Favorite Whiskey?

Oh, then Talisker is perfect for you! After you get the Talisker, try the Oban 14. Very balanced as well. Not as much sea, but still super tasty. I just got the Oban 18 to try and was actually disappointed, it was too woody and sherried with the extra aging. Paid twice as much for something I liked half as much...but that's the way it goes when you try new things!

 

great to know and glad i asked.

 

Picked up my first bottle of this recently. Good Stuff!

 

This is still my first bottle. Actually have had it for little bit over a year now; Wife gave it to my as a wedding present. I don't have it that often (clearly).

 

Just wondering if anyone else here has tried their whiskey/scotch/bourbon with just a couple of drops of water to open up the flavor? A bar I went to on a business trip had some expensive varieties and served them with a water dropper bottle. Ice serves the same purpose but eventually dilutes too much.

 

I know there are some in here that have mentioned it. I typically don't, only if the finish is real harsh I'll put a drop or two in but that's rare. I like mine slightly chilled though so I use whiskey stones as to not dilute.

 

It's definitely not something I'm always in the mood for, which is fine. I would rather not go through $70 bottles every other week!

I've done that with bourbon before, but not recently. usually I'll just take it neat or with ice (and drink faster ).

 

Yeah I might need to order some of those stones. Or the stainless ones maybe. I like mine chilled too.

 

I tried the stainless and maybe it was the brand I got but i felt like I could taste almost a metallic taste. Then I got the stones as a gift and haven't looked back

 

Stainless definitely leaves a taste, my Yeti slightly alters the taste of my coffee. So yeah maybe that's a bad idea. I'd have to mentally adjust to the idea of stones in my bourbon though.

 

It wouldn't be a bvbull200 recommendation without a Compass Box shout-out, so I'll add one of those.

Compass Box Great King St. - Glasgow Blend. ~$40, but punches above its weight class. It is lightly peated with a sherry cask influence as well. It is quite good, but not quite a 'premium' like the Talisker Distiller's Edition.

Westland makes a peated single malt that is good, mildly peated, and not smokey at all. It is an American whiskey, so not technically scotch, but it is every bit the flavor profile of scotch.

The other I was going to recommend was suggested below by @Ensemble88...

I figured when he said he liked peat, but not the Ardbeg so much, it was the thicker smoke profile that threw him off, so I steered away from Lagavulin (as much as I love the stuff).

What I was going to second was the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Heavily Peated. The name is a little misleading as I don't think it is that heavily peated, but it is certainly peaty. It's got a bit of smokiness to it, but not too intense. A fair bit of sea salt as well. The Bruichladdich folks did a tasting for a local group and I bought the new 10 year Heavily Peated on the way out the door - I loved it.

And you know, the Octomore is a surprisingly good suggestion, if not for the price point. It is SUPER peated, but it isn't overly smokey. Depending on the specific edition, it is really earthy/grassy, almost like fresh cut hay. It is a very intense pour, though.

Great suggestions!

You distinguish between peat and smoke - that's pretty experienced. I still catch myself interchanging them from time to time, but they really are different tasting notes. Ardbeg is very intense compared to something like the Talisker mentioned above. Good luck. Let us know what you decide and what you think!

 

I almost always add a few drops of water to my scotch, whiskey and bourbon and wait a few minutes before drinking. It really does make a difference. I also avoid ice. You can't control the melt and it just keeps adding water until it washes the flavor away(IMHO).

Experinment. I know that with my Pikesville 110 Rye, after trying different amounts, 4 drops work best for me.

There is science that explains it;

https://lifehacker.com/scientists-prove-adding-water-to-whisky-makes-it-taste-1797988221

 

thanks so much! I'll be looking for a bottle of Talisker for sure and now a few more to try for the new year. appreciate the detail.

 

Here's what's left of my collection. I'm missing the Aberlour 18 and A'bunadh and it was sad drinking the last of those. Not shown is the shared bottle of Red Breast 21 year that rotates between me and my brother. The treat of those is the Middleton Barry Crockett. I've had that bottle for 4 years and only sip that one rarely.

 

Nice collection!

 

This week's Friday Flight! I need to kill the An Oa to make room for an Ugie.

 

Big fan of the caskmates ipa edition

 

The stout version is fantastic I can't wait to try the IPA since I'm a recovering hop head.

 

I looove Edradour!! One if my fav distilleries!

 

I need to come hang out with you guys.