Lets talk about Bourbon

[Torrid]

I was just watching Jack Ryan S4E2 and the guy is drinking Lagavulin 16. That one sure is tasty!

I had the Laphroaig 10 and I didn't dig it. The Glennfiddish was just ok. I don't remember the Blackened to well. My wife bought it for me and ended up drinking most of it herself!!!!! JW Black found to be ok. I liked the Red better. Never had Caol Ila. One of these days, I'll get to it.

If you’re an Islay fan Caol Ila is the scotch. It’s not as smokey as Laguvulin or Ardbeg but I love the intricacy. It’s definitely worth a look.

Glenfiddich isn’t for Smokey scotch lovers if that’s your preferred serum, but I prefer it to MacCallan 12. It seems a bit more nuanced to me. I feel like Highland scotches get overwhelmed if you go into them after having the peat smoke.

Blackened is interesting. It’s a blend of bourbon and rye aged in black sherry casks. I don’t remember loving it as much last time and it seemed too wood forward, but that was before islays and as a massive Metallica fan it deserved another visit. It seems so much more polished this time but I don’t know if that’s the batch or if my palate just wasn’t overwhelmed this time based upon my experience with smokier whiskeys.

 

[BigJohn]

Evan Williams.... drop the mic

 

[Torrid]

Evan Williams.... drop the mic

Which one? I need to try more. White label BIB is so surprising at it's price point. Excellent.

 

[Wheel366]

If you’re an Islay fan Caol Ila is the scotch. It’s not as smokey as Laguvulin or Ardbeg but I love the intricacy. It’s definitely worth a look.

Glenfiddich isn’t for Smokey scotch lovers if that’s your preferred serum, but I prefer it to MacCallan 12. It seems a bit more nuanced to me. I feel like Highland scotches get overwhelmed if you go into them after having the peat smoke.

Blackened is interesting. It’s a blend of bourbon and rye aged in black sherry casks. I don’t remember loving it as much last time and it seemed too wood forward, but that was before islays and as a massive Metallica fan it deserved another visit. It seems so much more polished this time but I don’t know if that’s the batch or if my palate just wasn’t overwhelmed this time based upon my experience with smokier whiskeys.

I like Bruichladdich a lot! Everything from the non peated Classic Laddie to Octomore. My friend loves Macallan 12 a lot!

I want to get some Ardbeg and I definitely want to try the Caol Ila. Hopefully soon.

I'll have to look at the bottle of Blackened to see which one my wife got me. They have a few out there now. I'm a huge Metallica fan too but older Metallica from the 80s and 90s.

 

[Wheel366]

Just picked up a bottle of Caol Ila 12. Nice taste, but I think I like the Port Charlotte more. Will try again in a few days.

 

[Torrid]

Took a visit to a local distillery today. Bought a bottle of 51 Rye on my way out. My flight was 51 Rye, Small Batch Bourbon, and Single Barrel Bourbon. I'm usually not a rye guy but it surprised me so much I had to take a bottle home.

Actually after my experience with Blackened and I've found that Bulleit's Rye is the best offering I think I might be a rye guy after all.

 

[y_p_w]

I like Bruichladdich a lot! Everything from the non peated Classic Laddie to Octomore. My friend loves Macallan 12 a lot!

I remember when Bruchladdich came back and I got a bottle of the 10 YO. I heard they closed down but a legendary manager (Jim McEwan) brought it back and the 10 came from some of the old stocks that they had.

What I recall about it was that it wasn't really like other Islay malts. It was something a lot more approachable than Ardbeg or Lagavulin, which were extremely medicinal.

https://whiskyauctioneer.com/news/features/revival-bruichladdich

But then again there was Bowmore. I got a bottle of Bowmore 12 and I thought it smelled like perfume. Didn't like it. Took it to a local bottle shop and asked if there was anything wrong with it, and the Scotch expert there took a whiff and said it was what Bowmore was like.

I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce Bunnahabhain. Pretty good stuff.

 

[y_p_w]

There's a small restaurant/bar chain in the San Francisco Bay Area called Beer Baron. I believe it's some nod to The Simpsons, but remarkably they specialize in assorted American whiskey - especially local ones.

https://www.beerbaronbar.com

Here's their wall of bottles:

https://www.beerbaronbar.com/oakland#menu=oakland-whiskey-ordering

 

[Torrid]

I remember when Bruchladdich came back and I got a bottle of the 10 YO. I heard they closed down but a legendary manager (Jim McEwan) brought it back and the 10 came from some of the old stocks that they had.

What I recall about it was that it wasn't really like other Islay malts. It was something a lot more approachable than Ardbeg or Lagavulin, which were extremely medicinal.

https://whiskyauctioneer.com/news/features/revival-bruichladdich

But then again there was Bowmore. I got a bottle of Bowmore 12 and I thought it smelled like perfume. Didn't like it. Took it to a local bottle shop and asked if there was anything wrong with it, and the Scotch expert there took a whiff and said it was what Bowmore was like.

I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce Bunnahabhain. Pretty good stuff.

I need to try Bruichladdich if that's your impression. I love Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig, but I also like the mellower approach of Caol Ila. Bunnahabhain took me awhile to get the pronunciation of. I had to lean on whiskey channels on YouTube to learn. If it makes sense in type I've heard it as Boona hab-an.

 

[y_p_w]

I need to try Bruichladdich if that's your impression. I love Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig, but I also like the mellower approach of Caol Ila. Bunnahabhain took me awhile to get the pronunciation of. I had to lean on whiskey channels on YouTube to learn. If it makes sense in type I've heard it as Boona hab-an.

Apparently it's not peated. I always thought the signature style of Islay was like Laphroiag, Lagavulin, or Ardbeg. You know - big and bold. Bruichladdich (at least the 10 YO back about 15-20 years ago was more restrained.

 

[Wheel366]

I remember when Bruchladdich came back and I got a bottle of the 10 YO. I heard they closed down but a legendary manager (Jim McEwan) brought it back and the 10 came from some of the old stocks that they had.

What I recall about it was that it wasn't really like other Islay malts. It was something a lot more approachable than Ardbeg or Lagavulin, which were extremely medicinal.

https://whiskyauctioneer.com/news/features/revival-bruichladdich

But then again there was Bowmore. I got a bottle of Bowmore 12 and I thought it smelled like perfume. Didn't like it. Took it to a local bottle shop and asked if there was anything wrong with it, and the Scotch expert there took a whiff and said it was what Bowmore was like.

I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce Bunnahabhain. Pretty good stuff.

So jealous! I didn't get into Scotch until maybe later 2020 and didn't have Bruichladdich until maybe 2021 but I'm really digging a lot of their stuff. I still haven't had Ardbeg but I really like the Lagavulin 16.

 

[Wheel366]

Apparently it's not peated. I always thought the signature style of Islay was like Laphroiag, Lagavulin, or Ardbeg. You know - big and bold. Bruichladdich (at least the 10 YO back about 15-20 years ago was more restrained.

Yeah, their Classic Laddie stuff isn't peated. Port Charlotte and Octomore are a whole different thing than the Classic Laddie with the Octomore being in a league of its own.

I bought a bottle of Bowmore 12yr and so far, I haven't really dug it.

 

[97prizm]

I like Bruichladdich a lot! Everything from the non peated Classic Laddie to Octomore. My friend loves Macallan 12 a lot!

I want to get some Ardbeg and I definitely want to try the Caol Ila. Hopefully soon.

I'll have to look at the bottle of Blackened to see which one my wife got me. They have a few out there now. I'm a huge Metallica fan too but older Metallica from the 80s and 90s.

Mecallan is hard to beat for new scotch seekers. I always thought Highland scotch as super smooth. Some of the other regions seem to have defined or different characteristics that can take getting used to.

 

[grisby]

Yeah, their Classic Laddie stuff isn't peated. Port Charlotte and Octomore are a whole different thing than the Classic Laddie with the Octomore being in a league of its own.

I bought a bottle of Bowmore 12yr and so far, I haven't really dug it.

I saw the Classic Laddie on the shelf the other day while at the state store.How would you compare it to, lets say a Glenlivet or a Glenfiddich.

 

[Wheel366]

I saw the Classic Laddie on the shelf the other day while at the state store.How would you compare it to, lets say a Glenlivet or a Glenfiddich.

I can't compare. All I can do is give my opinion. I like the classic laddie better. Though, I wouldn't mind trying either again. It's been a few years since I've had either.

 

[y_p_w]

I can't compare. All I can do is give my opinion. I like the classic laddie better. Though, I wouldn't mind trying either again. It's been a few years since I've had either.

I've found Glenlivet in those little 50 ml bottles pretty cheap. I was told that they're super cheap as samplers.

 

[53' Stude]

A few expensive gifts from a friend in Delaware.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Which one? I need to try more. White label BIB is so surprising at it's price point. Excellent.

It’s probably the #1 bang for the Buck bourbon available. Even in Kentucky, its quality is referred to as the open secret due to its $11-15 price.

 

[loneryder]

I did qualify that. It's one I personally enjoy at $21, but would not select over the other bourbons i mentioned if it was priced at the same higher price. Personal taste only and I don't suggest my preference has more validity than other's.

To give another for instance I do not like the taste of Jim Beam White label. I very much like Knob Creek, Baker's and Booker's produced by the same distillery.

Same here.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

I went to the Nellis AFB BX on my annual pilgrimage hoping to find they still had Knob Creek 1.75L on sale. Alas, it was no more. But I did find an Elijah Craig 1.75L and a couple of Booker's single barrel 750ml bottles.

I couldn't believe what has happened to the price of single malt Scotch. Balvenie Double Wood 12 year old has trippled in price from when I used to buy it. Dalmore 15 year old was $122 for 750ml. The bottle of Dalmore 21 year old my wife gave me years ago is going from the closet into the safe.