The OCUK Whisky (and Whiskey) review thread
- Thread starter Uriel
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Soldato
I recently just bought this as a memento of my honeymoon in Bruges.
Anyone tried it? I've not opened my bottle yet but had a taster in the shop. Absolutely lovely Whisky
http://www.whiskymerchants.co.uk/#/belgian-owl-whisky/4533603500
Seems to be very new to the market and only aged for the 3 year minimum so i'm definately looking forward to some later variants.
Anyone tried it? I've not opened my bottle yet but had a taster in the shop. Absolutely lovely Whisky
http://www.whiskymerchants.co.uk/#/belgian-owl-whisky/4533603500
Seems to be very new to the market and only aged for the 3 year minimum so i'm definately looking forward to some later variants.
It's fine to keep, just keep it away from direct sunlight and extremes of temperature. Don't bother with a collection, just enjoy the dram! What's the point in collecting a nice drink if you don't allow yourself to drink it?!
Soldato
If you like Glenlivet, why not get the 12yr for just drinking. Can usually be found on offer for around £20 anyway
Should still be on offer at Sainsbury's for £20. Well worth it at that price, but otherwise not that great a dram.
Soldato
Speaking of Sainsburys they had Cardhu 12 yr old for £20 last week, I was lucky to find in my local they still had last weeks prices on the shelves and had to honour the price for me.
Better than the Jura normal I reckon. It's sweet but not silly sweet.
None the less, made an extra addition to my burns supper.
Better than the Jura normal I reckon. It's sweet but not silly sweet.
None the less, made an extra addition to my burns supper.
Soldato
2 new additions after a trip up to aberdeen
Glendroanach 12 year old original (they have been taken over and have some new expressions..the 15 year revival is very nice)
its a bit like other highland malts I like such as glencadam and ardmore, its very smooth, almosy syrupy in the mouth and a nice sweet finish thanks to the sherry casks..very easy to drink.
and an Aberlour Abundah (cask strength 59.6)
needs a touch of water, its very powerful, its also very dark, suprisingly smooth given its strength and this is only done in sherry casks, no double casking for this one so its has a lovely sweet finish
my top tip for Aberdeen...go to costcutter in Dyce near the airport, massive range, knowledgeable owner and much better then the specialist shops in the city centre..was happy to chat about different style and didnt try to sell me his most expensive stuff...the aberlour was on offer at 30 quid..cheaper than anywhere else I have seen online
Glendroanach 12 year old original (they have been taken over and have some new expressions..the 15 year revival is very nice)
its a bit like other highland malts I like such as glencadam and ardmore, its very smooth, almosy syrupy in the mouth and a nice sweet finish thanks to the sherry casks..very easy to drink.
and an Aberlour Abundah (cask strength 59.6)
needs a touch of water, its very powerful, its also very dark, suprisingly smooth given its strength and this is only done in sherry casks, no double casking for this one so its has a lovely sweet finish
my top tip for Aberdeen...go to costcutter in Dyce near the airport, massive range, knowledgeable owner and much better then the specialist shops in the city centre..was happy to chat about different style and didnt try to sell me his most expensive stuff...the aberlour was on offer at 30 quid..cheaper than anywhere else I have seen online
Soldato
Just treated myself to a bottle of 18yr old Talisker, oooo can't wait to get home and try this
Soldato
Always wanted to buy a Talisker, My cardhu is missing me, as I'm not allowed to drink for a couple of weeks more, as I'm still on meds after getting some pins put in my foot.
Soldato
Just returned from a trip to Edinburgh and the Whisky museum a little wiser in the different types of Scotch Whisky. Armed with my new found knowledge and my recent whisky tasting session I bought myself a bottle of Auchentoshan 12yo single malt.
My reasoning being fairly simple, I've always preferred a lighter, more mellow whisky hence my reason for choosing a lowland whisky, I didn't really know what to choose so asked for a little advice and settled on this.
I've only ever bought highlands before and found them a little too smokey. The Speyside I tried, I wasn't madly keen on and I didn't get to try an Islay, but from what I can tell, they tend to be even smokier still.
Very happy with my purchase, it's a really light, fruity whiksy. I'll have to try a few more lowland whiskies, so I'm open to suggestions
My reasoning being fairly simple, I've always preferred a lighter, more mellow whisky hence my reason for choosing a lowland whisky, I didn't really know what to choose so asked for a little advice and settled on this.
I've only ever bought highlands before and found them a little too smokey. The Speyside I tried, I wasn't madly keen on and I didn't get to try an Islay, but from what I can tell, they tend to be even smokier still.
Very happy with my purchase, it's a really light, fruity whiksy. I'll have to try a few more lowland whiskies, so I'm open to suggestions
Associate
I like the Glenfiddich range.
My friends and I decided to taste each 12y, 15y, 18y, and 21y a few years back. All I can remember was as the bottle got older, the taste got stronger.
We decided for 12 y/o as our favourite as it was mild and not fierce on the stomach.
My friends and I decided to taste each 12y, 15y, 18y, and 21y a few years back. All I can remember was as the bottle got older, the taste got stronger.
We decided for 12 y/o as our favourite as it was mild and not fierce on the stomach.
Normally that would be the other way around. The younger the whisky, the more prominent it's natural spirit. The older, the more aged it becomes and the more it is able to absorb the wood.
Speaking of the wood, if it's a softer Glenfiddich you're after try the 15yo again. They're matured in Solera casks (look it up - phenomena process taken from the Spanish) and are quite sticky-sweet.
The 21yo is matured in Cuban rum casks (though they have to say Caribbean now or else they can't be sold in the USA), and is a great dram.
Associate
Cheers, will try it again
Associate
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Age != strength but I am not familiar with Glenfiddich's full range so it may be the case that they have made the older ones stronger.
As mikester said, young whisky has more of an alcohol, medicinal and even grassy flavour and older whisky has more of the flavour of the barrels previous liquid, wood and tannins, as a general rule.
There are people out there who believe age = quality = flavour but that is not always the case either.
Some Glenmorangie (and Ardbeg) expressions do not quote age. They claim its to remove the initial impression an age would give, whereas others claim its so they can sell young whisky at a premium!
Associate
I'm fairly new to the world of Whisky and I only started sampling couple of years ago but thankfully being up in Scotland I have access to a fair amount of malts not seen in many local pubs.
North Port Brechin 1982 Connoisseurs choice bottled 2008 43%. - I tried this malt on a recent trip to Ballachullish as it came from a closed distillery near to where I was brought up.
Nose: 22 quite floral with no real hint of peat or smoke.
Taste: 20 Toffee fruity then a hefty unexpected kick of spice
Finish: 18 Short but harsh aftertaste compared to the initial taste
Balance: 20 The flavour tends to be strongest and least pleasant towards the end of the dram.
Total of 80 points - a decent dram but not one of my favourites by a long shot
North Port Brechin 1982 Connoisseurs choice bottled 2008 43%. - I tried this malt on a recent trip to Ballachullish as it came from a closed distillery near to where I was brought up.
Nose: 22 quite floral with no real hint of peat or smoke.
Taste: 20 Toffee fruity then a hefty unexpected kick of spice
Finish: 18 Short but harsh aftertaste compared to the initial taste
Balance: 20 The flavour tends to be strongest and least pleasant towards the end of the dram.
Total of 80 points - a decent dram but not one of my favourites by a long shot
Glad that this thread was bumped! It's not Scotch, but I'm here to talk about Bourbon!
Was at a bourbon tasting event at Good Spirit Company (shop in Glasgow - they are fantastic!) tonight. We tried the following (for £15!)
Georgia Moon - 40%
Old Fitzgerald 12 y/o - 45%
Evan Williams 2001 - 43.3%
Wild Turkey Rye - 50.5%
Rowan's Creek - 50.05%
Evan Williams 23 y/o - 53.5%
I shan't bother reviewing them, as I'm a wee bit drunk and I can't be bothered. However, my favourite was the Wild Turkey Rye. It had a lovely earthy taste but with a good compliment of spice. It lingered lovely (something that the Evan Williams 2001 did not do!).
The Georgia Moon deserves a mention as it is bottled in a jam jar, and is clear (no ageing!). It was drinkable but not that great. A gimick drink, and the host (and joint owner of the shop) admitted as much.
The Evan Williams 23 y/o needs a special mention. It's a £125 bottle, and we were treated to it. It's good, yes. There is no question about that. However, I've drank £100+ Cognac (Bourbon is far closer to Cognac than Scotch, in my opinion, due to the ageing methods) as well as £100+ bottles of whisky and this bourbon didn't touch either. It was good yes. But it wasn't worth the price. I'd go as far as to say it wasn't worth £60 either.
Ultimately, my favourite was the Wild Turkey Rye. Wild Turkey is a common brand in bars over here, however the Rye is quite special. I urge you to get a drink if it's there and see what you think.
However, the ultimate test is what got my money. And the answer is nothing. I'm a Scotch drinker. I love proper whisky. Whilst there were some cracking drinks there (mainly the Rye and the Old Fitzgerald), the price of them wasn't worth it in the end.
It's worth mentioning that I was at the same place last night for an Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch tasting night and came away with a bottle of Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve which is amazing!
Was at a bourbon tasting event at Good Spirit Company (shop in Glasgow - they are fantastic!) tonight. We tried the following (for £15!)
Georgia Moon - 40%
Old Fitzgerald 12 y/o - 45%
Evan Williams 2001 - 43.3%
Wild Turkey Rye - 50.5%
Rowan's Creek - 50.05%
Evan Williams 23 y/o - 53.5%
I shan't bother reviewing them, as I'm a wee bit drunk and I can't be bothered. However, my favourite was the Wild Turkey Rye. It had a lovely earthy taste but with a good compliment of spice. It lingered lovely (something that the Evan Williams 2001 did not do!).
The Georgia Moon deserves a mention as it is bottled in a jam jar, and is clear (no ageing!). It was drinkable but not that great. A gimick drink, and the host (and joint owner of the shop) admitted as much.
The Evan Williams 23 y/o needs a special mention. It's a £125 bottle, and we were treated to it. It's good, yes. There is no question about that. However, I've drank £100+ Cognac (Bourbon is far closer to Cognac than Scotch, in my opinion, due to the ageing methods) as well as £100+ bottles of whisky and this bourbon didn't touch either. It was good yes. But it wasn't worth the price. I'd go as far as to say it wasn't worth £60 either.
Ultimately, my favourite was the Wild Turkey Rye. Wild Turkey is a common brand in bars over here, however the Rye is quite special. I urge you to get a drink if it's there and see what you think.
However, the ultimate test is what got my money. And the answer is nothing. I'm a Scotch drinker. I love proper whisky. Whilst there were some cracking drinks there (mainly the Rye and the Old Fitzgerald), the price of them wasn't worth it in the end.
It's worth mentioning that I was at the same place last night for an Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch tasting night and came away with a bottle of Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve which is amazing!