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So, what are you drinking now?

66 19,340

By @Wodha @Wodha on 15th Jan 2010, show post

Replies: page 417/645

@Hewie
Hewie replied

I'm sick of trying to find a new series to watch on Netflix so I've started watching Doco's on YouTube instead. Having a glass of Ledaig 10 (I've kind of been saving the last of the bottle). Such a comforting dram that's full of character. Perfect for watching 'Sullivan's Winter: An Off-Peak Exploration of Wild Scotland. Great photography of stunning scenery and animals combined with some classic dry wit = an enjoyable watch. I've seen the 'Coast" edition and there is a "Rivers" one too. Anyone seen these before? Check it out youtube.com/watch/…

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

Still in my sick bed (well kind of - I'm also looking after Tom, which is proving quite a challenge right now!) and needed something different to watch. Just had a scan of that link - man, what I'd give to be able to spend a few days alone up in that cabin right now!

I keep meaning to watch Black Summer on Netflix - more post-apocalypse zombie fayer but I read it was OK if you like that kind of thing?

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

Having a celebratory Moretti beer and Evan Williams BiB on ice (it's warm and I'm thirsty and exhausted!) after 22 holes of match-play golf where I eventually came out the winner. The words 'squeaky bum' were uttered and thought many many times.

They both taste very good . . .

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

. . . another Moretti and JD Rye whilst listening to Exile On Main St. It may be one of those nights . . . about time smile

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

Thursday night feels like a Friday night. Kicking it off with a Wiser’s Seasoned Oak.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@archivist
archivist replied

@cricklewood indeed, there's lovely creamy vanilla custard, plus at the end a tinge of apricots too. This Jameson Black Barrel is a good value and an enjoyable whiskey. It'll go fast.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

Hakushu 12 yo. We finally have a warm spring day today, 25 C, so I took the Hakushu outside to the deck. This whisky is so grassy.

@archivist I always have the hardest time keeping Irish whiskeys in stock. They are so easy-drinking.

4 years ago 6Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

@Victor You do have a great deck for damming...

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@archivist
archivist replied

@Victor I'm finding that to be true for myself too - I don't have a lot of experience with Irish whiskies, but so far, they go by fast in our house. I've started a list of more to try based on the Top Rated here...Redbreast is going to be first.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

@Nozinan merci monsieur!

@archivist good plan! And if you ever see it, buy that 5 years ago special release Tullamore DEW Phoenix Limited Edition. Blended Irish Whiskey at 55% ABV. What a hoot! I love that stuff.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

@Victor - sorry that we didn’t get to dram on your deck. It will be on my bucket list for my next trip... Or you could come dram on mine!

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

@bwmccoy I do hope to get up there to visit you one day!

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge replied

@bwmccoy, The two of you won't be going to a Nats game without me nor without the correct headgear.

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

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@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

@paddockjudge - sounds like a great plan to me! Love the hat! Bring back the Expos!

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

@Victor I love Hakushu 12, it doesn't get the hype of Yamazaki but I am a sucker for that grassy, piney side. A lovely dram to have outside at his time of year.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@casualtorture

@cricklewood I do enjoy Hakushu 12. Just a slight bit of smoke and grassy/floral. My friend has 1 bottle left. It’s dried up here.

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

@archivist you'll have fun exploring Irish whisky, it can be maddening at times due to the plethora of confusing brands that come from similar sources.

If I may throw in a recommendation, add Tyrconnel 16 to your list if it isn't already there. @Astroke brought a bottle to one of the epic tastings and it struck many by its fresh, fruity, biscuity character. Just a solid whisky, no fussy finish or double/triple barrel business.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

@cricklewood I even have several very tall pine trees to look at from my deck while I drink the Hakushu.

@casualtorture nowadays it seems around here that one has to luck out to find any age stated Japanese whiskies to purchase. That has been true for 5 or 6 years now. In this case I got in line in the cold and waited two hours with about 75 people ahead of me for the privilege of purchasing this bottle. Those 10 behind me in line (there were at least 50 more behind me at that time and 150 more by the time the store opened) would likely not have been able to have gotten one of these. Had I been one of the people who were rumoured to have lined up outside the store all night long I might have been able to have bought one of the scalper-worthy few bottles available. No overnight lines for me please. Not being able to feel my toes after awhile was more than enough hassle.

4 years ago 6Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

@paddockjudge nice hat!

I think with the change of mayor the talk of the Expos return has dampened somewhat.

4 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

@casualtorture yes the light smoke in the Hakushu 12 really binds it all together nicely.

I could order this online in the US with ease until about 2 years ago when prices/availability went crazy. This week I have an online acquaintance who offered to pick up a Hakushu 18 from the distillery for me, the price tag 580$..I politely declined.

I cannot see how Japanese whisky will ever return to anything resembling normal.

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

@cricklewood It really says something when a whiskey can be bottled and released without any Super-Ultra-Premium-Elite finishing in the finest bespoke Casks from wherever. It takes a well-made spirit, properly aged in good Casks. I’ve heard naught but good things about Tyrconnell 16. I hope to pick one up sooner rather than later.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@archivist
archivist replied

@cricklewood Thank you, I will certainly add Tyrconnell 16 to my list. I don't see Tyrconnell much around here, but will definitely be on the lookout...

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

Not whisky, but some of you know that I recently ordered a bottle of barrel aged, single cask Gin from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. The bottle arrived yesterday and since this is the first bottle of Gin from the Society for me, I decided to do a head to head tasting last night with any other Gin that we have in the liquor cabinet. Unfortunately, we were out of The Botanist which is the one that I most wanted to compare to the Society bottle. I have asked my wife to pick up a bottle of The Botanist and will report back when I am able to compare the two. I don't drink gin very often, but of what I have had, up to this point, The Botanist is by far my favorite, especially to drink neat.

As for last night, I compared Hendrick's (Scottish Gin), Dry Fly (Spokane, WA) Barrel Reserve Gin and the Society bottle. The Society bottle (SMWS GN1.3) is also a Scottish Gin (from Makar in Glasgow). It was distilled in August 2017 and was placed in a second-fill barrel, but I do not know for how long. Based on color, it wasn't long in the cask. The name is "Coriander meander".

First up the Hendrick's; reserved nose, more citrus than juniper. the palate was good, but had an industrial quality in the finish that I haven't noticed before. Granted, I haven't really drank Hendrick's neat before. I usually have it in a G & T.

Next up was the Dry Fly. Starting with the nose, it was just so different from the Hendrick's that it almost isn't fair to compare it to the other two. Not bad, just different. The nose was closer to a whisky than a gin. This particular Dry Fly gin is aged in the distillery's barrels that previously held their wheat whiskey. The gin is made from Eastern Washington soft white winter wheat, so those two things probably contributed to the significant difference from the other gins. I have tasted this one neat before and enjoyed it, but not last night. It is fine on its own, but compared to the other two, not so much. It had a harness in the finish that was off putting. Again, I don't remember that from previous tastings.

Finally, the Society Gin. Wow! What a nose. It was huge. If the Hendrick's nose was a Black & White Television, the Society Gin was not only color, but HD and 4K on steroids. It was like standing in a forest of Juniper trees along with some dried lemon peel and wet cut grass. It was also spicy with coriander seed, anise and tree sap. Sweet as well; lemon meringue pie with melon and peach and gentle herbs in the background.The palate did not disappoint either. It was lively and drying (lemon peel and coriander seed), sweet with a pleasing bitterness and again, lemon meringue pie in the lingering finish. I loved it and I can't wait to compare it to The Botanist.

4 years ago 8Who liked this?

@fiddich1980
fiddich1980 replied

@bwmccoy Nice review. The SMWS GN 1.3 sounds like a great sipper. Your impressions on gin are tempting me to pick up a bottle of Harris gin. I've been eyeing for the past few months. Harris is produced in the Outer Hebrides using sugar sea kelp and other botanical.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

@fiddich1980 - Thank you. After having been to the Outer Hebrides (specifically Harris and Lewis) in 2010, I would love to try the Harris Gin as well. If you do pick one up, please let me know your thoughts on it.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

Balmenach SMWS 48.42 (10 year - Nov. 2002) "Grown-Up Ice Lollies" from a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 56.7% ABV with a little water added which makes it taste like Juicy Fruit chewing gum.

Croftengea SMWS 122.23 (7 year - Feb. 11th, 2011) "Highly a-musing" from a second-fill ex-bourbon hogshead - 57.7% ABV also with a little water added, even though it doesn’t need it. Tastes great either with or without water. This is a peated Highlander from the Loch Lomond distillery and rivals most any Islay dram. Love it!

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

@cricklewood - meh! I've only tried a few Japanese whiskys but have enjoyed every one. I'd love to try some of the older single malts but have resigned to probably never getting the chance.

I don't despair though, many, myself included, have said it before - the game is all about finding good whisky at a decent price these days. And no whisky, let alone an 18 year old, is really worth £500+ in my book!

As was mentioned on here recently, prices are showing signs of curtailing which suggests demand may be decreasing. Who knows, maybe that will knock on to Japanese imports - though I doubt it!

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

@RianC I think the answer is to get a few friends together, find a Japanese distillery, and buy a cask of newmake. Hold it for 18 years and you have age-stated Japanese whisky.

I wonder how much that would cost. I could leave it in my will for my kids.

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

A little package from @wierdo has arrived today! I'm currently sniffing a small pour of Glen Garioch 12 and wondering if I'm really in the mood for whisky after being in the hot sun for all of this afternoon.

It's nice but not what I expected - more sweet and fruity than I'd have thought - desert dram like. Pollen must be in my nose but I swear I can smell strawberry and something like passion fruit cheese cake!?

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge replied

an amalgam of cask strength and high proof rye. I often do this, not only with rye, but with various styles of whisky and types of grain. In my glass tonight is Pikesville Rye, Lot no 40 12YO CS Rye, Knob Creek 8YO CS Rye, and Lot No 40 11YO CS Rye. This is good enough for a second go around.

4 years ago 7Who liked this?

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@Nozinan@NamBeist@fiddich1980@Timp@RianC + 61 others

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