.

Outside it was -10C with the countryside covered with snow. Inside there was whisky and a roaring fire

[KindGrind]

Had a Laphroaig 18 at my parents' and had my first Japanese whisky as well, a Nikka 12 (blend) which I didn't really like. It didn't help that I had a cold and couldn't taste anything though... When I visit again I'll taste some more.

We've experienced something terrible weather-wise here. Normally -20/-30C these days with lots of snow, but we've had a few days in a row at +5C with heavy rain, which destroyed the landscape and rendered indoor activities impossible.

We're back to -18C this morning (-28C with wind chill), but green grass with occasional snow here and there (which is hard as a rock...)

Crappy times, but at least we have whisky to make up for it!