Devil,

Lol.

Z,

Drink makers/makers 46.

Ha, this is why I always try to do side-by-side taste testings or blind taste testings. It's way too easy to forget how much you like something, or realize how much you like it when you're having it standalone.

Maybe I just have a really poor taste "memory", but it's def. true for me.

Work week wildebeest
Uigeadail unravels unwinds
wayward work wanders.

(only a small portion of the lot)
i met a friend in vienna and we went to the Rupps a bar with a amazing whisky selection.
we started off with this nice Brora:

grapefruit&orange peel with some peat.
next up:

the Rosebank with it dust sugar nose was nice but sadly the Littlemill was a plastic bomb.
last one:

sweet peat with a lot of power,the saliva was still flowing long after we left the bar.

Wife and I did a blind taste test this afternoon of the bourbons we had on hand.

Results:

My Ratings

1. EH Taylor Small Batch
2. Old Forester 1897
3. Noahs Mill
4. Blantons Single Barrel

Wife's Ratings

1. EH Taylor Small Batch
2. Old Forester 1897
3. Blantons Single Barrel
4. Noahs Mill

We were both surprised that we rated the Blanton's as low as we had, and basically described it as bland (possibly due to placement within the lineup). We also both thought the bourbon that we rated as our favorite was actually Blantons (not completely surprising given they're both buffalo trace).

Having done a blind tasting like this for the first time, I feel like the order of tasting can have a big effect on the end results.

Was abroad and became a bit of a grappa fan (especially the dark version). Just had some Jim Beam for getting back on track, first whisky in almost two weeks.

I'm spending a week in Paris and just visited La Maison du Whisky, hands down the most beautiful whisky store I have ever visited. They have an incredible selection of collectible bottles and a great tasting room. I even got a taste of a Kavalan bourbon before buying a bottle (at 10am, why not?). If you're in Paris it's worth paying a visit.

Here are some pictures of the store.

cool pics El_Timon! that place looks great

kind of a cool gift:

https://www.originalbos.com/collecti...hiskey-coolers

@judge,

Pretty cool from a, "hey this is neat" perspective, but word of warning that those things don't really work very well.

@timon,

I've seen pics of that place before...super sweet!

@Timon,

That looks like a cool spot. Bummed I didn't see it when I was over there.

I'm a Schneider's man myself, but never *that* impressed with prices, more for selection/convenience. And had some pretty bad advice from time-to-time that's led me to discount one of their staff's opinions. He clearly was moving product and thought I knew far less than I did about single malts.

Question. Hitting up Japan in a couple weeks. Anything they are producing over that direction that people are hearing (or know) is good and worth trying out? Or bringing back....

I got this to up my old fashioned game. It took a few tries to get it right, but now have it down so the cubes are crystal clear and melt evenly!

If you can still pick up Hibiki 17 at a liquor store for the equivalent of around $65 USD, like you could when I was there last summer, I'd advise you to do that

Beyond that, most of the Nikka and Suntory stuff should be crazy good value relative to its quality (and certainly relative to how much you'd pay in the US)

The Nikka whiskey from the barrel (square bottle) is really good and essentially unavailable stateside, and I'm a fan of their Miyagikyo also

Berge,

Highballs!

Looks refreshing for those hot/humid days! I believe these will be consumed often.

god i love lag 16

Lucky grab today. Saw a bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon on the shelf that was only there because some guy who special ordered it never picked it up. On sale for $65.

Is 65 euros a good deal for the Balvenie 17 Doublewood?

(he asks rhetorically)

yes very good deal.
it´s usually around €100

pretty sure that's what it was at the Brussels duty free

Will confirm tomorrow morning

Had some Glenfiddich 15, especially the aroma was intriguing. Glenfiddich is nothing to look down upon, imo, not even the 12.

I know there's a load of sites and youtube videos out there showing to mix an Old Fashioned but does anyone have a particular favourite? For some reason whenever I try them it just never tastes as good as when my favourite whisky/bourbon bar (no longer around unfortunately ) done them.

that´s the best around for sure


otherwise this FB group should be able to help u out(no kidding this time)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/6249...84030/?fref=ts

Will look for links later but it's worth emphasising that you really really need to spend a lot of time melting/diluting the ice cubes, as that is what makes the drink. You get your money's worth in labour getting an old fashioned made as there's really no shortcut.

Diffords guide is reliable, imo:
https://www.diffordsguide.com/cockta...iffords-recipe

Best,
Pete

My old fashioned is simple, but there are a few small things I've learned along the way that have made them much better. First I put a teaspoon of water in a glass, then I muddle in a sugar cube. Then I let it sit for half an hour for the sugar cube to dissolve in the water. That is the first development that has made a big difference, giving the sugar time to dissolve. Next I add two dashes of Angostura bitters and two dashes of orange bitters. Then I stir. Then I add two ounces of bourbon and stir again. Then I add one crystal clear ice sphere made from my wintersmiths ice chest, which is the other big change that has elevated the drink. It looks cool and it melts evenly. I stir again, then I take an orange peel, twist it, rub it around the rip and drop it in the glass. Depending on to whom I'm serving and how strong they like their drinks, I might then let it sit for five minutes before serving so it settles and doesn't begin too harsh.