Thread: Scotch/whiskey of the day

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I've been gradually working my way through the many smaller scotch samples I treated myself to. Here's a list of the ones I have tried so far. I thought if anyone wanted more info or my opinions on any of them I'd be happy to provide some more info. Some of them are standards:

The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Yr
Laphroaig 10
Talisker 10
Oban 14
Ardmore Traditional Cask
Old Ballantruan
Tomintoul 12
Auchentoshan 12
Old Pulteney 12
Bowmore Darkest 15
Monkey Shoulder (a Blended Malt)
Johnnie Walker Black (shame on the plastic bottle!)

Just now poured a dram of Caol Ila 12 and have only nosed it so far.

More to try!

ChrisL

I've been wanting to try the Balvenie Double Wood and the Auchentoshan, what are you thoughts on those?

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

I've been wanting to try the Balvenie Double Wood and the Auchentoshan, what are you thoughts on those?

Between the two I like the Balvenie quite a bit better. It's a more complex whisky and the vanilla notes of ex-bourbon along with the fruity sherry notes from the two different woods really work well together.

The Auchentoshan being triple distilled like an Irish whiskey does have a smoothness factor closer to a Jamison or Bushmills and I found it enjoyable, but I didn't find it as complex.

I would recommend you try both, but I would be interested to hear what your experience would be.


ChrisL

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Between the two I like the Balvenie quite a bit better. It's a more complex whisky and the vanilla notes of ex-bourbon along with the fruity sherry notes from the two different woods really work well together.

The Auchentoshan being triple distilled like an Irish whiskey does have a smoothness factor closer to a Jamison or Bushmills and I found it enjoyable, but I didn't find it as complex.

I would recommend you try both, but I would be interested to hear what your experience would be.


ChrisL

Thanks for your opinion, I'll spring for the Balvenie first! Although my novice experience with whisk(e)ys boils down to categorizing them into 'like' and 'do not like'. But even that has a tendency to change, for example, at first I found a gifted bottle of Laphroaig 10 unpalatable. Now I just have to be in the right mood for it.

Be sure to post your experience with the Balvenie here!

ChrisL

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

Thanks for your opinion, I'll spring for the Balvenie first! Although my novice experience with whisk(e)ys boils down to categorizing them into 'like' and 'do not like'. But even that has a tendency to change, for example, at first I found a gifted bottle of Laphroaig 10 unpalatable. Now I just have to be in the right mood for it.

As your palate becomes more sophisticated you will find yourself expanding that to 'like', like a lot', 'really really like', 'adore', 'love', and finally 'so this is what they drink in Heaven'. You may find the scale goes the other way as well. 'do not like', 'really do not like', 'thats awful', 'thats disgusting', 'Hell No', and finally 'what kind of sick b*****d would bottle Lucifers armpit sweat?'

Edradour 10 tonight. First time. Very nice dram from the highlands. Marketed as "the smallest distillery in Scotland". Only three men operate the distillery (I hope they get along!).

If their 10 year old is a reflection, then they must work well together. A very nice and complex marriage of malt, vanilla, some cocoa, a hint of bonfire, a non-peaty oiliness and the alcoholic note more often found in a younger whisky. Non colored reveals a reassuringly darker color than one would expect given the lightness seen an an Ardbeg 10, for example.

Taste: Peppery for a 40% ABV, but not overly so. I did not add any water. Slight sweetness and a hint of fresh citrus peel and vegetal (ie "grassy") on the finish.

Similarities in full bodied character to the Balvenie Doublewood 12 but with a slight edge.

I would recommend this whisky.

ChrisL