What whisk(e)y are we drinking? (Part 2)

Listrydude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119614224#Comment_119614224

€400 for the Gold Spot? What kind of madness is this?

DARK-KNIGHT

Sometimes I wonder is there money laundering happening

Like some standard bottles go for way above RRP

Could be way off the mark but I have always wondered

FortuneChip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119613634#Comment_119613634

The Loop Duty Free primarily.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119614224#Comment_119614224

Which is where I was briefly able to pick up a few bottles of this for myself and some friends.

I saw that €400 going around on DrinkHero, it's mad, it's only recently come off the shelves.

Citizen Six

What kind of shenanigans? Do you mean Irish Distillers restricting supply to increase demand?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119530936#Comment_119530936

Celtic Whiskey Bar is in Killarney. It is linked to the shop in Dublin.

Beanstalk

THere's an old bottling of Three Swallows sitting all dust covered in a shelf in my offie for €36. any big difference in quality over the years? I got a new bottling last Christmas and enjoyed it very much

runningonwhiskey90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119616292#Comment_119616292

I have never noticed a difference between the liquid in the old and new bottles and powers have said its the same. Personally I prefer the look and feel of the old bottles - I cant warm to the new shape at all.

Citizen Six

Old bottle obviously looking a bit dated, and they wanted to freshen the image up.

Beanstalk

Thanks folks. I did think the new bottles looked a bit naff at first but now that I have all three of the core range they've really grown on me. I really like the very retro label on a very modern bottle. It works for me. The lip of the bottle is nice too. The old bottles don't really stand out anymore against others but I was curious to know whether it would be worthwhile getting the old bottle.

Gold label is definitely my favourite over Jameson and Bushmills core release. Can't beat the higher pot still spiceiness and mouthfeel and the cork in the bottle too.

oleras

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119616242#Comment_119616242

No.

The way the auction went on that particular lot.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119619347#Comment_119619347

No shenanigans really. Irish Distillers restrict supply, people want that whiskey as a result, people pay over the odds for it.

Happens all the time these days. People even buy MVR way over the odds just because they aren't bothered to go find where it's on sale at retail.

Black Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119613634#Comment_119613634

Delivery to UK addresses from Master of Malt. I get it later.

TESCO NI purchases when I pass through.

Airports quite often.

Rarely from an Irish store but if it is then Martins or Drinkstore. CWS if I must.

odyssey06

DrinksHero.com have a few deals on, bear in mind there's an €8 delivery charge with UPS

€50 Redbreast 12, Green Spot

€60 Green Spot Chateau Montelena, Leoville Barton

Also for samples, use code DRAMS for 25% off.

https://www.drinkshero.com/collections/samples

fmul9798

I see the green spot greek single cask is still available even though it has been out for a week or two now. Not surprising, at 295 euro... Ridiculous pricing I think.

sceach16

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119630994#Comment_119630994

Which one is still available?

fmul9798

Green spot greek single cask. Google that and Irish whiskey club. Still available to buy there via James fox.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119631935#Comment_119631935

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119521441#Comment_119521441

Not a fan :eek: …

…next you say your a guard puller too!

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119530936#Comment_119530936

Sorry lad, only seeing this one now.

The Celtic Whiskey Bar is in Killarney. Connected to the shop on Dawson St.

I think the Recbreast deconstructed tasting was €50. There was a similar bush one. But you could go in and taste what ever random selection you want.

There also have quite a lot of exclusives. I think they buy the occasional single cask from Irish distillers, bottle it and put a few behind the bar and sell the rest through the shop. Great opportunity to try stuff like that if your ever down that way.

Mellor

getting a bottle picked up via duty free.

has anyone tried the Bushmills Steamship range, specifically interested in the Sherry one. But not a lot of details in the age or make up.

there’s also a 10yo Bush Sherry Cask travel exclusive.

2011abc

I’ve heard the view true or otherwise that ‘travel specials’ arent the best

RayCon

Recently got a gift of Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch. Only tried one glass so far but enjoyed it.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119655840#Comment_119655840

It's very easy drinking... reminded me of Chivas 12 a bit.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119655772#Comment_119655772

I always look up prices before I travel. Or look up regular shops whole comparing at duty free.

Black Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119655772#Comment_119655772

This is a good topic for discussion.

By 'travel specials' I take it we're talking about 'travel retail only', rather than just what's on sale in travel retail.

There have been some whiskies that began in this category that are very well regarded, and ended up more widely available. Laphroaig PX cask and Talisker Dark Storm spring to mind.

But I'm a bit suspicious of the plethora of Glenmorangie and Highland Park travel retail only releases, all with age statements, and usually not at massive price points... I ask myself what's in it for them...

I have tried a few of the Highland Park offerings and they're not bad, but the fear is that some of them are a way of offloading whisky that isn't quite up to scratch. Age it a little longer, maybe do a cask finish, put it in a nice box and sell it as a 'travel retail only' release.

I got burned with quite an old bottle of Glenrothes single cask. I guess it was just a bad cask, but I did a bit of digging and it seems they aged it for several extra years and did a finish in order to try and dicky it up before selling it.

More recently I bought two bottles of Lagavulin 10 year old travel retail only, which were sold more or less at half price, and if I'm honest they are probably the worst Lagavulin I've had in recent years. Still pleasant, still better than some other whisky at the same price point, but I can see why they sold it at this price.

TL;DR :-

I would say in general that if the price of a whisky is not in line with the age statement and pricing when compared to the core expressions of the distillery, be wary.

None of the above is that much help with the Bushmills in question however. You can't tell at the moment which upper end Irish whiskies will turn out to be good, because they all seem to be competing with each other for optimism in their pricing, even the ones that must know their stuff is mediocre.

conor678

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119655884#Comment_119655884

I got gifted a bottle myself. It's not bad and like you say an easy drink but not much to remember.

It's in my cabinet as a 'hot toddy' bottle

cloudatlas

Anything tried anything reasonably priced which is new which is good? Velvet cap, fercullen, conaught, copeland?

2011abc

Slane at 30 in OBriens best of the ‘cheapies’ at moment in my opinion but Blackbush at 26 v close

DARK-KNIGHT

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119616292#Comment_119616292

Love three swallows

Citizen Six

I only found it alright. Got it at €30 recently, and wouldn't want to spend more than that on it myself.

DARK-KNIGHT

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119668148#Comment_119668148

Yeah for 30 it's a decent drop

I find it a little soft myself I drank loads of it when I started drinking whiskey

I go after higher proof stuff now