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

It's an interesting topic. People will counterfeit anything that's worth money. The New York Times had a similar story recently.

You can buy empty bottles of bourbon on eBay. A quick search brought this bottle up below for example. An empty bottle of 20 year Pappy for $289!

I've tried all six in the Van Winkle range and I'm going to review them individually for my blog. I plan to discuss bourbon, buffalo trace distillery and the secondary market. I think I might look into the fake market too. I'll post them here too.

I wonder is there much of a counterfeiting issue within Irish whiskey considering the prices some bottles are commanding?

There was issues with whiskey originating in Belarus being marketed as Irish whiskey a few years ago but it wasn't a copy of an existing brand. Jameson has been faked in Africa before in back street operations.

I haven't heard yet of a fake Knappogue Castle 1951 or Dungourney 1964. I remember listening to am interview with the owner of Irish Whiskey Auctions and he said he had only come across one or two genuinely dodgy bottles in his time. I wonder will that change?

Another Christmas gift set miniatures present. This time Fercullen (Powerscourt). I'd sampled these before over time, but the set gave me a chance to try them side by side.

The 10 year old single grain (40%) and 14 year old single malt (46%) are an obvious step up in quality and length of finish from the premium blend (40%) - which is nice, mellow and smooth but doesn't bring the same flavour hit. I'd put it on the same level as say Slane blended whiskey.

Personally I'd pick the single grain as my favourite, the citrus / honey flavours preferred over the spice of the single malt.

I think the single grain also wins out on value at €58 versus €45 for the blend and €93 for the single malt.

I wish more distilleries / bottlers would put together sets like this :)

I guess they must sell a lot of these gift sets in Powerscourt / tours.

Opened up a bottle of Buffalo Trace. Slightly thin at 40% versus the 45% American version. Picked it up for £18 before Christmas. Good value at that price.

Newry....don't waste your time...horrid stuff.

Drinking my first Redbreast 12. It’s really interesting, have been trying it with water one day and ice the next. I get 2 different tastes nearly but don’t know which I prefer, though slightly leaning towards ice.

Seen I can potentially get the Redbreast 15 for €83 here but have to get it delivered in. From reading posts here it is super tempting to try!

When pouring a drink, do you use a measure or count or just go with the feel?

Thanks for the replies on that! And I will try and buy 2. Have spent a few hundred on whiskey over the last month so may only get away with buying 1 😄

One last question. Do you use a tumbler or any specific glass. I'm ok at wine so use Reidel Wine glasses and use them for whiskey now also. Does it make a big difference using a tumbler or a Glencairn glass? Does it make a big difference?

My partner doesn't like whiskey so it will only be myself or one of the mates (who would probably be after beer or gin anyway).

I got one of those Irish style glass with a bottle of Mc Connell's whiskey i got for my dad and I have to say the curved outward rim, designed to supposedly take away the alchoholic harshness of the whiskey, to me, mutes it all a little too much, especially for scotch. Nice to hold though. Its called a 'Tuath' glass.

I like the glencairn but the thicker walls of the glass and rim puts me off to. My favourite is a port glass, a very small wine glass with a thin wall. You can really get your nose into it too.

edit: The downside is they are delicate. I broke my last one the other day but it was this one:

https://www.vinhodoporto.nl/en/product/calem-port-for-two/

We're terrible for breaking glasses here so I ended up on fairly cheap ones, but they're now my go to. These ones are only €1.50 in Ikea. The shape is very similar to the classic Glengairn, little lower and wider. The glass is nice and thin and they sit in the palm of your hand perfectly

I'm also a neat drinker, but if I end up with one I don't love I'll try a little water to see what it does. I still don't understand how it can make so much difference!

Just back from Tesco (Celbridge) with a Tesco Finest Single Malt 12 PX sherry finished at 35 euro .Id forgotten how good it tastes .I notice everywhere is low or has no Bush at 23 the new floor for a bottle .This new min pricing order is a curse .Surely it has to make Lidl's Pricess Margot 3 year old Scotch extinct (up from 15 euro) when the solid 8 year old is the same price /Lets hope they dont try up the prices even more to rebalance it !Anyway I reckon recent price increases/gouging now makes a 12 at 35 VERY respectable value .I think this time of the year is well and truly 'Blue Monday /January for whiskey sippers what with everything at top whack vs pre Christmas sales .And wtf is with the Easter Eggs out three months early!?Slainte !

New to the Whiskey game in the last 18 months or so.

Started out with cocktails when gifted a shaker, and gradually moved into more whiskey-forward drinks until I was comfortable just sipping neat or with ice.

I've not bought the same bottle twice yet, save RB12 and maybe Roe & Co because it does tend to go cheap in sales.

I've currently a bottle of RB12, Yellow Spot, Bushmills Black Bush in the cabinet.

I've tried a few at the lower end of the price spectrum and had some pleasant surprises; Bushmills Black Bush, Roe & Co, Slaney, Sexton's were all enjoyable straight in or in mixed drinks, and a few sassy ones like (looking at you, Connemara)

Any suggestions I should pad out my "collection" with. I was considering some bottles like the Rum Cask Tullamore Dew, or some of Jameson's other expressions. I just want a bit of variety in there, so I can try a couple in the evening, and get a better understanding of the different experiences.

@Cazale fingers crossed you come through this ok and maybe in a few years as a bonus can sample some of that awesome collection

Jesus Cazale, sorry to read that.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who would still like to read your opinion if someone posted looking for advice or whatever. You've been hugely helpful to my own fledgling whiskey journey.

All the best to you.