Show us your whisky! Vol 2
Discussion
Picked this up from Amazon a couple of weeks ago at the bargain price of £42
It’s currently £106 and the rrp is €£120… it is an interesting dram - at £40-£50 I would buy it again but anymore and I would go for the Sherry cask which has an rrp of about £50
Talisker Skye is currently £22 on Amazon
It’s currently £106 and the rrp is €£120… it is an interesting dram - at £40-£50 I would buy it again but anymore and I would go for the Sherry cask which has an rrp of about £50
Talisker Skye is currently £22 on Amazon
https://www.thewhiskystock.com/product-page/ailsa-...
Bought this for a mate and he brought it round last night to finish off, lovely stuff!
Bought this for a mate and he brought it round last night to finish off, lovely stuff!
Had an enjoyable visit to the Glendronach Distillery today, where Lynn was a terrific guide. There wasn’t a single taste I didn’t enjoy, so came home with the following Batches 9 + 10 to savour at home. I know the 9 has mixed reviews but I enjoyed my taster and can’t wait to try them back-to-back.
Aces_High said:
Had an enjoyable visit to the Glendronach Distillery today, where Lynn was a terrific guide. There wasn’t a single taste I didn’t enjoy, so came home with the following Batches 9 + 10 to savour at home. I know the 9 has mixed reviews but I enjoyed my taster and can’t wait to try them back-to-back.
I haven't been since the new visitor centre opened, must go back one day.We were in Aberlour for a few days as part of our holiday a few weeks ago. I wondered how much whisky (and a couple of gins) I could fit in my camper van - turns out it's quite a lot!
The Penderyn was picked up from a mate I visited while in Scotland - he won it in a raffle and doesn't drink whisky.
A few bottles from Glenallachie, including a Billy Walker 50th anniversary which, thanks to the lovely staff in the visitor centre, I was very fortunately able to buy. These sold out in seconds on release. Knowing how much these fetch, it will be stashed away or opened on a *very* special occasion.
Oh, nice haul! Did you get lucky that you were around the day it was released? They tend to disappear within a few hours normally.
I managed to get 3 of the 50th, picking the remaining two up tonight. I'll probably open one of them straight away as it's a lovely dram (I tried it and quite a few others some months back before it was released, and it's one of the best GAs I've tasted). They've got quite a few new types of casks which haven't been released yet which we also got to try.
If you're after the Billy 50th anniversary set the second one will be only 2000 bottles, and 3rd will be 8000 bottles. Given the first was basically impossible to source I don't hold out much hope for number 2 as it's just half the number available.
I'm looking at doing the Highland Whisky Academy in September with the Inverurie Whisky Shop - it sounds great, you get to visit Ardmore, Macduff and Glenglassaugh (not normally open to the public), as well as stuff like Glendronach, GlenAllachie, AnCnoc, a peat farm, the crisp maltings and on the floor access in the Speyside Cooperage.
I managed to get 3 of the 50th, picking the remaining two up tonight. I'll probably open one of them straight away as it's a lovely dram (I tried it and quite a few others some months back before it was released, and it's one of the best GAs I've tasted). They've got quite a few new types of casks which haven't been released yet which we also got to try.
If you're after the Billy 50th anniversary set the second one will be only 2000 bottles, and 3rd will be 8000 bottles. Given the first was basically impossible to source I don't hold out much hope for number 2 as it's just half the number available.
I'm looking at doing the Highland Whisky Academy in September with the Inverurie Whisky Shop - it sounds great, you get to visit Ardmore, Macduff and Glenglassaugh (not normally open to the public), as well as stuff like Glendronach, GlenAllachie, AnCnoc, a peat farm, the crisp maltings and on the floor access in the Speyside Cooperage.
NRS said:
Oh, nice haul! Did you get lucky that you were around the day it was released? They tend to disappear within a few hours normally.
No, it was only in the last week of June. I had been having a good chat with Sue and Brenda about how much we love GA, and how I'd tried and failed to get a bottle of the 50th. They even looked in the visitors book and found us in there in July 19. I kept asking if they were sure they didn't have one left (half joking really!), eventually they asked 'if we did have one, would you be interested?' Erm, you bet I was! Apparently there was one left that they had only discovered the previous night. Absolute result. Brenda even delivered my bottles to the campsite on her way home that night - talk about customer service!NRS said:
I managed to get 3 of the 50th, picking the remaining two up tonight. I'll probably open one of them straight away as it's a lovely dram (I tried it and quite a few others some months back before it was released, and it's one of the best GAs I've tasted). They've got quite a few new types of casks which haven't been released yet which we also got to try.
How on earth did you get 3?! The problem is, they cost £225, and sell for over £900. That's an expensive sip. You're making me jealous by the way.NRS said:
If you're after the Billy 50th anniversary set the second one will be only 2000 bottles, and 3rd will be 8000 bottles. Given the first was basically impossible to source I don't hold out much hope for number 2 as it's just half the number available.
I'm looking at doing the Highland Whisky Academy in September with the Inverurie Whisky Shop - it sounds great, you get to visit Ardmore, Macduff and Glenglassaugh (not normally open to the public), as well as stuff like Glendronach, GlenAllachie, AnCnoc, a peat farm, the crisp maltings and on the floor access in the Speyside Cooperage.
It does sound great, in fact it sounds amazing! How much does this cost? I thought Glenglassaugh had been mothballed again to be honest.I'm looking at doing the Highland Whisky Academy in September with the Inverurie Whisky Shop - it sounds great, you get to visit Ardmore, Macduff and Glenglassaugh (not normally open to the public), as well as stuff like Glendronach, GlenAllachie, AnCnoc, a peat farm, the crisp maltings and on the floor access in the Speyside Cooperage.
Yeah, you've been a fan for a while, not one of those who just turned up when some bottles started going for big money! They're super nice in the shop - last time I was there one of them gave me a lift to Elgin afterwards (they were already heading there). It's one of the great things about whisky, the kindness of most people in the industry.
I was lucky enough to get a good queue position in a country that there's a lot less focus on GlenAllachie, so was able to scoop them up. It's absolutely not cheap, but sometimes it's a case of opening it anyway. I'm lucky enough not to be struggling for money, so sometimes just take the hit and enjoy it without thinking about the (possible) money. One of the others will go to a friend in the UK for rrp. He's a massive fan too, and who has picked up bottles for me from the distillery (Ally). The UK was pointless trying to buy it, there's far too many bots now to be able to get anything in-demand.
That said, the lower end of the whisky market looks to be cracking a bit in recent auctions. Not surprising given the increases in cost of living, and the likely recession coming that they'll use to kill runaway inflation. I suspect we're getting to the point that a lot of people who put bottles away for alternative savings may lose money on them if bought recently. The high end will likely last, as most of that demand is from other parts of the world from people far less at risk economically.
Glenglassaugh was closed, I think for at least 1.5 years. It was apparently the blenders had too much stock of that taste profile, so they closed it to not have a big oversupply. I think it costs around £1500 or so (need to check exact figure). That's 6 nights accommodation, 5 days of tours (transport etc included). Again not cheap, but it's probably not hugely different from the costs of the Speyside Whisky Festival once you do a few of the more expensive events.
I was lucky enough to get a good queue position in a country that there's a lot less focus on GlenAllachie, so was able to scoop them up. It's absolutely not cheap, but sometimes it's a case of opening it anyway. I'm lucky enough not to be struggling for money, so sometimes just take the hit and enjoy it without thinking about the (possible) money. One of the others will go to a friend in the UK for rrp. He's a massive fan too, and who has picked up bottles for me from the distillery (Ally). The UK was pointless trying to buy it, there's far too many bots now to be able to get anything in-demand.
That said, the lower end of the whisky market looks to be cracking a bit in recent auctions. Not surprising given the increases in cost of living, and the likely recession coming that they'll use to kill runaway inflation. I suspect we're getting to the point that a lot of people who put bottles away for alternative savings may lose money on them if bought recently. The high end will likely last, as most of that demand is from other parts of the world from people far less at risk economically.
Glenglassaugh was closed, I think for at least 1.5 years. It was apparently the blenders had too much stock of that taste profile, so they closed it to not have a big oversupply. I think it costs around £1500 or so (need to check exact figure). That's 6 nights accommodation, 5 days of tours (transport etc included). Again not cheap, but it's probably not hugely different from the costs of the Speyside Whisky Festival once you do a few of the more expensive events.
Edited by NRS on Thursday 14th July 07:46
NRS said:
Yeah, you've been a fan for a while, not one of those who just turned up when some bottles started going for big money! They're super nice in the shop - last time I was there one of them gave me a lift to Elgin afterwards (they were already heading there). It's one of the great things about whisky, the kindness of most people in the industry.
I was lucky enough to get a good queue position in a country that there's a lot less focus on GlenAllachie, so was able to scoop them up. It's absolutely not cheap, but sometimes it's a case of opening it anyway. I'm lucky enough not to be struggling for money, so sometimes just take the hit and enjoy it without thinking about the (possible) money. One of the others will go to a friend in the UK for rrp. He's a massive fan too, and who has picked up bottles for me from the distillery (Ally). The UK was pointless trying to buy it, there's far too many bots now to be able to get anything in-demand.
That said, the lower end of the whisky market looks to be cracking a bit in recent auctions. Not surprising given the increases in cost of living, and the likely recession coming that they'll use to kill runaway inflation. I suspect we're getting to the point that a lot of people who put bottles away for alternative savings may lose money on them if bought recently. The high end will likely last, as most of that demand is from other parts of the world from people far less at risk economically.
Glenglassaugh was closed, I think for at least 1.5 years. It was apparently the blenders had too much stock of that taste profile, so they closed it to not have a big oversupply. I think it costs around £1500 or so (need to check exact figure). That's 6 nights accommodation, 5 days of tours (transport etc included). Again not cheap, but it's probably not hugely different from the costs of the Speyside Whisky Festival once you do a few of the more expensive events.
I'm pretty sure Brenda said she lives in Elgin, so would have been her no doubt.I was lucky enough to get a good queue position in a country that there's a lot less focus on GlenAllachie, so was able to scoop them up. It's absolutely not cheap, but sometimes it's a case of opening it anyway. I'm lucky enough not to be struggling for money, so sometimes just take the hit and enjoy it without thinking about the (possible) money. One of the others will go to a friend in the UK for rrp. He's a massive fan too, and who has picked up bottles for me from the distillery (Ally). The UK was pointless trying to buy it, there's far too many bots now to be able to get anything in-demand.
That said, the lower end of the whisky market looks to be cracking a bit in recent auctions. Not surprising given the increases in cost of living, and the likely recession coming that they'll use to kill runaway inflation. I suspect we're getting to the point that a lot of people who put bottles away for alternative savings may lose money on them if bought recently. The high end will likely last, as most of that demand is from other parts of the world from people far less at risk economically.
Glenglassaugh was closed, I think for at least 1.5 years. It was apparently the blenders had too much stock of that taste profile, so they closed it to not have a big oversupply. I think it costs around £1500 or so (need to check exact figure). That's 6 nights accommodation, 5 days of tours (transport etc included). Again not cheap, but it's probably not hugely different from the costs of the Speyside Whisky Festival once you do a few of the more expensive events.
I was lucky enough to get a good queue position in a country that there's a lot less focus on GlenAllachie
PM me 
£1500 doesn't sound unreasonable at all, I was looking at it on their website and it does look good.
I wish GA had never become so popular, I was buying the 10yo cask strength batch 4, then 5 as and when I was running out, then the 4 won the award and it went mental. Even though the later batches go for barely any more than RRP at auction, they still sell out instantly on release and crop up on the next auction. Makes no sense, people will be losing money after fees. Any idea when batch 8 is due?
I echo the frustration around some brands, eg GlenAllachie, getting 'too' popular and just turning it in to a fandom brand, driving pricing and availability, which in turn drives the distillery to pander to it and it becomes a self sustaining marketing machine. Macallan has been the same, indeed the master, at this for decades. I suppose ultimately they are businesses. The GlenAllachies do taste nice, but I wonder how long they will go until they realise their marketing is so good they don't need to make the effort on the actual whisky and can just knock out mediocre high volume stuff (like Macallan does).
This dynamic has driven me to look at less 'branded' places, and pay attention to the actual flavors I like rather than the name on the bottle or number of years. Had some recent success with Murray McDavid bottles, and with some tastings in the Singapore whisky bar "The Single Cask" who predominantly have their own private bottlings that you very much buy on a discussion of flavours. Of course Singapore is not a cheap place at the best of times, and alcohol is highly taxed, so a couple of measures at that bar is the price of one bottle of the Murray McDavid!
This dynamic has driven me to look at less 'branded' places, and pay attention to the actual flavors I like rather than the name on the bottle or number of years. Had some recent success with Murray McDavid bottles, and with some tastings in the Singapore whisky bar "The Single Cask" who predominantly have their own private bottlings that you very much buy on a discussion of flavours. Of course Singapore is not a cheap place at the best of times, and alcohol is highly taxed, so a couple of measures at that bar is the price of one bottle of the Murray McDavid!
21st Century Man said:
Back on the cheap stuff, this popped up on Amazon for £22 and I took a punt. I have to say, it's really nice.
Bulleit is one of my favourite "everyday" bourbons, slightly behind Wild Turkey 101. I've currently got a bottle of Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond which at £20 is also a great bourbon, especially for cocktails.The Bulleit 95 Rye is outstanding.
eein said:
I echo the frustration around some brands, eg GlenAllachie, getting 'too' popular and just turning it in to a fandom brand, driving pricing and availability, which in turn drives the distillery to pander to it and it becomes a self sustaining marketing machine. Macallan has been the same, indeed the master, at this for decades. I suppose ultimately they are businesses. The GlenAllachies do taste nice, but I wonder how long they will go until they realise their marketing is so good they don't need to make the effort on the actual whisky and can just knock out mediocre high volume stuff (like Macallan does).
This dynamic has driven me to look at less 'branded' places, and pay attention to the actual flavors I like rather than the name on the bottle or number of years. Had some recent success with Murray McDavid bottles, and with some tastings in the Singapore whisky bar "The Single Cask" who predominantly have their own private bottlings that you very much buy on a discussion of flavours. Of course Singapore is not a cheap place at the best of times, and alcohol is highly taxed, so a couple of measures at that bar is the price of one bottle of the Murray McDavid!
I'd imagine GA will continue to produce good whisky while Billy's there, when he inevitably sells/retires things might change. They'd have a hell of a way to go before matching Macallan's BS though!This dynamic has driven me to look at less 'branded' places, and pay attention to the actual flavors I like rather than the name on the bottle or number of years. Had some recent success with Murray McDavid bottles, and with some tastings in the Singapore whisky bar "The Single Cask" who predominantly have their own private bottlings that you very much buy on a discussion of flavours. Of course Singapore is not a cheap place at the best of times, and alcohol is highly taxed, so a couple of measures at that bar is the price of one bottle of the Murray McDavid!
I had an email for this Tyndrum exclusive Murray McDavid yesterday.
https://www.tyndrumwhisky.com/ben-nevis-2012-9yo-t...
21st Century Man said:
Back on the cheap stuff, this popped up on Amazon for £22 and I took a punt. I have to say, it's really nice.
Talking about cheapies, I was chatting to the barman in the Mash Tun, he said he'd heard good reports on the Tamnavulin White Wine Cask, but had yet to try it. I spotted it on special offer in Tesco at Inverness - £22! It's a lovely, light summer dram, and only about £32 RRP. Well worth it. Just been getting through some open bottles recently along with adding to the Tamdhu collection. Picked up the 18yo, the Dalbeallie 5 and then the 18yo cask strength.
Latest bottle openings are a Glenlivet carribean cask as I had some clubcard vouchers that were due to expire and these two:
Naked grouse (as it was) now rebranded as Naked is my go to budget sherry drinker. Coming from Edrington there's a blend of Glenturret, Highland Park and Macallan finished in first fill sherry butts. In my opinion, great value at under £25 a bottle and has been in my hip flask at two weddings so far this year.
Then to celebrate landing a new job and best of all, handing in my resignation to a job that sucked I cracked open a Tamdhu Single Cask. Picked by the Distillery manager
Latest bottle openings are a Glenlivet carribean cask as I had some clubcard vouchers that were due to expire and these two:
Naked grouse (as it was) now rebranded as Naked is my go to budget sherry drinker. Coming from Edrington there's a blend of Glenturret, Highland Park and Macallan finished in first fill sherry butts. In my opinion, great value at under £25 a bottle and has been in my hip flask at two weddings so far this year.
Then to celebrate landing a new job and best of all, handing in my resignation to a job that sucked I cracked open a Tamdhu Single Cask. Picked by the Distillery manager
eein said:
I echo the frustration around some brands, eg GlenAllachie, getting 'too' popular and just turning it in to a fandom brand, driving pricing and availability, which in turn drives the distillery to pander to it and it becomes a self sustaining marketing machine. Macallan has been the same, indeed the master, at this for decades. I suppose ultimately they are businesses. The GlenAllachies do taste nice, but I wonder how long they will go until they realise their marketing is so good they don't need to make the effort on the actual whisky and can just knock out mediocre high volume stuff (like Macallan does).
Yup Macallan is a victim of it's own success imho. 10yo is nice, but Macallan always used to benefit from and sell in the higher ages - 18 and 21 being lovely. Due to its popularity though, seems to me they were selling most of it as blended ages like Gold - which is OK I guess, and obviously blended to give a consistent taste - that's needed because even a bottle of that looks like it costs a bomb now. Saying that I see some 12yo for a vaguely sensible price, so maybe they've brought it back again. I have some 18yo in the cabinet still, its going for £2000 now and there's no way I paid that much for it! Maybe ten years ago now though. Half a bottle of 15yo too, special bottling, maybe I should 'blend them' and flog it as a full bottle 
Maybe not...Of course they are a business and wont see it that way, as long as they can produce and sell it, that's great!
Macallan have very carefully built this market for themselves. One easy example is they never announce bottle numbers (apart from a few examples). Another one is gradual trickling a release out - they deliberately create a shortage of available bottles through only releasing part of it early on. This pushes up auction prices as people compete for a few bottles. Since it creates artificially high prices more people buy to make money, so they keep/push the prices up. People know this, so then overpay for the early bottles in the next release, repeating the cycle.
Just look at A Night on Earth - poor quality NAS release with likely 100k+ bottles, and yet it holds it’s value in secondary market.
Just look at A Night on Earth - poor quality NAS release with likely 100k+ bottles, and yet it holds it’s value in secondary market.
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