But yea, it's a cracking looking glass. My current whisky glass of choice is a rounded Auchentoshan glass but with Laphroaig getting a lot of my custom ATM it seem sensible to have one of their glasses. Auchentoshan are having an open weekend this weekend, myself and some friends are considering going along. You should make the trip.
The OCUK Whisky (and Whiskey) review thread
- Thread starter Uriel
- Start date
Soldato
its a really easy drinking dram....smooth as they come, but sweet sherried finish..mmmm lush
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Just finished off a bottle of Nikka From The Barrel, one of the best whiskies I've ever had!
Looking for something new and original to try next, maybe another one of Bruichladdich's strange single malts. Sadly my local Oddbins has closed so I have to either make do with the limited selections of the supermarket or pay exhorbitant shipping costs to order it online.
Looking for something new and original to try next, maybe another one of Bruichladdich's strange single malts. Sadly my local Oddbins has closed so I have to either make do with the limited selections of the supermarket or pay exhorbitant shipping costs to order it online.
Soldato
Almost went for that but bought a Suntory Hibiki which with a touch of water is great.
Soldato
Once Dad has opened it, I'll have to cadge some off him then!
Got back from work today and picked up a couple of bottles in Heathrow on the way through.
Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona and Longmorn 16yo. Too knackered to do them justice tonight so I'll do a proper tasting and review tomorrow night.
Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona and Longmorn 16yo. Too knackered to do them justice tonight so I'll do a proper tasting and review tomorrow night.
Soldato
Guzzling the last of my Glen Marnoch 18 year old from ALDI, nae bad for a £20 bottle.
Certainly surprised by it's offerings, last bottle for me until I see what Santa brings me.
Certainly surprised by it's offerings, last bottle for me until I see what Santa brings me.
Thought I'd drag this thread back to its original format for old time's sake 
Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona (batch 6), Islay malt - 50%
n: Oaky; grassy with a bit of toffee and spice. 22
t: Overpowering oak and spice with a little sweetness. 18
f: Short finish with a bit of spice. The oakiness finally starts to fade but too late to save it. 18
b: I have to agree with Jim Murray (Whisky Bible 2012) in that this whisky is disjointed - although my impressions are slightly different from his (his was batch 1, mine was batch 6 - maybe they're different), we both reach the same conclusion. Whilst this whisky has some good points, it just doesn't come together as it should. Quite disappointing, I really wanted to like this whisky. It's not a bad whisky, it's just not as good as it could have been. 20
Overall 78
Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona (batch 6), Islay malt - 50%
n: Oaky; grassy with a bit of toffee and spice. 22
t: Overpowering oak and spice with a little sweetness. 18
f: Short finish with a bit of spice. The oakiness finally starts to fade but too late to save it. 18
b: I have to agree with Jim Murray (Whisky Bible 2012) in that this whisky is disjointed - although my impressions are slightly different from his (his was batch 1, mine was batch 6 - maybe they're different), we both reach the same conclusion. Whilst this whisky has some good points, it just doesn't come together as it should. Quite disappointing, I really wanted to like this whisky. It's not a bad whisky, it's just not as good as it could have been. 20
Overall 78
Longmorn 16yo - 48%
n: Sweet, bubble gum, oak, little bit of fruit - maybe apple. 22
t: Sweet. Liquorice. Little spicy. Water makes little difference (maybe pushes the spiciness a bit but not much). 20
f: Medium finish starts with spiciness and moves through toffee onto liquorice. 21
b
elivers a lot less than it promises. Disappointingly uncomplicated. One would expect a 16yo whisky to offer complexity and hidden treasures. This doesn't deliver. The 15yo is much better. 18
Overall 81
n: Sweet, bubble gum, oak, little bit of fruit - maybe apple. 22
t: Sweet. Liquorice. Little spicy. Water makes little difference (maybe pushes the spiciness a bit but not much). 20
f: Medium finish starts with spiciness and moves through toffee onto liquorice. 21
b
elivers a lot less than it promises. Disappointingly uncomplicated. One would expect a 16yo whisky to offer complexity and hidden treasures. This doesn't deliver. The 15yo is much better. 18Overall 81
Making up for my earlier disappointment with a glass of 16yo Jura. Beautifully balanced whisky this. Nose hints at vanilla oak with a fair amount of toffee and a hint of spice. Palate confirms the toffee and spice and adds a little chocolate. Finish is longish with a lot of sweetness, a bit of chocolate and a hint of spice.
Fabulous whisky.
Fabulous whisky.
I prefer this.
http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-2173.aspx
It is also going up in price which is a shame as I have finished my bottle :
Soldato
Went on a bit of a whiskey binge in Manchester yesterday, and got round to having two Balvenies (Doublewood) which I couldn't seem to make my mind up on (will have to drink more), an Isle of Jura which I've always loved (not sure on which exact one it was; it's what Wetherspoons always has in behind the bar), and when i was supposed to be sobering up, I got given a Laphroaig 10yr, which blew me away. I now know exactly what people mean by that particular whisky 'telling a story'. Want to get a bottle at some point after Christmas, but I've also had a few people recommend the Quarter Cask over the 10 year. What main differences are there between the two?
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Soldato
Quarter Cask is a stronger whisky. It has a stronger smoke taste because of the greater contact area with the barrel. The taste also lingers a lot longer. I would be happy with either 10 year or Quarter Cask, but I would choose Quarter Cask over 10 year.
Let me use a motoring analogy. Laphroaig 10yo is a lovely whisky - it's like driving a BMW M5. It's very good indeed. The Quarter Cask is like driving an Aston Martin DB9 - it's not the best car in the world, but it's bloody close and, by far and away the best car/whisky for that sort of money.
Interesting analogy. I'd compare the 10 year old to a rusty Lada that had crashed in to a peat bog spilling most of it's fluids, the quarter cask is more like a Focus (also in a peat bog) and the 18 year old is a Mondeo ST. £38 (Sainsburys now have it, though don't believe the £5 off) will get you a bottle of Ardbeg 10 year old which is one of the best whiskys (if you like Islay malts) irrespective of price.
I picked up a bottle of Doublewood after the recomendations on here and it's really good, seems similar to a reasonable Glen Livet but a lot cheaper.
Interesting to hear different opinions - no matter how misguided and wrong they are (you really should set fire to your 'Whisky Bible' - Jim Murray has a great many fans and his opinions are well regarded but they are only his opinions and shouldn't be regarded as gospel). I've heard very few people say the Ardbeg 10yo is better than the Laphroaig 10yo and never heard anyone say it's better than the Quarter Cask (apart from Jim 'the guru' Murray) - primarily because it isn't. It's a good whisky and I've drunk it on many occasions but it's not better than the Quarter Cask, not even close.
The Doublewood is a good whisky. If you want a superlative Balvenie, try the 15yo single cask. It's a tad dearer but massively superior. Or, if the 15yo is too steep, the Signature is a fabulous whisky. The signature has been on sale in some supermarkets recently.
That's a fabulous whisky. I had a bottle recently and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Permabanned
I'm doing this. I'm going to become a whiskey drinker! 
Always been a fan of JD, Jim Beam etc, but never have I stepped foot into the whiskey world.
Some of you may have seen my thread earlier, and thanks to anyone who gave me advice...
Anyway, fancied a little drink this evening so stopped off at mini Tesco on my way home from work. There wasn't much of a selection as you'd imagine, so I just went for the brand I recognised, that was Jura.
Picked up a bottle of Jura origins for £17.70 only 35cl which I was a bit annoyed to find out after I'd bought it...
Anyway, just had a glass with a few drops of water as advised. To be honest I'm not sure what I think, lol. It smelt lovely, but it had a very strong burning in my mouth when swallowed.
What sort of whiskey is this? Is it a light one, rich one, smokey? I really am clueless here...
Always been a fan of JD, Jim Beam etc, but never have I stepped foot into the whiskey world.
Some of you may have seen my thread earlier, and thanks to anyone who gave me advice...
Anyway, fancied a little drink this evening so stopped off at mini Tesco on my way home from work. There wasn't much of a selection as you'd imagine, so I just went for the brand I recognised, that was Jura.
Picked up a bottle of Jura origins for £17.70 only 35cl which I was a bit annoyed to find out after I'd bought it...
Anyway, just had a glass with a few drops of water as advised. To be honest I'm not sure what I think, lol. It smelt lovely, but it had a very strong burning in my mouth when swallowed.
What sort of whiskey is this? Is it a light one, rich one, smokey? I really am clueless here...
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