Whisky and Scotch Recommendations

imbiginjapan wrote:

I know we tend to focus on the higher end stuff but what's your go-to budget whiskey for a mixer? It's an area I'm kind of ignorant about. I gotta grab a bottle before the hockey game tomorrow though. Whiskey & Ginger is a bit safer and cheaper than going straight as I am likely to need a lot of it, lol.

I used to say Buffalo Trace, but that got hyped out of the price range. I guess Bulleit rye or Larceny next.

Old Grandad bonded or Old Forester 100 are both about 20$ and punch far above their weight.

Delbin wrote:
imbiginjapan wrote:

I know we tend to focus on the higher end stuff but what's your go-to budget whiskey for a mixer? It's an area I'm kind of ignorant about. I gotta grab a bottle before the hockey game tomorrow though. Whiskey & Ginger is a bit safer and cheaper than going straight as I am likely to need a lot of it, lol.

I used to say Buffalo Trace, but that got hyped out of the price range. I guess Bulleit rye or Larceny next.

I haven't noticed a price increase here. Still around $20 for 750 ml, and occasionally on sale for less. Local price for Bulleit has been steady in the high $20s to $30.

MeatMan wrote:
Delbin wrote:
imbiginjapan wrote:

I know we tend to focus on the higher end stuff but what's your go-to budget whiskey for a mixer? It's an area I'm kind of ignorant about. I gotta grab a bottle before the hockey game tomorrow though. Whiskey & Ginger is a bit safer and cheaper than going straight as I am likely to need a lot of it, lol.

I used to say Buffalo Trace, but that got hyped out of the price range. I guess Bulleit rye or Larceny next.

I haven't noticed a price increase here. Still around $20 for 750 ml, and occasionally on sale for less. Local price for Bulleit has been steady in the high $20s to $30.

Buffalo Trace is usually $28-30 around here... when it's in stock.

SallyNasty wrote:

Old Grandad bonded or Old Forester 100 are both about 20$ and punch far above their weight.

Sally continues to be correct.

Or grab the liter of bulliet for $30.

I am with Sally and penguin. OF100 is outstanding for the price. Eagle Rare can be had around here for about $27. I used to tell everyone to try turkey 101 for bang for the buck. I would rather drink Old Forester now.

I think the only under $20 I have right now is Larceny at $19. Bulleit is right at $20.

Evan Williams Single Barrel for $33 is another great choice without breaking the bank.

SallyNasty wrote:

Old Grandad bonded or Old Forester 100 are both about 20$ and punch far above their weight.

Yeah, I moved over to Old Forester after touring their distillery, its less expensive and delicious.

It is National Bourbon Day! What are we drinking?

Opening a 1792 Bottled in Bond Barrel Pick as well as EH Taylor Small Batch. Not sure what follows. Might be a fun evening.

Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select. I've always liked Woodford's bourbon, but this is the first time I've gotten the select version.

I bought this on the same day I bought that Lagavulin Distiller's Edition last week. Both are quite tasty.

Have not had the Select. I usually have some of the Double Oak to represent the label. I am jealous of the Lagavulin. Great stuff.

Started with Evan Williams Small Batch. 1792 is next.

Thanks to my brother, I have recently been introduced to Japanese whiskies.

If you're less into the peaty malts, give them a try. My current tipple:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/YXd6Oco.jpg)

I am equal opportunity. I can peat, highland, lowland, Japanese and bourbon. Anything but Tennessee.

Made a few updates to the spreadsheet. Will add more as I go on.

New:

Balcones Single Malt
Not sure what I expected but it was a surprise. Apricot and a touch of honey up front. Coffee on the finish. Pricey at $65. Not sure if I buy again just because of price. Other stuff for less money I like.

Just got back from the store. Wheat time!

Breaker Wheated
Redemption Wheated
Oregon Spirit Wheat
Bernheim Wheat (refill)

Tasting tonight!

fishdude wrote:

Made a few updates to the spreadsheet. Will add more as I go on.

New:

Balcones Single Malt
Not sure what I expected but it was a surprise. Apricot and a touch of honey up front. Coffee on the finish. Pricey at $65. Not sure if I buy again just because of price. Other stuff for less money I like.

I happened to visit the Balcones distillery a few days ago. They had some good special releases, including a High Plains Single Malt made with all TX-grown barley. It was tasty but didn't match up to their regular Single, which is made with Scottish Golden Promise barley. I left with a bottle of the latter.

It's a little pricey, but at least it's not in the triple digits like it was when it first took off in popularity. Part of that is because of the larger capacity in the new distillery, which is huge compared to the old one. But I think part is also due to a decline in quality that occurred when the original owner/distiller left, since he was also the primary blender. They clearly brought in some expert help, and everything I had was really good.

The original owner was set to open another distillery focusing on brandy, but I haven't heard anything about it in a couple of years.

I have heard he is somewhere around Austin now. Saw him on Whiskey Tribe doing a collab with them.

Picked up a local dark rum by Blue Dyer, a relatively new distillery from Charles County, MD. Long family tradition of distilling in, ah, non-traditional circumstances (arguably traditional, I guess). And a family with professional chemists in its background.

Anyway, their very first Golden Rum won a national award, and they followed it up with a Dark Rum, meant for sipping. And it's *amazing*. Very dark, and a strong rum spirit flavor overall, but with a literal burst of sugar up front, and then a very long, sweet, sugar flavor on the finish. Think something like a Cachaca up front, with a dark sweet rum on the back. Maybe the best sipping rum I've ever tasted. And I love dark rums so I've tried a lot of them.

Anyway, they have not gone much outside of Maryland yet, but should you ever see this label, buy and try. I'm very happy and I'm going to grab a few more bottles next Sunday at the Farmer's Market...

Good call on the Old Forester 100. It runs about $25 a bottle here and it's well worth it!

The OF100 is tasty stuff. It has quickly become one of my favorites.

I had my brother and family over from Sweden for a week and I decided to host a bourbon tasting as he loves whisky, but is unfamiliar with bourbon. My friend who works in the alcohol industry hooked me up with some very nice bourbons and whisky's and we went through them all with him talking about the distillery, the process of making bourbons vs whisky, the history of it all etc etc. All in all it was an amazing evening and even though I've had good bourbons before there were a couple that I would rank A++.

Obligatory photo!
IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D-hTeQ9WkAExh1s?format=jpg&name=900x900)

Of the ones on the table (there are about 5-6 more bottles outside of the photo) I really enjoyed the Barrel bourbons and the Burning Chair. I can also heartily recommend the Route 101 bourbon. The surprise of the evening was the Amrut. It's a Indian malt whiskey that had a taste unlike anything I have ever tried. Almost rice flavored with a nice smooth finish. I am not a huge fan of Rye whiskey's, but my brother loved it so much that he stole the bottle from me afterwards (together with the 101).

Which one is the Rye your brother took?

Robear wrote:

Which one is the Rye your brother took?

The Bone Snapper one.

Gotta take a look at that, thanks.

Seconding the Old Grandad recommendation from a couple weeks back. Picked up a bottle on sale at the ABC store then and it's nearly gone from my weekend bottle rockets time.

Also funny story. Hotel I was at for the 4th last week had manager reception every night with 2 free drinks. The first night I asked what the free bourbon was. She said they had a KY bourbon and a Canada bourbon. On the inside I screamed "WTF is Canadian bourbon?" but politely asked for the KY. She gave me a solid double, nearly a triple, with barely a splash of Coke. And all was well.

There are literally no Canadian Bourbons, as Canadian law (so I’ve been told) requires all whiskeys labeled “Bourbon” in Canada to be of US origin. There apparently is a company making a corn-mash Bourbon-like whiskey, but it’s entirely dedicated to blending.

Canadian blended whiskey tends to be on the good side. And of course their Ryes are often great.

conejote wrote:

I happened to visit the Balcones distillery a few days ago. ...
The original owner was set to open another distillery focusing on brandy, but I haven't heard anything about it in a couple of years.

http://tatedistillery.com/

Bingo. Can't wait until they have their own juice again.

fishdude wrote:

Bingo. Can't wait until they have their own juice again.

Yep, that's the one. Last update two years ago, when they got their federal distilling license. Hopefully the silence is just because they're busy kicking ass, but knowing Waco politics I suspect there may be other intentional delays with local permits and contracting; some people definitely don't want to see attention drawn away from the renovated downtown area. But, that is just speculation.

What! You mean a community the revolves around a giant Baptist university might be against liquor?!?! Inconceivable.

I was at Balcones back in May. I did not even think to see what else was around to visit.

Tried some Angel's Envy the other week but forgot to mention. Was fantastic.