Whisky II

I'd rather stick to a Glenfarclas 25 TBH bat that price point: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001GLO8AU/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

I've had a few Benriach inc. their 21 year old and have been fairly underwhelmed TBH

 

Aberlour 12 here at a good price: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009SS9CKY/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

 

I hope you are on first name terms with your bank manager Steve! What a fantastic shop to live beside.

 

The Glenfarclas 25 looks like one to get round to - it's often £99 on MoM flash sale...though 43% is a smidge stingy.

I have my eye on these Whisky Exchange exclusive bottlings:
https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/57308/glenfarclas-21-year-old-95-proof-twe-exclusive
https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/57307/glenfarclas-15-year-old-100-proof-twe-exclusive

Reviewed here: https://www.thedramble.com/tastings/group/are-you-sitting-comfortably/

 

I consider it my civic duty to support local businesses, especially startups. Frequently.

 

I got a Glenfarclas 25 when it was at £99 on Amazon and it's good value at that price point for a 25 year old as it's also very good. I actually prefer the cheaper (£70-80) Oban Distillers Edition over it though.

 

This looks like an interesting Glenfarclas as well:
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenfarclas/glenfarclas-12-year-old-drinks-by-the-dram-whisky/

 

"Unavailable."

Still this should help TonyL:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002EPBL1Q/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

Notice a LOT of people disagreeing with Ralfy's scoring of this; may be a Marmite malt.
https://malt-review.com/2021/01/13/solid-standards-2-of-sorting-kings-out-the-talisker-10/

 

My brother has the 21 year old; bought him that for his birthday last year. Tight git hasn't opened it yet

 

@Weekender I think the 10yo is a stand-out bargain at £30 (if you like the style) and the Skye’s not so bad with water at £25.

 

I find Ralfy's reviews interesting but they often don't agree with my own views - especially as he appears to make his mind up on some stuff (i.e. if it's chill filtered or has artificial colouring) adding up to a low score before he actually tastes the whisky.

I've got a bottle of Talisker 10 and it's very decent.

 

And "an essential holiday purchase*" for our Skye trip, so still joint accountable. {cheesy grin}

*have the Smidge midge spray.

 

Aye I can see that. To be fair to Ralfy he does often say "just one man's opinion", but his opinion does hold a lot of sway in the Whisky World. And he's never yet reviewed/marked anything under 80, which is actually a decent score.
I just wish the big Producers would dispense with the CF and the colouring...too much money in the far East markets for that I guess. Look at Glendronach's recent dropping of the NCF from their labelling...think Brown Forman overpaid Billy Walker and are needing to make a return on their investment!

 

Ralfy was quite damning about Aberfeldy 12yo. To be fair, it is only OK but, as @SteveG hinted upthread, the crappy plastic stopper seal seemed to make up his mind before he even opened the bottle.

 

It seems logical to me that if you chill filter, ie strip out the concentrated barley oils, it will remove a bit of flavour too. It’s not just Ralfy banging on about this, it’s master distiller’s too.

Of course, bottling at 46% or above dispenses with the need for it.

Re: Talisker, it’s definitely to my style, but I find it a bit one dimensional, with a short finish. A good one for the hip flask though.

 

But does not go down well with the bean counters.
Though the argument could be made that a natural presentation and 46% might increase sales and profits...trade off between enthusiasts and the general consumers...for the big brands the latter outweigh the former.

 

At least it makes it easier to choose an unknown whisky. Personally, I now won’t touch any whisk(e)y at 40%, because you know it’s presented for the mass market rather than with taste in mind, and if they could legally bottle it lower they probably would!

 

TBH for me I'll drink any whisky, don't really care if its 'only' 40% or whether it's chill filtered / non-chill filtered, coloured etc...

If I'm buying expensive whisky, I'll generally go cask. But I really liked Dalmore Port Wood finish, that's chill filtered etc...

I don't do the snobbery side, can't be arsed... I know what I like and don't like and that's what I stick to

I like everything from Cutty Sark / Black Bottle at c£15 to the more expensive Octomore, SMWS cask bottlings to which I've had a fair few at around £180 upwards...

I enjoy it, so for me, just take it as it comes

 

Aye but...
Curry Sark?

 

Cutty Sark... Fecking autocorrect