wwwdotcomdotnet started a discussion
13 years ago
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Cheap bottom shelf scotch with high ABV...
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LeFrog replied
Interesting experiment. A tough question though, 100 proof is 57.15% ABV and most cheap whiskies are going to be blends which will be bottled at around 40% ABV.
Finlaggan Cask Strength (58%) is the cheapest cask strength whisky I can find on TWE www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-3683.aspx
13 years ago 0
jeanluc replied
"High ABV" and "Cheap" don't really go hand in hand because the duty on whisky is relative to the strength, so anyone bottling scotch for the "bottom shelf" market is also going to make it low strength to keep the cost down.
Why not spend a bit of cash and put a half decent whisky in your mini cask? I'm not sure if it is available in your area but this looks like a good option: www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-4675.aspx
13 years ago 1Who liked this?
wwwdotcomdotnet replied
Chances are I won't be able to find anything higher than 90 proof, makes sense with your point about the duty fees associated with proof. Can anyone still recommend a worthwhile ~90 proof that won't upset the whisky gods if I experiment with it?
13 years ago 0
wwwdotcomdotnet replied
I was hoping to get roughly 2L of something and spending no more than $40USD. I know my options are limited, but that is the point. I want to get something low end and see what I can change by mellowing it in the cask.
13 years ago 0
dbk replied
@LeFrog, being American, I think by "100 proof" @wwwdotcomdotnet is referring to the US standard of "proof," which is simply twice the ABV. 100 (or "full") proof is thus only 50% ABV. Still, as you say, that's not something you'll easily find as bottom shelf.
@wwwdotcomdotnet, I can't imagine 2L of any Scotch whisky at full proof for $40 in the US. There might be a decent selection of American whiskey at that price (especially white dog, moonshine, and corn whiskey), however. If more American whiskey doesn't do it for you, you're probably going to have to up your budget or drop your proof preference.
13 years ago 0
two_bitcowboy replied
The animal you're hunting for is probably extinct, but try this link and scroll down to Lismore:
13 years ago 0
olivier replied
Try the Nikka From the Barrel (connosr.com/whisky/japanese/…). At 51% ABV and a size of 50cl it is nicely priced and tastes amazing.
13 years ago 0
HP12 replied
@two-bit-cowboy ...Thanks for the online website reference. Always looking for a good online store that ships to my state and this is a dandy with expansive inventory! Thanks TBC!
13 years ago 0
Before this post gets written off as blasphemy, hear me out. I am looking for a 100+ proof scotch for a reasonable price. Something that tastes like crap, but would otherwise have had potential if it sat in the cask for a longer period of time. I am looking for something to put into my 2L oak cask when my the bourbon is done mellowing, and the natural choice would be to use a scotch. Can anyone recommend something?
Summary of what I am doing: I am aging store bought whisk[e]y in a 2L charred oak barrel. First round is bourbon (86 proof Old Granddad), and the next logical step would be to reuse the barrel for a scotch. I am not generally as concerned with how the first batch of bourbon turns out since I am using this round as a primer to condition my cask to age a higher ABV scotch next. As long as I can use the "wwwdotcomdotnet's Custom Ol' Granddaddy" as a decent Old Fashioned base, then I am happy. The scotch however, I am shooting for something that tastes decent neat. A bottom shelf scotch probably has quality issues other than being young, but I still want to give it a shot.
This is a followup to a previous thread: DIY Whisky Aging (connosr.com/wall/discussion/…)