[Chaos]

Macallan is my long time favourite, but Auchentoshan is the undisputed champion for me. So tasty and so smooth.

[Laner]

Macallan in the UK and Canada have moved into this new direction. I went to a private release last night where they explained the reasoning behind the change. They do not have enough whisky to fill their orders for the 10,12 yo etc.

Not to blame the Chinese entirely, but with the lagging London real estate market, they have been buying scotch by the thousands of barrels. A guy in Hong Kong just payed $700,000 for a single bottle of Macallan last week.

Well, as Chinese tend to do, they are sitting on their barrels, driving the price of it up hoping for a bubble. The private event last night was about 60% Chinese, most having just flown over for the event from China. My table was all Chinese except me, and according to their translator they were all super elite men.

The USA is still going to do the 10, 12 etc as they refused to make the change. Apparently the USA luxury market needs a lot of peer approval so they need a 21yo in big letters on their bottles and will refuse to change that.

Interesting night. The Sienna was my favorite, followed by the Ruby then Gold.

[iop890]

Anyone in Bangkok know where I can get a bottle of Yamazaki 18? Apparantly Paragon doesn't carry the stuff anymore. I've been wanting a bottle ever since my 1984 was destroyed.

[Suits]

Screw you guys.

Reading this thread back in June prompted me to begin exploring the world of whiskey. Unfortunately, it turns out that Beijing has a wide selection of whiskeys available (if you know where to look) and now my habit is costing me a lot of money.

Thanks a lot.

[H1N1]

(03-04-2015 02:18 AM)Suits Wrote:  

Screw you guys.

Reading this thread back in June prompted me to begin exploring the world of whiskey. Unfortunately, it turns out that Beijing has a wide selection of whiskeys available (if you know where to look) and now my habit is costing me a lot of money.

Thanks a lot.

I remember when Johnny Walker black label was 15 Kuai in China. Good times.

[TravelerKai]

I have been enjoying this moonshine as much as I enjoy that TV show.



Old Popcorn himself

[TravelerKai]

(01-23-2014 04:55 AM)iop890 Wrote:  

Anyone in Bangkok know where I can get a bottle of Yamazaki 18? Apparantly Paragon doesn't carry the stuff anymore. I've been wanting a bottle ever since my 1984 was destroyed.

You and I forgot (Tengen or Cibo maybe?) recommended this scotch. I had it and I love it. Amazing smoky flavor. Got a bottle at a nice Asian bar saved for me and my buddy. We will go back and finish it off later.

[RoastBeefCurtains4Me]

My favorite premium whiskey is Jack Daniel's Single Barrel. Nothing else can compare. I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned. I don't even care for regular Jack, but the Single Barrel has depths no other whiskey can match.

For ordinary drinking, I like Crown and Makers either neat, or with Diet Coke. I also like Jim Beam. It may be a less expensive brand, but I honestly enjoy it.

[MrXY]

Jim Beam is an excellent whiskey for its price; it's my go-to cheaper bourbon, although Evan Williams, especially the 1783, are also very good.

Last week I bought a handle of this, which I've been drinking since high school. It's easy to get in Georgia, but strangely sometimes hard to find in Florida.

   

[lavidaloca]

My preferred scotch-whisky is Chivas Regal 12.

[ManAbout]

Sipping a Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt at the moment. Great value for money.

[Gunner]

(03-04-2015 07:54 PM)lavidaloca Wrote:  

My preferred scotch-whisky is Chivas Regal 12.

I used to love Chivas but now I think is on the sweeter side. Give me a Macallan anyday of the week.

[cibo]

(03-04-2015 04:47 PM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(01-23-2014 04:55 AM)iop890 Wrote:  

Anyone in Bangkok know where I can get a bottle of Yamazaki 18? Apparantly Paragon doesn't carry the stuff anymore. I've been wanting a bottle ever since my 1984 was destroyed.

You and I forgot (Tengen or Cibo maybe?) recommended this scotch. I had it and I love it. Amazing smoky flavor. Got a bottle at a nice Asian bar saved for me and my buddy. We will go back and finish it off later.

I also recommend that bottle. I love Japanese whiskies from Suntory (yamazaki, hakushu, hibiki). I recently came back from Japan with a shit load of whisky. I even visited the yamazaki distillery and had the reverse offerings there including the sherry cask yamazaki. If you can get a hold of that one, that's an amazing bottle. It just won a bunch of awards this year. The demand and price sky rocketed the last few months to a grand a bottle for a no age brew.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/01/travel/jap...rd-winner/

I'm a bit disappointed i didn't take back a bottle. Even though it was very good, I didn't think it was special enough with the no age and $50 price versus the 10 to 15 year whiskies i bought. I figured I could just pick up a sherry later and no problem. Oh well.



http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/suntor...isky+japan

Nikka's Yoichi 10-15 year whiskies are also really good. A bit more smokey than Yamazaki. I brought back a bottle for one of my clients and he said that was one of the best whiskies he's ever had. And like most people, he didn't know the japanese made whisky.


http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail....skey/39139

Also I'd recommend the Glendronach 15 year revival. It's fruity with a smooth taste it. It packs a bit of punch though and I tend to throw a few ice cubes in it to reduce the strength a little.

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-9731.aspx

For Bourbons, I do enjoy the 10 year eagle rare which is pretty reasonable priced bottle for a 10 year single cask.


http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail....rbon/11221

[Harvey Specter]

(03-04-2015 10:48 PM)cibo Wrote:  

For Bourbons, I do enjoy the 10 year eagle rare which is pretty reasonable priced bottle for a 10 year single cask.


http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail....rbon/11221

I think dollar for dollar Eagle Rare 10 year and Four Roses Single Barrel are the Best. For a bit more expensive Woodford double oaked and Blantons are quite delicious as well.

[MidWest]

What's a good brand for a newbie?

I know nothing about whiskey and I'm a whiskey dummy. Only thing I drink here in college is coors light, vodka, and tequila. But whiskey it seems that its mostly a drink to kind of relax and chill.

[cibo]

(03-05-2015 11:38 AM)MidWest Wrote:  

What's a good brand for a newbie?

I know nothing about whiskey and I'm a whiskey dummy. Only thing I drink here in college is coors light, vodka, and tequila. But whiskey it seems that its mostly a drink to kind of relax and chill.

There's differences in how each country makes their whisky, though Japan and Scotland are actually pretty similar in taste profiles. If you want smooth and easy to drink, go Jameson. If you want character go Eagle Rare 10. If you want a really good bottle, go Yamazaki.

I'm skipping Canada since I don't know them well enough to make a statement about their whiskies.


Irish
If you like easy to drink smooth and non offense spirit, Irish whiskies are pretty good. My first whisky was Jameson drunk by a Irish friend in my dorm and i thought it was pretty good. I find that non-liquor drinkers can handle Irish whiskies reasonable well. My one beer drinking friend doesn't really drink whisky but he can handle Jameson since its so smooth. That said it probably doesn't have as much character as a scotch or bourbon due to Irish whiskies being triple filtered.

Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey
For a bit more uniqueness in taste, bourbons are really good price performance.
Grab a bottle of Eagle Rare 10, Knob Creek or 4 Roses single barrel (thanks for reminding me about that one Harvey). Those are some pretty good bourbons at a reasonably priced, $30 area. Bourbon is a bit sweeter than other whiskies due to being made with corn, and the rye ones are quite sharp. But bourbons have a lot of flavor overall. They have made a large comeback recently which is why the distilleries are struggling to keep up with demand and some have watered down their brew like Jack,

Scotch (Scotland and Japan)
These are the luxury group of whiskies, though bourbons are starting to push into this area more. It's kind of hard to find a good bottle below $40 dollars, especially if its a single malt (made from one distillery). I haven't tried them yet but I've heard good things about Famous and Black Grouse as sub-$30 blends.

If you're willing to go into the $50-$60 range you can find a lot of great bottles of scotch. You really can't go too wrong in that category just choosing any of the bottles on the store shelf or in this thread. Do be aware that scotch from Islay is known for being very peaty which gives it a charcoal taste. Thats a bit love it or hate group of whiskies.

I would recommend a Japanese scotch whisky as a start into this group if you have the money available since they are usually really well balanced. They're not cheap though since they're like twice marked up from Japan. Hakushu 12 year is probably the best price performance for a japanese whisky in america at $50-$60 and is probably cheaper here than in japan. It's a bit peaty and because of the decisiveness of that, it's probably got less demand than the rest of the j whiskies, which are pretty expensive and bit overpriced due to popularity at the moment. If you have the cash to shell out for $80 to $100 for the Yamazaki 10 or 12 year, those are really good.

[MidWest]

^^^@cibo

Awesome thanks, I appreciate the breakdown.

[electricG]

I'm in Columbus Ohio for the weekend. Anybody know any good bars 2 pull ass? Not lookin 4 a club tho

[TooFineAPoint]

In the everyday range I try to always keep a bottle of Famous Grouse and Jameson around the house.

For single malts, no matter how hard I try I just keep coming back to Highland Park 12 as the most perfectly balanced taste for me.

[WesternCancer]

I just picked up a bottle of canadian club chairman's select 100% rye.



Super smooth, caramel flavor with a light finish. Drinking this stuff straight right now and its almost as refreshing as a cold glass of water.

this guy does a pretty good review of the stuff.

https://therumhowlerblog.wordpress.com/w...t-100-rye/

[MMX2010]

(03-05-2015 05:45 PM)MidWest Wrote:  

^^^@cibo

Awesome thanks, I appreciate the breakdown.

In addition to cibo's breakdown, I would suggest Drambuie. I've banged two women by introducing them to this stuff. It's sweet and smooth, especially if you stick it in the freezer.


Edited to add: There are certain assholes who love finding people who "don't really drink whiskey" and "have never tried Scotch before", and introducing them to full-strength Lagavulin and Laphroaig. I am one of those assholes.

Those two drinks are definitely love/hate (as an earlier poster said), but if you can be someone who loves them, you can carry on the asshole-prank tradition I suggested.

[Marmite]

I'm about half way through a bottle of Johnny Walker Double Black at the minute and I'm really enjoying it. I will probably get something Japanese on my next purchase.

I've been thinking about picking up some Glencairns too.

[Laner]

I loaded my checked baggage with four bottles of Kavalan on my way back from Taiwan, and bought a bottle of Yamazaki in Tokyo as well. Well bootlegged over my limit, but fuck I developed a taste for Kavalan while over there. Made in Taiwan.

[loki]

I never got the whole whiskey thing, all my life I just didn't get it. That is until a good friend of mine introduced me to good whiskey on the rocks.

Currently feeling very blue but have also enjoyed the top shelf Jameson.

Anyways you get the idea, that's from the last month or so

[Laner]

(03-31-2015 02:27 AM)loki Wrote:  

I never got the whole whiskey thing, all my life I just didn't get it. That is until a good friend of mine introduced me to good whiskey on the rocks.

Currently feeling very blue but have also enjoyed the top shelf Jameson.

Anyways you get the idea, that's from the last month or so

Respect man, that right there is more than my mortgage. One day to be able to drink that everyday.......