Talking about Whisky

[Don Petter]

Here's a picture of Ralfy with a bottle of BJN - I haven't watched his review, I don't know what Ralfy reckons.

Must give it a try.

If that is a true colour rendition, I am wondering if it is Nicol or Ralfy who has the higher alcohol content.

[Beef Oven!]

Must give it a try.

If that is a true colour rendition, I am wondering if it is Nicol or Ralfy who has the higher alcohol content.

Don't dis Ralfy!

Seriously, the colour is lovely and pale. No caramel e150 additives. It is even less coloured in the raw - I am supping as I type!

If you try it, you will not regret.

[ahinton]

That would be the rather lovely Penderyn? I first encountered it in 2003, from a shop (now closed, alas) in Dolgellau and a favourite ever since - delicious, simply delicious.

Indeed it would; now quite what most people would think of a Scot like me commending a Welsh whisky probably doesn't bear contemplating, but one must speak as one finds...

Sorry - haven't visited this thread for almost a fortnight!

[Don Petter]

Sorry - haven't visited this thread for almost a fortnight!

That's all right! Most of we contributors seem to get these strange blank spots.

[Dave2002]

Aberlour - £20 from Tesco - right now - for a few more days -

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=256410301

If you like it, this is not a bad deal. For me it's a bit marginal, but could be used on the Christmas pud!

[Dave2002]

There are also more on offer - http://www.tesco.com/groceries/produ...453+4294795428

I wonder what Talisker Storm is like. I have liked Talisker in the past.

[Old Grumpy]

There are also more on offer - http://www.tesco.com/groceries/produ...453+4294795428

I wonder what Talisker Storm is like. I have liked Talisker in the past.

More interesting than Aberlour, I would suggest.

OG

[Dave2002]

More interesting than Aberlour, I would suggest.

OG

Very likely. Personally I found Aberlour not particularly interesting, nor really to my taste, but others seem to have liked it.

Talisker Storm sounds interesting - http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.co...ker-storm.html - though maybe those notes are a bit pretentious. Nevertheless, besides apparently being drinkable, it seems it is not Talisker as it has been known in the past. I've got till Tuesday apparently to decide whether to "invest" at Tesco's lowish price.

[Despina dello Stagno]

After much consideration I have decided, as a new years resolution, to avoid anything now controlled by Diageo. I think Lagavulin 16yo old will be the biggest loss, but they do tend to disappoint with their nonce bottlings.

[Dave2002]

After much consideration I have decided, as a new years resolution, to avoid anything now controlled by Diageo. I think Lagavulin 16yo old will be the biggest loss, but they do tend to disappoint with their nonce bottlings.

I didn't know much about this until I started looking around. Diageo seems to be a marketing company - is it really possible for such an organisation to have significant control over each product? Maybe!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diageo

Whiskies under Diageo:

Scotch whisky: Johnnie Walker, Buchanan's, Cardhu, Justerini & Brooks (J&B), Bell's, Black & White, White Horse, Logan, Caol Ila, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glen Ord, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Clynelish, Singleton, Haig, Royal Lochnagar, Glen Elgin, Knockando, The Dimple Pinch

Canadian whisky: Crown Royal, Seagram's VO

Irish whiskey: Bushmills

Looks more like a conglomeration of companies under a common umbrella - is that a bad thing? I know nothing, and come from Barcelona.

[Old Grumpy]

Very likely. Personally I found Aberlour not particularly interesting, nor really to my taste, but others seem to have liked it.

Talisker Storm sounds interesting - http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.co...ker-storm.html - though maybe those notes are a bit pretentious. Nevertheless, besides apparently being drinkable, it seems it is not Talisker as it has been known in the past. I've got till Tuesday apparently to decide whether to "invest" at Tesco's lowish price.

Go for it! It's delicious.

[Despina dello Stagno]

...is it really possible for such an organisation to have significant control over each product? Maybe!

....Looks more like a conglomeration of companies under a common umbrella - is that a bad thing? I know nothing, and come from Barcelona.

I have found a more complete list of distilleries owned by Diageo (which subsumed Guinness, and has Port Royal as its company address) which runs:

Active: Auchroisk/The Singleton, Benrinnes, Blair Athol, Cameronbridge, Caol Ila, Cardhu, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dalluaine, Dalwhinnie, Dufftown, Glen Elgin, Glen Ord, Glen Spey, Glendullan, Glenkinchie, Glenlossie, Inchgower, Knockando, Lagavulin, Lomkwood, Lochnagar, Mortlach, North British, North of Scotland, Oban, Port Dundas, Strathmill, Talisker, Teaninich,
Mothballed or closed: Brora, Coleburn, Mannochmore, Port Ellen, Rosebank
Destroyed: Banff, Glen Albyn, Glen Esk, Glenlochy, Glenury Royal, Glen Mohr, Milburn, North Port, Pittyvaich, St. Magdalene

Some of these will service the blends, but most are individual and distinctive producers.

Unlike e.g. French winegrowers' co-operatives, which exist to boost the trade of the whole region, the Diageo umbrella IM'UO tends to eliminate or stunt the growth of the lesser distilleries at the expense of the more popular/more marketed.
When did your local supermarket push a Clynelish in preference to a Talisker?
As I improve with age, I drink less in quantity, but relish more in quality or obscurity. I look with foreboding to the day when Diageo and Pernod Ricard (14 active distilleries) will control all our choice.

P.S. Currently I myself have Bailie, Nicol, Jarvie (blended) [see earlier postings] for everyday (whoops!) drinking, and Mortlach 19 y.o. (single malt) on special occasions. Both of those were bought north of the border.When they are gone, I shall place an order with the Whisky Exchange. Not only are their prices firm but fair, they offer the most impressive packing service for small orders. Oh, and they do queer gear like violette liqueur. (Neither I nor any of my relatives are employed by them).

[Beef Oven!]

Very likely. Personally I found Aberlour not particularly interesting, nor really to my taste, but others seem to have liked it.

Talisker Storm sounds interesting - http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.co...ker-storm.html - though maybe those notes are a bit pretentious. Nevertheless, besides apparently being drinkable, it seems it is not Talisker as it has been known in the past. I've got till Tuesday apparently to decide whether to "invest" at Tesco's lowish price.

I had a bottle of Aberlour over Xmas and I did not enjoy a single dram of it. I also had a bottle of Taliker 10 year old and gave up a third of the way in. I used to love Talisker, now I can't stick it.

Yesterday I was watching the film 'Whisky Galore!' and it got me to open a bottle of 10 year old Tobermory. Never knowingly had it before, it's top-notch! Had to put it away because I was getting a lip on!

This evening I'm sipping some Glenmorangie Original. Much prefer this to Talisker or Aberlour (although I have an unopened bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh 61.7% ABV, which people rate).

[MrGongGong]

I
This evening I'm sipping some Glenmorangie Original. Much prefer this to Talisker or Aberlour

Blimey days

send it over and we can have a dram in memory of the P&CA dungeon

[Keraulophone]

Yesterday I was watching the film 'Whisky Galore!' and it got me to open a bottle of...

this to accompany one of the all-time classic Ealing comedies, the virtuosic directorial debut of Alexander Mackendrick (and if Capt. Waggett had been a keen whisky drinker, there would ne'er have been any problem):

http://www.theglenrothes.com/en/our-whisky/select-reserve.html

Usually a fancier of French and Italian wines, I've lately been dabbling in single malts and am now on my fifth-ever bottle. The first was The Glenlivet 15 y.o. from an an ancient shop in St Andrews, after which I've relied on the advice of certain online whisky nuts. Next came Balvenie DoubleWood 12 y.o., followed by Glenfiddich 15 y.o., Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or (because I'm partial to Sauternes) and now this Glenrothes. Part of my interest in trying the Glenrothes is that I have much claret lying in Berry Bros' & Rudd's cellers, and in 2010 BBR swapped ownership of their historic Cutty Sark blend for the Glenrothes brand, though the distillery itself remains with the Edrington Group. Despite this expression being a blend from several different years, I find it very satisfying, especially by the end of the second large copita. As the man says, 'This is not about age, it's about maturity'.

The question is, what do I try next? I'm not (yet) keen on the strong peaty Islay style, so may stick with Speyside and the Highlands for now. A visit to Constantine Stores, near Helston, may bring the answer. Beyond the mundane village groceries lies an Aladdin's cave of spiritual delights. 867 single malts are listed: http://www.drinkfinder.co.uk/whisky-...le-malt-whisky