Whisky Secret

Arran Amarone Cask Strength is bang for your buck.

@NamBeist - I've never paid much attention to Arran's finishes (thinking they'd be inferior juice 'jazzed' up a bit) but this one does seem to get glowing reviews. Maybe I'll add to the wishlist ...

OK , I'll bite on the Springbank comment I've never tasted any older or revered single cask offerings, so my experience is relatively limited, but I do think Springbank's reputation sometimes covers over cracks that other distilleries might not get away with.

Tyrconell 15 yo is bang for your buck as well.

Hazelburn is boring!

@Alexsweden, Hahahaha!

I'll continue... I'm not a fan of clynelish (!) I had a small bottle once and I just couldn't get past the WAX!!!

Would anyone on this site consider Rebel Yell 100 as bang for buck ?

@NamBeist

www.youtube.com/watch

@Nozinan You made it very clear. Hahaha

@NamBeist Actually I know nothing about the whisky, but I thought the song was apprpriate.

@NamBeist I'd want to taste the batch of Rebel Yell before considering buying it. I've seen them all over the place, from very good to undesirable. I've been greatly pleased by Rebel Yell more than once and I've been badly disappointed by Rebel Yell more than once.

Luxco, who owns the brand, has their own distillery now. I am not sure though whether current Rebel Yell is from their distillery yet. My guess is not yet. Which is to say, whatever Rebel Yell is now it is likely to be a little or a lot different in a couple of years when their own aged distillate is being sold.

Ok fine, I'll play along. Hopefully I don't get kicked off the site for these opinions.

• I like Dalmore. I really like Dalmore. I know theyr're distillery non grata among the more serious whisky enthusiasts, but despite the low abv, the chill-filtration, and the liberal use of E150a, I enjoy their whiskies. About a month ago I (safely) visited a friend who had me do a vertical of their 12, 15, and Cigar Malt. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one.
• Rum offers better value for money than pretty much any single malt whisky...at least it does here in Ontario. There are some excellent rums in the $80-100 range. There are plenty of very good rums in the $35-$60 range.
• I don't "get it" when it comes to Bunnahabhain. Their offerings aren't as popular on this website, but just about every Facebook whisky group worships at the altar of Bunna. I've only tried a handful, and they've been ok, but none of them has wow'ed me. Their brand ambassador gave me a sample of a pricier one (Palo Cortado 20 Year, maybe?) so I'll have to see if that one does it for me.

@OdysseusUnbound You are the first one I know who loves Dalmore. Once I bought a bottle of Dalmore 12 yo as a present for someone and it was returned to me after a few days. Now I know I bought it for the wrong person...

@OdysseusUnbound I'm with you on Dalmore. I really like the Cigar Malt but once they raised their price on it to, in my mind, an unreasonable level, I stopped buying it. I think I have one bottle left. I have not gotten into some of their other offerings except the port wood finish, which I also like. If anyone has a bottle of the Cigar Malt they dislike, please send it my way!

@OdysseusUnbound Supertasters tend to be able to detect nuances in diluted whiskies better than people like me. I think that may be why I don't like the standard Bowmore line and many other low ABV whiskies.

I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the 40-43% whiskies I would consider buying: Benromach 10 YO, Forty Creek Heart of Gold and Confederation Oak, and MAYBE a good batch of HP 12 or Glenlivet 12.

Other people can enjoy them better than I can. I should envy them.

A guy called Sjoerd, a celebrity from the Dutch whisky scene gave Rebel Yell 100 a score of 87 points. He gave the following notes: bacon, charcoal, baked apple and lots of vanilla. I was amazed about this score, because he is rather critical judging whisky. It seems to be apple juice on steroids. I guess I have to look for Rebel Yell 100 in (on line) shops

@OdysseusUnbound I think it's Richard Patterson that puts a lot of people off Dalmore. I thought the Cigar Malt was very good, albeit from a small sample from a friend.

@OdysseusUnbound My heart for your three point comments is more for the Dalmore. Sometimes we need to get away from the Ralfy Mantra, and not end up being Mantra snobs, and be okay with enjoying something that has E150A, low ABV and chilled filter. Nothing wrong with that.

As for the Bunna alter....I don't pray at any alter, but I don't mind bowing at a shrine on occasion. HA! In short, I really enjoyed the Bunna 12, and have a few in stock. I also got a two bottles of the Bunna Limited Release PX Finish 14yo, and I am savoring the first bottle as long as I can. Do I go out of my way to speak about them to anyone I see? Nope.

Now, for my secret...As many of know I am a bit of a fan of the Glenlivet Nadurra. Well, truth be told, I didn't tell people (even on Connosr) about my sources until I had purchased several. haha several. And then be a lover of the Nikka Taketsuru 17yo, I did the same. I bought three, over a period of time, before I told anyone where I got them from.

But if anyone did ask me where I got it from, I would tell them. Just not right away. : P

@OdysseusUnbound My heart for your three point comments is more for the Dalmore. Sometimes we need to get away from the Ralfy Mantra, and not end up being Mantra snobs, and be okay with enjoying something that has E150A, low ABV and chilled filter. Nothing wrong with that.

As for the Bunna alter....I don't pray at any alter, but I don't mind bowing at a shrine on occasion. HA! In short, I really enjoyed the Bunna 12, and have a few in stock. I also got a two bottles of the Bunna Limited Release PX Finish 14yo, and I am savoring the first bottle as long as I can. Do I go out of my way to speak about them to anyone I see? Nope.

Now, for my secret...As many of know I am a bit of a fan of the Glenlivet Nadurra. Well, truth be told, I didn't tell people (even on Connosr) about my sources until I had purchased several. haha several. And then be a lover of the Nikka Taketsuru 17yo, I did the same. I bought three, over a period of time, before I told anyone where I got them from.

But if anyone did ask me where I got it from, I would tell them. Just not right away. : P

I refer my last comment to a short dialogue from Yes, Minister, ep. "A Question of Loyalty"

Minister: What do I do?

Official: Stall.

Minister: Stall? What you do mean Stall?

Bernard: Stall. Stall, meaning, avoid answering.

Minister: Yes, I know what stall means Bernard.

@OdysseusUnbound These prices are why I don’t buy Dalmore anymore. Every once in a while I run across a deal (read; more reasonable price) but that seem to happen less and less with Dalmore. Anyway, enjoy the price madness!

@TracerBullet Those are pretty high prices. The 12 is the only one I buy here, and only when it’s on sale. Regular price is $99 (same as Macallan Double Cask, Ardbeg 10, and many others) and it comes on sale once or twice a year for $80.

Great topic.

Here's my hot take

Double Oaked bourbon. For the life of me I don't understand why you'd want to take virgin oaked whisky aged in Kentucky's climate and then hit it with another round of virgin oak for weeks, months, years...I don't see the appeal.

@RianC I agree as well, Springbank sometimes gets away with some loose-goosey things not afforded to other distilleries.

@OdysseusUnbound I've always enjoyed rum and as time passes I find myself returning to it more and more

Dalmore like Jura is capable of producing good whisky, for the former the high prices, heavy marketing compound the problems. For the latter the sheer disregard for their distillate's potential coupled with terrible cask selection/cask finishing is amazing.

@cricklewood - 100% agree about double oaked bourbon! Each to their own, of course, but too much raw oak flavour is a turn off in any bourbon as it is. As for Jura, seriously, what are they doing there? It's like they're determined to undermine their product with every bottling.

@ajjarrett - Old Pulteney 12 and AnCnoc 12 are another two 40%'s that id happily buy/sup. I've never had any Dalmore though but would keep an open mind. Those antlers though ...

@RianC I must admit, I haven't purchased any Dalmore since 20015; however, I did buy several 12yo Old Pulteney about three years ago, and haven't opened any of them. They were on sale, and I just hadn't got around to opening a bottle since I purchased them.

@TracerBullet I do wonder about the Old Pulteney Single Cask.

I haven't seen that one before, but then again, I haven't shopped for whisky (in my hometown) in a while.

@ajjarrett I was curious about that one as well but did not pick it up. Maybe I will go back and grab it. I do have one Old Pulteny 21 left but no other of their expressions.

@TracerBullet

First, you're lucky on having a bottle of the 21yo, and would be more lucky if you found a bottle of the 17yo hiding as well. If you happen to get the single cask, I am sure I am not the only one interested in a review. Of course, I am 'bad' in asking for that, since I was had purchased a couple of bottles I am supposed to review once I open them. HA

@ajjarrett - Its good to know the whisky scene will still be alive and kicking that far into the future. Can you now tell me all the World Cup winners for the next 40 years, please? I feel a large bet coming on

@RianC If I was that good of a prognosticator, I would have bought a lot of 17yo Old Pulteney and not the 12yo. HA!

@ajjarrett I just opened one of my 2 remaining bottles of OP 17. Did a head to head with the newer 18. No comparison: the 17 blows it away. The 12 is always good to have around for less adventurous friends or guests and the An Cnoc 12 is pretty much essential. It's my wife's favourite which means I get all the other good stuff.