Thread: Scotch/whiskey of the day

Been on the back patio and have had my 2L barrel staring at me. After the 48 day check, it still had a ways to go and I had decided then to go right to 100 days. Well, today is day 78 and I had to check. I'm impressed is all I can say. Smell, taste, and colour have all changed for the better. The nose has changed from jet fuel, to a mellower spirit scent with a lot of sweetness. The taste is the same. Initially very spirity, but mellows out into a very sweet finish. The oak is there, but not as strong as what I would expect from a small barrel like this. Everything on the internet says that it should be very oaky at this point, and it's not, which is a good thing. Maybe it's because it's been so cold?? Maybe things will start moving along pretty quickly now that mother nature has started to hit us with some days in the teens?? I'm going to continue keeping it in the fire place. Gives it shade, but it should give it those heat cycles from our cold nights and warm days to push it in and out of the wood. After 100 days, I'll probably start checking it on a weekly basis.

My brother got me one of those barrels, but I found that even after fully soaking it, it DRANK liquid at quite a rate. Now I just perpetually refill it with water and use it as decoration.

On another note, I just finished a dry Manhattan with Jack rye. It's pretty mild as rye goes, I think better neat than mixed, as the flavor doesn't really hold up.

I've read stories online of people getting real bad barrels that never seal up. Suppose I got lucky that I got one that did. Ive lost very little to angels share. If I knew then what I know now about small oak barrels, I would have made damn sure I got one that was hand made in North America. I've found 2 companies that make smaller 2 L barrels, one down south and one right here in Canada. I'm sure there's a lot more down in the US.

Back to Islay we go . . .

https://t.co/7lpe14fEJu

Hot and humid calls for Bourbon . . .

https://t.co/uFvK90WOdz

Manhattan w. Michter’s US1 Rye

Okay . . . so it isn't just ONE whisky.