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

Long story short I retired recently and have managed to incorporate some nice whiskeys into the celebrations .My colleagues got me a nice engraved bottle of Redbreast 12 and I also picked up a Redbreast Cask Strength 12 from SuperValu (€105-110 ?) .

I’ve decided to keep the engraved bottle as a ‘perpetual bottle ‘ whereby one put a certain amount of every bottle they drink into it the idea being that it retains some of the ‘goodness’ of everything that goes in .

So with the aid of a funnel and jug I tipped the dregs of the Triple Triple into the space vacated by some early sips of the RB12 after having decanted half the RB12 into the empty Triple Triple bottle .I also poured a generous few measures of the RB12CS into my new ‘perpetual bottle ‘ .

I was curious to compare ‘diluted’ RB12CS with its basic stock abv brother .I was pleasantly surprised

I have four glasses in front of me here

’Fledgling Perpetual Bottle ‘ , diluted RB12CS , RB12CS and stock RB12

The first is nice , very nice quality stuff .The second is very pleasant .I haven’t been too particular about the water to whiskey ratio but have tried a couple of tastes of it at say 30-42% abv approx ( maybe even a bit weaker at times ) It’s smooth and may even reveal some other tastes while loosing the peppery bite of the CS .I haven’t to say though that the stock RB12 is the ( early ?) winner .Initially having a quick taste or two a few nights ago no was a bit disappointed .But this was due to the classic negative palate factors of recent full heavy meal , bit stressed etc

Many say RB12CS is RB15 at 10-15 quid cheaper but the CS is very peppery and has big oily mouthfeel .Sure you have the dilution potential if in a budget but stock from the bottle the 59% abv is disguising or overwhelming the Sherry bomb flavours .

I think I had the RB12/15/Lustau minis set not so long ago and the 15 was by no means my fave

I had a browse through the latest edition of the Whiskey Bible and the author said RB12CS was the best at its price point but I’d say Lustau is if you like a serious Sherry bomb or otherwise RB12 is still a timeless stone cold classic

Tempted to pick up the four pot still minis set especially for the Barry Crockett but not sure I could justify a full bottle even though I’ve kinda dreamed of it for a decade or so as a retirement treat .

Are there guidelines for perpetual bottles re percentage addition or do you just put in more of the good stuff and less of the cheap stuff in general ?

Anyway , Slainte !

yeah I often throw Glenfiddich into a cocktail or with some Ginger Ale or whatever, it's grand for that

Pick up a Supervalu catalogue... next week even cheaper. Three Swallow at €25 is hard to beat but as you say, lot comes down to personal taste as they are all good whiskeys in their own way.

Supervalu deals from the 18th - 24th June:

Powers Three Swallow €25
Paddy Share €25.97
Jameson Black Barrel €28

Went for the rye. Haven't had it before.

Three Swallows for me, picked up a Bushmills 10 and Bulleit in Tesco yesterday, two bottles of Three Swallows next week will be the end of my purchases from the big boys for a little while but incredible value at €105 for the 4 bottles.
Trying to spread the love and pick up some bargains from the small distilleries too, open to suggestions for maybe 2 to 3 bottles totaling €100 to €120 that are good value right now.

Not rigid on price and don't necessarily need it to split evenly, a Busker Single Malt at €40 could leave €80 for something else. I looked at a Sexton Single Malt earlier but looks like it's a Proximo brand so misses the brief.

This drives me mad about Crolly. I had th pleasure of trying their own stuff and it was class, but they're doing that inaugural nonsense in fancy bottles and not keeping it real at all. Hopefully that will change

Just delivered - no hidden charges so far.

Had to order from France to get the Extra Marriage version. Did you manage to find a bottle locally?

Paid €66.50 and bought a few things so shipping was free at least. Regular version goes for between €55-60 here.

Where'd you order from?