Show us your whisky!

[Podie]

mr_tony said:

Podie - still have that duty free in my cabinet for you - let's fix a time for you to collect or I'll end up drinking it!

I'll have a nose at the diary and drop you a text

[LeighW]

My current collection. The Macallan is lovely as an every day tipple I think. The Dalmore is growing on me the further down the bottle I get - I thought it pretty disappointing and quite bland when I first opened it. The Benriach though, now that is right up my street. I tried some in Royal Mile Whisky in Edinburgh, and just had to buy it. Not tried the JW yet, it was a Christmas present. The Benromach Peat Smoke was chosen by SWMBO, I'm not a fan of smokey whiskies, but because it's signed by the MD, she doesn't want to open it! Mind you, I have a nasty habit of not wanting to open more than a couple of bottles at once, must stop doing that...

[z4RRSchris99]

this is the drinking half, as well as a nice bottle of red which will be opened end of jan after I return from Middle East

[MondyJim]

Afternoon all, this is slightly O/T but I thought the vast whisky knowledge on this thread might be able to help. Our 2nd child is due later this year, this has been a long time coming due to difficulties I'm not going to go into here. To celebrate I'd like to get a special bottle of whisky. This may be silly question to those in the know but is it possible to secure in advance whisky that is to go into aging this year and to then receive the finished product after 18 years? Should I just wait 18 years and then buy a 2015 vintage bottle? If this is not possible then I guess I may be best looking into limited releases from this year, if I'm not already too late. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - apologies for derailing the thread!

[NRS]

MondyJim said:

Afternoon all, this is slightly O/T but I thought the vast whisky knowledge on this thread might be able to help. Our 2nd child is due later this year, this has been a long time coming due to difficulties I'm not going to go into here. To celebrate I'd like to get a special bottle of whisky. This may be silly question to those in the know but is it possible to secure in advance whisky that is to go into aging this year and to then receive the finished product after 18 years? Should I just wait 18 years and then buy a 2015 vintage bottle? If this is not possible then I guess I may be best looking into limited releases from this year, if I'm not already too late. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - apologies for derailing the thread!

Not derailing at all! I don't think you can get a single bottle, you would need to get a cask, which would obviously be a very different thing in terms of cost. That said, others may know about something. Some places do personalized labels on bottles if that was of interest, but it wouldn't be good for the investment value if you are thinking of that (you mentioned limited release this year).

There will still be lots of limited releases over 2015, but the popular ones can be hard to get hold of (often the sell out within less than 30 seconds). What would your budget be approximately? If you get something now it's best to store it in somewhere with a cool temperature out of sunlight. Store upright too.

[MondyJim]

Thanks NRS. I'm not really thinking of an investment in terms of an increasing future value more just a slightly special bottle to give to/share with them when they get older. I'll be buying something nice to crack open and toast the new arrival but would also like one to keep for the future. I also thought about champagne for this but I know even less about that than I do whisky!

In terms of budget, I'd be looking for something around the £50 mark for the toasting and up to £100 for the keeper. I realize that these aren't huge amounts and won't go far when looking for something special but at the moment that is what I can justify. Any recommendations would also be great. As for my tastes, I enjoy both whisky and bourbon and bottles I currently have open are:

Glenmorangie 12 yr old
Genfiddich 15 yr old Solera
Dalwhinnue 15 yr old
Caol Ila 12 yr old
Nikka White Label
Gentleman Jack
Buffalo Trace
Bulleit 45%
Woodford Reserve

I also recently tried and liked
Lagavulin 16 yr old
Four Roses Yellow Label

Thanks again

[Mr Trophy]

I managed to pick up another one of these (not from MOM) -

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenturret/f...

I also manged to get the bottle with the label error (which I believe is extremely rare).

Following reply from Famous Grouse.

- Thank you for your enquiry regarding the Commonwealth Limited Edition.

To answer your question, yes both liquids are the same. After the first batch was released we realised that although all the liquid was distilled in 1986. The next batch was then changed to state ’Distilled in 1986’.

The whisky has been winning awards and I attach a web-link to one story.

http://sltn.co.uk/2014/12/11/games-gold-for-famous...

[F-Stop Junkie]

MondyJim said:

This may be silly question to those in the know but is it possible to secure in advance whisky that is to go into aging this year and to then receive the finished product after 18 years? Should I just wait 18 years and then buy a 2015 vintage bottle?

I've sometimes thought about this too Jim, but unfortunately whisky doesn't work like wine does with specific vintages.

While some distilleries do bottlings from specific years (Ardbeg 1977, Yamazaki 1984) and Highland Park does some year bottlings specifically for travel retail (though that seems to me more of a fiddle to get an exclusive), for most single malts the whisky will actually be made up of a range of aged whiskies mixed together. So an 18 year old whisky will be from casks 18 years old and older unless you get something specifically offered as a single cask.

If I were in your shoes, I'd do one of two things:

1) Buy a bottling dated to the year of birth. You may need to seek a good retailer for this, but the sentimental value of having held onto the bottle will be priceless. This will be year the whisky was sold rather than made, but having the year printed on it will be the big thing.

2) Buy a bottle of something meaningful to you now and hold onto it. It may be tied to where you live, where you've visited, etc... Again, the fact you've bought it and held onto it will add to the sentimental value hugely.

As for the toast, a rich Lagavulin 16 would be a great choice. Good for sharing with friends & family, as well as to enjoy while reflecting on your own.

[hoegaardenruls]

Mr Trophy said:

I managed to pick up another one of these (not from MOM) -

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenturret/f...

I also manged to get the bottle with the label error (which I believe is extremely rare).

Following reply from Famous Grouse.

- Thank you for your enquiry regarding the Commonwealth Limited Edition.

To answer your question, yes both liquids are the same. After the first batch was released we realised that although all the liquid was distilled in 1986. The next batch was then changed to state ’Distilled in 1986’.

The whisky has been winning awards and I attach a web-link to one story.

http://sltn.co.uk/2014/12/11/games-gold-for-famous...

If you have opened this, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as I'm tempted to buy this myself - one to drink, and the other to put away. I generally find Jim Murray's reviews a good indicator, and generally enjoy Glenturret, but always good to hear someone else's opinion.

[NRS]

MondyJim said:

Thanks NRS. I'm not really thinking of an investment in terms of an increasing future value more just a slightly special bottle to give to/share with them when they get older. I'll be buying something nice to crack open and toast the new arrival but would also like one to keep for the future. I also thought about champagne for this but I know even less about that than I do whisky!

In terms of budget, I'd be looking for something around the £50 mark for the toasting and up to £100 for the keeper. I realize that these aren't huge amounts and won't go far when looking for something special but at the moment that is what I can justify. Any recommendations would also be great. As for my tastes, I enjoy both whisky and bourbon and bottles I currently have open are:

Glenmorangie 12 yr old
Genfiddich 15 yr old Solera
Dalwhinnue 15 yr old
Caol Ila 12 yr old
Nikka White Label
Gentleman Jack
Buffalo Trace
Bulleit 45%
Woodford Reserve

I also recently tried and liked
Lagavulin 16 yr old
Four Roses Yellow Label

Thanks again

One of the options is using the "age" searcher on some of the websites to get recommendations. This is a link to Thewhiskyexchange for single malt for 18yo. You can also search by year, but obviously this will be a bit early, If you want to do a different search it's on the top left and the tab "New/Gifts/Offers".

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/Age-18.aspx

They also offer an engraving on some of the bottles for £10 it seems (never used it), which might be of interest for you.

Not tasted too many of those you mention, but try googling and you should get some suggestions (or maybe some others will reply too).

[volks al]

I have started on the route too of picking bottle up for my son and his coming of age (18m old right now). I have so far got the following.

Johnny Walker Green Label 15 year old
GlenLivet Nadurra, Cask Strength bottled on 8/13 his birth month and 16 years old. So that's that birthday sorted!
Isle Of Arran 1664 Single Cask Royal Marine 350th Anniversary 17 Year old Whisky from 2014. Can you see a birthday theme appearing?

So now I need a nice 18 year old...

[MondyJim]

Thanks for the advice guys! I've used TWE before so I'll have a more detailed search, I'd never used the age search function before - just found some bottlings from the year my first was born so one of those may well be ordered too. Also found a few from my birth year they are way beyond my means!

With regards to a 2015 whisky, I think I'll look in to sourcing a decent bottle dated this year as per your first suggestion F-Stop, thanks. I can then always keep an eye out in the future for whiskies made in 2015.

Time to decide on what to buy to celebrate now! Thanks again for your help.

[Mr Trophy]

hoegaardenruls said:

If you have opened this, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as I'm tempted to buy this myself - one to drink, and the other to put away. I generally find Jim Murray's reviews a good indicator, and generally enjoy Glenturret, but always good to hear someone else's opinion.

I haven't open it yet, but there are samples available on MOM which you can purchase. Try before you buy if you like. £11.29

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenturret/f...

[Podie]

Mr Trophy said:

hoegaardenruls said:

If you have opened this, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as I'm tempted to buy this myself - one to drink, and the other to put away. I generally find Jim Murray's reviews a good indicator, and generally enjoy Glenturret, but always good to hear someone else's opinion.

I haven't open it yet, but there are samples available on MOM which you can purchase. Try before you buy if you like. £11.29

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenturret/f...

Quite tempting, but £150 puts it into the territory of some very good whisky. Also interested to hear your views if you decide to open it.

[Mr Trophy]

Podie said:

Quite tempting, but £150 puts it into the territory of some very good whisky. Also interested to hear your views if you decide to open it.

If you're tempted, let me know and I'll get you one of the label error ones?

(That's also open to anyone else).

Edited by Mr Trophy on Thursday 15th January 14:17

[Cheese Mechanic]

volks al said:

So now I need a nice 18 year old...

Talisker 18 me mate. One of the 2 great readily available whiskies under £100,IMHO. (at least, of those I have tried)

[hoegaardenruls]

Mr Trophy said:

hoegaardenruls said:

If you have opened this, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as I'm tempted to buy this myself - one to drink, and the other to put away. I generally find Jim Murray's reviews a good indicator, and generally enjoy Glenturret, but always good to hear someone else's opinion.

I haven't open it yet, but there are samples available on MOM which you can purchase. Try before you buy if you like. £11.29

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenturret/f...

I'd seen that listed, and will probably pick up a sample before deciding - I quite like the fact that MoM do those samples.

[BorkFactor]

volks al said:

So now I need a nice 18 year old...

Highland Park 18 is one of the best whiskys I have ever tried, it is seriously nice stuff.

Macallan 18 is lovely too, had a bottle of that with my Dad over the summer.

[z4RRSchris99]

BorkFactor said:

volks al said:

So now I need a nice 18 year old...

Highland Park 18 is one of the best whiskys I have ever tried, it is seriously nice stuff.

Macallan 18 is lovely too, had a bottle of that with my Dad over the summer.

dont we all want a nice 18 year old?

oooohhhh.... whisky...

[majordad]

I'm in Edinburgh from Saturday for four nights, staying along the Royal Mile, can anyone suggest where I might go to taste some Whisky and also somewhere central to eat ?