SD whisky drinkers
- Thread starter Dave_45
- Start date
Penderyn is one of my favourites
I've saw that but never tried it yet.
I've got two bottles of lochlea first release,I'm too scared to drink one even though I bought 2 for that reason haha.
A good one to try that's sweet and smokey is the "ledaig" 10
Koenig
Well-Known Member
There are a few threads on here devoted to whiskey. If you are just starting out I recommend trying the supermarket offers if you like the description. If you like whatever you’ve bought maybe include it in your cabinet. If it’s mediocre - pass on it next time. Supermarket own brand can also be good as they cut good deals with the smaller distilleries not owned by the bigger players, which means you can get some good stuff for £20 a bottle.
There was a flurry of 'sweet smoke' releases in the 'Bard' style (apparently liked by Rabbie Burns) from several distilleries in Aryshire and the surrounding area (lowland).
Ailsa Bay, 1770 (peated) and Lochlea amongst them. They are all very similar, nice but (IMO) not exceptional. In a similar style the Raasay offering is on par, possibly nudging ahead, with the flavours lasting longer.
Overall the Raasay is creamier and brighter, they are all designer Whiskies and all are (IMO) worth spending £50 on.
Glenfiddich has jumped on the band wagon with thier Fire & Cane available in most supermarkets, where you can purchase other cooking ingredients ....
I do like the Cambletown's, the peated Victoriana (cask) or the fresher Malts festival 8 year old and the Longrow Red 18 are my favourites with the Sprinbank 15 and Glen Scotia 18 closely following on.
Hazelburn (being unpeated) needs to be well matured (IMO) to lose it's 'brightness', maturation smooths Cambletown's well but @ almost £200 a bottle it's not that good
Other Whiskey I really like are the Dailuaine 16 and Benrinnes 15 from the Speyside Flora and Fauna collection.
The Ledaig 18 is my favourite peated along with the new (2020 initial release) Glenturret 10.
Distell owns Tobermory, Deanston and Bunnhabhain who all distill a fine spirit but they are becoming more and more expensive whilst their cheaper offerings get more like Black Bottle and their other grain based spirits every year.
Glenturrets new head Distiller is from Macallan so I expect GT's subsequent releases to get more generic as time goes on .... which will be a shame.
For smokey the alcoholic bonfine that is Kilchoman, their Machir Bay cuts the mustard, it really tastes like a beach bonfire ....
Ailsa Bay, 1770 (peated) and Lochlea amongst them. They are all very similar, nice but (IMO) not exceptional. In a similar style the Raasay offering is on par, possibly nudging ahead, with the flavours lasting longer.
Overall the Raasay is creamier and brighter, they are all designer Whiskies and all are (IMO) worth spending £50 on.
Glenfiddich has jumped on the band wagon with thier Fire & Cane available in most supermarkets, where you can purchase other cooking ingredients ....
I do like the Cambletown's, the peated Victoriana (cask) or the fresher Malts festival 8 year old and the Longrow Red 18 are my favourites with the Sprinbank 15 and Glen Scotia 18 closely following on.
Hazelburn (being unpeated) needs to be well matured (IMO) to lose it's 'brightness', maturation smooths Cambletown's well but @ almost £200 a bottle it's not that good
Other Whiskey I really like are the Dailuaine 16 and Benrinnes 15 from the Speyside Flora and Fauna collection.
The Ledaig 18 is my favourite peated along with the new (2020 initial release) Glenturret 10.
Distell owns Tobermory, Deanston and Bunnhabhain who all distill a fine spirit but they are becoming more and more expensive whilst their cheaper offerings get more like Black Bottle and their other grain based spirits every year.
Glenturrets new head Distiller is from Macallan so I expect GT's subsequent releases to get more generic as time goes on .... which will be a shame.
For smokey the alcoholic bonfine that is Kilchoman, their Machir Bay cuts the mustard, it really tastes like a beach bonfire ....
BenRiach .... like Jack Daniel's but made betterer
Glenglassauch and Glendronach are good too but again their Blend (Huntly Royal) is sucking the distilleries dry and putting the price of the 'real stuff' into the stratosphere, it's getting to be a common story ....
Glenglassauch and Glendronach are good too but again their Blend (Huntly Royal) is sucking the distilleries dry and putting the price of the 'real stuff' into the stratosphere, it's getting to be a common story ....
I like the odd drop of Whiskey but here in Ireland the market is saturated at this stage by new releases.
What we have now is every month or so there is a new launch by some entrepreneur that basically bought a few casks from different well established Irish distilleries a few years ago, they bought empty barrels from France or Italy that had been used for port or sherry, blended a cocktail of whiskey in each one and printed some speil on a label that makes it sound like a group of master distillers lost sleep over the percentage of mixes.
Dingle produce a very good single malt.
What we have now is every month or so there is a new launch by some entrepreneur that basically bought a few casks from different well established Irish distilleries a few years ago, they bought empty barrels from France or Italy that had been used for port or sherry, blended a cocktail of whiskey in each one and printed some speil on a label that makes it sound like a group of master distillers lost sleep over the percentage of mixes.
Dingle produce a very good single malt.
I'm very partial to whisky and indeed whiskey too.
For Scotch, I like lowlands, speyside and lighter profile highlands, especially Auchentoshan, Glenkinchie, Balvenie double wood, Dalwhinnie, some of the Dalmore stuff, Glenfiddich, Aberfeldy and Glenmornagie. Islay and Islands I can take or leave, but on a cold winters day, returning home from a day of game shooting or stalking on the hinds, something peaty or iodine-y can really hit the spot. Talisker or Lagavulin especially.
The Japanese make some spectacular stuff in a vaguely 'Scotch' style and in some cases for surprisingly good prices. I was a bit snobby about their product for a while, but judged with an open mind and with as few preconceived biases as you can manage, it really can be excellent. Nikka in the barrel is a really good starting point here and I thoroughly recommend it.
Irish whiskey, I don't have the experience to comment with any authority, but some of the smaller pot still distilleries make some super smooth and thoroughly enjoyable stuff. The mass market, not so much and I agree (wonder of wonders) with Fair Hill that there's a bit of market saturation with the newer small batch folks relying on some random cask and some marketing to make otherwise perfectly fine whiskey into something 'special'. Either way, the Irish make world leading mixing whiskey for sure, and actually a genuinely good stand alone sipping product in many cases.
I'm now on my Bourbon adventure as I'm living stateside, and it's quite similar to Irish in profile in some ways, but with more of a breadth of tastes and styles. High corn, low rye, non sour mash is my preference right now, with a slight preference towards non-Tenesse style stuff without the Lincoln County filtration, but I'm a beginner in this space for sure.
For Scotch, I like lowlands, speyside and lighter profile highlands, especially Auchentoshan, Glenkinchie, Balvenie double wood, Dalwhinnie, some of the Dalmore stuff, Glenfiddich, Aberfeldy and Glenmornagie. Islay and Islands I can take or leave, but on a cold winters day, returning home from a day of game shooting or stalking on the hinds, something peaty or iodine-y can really hit the spot. Talisker or Lagavulin especially.
The Japanese make some spectacular stuff in a vaguely 'Scotch' style and in some cases for surprisingly good prices. I was a bit snobby about their product for a while, but judged with an open mind and with as few preconceived biases as you can manage, it really can be excellent. Nikka in the barrel is a really good starting point here and I thoroughly recommend it.
Irish whiskey, I don't have the experience to comment with any authority, but some of the smaller pot still distilleries make some super smooth and thoroughly enjoyable stuff. The mass market, not so much and I agree (wonder of wonders) with Fair Hill that there's a bit of market saturation with the newer small batch folks relying on some random cask and some marketing to make otherwise perfectly fine whiskey into something 'special'. Either way, the Irish make world leading mixing whiskey for sure, and actually a genuinely good stand alone sipping product in many cases.
I'm now on my Bourbon adventure as I'm living stateside, and it's quite similar to Irish in profile in some ways, but with more of a breadth of tastes and styles. High corn, low rye, non sour mash is my preference right now, with a slight preference towards non-Tenesse style stuff without the Lincoln County filtration, but I'm a beginner in this space for sure.
Chalk and cheese.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
Whisky drinker here as well but not limited to single malts
Current bottle is a Johnny Walker double black.
Like drinking a log fire .
Current bottle is a Johnny Walker double black.
Like drinking a log fire .
sikamalc
Administrator
As above , I have a nice collection of single malts, and also some very old Port. However I always think Whisky tastes much better whilst you have finished a day on the hill with a stag in the larder and sitting by a log fire in the lodge with good friends or clients.
One of life's simple pleasures, long may it last.
One of life's simple pleasures, long may it last.
Old Pultney plus 2/3 ice cubes.... leave for 10mins, tis nectar for the throat.
WB
WB
You should also try Lindores, which has a similar/particular set of flavours akin to the Welsh.
Lindores Abbey Distillery
Here's a few I've yet to start on. Another one to try is bush mills I have fond memories of it from my time spent living across the Irish Sea 
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