Two scotches and a cognac

[Ulysses]

Three new bottles cracked this evening.

Michel Couvrer 12yo Unfiltered - "Michel Couvreur is a Belgian wine negociant who exports Scotch Whisky to the continent and ages it in Burgundy wine cellars in high-end sherry casks." This is actually a premium blend of 54 or 56 casks. Very light sherry finish. Mild peaty flavor. Very smooth.

Springbank 10yo 100 proof - A Campbeltown Single Malt. Surprisingly smooth for a cask strength (typical Scotch is 80 to 86 proof). By comparison, the last cask strength bottle I had, Macallan Cask Strength, was 116 proof.

Pierre Ferrand Reserve Cognac - Wow. Great.

[Boris]

Aren't all the good scotches aged in Sherry barrels?

I don't know jack about scotch but I do know that Natedogg serves only the best at his home game.

[nolanfan34]

Who do you drink this stuff with El D? Is this what I get to drink when you pay off your bet? /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Meh, here's a beer review from dinner tonight:

Fish Tale Ale's Winterfish seasonal - Outstanding winter ale. Loaded with a subtle hop and strong malt flavor. 7.0% alcohol content, and you can tell after one sip that it packs a punch. Just a great beer to sip during a meal, and savor the flavor.

The minus is, it's probably only available in Olympia. The plus is, I'm here, so I brought home a 6-pack.

I actually don't drink scotch, but my dad does, and I'm always looking for recommendations, so thanks for the reviews El D.

[Ulysses]

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Aren't all the good scotches aged in Sherry barrels?

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No. Many good ones are aged in sherry barrels. These are often the smoother, slightly sweeter varieties. Many of the peatier scotches are aged in bourbon barrels. And a number of scotches are aged in new oak barrels. You'll also find scotches aged in port, cognac, even Bordeaux barrels - and others I'm sure. Many of my favorite scotches use a combination - most of the aging done in a new or bourbon barrel, then do the final stage of aging in a port or sherry barrel to add a nice, smooth finish.

[astroglide]

i look forward to your monocle and cane threads, gayass

If you haven`t already tasted it, I would recommend Lagavulin Double Matured 1984.

I tasted it a few days ago and can`t wait to get my hands on a bottle.

[Ulysses]

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i look forward to your monocle and cane threads, gayass

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St. Louis. Hahahhahaaa.

[Ulysses]

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If you haven`t already tasted it, I would recommend Lagavulin Double Matured 1984.


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How does it compare to the 16yo? Is it super-peaty?

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How does it compare to the 16yo? Is it super-peaty?

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It is very peaty and smokey. Compared to the 16yo it is "softer" and sweeter.

[astroglide]

does somebody have to eat potting materials in order to describe cognac? "it's more enriched soil than peat, with a fertilizer finish"

[Ray Zee]

that springbank is good. i like balvenie the best and its only(ugh) around 80 bucks or so a bottle. i used to drink glenlevit but i cant adjust to its taste as i dont drink enough scotch to appreciate what it is. even though its not as good as the others.

cognac is only used by loose players.

[daveymck]

Recommend Glenmorangie and Isle of Jura scotch whiskeys as best I have had. I assume they export to the states.

When I was working in Scotland was lodging with a woman who worked at glenmorangie distillery and so was able to get cheap stuff from the staff shop, good times.

[Wayfare]

Lagavulin is super-peety. Doesn't it say on the label that it "tastes of burnt driftwood"?

I can only take that stuff in relatively small doses. Give me a good glass of macallan 18 on the rocks. In a sniffer please.

[Ulysses]

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does somebody have to eat potting materials in order to describe cognac? "it's more enriched soil than peat, with a fertilizer finish"

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Cognac is a brandy from the Cognac region of France. Brandy is distilled wine. So, no.

[dogsballs]

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Lagavulin is super-peety. Doesn't it say on the label that it "tastes of burnt driftwood"?

I can only take that stuff in relatively small doses.

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Did you say super peaty..?! For an experiment get hold of a tester of Talisker. Then you'll know peaty.

edit: lagavulin 16 is my fave. Good complex, smooth flavours and the sexiest bottle. Lightweights think it's peaty /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Balvenie is a great lighter one...you can give it as gifts to folk who don't drink the stuff much.
I don't go too much for those super aged 25 etc yr old stuff - that just saps a lot of the flavours, imo. You end up with very smooth but blander.

[astroglide]

how do you know what peat tastes like?

[Ulysses]

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i like balvenie the best and its only(ugh) around 80 bucks or so a bottle.

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Nice. Balvenie's my favorite as well. The 21yo Portwood for about $75/bottle here is my favorite. The 12yo Doublewood is also very good and a really great deal for only about $35/bottle.

[Toro]

I've always been curious what it means for a Scotch whiskey to be called "single malt". Can you enlighten me as you seem to be quite expert on the subject.

[Ulysses]

Basic Scotch info (http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Scotch_whisky)

[jar]

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Pierre Ferrand Reserve Cognac - Wow. Great.

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I had the three commonly available bottlings at a tasting last year. The Ambre was good but not great, the reserve was great, and the selection des anges was unbelievable. If it weren't $120 a bottle, I'd have bought some. Well, if I continue to run as well as I have lately at live games, maybe I'll get some as a special treat.

[Thythe]

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does somebody have to eat potting materials in order to describe cognac? "it's more enriched soil than peat, with a fertilizer finish"

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This is truly the best reply ever. I'm still laughing.

[ilya]

How long does one of these bottles last? And do they keep once you open them?

[Diplomat]

Just this Friday we cracked a bottle of Single Barrel Balvenie 15 yo. that I picked up in Scotland this summer. It's great stuff, very distinctive but not too peaty, and cost about 30 pounds (iirc) a bottle. I wish I had hid more in my suitcase.

-Diplomat

[ilya]

[ QUOTE ]
Three new bottles cracked this evening.

Michel Couvrer 12yo Unfiltered - "Michel Couvreur is a Belgian wine negociant who exports Scotch Whisky to the continent and ages it in Burgundy wine cellars in high-end sherry casks." This is actually a premium blend of 54 or 56 casks. Very light sherry finish. Mild peaty flavor. Very smooth.

Springbank 10yo 100 proof - A Campbeltown Single Malt. Surprisingly smooth for a cask strength (typical Scotch is 80 to 86 proof). By comparison, the last cask strength bottle I had, Macallan Cask Strength, was 116 proof.

Pierre Ferrand Reserve Cognac - Wow. Great.

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Are you guys child pornographers? Is this your secret code?

[astroglide]

excellent post

[ethan]

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How does it compare to the 16yo? Is it super-peaty?

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It is very peaty and smokey. Compared to the 16yo it is "softer" and sweeter.

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Sounds a lot like the Laphroaig 15 I'm drinking right now, actually.

You also might consider looking for the "Classic of Islay" brand. It's Lagavulin scotch, it just doesn't have their name on the bottle. It's available in 8-, 12-, and 21-year bottlings. (The 21- is a bit more mellow than I want my Lagavulin, but ymmv.) I'm also curious about the Lagavulin 12-year cask strength, but $170 is still a little beyond my scotch budget.

[Mano]

If you are a fan of the Islay's, I just started a bottle of Bowmore 17, and think it is excellent.