What Whisky/Whiskey are we drinking this month?

conor678 · 25-10-2020 07:03PM

The wife got the Christmas present ordered for me, few bottle of whiskey off masters of malt. She's not told me which ones but they were giving free samples of Slane whiskey with each order which she passed into me.

Very nice whiskey and one I would definitely try and get. Touching up on earlier posts I would prefer to wait for their own whiskey made and distilled and matured on site to come.to the market before buying. How does one know if you are buying actual whiskey from a distillery ad opposed to other distillery stock?

raclle · 25-10-2020 07:37PM

I've never given whiskey a chance but I'm intrigued so will be buying a bottle soon.

What would you recommend for a novice? I was looking at Bushmills 10

Also do you drink it neat, with ice or mix it?

lawrencesummers · 25-10-2020 07:50PM

raclle wrote: »

I've never given whiskey a chance but I'm intrigued so will be buying a bottle soon.

What would you recommend for a novice? I was looking at Bushmills 10

Also do you drink it neat, with ice or mix it?

You can pick up tasting kits that give you three or four different types with a variety of finishes. Thats a good place to start.

https://ie.irishmalts.com/single-malt/west-cork-single-malt-cask-finishes-minis

I picked up one of them last week because I wanted to try the calvados buy might not fancy a full bottle.

Ice & water Is a personal preference, I generally start tasting neat and end up adding one or both.

odyssey06 · 25-10-2020 07:50PM

raclle wrote: »

I've never given whiskey a chance but I'm intrigued so will be buying a bottle soon.
What would you recommend for a novice? I was looking at Bushmills 10
Also do you drink it neat, with ice or mix it?

Bushmills Black Bush is €26 in Tesco at the moment, might be a cheaper starter whiskey for you.
You should try it a few different ways... maybe start 50:50 with slightly chilled bottled water, then try with 1 ice cube, then try neat.

I wouldn't mix Black Bush with ginger ale \ cola etc
Jameson with ginger ale and lime over ice is very refreshing.

odyssey06 · 25-10-2020 08:45PM

newbie runner wrote: »

Very enjoyable tasting of Gelstons range last night.The 26 year old was phenomenal

Back to an Ardbeg Uigeadail tonight for me.

Yes very enjoyable.

The 26yo was quality... weird that it had taken on some smokiness from the charred cask?

I liked the tropical notes in the Bushmills sourced 15yo.

The 5yo from west cork had lovely orangey finish but off putting sulphuric nose.
The 10yo single malt from Cooley has fruity nose, spicy finish, slightly off balance to me.

The NAS pot still from West Cork was lovely light starter.

The NAS pot still pinot noir finish I really liked. More depth than the basic pot still with a dry finish. Joint venture with actor Sam Neill who is a cousin of Gelstons Johnny Neill. I have tasted Sam Neill's Twin Paddocks pinot noir, excellent wine but a bit overpriced when you consider the whiskey at 43e is the same price as the wine!

Cazale · 25-10-2020 09:41PM

Looking at a few recent auctions the Waterford bubble has burst with only the pilgrimage and Ratheadon 1.1 making money. Pilgrimage going for around 1,300 and Ratheadon 1.1 is going for 200-220. All the other 1.1 and 1.2 including the Ratheadon 1.2 are going for 60-85.

Hogzy · 25-10-2020 11:43PM

Cazale wrote: »

Looking at a few recent auctions the Waterford bubble has burst with only the pilgrimage and Ratheadon 1.1 making money. Pilgrimage going for around 1,300 and Ratheadon 1.1 is going for 200-220. All the other 1.1 and 1.2 including the Ratheadon 1.2 are going for 60-85.

It was always going to happen when they flooded the market with so much of it! UK stores are starting to discount their whiskey already. Not a good sign!

Surprised to see the MVR 2018 get such a price though, and the DC32 hit a new record too.

Wailin · 26-10-2020 12:04AM

There's a 2018 MVR sitting on the shelf in a local supervalu the last 2 yrs, still at €177. I think I'll have to relieve them of it tomorrow before someone eyes it up as an Xmas gift...

Mellor · 26-10-2020 01:21AM

lawrencesummers wrote: »

I think you will take a long time to find someone that doesn’t think origin should be clear, but I think it’s a bigger abuse of the lack of rules that a whiskey names itself after a particular area and clearly benefits from pretending to be a product of that location.

Clonakilty does the same and probably a few others like Tipperary. When you buy a bottle of whiskey from Glendalough/ tipperary / clonakilty that doesn’t make it clear it’s from elsewhere the reasonable assumption is that it’s from that place.

Most people will assume that a new "distillery" is selling whiskey they produced themselves. It's a fair assumption to the uninitiated, but it's largely incorrect (for obvious reasons). But I can't see why the name of the company changes anything.

If somebody expects Glendalough to be producing their own spirit. They should expect the same of Walsh Whiskey in Carlow. There is absolutely no logical reason to hold a whiskey to a higher standard of expectation due to the origin of the company name.

There's a HUGE difference between a company name and a product description;

I]Location[/I Distillery as a company, selling a product labeled Irish Whiskey, is very different to;
John Doe Distillery as a company, selling a product described Galway Whiskey

In the case of the latter, I can understand your position. But when everything else is marketed the same, I hold Glendalough and Walsh to the same standard. (examples were random).
FWIW, Pogues and JJ Correy aren't great examples. As Pogues state that it is made in West Cork, and JJ Correy is a bonder not a distillery.

limnam · 26-10-2020 01:22AM

adrian522 wrote: »

Really don't get the hate for RB15 on this forum. It's a fantastic whiskey and for my money is the best of the ones listed above.

I don't get people who don't get other peoples taste.

The forum would be fairly boring if we all drank and liked the same whiskeys.

Not a fan of RB 15 myself, don't take it personally though.

1901Rory · 26-10-2020 09:04AM

Tried samples of Compass Box King St Artist Blend along with Dewars 12 The Ancestor last night. The grainy Dewars was no match for the CBKSAB raspberry and cream smell and stewed apple and honey taste. Might look around to pick up the CBKSAB - it was good.

the beer revolu · 26-10-2020 11:10AM

Mellor wrote: »

Most people will assume that a new "distillery" is selling whiskey they produced themselves. It's a fair assumption to the uninitiated, but it's largely incorrect (for obvious reasons). But I can't see why the name of the company changes anything.

If somebody expects Glendalough to be producing their own spirit. They should expect the same of Walsh Whiskey in Carlow. There is absolutely no logical reason to hold a whiskey to a higher standard of expectation due to the origin of the company name.

There's a HUGE difference between a company name and a product description;
I]Location[/I Distillery as a company, selling a product labeled Irish Whiskey, is very different to;

John Doe Distillery as a company, selling a product described Galway Whiskey

In the case of the latter, I can understand your position. But when everything else is marketed the same, I hold Glendalough and Walsh to the same standard. (examples were random).
FWIW, Pogues and JJ Correy aren't great examples. As Pogues state that it is made in West Cork, and JJ Correy is a bonder not a distillery.

The Scottish rules would disagree with you.
They've really clamped down on fake geographic provenance.
Conemara would not be allowed in Scotland.

lawrencesummers · 26-10-2020 11:43AM

Mellor wrote: »

Most people will assume that a new "distillery" is selling whiskey they produced themselves. It's a fair assumption to the uninitiated, but it's largely incorrect (for obvious reasons). But I can't see why the name of the company changes anything.

If somebody expects Glendalough to be producing their own spirit. They should expect the same of Walsh Whiskey in Carlow. There is absolutely no logical reason to hold a whiskey to a higher standard of expectation due to the origin of the company name.

There's a HUGE difference between a company name and a product description;
I]Location[/I Distillery as a company, selling a product labeled Irish Whiskey, is very different to;

John Doe Distillery as a company, selling a product described Galway Whiskey

In the case of the latter, I can understand your position. But when everything else is marketed the same, I hold Glendalough and Walsh to the same standard. (examples were random).
FWIW, Pogues and JJ Correy aren't great examples. As Pogues state that it is made in West Cork, and JJ Correy is a bonder not a distillery.

I know that people who have an interest in whiskey will understand that places like Glendalough and clonakilty are bottling spirit from elsewhere, But I’m talking about people who don’t know, people that just pick up a bottle to find out later that it is essentially just bushmills or Jameson they are drinking. I think it’s a con job to be honest.

If I bought something like London Gin I would expect it to be made in London not Liverpool, the way that Champagne is just from Champagne.

The point I’m making is that the whiskey industry in Ireland should be protecting its product because it is a quality product that can grow globally.

Tom Dunne · 26-10-2020 11:45AM

Took the plunge on the Waterford Ratheadon 1.2. Not bad, middle of the road stuff. I'm still working on the whole articulation of the taste (fig? Pear? Spice I dunno). Compares well to Drumshambo, which I believe is in itself a compliment.

irish_goat · 26-10-2020 11:50AM

lawrencesummers wrote: »

I know that people who have an interest in whiskey will understand that places like Glendalough and clonakilty are bottling spirit from elsewhere, But I’m talking about people who don’t know, people that just pick up a bottle to find out later that it is essentially just bushmills or Jameson they are drinking. I think it’s a con job to be honest.

Bars and off licences don't help matters either when they advertise products and say they're made locally. I notice it in Derry with Quiet Man whiskey, Dopey Dick and Muff gin, to name a few.

lawrencesummers wrote: »

If I bought something like London Gin I would expect it to be made in London not Liverpool, the way that Champagne is just from Champagne.

London Gin is a style of gin though, in the same way India Pale Ale doesn't come from India.

lawrencesummers · 26-10-2020 12:57PM

irish_goat wrote: »

Bars and off licences don't help matters either when they advertise products and say they're made locally. I notice it in Derry with Quiet Man whiskey, Dopey Dick and Muff gin, to name a few.

London Gin is a style of gin though, in the same way India Pale Ale doesn't come from India.

There you go, that’s my point about origin, it misleading to use a location but there is a difference because IPA is sold under a brand name like brewdog or yellowbellow etc and London gin is sold as Tanqueray or whatever.

I think when a distillery calls itself Glendalough or clonakilty etc it’s doing something different and isn’t distinguishing between its rebottled spirit and what isn’t when they have their own

If you want to rebottle bushmills and Call it “proper muck 4” then work away, but when your brand name is “Hill of Tara” it misleads.

Mellor · 26-10-2020 03:36PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

The Scottish rules would disagree with you.
They've really clamped down on fake geographic provenance.
Conemara would not be allowed in Scotland.

I'm aware. I imagine that down to the location naming being de facto in scotland, and less established here during later 20th century.

Scottish rules also would have recognized a lot of the Irish experimental whiskeys of recent years. Caskmates whiskey and similar - but they change that, market share reasons prehaps.
A mot of the method and madness range wouldn't count still afaik.

lawrencesummers wrote: »

But I’m talking about people who don’t know, people that just pick up a bottle to find out later that it is essentially just bushmills or Jameson they are drinking.

I don't think you are getting to what I'm saying tbh.
I'm aware that people who don't know expect that distilleries make and sell their own whiskey. I'm saying they also expect that just as much when the name is JoeBloggsWhiskey. The geographic company name doesn't change anything for them. And it shouldn't change anything for people who know what goes on either.

If I bought something like London Gin I wouldn't expect it to be made in London not Liverpool, the way that Champagne is just from Champagne.

The point I’m making is that the whiskey industry in Ireland should be protecting its product because it is a quality product that can grow globally.

London Gin is a style of gin. I don't expect all the buffalo wings I've eaten to come from buffalo.

Champagne is a product, not a company name though. It's a product of protected origin. So is Irish Whiskey. So Glendalough can't buy overseas whiskey and sell it as Irish Whiskey - which is what they label their product as. But they can buy Irish Whiskey, and put their companies label on it.

And just like Irish Whiskey, champagne and wine producers purchase other producers and crus for blanding. Chateau Pierre can might from Chateau Jacques down the road and use it in their champagne with their own label.

lawrencesummers · 26-10-2020 05:27PM

Mellor wrote: »

I'm aware. I imagine that down to the location naming being de facto in scotland, and less established here during later 20th century.

Scottish rules also would have recognized a lot of the Irish experimental whiskeys of recent years. Caskmates whiskey and similar - but they change that, market share reasons prehaps.
A mot of the method and madness range wouldn't count still afaik.

I don't think you are getting to what I'm saying tbh.
I'm aware that people who don't know expect that distilleries make and sell their own whiskey. I'm saying they also expect that just as much when the name is JoeBloggsWhiskey. The geographic company name doesn't change anything for them. And it shouldn't change anything for people who know what goes on either.

London Gin is a style of gin. I don't expect all the buffalo wings I've eaten to come from buffalo.

Champagne is a product, not a company name though. It's a product of protected origin. So is Irish Whiskey. So Glendalough can't buy overseas whiskey and sell it as Irish Whiskey - which is what they label their product as. But they can buy Irish Whiskey, and put their companies label on it.

And just like Irish Whiskey, champagne and wine producers purchase other producers and crus for blanding. Chateau Pierre can might from Chateau Jacques down the road and use it in their champagne with their own label.

You see it that way I don’t that’s fine, but if I buy a bottle of Scotch called Inverness Distillery Scotch when I visit there then I expect it to have been made at the Inverness distillery. If I buy something called Tartan kilt Scotch then I’m not surprised to find out it’s made in a shed out the back of parkhead by the former grounds man at ibrox.

For me The same goes for Irish Whiskey, it’s a small thing because the Main issue is that the origin and traceability of the whiskey isn’t protected enough by legislation and I think that will be detrimental to the product going forward.

Supposedly a few Irish distilleries are using grain that isn’t from Ireland as well, further putting the quality of the product at risk.

And Buffalo wings are named after a bar in Buffalo New York, but yes you can’t expect every portion to have been made in that bar.

Effects · 26-10-2020 10:19PM

Cazale wrote: »

Looking at a few recent auctions the Waterford bubble has burst with only the pilgrimage and Ratheadon 1.1 making money. Pilgrimage going for around 1,300 and Ratheadon 1.1 is going for 200-220. All the other 1.1 and 1.2 including the Ratheadon 1.2 are going for 60-85.

Is Ratheadon 1.2 being sold at auction? My local off licence still has loads of it.

Mellor · 26-10-2020 11:36PM

lawrencesummers wrote: »

You see it that way I don’t that’s fine, but if I buy a bottle of Scotch called Inverness Distillery Scotch when I visit there then I expect it to have been made at the Inverness distillery. If I buy something called Tartan kilt Scotch then I’m not surprised to find out it’s made in a shed out the back of parkhead by the former grounds man at ibrox.

You seem to be conflating the product name and the company name.
If they call the product or a particular release "Location Whatever Whiskey". Then sure. For example, we would all expect Midleton to be made in Midleton as it's the name of the product itself. But I can't think of many whiskey products with a geographical name in ireland

The examples above there aren't equivalent, as one includes the name of the distillery - the other lacks any distillery to link it to,
If it was "Tarten Kit Distillery Whisky". Then surely you expect it to be made at the Tarten Kit Distillery, as per inverness example. You haven't really justified why they get a lower standard.

I'm all for clear information on who distilled what is in a bottle. I'd support that rule coming in. But I can't get behind the idea that it only applies to distilleries with geographical names. That's just silly tbh. It should be same rules for all. I know where the Glendalough Distillery is, I know where Walshes distillery is. I'm going to treat them the same.

Most distilleries at this point are named after a location. And I imagine most, at this point, are blending stock, rather than selling their distilled spirit.

And Buffalo wings are named after a bar in Buffalo New York, but yes you can’t expect every portion to have been made in that bar.

I'm aware of the origin. That's why I choose it as an example.
The above contradicts your expectation on London Gin or other places names products.

lawrencesummers · 27-10-2020 09:53AM

Clonakilty
Tipperary
Glendalough
Knappogue Castle
Kilbeggan whiskey

I don’t think it should be different rules, but I do think the whiskeys that are named geographically are taking more of a liberty and a benefit from the lack of rules.
I’ve said enough on this
I hope it changes for the betterment of Irish Whiskey.

Cazale · 27-10-2020 10:31AM

Black Barrel is down to 30 euro in Tesco. Time for my yearly stock up.

Cazale · 27-10-2020 10:38AM

lawrencesummers wrote:

I donâ€™t think it should be different rules, but I do think the whiskeys that are named geographically are taking more of a liberty and a benefit from the lack of rules. Iâ€™ve said enough on this I hope it changes for the betterment of Irish Whiskey.

I've posted this before but my biggest bugbear is when a company gives itself a historical name and I have to listen to 10 minutes of a history lesson before I can try the whiskey. Stories about some auld boys bicycle, a pirate queen or the battle of kinsale bore me silly in the context of sourced whiskey from probably the same place. I know brands need something to differentiate themselves but it puts me off trying them.

Ivefoundgod · 27-10-2020 10:43AM

Cazale wrote: »

I've posted this before but my biggest bugbear is when a company gives itself a historical name and I have to listen to 10 minutes of a history lesson before I can try the whiskey. Stories about some auld boys bicycle, a pirate queen or the battle of kinsale bore me silly in the context of sourced whiskey from probably the same place. I know brands need something to differentiate themselves but it puts me off trying them.

I agree with you there, in general I try to support Irish Whiskey when I can but some recent efforts do seem to stretch the bounds of credibility. The Grace O' Malley whiskey being a particularly obvious example. I'd rather buy whiskey which was actually produced in the distillery that is selling it and will usually lean that way when buying but I don't mind supporting a new distillery that is waiting for its own whiskey to mature before selling it. Silkie and Slane being examples of ones I've tried knowing its bought stock.

I would like to see clearer labelling and some rules brought in, even if its just as simple as the source of the whiskey being sold. Usually someone on here will know where the whiskey has come from but if not it can be difficult to find out and some new brands "backstory" does appear to be trying to pull the wool over the average consumers eyes with regards to its provenance.

dobman88 · 27-10-2020 10:46AM

Cazale wrote: »

Black Barrel is down to 30 euro in Tesco. Time for my yearly stock up.

Lovely. I just drank the last drop this weekend

OldRio · 27-10-2020 11:22AM

Interesting, what is the Black Barrel like? I normally treat myself at Christmas to Green Spot and RB12.

dobman88 · 27-10-2020 12:56PM

Still up at 40 quid in my local so just bought the 1 bottle. Will keep an eye on it

sceach16 · 27-10-2020 01:06PM

dobman88 wrote: »

Still up at 40 quid in my local so just bought the 1 bottle. Will keep an eye on it

Tesco 30 valid 28/10 (wed) til 24/11. Caskmates-both- 25. same dates. (from Website).

https://www.tesco.ie/groceries/product/browse/default.aspx?N=4294780061&action=toggleProdListSize_2

dobman88 · 27-10-2020 01:20PM

sceach16 wrote: »

Tesco 30 valid 28/10 (wed) til 24/11. Caskmates-both- 25. same dates. (from Website).

https://www.tesco.ie/groceries/product/browse/default.aspx?N=4294780061&action=toggleProdListSize_2

Oh well. I have a bottle now anyway, the last bottle in stock as it turned out so got lucky and unlucky. And I'm not ordering whiskey to be delivered in current circumstances, leave that free for those who need it. May have to pop in at some stage to check out if they have some for 30. Would be rude not to. At that price its ridiculously good value.

Mellor · 27-10-2020 01:43PM

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Clonakilty
Tipperary
Glendalough
Knappogue Castle
Kilbeggan whiskey

I don’t think it should be different rules, but I do think the whiskeys that are named geographically are taking more of a liberty and a benefit from the lack of rules.
I’ve said enough on this
I hope it changes for the betterment of Irish Whiskey.

There's loads more geographic distilleries.
Boann
Slane
Dublin Whiskey Company
Powerscourt
Ballykeefe
Blackwater
Cape Clear
Dingle
Lough Gill
Connacht Whiskey

Plus the big ones
Bushmills (who use a lot of bought stock)
Tullamore Dew...produced in Cork for 50 years.

A bigger issue for me, are the guys who aren't producing any whiskey, or don't even have a distillery. But happy to pretend that they do.

What Whisky/Whiskey are we drinking this month?

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