Tbh,

http://m.klwines.com/p/i?i=610002

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskie...-label-whisky/

I tried the 18 (stashed a couple of bottles some time ago) and the 15 side by side a few weeks ago. I didn't write notes but found the 15 to be excellent, with more character than the 18. That surprised me quite a bit because I'm a big Lag 18 fanboy too.

KLW doesnt send to Texas or Illinois so these are arbitrary to me (maybe they will to washington?!?), but are good for reference...

I would most likely buy at $154 to have in the cabinet.


Will def try the 15 now! would love to do a side by side which will obv be difficult now.

Ardbeg fans,

https://www.ardbeg.com/whisky/ultimate-range/an-oa

This new standard release Ardbeg sounds pretty good. $59.99 at K&L.

wil,

That Yamazaki 18 is great. I don't think I'd try it for $55, but it's very good. It used to be reasonably priced, but in the last two years the price has skyrocketed.

Nothing super amazing at that place, but you'd prob enjoy:
MACALLAN 15 YR
MACALLAN 18 YR
OBAN 14 YR

JW Blue flavor profile is super smooth, very well balanced, not much heat, a light sweetness, and a light peat smoke. I think it's a very good whisky, but I just don't think it has the kind of depth of flavor that you can get paying that kind of money.

So the scotches I think you'd really enjoy are some of the smokier Speyside scotches, and some of the lighter Highland scotches. I'm sure you'd like those two Macallans. The Oban might be a little too smoky and/or too briny for your preference. I love it though.

Highland Park 18 is one I bet you'd really enjoy. I think it's like $120/bottle.

At the second place, I bet you'd enjoy the Famous Grouse 18. It has been many years since I had it, so I don't actually remember what it tasted like, but I remember being pleasantly surprised.

Other bottles I think you'd like at this place.

GLENROTHES 1998 - this one is on the simpler, sweeter side, but I think it's great
HIGHLAND PARK 18 YR - def try this
MACALLAN 15 YR
MACALLAN 18 YR
MACALLAN Double Oak - dont know this one
OBAN 14 YR

So def some good stuff for you to try, but besides the Yamazaki 18 these places don't have much super premium stuff at the level of the Blue Label. Curious to hear what you think of the HP 18.

If you have a good liquor store with an online list, I can take a look there for you too if you want.

I can get you a sample no problem. Just let me know when you get your hands on the 15 and I'll send it out.

picked up a bottle, thanks. I like it a lot

adding it to my standard under 30 rotation

Cool glad you liked it, certainly one of my favorites. If you can still find older bottles of Evan Williams single barrel that are still 10 years old they are worth picking up. However if it's the new EWSB that's 8 years or so I'd go with Henry McKenna 10 year any day.

Another option if you can find them is older Elijah Craig bottles that are aged 12 years. They'll have a 12 in the front or will say aged 12 years in the description on the back. My favorite of all of these is is Elijah Craig store picks of barrels aged usually around 10 years. If any store around you had those pick it up! Only thing is the best barrels of Henry McKena 10.

American whiskey fans....release season is upon us. Your chances of getting /some/ BTAC should be decent as production for most is way...way up this year. 35k bottles of stagg, and Weller not too far behind. Oddly, Eagle Rare 17 is gonna end up being the most sought after...1.5k bottles I think.

Ready for the alleged releases.

I picked up a bottle of Stagg Jr for $60 and Elmer T Lee for $30 on vacation in Florida. You can't find that anywhere in Atlanta

Picked up a Michters Toasted Rye today for $96 total. Pretty excited.

i went to a hippster bar yesterday and they naturally had a great bourbob selection.

Weller 12 for $10 a pour is what i settled on.

Was very tempted to try the William Laurue Weller for $45, but I was already pretty buzzed and knew i would just slam it at that point.

I did convince my friend to get an Angel's Envy cask strength, which is prob the best bourbon I have ever had,

Prices seem reasonable at least. I would have ponied up for the WLW. Do you know if it was this year's release or not?

Thanks for this. I'm heading down to the Costco in Wilmington, Delaware next week or the week after. I'm going to go a bit heavy and buy multiple bottles. I'll report back shortly.

I've had a few mccallans over the years but never sat down and had a real long night with a good bottle. I think maybe I'll try that in the near future.

I do not. could always ask tho

Wil,

I doubt you'll find much if any of premium stuff that you might like better than JW Blue at Costco. Will likely have to go to a good liquor store for that.

Maybe. Sometimes they have some good stuff available. I'll take a look but if not I'll have to do and search and find something relatively close (within an hour) drive and try to load up.

With regards to Macallan, their cask strength sherry finish I had back in 2002 (think it was just a standard 10yo or something) was pretty solid. And drinkable with or without water. That said, I haven't had a ton of Macallan since, so no real frame of reference to their other output...

Best,
Pete

El T, thanks buddy, i will definitely hit you up when i get situated in Seattle. Hopefully many more trades will ensue!

So i am stopping by SLC on a cross country trip and I wandered into a local bar for a burger and a bloody. They had Gearge T Stagg and i asked about the price. $18 for 1.5oz. I just had 4 and tapped out.

I did not intend to get this buzzed before 2pm local. If it was later in the night i would have killed the bottle

@hurt. Unexpected drunk is the best drunk!

do you guys find much variation in the quality/taste of various bookers batches? I'm currently drinking Tommy's Batch (I think 2017-1) but I also have the Blue Knights Batch and Off Your Rocker yet to open. Just wondering if I am wasting time looking up these different ones on Distiller app or if they are more or less all the same.

Judge: had no idea there were even different batches of bookers. I'm a big fan, but doubt I'd be able to tell the difference.

Whiskey fans: bought some bottles for a friend's birthday...

I've reviewed the butchertown Brandy itt before. Still love it as much as I did then.

As you see, I grabbed a bottle of the k&l single barrel four roses for myself too. This time they only had one version so I didn't have to choose. These bottlings are always great, this was no exception. Hard to believe this was 56%, went down suuuuper smooth.

Ardbeg An Oa is a new addition to the standard lineup. Very reasonable at I think $55. Lower proof than the others at 46.6% but wow this still packs a ton of flavor, while being smoother and easier to drink. I'm gonna have to taste it alongside the corryvreckan and Uigeadail to say how I rank them against each other, but regardless I can definitely recommend this bottle!

Folks,

What do you make of this article from a now defunct UK newspaper?

http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/...-a8015441.html

I have to say I haven't been a fan of Mackmyra, and whilst cask finishes intrigue me, an icewine one does not sound spectacular.

Best,
Pete

Pete,

Icewine finish sounds great to me. I really like glenmorangie nectar d'or and other Sauternes finished whiskies, don't see any reason I wouldn't enjoy an icewine finish.

That's their Sienna release. I like it because it's very approachable for people who aren't used to drinking whiskey so I always keep a bottle on hand for potential converts to the whiskey cause.