Favorite Whiskey?

Boys and girls, in a couple of days I'll be skipping back across Kentucky.
I'm on the scoot so real estate is at a premium. I've seen a bit of this bourbon trail but haven't looked too closely at it. If you had one stop and one bottle, what wouldi itbe??

 

Limited real estate? You have to want it...

 

Having drinks while discussing logos, buying Glencairns and planning future barrel picks is rough...

 

Old Tub can be had at a lot of liquor stores, but is otherwise pretty much a Kentucky only thing. $20 for a 375ml bottle. It's a bottled in bond bourbon and quite tasty!

There really aren't that many gift shop exclusives out there. You can go by Heaven Hill and pick up an Elijah Craig Barrel Select aka The Grenade. Picked up some myself when I was through there last month, but I have had it yet. $30 for 200ml. HH also has Old Fitzgerald 9 yr in the decanter bottle and Elijah Craig 18 available. Not much cheaper than you can get buying secondary, but a little and you can walk in and buy one legitimately.

I'd go to Old Forester and buy some of their different bitters, simple syrups, and tinctures. Really cool spread of delicious cocktail additives.

 

Someone mentioned Macallan 12. I second that as a good introduction. Also mentioned was Dalwhinnie 15. A very good one as well. The last Scotch I bought (before going back to bourbon for a bit) was Craigellachie 13. Also a very good dram.

If I had to choose a bottle of Scotch (at a reasonable price point), I'd actually pick two: Glendronach 12 (about $60) and Ardbeg 10 (about $50). Two completely different Scotches. GD12 is a sherried whisky so high on the fruity scale, if you will. But very well done with no chill-filtering or added color. Ardbeg 10 is your classic Islay peated whisky: smoky but with a nice sweetness (emphasis on the smoky). I liken it to a campfire by the ocean on a cool night. You'll either love it or you really won't (I've said that before I think ). Also no chill-filtration or added color.

My personal issue with Scotch is the price point. Scotch has gained enormous popularity around the world in the last 10-15 years and the prices reflect that. Bourbon is quickly heading that way as well, but you can still get very good bourbon in the $30-$50 range. I was originally a bourbon drinker but was full on Scotch-head for about three years. In those three years, my favorite "everyday" Scotches - Ardbeg 10 and Glendronach 12 - went from about $40 and $45, respectively, to $50 and $60. My special occasion "Christmas" Scotch (Aberlour A'Bunadh) went from $85 to north of $100. Sure, they're still good/excellent Scotches, but those prices....

I'm back to bourbon (for now) and I'm currently very much enjoying Woodford Double-Oaked. Very good at $45ish. I don't care for regular Woodford (Distiller's Select) and for only about $10 more, the DO is worlds better, IMO.

 

finally snagged an EHT Small Batch. Only one I've seen anywhere around here... Been wanting to try the Single barrel and this one. Hopefully I don't like it too much as it is impossible to find here

 

My suggestion, based on my experience with it, would be to open it and recork it then wait a week or more before drinking it. It made a huge difference to me.

 

I'm a slow drinker with all the open bottles I have so this will be possible

 

It's pretty hard to find around here as well. When I see it, I buy it. Then it goes into my overflow area...

 

I'll have an initial report tonight

I am starting to snag certain things when I see them now for "overflow" as well...

I am already regretting walking from this earlier...

 

The BT is easily gotten here. Surprisingly I've yet to try it. One of these days...

 

It’s burny

 

Splash of water takes care of that. Or lead off with Wild Turkey 101 and then switch to BT

 

I didn't get much of anything from nosing this one... Some sweetness but really really mellow overall. Hardly any alcohol smell... A bit odd. My nose is clear. Not sure...

Taste is starkly different. Lots of flavor. Vanilla and maybe butterscotch up front, spices on the back. Lingers with a slight tongue burn. Not excessive but it's there. Only in mouth.

Good viscosity. Coats nicely. Really good balance.

Not the best I've had recently, but not bad.



Curious to let it set for a week now as recommended.

 

Yeap, my first taste right after I opened it was a WTF moment. So dissapointed. Went back to it a week or bit more later and it was much better. Still looking for the single barrel or 4 grain. Ain't seen one of those yet.

 

i realize typing a lot of that there are so many innuendos...

 

the single barrels are going for about 90 shipped on the secondary market. it's tempting.

as for the 4 grain... They jumped again the last week or so. they are going for over 600 now. It will live in lore now. unless I trip over a bottle. But they will never hit a shelf again. they are always held back by staff if they even make it past managers... sucks.

 

You need a buddy that owns or runs a liquor store.

 

Trooth! Got a BBQ spice guy... (Didn't wanna say a rub guy )

A laser guy...

Need a liquor guy. And wifi...