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Posted: |
Sep 29, 2013 - 9:13 AM
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By: |
Mr Greg
(Member)
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Anyway, this is another superb recent purchase:
The Glenlivet 18 Years, 43% ABV
Superior bottlings by companies that churn out huge amounts of undistinguished, supermarket whiskies tend to be overlooked or even reviled by whisky lovers. Which is a mistake, because this 18Y old Glenlivet is not only a very fine specimen (a sweet and flowery aroma, with just a hint of smoke, followed by strong vanilla, nutmeg and noticeable oak spiciness on the palate), but a great bang for the buck (here, the 0.7l bottle sells for less than USD 60).
Omnomnomnomnom....!!!!! Lovely stuff....probably my favourite off-the-shelf bottle.
When I visited the distillery (3 years ago maybe?), they were very proud of a VERY old cask that was yet to be processed...I don't think it's been opened yet...
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2nd bottle of this one:
It took Deanston a long time to come into their own: Their product went mostly into blended whiskys, and their own previous single malts were often dismissed. Under new leadership, they're marketing two fine yet inexpensive single malts. A "Virgin Oak" variety that does not carry a specification as to how old the whisky actually is (i.e. it's young, 5-6 years probably - and with citrus fruit and oak quite lively and lovely for a modest asking price) - and the 12 Year Old. Smoother, with greater depth, more sherry notes, orange peel, cinnamon, oak, vanilla. Non chill-filtered, no artificial colouring, 46.3% ABV.
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Most of that would be sooooooooooooooooo wasted on me! Maybe it was growing up with an alcoholic stepfather, but I never developed a taste for "spirits" -- and most liquor, including beer, is like trying to drink sulphuric acid (don't like coffee either). That said, I've loved Kahlua since a marine buddy took me to a little dark club in Hiroshima Japan in 1964 and they had a drink they called, as I recall, the Tennessee Waltz, and would go back just for the drink, and years later would embarrass myself by asking bartenders to give me 7-Up and Kahlua! I also enjoy Margaritas (without salt}, and got drunk one of the few times in my life from too many Margaritas in 1972, but haven't been close to drunk since. But these days I like to flood my cups of yogurt with Kalua. However, if I had a choice, would rather drink vinegar over fine wine! So I'll admit it: I have no business even posting here. Sorry about that. Let me try to find the discussion about butterscotch sundaes and banana splits at the Tasty Freeze and leave this for those who truly appreciate fine spirits.
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Another fine specimen:
Bunnahabhain Darach Ur (46.3% ABV)
An un-peated whisky from Islay. Spicy oak on the nose and palate, with vanilla and cinnamon. Wee bit of seaweed. Raisins, caramel. Long, spicy oak finish.
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How about thick eggnog with Kahlua? Obviously I have a sweet tooth!
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Another fine but not terribly expensive Scotch whiskey comes from the enterprising Bruichladdich distillery:
It's un-peated and from Islay, and like many island whiskeys it has an appealing seaweed-, almost salty note in the taste which nicely complements the essential sweetness. Good stuff, but no age indicated (minimum for Scotch is 3 years and a day).
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During the winter holidays, I toast with Baileys Irish Cream. My dream would be to go to Ireland, sit in a little rustic pub and toast the land of me ancestors. The closest I ever got was
Shannon Airport in a layover....go brónach
I myself will be going to Ireland again a fortnight from now. I too enjoy their beers, but it's a little sad that the English "craft beer revolution" hasn't yet travelled to Ireland. There are more and more microbreweries there now, too, but it's a fraction compared to the UK, and when you just order "a beer" at the bar you'll still always get a Guinness, no questions asked. 
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I had one. Actually, I had a few dozen ones.
This is a wonderful, yet affordable blended whiskey from Japan:
Nikka from the Barrel, 51.4% ABV - comes in 0.5l bottles!
On the nose, apple, cinnamon, cherry wood, spices, forest fruit - very complex. On the palate, only slightly less so. Vanilla, bitter tea, spicy wood, long, oaky finish. A wee hint of grain whiskey bitterness - the only small negative aspect of this high-quality blend.
Definitely recommended, especially for American connaisseurs (= drunkards), since it's kind of a bridge between Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Scotch Single Malt.
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Eggnog (preferably by Alta Dena Dairies)
Welch's grape juice
Very cold non-fat milk (with homemade hamburgers)
A (half) strawberry and (half) vanilla milk shake
Very cold Pepsi poured over ice cubes
Frankly, all of the above realllllllllllllly turn me on!!!
(Ooooooooops … already responded to this on Sept 18th!)
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