The OCUK Whisky (and Whiskey) review thread

Scam · 16 Sep 2019 at 11:32

Illgresi said:
Probably the best value malt you can buy.

Looks nice, never tried a Clynelish.

My bottles of Kilkerran 12 and Bunnnah 12 have gone down very quickly indeed. Any recommendations along that front? Perhaps another Islay (not heavily peated) or a Highlander? :confused:

Lupis · 16 Sep 2019 at 13:37

Scam said:
Looks nice, never tried a Clynelish.

My bottles of Kilkerran 12 and Bunnnah 12 have gone down very quickly indeed. Any recommendations along that front? Perhaps another Islay (not heavily peated) or a Highlander?

If you liked the Kilkerran, maybe the Springbank 10. anCnoc 12 is a decent Highland whisky at a reasonable price, just a pity it is only 40% abv.

Edit: GlenDronach 12 and Deanston 12 are another couple of good Highland whiskies, but they are usually a bit pricier, more around the £40 or above range. Bruichladdich Classic Laddie is a Islay alternative to the Bunna as it is unpeated as well with a bit higher abv at 50%. Personally I prefer the Bunna, but it's worth checking out if you see it on offer sometime.

As mentioned above the Clynelish 14 is a very good whisky, I've had 3 or 4 bottles over the last few years, and currently only have 1 unopened one left (I tend to always keep one on hand) but I don't think I would go as far as saying it is the best value malt out there.

Scam · 17 Sep 2019 at 16:04

Lupis said:
If you liked the Kilkerran, maybe the Springbank 10. anCnoc 12 is a decent Highland whisky at a reasonable price, just a pity it is only 40% abv.

Thanks for this. I just popped out to Royal Mile and got a bottle of the Springbank 10. He also recommended an AnCnoc 2002 as a follow-up to the Bunnah.

He seemed to like the Clynelish as well, so that might be next on the list

Lupis · 17 Sep 2019 at 20:09

Scam said:
Thanks for this. I just popped out to Royal Mile and got a bottle of the Springbank 10. He also recommended an AnCnoc 2002 as a follow-up to the Bunnah.

He seemed to like the Clynelish as well, so that might be next on the list

I've not tried the anCnoc 2002, but given it is 46% abv, when my complaint about the 12 year old
was it only being 40%, I expect it will be very good indeed.

Nitefly · 21 Sep 2019 at 15:51

Hi team - I really fell in love with this one and it’s on offer at the moment £15 off. I’m going to get a second bottle I think. Such a curious drink!

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/jj-corry/jj-corry-the-gael-whiskey/?srh=1

beachBOYken · 21 Sep 2019 at 16:18

Nitefly said:
Hi team - I really fell in love with this one and it’s on offer at the moment £15 off. I’m going to get a second bottle I think. Such a curious drink!

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/jj-corry/jj-corry-the-gael-whiskey/?srh=1

Nice offer, got some bourbons I want to get next and I still have my opened bottle of kilchoman, I like to finish a bottle before I get another. I might have some tonight actually outside with the chiminea going.

Nitefly · 26 Sep 2019 at 18:05

It’s kicking off this evening. Like the man-child I am I’ve opted to play video games, eat cheese and have a selection of drams, arranging them into a nice presentation so I may share them with you. Oooo look at me, I’m alive, I’m alive!!! **twitches nervously**

Front left we have The Battalion by JJ Corry. This was finished is mezcal and tequila casks. Pretty different.

At the back we have Bruchaladdich Port Charlotte PC12. This is a super peaty beast with a sherry finish.

Then on the right we have the Cotswolds Founders Reserve. Don’t know much about this.

Should be a tasty. Looking forward to comparing them. Also, I’m on annual leave... this is not a usual weekday for me!

Lupis · 26 Sep 2019 at 18:40

Nitefly said:
It’s kicking off this evening. Like the man-child I am I’ve opted to play video games, eat cheese and have a selection of drams, arranging them into a nice presentation so I may share them with you. Oooo look at me, I’m alive, I’m alive!!! **twitches nervously**

Front left we have The Battalion by JJ Corry. This was finished is mezcal and tequila casks. Pretty different.

At the back we have Bruchaladdich Port Charlotte PC12. This is a super peaty beast with a sherry finish.

Then on the right we have the Cotswolds Founders Reserve. Don’t know much about this.

Should be a tasty. Looking forward to comparing them. Also, I’m on annual leave... this is not a usual weekday for me!

Looks like the makings of a good evening. Hope you enjoy them and the annual leave.

Nitefly · 26 Sep 2019 at 20:10

Lupis said:
Looks like the makings of a good evening. Hope you enjoy them and the annual leave.

Cheers mate, that's kind of you to say.

So the drams are about half finished each. Here's my thoughts.

First, the 60%ers are just ****ing strong. Obvious I know. But doing this with two 60%ers was perhaps overly ambitious. I was feeling the effects very quickly indeed and I really enjoy the mild buzz from the alcohol rather than the feeling of being 'drunk', when drinking alone. So, smaller pours next time.

Secondly, the Cotswolds (being a straight up 'boring whisky') is effectively being used to re-calibrate my tastes between the other two. It's enjoyable, but it's sort of dwarfed in terms of making obvious comments compare to the others. I seem to be magnetised towards big and obviously different flavours. This is probably because I'm a bit of a whisky noob. That said, I have nothing bad to say about the Cotswolds.

The Battalion Corry is really quite unusual indeed. Certainly the most unusual whisky I've tasted to date. A-Bing with the Cotswolds and the tequila taste is subtly there, but actually I'd suggest it's slightly more... herby? Maybe even 'aloe vera'-y / cucumber-y? I've heard people say that before so perhaps I'm being led by what I'd heard, but that seems fair. Very hard to describe. I do enjoy the fact it is 41% and therefore the less aggressive of the three. It's probably my favourite of the session.

The PC12 has the huge peat and sherry sweetness that I'm already a big fan of. Really interesting comparing to the Cotswolds - the peat really becomes apparent. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this. Delicious. I'm familiar with these flavours though, so it's the one I'm reaching for least.

So, it seems I'm enjoying the unusual and experimentation quite a lot. Perhaps my tastes will refine and I will become a snob for the less garish later in life? We shall see. All in all very enjoyable!

Nitefly · 26 Sep 2019 at 20:14

Oh and as a brucey bonus I got that bottle of Jura Journey *shudder* out of the cupboard to compare, just to see if I was being harsh / snobbish last time around. This was the bottle that got me into researching and trying different whiskeys by virtue of the fact that I couldn't even finish my dram, had to pour it away!! My memories were 1/10.

After trying the three shown above, it's even worse. Seriously wtf. May I have a bad bottle or something?! It is ghastly. Utterly unpleasant and bleak. -5/10

Lupis · 26 Sep 2019 at 21:49

Nitefly said:
Oh and as a brucey bonus I got that bottle of Jura Journey *shudder* out of the cupboard to compare, just to see if I was being harsh / snobbish last time around. This was the bottle that got me into researching and trying different whiskeys by virtue of the fact that I couldn't even finish my dram, had to pour it away!! My memories were 1/10.

After trying the three shown above, it's even worse. Seriously wtf. May I have a bad bottle or something?! It is ghastly. Utterly unpleasant and bleak. -5/10

If you are feeling adventurous try pouring about 2/3 of a normal dram of the Jura and adding about 1/3 of a decent peated whisky, less required if it is a high abv. I had a bottle of jura I'd had for years and just couldn't get through, out of curiosity I tried adding some Lagavulin 16 and the result was very very surprising, in a good way. It didn't make me want to run out and buy another bottle of jura, but it did at least make finishing what I had pleasant.

If that doesn't help at all it is possible you have a corked bottle. Either dump it, or if you feel strongly enough about it contact the distillery or retailer and see what they say.

beachBOYken · 27 Sep 2019 at 10:53

Nitefly said:
It’s kicking off this evening. Like the man-child I am I’ve opted to play video games, eat cheese and have a selection of drams, arranging them into a nice presentation so I may share them with you. Oooo look at me, I’m alive, I’m alive!!! **twitches nervously**

Front left we have The Battalion by JJ Corry. This was finished is mezcal and tequila casks. Pretty different.

At the back we have Bruchaladdich Port Charlotte PC12. This is a super peaty beast with a sherry finish.

Then on the right we have the Cotswolds Founders Reserve. Don’t know much about this.

Should be a tasty. Looking forward to comparing them. Also, I’m on annual leave... this is not a usual weekday for me!

Awesome

I have seen the Cotswold bottled in different alcohol strengths at various shops, whisky exchange has a 60.3% and 60.4% and I have seen a 60.9%, I asked them why this was and its because they only bottle the founders edition every 3 months or so.

I would have thought to get a better idea of each whisky it would be better to try just one.

I like them glasses, I do have a Glencairn glass but its not the greatest quality, mind telling where you purchased them please?

Nitefly · 27 Sep 2019 at 11:05

beachBOYken said:
Awesome

I have seen the Cotswold bottled in different alcohol strengths at various shops, whisky exchange has a 60.3% and 60.4% and I have seen a 60.9%, I asked them why this was and its because they only bottle the founders edition every 3 months or so.

I would have thought to get a better idea of each whisky it would be better to try just one.

I like them glasses, I do have a Glencairn glass but its not the greatest quality, mind telling where you purchased them please?

Yeah it may well better to try just one, in some ways, but by comparing them together I was able to taste the differences rather than paint from ‘a blank canvas’. That’s what I was going for. Using the three to help ‘ground’ my taste buds

The glasses and tray are from master of malt - 6 for £25, IIRC. The wooden tray was £8 (and I got two). The stupid jug was about £15 again from MOM which I just bought for the lols, but it is better then going to the tap or using my plastic ‘put water in the iron’ vessel

beachBOYken · 27 Sep 2019 at 11:10

Nitefly said:
Yeah it may well better to try just one, in some ways, but by comparing them together I was able to taste the differences rather than paint from ‘a blank canvas’. That’s what I was going for. Using the three to help ‘ground’ my taste buds

The glasses and tray are from master of malt - 6 for £25, IIRC. The wooden tray was £8 (and I got two). The stupid jug was about £15 again from MOM which I just bought for the lols, but it is better then going to the tap or using my plastic ‘put water in the iron’ vessel

That makes sense, thanks, I get most of my whisky from MoM, I used to get it from Whisky Exchange but I find MoM slightly cheaper or the same, but both offer great service.

Nitefly · 27 Sep 2019 at 11:12

@beachBOYken

Here’s my founders reserve that I have. It is mad strong. I think I enjoy weaker ones, generally. I did put water in it. Still very nice.

beachBOYken · 27 Sep 2019 at 11:39

@Nitefly, The standard Cotswolds single malt is nice, think that's 46%. I have a bottle of gin from them as well.

Nitefly · 27 Sep 2019 at 11:53

beachBOYken said:
@Nitefly, The standard Cotswolds single malt is nice, think that's 46%. I have a bottle of gin from them as well.

Yeah with the benefit of hindsight that probably would have been more my jam. The stronger ones I’ve had before have been peaty and the strength of the alcohol is somewhat ‘masked’ (somewhat) by the strong peat flavours.

I opted for the founders reserve following it being a whisky of the year on malt review.

Interesting to learn more about my own preferences

beachBOYken · 27 Sep 2019 at 12:00

Nitefly said:
Yeah with the benefit of hindsight that probably would have been more my jam. The stronger ones I’ve had before have been peaty and the strength of the alcohol is somewhat ‘masked’ (somewhat) by the strong peat flavours.

I opted for the founders reserve following it being a whisky of the year on malt review.

Interesting to learn more about my own preferences

Indeed, I couldn't find a review of the Cotswolds single malt on that site only the founders and some other editions.

jellybeard999 · 28 Sep 2019 at 01:03

I bought a couple of whiskys a while ago and I'm interested in trying differing styles, to get a taste for what I like

I've currently got Laphroaig 10 and Balvenie DoubleWood 12 on the go. I think I prefer the Laphroaig having tried them back to back.

I don't mind spending a bit to get something decent, but generally try to get something when it's on offer!

I'm thinking of trying https://groceries.asda.com/product/...-malt-scotch-whisky-american-oak/910002276341 next.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Preferably something contrasting to those I already have.

I'm drinking them neat, should I be adding water?

RoboCod · 28 Sep 2019 at 10:10

jellybeard999 said:
I bought a couple of whiskys a while ago and I'm interested in trying differing styles, to get a taste for what I like

I've currently got Laphroaig 10 and Balvenie DoubleWood 12 on the go. I think I prefer the Laphroaig having tried them back to back.

I don't mind spending a bit to get something decent, but generally try to get something when it's on offer!

I'm thinking of trying https://groceries.asda.com/product/...-malt-scotch-whisky-american-oak/910002276341 next.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Preferably something contrasting to those I already have.

I'm drinking them neat, should I be adding water?

For a cheap one I like it,