The OCUK Whisky (and Whiskey) review thread

BloodyL · 27 Dec 2009 at 01:49

Cool, Now everyone has gone to bed it is time to just drop in a couple of ice cubes and sip away.

Cheers.

GarethSouthgate · 27 Dec 2009 at 01:59

Bed?? Bed is for the weak! Although the head is starting to spin a bit now lol thanks Chival! Don't suppose you're Asian? It's what all Asians drink apparently...

meghatronic · 27 Dec 2009 at 02:04

BloodyL said:
Cool, Now everyone has gone to bed it is time to just drop in a couple of ice cubes and sip away.

NickK · 27 Dec 2009 at 02:05

A great plan with two minor flaws for me:
a) I don't have any whisky in the house
b) I'm ill as a dog and I would have liked a shot of (a) to help kill the germs

Although I was eyeing up Bruichladdich "Peat" on the websites.

BloodyL · 27 Dec 2009 at 02:16

meghatronic said:

Lol, there's no pleasing some people, I ask if adding anything is a faux pas, I get an answer that drinking it with an addition is acceptable and I still get unhappy xmas smilies.

meghatronic · 27 Dec 2009 at 02:24

BloodyL said:
Lol, there's no pleasing some people, I ask if adding anything is a faux pas, I get an answer that drinking it with an addition is acceptable and I still get unhappy xmas smilies.

It depends on the Scotch, but I personally find it unpalatable to add anything. A little dash of water at the most.

Zip · 27 Dec 2009 at 04:20

Just to get things straight.

Whisky = Scotch.
Whiskey = The rest

If not then please explain

Now were does bourbon fit in to all this?

Non drinker here

Uriel · 27 Dec 2009 at 10:18

Zip said:
Just to get things straight.

Whisky = Scotch.
Whiskey = The rest

If not then please explain

Now were does bourbon fit in to all this?

Non drinker here

Basically:
Scotch whisky
Irish whiskey
American whiskey
Canadian whisky
Japanese whisky
English whisky (only just recently)
Welsh whisky
European whisky (usually)
Rest of the world whisky

(Having just had a sweep of Jim Murray's 2010 Whisky Bible)

Bourbon is a type of American whiskey but there are others. An American or Irish single malt is still whiskey.

The main reason is tradition.

So it would be more accurate to say
Irish & American = whiskey
The rest = whisky

In other news went around to my uncles for boxing day. He'd got about six single malts and some tasting glasses ready for me. I must be getting a reputation...

Zip · 27 Dec 2009 at 10:28

In that case spec me a good.

Whisky
Whiskey
Bourbon

For a none drinker to try out

Obviously i have tried to cheaper mainstream stuff before

Uriel · 27 Dec 2009 at 11:01

I can try and spec you something close to home:

Bakery Hill distillery in Australia reputably (I've not tried them but seem some good reviews) do some lovely single malts. http://www.bakeryhilldistillery.com.au/Buy-Whiskies.aspx

The classic single malt and the peated malt (if you would prefer something smoky) are both supposed to be very good.

What's your price range and how much are some of the more usual whiskies over there?

Zip · 27 Dec 2009 at 11:15

Ill put the price of some up from an online Australian website.

Jim Beam Black Label Bourbon 700ml $39.99
Woodford Reserve Small Batch Bourbon 700ml $69.99
Canadian Club Whiskey 700ml Each $32.99
Jameson Irish Whiskey 12 Year Old (1780) 700ml $59.99
Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch Whisky 700ml $34.99
Yamazaki 12 Years Japan Single Malt 700ml $99.99

Ill put my price to around $70.00

Bottle size doesnt bother me either, As if i did get some it would last me quite awhile

machinauk · 27 Dec 2009 at 11:56

silane said:
Lol i've been on the Chivas Regal 12yr too. It's basically the same as JD! I've been adding lemonade to it, true whisky bummers won't like it (the lemonade that is, not the whisky - although they probably won't rate it very high either, I don;t think it's that nice tbh - infact it NEEDS something added to it).

I quite like it, not bad for a blend - in fact its one of the better blends ive had, although of the top of my head i cant remember what it tastes like - guess thats tonights drink sorted, think i have half a bottle left

Uriel · 27 Dec 2009 at 12:48

machinauk said:
I quite like it, not bad for a blend - in fact its one of the better blends ive had, although of the top of my head i cant remember what it tastes like - guess thats tonights drink sorted, think i have half a bottle left

Chivas Regal 12yo? Quite smooth, bland and inoffensive IIRC. It's not a bad one for someone who doesn't often drink whisky but will get left behind by people moving onto more complex flavours. The older Chivas Regals are pretty good.

Gadge · 27 Dec 2009 at 21:44

anyone rate Jim Beam, either white, green, or black label?

Uriel · 27 Dec 2009 at 22:23

Well just opened up a Laphroaig Quarter Cask, given to me by my parents for Christmas.

I'm not gong to publish the tasting notes yet. Will have to taste against a few drams I'm very familiar with and think about the score (it's an excuse to get hold of some lagavulin 16 anyway...). Safe to say I'm going to be scoring it very high - 95 minimum.

At less than £24, it's got to go on my highly recommended list.

Gadge · 28 Dec 2009 at 07:22

Uriel said:
Well just opened up a Laphroaig Quarter Cask, given to me by my parents for Christmas.

whats the vol on that? arnt Cask whisky's 50% min?

Liverpool-Lad · 28 Dec 2009 at 12:49

Guys for a starter whisky would you recommend Jura 10yo? Ive tasted a proper Islay and that was a little too smokey for me, Id like undertones if possible.

fadetoblack · 28 Dec 2009 at 12:55

try Highland park i rate it more then Jura

Uriel · 28 Dec 2009 at 21:16

Gadge said:
whats the vol on that? arnt Cask whisky's 50% min?

48%. The 'cask' bit isn't because of the strength. It's because it's matured in quarter sized barrels.

The strongest cask strength whiskies I've tried have been upwards of 60%.

Edit: I posted Jura 10 tasting nots earlier in the thread. It's not at all peaty but I like it. Very different from Highland Park.

Gadge · 30 Dec 2009 at 18:30

On the Jameson 12yr old SR, and its my first irish whisk'e'y. Quite nice! not as harsh has some of the scottish ones.