The OCUK Whisky (and Whiskey) review thread

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 9 Jan 2022 at 18:00

Raymond Lin said:
Someone in the States told me Yamazaki 12 is $200 plus over there online and that’s not including taxes or shipping. Locally in a store it can be as much as $300!

I will also pick up Nikka 12 before April too, for comparison to the Yamazaki.

Wow,UK pricing doesn't seem as bad! Nikka 12 is around £125,so probably another whisky I am more liable to try via a sample.

Nikka From The Barrel is surprisingly gentle/subtle for over 50% ABV - found the Coffey Malt and Hibiki 12 to be somewhat fuller.

Raymond Lin · 9 Jan 2022 at 18:14

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
Wow,UK pricing doesn't seem as bad! Nikka 12 is around £125,so probably another whisky I am more liable to try via a sample.

Nikka From The Barrel is surprisingly gentle/subtle for over 50% ABV - found the Coffey Malt and Hibiki 12 to be somewhat fuller.

Hibiki 12 cost too much these days, that’s discontinued. I heard good things about the Coffee Malt, that’s on the list and not too expensive.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 9 Jan 2022 at 18:23

Raymond Lin said:
Hibiki 12 cost too much these days, that’s discontinued. I heard good things about the Coffee Malt, that’s on the list and not too expensive.

I managed to get the Nikka for £30ish for 50cl on Amazon - I did prefer the Coffey Malt but only had a small tipple from it,but it is slowly growing on me. Like the Coffey Malt its blended with some whisky from the Ben Nevis distillery so isn't technically 100% Japanese whisky - the Coffey Grain is 100% Japanese sourced but reviews worse!

BTW,WRT to Hibiki this video about it is fantastic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGRoj0SXftU

That guy is a Brit living in Japan,and its a really great place to keep up with some of the releases over there.

broona · 13 Jan 2022 at 11:40

It's time for a little 'recommend me something different please?'

I'm normally a sherry cask finish man, Bunnahabhain 12 being my current favourite, along with Redbreast, but I feel like experimenting.

I'm thinking maybe an Ardbeg, Caol Ola, Laphroaig, etc, any others please, up to around £40?

dl8860 · 13 Jan 2022 at 12:05

broona said:
It's time for a little 'recommend me something different please?'

I'm normally a sherry cask finish man, Bunnahabhain 12 being my current favourite, along with Redbreast, but I feel like experimenting.

I'm thinking maybe an Ardbeg, Caol Ola, Laphroaig, etc, any others please, up to around £40?

Of the Islays you've mentioned, the standards (i.e. worth the money and always available, and worth trying before anything more expensive or experimental) of those to try are the Ardbeg 10, Caol Ila 12 and Laphroaig 10. None objectively better than the others (Caol Ila generally less 'heralded'), just pick the one you fancy.

Away from Islay for non-sherried whiskies, try Kilkerran 12 or Springbank 10 if you can find them for 40 quid, sometimes you can if you're lucky. Otherwise Ledaig 10 is also very good and easy to find in stock.

Cadder · 13 Jan 2022 at 12:20

broona said:
It's time for a little 'recommend me something different please?'

I'm normally a sherry cask finish man, Bunnahabhain 12 being my current favourite, along with Redbreast, but I feel like experimenting.

I'm thinking maybe an Ardbeg, Caol Ola, Laphroaig, etc, any others please, up to around £40?

Laphroaig Quarter Cask is very nice. In my opinion it's better than the 10. Have you tried smoky or peaty whisky before or would this be your first experience?

broona · 13 Jan 2022 at 13:29

dl8860 said:
Of the Islays you've mentioned, the standards (i.e. worth the money and always available, and worth trying before anything more expensive or experimental) of those to try are the Ardbeg 10, Caol Ila 12 and Laphroaig 10. None objectively better than the others (Caol Ila generally less 'heralded'), just pick the one you fancy.

Away from Islay for non-sherried whiskies, try Kilkerran 12 or Springbank 10 if you can find them for 40 quid, sometimes you can if you're lucky. Otherwise Ledaig 10 is also very good and easy to find in stock.

Thank you, I'll have a look at the ones you've suggested too.

Cadder said:
Laphroaig Quarter Cask is very nice. In my opinion it's better than the 10. Have you tried smoky or peaty whisky before or would this be your first experience?

The only one I can really remember was Laphroaig (probably the 10) about 25 years ago and I hated it, probably about time to try again.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 13 Jan 2022 at 14:31

broona said:
It's time for a little 'recommend me something different please?'

I'm normally a sherry cask finish man, Bunnahabhain 12 being my current favourite, along with Redbreast, but I feel like experimenting.

I'm thinking maybe an Ardbeg, Caol Ola, Laphroaig, etc, any others please, up to around £40?

Laphroaig 16 is on offer at Waitrose:
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/produ...-single-malt-scotch-whisky/053792-26970-26971

Apparently it might be closer to £100 near the end of the year due to potential price increases.

Also shame you didn't ask a few months ago,as Bunnahabhain Moine was a relatively heavy peated Bunnahabhain. Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dhà apparently does have a degree of peat in it,but also uses Sherry casks and AFAIK is less peated than Bunnahabhain Moine so could be a compromise:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bunnahabhain-Toiteach-Single-Scotch-Whisky/dp/B07BXM2CSW

You can also get smaller 20cl sampler bottles of it to try:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bunnahabhain-Toiteach-Dha-200ml-Bottle/dp/B095KN2N8R/

There is also this independent bottling of another peated Bunnahabhain :
https://skenewhisky.com/product/bunnahabhain-peated/

hughtrimble · 13 Jan 2022 at 15:04

broona said:
Thank you, I'll have a look at the ones you've suggested too.

The only one I can really remember was Laphroaig (probably the 10) about 25 years ago and I hated it, probably about time to try again.

I really recommend a really recommend an Islay tasting set before getting a full bottle. Peat varies so much between distilleries that a taste of e.g. Bowmore 12 may make you queasy, whilst Laphroaig 10 might leave you going back for a lot more (both true for me). Lots of different sets available usually for £25 or under.

Scam · 14 Jan 2022 at 15:31

I wouldn't really describe Bunnnah as a typical sherry finish, it's quite unique (and wonderfully so). Along those lines I would try as mentioned above.. Kilkerran, Ledaig and definitely Springbank will give you similar flavours but also unique in their own way. Shout out for Glenfarclas too as a more straight-up sherry finish.

If you've not gone all in for peat yet, tread carefully. Laphroaig Quarter Cask is fantastic and won't break the bank if you find you're not so keen. You could also check out Longrow which is Springbank's (mildly) peated release which would be a fantastic step towards Islay whiskies. If you can find it.

broona · 14 Jan 2022 at 20:55

Scam said:
I wouldn't really describe Bunnnah as a typical sherry finish, it's quite unique (and wonderfully so). Along those lines I would try as mentioned above.. Kilkerran, Ledaig and definitely Springbank will give you similar flavours but also unique in their own way. Shout out for Glenfarclas too as a more straight-up sherry finish.

If you've not gone all in for peat yet, tread carefully. Laphroaig Quarter Cask is fantastic and won't break the bank if you find you're not so keen. You could also check out Longrow which is Springbank's (mildly) peated release which would be a fantastic step towards Islay whiskies. If you can find it.

Cheers, I've looked at the quarter cask a few times, think I've probably narrowed it down to that or the Caol Ila this time around, I'll see what comes up on offer.

Cadder · 14 Jan 2022 at 22:19

broona said:
Cheers, I've looked at the quarter cask a few times, think I've probably narrowed it down to that or the Caol Ila this time around, I'll see what comes up on offer.

Either of those are a solid choice. If you hated the Laphroaig 10 back then I'd advise against it being your first choice to jump back in with.

Staying on Islay but moving from smoky is the Bunnahabhain 18. A real beauty, albeit in the next price bracket up.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 15 Jan 2022 at 00:45

Bunnahabhain makes peated expression as I mentioned before,so if you like the Bunnahabhain profile but want more peat,then its worth trying one of those IMHO. Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dhà is peated but uses sherry casks too - both Bunnahabhain 12 and Redbreast 12 use sherry casks.So you will get the sherry "sweetness" but also peat at the same time.

goldy6660 · 15 Jan 2022 at 01:37

Tried the Haig tonight for the first time, was an Xmas gift. Wouldn't choose to buy again tbh tastes like a more vanilla version of jack. Tried over ice first and wasn't a fan so then moved to mix with coke.

broona · 15 Jan 2022 at 06:25

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
Bunnahabhain makes peated expression as I mentioned before,so if you like the Bunnahabhain profile but want more peat,then its worth trying one of those IMHO. Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dhà is peated but uses sherry casks too - both Bunnahabhain 12 and Redbreast 12 use sherry casks.So you will get the sherry "sweetness" but also peat at the same time.

Thank you, I've narrowed it down to 3 then, lol!

I'll do some more research today and get a bottle ordered, thank you all again.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 15 Jan 2022 at 10:17

broona said:
Thank you, I've narrowed it down to 3 then, lol!

I'll do some more research today and get a bottle ordered, thank you all again.

BTW,if you look at my previous post you can get a 200ml sample bottle off Amazon for £16.

broona · 15 Jan 2022 at 11:44

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
BTW,if you look at my previous post you can get a 200ml sample bottle off Amazon for £16.

I'm an all or nothing kind of guy, lol, go big or go home! :cry:

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 15 Jan 2022 at 12:00

broona said:
I'm an all or nothing kind of guy, lol, go big or go home!

There is also this independent bottling of another peated Bunnahabhain from an independent bottler:
https://skenewhisky.com/product/bunnahabhain-peated/

Distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2020,so about 7 years old. But its "small batch" and comes from only two casks. Gets decent reviews:
https://topwhiskies.com/blogs/whisky-reviews/a-review-of-skene-scotch-whiskys-bunnahabhain-peated
https://whiskyreviews.net/2021/01/2...hiskies-blair-athol-tomatin-and-bunnahabhain/

broona · 15 Jan 2022 at 16:54

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
There is also this independent bottling of another peated Bunnahabhain from an independent bottler:
https://skenewhisky.com/product/bunnahabhain-peated/

Distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2020,so about 7 years old. But its "small batch" and comes from only two casks. Gets decent reviews:
https://topwhiskies.com/blogs/whisky-reviews/a-review-of-skene-scotch-whiskys-bunnahabhain-peated
https://whiskyreviews.net/2021/01/2...hiskies-blair-athol-tomatin-and-bunnahabhain/

I've bookmarked that one for a later date, sounds lovely, I've got a £20 Amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket, so that's where this bottle will be coming from.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 15 Jan 2022 at 18:05

broona said:
I've bookmarked that one for a later date, sounds lovely, I've got a £20 Amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket, so that's where this bottle will be coming from.

It's a limited run of 504 bottles so it probably won't be on there for ever,but probably a good idea to first see if peated resonates with you with the one you are getting.