This was two weekends ago

Jack < Bulleit < Single Barrel


Then last weekend we had some **** Creek 60% and thats smoother than the JD Single Barrel

 

 

Current stock is Glengoyne 17, 21 and Hibiki 12.

Fan of Bulleit Bourbon and Macallan too.

 

I'm partial to Lagavulin. Amazing Islay style scotch with a really peaty finish. My absolute favorite. A close second is Laphroaig.

 

This, so far as Scotch goes.

While not Scotches, Bulleit Rye (I like it more than their bourbon) and **** Creek bourbon are quite good too.

The lattermost makes a great Old Fashioned.

 

PVW is great, no doubt, but I completely disagree with your statement that nothing comes close. I'll come back to this when I have more time.

 

Yamazaki is definitely worth every penny but if you want to try something that is really good for the price, try Oban 14 yr. spend a bit more to get the 18.

you're welcome.

 

My current liquor cabinet.

 

Might have to come clean that out for you.

I'm a whiskey/bourbon guy myself.

Bang for the buck... Bullet is honestly one of the best tasting around but you can usually get Jamison for pretty cheap too.

So for just drinking
Jack
Bullet Rye
Jamison

I've got some gentleman and some single barrel as well. Quite honestly... it's the cheapest product that they make I think... but the green label jack if you can get your hands on it. I really enjoy it. It's a bit younger so it's not as harsh... not as complex either but it's good.

Now if we're talking about what I enjoy that's on the upper register.
Hands down it's got to be Booker's. I've had more expensive but the stuff is just flat good. I'd choose it over just about anything in the bourbon/whiskey range.

I'm generally not a huge Jim Beam fan. Something about it doesn't sit well with me. I've got a bottle in the cabinet right now. Don't touch it. But the Devil's Cut is pretty solid.

I really want to try Four Roses. I hear nothing but great things about it.



I'm not a huge scotch drinker but I will say this... lagavulin over a single ice cube... man that's a good one.




Here's my surprise entry though. Cheap. Bird Dog Peach Whiskey. If you're looking for something that's really good and straight up smashable... that's it. You can toss it in some iced t. whatever. For $15 it's damned good.

 

This was the after

 

At around the same price point as Oban 14, the Glenlivet 18 is a better choice.

 

For single malt, glenlivet 18 because it's very good value. The 24 was not as good. For blended I'm a huge fan of Johnny walker blue; incredibly mellow. But then I like my scotch light and sweet. I can't stand laphroaic; the peat smoke makes it smell like a hospital anisthetic.

 

In order...

Booker's is good - certainly one of the better Jim Beam products, and I'm glad they're still making stuff like that even while still making such atrocities as "Red Stag". **** Creek is another one I like.

Booker's / Baker's / Basil Hayden / **** Creek = all Jim Beam products, aged longer, and bottled at different proofs than their standard fare. No surprise that white label Beam doesn't sit well with you - it's pretty young. Devil's cut is patently disgusting. No offense

Here's my short list:

• OBSF or OBSK recipe 4 Roses single barrel - prefer barrel proof bottlings
• Thomas H. Handy Rye (BTAC)
• Sazerac 18 Rye (BTAC)
• Michter's 10yr Bourbon
• Jefferson's Presidential Reserve 17 or 18
• Parker's Heritage #1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Haven't tried the newest one. 4 was gross.

That's all just stuff I can sip neat, or enjoy with a single ice cube. If I'm mixing:

• Wild Turkey 101
• Bulleit Bourbon
• 4 Roses Small Batch

I'm only sorta familiar with scotch whisky - it's kinda like jazz in that when I try it, I like it, but I don't know where else to go. As others have said, the Japanese have made some really outstanding single malts. I've enjoyed most of the ones listed in this thread in the last 10+ years, and they've not let me down yet. Make it Suntory time.

To address my earlier statement regarding Pappy Van Winkle, no offense Ruehl, but do some research and find the 12-15 other products on the market that you can buy off the shelf any day of the year and do a blind tasting with any of the Van Winkles other than PVW23 - chances are you won't be able to tell the difference.

Here's the not-so-secret: PVW - except 23 - hasn't been pure Stitzel-Weller juice for several years. Another not-so-secret is that Maker's Mark is based on the original Van Winkle recipe from the family's days running Stitzel-Weller. PVW15 is pure Buffalo Trace sauce now, and 20 is mostly BT.

Drop the mic - I'm out. Source: this is all readily available info, and I am a recovering, yet still passionate whiskey nerd.

 

Any other ardbeg committee members here?