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Official PCF Whisk(e)y Thread (59 Viewers)

Big Jilm said:
I knew BTAC dropped this morning here. I stood in the freezing cold for an hour and was FIRST. Got in the store, they said they got it, but they don't know what they will be doing with it yet as far as restaurant vs selling to public. Hurried to another store, got there 10min after opening. They got a Pappy, an ER17, and a GTS. They sold in the first 5 min. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
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lol if you showed up an hour before opening here you would be 25th in line
 
Wow. Thanks for some great recommendations. Picked these up on Sunday (no car shot, had a box) and am really enjoying them. I may not be able to pick up all the subtle flavors of the Disco #8, but it’s super tasty with a nice lingering finish. I’m going to take my time and enjoy this pour. Lost Monarch was also yummy, as stated. Noah’s (22-30) was interesting, but I only had a small taste and will get back to it.

Last pour before heading into a dry month(ish), coming out for an Irish & Poker night at the end of Feb. It will be a while before I try these again and I’ve picked up several bottles, so I think I’ll set up a mini-tasting to explore and compare some interesting bottles when I do.

Appreciate the sharing and tasting notes!
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OK, I've mentioned this before, but it's time to add a bottle of scotch to my cabinet. I've recently kicked a couple bottles of bourbon, so I have a little room. Need some suggestions for a "best bang for the buck" bottle. Preferably around $40 or less. Something that a scotch drinking guest will enjoy and something to gauge future "better" purchases against.

I've been thinking 12 year single malt, but there aren't too many in that price range. I was at Total Wine a few weeks ago and picked up what sample bottles they had. Tonight I opened all three. Honestly, they were all pretty similar. The Grangestone might have been slightly better than the other two. The Chivas might have been the worst. But I'm definitely not an educated scotch drinker.


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The ones above are all 80 proof. I'd prefer something more around 90 proof. These 5 bottles are available at Total Wine in the $40-50 range. Any of them worth considering? Anything less expensive that I should consider? Is it silly to exclude anything that's 80 proof? I believe all of the above are well under $40.

Oh, and I'm not ready to try Islay yet. So Highland or Speyside only for now please.

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TX_Golf_N_Poker said:
OK, I've mentioned this before, but it's time to add a bottle of scotch to my cabinet. I've recently kicked a couple bottles of bourbon, so I have a little room. Need some suggestions for a "best bang for the buck" bottle. Preferably around $40 or less. Something that a scotch drinking guest will enjoy and something to gauge future "better" purchases against.

I've been thinking 12 year single malt, but there aren't too many in that price range. I was at Total Wine a few weeks ago and picked up what sample bottles they had. Tonight I opened all three. Honestly, they were all pretty similar. The Grangestone might have been slightly better than the other two. The Chivas might have been the worst. But I'm definitely not an educated scotch drinker.


View attachment 1070697

The ones above are all 80 proof. I'd prefer something more around 90 proof. These 5 bottles are available at Total Wine in the $40-50 range. Any of them worth considering? Anything less expensive that I should consider? Is it silly to exclude anything that's 80 proof? I believe all of the above are well under $40.

Oh, and I'm not ready to try Islay yet. So Highland or Speyside only for now please.

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I think you’re shutting yourself off from some good stuff. Not familiar with those, but Glenmorangie is a well known brand.

I’d think about, in alphabetical order:
  • Aberlour 12 ($57) - my fave at a tasting
  • Glenfiddich 12 ($46) - standard go-to
  • Glenlivit 12 ($49) - standard go-to
  • Highland Park 12 ($44) - recommend to me
  • Pinch ($34) - a buddy swears by it, haven’t had it in ages
But then I think we’ve proven I’m a less than reliable character here. :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:
 
warma said:
I think you’re shutting yourself off from some good stuff. Not familiar with those, but Glenmorangie is a well known brand.

I’d think about, in alphabetical order:
  • Aberlour 12 ($57) - my fave at a tasting
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Definitely on my list when I am ready to try something a little more expensive. Like I said, I'm looking for the best bang for the buck.
warma said:
  • Glenfiddich 12 ($46) - standard go-to
  • Glenlivit 12 ($49) - standard go-to
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I believe these are both 80 proof. I've tried the Glenfiddich 12 and it tastes very similar (to me) to the two single malts that I tried in the pic above.
warma said:
  • Highland Park 12 ($44) - recommend to me
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This is on my list as one of the first I will try when I'm ready for an Islay.
warma said:
  • Pinch ($34) - a buddy swears by it, haven’t had it in ages
But then I think we’ve proven I’m a less than reliable character here. :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:
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Never heard of it, so I looked it up. Pinch is a blended scotch and is only 80 proof.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm probably overthinking this.

Has anyone tried any of the Glen Fohdry scotches? They seem to have decent reviews on TW, but not sure if those can be trusted. I'll probably either give it, or the Glenmorangie Lasanta a try. That is their 10 year scotch finished for another two years in Sherry casks.
 
warma said:
Noah’s (22-30) was interesting, but I only had a small taste and will get back to it.

Last pour before heading into a dry month(ish), coming out for an Irish & Poker night
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I also recently picked up Noah’s Mill. A bit heavy with the initial burn, but I thought it had some great flavors that really come through. Opens up further with water as well. A good value.

For that upcoming Irish Poker night. Grab a bottle of Roe & Co. Irish whiskey If you haven’t had it. It drinks well above its price point in my groups opinion. Good bottle for the price.
 
TX_Golf_N_Poker said:
Definitely on my list when I am ready to try something a little more expensive. Like I said, I'm looking for the best bang for the buck.

I believe these are both 80 proof. I've tried the Glenfiddich 12 and it tastes very similar (to me) to the two single malts that I tried in the pic above.

This is on my list as one of the first I will try when I'm ready for an Islay.

Never heard of it, so I looked it up. Pinch is a blended scotch and is only 80 proof.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm probably overthinking this.

Has anyone tried any of the Glen Fohdry scotches? They seem to have decent reviews on TW, but not sure if those can be trusted. I'll probably either give it, or the Glenmorangie Lasanta a try. That is their 10 year scotch finished for another two years in Sherry casks.
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No other scotch drinkers in here???

At this point I'm leaning towards starting with either the Glenmorangie Lasanta sherry cask ($42) or the Glen Fohdry 12 year. ($45) It's my understanding that the Glen Fohdry line is distilled by Glenfiddich specifically for Total Wine. Several whiskey vloggers seem to think it's pretty decent. I'm still open to other suggestions for better "bang for the buck" scotches in the 90 proof range.
 
TX_Golf_N_Poker said:
No other scotch drinkers in here???

At this point I'm leaning towards starting with either the Glenmorangie Lasanta sherry cask ($42) or the Glen Fohdry 12 year. ($45) It's my understanding that the Glen Fohdry line is distilled by Glenfiddich specifically for Total Wine. Several whiskey vloggers seem to think it's pretty decent. I'm still open to other suggestions for better "bang for the buck" scotches in the 90 proof range.
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I saw Glenfarclas on your list. I've had the 17 yr. not the 12. It was very good!
 
TX_Golf_N_Poker said:
No other scotch drinkers in here???

At this point I'm leaning towards starting with either the Glenmorangie Lasanta sherry cask ($42) or the Glen Fohdry 12 year. ($45) It's my understanding that the Glen Fohdry line is distilled by Glenfiddich specifically for Total Wine. Several whiskey vloggers seem to think it's pretty decent. I'm still open to other suggestions for better "bang for the buck" scotches in the 90 proof range.
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Jura Journey and Shieldaig Speyside Single Malt 12Yr should both fit your requirements. Most of the scotch that I prefer are higher proofs, and run in the $80 to $100 range. But all those already named should give you a good start.
 
TX_Golf_N_Poker said:
warma said:
I think you’re shutting yourself off from some good stuff. Not familiar with those, but Glenmorangie is a well known brand.
  • Highland Park 12 ($44) - recommend to me
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This is on my list as one of the first I will try when I'm ready for an Islay.
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Not to be pedantic, but Highland Park isn't an Islay--it is from the Orkney Islands. While it has peat and smoke, it's not like an Islay. I think it is an excellent balance, and at that pricepoint, an outstanding value.

A bit higher up in price is Oban 14, which is my pick as the best all-weather, all-taste-profiles single malt scotch. Nothing else comes close, in my opinion.
 
Enshin said:
For that upcoming Irish Poker night. Grab a bottle of Roe & Co. Irish whiskey If you haven’t had it. It drinks well above its price point in my groups opinion. Good bottle for the price.
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Thanks! I’ll look for it. I have my selection set, but I’m always keen to explore!
 
Saoliver said:
Jura Journey and Shieldaig Speyside Single Malt 12Yr should both fit your requirements. Most of the scotch that I prefer are higher proofs, and run in the $80 to $100 range. But all those already named should give you a good start.
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Thanks for responding. I think those are both 80 proof. I'm probably being too nit picky with my requirements. To my very inexperienced palette, the 80 proof scotches I've tried all taste very similar, and not nearly as good to me as bourbons and ryes that cost less. So I was hoping by upping the proof a bit, I might find something with more depth and character. But I'm probably just going to have to settle for one that I've already identified, or spend a little more money. Or try one of the ones with peat flavors.
 
TX_Golf_N_Poker said:
Thanks for responding. I think those are both 80 proof. I'm probably being too nit picky with my requirements. To my very inexperienced palette, the 80 proof scotches I've tried all taste very similar, and not nearly as good to me as bourbons and ryes that cost less. So I was hoping by upping the proof a bit, I might find something with more depth and character. But I'm probably just going to have to settle for one that I've already identified, or spend a little more money. Or try one of the ones with peat flavors.
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Laphroaig cask strength!
 
gopherblue said:
Not to be pedantic, but Highland Park isn't an Islay--it is from the Orkney Islands. While it has peat and smoke, it's not like an Islay. I think it is an excellent balance, and at that pricepoint, an outstanding value.

A bit higher up in price is Oban 14, which is my pick as the best all-weather, all-taste-profiles single malt scotch. Nothing else comes close, in my opinion.
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Thanks for the correction. I'm a total n00b with scotch, so not down on some of the sub-groups of the locations in Scotland. The Total Wine web site lists HP12 in with the Islay scotches by calling it "Islay & Islands."
 
TX_Golf_N_Poker said:
Thanks for responding. I think those are both 80 proof. I'm probably being too nit picky with my requirements. To my very inexperienced palette, the 80 proof scotches I've tried all taste very similar, and not nearly as good to me as bourbons and ryes that cost less. So I was hoping by upping the proof a bit, I might find something with more depth and character. But I'm probably just going to have to settle for one that I've already identified, or spend a little more money. Or try one of the ones with peat flavors.
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You may need to find a bar with a good selection and do some research. :)
 

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