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  • Are you a Whisky snob?

    Well after searching the forum, surprisingly there are no existing threads on this topic. Theres at least one on beer and mentions of the application of medicinal quantities of a single malt during emergencies (e.g. coffee maker broken) but none from an appreciation POV so here it is: the Whisky snob thread.

    I decided not to restrict it to Scotch whisky only. Some purists/uber-snobs might argue that if it isnt distilled in Scotland from a single malted grain, then it isnt whisky. But work with me on this...

    I cant drink cheap (Scotch) whisky. Ive tried some good blended ones (e.g. JW Green Label) but havent tried the Blue Label yet and the King George V drop - hah, I wish.

    Anyway, I saw something on the ABC about high quality whisky currently coming out of Tasmania. Lark distillery is one of the better known ones. I like the idea of good local product but wouldnt mind hearing from some who have tried some. Not cheap, it seems.

  • #2
    Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

    Originally posted by 404A5F4848475355260 link=1279252549/0#0 date=1279252549

    I decided not to restrict it to Scotch whisky only. Some purists/uber-snobs might argue that if it isnt distilled in Scotland from a single malted grain, then it isnt whisky. But work with me on this...
    Agreed.
    The definition seems too restrictive and would limit some nice drops.

    From wiki:
    "The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 define Scotch Whisky in UK law.

    Under the legislation, Scotch Whisky means whisky:

    (a) which has been produced at a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley (to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added) all of which have been:

    (i) processed at that distillery into a mash; (ii) converted at that distillery to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems; and (iii) fermented at that distillery only by the addition of yeast;

    (b) which has been distilled at an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 94.8% so that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the raw materials used in, and the method of, its production;

    (c) which has been wholly matured in an excise warehouse in Scotland in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres, the period of that maturation being not less than three years;

    (d) which retains the colour, aroma and taste derived from the raw materials used in, and the method of, its production and maturation, and to which no substance other than water and plain caramel colouring may be added."


    I have tried the Blue Label. Still some sitting on my drink shelf. It is nice but 3 times the price it should be. The JBM of whisky.
    But I dont really like blends. I find them boring.

    Talisker and Lagavulin are probably my favourites. Glenlivet is probably my staple.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

      Thanks for the info Bassway (you are hard-core ) I found the JW Green Label was probably a little over-priced as well.

      Ive enjoyed a few bottles of Glenlivet but drinking 15-year old Glenfiddich at the moment (had a special on at the Duty Free at Singapore Airport in March). Not a bad drop.

      On the bourbon front, I bought a bottle of Booker Noe a while ago. At 60% alcohol, the term rocket fuel is appropriate. Sip v-e-r-y slowly.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

        Absolutely a whisky snob!

        And, yes I would never spend that much money on the JW labels - you can get far better for far less $. Also prefer single malts too.

        My favourite is Springbank 15 year, but havent tried their 18 year yet - was tempted to buy a bottle the other day but the wallet ended up saying I had to wait.

        Oban is my staple, as the Springbank is more difficult to source around here.

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        • #5
          Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

          Not a Whiskey snob really but reduced to Glen Morangie, Glen Fiddich (cask strength) and Dimple (for visitors ;D) at present.

          There is a few good local ones too from Tasy and the first batch from a little town Timboon (70 km drive from me) that I am yet yo try amd some of the Irish is good so maybe it should read yo include proper Scotch styled NOT bourbons

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          • #6
            Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

            Definitely
            Glenlivet for me as a staple and the odd better one if $$ permit

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

              As a daily drink, Jamesons (I know its Irish) I find it much more acceptable than the cheaper Scotch, i.e. Red label and the like.
              I enjoy Chivas (I know its a blend) and single malt Scotch as the pocket and wife allow.

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              • #8
                Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

                My favourite regular would have to be The Macallan 12 year old, but Im open to many.

                Greg

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                • #9
                  Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

                  Talisker anyone?
                  Try it after a shot of Yemen.....

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

                    Another Glenlivet fan here too and occasionally, an Irish (blended) Tullamore Dew goes down very well too. All time favourite though would be 25 y.o. "Laphroaig". Pure nectar, as they say.... 8-) :-*

                    Mal.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

                      I have a few bottles

                      Dimple 42 years old
                      Glenfiddich single malt 2 x 1 lt bottles 40 years old (got these on my honeymoon) just in case I needed them for medicinal purposes

                      KK

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

                        I love my whiskey. Glenfiddich is my prefered drop but I recently got a free bottle of Glenmorangie and I thought it was pretty good (especialy cause it was free). I recently went on holiday to japan and picked up a 21 year old Hibiki blended whiskey. I dont normally buy blended whiskey but this one came in a special ceramic bottle to comemorate the year of the tiger, so I basically bought it for the cool bottle.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

                          Bit of a Scotch Whisky and Irish Whiskey snob myself.

                          I grew out of blends in my 20s and love a single malt. Although heavy peat malts I cant handle.


                          I recently got into the UK show QI and they mentioned that whisky was not invented in Scotland or Ireland but somewhere else although they didnt mention where. I havent found anything to support this but then again they are rarely wrong on QI.

                          Just wish they explained where it was invented. I would assume Asia somewhere and maybe not necessarily whiskey but an early concotion that was similar?

                          Anyone have any ideas? I could alos be extremely off lol.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

                            Originally posted by 69666C7A6D697B6A080 link=1279252549/12#12 date=1280120290
                            Anyone have any ideas?I could alos be extremely off lol.
                            Snip from The AnswerBank

                            Q. Who invented whisky - the Scots or the Irish


                            A. The debate between the Scots and the Irish over the whisky title goes back to the Dark Ages. The first legal distillery in the British Isles was in Northern Ireland. Bushmills, on the northern coast of Ireland, has had a license to distil since 1608, the reign of King James I of England and VI of Scotland, who also laid claim to Ireland.

                            The identity of the first distiller will always be unclear, but it is known that when Henry II of England paid an uninvited visit to Ireland in 1174, he recorded the use of aquae vitae. In 1926, Sir Robert Savage, the lord of Bushmills, was using aquae vitae to allegedly numb the minds of his troops while they entered battle, while in The Annals of The Four Masters in 1405, Richard Magrenell, chieftain in Moyntyrolas, died of "a surfeit of aquae vitae".



                            Q. Who began the first legal distillation

                            A. In the 19th Century, Irish whiskey had established a reputation with major distilleries such as Dublins John Jameson and John Power forging powerful export markets. In those days, Highland malts were in short supply and were heavily peated, while the Lowland grains were virtually undrinkable. The Irish pot-still brands, made from a mix of malted and unmalted barley, held the high ground and were the worlds top selling whiskey. John Jameson established his distillery in Dublins Bow Street in 1780. A Scot by birth, he had married into the Haig family and was brother-in-law of the first distiller to install a patent still.



                            Q. What did the Catholic community feel about the boom in whiskey

                            A. Father Matthew founded a temperance movement and led a decade-long evangelical crusade (1838-48) against the evils of drink and he managed to not only halve the number of pubs in Ireland in seven years, but to close many distilleries as well. Then came the Great Famine of 1845-1849, and the failure of the potato crop reduced the amount of grain that was available for the distilleries. Production slumped. The falling combination and lack of raw material was a distaster for distilling. When Alfred Barnard visited Ireland in 1887 he found 28 distilleries. There had been 2,000 less than 100 years before. Today there are three: Midleton, Bushmills and Cooley.



                            Q. How did whisky spread through Scotland

                            A. After the dissolution of the monasteries, whisky-making became a peoples art. It was practised by ex-monks who became apothecaries, barbers and surgeons. It was taken to the crofts and great houses in the Highlands. By the 16th century, triple distillation was common practice in the Western Isles, and had spread to Ireland and France. By then uisge beatha (the Gaelic translation of aquae vitae, from which whisky today is derived), was a central part of Highland life.

                            KK

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                            • #15
                              Re: Are you a Whisky snob?

                              i look at it the other way....

                              not worried where it came from (Scots or Irish) as long as they keep making it

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