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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 492/647

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

Tonight, Dailuaine SMWS 41.121 (14 year - Aug, 2004) "There will be blood orange" - After 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished in a medium charred, fine grain 2nd-fill French oak barrique - 58.9% ABV.

Finishing the night with Glen Scotia SMWS 93.106 (13 year - March 2005) "Red diesel". After 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Port hogshead - 58.6% ABV.

5 years ago 4Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

Rum 66 from Foursquare just arrived - it's a nice day and just had lunch so why not?!

First impression was that it was very oak driven and more bourbony than rummy. Added a drop of water and it opened up nicely, a traditional (Fentimans) cola note came through that I really like, and it's quite dry and less sweet than other rums I've had.

I happened to have a Four Roses single barrel close at hand and had some after the rum, and wow! It tasted like full on Coca Cola?! Almost fizzing in the mouth. Very bizarre as that's not a note I've gotten before. In fact, I wouldn't have recognised it as bourbon by taste or smell had I not known. Another, for me at least, very interesting example of how other flavours affect one's palate ( and is why I always take my notes from tastings with a grain of salt).

5 years ago 4Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

Everyone should own at least one Norlan glass. I just did an experiment I could not believe, if not for repeatedly experiencing it for myself firsthand. Knowing that the Norlan glass, which I find destructive of the flavours and scents of most of the best, most potent, and most subtle whiskies, has nonetheless shown competence in making the WORST most rough whiskies drinkable,...I decided to try a test with that great bugbear McClelland's Islay Single Malt (by all reports 5 yo Bowmore at 40% ABV).

I had previously been more than a little impressed at how the Norlan glass had made not so good batches of standard Tullamore D.E.W. and standard Jameson far more drinkable. Just now I decided to have some McClelland's Islay contrasted in a standard Glencairn glass and a Norlan glass. Wow! Very very hard to believe without the experience confronting you continuously, but, as I pour this same 60 ml of McClelland's Islay Single Malt back and forth between these two glasses, the whisky changes as I go to drink it. The noses changed only slightly, with a slight improvement in the Norlan glass, mostly a little sweeter. The palate changed enourmously when I consumed it out of the Norlan Glass compared to a standard Glencairn. I poured this sample back and forth between the two glasses, sampling each time from each glass, and found consistently higher pitched and sweeter flavours in the mouth with the Norlan glass compared to the Glencairn glass. There was a low and middle pitch funk of an UNpleasant nature in the Glencairn glass which just disappeared in the Norlan. I'd rate this 9 year open bottle today 68 pts out of the Glencairn, and 78 points out of the Norlan. I expect that I will do all of my future drinking of this and other discordant whiskies, out of the Norlan glass in the future.

What's the science here? How can such a thing as this be? It must be in the geometrics of the glass changing the energetic wave forms of the whisky, even within a few seconds of the whisky entering the different glass.

I consider it to be an absolute waste to drink the best whiskies from a Norlan glass. However, the Norlan seems to me from experience to be the BEST glass from which to drink the worst whiskies.

5 years ago 9Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

@Victor I may be one of the only people who enjoyed the McClelland’s Islay. I drank most of my last bottle from a Canadian Glencairn and it was decent. I believe I scored it 77 or 78 points. But then, I’m not as averse to low proof Bowmores as some others are.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

Jonathan replied

Some posts here havre inspired me to get another bottle of McClelland's Islay. I have always like Bowmore more than most. Some Darkest batches were really outstanding. (Never had the auction Bowmores.)

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

Before dinner, Copperworks Distilling Company SMWS Cask sample (46 months - Mar. 2016) - New oak (18 month air seasoned staves) heavy toast, medium char (#2) - 60.2% ABV. I haven’t had this one for a couple of months. Not sure why because it was tasting really good tonight.

After dinner, Bruichladdich 1984 23 Year Old Golder Still. Also revisiting this one after a while. Still awesome.

5 years ago 0

@CanadianNinja

*Posting this again...this time on the right thread!

I’m having some Apothic Inferno!

It’s a blend of California red wine aged for 60 days in Whiskey barrels. After a quick search I haven’t been able to find any information on the whiskey (the official website spells it ‘whiskey’ so...) barrels.

I’ve been drinking a lot of wine recently. I don’t really know why because I almost never drink wine....

Anyway, I’m loving this stuff!

On the nose, smoke, floral notes (similar to those I often pick up in Bowmore whiskies) and cranberry.

On the palate, maple, boysenberry, red cherry and black tea.

Highly recommended!

5 years ago 5Who liked this?

Expand image
@Hewie
Hewie replied

@CanadianNinja That sounds lovely. Despite being Kiwi's the wine variety that my wife and I absolutely love is Aussie Shiraz. NZ make wonderful Syrah (same grape) but it is a completely different beast altogether. Anyway, A big Australian producer, Jacobs Creek, makes a wonderful whisky aged Shiraz. Hard to pick the actual influence of the whisky barrel but the finished product is very delicious. (Sorry, not my own photo).

5 years ago 6Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

Currently enjoying a pour of Appleton Estate 12 Year “Rare Casks”. The nose is really engaging, with none of the white glue or rubber notes I get from the much-hyped Foursquare Premise 10 Year. Lots of “rumminess” with some raisins, vanilla, cherries, tobacco, leather, cinnamon, and a touch of banana. First impressions: I like it!

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

@OdysseusUnbound those Appleton Estate Rums usually get better with a lot of air time, too.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@CanadianNinja

Sounds great @Hewie!

I’m going to see if I can find that over here.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

@Victor I can only hope the Foursquare will get better with time. I’ve joined a few rum groups on Facebook and it appears that some Premise bottlings have been sulphur-tainted. I found it a bit strange, since I usually perceive sulphur as either “spent match” or “rotten egg” but one commenter said that “white glue and rubber” is a big “contaminated sherry cask” red flag for him. I’m no expert so I’ll take his word for it. This same commenter said that the aromas dissipated from his bottle after about 3-4 months of air exposure. Fingers crossed...

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

Last night, Miltonduff SMWS 72.31 (29 year - Dec. 1983) "Something Old, Something New" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 48.3% ABV. This bottle has been open over a year and it’s as good today as when I opened it. I love its waxy candy qualities. It’s like salt water taffy wrapped in wax paper.

Royal Brackla SMWS 55.53 (12 year - Aug. 2006) "The Old Curiosity Shop" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 59.3% ABV. I didn’t really care for this one when I opened it 6 months ago, so I haven’t revisited it very often. However, it has really improved over the past 6+ months. Grain (cereal, straw), honey, mulled wine, raisins and brown sugar.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

More Rum SixtySix while watching old footage of the Beastie Boys playing Sabotage on Letterman.

One chord ... not the rum, I should add, which is just nice, easy going stuff but definitively very oak forward.

5 years ago 4Who liked this?

Jonathan replied

@RianC I love this track

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote replied

Listening to Bill Frisell doing a version of Heard it Through the Grapevine and sipping on a dram of G&M 15 year old Linkwood. Bill Frisell is the worlds most inventive guitarist and the lovely Linkwood ( thank you @bwmccoy ) just keeps getting better.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

@Jonathan - Ive loved the Beastie Boys since I was about 7 and first heard Fight For Your Right grin Seems odd to say they're underrated, as they were/are so popular, but I sometimes think their musical craft isn't given enough kudos. That performance, which is the first time I saw it live - and wow! - says it all ...

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

@BlueNote - have you got a link? I absolutely love the CCR version.

www.youtube.com/watch

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@CanadianNinja

@RianC, I had tickets for the joint Beasties and Rage tour back in....I forget the year.

The tour was canceled after Mike D broke his leg.....

Jesus I wish I could have seen those bands live.....

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@CanadianNinja

For you @RianC!

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

Last night, Oban Bay Reserve "The Night's Watch" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 43% ABV. Sweet, salt and slight smoke.

Followed by Lagavulin 9 year "House Lannister" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 46% ABV. Sweet peat!

5 years ago 4Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

@CanadianNinja - Gutted for you missing out on that!

Nice choice, thanks ... I've just been told to turn it down laughing

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC replied

@bwmccoy - How is the Lag a 9? No buying for me for a while but I've seen it on offer a lot recently, that and the Mortlach GoT version.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote replied

@RianC I could do a link if I wasn’t such a techno twat. I couldn’t find it on YouTube. It’s on a live album called East West. Check out his version of the old Smokey Robinson tune; La La Means I Love You. It’s on YouTube. There’s a ton of his stuff on there. Good version of the Weight and a bunch of Beatles tunes.

5 years ago 4Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

@RianC - honestly, my expectations for the GoT bottles were pretty low, so I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised. The Lagavulin is by far the best of the three bottles that I own (Oban and Talisker). I wouldn’t say it is stellar, but it is a very good daily drinker and worth the price, in my opinion. I don’t regret buying it, but probably wouldn’t replace it. Hope all of that rambling helps.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

We’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo, not because we’re Mexican (we’re not), but rather because we need to keep the kids focused on something other than isolation. I’ve been playing with different tequila cocktails. The Dulce de Tequila seems to be a winner as a “dessert cocktail”.

  • 2 oz tequila Reposado
  • 1 oz Triple Sec
  • 1 oz Cognac
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon agave nectar

5 years ago 5Who liked this?

@TracerBullet
TracerBullet replied

@OdysseusUnbound Going to have to give that a try!

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

@TracerBullet Let me know how it turns out. I did mine in a shaker and then served it “up” in a cocktail glass. I don’t have the priciest ingredients, but it still turned out pretty good.

I’m now having a traditional Margarita. Yum!

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

As a nightcap, I’m now enjoying a Juan Collins:

  • 2 oz tequila
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • 0.5 oz agave nectar

Poured into a rocks tumbler with ice and then topped up with club soda (approx 2 oz).

5 years ago 4Who liked this?

@bwmccoy
bwmccoy replied

No tequila or mezcal in my cabinet, so no Cinco de Mayo celebration except for a Mexican beer with lunch.

Tonight, Maker's Mark Cask Strength, Batch 19-02, 54.8% ABV before dinner.

Afterwards, Talisker Select Reserve "House Greyjoy" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 45.8% ABV.

5 years ago 4Who liked this?

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