Favorite Whiskey?

My early Christmas present too myself. Found out Glenfiddich rep will be at BevMo later today for tastings. A friend is coming over and we're going to stop by for some sampling!

 

Two good bottles have gone to the great recycling bin in the sky today.

Battle cry was good but didn’t stand out.

The hibiki was terrific! As my second bottle of it. I bought a bottle of Nikki Coffey grain in the hopes it would be as good and I would save a couple bucks. Sadly disappointed. It’s good but not $50 good. Definatly going to snag another bottle of hibiki next trip.

 

Question - does "smoke" in a whisky always mean there's going to be an iodine taste or does the iodine taste come from brine?

 

The smoke comes from the peat they use to malt the barley, but so does the iodine taste. Something to do with phenols from the decaying plant matter (peat). I have yet to try an Islay. I'd like to, but not willing to risk buying a bottle and finding out it isn't for me.

 

So... are there any "smokey" whiskies that don't taste like iodine?

 

I think people are making a huge deal out of a taste that is way in the back for a lot of Scotches. Stay away from Ardbeg and Laphroaig and any iodine will be way behind the smoke. Bunnahabhain 12 is a delicious Islay that is a little Smokey/sweet and complex, but not at all harsh. Even Lagavulin, which is very smokey and peaty, isn’t overly medicine-y. I enjoyed a sherry-casked Oban in Argentina this year that was delicious and accessible for everyone.

 

That may be true, but Highland Park 12 is supposed to be a low peat/smoke scotch, but iodine is all I can smell and it comes across in the taste too (at least for me in a kind of band-aid/rubbery way). Maybe I'm overly sensitive to the smell of iodine? I was instantly transported back to the nurses' office in my grade school at the first whiff of the stuff.

 

Sucks to be you!

 

Can't make up my mind what to have tonight.

 

Happy Friday!

We picked up some Woodford Reserve and small bottle of Old Forester tonight.

 

Let me get through this vodka coke and I’ll pour a dram of Bunnahabhain and check again for iodine.

 

Ok, no. I’m not digging this at all tonight. The bottle has sat unopened for a couple months and the pour is very astringent. Overly smoky. Sweetness on the nose behind serious smoke. Lots of caramel on the tongue, almost a port taste on the long finish. It’s got all the smoke and none of the salty brine that I expect with a good Islay. Why did I buy this again?

 

Bailed on that dram and replaced it with the sea-in-a-bottle iodine and seaweed that is Ardbeg. The Kelpie is the most briny Scotch I’ve ever had. Put out a campfire with seawater and then bottle it. But in a good way.

 

So, back to the vodka coke?

 

One of each?

 

Amador? That’s right up the road. I need to find that. What’s your report on it?

 

Love it, very smooth. Not as spicy as other bourbons. That and basil hayen are my go tos right now

 

Now that's a good problem to have!!

 

First impression of Woodford Reserve (bought a gift pack that included a nice whiskey glass for the same price as a 750ml bottle alone):
1) Nose - spicy, with hint of minty chocolate (ie, Andes Creme de menthe like Olive Garden gives with bill)
2) Taste - light chocolate with a hint of mint, spicy
3) Finish - kinda short but warm and spicy, mint returns with faint chocolate

The distiller's notes say "fruit" but I just get spicy with minty chocolate, no fruit at all.

 

You can try all their whiskeys at the bourbon barrel in Sonora.

Pretty good but last I heard they are still waiting on their whiskey to mature. So a lot of their early stuff was blended with aged stuff from Kentucky.

I’ve also heard it’s a pretty cool distillery. I work with someone who knows the owner. Unfortunately i haven’t been there yet...