What Whisky/Whiskey are we drinking this month?

stimpson · 29-12-2020 08:09PM

I have an open bottle of each and just did a taste test.

I think you should get tested for COVID. Losing your sense of taste is an early symptom.

Cazale · 29-12-2020 08:29PM

I'm back in business after a muted Christmas. Some Teeling 24 year old tonight. Tried this before at Whiskey Live. Bit of a fruit bomb. Lovely stuff.

GY A1 · 29-12-2020 08:57PM

Really
I got one those when they were on offer a few months ago in lidl and it was terrible ,
Tasted awful cheap and I had a banging headache the following day after 2 or 3,
Can’t remember if it was the red or black cask one.

murphyebass wrote: »

Getting slightly embarrassing at this stage but another Lidl bottle.

I really like this one and will buy another one if I can find one.

*It costs the tongue. Oily if that makes any sense.

I get banana and citrus notes.

Really liking this one.

*not a whiskey expert

Felexicon · 29-12-2020 09:22PM

Cazale wrote: »

I'm back in business after a muted Christmas. Some Teeling 24 year old tonight. Tried this before at Whiskey Live. Bit of a fruit bomb. Lovely stuff.

It is a delightful drop. Enjoy

1901Rory · 29-12-2020 09:36PM

Cazale wrote: »

I'm back in business after a muted Christmas. Some Teeling 24 year old tonight. Tried this before at Whiskey Live. Bit of a fruit bomb. Lovely stuff.

Ah, a beautiful one! One of the highlight samples i had this year. Fruity as you say. I got a lovely Lilt and Chomp bar smell from it too. I had it too at WhiskeyLive last year at the tasting led by Alex Chasko who admitted frankly that they targeted winning the Worlds Best Single Malt for this.

Cazale · 29-12-2020 10:17PM

Second one of the night. Watched Ralfys whisky of the year 2021 earlier which he awarded to Arran 10 year old. Was convinced I had a sample so imagine my disappointment when I could only find some 18 and 21 Arran instead!

Settled on the 18 year old. Lovely natural color from the sherry. Dark chocolate and orchard fruits.

Testing out a new dartington glass too. Very aesthetically pleasing.

Cazale · 29-12-2020 10:29PM

1901Rory wrote: »

Ah, a beautiful one! One of the highlight samples i had this year. Fruity as you say. I got a lovely Lilt and Chomp bar smell from it too. I had it too at WhiskeyLive last year at the tasting led by Alex Chasko who admitted frankly that they targeted winning the Worlds Best Single Malt for this.

I tried it at whiskey live when I was still new enough to whiskey. Wandered over to the Teeling stand and started talking to a lad in a suit about their whiskey. Had a good chat for a few minutes with him and ended up trying a good few of their offerings which ended with the 24 year old being pulled from under the table for a sneaky sample. Found out later it was Jack Teeling we were taking too. Would have asked a hundred questions had I known. Probably better I didn't!

thethinone · 29-12-2020 11:16PM

Cazale wrote: »

I tried it at whiskey live when I was still new enough to whiskey. Wandered over to the Teeling stand and started talking to a lad in a suit about their whiskey. Had a good chat for a few minutes with him and ended up trying a good few of their offerings which ended with the 24 year old being pulled from under the table for a sneaky sample. Found out later it was Jack Teeling we were taking too. Would have asked a hundred questions had I known. Probably better I didn't!

That’s one thing I found about whiskey live; you have to do the legwork with the chat at the stand to get them to pull out the best stuff from under the table. Worth it though!

Twee. · 29-12-2020 11:34PM

Cazale wrote: »

I tried it at whiskey live when I was still new enough to whiskey. Wandered over to the Teeling stand and started talking to a lad in a suit about their whiskey. Had a good chat for a few minutes with him and ended up trying a good few of their offerings which ended with the 24 year old being pulled from under the table for a sneaky sample. Found out later it was Jack Teeling we were taking too. Would have asked a hundred questions had I known. Probably better I didn't!

It's such an asset to have founders/high ups like that actually out and about and doing stuff like Whiskey Live. I was attending a course that was hosted at Teeling Distillery and on our lunch break John Teeling was there done up in his suit making the rounds with all the customers in the cafe, asking if they did the tour, just in for a coffee, where are you from etc.

fmul9798 · 29-12-2020 11:53PM

Cardhu 12 followed by the Irish Reserve 26 for me this evening. Saving the Irish Reserve and only have it at Christmas. Did not get to have it on Christmas Day, so with the cold day in it, the time was right. So fruity, and I will be sad when it is empty.

Cazale · 29-12-2020 11:57PM

Twee. wrote:

It's such an asset to have founders/high ups like that actually out and about and doing stuff like Whiskey Live. I was attending a course that was hosted at Teeling Distillery and on our lunch break John Teeling was there done up in his suit making the rounds with all the customers in the cafe, asking if they did the tour, just in for a coffee, where are you from etc.

The same night I went to another stand where there was one ambassador talking to someone. Turns out it was Micheal Martin. I politely interjected and Martin turning into politician mode thought I wanted to talk to him. I had about twenty whiskeys at this stage so just asked the ambassador for a sample and gave Micheal a quick nod as I wandered off to the next stand. No time for politics when there is free whiskey to be drunk.

Can't remember the whiskey though so the story was more memorable than the sample.

Cazale · 29-12-2020 11:59PM

fmul9798 wrote:

Cardhu 12 followed by the Irish Reserve 26 for me this evening. Saving the Irish Reserve and only have it at Christmas. Did not get to have it on Christmas Day, so with the cold day in it, the time was right. So fruity, and I will be sad when it is empty.

Never got a bottle of the 26 year old. Such a great price at the time. I wonder will it ever be repeated.

ciaran76 · 30-12-2020 12:11AM

odyssey06 wrote: »

You might have change left over to get Lambay Small Batch... Irish whiskey finished in cognac casks on Lambay Island. Rrp about €40.

Got this as a present and opened it tonight. Really enjoyed it. Bit of toffee and a slight oily feel too.

Technophobe · 30-12-2020 02:15AM

It's late but back to work in the morning so going to crack open a pressie of Laphroaig 10 year old single malt and go out in style:)

mik_da_man · 30-12-2020 01:03PM

antonolan wrote: »

Hi All,

I tasted a newly purchased bottle of Redbrest (12 years) last July (2020) and I have to say that it was magnificent.

However, the other day my nephew offered me a taste of a newly purchased bottle of the same whiskey, and I found it to be awful. It was just like drinking cheap whiskey. It was nasty.

Moreover, my nephew gave me a bottle as a present too and I just opened it and I have to say that this one is equally as nasty.

I get that people tend not to complain about alcoholic beverages and I’ve never done so in my life before, but on this occasion I can’t keep my silence given how much the whiskey costs...

A twenty euro bottle of Tullamore Dew is nicer on the palette than what is being passed off as Redbrest whiskey this Christmas season.

Is this just me!?!

There's definitely a difference in this year's batch, but not enough to give that reaction. I'd ask a friend to try it too and compare to another open one if possible.
If it's still awful contact IDL they would be interested to check it and confirm if there were any issues that spoiled it.

mik_da_man · 30-12-2020 01:04PM

Cazale wrote: »

Second one of the night. Watched Ralfys whisky of the year 2021 earlier which he awarded to Arran 10 year old. Was convinced I had a sample so imagine my disappointment when I could only find some 18 and 21 Arran instead!

Settled on the 18 year old. Lovely natural color from the sherry. Dark chocolate and orchard fruits.

Testing out a new dartington glass too. Very aesthetically pleasing.

That's a lovely glass, must look out for one

Quackster · 30-12-2020 02:29PM

Cazale wrote: »

Second one of the night. Watched Ralfys whisky of the year 2021 earlier which he awarded to Arran 10 year old. Was convinced I had a sample so imagine my disappointment when I could only find some 18 and 21 Arran instead!

Settled on the 18 year old. Lovely natural color from the sherry. Dark chocolate and orchard fruits.

Testing out a new dartington glass too. Very aesthetically pleasing.

Was on Arran for Paddy's weekend this year. Beautiful island, especially if you're into the outdoors. My last few days of relative normality.

There were a fair few drams of Arran demolished on the last night - kinda felt like we were partying on the Titanic!

L1011 · 30-12-2020 06:22PM

Due to being stuck locally for a few days before Christmas - my cars in the garage and the car I've borrowed needed a new battery - I'd ended up having to get a bottle from the local Centra for a traditional Christmas bottle swap with a mate; so I'd got Black Barrel.

Got to Tesco today and they had Writers Tears at a decent price which I know he vastly prefers, so now I've got a bottle of Black Barrel to go straight on the drinking shelf. Not the worst outcome even if I did pay for it myself!

Suspect similar lockdown distance reasons will have made whatever I get in return be a bit more normal (and probably Irish) than the last few years when we were doing airport products and swapping Japanese or 'travel retail exclusive' Scotch.

jpm4 · 30-12-2020 07:52PM

Technophobe wrote: »

It's late but back to work in the morning so going to crack open a pressie of Laphroaig 10 year old single malt and go out in style:)

Got a bottle of this from my wife for Xmas and it's half gone! I like my peaty whiskys and this is a good one, not as nice as ardbeg 10 though.

Black Sheep · 30-12-2020 07:55PM

Red Silkie arrived... Rioja finish, non chill filtered and 46% abv.

I have to say the regular Silkie is a pretty pedestrian blend, with the Dark Silkie being a little more interesting... But this is the substantial upgrade I was hoping for. A very vinous, heady nose and the sweet apple elements of Silkie coming through pleasantly on the finish.

Fair to say it’s a bit like what they’ve achieved with the wine-finished version of their gin, the name of which I won’t attempt to spell.

I had a personal reason for ordering this... I just really want to see this distillery succeed... But happy to report it’s actually a cracker.

Oh, and they threw in a pair of hiking socks made locally as a gift...!

Insect Overlord · 30-12-2020 10:26PM

Needed something to take the edge off the nonsense all over social media today, so I've decided to spend the rest of the night finishing off a bottle of Teeling single malt. Bottled October 2014. Did well to make it last this long! Just enough left for a double. Cheers, folks.

2011abc · 30-12-2020 10:57PM

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Needed something to take the edge off the nonsense all over social media today, so I've decided to spend the rest of the night finishing off a bottle of Teeling single malt. Bottled October 2014. Did well to make it last this long! Just enough left for a double. Cheers, folks.

Great stuff,what got me onto whiskey a few years ago

Electric Nitwit · 30-12-2020 11:01PM

Black Sheep wrote: »

Red Silkie arrived...

Ooh, now that's tempting. My dad's from Donegal and I need a birthday present for him in a couple of months. Might go for one of these

Would you mind telling me roughly what it says on the box/bottle about being from Donegal? I know it's a trivial thing (and I know it's not distilled there yet) but my dad's not a whiskey buff, I'd want it to be pretty clear about its Donegal roots so that he understands why I've got it

Technophobe · 30-12-2020 11:10PM

jpm4 wrote: »

Got a bottle of this from my wife for Xmas and it's half gone! I like my peaty whiskys and this is a good one, not as nice as ardbeg 10 though.

I have a Laphroaig QA cask double matured and told herself to source another Islay peated whiskey for me to try and have to add to my collection but time and lockdown caught up so she ended up getting me the 10 yr old..

Need to put both side by side and compare.
Anyone care to tell me what to expect??

Black Sheep · 31-12-2020 12:27AM

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

Ooh, now that's tempting. My dad's from Donegal and I need a birthday present for him in a couple of months. Might go for one of these

Would you mind telling me roughly what it says on the box/bottle about being from Donegal? I know it's a trivial thing (and I know it's not distilled there yet) but my dad's not a whiskey buff, I'd want it to be pretty clear about its Donegal roots so that he understands why I've got it

It comes in a tube with a fair bit of backstory on the back... The Donegal link is pretty to the fore. I’ll take a pic tomorrow but it’s this kind of thing:-

“While the Silkie Irish Whiskey range is inspired by the legend of the Silkie seals, told around the Donegal coast, Red Silkie plays homage to a real-life legend, one of the last Chieftains of Donegal, Red Hugh O’Donnell. O’Donnell left Ireland in 1602 to travel to Spain in the hope of garnering the support of King Philip of Spain to reclaim his lands in Donegal. Sadly, Hugh O’Donnell died at Castle Simancas, near the Ribera del Duero wine region, before he could return home to Donegal with his army.”

Cazale · 31-12-2020 03:48AM

Black Sheep wrote:

I have to say the regular Silkie is a pretty pedestrian blend, with the Dark Silkie being a little more interesting... But this is the substantial upgrade I was hoping for. A very vinous, heady nose and the sweet apple elements of Silkie coming through pleasantly on the finish.

Black Sheep wrote:

I had a personal reason for ordering this... I just really want to see this distillery succeed... But happy to report itâ€™s actually a cracker.

For some reason I've been following Sliabh Liag with interest too. They seem to have a good foothold in the northwest. I've seen it in loads of pubs and off licenses in Derry/Donegal with an emphasis on it being the Donegal whiskey.

They acknowledged that the first batch of regular silkie could have been better. Think subsequent batches are supposed to be better. The Dark Silkie is good value at 40 Euro and 46abv. Got a pre release sample of the red in the summer but never got around to trying it. Great to hear good reports.

The dulaman Santa Ana Armada Strength Gin is savage stuff.

Electric Nitwit · 31-12-2020 10:30AM

Black Sheep wrote: »

It comes in a tube with a fair bit of backstory on the back... The Donegal link is pretty to the fore. I’ll take a pic tomorrow but it’s this kind of thing:-

“While the Silkie Irish Whiskey range is inspired by the legend of the Silkie seals, told around the Donegal coast, Red Silkie plays homage to a real-life legend, one of the last Chieftains of Donegal, Red Hugh O’Donnell. O’Donnell left Ireland in 1602 to travel to Spain in the hope of garnering the support of King Philip of Spain to reclaim his lands in Donegal. Sadly, Hugh O’Donnell died at Castle Simancas, near the Ribera del Duero wine region, before he could return home to Donegal with his army.”

That's perfect, thanks for replying!
That's a birthday present sorted

acer911 · 31-12-2020 12:06PM

Interested to hear peoples thoughts on my existing and new additions that I was gifted in the last few weeks (Redbreast 12, Smokehead, 1792 Bourbon and Bunnahabhain). I have yet open any of them so any observations welcome, tried the Redbreast before so know what to expect there.

My current collect comprises of Bowmore 12, Caol Ila 12, Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig 10, Connemara Turf Mor and Bushmills 16. Started out getting into whiskey by sampling an Islay at at tasting, was never into whiskey before that and its kind of gone from there.

Laphroaig probably my personal favourite from the current stock, however a lot to be said from the all and there is even a reasonable amount of variation in the Islay whiskeys.

Some pictures attached for reference.

Black Sheep · 31-12-2020 01:43PM

Well, Redbreast 12 year old is a canonical Irish whiskey and is of undoubted quality. I personally would have to say that I think it is at risk of being overrated in comparison with other Irish whiskeys at a lower price point, but an element of that is a matter of taste.

1792 bourbon featured recently in a bourbon tasting I did with the Master of Malt bourbon advent calendar and my recollection is that it's a decent mixture of rye and caramel, not a bad sipping bourbon. The cask strength version was notable for being a Jim Murray pick for whisky of the year.

Can't say much about Bunnahabhain but I've enjoyed the odd sample from there.

I'd be curious how the Smokehead stacks up against the other Islays you mention...

Mellor · 31-12-2020 01:46PM

Black Sheep wrote: »

Well, Redbreast 12 year old is a canonical Irish whiskey and is of undoubted quality. I personally would have to say that I think it is at risk of being overrated in comparison with other Irish whiskeys at a lower price point, but an element of that is a matter of taste.

I’d be curious as to which you’d put ahead of it at the same price? Or as good as for less either.

What Whisky/Whiskey are we drinking this month?

Comments