That’s one of the ones I’ve tried and liked. IIRC it was reasonably priced too.
Lifestyle Bourbon
- Thread starter Grateful Dude
- Start date
Good info, thanks.IMHO Japanese whisky got too popular & the prices exploded. The Hibiki 12 above used to cost me $45ish. Now the non age statement is $80-150 while the 17yr will run you over $800 in many areas. That’s just insane. It would be worth it to just pay for a dram of the 17 if you see it. I’ll stand by it being an outstanding pour but bit at current prices. The 12 wasn’t far behind the 17 but light years ahead of the new non age statement.
Maybe take a tasting tour of Scotland starting with the Glens & working around the different regions. Mix in Sherry cask to liven things up. Just avoid the heavy Islay pours (there are non-peated Islay though).
Actually a very approachable peated Islay would be Bowmore 15. It’s Sherried so it mellows the smoke & adds a sweet factor. Might be a bit much so save it till the end
I’m familiar with the Glens, and Macallan, Oban, and some of the other big name ones like that. But there are so many other scotches out there I haven’t explored.
I’m a bourbon guy, but my business partner is more of scotch guy. When we started our business we went and snagged a bottle of Macallan 18 and sat on it until we got paid on our first big invoice (which took months). That one was fun to crack ?
This is going to sound stupid, because they're so different. But it was like it had the characteristics of scotch, but the smoothness of a bourbon.
If you enjoyed Macallen I can give you a list of Scotch with similar attributes, different profiles & lower price range(I prefer all of these others to Macallen)
I’m all ears man. I have a pretty wide scotch selection available to me here. I just don’t know what to buy. That Macallan 18 was like $300, which isn’t my normal price point lol
So, I like robust flavor, but I don't like feeling like I've just swallowed a flaming sword. It's why I prefer bourbon to other whiskeys. I've found the Japanese whiskeys I've drank that although made in the scotch style, still have that smoothness.
From cheap to expensive (in my area):
-Glenmorangie Lasanta. At Total Wine this one is cheaper in the gift set. You’ll get a nice glass & a small original bottle as well for about $10 less than the bottle itself. I’d put it on par with Macallen 12 but I prefer the profile.
-Glendronach 12. This is probably the best Sherry 12yr out there. Highly recommended
-Bowmore 15. I really enjoy this Islay. Have a bit in rotation now. Plenty of dark plum beneath the smoke here.
-Dalmore 12 Sherry Cask. This is a sweet version of their cigar blend. Plenty of dark fruit here as well.
-Aberlour A’Bundah. This one is >110 proof so be aware going in. It’s a solid Sherry cask though.
My two favorites here are the Glendronach & Bowmore. Your mileage may vary.
Thanks buddy. I’ll do some research on these and see what I can find here. Appreciate the info.
Looks like I have all of these available here. Prices not too crazy, looks to be between $44 and up to about $100 for the Aberlour A'Bundah.
Sounds right for prices. The Lasanta gift set is $40 at my local Total Wine but the Aberlour is a bit over $100
I could go far higher but there’s some good stuff in that range.
Dean Martin/Frank Sinatra burger recipes
Was at Total Wine the other day picking my wife a bottle of bubbly since a couple friends were coming over. I decided to give O.F. 1920 another shot as the only other time I tried it I thought it was retched. Well, it's not as bad as the first bottle(that I gave away) since the rancid meat flavor is no longer present but it's still a shit bourbon in my opinion. I know people love this stuff but I just can't get behind it. The rancid meat has been substituted for a compost flavor, think of reaching into a compost pile & shoving that into your mouth. I'll probably end up trading this one with a neighbor for something more palatable. Really wish I would have saved $15 and just gone with the Woodford Double Oaked I was originally going to grab.
You're the only person I've ever heard describe it that way. We went through that line of their bottles in our whiskey club, and they were generally liked. Of course not everybody loved them, or even thought they were anything special. But definitely not "retched", "rancid" or "shit". Those are not the flavors I get at all. I'd ask if you got a soured bottle or something, but I'm not sure how that would even happen to whiskey. Shit, I'd take it back and get a refund - tell them you got a bad bottle and that it tastes like rancid meat and see what they say haha
I find it interesting how we can all have such different palates, and also how we can all taste very different things in these bottles.
I guess you know not to waste your money on that one any more
Lol, yeah OF is off my list for sure. My neighbor doesn’t mind it so I’ll be swapping it for a peated Irish that he doesn’t care for(Connemara I believe). Means I’ll still need to replace the bourbon but it’ll be with something I know is to my liking(Woodford, Michters,etc).You're the only person I've ever heard describe it that way. We went through that line of their bottles in our whiskey club, and they were generally liked. Of course not everybody loved them, or even thought they were anything special. But definitely not "retched", "rancid" or "shit". Those are not the flavors I get at all. I'd ask if you got a soured bottle or something, but I'm not sure how that would even happen to whiskey. Shit, I'd take it back and get a refund - tell them you got a bad bottle and that it tastes like rancid meat and see what they say haha
I find it interesting how we can all have such different palates, and also how we can all taste very different things in these bottles.
I guess you know not to waste your money on that one any more
I also enjoy peated scotch like Lagavulin, Bowmore, etc. Pretty used to people getting a negative reaction to something I find great.
Food is similar. My wife used to be a chef & owned a high end bakery before we relocated. Our palates differ greatly. Especially concerning Mediterranean vs N. European. I can’t stand much of the Mediterranean cuisine & she doesn’t care for Scandinavian or Russian. Her family is Portuguese & mine is Danish so that probably explains at least part of it.
I haven’t acquired the taste for the peated stuff yet. Maybe I’ll get there as I continue to trash my tastebuds ?
People go wrong with peated by jumping into the deep end of the pool right off the get go. I’d recommend trying a glass of Bowmore 15 at a local bar/eatery. It’s an Islay but it’s spent a couple years in Sherry casks to smooth it out & sweeten it up a bit. Lagavulin 16 is also “smooth” but the overall profile is much darker & smokier.
Don’t even look at Laphroig, Port Askaig or others until you’re comfortable with the above.
I’ve tired Laphroig, wasn’t my thing! It was quite a while ago though
LOL!!!!!!!!!! Talk about the deep end of the pool. That's a profile of iodine, sea water(brine), see weed & smoke HAHAHAHA!!!!! It's one that I started to get a taste for a while back but not something that I'd ever consider if looking at it from my own description.
Seriously, try the Bowmore 15 & get back to me.
Well buying this was a mistake. Terribly sweet. Not sure what to do with it. It's horrible straight and even worse as a cocktail.
Maybe it'll go well with a spicy gingerbeer. Could always use it for cooking I guess.
Maybe it'll go well with a spicy gingerbeer. Could always use it for cooking I guess.
Probably give it away. I have to get rid of all the booze before I leave in a couple weeks
Moving? I loathe moving.
Yes. Big big move
Well I hope you enjoy where you end up.
My next move will either be back home on the Central Coast (if something in my career line materializes) or when I retire. Either way I’m heading back to a foggy little fishing town.