[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by ECSTuning

I've been a big fan of Monkey Shoulder as of late, neat or mixed it's pretty tasty. I'd call it a great "intro" to Scotch blend, even though many of my more palate expanded buddies even say it's dam good for the price.
-James

Great value, great whisky!

[hooligan_G01]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Open invitation to anyone around my area... I have tried to get UncleWede to stop by but he has yet to make it over when visiting family.

This is most of my collection, I still have a few items in the back room and in the safe as well. Along with a few of my different Elijah Craig BP and store picks.

Those Elijah Craig BP and store picks can be AMAZING bottles.

[jamesinaz]

Fan of whiskey myself. I mostly drink the sweeter stuff and Balvenie is my go to brand. Noted I also have some Monkey Shoulder I like a lot. This chart is useful for people to understand the various types of scotch from the sweet smooth stuff to the smoky peaty stuff you need a knife and fork to get down ya.

On age the reason it costs so much more is it costs money to store the stuff in casks until it's done. The longer you store it the more invested. Plus there is loss every year it is in a cask. I read somewhere that 23 year Van Winkle starts with a 53 gallon cask. After 23 years there are 22 gallons left.

I can taste a difference in 12 year scotch versus 21 year scotch. Definitely smoother. But truth is if I am drinking, first one (small one at that cost) is 21 year. Then I revert to my usual 14 year Caribbean cask Balvenie. If I have more after one large one of those it's Famous Grouse cause I can't taste anything now anyway.

[KRS_SN]

i love getting together with anyone who loves scotch and sharing a 70 cl bottle to finish just scotch on ice.
thankfully ive had a few guys helping me over the past 6 years and odd Friday evenings in Glasgow to have experienced most medium priced single malts.
my all time favourites are talisker storm, singleton tailfire ,glenfiddich 14 and yamazaki(japanese).All of them are reasonably priced between £30-50).

[WhiskyPat12]

Anyone have any unicorn bottles they are searching for? Or any unique bottle they have/had and want to brag about?

[Maynard]

Great thread - I'm almost exclusively into SM so the spirits thread is hit or miss, this is more to the point. I'll have to post some pics when I sober up enough to snap some. For a while I was getting a bottle a week to try different things, so I have a lot of variety.

My current thing is the non-chill filtered ones. I find these to be more flavorful (like Ardbeg, Laphroaig CS and QC, etc.). Current fav's are Ardbeg Corryvreckan, Laphroaig CS or QC, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte, and Lagavulin (liking the 8yo a lot, and the 16 is a true classic). And A'Bunadh for when I'm more into sherry than peat (got a great deal on those a few years ago and sort of overbought - it was less than $60/bottle).

And is Eagle Rare one of those that went from using one source/recipe to another? I got a bottle a few years ago based on a ton of rave reviews, but it was really mediocre (IMO). Also totally common, available everywhere but some talk of it being quite rare. I continue to see mixed reviews, some love it, some not at all, and it made me wonder if I just got their low-rent version or something.

[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by Maynard

Great thread - I'm almost exclusively into SM so the spirits thread is hit or miss, this is more to the point. I'll have to post some pics when I sober up enough to snap some. For a while I was getting a bottle a week to try different things, so I have a lot of variety.

My current thing is the non-chill filtered ones. I find these to be more flavorful (like Ardbeg, Laphroaig CS and QC, etc.). Current fav's are Ardbeg Corryvreckan, Laphroaig CS or QC, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte, and Lagavulin (liking the 8yo a lot, and the 16 is a true classic). And A'Bunadh for when I'm more into sherry than peat (got a great deal on those a few years ago and sort of overbought - it was less than $60/bottle).


And is Eagle Rare one of those that went from using one source/recipe to another? I got a bottle a few years ago based on a ton of rave reviews, but it was really mediocre (IMO). Also totally common, available everywhere but some talk of it being quite rare. I continue to see mixed reviews, some love it, some not at all, and it made me wonder if I just got their low-rent version or something.

Did you get all the same batch of A'Bunadh? I love my batch 54 (60.7%abv) but have heard later batches declined in quality.

[hooligan_G01]

Originally Posted by Maynard

...And is Eagle Rare one of those that went from using one source/recipe to another? I got a bottle a few years ago based on a ton of rave reviews, but it was really mediocre (IMO). Also totally common, available everywhere but some talk of it being quite rare. I continue to see mixed reviews, some love it, some not at all, and it made me wonder if I just got their low-rent version or something.

Eagle Rare has been distilled and bottled by Buffalo Trace for a long, long time. It is hard to find in a lot of markets - around the Charlotte, NC area it would sell out the same day they put it on the shelves. Up here in MI, it's a bit more commonplace, but still sells out within a few days of hitting the shelves.

I love it, some people don't. Some people don't love Blanton's, some do. Much like with most/any whisk(e)y, I'd bet.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by WhiskyPat12

Anyone have any unicorn bottles they are searching for? Or any unique bottle they have/had and want to brag about?

I got my unicorn in a raffle this year. I have really enjoyed it.

[Red Bread]

Pretty sure that's a garden gnome, not a unicorn.

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by WhiskyPat12

Did you get all the same batch of A'Bunadh? I love my batch 54 (60.7%abv) but have heard later batches declined in quality.

My latest is #50, so I can't say on newer versions. I've had #s 20, 30, 33, 36, 39, 47, and 50. Each is a little different, enough to appreciate the difference, but still more similar than not.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by Maynard

My latest is #50, so I can't say on newer versions. I've had #s 20, 30, 33, 36, 39, 47, and 50. Each is a little different, enough to appreciate the difference, but still more similar than not.

I have the 57 and 62. The 57 is hot and not super enjoyable. The 62 is much better actually.

[Maynard]

Next time I contemplate a 'half cannonball' thru Iowa I'll bring one of the elder versions and stop in to see your shrine

[Violator]

If you have Hulu, the documentary “Neat: The Story of Bourbon” is available and a good way to burn an hour or so. Grab a bottle and a glass, and enjoy.

[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by Violator

If you have Hulu, the documentary “Neat: The Story of Bourbon” is available and a good way to burn an hour or so. Grab a bottle and a glass, and enjoy.

This looks neat! Pun intended

[Violator]

HAH!

It was an interesting film, I enjoyed it.

[Hawkeye]

Impromptu whiskey share

[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Impromptu whiskey share

Mellow Corn Represent! Lol looks like a good spread

Just drank a bottle of Redbreast whiskey yesterday, it was great.

[BMW F22]

For $50, what’s the best whiskey? Looked at Hibbiki but that’s like $80.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

For $50, what’s the best whiskey? Looked at Hibbiki but that’s like $80.

That is a really tough question but the easy answer is that it isn't going to be Japanese. Most likely going to be American, slim chance of scotch or Irish for that price point.

What do you prefer, that will help narrow it down. Bourbon, Rye, Scotch (what area), etc.

[WhiskyPat12]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

For $50, what’s the best whiskey? Looked at Hibbiki but that’s like $80.

There are a lot of answers to this question, because it really differs in what you are looking for. Here's some rambling notes/thoughts

Just something as an everyday drinkable whisky?

• Highland Park 12 is like $45-50, good middle of the road Single Malt Scotch.
• Laphroaig 10yo or Ardbeg 10yo will kick you in the dick with peat smoke for about $50 (another Single Malt Scotch)
• Redbreast 12 is a great Irish for about $50-55

$50 for a Bourbon can get you some good ones, as Bourbon doesn't have the same taxes as Scotch/Irish etc... So the range of 'top shelf' is a bit different

I've heard Angel's Envy is great, but haven't ever pulled the trigger at $50 for a bottle. The forum is already split on Eagle Rare (one of my fav bourbons, although Bourbon is not my strong suit) is like $30-35.


Japanese though? Tough to find at that price...