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Is it taboo to say that I don't think the corn/grain type really has much of a noticeable taste on the final product? After distillation and slight dilution I have a hard time understanding how molecules responsible for flavor could still be in the liquid. And in real life, maybe because my palate is not well refined, different distilled spirits don't really taste much different depending on the type of grain (there are usually many confounding factors though so it's hard to say). It just seems like one of those things aficionados will pretend matters but really doesn't.
I feel like the water and barrel will have so much more influence on the final taste that even if any molecules responsible for flavor that would allow you to identify corn vs. barley vs. whatever make it into the barrel, any differences will be barely noticeable.
In other news, being a poor college student sucks. Kentucky Gentleman (do they even have this internationally?) is so disgusting
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United Kingdom20275 Posts
Dalwhinnie 15yo
lovely stuff :D just finished one yesterday
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On September 08 2015 11:59 Cyro wrote:lovely stuff :D just finished one yesterday Typically I have 1 peated, and one non peated open at a time! this is going to be my next non-peated for sure. Been in my cupboard for a year or so, glad to hear (again) that it's so good! So reasonably priced ... so well reviewed!
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On September 08 2015 05:37 Chocolate wrote: Is it taboo to say that I don't think the corn/grain type really has much of a noticeable taste on the final product? After distillation and slight dilution I have a hard time understanding how molecules responsible for flavour could still be in the liquid. And in real life, maybe because my palate is not well refined, different distilled spirits don't really taste much different depending on the type of grain (there are usually many confounding factors though so it's hard to say). It just seems like one of those things aficionados will pretend matters but really doesn't.
I feel like the water and barrel will have so much more influence on the final taste that even if any molecules responsible for flavor that would allow you to identify corn vs. barley vs. whatever make it into the barrel, any differences will be barely noticeable.
In other news, being a poor college student sucks. Kentucky Gentleman (do they even have this internationally?) is so disgusting I don't think there is no influence, but it's certainly overvalued. But any peated malt is also peated before distillation, so there is definitely room for flavours making it into the barrel. The general consensus is that the shorter the still, the more flavour makes it into the spirit. I don't think water will have much influence on the taste either, it's just diluting it (and temporarily letting more flavour evaporate for you to smell). So the majority of the flavour does come from the barrel, however, it's hard to put a percentage on it. Some say 60%, some say 85%.
I've never heard of Kentucky Gentleman and I don't see it in any shop. Must be great ;P.
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The difference between corn and rye is not a small one... if you're under the impression that the difference is minimal, you're not comparing the right products. Like 51% corn 49% rye vs 51% rye 49% corn. Try a full out rye and you'll see that it makes a huge difference.
You say surely there isn't much left after the distillation process. Well then, brandy, calvados and whisky taste the same. You purge the flavor! No... you don't. cereals are different from one another, like fruits.
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On September 09 2015 21:08 Djzapz wrote: The difference between corn and rye is not a small one... if you're under the impression that the difference is minimal, you're not comparing the right products. Like 51% corn 49% rye vs 51% rye 49% corn. Try a full out rye and you'll see that it makes a huge difference.
You say surely there isn't much left after the distillation process. Well then, brandy, calvados and whisky taste the same. You purge the flavor! No... you don't. cereals are different from one another, like fruits.
Good point, Zapz! *goes off and finds a bottle of brandy and a bottle of rye (and a potato wodka if I can find one) to order and try. Although it's still far easier to tell some whiskies apart if they have a completely different finish than it is to tell a similar whisky and cognac apart, imho.
Edit: just browsing around I found this 3-pack. Really anxious to try them side-by-side!
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Baa?21242 Posts
On September 08 2015 12:40 CursOr wrote:Show nested quote +On September 08 2015 11:59 Cyro wrote:Dalwhinnie 15yo lovely stuff :D just finished one yesterday Typically I have 1 peated, and one non peated open at a time! this is going to be my next non-peated for sure. Been in my cupboard for a year or so, glad to hear (again) that it's so good! So reasonably priced ... so well reviewed!
It's my favorite as well. I think it's the best value you can get for price to quality ratio. So incredibly smooth and delicate. Of course it's not gonna be to your taste if you only like the smoky heavy hitters, but Dalwhinnie is fantastic easy drinking. I make sure to always have a bottle (or two or three. The Distiller's Editions aren't half bad either).
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Just tried out the Benriach 15 years Tawny Port bottling, wow. As a fan of port wine AND whisky, it's heaven. It's strangely harsh on the finish with some alcohol bite for a 15 years but not unpleasantly so. My whisky budget of 2015 is bust 2 times over so I can't justify buying a $100 bottle but damn.
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On September 10 2015 00:45 aseq wrote:Show nested quote +On September 09 2015 21:08 Djzapz wrote: The difference between corn and rye is not a small one... if you're under the impression that the difference is minimal, you're not comparing the right products. Like 51% corn 49% rye vs 51% rye 49% corn. Try a full out rye and you'll see that it makes a huge difference.
You say surely there isn't much left after the distillation process. Well then, brandy, calvados and whisky taste the same. You purge the flavor! No... you don't. cereals are different from one another, like fruits. Good point, Zapz! *goes off and finds a bottle of brandy and a bottle of rye (and a potato wodka if I can find one) to order and try. Although it's still far easier to tell some whiskies apart if they have a completely different finish than it is to tell a similar whisky and cognac apart, imho. Edit: just browsing around I found this 3-pack. Really anxious to try them side-by-side!
Vodka will be all pretty similar.
I would suggest trying Sazerac ("the" classic rye) and High West. I would suggest the Rendezvous over the Double. The Rendezvous is a mix between a 95/5 rye/barley and a 80/10/10 rye/barley/corn. The Double has a 53/37/10 Rye/Corn/Barely in it which dilutes some of the rye flavor
Almost anything that says "Canadian" on it you're going to have to research since "rye" in Canada means "whatever the fuck". Sometimes its 100% rye, sometimes its corn whiskey.
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Guys I really need your help. A few years ago I asked in this thread as to what the cheapest "drinkable" whiskeys are, but this time it seems like I have moved out of the 10 € category and into the <30€. I do realize that there will/may be many different opinions, but if two of you can agree on a whiskey then I will buy it  My "most expensive" whiskey was the already mentioned Dalwhinnie 15 I bought for my brother, we just mostly drink good wine/beer 
I always order from this website so it would be helpful if you looked it through and told me to buy whiskeys that are available there https://www.killis.at/whisky.html?mode=list&p=2 . The 20€<WHISKEY>30€ category starts in the middle of page 2 until the end of 5.
As to WHAT whiskey I want, I kind of have no idea - that's why I am asking ...
Huge thanks to anyone who takes the time to read through the list and/or responds ! Thanks !
EDIT : About 3-4 bottles or 100€
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Anybody willing to try Space Whiskey? http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-29174389
Whisky that was fired into space three years ago as part of an experiment into flavour has returned to Earth.
A vial of unmatured malt from the Ardbeg Distillery on Islay was sent to the International Space Station in a cargo spacecraft in October 2011, along with particles of charred oak.
Another vial of the same whisky was was kept at the distillery for comparison.
Scientists will now compare how the chemicals interacted and flavours developed at close-to-zero gravity.
Mickey Heads of Ardbeg Distillery described the whisky maturation experiment as "a voyage of discovery". 'Flavour compounds'
"We've just received the samples back from Kazakhstan, they landed overnight, and we'll be whizzing those off to Houston in Texas to analyse the results," he said.
"We're looking at the flavour compounds that are in the spirit, these are called terpenes.
"These are present in many foods and drinks and we'll be analysing those to see the difference between the spirit in the controlled experiment down on Earth and that which happened in the space station.
"It's really a long-term investigation into flavour and hopefully we can reveal new ways and new compounds of creating extra special flavours."
Ardbeg was invited to take part in the space experiment in late 2011 by Texas-based space research company NanoRacks.
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On September 11 2015 01:49 Tufas wrote:Guys I really need your help. A few years ago I asked in this thread as to what the cheapest "drinkable" whiskeys are, but this time it seems like I have moved out of the 10 € category and into the <30€. I do realize that there will/may be many different opinions, but if two of you can agree on a whiskey then I will buy it  My "most expensive" whiskey was the already mentioned Dalwhinnie 15 I bought for my brother, we just mostly drink good wine/beer  I always order from this website so it would be helpful if you looked it through and told me to buy whiskeys that are available there https://www.killis.at/whisky.html?mode=list&p=2 . The 20€<WHISKEY>30€ category starts in the middle of page 2 until the end of 5. As to WHAT whiskey I want, I kind of have no idea - that's why I am asking ... Huge thanks to anyone who takes the time to read through the list and/or responds ! Thanks ! EDIT : About 3-4 bottles or 100€
If you dont know what you like:
I would get a peated one, a unpeated one, and a bourbon and go from there:
Bourbon: Elijah Craig 12jg - 0,7 lt - One of my parsonal all time favourites, I still don't get how a 12yo bourbon is so cheap.
Peated: Bowmore 12jg - 0,7 lt Caol Ila 12jg - 0,7 lt Laphroaig 10jg - 0,7 lt - All from Islay, and all very valid Choices
Unpeated Cardhu 12jg - 0,7 lt Isle of Jura 10jg Origin - 0,7 lt Knockando 12jg - 0,7 lt - And almost every other scotch with an age, and a lot without age, at this point its much more about personal taste than quality.
I would recommend to go on whsiky.de and watch the videos of the ones that interest you, very good to get an idea how they might taste.
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On September 11 2015 03:32 Snotling wrote:Show nested quote +On September 11 2015 01:49 Tufas wrote:Guys I really need your help. A few years ago I asked in this thread as to what the cheapest "drinkable" whiskeys are, but this time it seems like I have moved out of the 10 € category and into the <30€. I do realize that there will/may be many different opinions, but if two of you can agree on a whiskey then I will buy it  My "most expensive" whiskey was the already mentioned Dalwhinnie 15 I bought for my brother, we just mostly drink good wine/beer  I always order from this website so it would be helpful if you looked it through and told me to buy whiskeys that are available there https://www.killis.at/whisky.html?mode=list&p=2 . The 20€<WHISKEY>30€ category starts in the middle of page 2 until the end of 5. As to WHAT whiskey I want, I kind of have no idea - that's why I am asking ... Huge thanks to anyone who takes the time to read through the list and/or responds ! Thanks ! EDIT : About 3-4 bottles or 100€ If you dont know what you like: I would get a peated one, a unpeated one, and a bourbon and go from there: Bourbon: Elijah Craig 12jg - 0,7 lt - One of my parsonal all time favourites, I still don't get how a 12yo bourbon is so cheap. Peated: Bowmore 12jg - 0,7 lt Caol Ila 12jg - 0,7 lt Laphroaig 10jg - 0,7 lt - All from Islay, and all very valid Choices Unpeated Cardhu 12jg - 0,7 lt Isle of Jura 10jg Origin - 0,7 lt Knockando 12jg - 0,7 lt - And almost every other scotch with an age, and a lot without age, at this point its much more about personal taste than quality. I would recommend to go on whsiky.de and watch the videos of the ones that interest you, very good to get an idea how they might taste.
Okay, will watch some of the videos ! I really like Ballantines. Its my outdoors-firewood goto whiskey
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On September 11 2015 03:32 Snotling wrote: Bourbon: Elijah Craig 12jg - 0,7 lt - One of my parsonal all time favourites, I still don't get how a 12yo bourbon is so cheap.
Its because all Bourbon is cheap. Or, more correctly, its because scotch/Irish whiskey is overpriced. Or, maybe, its because Bourbon production costs tend to be offset by selling the barrels. Which brings the marginal cost down. Either way, its not just the Elijah Craig that is cheap
Anyway, I would also suggest a peated(smokey), a bourbon(Sweet), a rye(peppery), and a non-peated Scotch/Irish* (Neutral)
This will give you a wide range of flavors for cocktails or tasting. For Rye i would suggest staying away from the Bulleit. Not because its bad, but because despite its supposed 90% rye mash bill it always tastes like their Bourbon to me (I think that they age the Rye in their Bourbon barrels) and I am not a fan of Bourbon.
For the Scotch/Irish stay away from Highlands(scotch) whiskeys(unless you're not also getting a Rye). They tend to be a bit more peppery, and frankly if you want peppery you can do just as well with a bottle of Rye (usually for much cheaper). So Speyside or Irish are your best choices here. People like to rag on Glenlivet but its a very competent speyside and a very good introduction whiskey, or a base whiskey to taste against.
*there are a small number of US distilleries that are doing 100% barley "American Single Malts" but i imagine they're going to be super tough to find on the other side of the pond and pretty expensive if you can find them.
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I wish more american distilleries would move away from corn and rye.
But yeah as Goumindong said, Glenlivet is a good introduction to gentle/sweet speyside whisky. If you want a nice lightweight scotch that's not too expensive, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich work even though the fancy connoisseurs type people will frown upon them. If you like the Ballantine's Finest cheap blend, you'll find that it's very similar to the Glenfiddich 12 which is a bit better and more complex.
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Glenfiddich deserves all of the hate it gets imo. They try to be highlands and fail, get a rye instead.
Edit: American distileries use corn/rye because it's cheap and because it's historically what was used. Scotland and Ireland use barley for the same reasons; it's what grew there when the traditions were being formed. (Barley is 75% of Scotland's grain crop, and that is a low number historically).
So don't expect a lot of movement on that (though we are seeing more barley and ugh wheat)
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Okay guys, so this is what I ordered:
Laphroaig 10jo Glenlivet 12jo Elijah Craig 12jo Knockando 12jo
This low priced stuff may not excite most of you but for me it's like Christmas. Cannot wait for it to arrive !!
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On September 11 2015 23:39 Tufas wrote: Okay guys, so this is what I ordered:
Laphroaig 10jo Glenlivet 12jo Elijah Craig 12jo Knockando 12jo
This low priced stuff may not excite most of you but for me it's like Christmas. Cannot wait for it to arrive !! More or less exactly what I would have bought. I had a bottle of the 12y Knockando and its really nice. Drinkable, soft, sweet. Glenlivet 12y is a solid whisky and not without reason on of the bestsellers, a shame that they replaced it by the "founders reserve" which in my opinion is not close to the 12y Laphroaig is pretty peaty thus not my taste, but a good choice for "conoisseurs" of peated whisky :=) THe Elijah Craig I also wanted to try in the sub 30€ segment.
What you may keep in mind for your next order are: Cardhu 12y Isle of Jura 10y (I really! enjoyed the turas mara, so I, personally, would give the 10y for 28€ a try) Glenmorangie 10y is supposed to be a good whisky for beginners, as it is easily accessible/drinkable tallisker 10 and ofc the Dalwhinnie 15 are solid as well.
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On September 11 2015 08:00 Goumindong wrote: Glenfiddich deserves all of the hate it gets imo. They try to be highlands and fail, get a rye instead.
Edit: American distileries use corn/rye because it's cheap and because it's historically what was used. Scotland and Ireland use barley for the same reasons; it's what grew there when the traditions were being formed. (Barley is 75% of Scotland's grain crop, and that is a low number historically).
So don't expect a lot of movement on that (though we are seeing more barley and ugh wheat) I've only tried the Glenfiddich 12 so I can't speak of their other products but it's not any worse than the Glenlivet 12 imo.
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On September 12 2015 04:00 Artisreal wrote:Show nested quote +On September 11 2015 23:39 Tufas wrote: Okay guys, so this is what I ordered:
Laphroaig 10jo Glenlivet 12jo Elijah Craig 12jo Knockando 12jo
This low priced stuff may not excite most of you but for me it's like Christmas. Cannot wait for it to arrive !! More or less exactly what I would have bought. I had a bottle of the 12y Knockando and its really nice. Drinkable, soft, sweet. Glenlivet 12y is a solid whisky and not without reason on of the bestsellers, a shame that they replaced it by the "founders reserve" which in my opinion is not close to the 12y Laphroaig is pretty peaty thus not my taste, but a good choice for "conoisseurs" of peated whisky :=) THe Elijah Craig I also wanted to try in the sub 30€ segment. What you may keep in mind for your next order are: Cardhu 12y Isle of Jura 10y (I really! enjoyed the turas mara, so I, personally, would give the 10y for 28€ a try) Glenmorangie 10y is supposed to be a good whisky for beginners, as it is easily accessible/drinkable tallisker 10 and ofc the Dalwhinnie 15 are solid as well.
My next order will be in half a year or so after I have worked in the winter and have money again  I still have no idea what the peated/unpeated thing is but my guess is that I will learn. I saved your suggestions and will order the bottle that I liked most from the four I got and 3-4 more ! Most of my money will still go into beer and decent wine :D
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