You might find whisky merchants do sell them though. There is very little that is truly distillery shop only these days now everything is mostly owned by big corps. Eg talisker distillers which we were told was distillery only on our tour but definitely available from the whisky exchange, master of malt, etc.
The OCUK Whisky (and Whiskey) review thread
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You might find whisky merchants do sell them though. There is very little that is truly distillery shop only these days now everything is mostly owned by big corps. Eg talisker distillers which we were told was distillery only on our tour but definitely available from the whisky exchange, master of malt, etc.
You are right of course. When a said "normal retail outlets" i meant supermarkets and your local off licence. You can get almost anything from specialist outlets.
Morning guys, I haven't had a sniff of alcohol in over 4 years before the weekend, where I was reintroduced to my love of whisky. I drank Bushmills 10yr which I quite enjoyed. With Christmas coming up I'm looking to treat myself to something decent and hoping for suggestions.
Can you guys help? I don't mind paying up a bit but not looking for anything worthy of a long term investment.
Can you guys help? I don't mind paying up a bit but not looking for anything worthy of a long term investment.
I'm not keen on Irish Whiskey in general, but a couple stand out for me - namely Jameson Crested (£25) and Jameson Black Barrel (£27). Both of them were surprisingly good and they're not really expensive.
Aside from Bushmills what else do you like? If I was to give you my opinion on "something decent" I'd throw Lagavulin 16 and Laphroaig Quarter Cask in there, however they are nothing like Bushmills - you'd think you were drinking liquid charcoal
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I'd suggest buying Bushmills 10, and then a variety of tasters/samples of other whiskies to compare against. I find whisky standalone is much less enjoyable than a combination to switch between! That way you can see what aspects of which you prefer over the other, and explore more in your preferred direction and you're not spending lots on big bottles that you soon realise you're not actually that keen on.
How does one start drinking whisky?
I’m always a spirit drinker when I’m out but I don’t ever drink it neat at home, usually I drink Disaronno or vodka but always with a mixer, be it coke or lemonade.
Do I start with Bourbon first and then move to Whisky? Do I add water or drink over ice or both?
Should I go cheap or expensive or find a good middle ground?
I don’t mind the taste of Jack Daniels but it’s not something I think I’d enjoy neat and I’m fed up drinking with mixers.
I’m always a spirit drinker when I’m out but I don’t ever drink it neat at home, usually I drink Disaronno or vodka but always with a mixer, be it coke or lemonade.
Do I start with Bourbon first and then move to Whisky? Do I add water or drink over ice or both?
Should I go cheap or expensive or find a good middle ground?
I don’t mind the taste of Jack Daniels but it’s not something I think I’d enjoy neat and I’m fed up drinking with mixers.
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A friend at a wedding suggested I try Jonnie Walker Black, as it was a good starter whisky, with a single ice cube. I enjoyed it enough to order a few more doubles over the course of the evening!
What I did, was order a few sample bottles via Master of Malt. They do tasting sets, or make your own, which I went with both. https://www.masterofmalt.com/tasting-set/
After a few tasting sets, I started to discover what I liked and disliked, (Irish Whiskey) and then ordered larger bottles. From there I then went on recommendation or even just because the bottle looked nice!
In short, there is no real answer, regarding do you add water, drink it with ice or not, it's what you prefer, and starting out experiment!
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Drink it neat like a real man
No really its up to you, I have used ice a lot in the past in bourbon, but now days I drink everything neat. If you try a bourbon, perhaps go for something like Makers Mark, Buffalo Trace, both decent at reasonable prices, try with ice, and maybe over time you will find you prefer it neat as well.
Scotch though I never put water near it personally.
I recently purchased a bottle of Lagavulin 16 on offer which was lovely as well, I only buy when something is on offer.
My latest edition is a bottle of Johnny Walker Black, currently £20 in Sainsbury's.
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Johnny Walker Black has been suggested and it's a good start, especially for the price.
I've heard it recommended that you mix it with lemonade and if you like it, try less lemonade next time. Continue reducing the amount of lemonade to whisky until it's neat and apparently you've gained a taste for whisky.
Cheers for the recommendation, there’s so much to choose from though!A friend at a wedding suggested I try Jonnie Walker Black, as it was a good starter whisky, with a single ice cube. I enjoyed it enough to order a few more doubles over the course of the evening!
What I did, was order a few sample bottles via Master of Malt. They do tasting sets, or make your own, which I went with both. https://www.masterofmalt.com/tasting-set/
After a few tasting sets, I started to discover what I liked and disliked, (Irish Whiskey) and then ordered larger bottles. From there I then went on recommendation or even just because the bottle looked nice!
In short, there is no real answer, regarding do you add water, drink it with ice or not, it's what you prefer, and starting out experiment!
Drink it neat like a real man
No really its up to you, I have used ice a lot in the past in bourbon, but now days I drink everything neat. If you try a bourbon, perhaps go for something like Makers Mark, Buffalo Trace, both decent at reasonable prices, try with ice, and maybe over time you will find you prefer it neat as well.
Scotch though I never put water near it personally.
I recently purchased a bottle of Lagavulin 16 on offer which was lovely as well, I only buy when something is on offer.
My latest edition is a bottle of Johnny Walker Black, currently £20 in Sainsbury's.
Cheers both, I’ve just been and bought a bottle of Johnny walker, I’ll try some tonight and report back.
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Cheers for the recommendation, there’s so much to choose from though!
Cheers both, I’ve just been and bought a bottle of Johnny walker, I’ll try some tonight and report back.
It’s a decent whisky for a blended, I would only buy it on offer though, I think it’s around £30 normally in most places. I would try a bourbon as well, see what you prefer, I drink more bourbon now. Check out the bourbon thread on here.
I would try a bourbon as well, see what you prefer, I drink more bourbon now. Check out the bourbon thread on here.
Another convert to the better whiskey
Drinking some Johnnie walker now over ice, gives you a buzz pretty quicklyIt’s a decent whisky for a blended, I would only buy it on offer though, I think it’s around £30 normally in most places. I would try a bourbon as well, see what you prefer, I drink more bourbon now. Check out the bourbon thread on here.
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Drinking some Johnnie walker now over ice, gives you a buzz pretty quickly
Drinking mine as well
, I might get another bottle while it's on offer.Are you drinking yours with no ice? Or have you chilled yours?Drinking mine as well
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No ice here and not chilled.
The main thing is you drink it how you like it, be it ice or not. I sometimes drink some bourbons with ice, but not that often, in the Summer months I may do more. If I drink scotch Its always neat, I tend to drink that a little more other the winter months.
I’ve just added some lemonade to mine and it’s really nice, makes it very easy to drink without that harsh whisky taste, less ice as the lemonade is chilled, I can see myself drinking this every night as it’ll help me sleep too.No ice here and not chilled.
The main thing is you drink it how you like it, be it ice or not. I sometimes drink some bourbons with ice, but not that often, in the Summer months I may do more. If I drink scotch Its always neat, I tend to drink that a little more other the winter months.
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I’ve just added some lemonade to mine and it’s really nice, makes it very easy to drink without that harsh whisky taste, less ice as the lemonade is chilled, I can see myself drinking this every night as it’ll help me sleep too.
Nice, I find this one quite smooth myself. Certainly a good medicine to help you sleep
You can have a lot of fun with whisky for £200. Which Macallan were you looking at?
Just looking through my highest rated whiskies over the years, I've picked a few for you to look at the notes and see if you think your dad would like them:
- Kavalan King Car Conductor - £70. It's a Taiwanese whisky which may trigger some defensive reactions from pure scotch lovers, but it's an amazing dram
- Laphroaig Lore - £68. Smoky, earthy, a proper Islay malt. You would need to know your dad likes the smoke, peat and salt notes thought or you might see it re-gifted
- Knockando 18 - £65 - This is my favourite whisky, which is strange since it's the opposite of the usual drams I go for. It is so easy to drink.
The other highly rated whiskies in my list cost me black tokens at festivals and are £300+