Whiskey

[CardShark]

Octomore doesn't use Islay peat though so it's less medicinal than other Islays. Ardbeg would be my choice too.

So the peat for the Octomore range is imported then? I, not unreasonably, presumed that it was local peat that was used and that all peat smoked Islay whiskies used Islay peat. During my relatively recent tour of Laphroaig the guide mentioned that the island had approx 200 years worth of peat at the current rate of consumption, it hadn't entered my mind that any of the distilleries were using peat from elsewhere.

[IanBear]

So the peat for the Octomore range is imported then? I, not unreasonably, presumed that it was local peat that was used and that all peat smoked Islay whiskies used Islay peat. During my relatively recent tour of Laphroaig the guide mentioned that the island had approx 200 years worth of peat at the current rate of consumption, it hadn't entered my mind that any of the distilleries were using peat from elsewhere.

My understanding is that the local Port Ellen maltings only outputs peated malt from Islay. This serves the majority of the distilleries, although Kilchoman and Bowmore do some malting on site.

So, Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich, which use unpeated malt for the majority of their offerings, have to import barley from the mainland. Bruichladdich also has Islay barley releases- which uses local barley exported and malted on the mainland then brought back to the distillery.

But where Bunnahabhain uses local peat for its limited “Moine” releases, Bruichladdich just imports all its barley from the mainland, despite the fact there is more than enough peat to go round, as you say.

[FrontierGibberish]

My understanding is that the local Port Ellen maltings only outputs peated malt from Islay. This serves the majority of the distilleries, although Kilchoman and Bowmore do some malting on site.

So, Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich, which use unpeated malt for the majority of their offerings, have to import barley from the mainland. Bruichladdich also has Islay barley releases- which uses local barley exported and malted on the mainland then brought back to the distillery.

But where Bunnahabhain uses local peat for its limited “Moine” releases, Bruichladdich just imports all its barley from the mainland, despite the fact there is more than enough peat to go round, as you say.

The Islay thing has become a major marketing exercise. For example, Bruichladdich, who make Port Charlotte, are the second smallest distillery on the island, but the largest employer. That's because the others ship a lot of stuff in in order to be able to use "Islay" in their product, and then as soon as it's distilled they ship it all out again to mature in warehouses on the west coast. It's only very briefly on Islay at all, and its component parts didn't start there. Bruichladdich do everything there, using a large local workforce. I love the fact that they repeatedly say Islay isn't some "mystical island shrouded in myth", it's a vibrant community with the same ambitions as anywhere else. They're not big on marketing to Americans!

[Jon Kenney]

I was pleasantly surprised to find a bottle of Michters in a local store.

This stuff is very sweet and moorish

[Broussard]

The use of peat from Aberdeenshire (or wherever on the mainland) rather than local peat, was because they couldn't get the pppm above 44 using Islay peat. It's not clear why this was the case, but it appears to mean that the only way to reach very high parts of phenol, is by using non-Islay peat. Dave Broom wrote a couple of pieces about peat terroir a few years ago, if I remember correctly.

[Hood]

The Islay thing has become a major marketing exercise. For example, Bruichladdich, who make Port Charlotte, are the second smallest distillery on the island, but the largest employer. That's because the others ship a lot of stuff in in order to be able to use "Islay" in their product, and then as soon as it's distilled they ship it all out again to mature in warehouses on the west coast. It's only very briefly on Islay at all, and its component parts didn't start there. Bruichladdich do everything there, using a large local workforce. I love the fact that they repeatedly say Islay isn't some "mystical island shrouded in myth", it's a vibrant community with the same ambitions as anywhere else. They're not big on marketing to Americans!

I would say the marketing of Bruichladdich is pretty much on a par with any of the others I've seen.
Not saying that as a criticism but they know how to milk the Islay thing.
For anyone thats over for the whisky festival in May their Sunday open day is fantastic with bands andwhisky and gin(the Botanist)tents.
A great day if you get the chance to go.

[zelig]

Just realised I have 5 on the go
(On my study shelves)



Something for any occasion.

z

[DamianM]

This just arrived from the whiskyshop, currently on offer for £88.99.

It's a 2019 bottling so supposedly contains 24yr old whisky.

[IanBear]

This just arrived from the whiskyshop, currently on offer for £88.99.

It's a 2019 bottling so supposedly contains 24yr old whisky.

I can indeed confirm that.

[DamianM]

I can indeed confirm that.

Cheers

[Chris_X]

This just arrived from the whiskyshop, currently on offer for £88.99.

It's a 2019 bottling so supposedly contains 24yr old whisky.

Fantastic offer, even more so if indeed it is the 2019 bottling....have ordered and discovered an extra 10% off as first time order, using code: "welcome10".

Here's to hoping it's a 2019!

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[Broussard]

Just realised I have 5 on the go
(On my study shelves)

Something for any occasion.

z

I wish I only had five...

More like 25.

Finished a Caol Ila 31yo last night, so at least making some inroads.

[DamianM]

Fantastic offer, even more so if indeed it is the 2019 bottling....have ordered and discovered an extra 10% off as first time order, using code: "welcome10".

Here's to hoping it's a 2019!

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Fingers crossed you get one from the same/similar batch.

They were very quick at posting it out too, ordered on Friday, arrived today in NI.

[DamianM]

They have a few other bottles at really good prices.

[diranija]

Thanks for the heads up on the Whiskyshop - a bottle of Glendronach 18 (hopefuly from the 2019 batch) winging its way to me

[FrontierGibberish]

I would say the marketing of Bruichladdich is pretty much on a par with any of the others I've seen.
Not saying that as a criticism but they know how to milk the Islay thing.
For anyone thats over for the whisky festival in May their Sunday open day is fantastic with bands andwhisky and gin(the Botanist)tents.
A great day if you get the chance to go.

I agree they leverage the Islay thing hard, but they also do it differently to most others. They're passionate about Islay, as a place and a community, not just as a whisky badge. I rather like this from their website:


The awkward truth

For too long Islay has been exploited by those seeking to trade on the cachet of its name. It’s become a badge to add credibility and value, with increasingly fragile links to the the reality of the island.

Islay has become a flavour profile not a provenance, with distillers importing barley from outside Scotland, then shipping spirit off the island to mature in undisclosed mainland warehouses.

What does it really mean to be an Islay single malt? To us it means commitment to Islay, investment in place and people, it means that everything must happen here, on the island and in the community. The whisky must be a true expression of the land, the culture, the people.

Port Charlotte single malt is the antidote to convenience and market manipulation.


Our Islay revolution

We’re rooted in the culture and community of this island. Of eight distilleries on the island we’re the second smallest, yet we are its largest private employer; eighty of our one hundred strong team are based here. This means something.

From the outset it has been our ambition to create the highest provenance Islay whisky. There are easier places to make whisky. Easier methods and processes. And it’s cheaper to build warehouses on the mainland. But we’re not interested in easy options.

We believe to be called an Islay malt brings with it responsibilities – responsibilities to our community and to future generations here. This is not a mythical land of legend and tradition; our Islay is vibrant, dynamic, young and passionate. To us, Islay is not a label or a marketing equity. It’s our home and it’s at the centre of our decision making.

Port Charlotte single malt is conceived, distilled, matured and bottled only on Islay.

[CardShark]

Islay has always had the vast majority of its barley shipped to it, the unsuitability of the land and weather conditions on the island see to that. The discussion around what peat is used, why and provenance is an interesting one, as is the point made about Islay whiskies being more of a generalised flavour profile stereotype rather than about said provenance. The truth is, as I understand it, that there are very, very few distilleries that do everything in house from malting, distilling, storing and then to bottling all of their spirits. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Springbank last year who do all of the above bar some of their cask storage.

On a different note, I also bagged myself a Glendronach 18 last night, it'll be my 3rd though only the first of the previous 2 was a 24. I also dropped a BenRiach 21 and a Kavalan King Car Conductor into my basket, the latter is a Taiwanese whisky. All were on sale and also had the welcome10 discount applied as well, I don't think I'll be purchasing anything else this year looking at the number of bottles I have...

[IanBear]

Islay has always had the vast majority of its barley shipped to it, the unsuitability of the land and weather conditions on the island see to that. The discussion around what peat is used, why and provenance is an interesting one, as is the point made about Islay whiskies being more of a generalised flavour profile stereotype rather than about said provenance. The truth is, as I understand it, that there are very, very few distilleries that do everything in house from malting, distilling, storing and then to bottling all of their spirits. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Springbank last year who do all of the above bar some of their cask storage.

On a different note, I also bagged myself a Glendronach 18 last night, it'll be my 3rd though only the first of the previous 2 was a 24. I also dropped a BenRiach 21 and a Kavalan King Car Conductor into my basket, the latter is a Taiwanese whisky. All were on sale and also had the welcome10 discount applied as well, I don't think I'll be purchasing anything else this year looking at the number of bottles I have...

Only very small distilleries do all of everything themselves. Daftmill are the only one doing full farm to bottle but you’ll need fast fingers or a pretty penny at auction. And having tried several I personally think it’s over-rated.

[dek10000]

This just arrived from the whiskyshop, currently on offer for £88.99.

It's a 2019 bottling so supposedly contains 24yr old whisky.

where is bottling date on bottle sorry cannot see it

[Chris_X]

where is bottling date on bottle sorry cannot see it

On the bottle, bottom rear, hold it against the light...had that same arrival and did same test this morning - mine's a Oct 2019 bottling, so hope that's sufficiently early before the 2020 bottlings so that it contains that hoped for 24yrs old liquid...

Here's an interesting infographic I found on the Glendronach mothballing years and how that liquid came through the bottlings

And here's an interesting article: https://wordsofwhisky.com/glendronac...he-label-says/

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[dek10000]

On the bottle, bottom rear, hold it against the light...had that same arrival and did same test this morning - mine's a Oct 2019 bottling, so hope that's sufficiently early before the 2020 bottlings so that it contains that hoped for 24yrs old liquid...

Here's an interesting infographic I found on the Glendronach mothballing years and how that liquid came through the bottlings

And here's an interesting article: https://wordsofwhisky.com/glendronac...he-label-says/

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thanks mine only says 2407 and a 23 in middle

[Chris_X]

thanks mine only says 2407 and a 23 in middle

You sure?

See mine

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[Seamaster73]

Quinta Ruban is my favorite at the moment, too. I can't get enough of it.

The 14yo Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban took the top honours in the <£50 category in Scottish Field's most recent whisky challenge. I took a punt on a bottle and agree it's sensational.

[dek10000]

found it where yours is 33 mine is 34
thanks

[Chris_X]

found it where yours is 33 mine is 34
thanks

Guess it was bottled a minute after mine then...slainte

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[dek10000]

Guess it was bottled a minute after mine then...slainte

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yes will report back when opened

[Jon Kenney]

yes will report back when opened

It’s delicious. Enjoy.

[DamianM]

Good to hear everyone is getting their bottles of the Glendronach 18yr from the same batch, seems we all within minutes of each other too!

[CardShark]

My GlenDronach, King Car and BenRiach turned up this afternoon, is the GlenDronach an 18....???

Yes! Looks like we all got the same batch.

24!

No idea why however I thought that I already had a 24 along with a true 18 2020 bottle on the shelf, I've just checked the dates and it appears I was wrong.

From L to R - June 19, November 19 and the new October 19 bottlings. It's probably my favourite of all whiskies I've tried so I've no issue in having 3 bottles, I will investigate gassing the open ones (and other whiskies I have) to keep them tip-top.

Trio 24

[Tony]

Glenlivet 15 is £37.99 on Amazon. A good price for one of my staples.

[dek10000]

The 14yo Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban took the top honours in the <£50 category in Scottish Field's most recent whisky challenge. I took a punt on a bottle and agree it's sensational.

heard good reports about it and bottled at a respectable 46%vol

[Tony]

The 14yo Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban took the top honours in the <£50 category in Scottish Field's most recent whisky challenge. I took a punt on a bottle and agree it's sensational.

It seems to have replaced the 12 year old, with a suitable price bump. I'll defiitely be getting some though.

[dandanthewatchman]

2 of my absolute favourites arrived today

My glendronach looks like October 2019 and not sure what that makes it .... all I know is it’s a belter. Thanks for the heads up on the deal

The Dalmore 18 is sensational and now very expensive, but was a nice surprise gift that was delivered a couple of hours after the glendronach.

And tonight I’ve opened this ..... never had it before. Nicely lightly smoked and has plenty of bite to it




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[dandanthewatchman]

If you want something to blow your head off ..... this is a very good price:-


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O0SD1...EbGATZAX6_nodl

Not for the faint hearted


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[Chris_X]

If you want something to blow your head off ..... this is a very good price:-


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O0SD1...EbGATZAX6_nodl

Not for the faint hearted


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Excellent dram...despite the high (cask strength) ABV, it's remarkably drinkable - and fabulous on the palate with a few drops of water...at that subscription price it's a no brainer

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[DamianM]

2 of my absolute favourites arrived today

My glendronach looks like October 2019 and not sure what that makes it .... all I know is it’s a belter. Thanks for the heads up on the deal

The Dalmore 18 is sensational and now very expensive, but was a nice surprise gift that was delivered a couple of hours after the glendronach.

And tonight I’ve opened this ..... never had it before. Nicely lightly smoked and has plenty of bite to it




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That date is the same as mine and a few others here so should make it 24 yr old.

[abryant64]

Just realised I have 5 on the go
(On my study shelves)



Something for any occasion.

z

The Uig is my favourite I've tried thus far - just incredible

[Chris_X]

Just got an email from Master of Malt to say that Dalmore 18 is £89 for TODAY only - apparently a £21 saving...not had this one before, but thought worth sharing the deal.

And the Cigar Malt is £64.80 for today only....

[IanBear]

Just got an email from Master of Malt to say that Dalmore 18 is £89 for TODAY only - apparently a £21 saving...not had this one before, but thought worth sharing the deal.

And the Cigar Malt is £64.80 for today only....

It's a good price, I would say the 18 is the better of the two. Although I would probably just buy more Glendronach!

[Kirk280]

Looks like I missed all the good Whisky Shop offers....oh well my liver will be thankful!

[CardShark]

Dalmore 18 is lovely, I finished a bottle maybe a month ago and at a discounted price it's tempting to replace however with my recent spend I shall refrain. The BenRiach was bought as a replacement for it (similar price when the BR was on offer), I hope that I don't regret that decision.

[dandanthewatchman]

Just got an email from Master of Malt to say that Dalmore 18 is £89 for TODAY only - apparently a £21 saving...not had this one before, but thought worth sharing the deal.

And the Cigar Malt is £64.80 for today only....

Definitely take the 18 over the Cigar.

It is a great price in the context of how whisky has increased last couple of years, but that used to be the regular price. Just like a Sub


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[abryant64]

Any recommendations for a new bottle £50-100 that isn't an Islay peaty type?

[zelig]

Any recommendations for a new bottle £50-100 that isn't an Islay peaty type?

The Tullibardine 20 in my post earlier - it's lovely & smooth - and not peaty.
Click on the link for the Masters of Malt info & nice review here

About £90 IIRC

z

[DamianM]

Any recommendations for a new bottle £50-100 that isn't an Islay peaty type?

With that really decent budget I'd be inclined to either go for something with a decent age statement or maybe a single barrel /cask strength offering.

Here is a few ideas to consider...

[martinupnorth]

What do you like?

If you're into speysides I can recommend Benromach at (or below) the bottom end of your budget. Finishing a bottle of the 10 now and it's bloody lovely.

Any recommendations for a new bottle £50-100 that isn't an Islay peaty type?

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[dek10000]

What do you like?

If you're into speysides I can recommend Benromach at (or below) the bottom end of your budget. Finishing a bottle of the 10 now and it's bloody lovely.

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https://www.robbieswhiskymerchants.c...ch-Whisky.html

Also free postage code on their Facebook page something like ukm20 or similar, this is probably as well balanced 10yr old malt I have tasted, I would buy 10bottles but just a touch smoky for my palate, but an outstanding young malt


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[DamianM]

Tonight's dram will be this 7 yr old from the Boann distillery. Non chill filtered, Natural colour and packing a whopping 59% abv.

A drop or 2 of water will be required I reckon.

[martinupnorth]

Bargain! Thanks

https://www.robbieswhiskymerchants.c...ch-Whisky.html

Also free postage code on their Facebook page something like ukm20 or similar, this is probably as well balanced 10yr old malt I have tasted, I would buy 10bottles but just a touch smoky for my palate, but an outstanding young malt


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[abryant64]

With that really decent budget I'd be inclined to either go for something with a decent age statement or maybe a single barrel /cask strength offering.

Here is a few ideas to consider...

Thanks I'm going to give the Balvenie a try - have actually got the 14 Caribbean Cask and whilst not my exact type is a pretty great dram!