tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post6161905395775762379..comments2024-03-16T11:28:41.525-04:00Comments on Diving for Pearls: The Birthday Booze BatchMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02288790197865570681noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-74137135818068933342014-05-03T20:09:32.762-04:002014-05-03T20:09:32.762-04:00I'm thinking you were right about the so-calle...I'm thinking you were right about the so-called "Speyside". Tomatin! There's got to be some sort of "Speyside" 18 vs Highland 18 vs Tomatin 18 that can be worked out.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-57500538003799988972014-05-03T18:33:01.714-04:002014-05-03T18:33:01.714-04:00As an update, I've noticed on my last trip to ...As an update, I've noticed on my last trip to Costco a new bottle of Kirkland 18yo. Color and price similar to last year's ($37 or $38 instead of $34). The one change? It's now *Highland SM*, not *Speyside*! Same whisky with revised label - having learned that Tomatin should not be labeled Speyside? Certainly possible!Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-34292361418604787522013-10-30T16:03:49.332-04:002013-10-30T16:03:49.332-04:00I wish I could have found more info on Prime Malt....I wish I could have found more info on Prime Malt. Their whisky-full whisky should be better known!<br /><br />Thanks for the clarification about Rattray's Cask Islay. As a vatted malt, it always looks interesting at the store. If it was priced in the Monkey Shoulder range, I would definitely spring for it. But, yes, $50 seems a bit much. I do appreciate that Rattray puts out Bank Note at the great price though.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-13924669778126841092013-10-29T20:10:37.901-04:002013-10-29T20:10:37.901-04:00Nothing wrong with the Cask Islay, just a bit raw/...Nothing wrong with the Cask Islay, just a bit raw/young and not terribly complex. The evening beach fire on the label is perfectly appropriate. A bit steep at $50 or so, you can almost buy a Caol Ila 10yo with that money, which is in an entirely different class. It plays very well with others though! <br /><br />BTW, thanks for the info on Prime Malt!Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-83104334210943876122013-10-29T14:06:07.436-04:002013-10-29T14:06:07.436-04:00Yeah, I remember you weren't crazy about the R...Yeah, I remember you weren't crazy about the Rattray Cask Islay on its own. A lot of the Peatin' Meetin' reactions to it were pretty neutral. Until I start hearing raves about it, I shall stick to their single casks and Bank Note.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-77083060725020472092013-10-27T01:23:00.265-04:002013-10-27T01:23:00.265-04:00Great! The Monkey Shoulder is very good, but it&#...Great! The Monkey Shoulder is very good, but it's a more robust whisky. It went very well with some AD Rattray Cask Islay blended in, I enjoyed the combo more than each of its parts. But those aged grains needed something more refined. Now how do The Krav or I get a sample? :)Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-26514874634788344232013-10-19T21:31:40.721-04:002013-10-19T21:31:40.721-04:00A Balvenie 16 yr. Single Barrel and Girvan 20 yr. ...A Balvenie 16 yr. Single Barrel and Girvan 20 yr. blend actually came out pretty well (50-50 amounts). Since both spent time in ex-bourbon casks I felt both should be similar in flavor and I was right. The blend had a lot of vanilla on the nose, a very sweet palate, but the finish had the Girvan's spice notes. I'll have to try Florin's suggestion of 2:1 next.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-33758909429843110612013-10-10T12:50:09.246-04:002013-10-10T12:50:09.246-04:00Maybe try blending it with one of those Balvenie S...Maybe try blending it with one of those Balvenie SB that you mentioned elsewhere instead of Monkey Shoulder. It still keeps it in the family, but it's the "master blender's select". I'd suggest 2:1 Girvan to Balvenie, after watering down the Girvan to around 50% abv.Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-32080573466292908752013-10-09T00:05:40.234-04:002013-10-09T00:05:40.234-04:00I wouldn't doubt it. Still haven't created...I wouldn't doubt it. Still haven't created a halfway decent blend myself, so there must be some art and science behind it.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-15014308035673122732013-10-08T21:54:42.457-04:002013-10-08T21:54:42.457-04:00It was 50-50 but the amounts were small (about 1 o...It was 50-50 but the amounts were small (about 1 oz. each). I think adding water was the game changer. It was almost as if the water broke the chemical bonds and re-bound them into a cohesive blend. I guess this might be why we rarely see cask strength blends (besides the expense of releasing a cask strength blend).Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-1251824530600546952013-10-08T15:03:14.863-04:002013-10-08T15:03:14.863-04:00Nice! Hopefully not too much Girvan was sacrificed...Nice! Hopefully not too much Girvan was sacrificed in the first part of the experiment.<br /><br />I'm actually finding out something similar with a vatting I'm attempting. Only one of the malts is at cask strength and can easily throw the whole thing out of whack. Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-4091366984989179892013-10-07T03:43:04.018-04:002013-10-07T03:43:04.018-04:00Found the problem. Turns out more water really to...Found the problem. Turns out more water really tones down the bitterness and makes it a sweeter vanilla bomb. Since my Girvan was 60.4% I think even a 43% Monkey Shoulder wouldn't lower the ABV that much. Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-43510035888689564822013-10-06T21:38:31.360-04:002013-10-06T21:38:31.360-04:00Well, Monkey Shoulder and Girvan (50-50 amounts in...Well, Monkey Shoulder and Girvan (50-50 amounts in a Glencairn glass) got me a very woody blend. In fact I think it ended up a tad bitter. Since I don't think Monkey Shoulder has ex-sherry matured whisky (or a very tiny amount), the oak from the Girvan 20 year old became a lot more prominent under the Monkey Shoulder. The Girvan had been pleasant on it's own so I think the amount of Monkey Shoulder will need to be toned down or I can go the other way and add small amounts of Girvan to the blend.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-79503452548287248062013-09-30T16:39:45.186-04:002013-09-30T16:39:45.186-04:00Oh that's right. I forgot they had that one. T...Oh that's right. I forgot they had that one. That was right about the time I started following Driscoll's blog. Hope they keep bringing in the single grains.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-60208271806937738302013-09-28T19:40:28.969-04:002013-09-28T19:40:28.969-04:00The Girvan 20 was something the Davids found in th...The Girvan 20 was something the Davids found in the Douglas Laing warehouses back in 2011. It's bottled under their Sovereign Single Grains range. There is something pleasantly spicy on the finish but it's not a rye bourbon spice note. It's amazing that 20 years in a barrel didn't make it lose too much to the angels.<br />Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-78811664613989239242013-09-16T00:14:25.392-04:002013-09-16T00:14:25.392-04:00So go for it Eric, play around, and report back. ...So go for it Eric, play around, and report back. Chop-chop!Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-49239615454301356832013-09-15T14:38:57.913-04:002013-09-15T14:38:57.913-04:00That's a huge ABV for a grain whisky. Who bott...That's a huge ABV for a grain whisky. Who bottled that one?Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-52297912383749506512013-09-12T21:58:55.476-04:002013-09-12T21:58:55.476-04:00Since my bottle of 20 year old Girvan is 60.4% ABV...Since my bottle of 20 year old Girvan is 60.4% ABV (yes it's a bit of a vanilla monster), I figure just adding a few drops to a Glencairn's worth of Monkey Shoulder will have interesting results.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-10450541690866415652013-09-09T18:36:44.254-04:002013-09-09T18:36:44.254-04:00Let us know if you do whip up your own Grant's...Let us know if you do whip up your own Grant's blend, especially if you can figure how to make a good one with less than 50% malt.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-11954254147507265582013-09-04T18:03:11.405-04:002013-09-04T18:03:11.405-04:00I seem to recall reading that too. If you've ...I seem to recall reading that too. If you've ever accidentally gotten soap in your mouth while bathing (or gotten your potty mouth washed out by mom) then you'll know soap isn't tasteless.<br /><br />On the topic of middle-child syndrome, people seem to forget Whyte & Mackay own a fourth single malt distillery. Granted Tamnavulin is just coming out of mothballs so we may eventually see more official bottlings coming out in the future.<br /><br />Oh, and before I forget, I just realized that with a bottle of Girvan I own and a bottle of Monkey Shoulder, I can probably make a custom Grant's blend at home. Time to play mad scientist.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-21740564420100493212013-09-04T16:06:01.897-04:002013-09-04T16:06:01.897-04:00Um, yum?Um, yum?Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-33492483324546313702013-09-04T15:39:37.668-04:002013-09-04T15:39:37.668-04:00...And then there's this: In the World Atlas ......And then there's this: In the World Atlas of Whisky, David Broom writes in passing, under the Fettercairn entry, p.123: "There's an open-topped mash tun, stills with soap grinders on the sides - soap was used as a surfactant to reduce frothing in the wash still but did not add flavor..." So, if I understand this correctly the message is: this: "You guys just pay attention to the taste of heather, thistle and brine that the burn picks by osmosis while gurgling through the glen, to the call of the grouse, and to the smell of freedom from the crisp Scottish air; never mind the lye, soap, and caramel and another dozen such inoffensive but strictly necessary things that we put in your drink, these have absolutely 100% completely guaranteed no effect whatsoever on the flavor!". <br /><br />At least it was good soap!<br /><br />Now I worry about all that "baby vomit" flavor in some whiskies....Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-8157076915197376282013-09-04T15:28:16.992-04:002013-09-04T15:28:16.992-04:00Whisky is so much better with good company! I don&...Whisky is so much better with good company! I don't know how we made it to 4:30. Whisky adrenaline?<br /><br />At my local Costco there's a 20 year old Sherry Finish Speyside now, either $40 or $45. Wonder if it's the same distillery?<br /><br />Yeah we really don't have much Old Fettercairn out here. I think we'll be seeing more of it (indie-style) in the near future. In the K&L Podcast with Tim Morrison from AD Rattray, it was said that United Spirits sold over a million liters of their whiskies to the independents in order to help pay off the company's debt. There might be some more Dalmore-based blends soon.<br /><br />Florin, good point about the middle-child syndrome. I was going add in Tamdhu to that list, but I just noticed you already mentioned that one. I need to try some Deanston. It tends to be priced pretty well out here, but does it taste good...<br /><br />And yes, I <3 Ledaig. Especially when they've shat in my drink.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-22372809750415672662013-09-04T15:02:18.896-04:002013-09-04T15:02:18.896-04:00I was so tempted by that TJ's 18yr, but it was...I was so tempted by that TJ's 18yr, but it was due to price only. A local whisky buddy bought it and texted me, "It's not bad!" the first day. A week later he texted me, "It's not good." Can't imagine why a cask would be so cheap, a little concerning really.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-56753397937482849762013-09-02T18:06:26.421-04:002013-09-02T18:06:26.421-04:00I'm with you on this one Eric, I'm excited...I'm with you on this one Eric, I'm excited about that K&L bottle. From the little I tasted, Fettercairn is nothing like Jura or Dalmore - not that there's anything wrong with Jura :) To my taste it best resembles Tobermory/Ledaig, which makes it a divisive whisky. Some will say "who shat in my drink", others will kill for the experience. I credit Michael for calling my attention to the joys of Tobermore/Ledaig, he got it way before I did. <br /><br />And what better endorsement for Fettercairn than the fact that Jim Murray singled it out as the one and only bad Scotch distillery out there?<br /><br />A Norwegian guy has a whole website about his love for cask strength Fettercairn: collectingfettercairn.blogspot.com<br /><br />I'm not surprised we don't see more of it. It's probably the middle child syndrome - Glen Moray suffered of it while under LVMH, Deanston and Glengarioch are just recovering from it under their respective ownerships. Need I mention Tamdhu? I may even add Kinninvie here... As you see, this is the rule, not the exception!<br /><br /><br />Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.com