Whisky thread

[chuckster]

What other Canadian brands do you like…. Wisers would be my go to. But I never went down that road far enough to discover really great Canadian Brands.

My buddy swears by Crown…. But I honestly don’t think it’s great. Both Crown and 40 Creek are both just whiskeys with a lot of sugar… fake smoothness (in my opinion at least)

Poker, thanks for asking. For Canadian, Wisers Deluxe is also excellent by my palate. I'll by it a couple time per year to change things up. For my palate, Crown is too sweet. My buddy also loves it and brings it over all the time, in fact, I'm sure I'll be swilling it late this afternoon watching Masters. They are all reasonably priced, so no risk trying.

Other mentions, Crown Northern Harvest, I tried it, liked it, for sure, but get fatigued with the dominant spice flavours. Different, but like a high peat Scotch, one glass is enough before moving on.
Glenmorangie : for sure very nice. I find the wood character a little overbearing, but if you plow through about 3 of them your palate adjusts and it smoothes out. The bottle is beautiful. For $71 is is very good. Another great option at that price point, and the one I would prefer is Glenlivet 12 y.o. for $70

 

[chuckster]

Crown Northern Harvest won whisky of the year about 5 years ago and is the only one I would buy. Lot 40 Dark is amazing Cdn juice. Alberta Premium Cask Strength is very good if you can find it. Wiser 18 yr is also good but their 15 is good bang for the buck.

Japanese whisky is my hands down favourite but hard to find in LCBO. Nikka Miyagikyo, Yoichi and Taketsuru can be sometimes found and all very good. Suntory Toki is only good in a Highball. Hibiki should be available again soon. Yamazaki, Chita and Hakushu you’ll have to go south to find,

Willie, love the passion for Japanese whisky! I've tried some and they have all been great. Interesting history that they went to Scotland with the goal of replicating their methods and that is why they are so similar in overall character to Scotch. As for LCBO, you may know this... you can go on their site, order anything that they list in their network, and have it delivered to your local store for no charge, (so long at total is over $50) making it easy to find anything no matter where you live. I mention this because I do it all the time, my local store is very limited in selection.

 

[RskyBiz]

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old Scotch Whisky

750 mL bottle

www.lcbo.com

I highly recommend the 14 year old Balvenie Caribbean Cask!

 

[downbound123]

When my Father-in-law passed away in 2011 one of the things we found when we were cleaning out his apt. was an unopened bottle of Crown Royal in the box with the bag from 1971. The top of the box was not in very good shape but everything else was good. Didn't know what to do with it so on the 10th anniversary of his passing we cracked it open and reminisced.

 

[poker]

Poker, thanks for asking. For Canadian, Wisers Deluxe is also excellent by my palate. I'll by it a couple time per year to change things up. For my palate, Crown is too sweet. My buddy also loves it and brings it over all the time, in fact, I'm sure I'll be swilling it late this afternoon watching Masters. They are all reasonably priced, so no risk trying.

Other mentions, Crown Northern Harvest, I tried it, liked it, for sure, but get fatigued with the dominant spice flavours. Different, but like a high peat Scotch, one glass is enough before moving on.
Glenmorangie : for sure very nice. I find the wood character a little overbearing, but if you plow through about 3 of them your palate adjusts and it smoothes out. The bottle is beautiful. For $71 is is very good. Another great option at that price point, and the one I would prefer is Glenlivet 12 y.o. for $70

Last time I went to Britain, my cousin put the family up for a few nights. I gave them a bottle of Glenfiddich as a gift. He had a bottle of Glenlivet on the shelf…. So we had a few comparison drinks.

The Glenlivet was good, but it was much dryer. The Glenfiddich (we both agreed, seemed much smoother, without being sweet).

I tried the Crown Northern when it made headlines of Worlds Best Whiskey… It was good. I would not have gone that far.

I have not tried any of the Japanese whiskies…. But I read a few years ago some of the were world class. Even China is making gains in there distilling quality.

 

[altid13]

American: Blanton’s single-barrel

Scotch: Oban Single Malt


Irish: Dingle Small Batch Single Malt Irish Whiskey

 

[chuckster]

Last time I went to Britain, my cousin put the family up for a few nights. I gave them a bottle of Glenfiddich as a gift. He had a bottle of Glenlivet on the shelf…. So we had a few comparison drinks.

The Glenlivet was good, but it was much dryer. The Glenfiddich (we both agreed, seemed much smoother, without being sweet).

I tried the Crown Northern when it made headlines of Worlds Best Whiskey… It was good. I would not have gone that far.

I have not tried any of the Japanese whiskies…. But I read a few years ago some of the were world class. Even China is making gains in there distilling quality.

The Glenlivet was good, but it was much dryer. The Glenfiddich (we both agreed, seemed much smoother, without being sweet). - Indeed - may palate normally makes the dryer choice. (I never drink pop, don't put sugar in my coffee, don't eat candy etc... I'm a salty snacks addict!)

 

[Zipperpants]

I have found bushmills to be a decent cheap whiskey.

 

[poker]

Fun fact… When I used to watch the Italian sex comedies made in the 70’s… I would always see bottles of J&B. J&B would give the crew a case of scotch for getting there logo in a movie. Billboard… delivery truck, a bottle in a scene.

 

[Insidious Von]

I just picked up the Bearface Umami ltd edition. Quite good.

Didn't know Bearface is a bourbon, they are usually sweeter than Irish whisky, I'll have to give it a try.

Apart from the nectar of Islay, here's the other tipple of preference.

 

[Willie Layer]

Willie, love the passion for Japanese whisky! I've tried some and they have all been great. Interesting history that they went to Scotland with the goal of replicating their methods and that is why they are so similar in overall character to Scotch. As for LCBO, you may know this... you can go on their site, order anything that they list in their network, and have it delivered to your local store for no charge, (so long at total is over $50) making it easy to find anything no matter where you live. I mention this because I do it all the time, my local store is very limited in selection.

Yup, I do it all the time but even when you scour the website the selection for Japanese whisky is limited. Right now you can get Nikka From the Barrel, which doesn’t happen often. I suggest you try. Last year Nikka Taketsuru was sold out except for one bottle in Sarnia. I called and begged them to ship it to me but they refused. It was also not on the LCBO site to ship so I had to ask a guy from the local whisky club to physically buy it and mail it.

 

[Scholar]

I've never been a fan of Glenfiddich. Tastes like turpentine to me. I much prefer Glenlivet.

I'll post a picture of my scotch collection later this evening.

Don't judge me for replying to my own post. A day late and a dollar short but here is the picture I promised. As you can tell, I really like my Glenlivet.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

My three current favorites :

Glenrothes 12 - Similar to Chivas Regal but higher quality and smoother taste.

Camus VSOP Cognac - Very smooth and fruity premium Cognac.

Louis Jolliet Cognac - Truly a XO Cognac at VSOP prices.

 

[chuckster]

Yup, I do it all the time but even when you scour the website the selection for Japanese whisky is limited. Right now you can get Nikka From the Barrel, which doesn’t happen often. I suggest you try. Last year Nikka Taketsuru was sold out except for one bottle in Sarnia. I called and begged them to ship it to me but they refused. It was also not on the LCBO site to ship so I had to ask a guy from the local whisky club to physically buy it and mail it.

Nikka From the Barrel, - just added one to my LCBO cart. thanks for the suggestion. Always happy to try a reco from someone with the passion.

 

[Smittenman]

Great thread. I am an avid whisky drinker . Lately I have stuck to single malt. I used to like johnny walker double black and Chivas which are excellent whiskies too.

if there are any single malt whiskey tasting sessions here count me in.

 

[Never Compromised]

I'm definitely a Glenfiddich supporter. My family give me a bottle of 12 on my birthday, and friends usually gift me a 14 at Christmas. I buy the 15 when I need another bottle in the house, and when I get a bonus or extra money I will pick up a 18. I'm also a fan of Oban 16. I enjoy a number of single malts.

As for Canadian, the Northern Harvest Rye is what a Rye should be, spicy notes. CC & VO are good for adding water or ginger ale to. I buy 40 Creek copper pot for myself when I'm going to mix. I'm also a fan of a Cuba Libre.

 

[Willie Layer]

For those into rye, the LCBO has a special right now on Lot 40 Dark Oak and you get extra aeroplan points. Abv 48%

Lot No. 40 Dark Oak Canadian Whisky

Lot 40 Dark Oak is a bigger, bolder version of Lot 40 rye whisky. Maintaining the core essence of Lot 40 – 100% rye, distilled in a pot still, aged in new American Oak barrels – Dark Oak is finished in a second new oak barrel, this time heavily charred. This finishing in a new, char no. 4 barrel...

www.jpwiserstour.ca

 

[lomotil]

I like Macallan from time to time.

 

[Damnthealiens]

Laphroaig most decent single malts are great on palate. But no whisky in the world can match laphroaigs nose. They should make a perfume out of it

 

[lomotil]

Yup, I do it all the time but even when you scour the website the selection for Japanese whisky is limited. Right now you can get Nikka From the Barrel, which doesn’t happen often. I suggest you try. Last year Nikka Taketsuru was sold out except for one bottle in Sarnia. I called and begged them to ship it to me but they refused. It was also not on the LCBO site to ship so I had to ask a guy from the local whisky club to physically buy it and mail it.

Suntory Distillery in Japan is old and storied but some of the other newer “sellers” in Japan are clever frauds, capitalizing on the recent high allure for Japanese Whisky.
Japanese law says that “ Japanese Whisky“ doesn’t have to be necessarily produced in Japan, just bottled there with much of it actually coming from Canada and Scotland! Japan imports huge quantities of grain whisky from Canada.
In 2021, Japan whiskey producers and bottlers agreed to provide more clarity on the whiskeys actually origin. The United States is also aware of this deception and has started some restrictions on importing Japanese Whiskey. China is apparently buying much of the “Japanese Whisky’s” at exorbitant prices.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

www.bloomberg.com