Whisky thread

My brother-in-law has got me on a huge bourbon kick. He joined a local bourbon facebook group and has been buying bottles at a crazy rate. I'd guess he's spent upwards of $2k since Thanksgiving. I'm currently trying to build up a decent collection, though I won't be rivaling him anytime soon.

This week I picked up a Wathen's store pick and an Eagle Rare from a store in Northern Kentucky. The owner is a nice guy, he hooks up his regulars and store pick buyers with the rare stuff. I went in for the Wathan's and he asked me what my favorites were. Went through the list, Blanton's (but hard to find), Elijah Craig as my cheap go-to, Eagle Rare (but hard to find). He said they had Eagle Rare behind the counter if I wanted to buy a bottle.

Also picked up a bottle of Weller's Special Reserve last night.

Was out at a business dinner last night and was reminded why Macallan 12 was so good. Smoothest scotch I have had.

On that note, didn't drink much on my annual pilgrimage to Vegas, but I did have a glass of Macallan 25 and one of Laphroaig 10.

They're so different, but they're both great at what they do.

You guys are making it hard for a "retired" drinker.  Some of these sound pretty good.  I'd love to go on a taste test.  Problem would be that I can't stop at 10.  Bad, bad recipe for trouble.  I'll have to live vicariously through you guys.  Happy sippin'

Picked up a bottle of McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel tonight. I've heard great things about it.

I cracked open my Wathen's store pick and it's fantastic.

Drove around today bottle hunting. Ended up with a New Riff Single Barrel store pick. Sipping that right now and it's very nice.

posted by justincredible

Drove around today bottle hunting. Ended up with a New Riff Single Barrel store pick. Sipping that right now and it's very nice.

Ha y’all are high class. I’m sipping on some Costco Canadian Whiskey. I did have some homemade whiskey lately, aged in silver maple barrels that was solid. 

Cracked open the McKenna a few minutes ago. Very nice.

Took the long way home from work tonight to make a few stops. Opened the OF rye tonight, it makes a great manhattan. The Boone County was $7 cheaper than I've ever seen it so I had to grab a bottle. The Buffalo Trace single barrel is what I was really after, so I'm glad they still had some.

Toured Buffalo Trace today. Great place. Walked away with two bottles of EH Taylor Small Batch and a bottle of Eagle Rare. 

I look forward to one day being able to do those bourbon tours... haven’t been able to find the time yet.

posted by justincredible

Toured Buffalo Trace today. Great place. Walked away with two bottles of EH Taylor Small Batch and a bottle of Eagle Rare. 

I loved Buffalo Trace. I thought it was pretty cool to see how they age their barrels.

I took a class yesterday at a small Frederick, MD distillery, McClintock. It was an all day class about the process of making whiskey, with a heavy emphasis on the science of the process. It was really interesting as we dug into why a rye whiskey is full of punch and pepper, while a bourbon is sweet and mellow. We explored all three aspects, the mash making, distilling, and barrel process. It was a lot of hands on experience too. 

We then got to make a mash, distill a bourbon, cut it, and barrel. I was then able to bottle the rest to take home and put in a small 2L barrel to age. 

I'm headed to Ireland in April.

Just because I want to, will be picking up some Proper Twelve.

posted by ptown_trojans_1

I loved Buffalo Trace. I thought it was pretty cool to see how they age their barrels.

I took a class yesterday at a small Frederick, MD distillery, McClintock. It was an all day class about the process of making whiskey, with a heavy emphasis on the science the process. It was really interesting as we dug into why a rye whiskey is full of punch and pepper, while a bourbon is sweet and mellow. We explored all three aspects, the mash making, distilling, and barrel process. It was a lot of hands on experience too. 

We then got to make a mash, distill a bourbon, cut it, and barrel. I was then able to bottle the rest to take home and put in a small 2L barrel to age.

Wow, this sounds like an awesome experience.

posted by justincredible

Wow, this sounds like an awesome experience.

 

Yeah, it was awesome. It was my Christmas gift from the wife and was only $250. I've toured a number of whiskey places and got the quick and dirty explanation of the process. But, here we really dug into how to make whiskey and what happens when you use different types of milling techniques, different grains, different temperatures while mashing and distilling, and different stills. It was a lot of science, but also hands on experience. 

If anyone is in the Frederick, Maryland area, (either driving to or from DC) I highly recommend stopping in for a tasting and tour. They do good shit. 

http://www.mcclintockdistilling.com/

Talisker Storm was my most recent purchase.  I loved it almost as much as the Talisker 10. Both expressions have had a great smokey, peaty, salty, briney influence.  I'm interested in buying the Dark STorm and the Skye but I'll need to get a family/friend to purchase it for me the next time they come through customs.

Don't believe I've ever had a Talisker. But I love Old Pulteney 12 as a cheap option for the briny profile.

Just bought into a barrel pick from New Riff in a bourbon group I'm in. Looking forward to getting that in late March.

Anyone on here live near any of these stores? The State of Ohio (OHLQ) is doing a 1792 Full Proof Barrel pick release next Friday at 9am and each of these stores is getting 144 bottles.

Minotti's Avon Wine & Liquor
25925 Detroit Rd. Unit 101, Avon
Warehouse K, Floor 7, Rick 20

Springboro Spirits
748 Gardner Rd., Springboro
Warehouse D, Floor 4, Rick 13

Joseph's Beverage Center
4129 Talmadge Rd., Toledo
Warehouse D, Floor 4, Rick 13

Twinsburg Beverage
9224 Darrow Rd., Twinsburg
Warehouse D, Floor 4, Rick 13

The Hills Market
7860 Olentangy River Rd., Worthington
Warehouse K, Floor 7, Rick 20
 

I was too lazy to search the whole thread.

O-Trap, did you say Oban was hard to find? 

I'm pretty sure I see Oban all the time when I'm scanning the whisky aisles.