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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Hard Drinkers, Lets Drink Hard (Spirits, Liquors and Cocktails)

    General Chat
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    • S
      stever
      Joined:

      https://www.masterofmalt.com/samples/

      these guys (amongst others, they just came to mind first) do a variety of tasting packs so you can try out a bunch of drams at your own pace/ in your own bedroom. worth a look-in if you've got limited choices in your area!

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • FOXYF
        FOXY
        Joined:

        Can only recommend them…

        (Some of their regular prices of regular/full bottles are a bit over the top, though.)

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • B
          bubbapest
          Raw and Unwashed
          Joined:

          @organisys:

          @FOXY they look interesting. Partial to a G&T and a Vodka/Dry Vermouth.

          However, this is an all time favourite:

          http://www.suntory.com/whisky/index.html#%2Fwhisky%2Fen%2Fhibiki%2F

          actually had another dram of this last night, no ice cube, just some water and i liked it a lot more than my first dram.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • B
            bubbapest
            Raw and Unwashed
            Joined:

            @seawolf:

            Glenmorangie is a great intro Scotch. The first one I really liked was Macallan Fine Oak 10.

            I've been rather fond of Dewar's 12 lately. It's $21/750ml, well-rounded, and nice finish. It' my new "house" Scotch when I'm not having a single malt or bourbon.

            yeah, i REALLY like the glenmorangie 12's esp the double matured ones.  glenmorangie 18 is one of my favs.  if im at a bar and no bourbons are there that i like, my go to bar scotch is Macallan 12

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • mclaincauseyM
              mclaincausey
              見習いボス
              Joined:

              @bubbapest:

              @organisys:

              @FOXY they look interesting. Partial to a G&T and a Vodka/Dry Vermouth.

              However, this is an all time favourite:

              http://www.suntory.com/whisky/index.html#%2Fwhisky%2Fen%2Fhibiki%2F

              actually had another dram of this last night, no ice cube, just some water and i liked it a lot more than my first dram.

              Happy to hear–I found a trove of these at a suburban liquor store and will be re-stocking. And also getting a few bottles of AleSmith Speedway 🙂

              Think it, be it.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • urbanwoodsmanU
                urbanwoodsman
                Banned
                Joined:

                Picked up some Whistle Pig, Mitchers Rye and Larceny(for guests) from BQE liquors. I feel like I saved 20%. Thanks again @bubbapest for telling me about that place.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • NorthernVictoryN
                  NorthernVictory
                  Joined:

                  Favorites right now. For people living in California at least, Costco has Yoichi 15 for $100 USD and Lagavulin 16 at $55 USD (when on sale).

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • B
                    bubbapest
                    Raw and Unwashed
                    Joined:

                    @urbanwoodsman:

                    Picked up some Whistle Pig, Mitchers Rye and Larceny(for guests) from BQE liquors. I feel like I saved 20%. Thanks again @bubbapest for telling me about that place.

                    anytime man

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • jock1624J
                      jock1624
                      Raw and Unwashed
                      Joined:

                      Went to a house party tonight , this was my drink to bring .

                      Mirthing my way through life.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • tigerpacT
                        tigerpac
                        Joined:

                        Just got a bottle of Laphroaig Select.  Anybody ever try it?  I have yet to crack open the bottle.

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • jock1624J
                          jock1624
                          Raw and Unwashed
                          Joined:

                          My quarter cask was very smooth and peaty/smoky on the end to me .

                          Tigerpac :

                          With stocks of older whisky becoming more scarce and valuable, many whisky producers in Scotland have begun to supplement their offerings with non-age statement releases that are less focused on the age of whisky in the bottle and more on a specific flavor profile or character. Laphroaig has been a leader in this space, first with their extremely popular Laphroaig Quarter Cask release and then with a series of whiskies that explore the impact of different finishing casks on single malt whisky, including Laphroaig PX Cask, Laphroaig QA Cask, and Laphroaig Triple Wood. Now, Laphroaig has made the next logical step with Laphroaig Select Whisky.

                          Laphroaig Select Single Malt Whisky is a non-age statement release that brings together many of Laphroaig’s popular releases like Quarter Cask, PX Cask, Triple Wood, and Laphroaig 10 Year into a blend that’s finished in new American oak casks. Select may have the distinction of using the most finishing barrels in a single malt release and feels a lot like a “greatest hits” mix on paper.

                          Laphroaig Select Single Malt Whisky (80 Proof / 40% ABV, $55) – with all of those finishing barrels in the mix, you’d expect the nose of Laphroaig Select to be heavy oak, but it’s actually Laphroaig’s signature peat that’s the first thing out of the glass. Underneath the peat is indeed oak, but it’s accompanied by honey, vanilla, salt, and iodine. There’s also a hint of dried dark fruit in the mix. The nose of Laphroaig Select is highly aromatic with some really nice complexity and surprising balance. By all accounts this should be an oak-forward nose, but it isn’t.

                          All the oak in the equation is much more apparent on the entry, which is an odd, muddled mix of flavors with vanilla, caramel, honey, peat, oak, blackberry, peanut, ginger, salt, and pepper all there from the start. There’s absolutely no real integration here, no sequencing of flavors, no balance – you just get it all, at once, a complete cacophony. The midpalate sees an increase of peat, oak, black pepper, and ginger spice. The midpalate still suffers from poor integration of flavors but it’s slightly less messy than the entry. The finish is fairly long and slightly dry with black pepper and peat lingering on the palate. It’s in the finish that the younger malt shows itself with some heat and dryness, but even with all the wood in the mix, the finish isn’t painfully dry.

                          While we appreciate what Laphroaig is trying to do with this release, Laphroaig Select Single Malt Whisky is a rare strike out for a brand that rarely misses. Each piece of this blend – the PX, Quarter Cask, and 10 year – are really strong products, but together they just don’t work. Laphroaig did such an amazing job with last year’s Laphroaig Cairdeas Release – Port Wood Edition with a whisky that truly brought the brand’s signature flavor profile into a new space, it would have been a better move to elevate that to a permanent offering than try to force an odd “greatest hits” release.

                          Mirthing my way through life.

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • B
                            bubbapest
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            so it turns out i like the hibiki 12- any other japanese recommendations (not peaty)

                            i wasn't the biggest fan of the yamazaki 12 but i could re-try.  looking to expand horizon tho

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • tigerpacT
                              tigerpac
                              Joined:

                              nikka 17 is my favorite Japanese scotch I've been lucky enough to try.  Delicious!

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • seawolfS
                                seawolf
                                Mod Squad
                                Joined:

                                Picked up a bottle of Lagavulin 16 yesterday. It's big, smoky, and smooth. The smoke and iodine will take a bit of getting used to, but I can absolutely see this stuff growing on me. I tried a Bowmore a couple years ago and it tasted like Band-aids, so I've been a little nervous about Islay whisky ever since.

                                “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                @zeebeeleather

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • xtcclassicX
                                  xtcclassic
                                  啓蒙家
                                  Joined:

                                  I'm a bit late to the Bourbon party but I quite like this…

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • S
                                    stever
                                    Joined:

                                    @seawolf:

                                    Picked up a bottle of Lagavulin 16 yesterday. It's big, smoky, and smooth. The smoke and iodine will take a bit of getting used to, but I can absolutely see this stuff growing on me. I tried a Bowmore a couple years ago and it tasted like Band-aids, so I've been a little nervous about Islay whisky ever since.

                                    laga 16 is the benchmark for me. absolute cracker of a dram. enjoy!

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • M
                                      Minh
                                      Joined:

                                      Thought I'd share a bit and stop lurking.

                                      My favourite Irish whiskey, Redbreast 12, and new whisky tumbler from Denver and Liely.

                                      The tumbler is a great and makes for a great change from using a Glencairn. Australian made as well!

                                      +1 on the Lagavulin 16 as well. Seems as though the price has dropped here in Australia and I couldn't pass up the chance to pick up a bottle.

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • SeulS
                                        Seul
                                        Joined:

                                        Beautiful glass…

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • BloodnThunderB
                                          BloodnThunder
                                          Raw and Unwashed
                                          Joined:

                                          When it comes to scotch nothing beats Ardbeg Uigeadahl for me.  On the rye side Colonel E.H. Taylor is probably my favorite.  Always wanted to try Pappy Van Winkle but haven't been willing to pay $40+ for a glass here in Seattle (let alone buy a whole bottle).

                                          IG: Shadesofindig0

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • BloodnThunderB
                                            BloodnThunder
                                            Raw and Unwashed
                                            Joined:

                                            @tigerpac:

                                            Just got a bottle of Laphroaig Select.  Anybody ever try it?  I have yet to crack open the bottle.

                                            I've got two bottles of Laphroaig Select.  Had the privilege of meeting their master distiller awhile back when he was doing a US tour.  For me its a bit more harsh than the 10 year or quarter cask.  It's basically a blend of three of their scotches (I believe 10 year, quarter cask, and triple wood but don't quote me on that).  Huge fan of Laphroaig and I enjoy all their makings.  Select is an interesting blend because you get some of the strong peat character but with more of a woody flavor (which makes sense based on the blend).  I typically don't put any water in my scotch but a few drops in Select smooths it out a bit.  I also really like it in a Rob Roy cocktail.

                                            IG: Shadesofindig0

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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