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So, what are you drinking now?

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

Replies: page 477/645

@Hewie
Hewie replied

@OdysseusUnbound I've actually got a copy of that book too (won it online). Interesting looking at his 'ratings' for each whisky with each of the five mixers he trialed. I would not have thought to use coconut water or green tea as a mixer. I don't mind a highball but I'm still hesitant to use any decent whisky in one - just my personal mindset.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

@Hewie I’m of the opinion that a better whisky makes a better cocktail. My last bottle of Booker’s was used in more than one Old Fashioned and it was terrific. I made a whisky sour using an 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Cask Kilchoman and it was magnificent. I’m looking forward to trying the Coconut Water + Tullamore DEW (or Jameson) combo.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@Hewie
Hewie replied

@OdysseusUnbound Yeah. I understand the theory - a bit like not cooking with the cheapest, crappiest wine. It's my mindset that I struggle with laughing

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

On Saturday, had a barrel aged Scotch Ale from a local brewery with lunch.

Before dinner, made a Manhattan with Old Grand Dad 114. I recently purchased oak wood chunks that were former Ardbeg casks. I lit one of the chunks to smoke the glass that I drank the Manhattan out of. (I also used a few of the Ardbeg cask wood chunks in my charcoal grill to add additional smoke to the New York steak that I grilled for dinner.)

After dinner, Mortlach SMWS 76.144 (13 year - October 2005) "I caught the darkness..." - After 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill charred red wine barrique cask - 60.0% ABV. The red wine influence comes through especially in the nose and since I didn’t have a nice red wine with my steak, this was an excellent substitute in my opinion. smile

4 years ago 7Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

@Hewie - never tried green tea with whisky either but I could see how it might work, especially with a sweeter or more barley forward style.

Opened a JD SB Barrel Strength on Friday and brought it up with me to see family over the weekend. By far the best JD I've ever had. Lots of cinnamon, treacle toffee and floral notes. Surprised how soft the oak was and the palate given the 64.5%. A big hit with my Mum and Brother too. He likes the standard JD but drinks little else whisky wise but straight away said it was the best he'd had.

Fine meat but a touch of water teased out more side and softened the edges a tad. This won't last long ...

4 years ago 7Who liked this?

@CanadianNinja

I just poured a glass of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength....for the second night in a row.

I am absolutely loving this whisky. I think this has become one of my favourites, can’t believe I’m saying that already but it’s true.

I’m also kind of celebrating! My son fought a fantastic fight today (he competes pretty heavily in Kyokushin and Muay Thai), and I couldn’t be prouder of how he did today. It was a pretty big tournament and he performed very well.

Cheers boys!

4 years ago 6Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

@CanadianNinja - Good stuff! I used to compete in Muay Thai and did it for bout 15 years on and off. My body's a wreck now but I'd love to see my lads doing it one day ...

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

@CanadianNinja

Right on @RianC.

I tore my labrum in a match about two years ago. I’ve been back training, fully recovered for a while now. Had my first tournament since the injury last fall.

It’s a great sport, but it certainly doesn’t get any easier as you get older.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

Basil Hayden Bourbon. The first bourbon I ever tried. And I don’t think I’ve tasted it since the first time.... I was at a friend’s. One guest made an old fashioned so I had some neat. I did not go back for a second pour but it brought back memories.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

Yesterday (Sunday), after attending my nephew's baptism, went over to my brother-in-laws house for lunch. After a couple of beers with the ribs that he smoked, we settled down with a couple of drams.

Aberlour SMWS 54.68 (12 year - May 2006) "A perfect garden party" from a refill ex-bourbon barrel. 53.8% ABV.

Ardmore SMWS 66.153 (11 year - May 2007) "Herbs on a grill tray" from a refill ex-bourbon barrel. 59.9% ABV.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

Tonight, Miltonduff SMWS 72.31 (29 year - Dec. 1983) "Something Old, Something New" from a refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead - 48.3% ABV. Such a beautiful whisky.

Finishing with a heavily peated Glenturret SMWS 16.33 (8 year - Dec. 2009) "Melville’s other monster" from a re-charred hogshead - 62.0% ABV. This bottle is almost gone, which is a shame, because it is awesome! It is everything that I look for in a peated whisky.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

Back in the saddle or armchair I suppose in this case, did a few blind samples over the weekend, Weller 12, Hillrock Estates Solera bourbon, both interesting on their own way but not ones i'd purchase. I revisited my bottle of Ichiro's malt & grain world blend, I love the richness of this blend, a very enjoyable sipper if a bit uniform.

Last night had a small dram of Booker's 01-2018 (rich and this kind of dusty oak that I love) and Kilchoman 100% Islay 2018 (dangerously easy drinking). Both have hit their stride in the final 1/3 of the bottle.

I'm catching up so excuses for replies to posts that have already flown by.

@RianC I'm glad to hear you cracked and enjoyed your JDSBBP, I'll be curious to see your eventual review.

@bwmccoy Your notes on this young peated Glenturret have me intrigued, I've noticed both Signatory and North Star have released some as well.

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote replied

@cricklewood love that Kilchoman 100% Islay. I’m currently on the 2019 version. As you say, dangerously drinkable.

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

Kavalan Solist Sherry, 57.1% ABV. Yum, yum, yum.

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

Aberlour A'Bunadh batch 50, 59.6%

Still charting. I've been thinking about this one for a while, and tonight I decided to allow it to keep me company.

A'Bunadh was my first WOW! whisky. As I've matured my palate and explored so many styles, I don't reach for sherry bombs as much as I used to. But for the right mood, nothing beats A'Bunadh.

4 years ago 6Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

Poured myself some Alberta Premium 20 Year. I think I’m going to add water to it tonight, for science.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

I was wrong to add water. This is better neat. But still not super impressive yet. To the back of the cabinet with this bottle....

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge replied

@OdysseusUnbound, as much as I wasn't overly impressed with Alberta Premium 20 YO, my bottle is finished. I like it. It is a Spice Bomb! It doesn't fit my expectation of the ADL Rye profile. I find it more along the lines of Pendleton's and CC 100% Rye. There is definitely some creative cask management and probably some creative cask treatment happening here.

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

@paddockjudge the whole thing feels disjointed to me. I was expecting spice and a little smoke/barrel char from the nose, but the palate/flavour is very apologetically Canadian so far. As in sorry, eh!? Just going to go ahead and be all caramel with a little apricot and orange, no doot aboot it. There seems to be a bit more spice on the finish, but it certainly doesn’t scream: I am RYE; hear me ROOAAARRR!!

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@MadSingleMalt

Last night with the club, I sampled many many many Japanese whiskies, only about half of which are seen here.

My favorite was the Yamazaki 12, which was fresher & zippier than the crowd-favorite Yamazaki 18. The surprise of the night was that rice-based Ohishi from a sherry cask: so clean & bright, kinda like the old Springbank Claret Wood!

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

@MadSingleMalt was the Kaiyo the CS version? What did you think of it?

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@MadSingleMalt

@Nozinan, that Kaiyo was indeed the CS version. I didn't have it last night, but I've had it in the past and found it disappointing. Kinda like a heavy thud, with none of the evocative aromatics that we're led to expect from Mizunara wood whiskies.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

@MadSingleMalt bravo! Wow, what a super opportunity to get a lot of new experience.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@CanadianNinja

Maker’s 46.

On the nose, blood oranges, cinnamon, strong sugar....

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

Had myself a little Irish whisky flight last night.

Powers Signature:This bottle is not long for this world and it is just beautiful, all the hard edges have been filed down to allow the tropical fruits and sweet porridge notes to shine. I have to get another bottle of this before it's gone for good.

Tyrconnell 15 Madeira: This was purchased based on my love of how good the 16 was..sadly the cask finish is way too dominant on this one. The marzipan/almond, dried fruit and yeasty notes from the Madeira are pleasant enough if a bit astringent but it takes over the show. There is none of that lovely straightforward biscuity fruity aspects I loved so much from the 16 bourbon wood.

4 years ago 6Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

@cricklewood - If those other Independent bottlings of a heavily peated Glenturrent are anywhere near the one that I have, you are in for a treat (in my humble opinion). The Society bottling rivals most Islay's that I've had!

Haven't had whisky for several nights this week, but made up for it last night (Thursday), not so much in quantity, but the quality and the experience that I had was pretty awesome. The Society has purchased cask(s) from a local distillery (Copperworks) and last night, Kai Ivalo, Spirits and Marketing Director was in town for an event announcing Copperworks as the newest Society distillery, #143. Approximately 25 members attended to sample what will eventually be SMWS 143.1 when it is bottled later this year.

We started off the night with a welcome dram. A 26 year (Nov. 1992) Glenlossie (SMWS 46.77 "Garden Centres and weddings") from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead at 53.6% ABV. When I opened the bottle, I was overwhelmed with aromas of an apple orchard or apples being pressed for cider. What an absolutely beautiful whisky.

Next, the co-owners of Copperworks took us on a tour of the distillery and while we were in the bonded portion, we were able to have a dram of the soon to be SMWS 143.1 "Sea buckthorn tea with honey". The staves for this cask were air dried for 18 months before being heavily toasted with a medium (#2) char. One of the co-owners described it as a wine-style cask with a medium char. This dram had a lot of bourbon qualities even though it is a single malt. I got a lot of cherries, very fruity and some cinnamon.

After the tour, we had a dram of one of Copperworks current releases (Release #29) which was aged for 31 months in 7 different casks consisting of a combination of New American Oak, ex-Cognac and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 50% ABV. Three different malt combinations were used as well; Full Pint, Five Malt and Pale Malt. While this had similar qualities to the Society Copperworks bottling it was lighter, but also more complex. A very interesting whisky.

We finished the night with a Society Coal Ila. An 11 year (Sep. 2007) SMWS 53.304 "Rose petals on a rock pool" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead at 59.5% ABV. As you all know, I love Society Coal Ila's and this one did not disappoint.

While we were in the bonded portion of the distillery, attendees were allowed to sign the other 2 Society casks that they have purchased from Copperworks that will eventually become SMWS 143.2 and 143.3 respectively. Thanks @jordytropp for taking the picture of me signing one of the casks. What a fun night!

4 years ago 7Who liked this?

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@OdysseusUnbound

I had some Maker’s and Maker’s 46. I’m not sure if it’s the exhilaration of a big protest today, but this bottle of Maker’s seems to be a pretty good batch. The Maker’s 46 continues to impress. More coconut, oak, cinnamon, and brown sugar than the standard.

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

@CanadianNinja

@OdysseusUnbound, I have been ‘rediscovering’ the Maker’s lineup since I picked up the CS recently and I must say that I am enjoying it more than I ever have.

I was extremely impressed with my bottle of the CS and thoroughly enjoyed the Maker’s 46 last night. I think I may just have to make both expressions permanent additions to my cabinet.

What was the protest about?

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

@CanadianNinja the usual.

The government is trying to destroy our educational system

@OdysseusUnbound is the only thing between chaos and order

4 years ago 4Who liked this?

Liked by:

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

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