tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post5999011923912806981..comments2024-03-16T11:28:41.525-04:00Comments on Diving for Pearls: Single Malt Report: Trader Joe's Irish Single MaltMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02288790197865570681noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-12890021333079852932014-02-17T17:18:13.181-05:002014-02-17T17:18:13.181-05:00Hmm, peat in a Speysider. I wonder which distiller...Hmm, peat in a Speysider. I wonder which distillery that's coming from. Wish the TJs out here carried that bottling, but we only have the 10yo Highlander.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-27317557530441969142014-02-14T23:03:30.998-05:002014-02-14T23:03:30.998-05:00I just received the 23 year old Speyside as a gift...I just received the 23 year old Speyside as a gift, and it is fantastic. I'm planning on getting a few of these just in case they pull it off the shelves. It is instantly my new favorite, especially for the incredible price. I love the distinctiveness of the peat, not ridiculously smokey like a Laphraoig, just enough to be interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-61321731413028162092014-02-13T14:08:53.905-05:002014-02-13T14:08:53.905-05:00No prob! We can look at the $40 price tag a few w...No prob! We can look at the $40 price tag a few ways. $40 is (unfortunately) the going rate for many non-age-statement single malts in this current market. $40 is a little above average for the pricing on the Classic, but that depends on which state you live in. Some states have it for $30-$35. Quality-wise, it gets a little blurry. Their distillation methods are pretty unique, so it creates a very specific sort of flavor. I do like the fact that the Classic is from all ex-bourbon barrels. Their (more expensive) Three Wood is too doctored up barrel-wise for me, but some people love it. $40 though, that's starting to get a little high. Unless you personally love the stuff!<br /><br />Figuring out how much a bottle of whisky is personally worth is something a lot of us have to do, especially with prices rising. For me if one can still get a bottle of Glenfiddich 12 or Tomatin 12 for $30 or less, that's still a good deal quality-wise. I'm not sure how many other single malts are still in that price range!Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-17820179753603126622014-02-11T21:25:19.610-05:002014-02-11T21:25:19.610-05:00Thanks!! So you think the 40.00 price is good for...Thanks!! So you think the 40.00 price is good for the potential quality? If I loved it, 40.00 would be okay for me (I've never paid more than 40 for whiskey though...). I would say I liked it...but 30.00 would have felt closer to the truth. It was a bit rough for me although I thoroughly enjoyed the taste and nose. Again, pardon me as a novice:)mlbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08145654502509425450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-31599699273515328192014-02-10T02:45:02.996-05:002014-02-10T02:45:02.996-05:00And in my personal opinion, I hope the TJs single ...And in my personal opinion, I hope the TJs single malts turn out to be good because their prices are excellent.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-90805395442356675232014-02-10T02:43:05.033-05:002014-02-10T02:43:05.033-05:00Hey mlb, thanks for the comment!
You may find it t...Hey mlb, thanks for the comment!<br />You may find it to be a bit different than the Auchentoshan Classic. The Classic is released by the company (Suntory) that owns the Auchentoshan distillery. It's younger whisky selected from hundreds of barrels (most of which are around 8 to 10 years old) by that official company. The TJs Lowland Single Malt is from one (or at most a few) barrels selected by an independent bottler, in this case Alexander Murray & Co. These barrels are at minimum 15 years old.<br /><br />What makes the Classic and the TJs version similar, aside from originating at the same distillery, is that the barrels involved were all likely former bourbon barrels, the whisky in the bottle was reduced from its original strength down to 40-43% ABV, and they're both light in character.<br /><br />Independent bottlers can be a mixed bag. Some of them pick amazing casks. Some pick casks that even the blenders won't select. Alexander Murray & Co. provides inexpensive bottlings for TJs and Costco. Some have been known to be decent, some not. They are cheaper than the official bottlings though.<br /><br />Ultimately, your palate is what's most important. I didn't care much for the TJs Irish Single Malt, but a lot of folks did like it. Some people like Auchentoshan's products, while others don't. It comes down what tastes good in your mouth when you drink it and if you're willing to pony up the $$$ to pay for it.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-87553489019893652052014-02-07T22:19:50.573-05:002014-02-07T22:19:50.573-05:00Eric and Michael Kravitz,
Wow! You guys are good....Eric and Michael Kravitz,<br />Wow! You guys are good. I am new to whiskey tasting. Tonight, I bought a bottle of TJ's label Lowland Single Malt SW (aged 15 years.) I could not find any commentary on this bottle until looking at the Auchentoshan site, The tasting notes match up with the "classic" - though with no mention of aging. However, if this is truly a re-labeled Auchentoshan Classic, then I paid way too much! 39.99 Any ideas on this? I was looking at the reserve bottles, which match the tasting notes I am experiencing but not the "green apple" mentioned on the label (I am getting coffee along with vanilla/honey)mlbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08145654502509425450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-87161709055116476882013-12-16T14:34:43.220-05:002013-12-16T14:34:43.220-05:00I did not know those hit the shelves, though I saw...I did not know those hit the shelves, though I saw the labels approved by the TTB several months ago. I was just at a TJs eight days ago and didn't see them. From what I remember the Lowland's label also mentions triple distillation so I figured it was going to be an Auchie too. Here are links to the approved labels (including a 16yo Speysider):<br /><br />https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13105001000165<br />https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13105001000175<br />https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13183001000105Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-83860907594716100082013-12-15T19:42:26.609-05:002013-12-15T19:42:26.609-05:00Interesting. Trader Joe's now has a 23 year o...Interesting. Trader Joe's now has a 23 year old Speyside single malt for 39.99! Not sure if it's any good but that price is amazing for the age. They also added a 15 year old Lowland that is obviously Auchentoshan. Even though they've filed off the serial numbers so to speak, the label states that the whisky came from a Lowland distillery founding in 1823.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-19685753295670084302013-05-06T19:25:31.562-04:002013-05-06T19:25:31.562-04:00Though I am seeing other sources saying the 12yr i...Though I am seeing other sources saying the 12yr is via Bushmills too.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-31303088660634630352013-05-06T19:23:32.663-04:002013-05-06T19:23:32.663-04:00Good point. John Hansell had some info about it he...Good point. John Hansell had some info about it here: http://www.whiskyadvocateblog.com/2009/05/07/knappogue-castle-distillery-origin-clarified/<br /><br />1951 - B. Daly Distillery (where Tullamore Dew was once made)<br />1990-1992 - Cooley<br />1993-5 - Bushmills<br />15 year old non-vintage - Cooley<br /><br />But since the article is from four years ago, so no word on the 12 year non-vintage.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-52176307413091640752013-05-05T04:32:14.642-04:002013-05-05T04:32:14.642-04:00I'm not entirely sure but Knappogue Castle 12 ...I'm not entirely sure but Knappogue Castle 12 might be Bushmills. I do recall some years they've bottled Cooley single malt whiskey but the majority of the time it's Bushmills.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-60353996963514361722012-08-01T01:50:31.298-04:002012-08-01T01:50:31.298-04:00To Anthony Forrester:
How about a half bottle?
W...To Anthony Forrester:<br /><br />How about a half bottle?<br /><br />We need to hang out.<br /><br />--Robert Griffin IIIDiving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-85872553712216194712012-07-31T15:30:44.276-04:002012-07-31T15:30:44.276-04:00Nice review Mike. Feel free to come over with a fe...Nice review Mike. Feel free to come over with a few bottles, at your leisure.<br />-anthony forresterAnthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04974172247437141048noreply@blogger.com