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

I'd imagine you'll find them to buy in some corner of the interweb, but I'd ask why would a decanter or 2nd hand Waterford whiskey bottle be better than the original bottle? In keeping the contents for a long period of time the enemies will be evaporation (bloody angels), and oxidation and neither of these will be helped by a decanter. I suppose you could go down the route of putting inert gas like nitrogen in as per some wine preservation systems, but that's expensive if memory serves. Vacuvin with the rubber stoppers and vacumn pump would reduce oxidation and is cheaper - not visually attractive on a pricey bottle though!

You have to lie them down every so often, to avoid that.

You can pick one up handy enough.

I had the same happen to the cork on a half bottle of bourbon that was somehow forgotten at the back of a shelf. Doesn't appear to have done any harm to the taste any I just filtered it and replaced it with another cork (one time when "I'll hang on to that, it might be useful" actually was)

Waterford Whiskey Society is still going strong. There's a monthly tasting usually attended by 50 members live and another 20 or so on Zoom. In fact this month was a Thomond Gate tasting including the one you mentioned. There was a society trip to Hinch last month and they're doing this year's bottling.

There have been a couple of excellent bottlings since the first one. I'll post a bit more detail when I get a chance if you're interested.

There's a new website

There have been a couple of excellent bottlings since the first one. I'll post a bit more detail when I get a chance if you're interested.

Could well be interested - though probably good for neither bank balance, nor liver. Is the in person one in Revolution?

I think one started in Tramore last year or the year before as well, but I can find no trace of it now.

Just to follow up on this. Other society bottlings include a Shortcross Rye and Malt Single Cask last year, a Dunville's Palo Cortado 11 yr old Single Cask (winner of IWA Single Cask 11 yrs and under in 2024) and a Whistler 11 yr old Single Cask.

Most interesting has been a bottling of a cask of Ximénez-Spínola PX Sherry. The sherry cask is currently in Hinch filled with 22 year old single malt. Bottling is next month.

@Black Sheep is that the Two Stacks First Cut "Signature Blend" or "Complex Blend" ?

In some ways I like their variety, at other times it is confusing :)

https://twostackswhiskey.com/products/two-stacks-the-first-cut

https://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/Two-Stacks-The-First-Cut-Complex-Blend

I picked up the Signature Blend but haven't opened yet.

Have you tried any of the "Pillars of Creation" range which is a joint venture from multiple distilleries?
e.g. the Pillars of Creation 2025 is "a marrying of distillate from Dingle Distillery, Echlinville Distillery, Boann Distillery & Micil Distillery, before finishing in a single Palo Cortado Butt."

https://twostackswhiskey.com/collections/pillars-of-creation

Did a 4 day guided tour of Islay last week. Been thinking about doing it for a while and finally took the plunge. It was fantastic. Aside from the whiskey, the island itself is breathtaking.

• Lagavulin Tour & Tasting
• Core Range Tasting at Ardbeg
• Tour and exclusive tasting at Laphroaig
• Tour and tasting at Kilchoman
• A visit to Bunnahabhain Distillery
• Warehouse Tasting at Bruichladdich Distllery
• A visit to the Islay Whisky Vault

We went with Scottish Routes, but there’s a few companies doing them. It was very well organised. A really comfy 16 seater bus which keeps the numbers to a manageable size

Already starting to think about a highlands tour next!

I'm not looking a tour, I really to buy a bottle!