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

[ChaosRock]

I'm the same way. Like it "neat". I liked the OF. It maybe wasn't too sweet. It was definitely borderline for me.

The five other whiskey's (well, 6, cuz I had two I.W. Harpers) were all drank "neat", and they were all damn good. The wheat one was just to mellow for me.

I have to confess my ignorance regarding the I.W. Harper, never heard of it... Will definitely try...

 

[pltrgyst]

>Are those Boxcars cocktails similar to the Sidecar?

Yes, with the addition of a few drops of Angostura (or homemade) bitters.

 

[detroitdad]

I have to confess my ignorance regarding the I.W. Harper, never heard of it... Will definitely try...

Her friend was giving me a ton of information. I believe the I.W. Harper was out of circulation for close to 20 years (I could be mixing up which one he was talking about) and it just came back a year or two ago.

 

[mattduck]

Having become a bit obsessed with making better cocktails at home,I have invested in some better bitters. For making Manhattans, I recommend using a couple/three dashes of each of these:

The combo of these bitters give the Manhattan a cinnamon spicy undertone.

 

[detroitdad]

I have to confess my ignorance regarding the I.W. Harper, never heard of it... Will definitely try...

googled it. It hasn't been available in the U.S. for 20 years.

Last night I was drinking the I.W. Harper 15. Very good imo. Of course, I'm not the Whiskey/Bourbon aficionado that you guys are.

http://gobourbon.com/iw-harper-coming-back-to-the-states/

 

[detroitdad]

This whiskey talk is getting me thirsty for some whiskey.............damn, this is all I have left

 

[ChaosRock]

I'll bring you a bottle!

 

[BiGGyT]

Having become a bit obsessed with making better cocktails at home,I have invested in some better bitters. For making Manhattans, I recommend using a couple/three dashes of each of these:

The combo of these bitters give the Manhattan a cinnamon spicy undertone.

I think I need to order the combo pack
and the Trinity

Thanks for the info, bitters can totally change the drink, but I never though to look outside the locally offered ones.

@ChaosRock, I like your commitment to the purity, I grew up with this style of old fashioned from Grandpa to Dad to us 40-50 year old "kids".

BiGGyT

 

[detroitdad]

I'll bring you a bottle!

You don't have to do that sir. Hell, I've probably drank 50 bucks worth of your good stuff just playing at your house.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Meant to make a comment about @Poker Zombie tasting of Johnnie Walker Blue label at his Vegas trip report thread but writing here is probably more appropriate:

I really like the Blue Label Zombs, I think it's a great blended scotch of super high quality... My issue with the 'Blue' though is the price... For that amount you can get some AMAZING single malts or even two or three bottles of great single malts... So in a vacuum the Blue is one of the best blends around for sure but from a value and quality perspective I favor single malt alternatives almost always... Important disclaimer: I don't have the bank roll to drink 'Blue' priced bottles too often

I can easily accept the pricing ceiling. As a well versed vodka drinker and wine drinker, Whiskey (in any of it's variants) is simply a passion I have never been able to indulge. As such, I stumble upon good ones, and buy a bottle that will last for quite a while as it's not a go-to drink as much as it is a change-of-pace drink. I an absolutely certain there are better scotches than JW Blue in the same price range, because JW is so well known. I feel the same about Kendal-Jackson wines, and Grey Goose vodka. Problem persists though, that when dropping premium $$$ I don't want to take a risk.

Also, if a guest want's to sample some for themselves, I am always willing to share. But a bottle this expensive won't be sitting out on the bar, you'll have to ask. I don't ever want to see someone mixing a tall glass of one of my premium sipping liquors 50/50 with a Red Bull ever again.

 

[detroitdad]

I understand Zombie, caught my wife mixing Don Julio Anejo with oj once.....

 

[pltrgyst]

.... I an absolutely certain there are better scotches than JW Blue in the same price range.

Oh, there are "better" whiskies than JW Blue at much less than half its price. I even thought the Green was much tastier than the Blue. The Blue is just one master distiller's concept of an optimal blend of all the single malts at his disposal.

Carried to an extreme, you could end up with a bottle like the Chivas "Century of Scotch," which was an anniversary blend of 100 single malts. It was very drinkable, but lacked any dominant distinguishing characteristic.

Since most whiskies head downhill pretty rapidly when there's not much whisky (and thus a lot of air) left in the bottle, I generally combine all my tiny remainders into old Century of Scotch bottle.

I do the same thing with the remainders of dried spices and sometimes herbs -- they go into a quart-sized container we call our "house spice" mix. Sometimes there's more than one going, and constantly evolving. Every time we mix spices in a prep bowl for a particular dish, anything left over goes back into the house mix.

Whisky or spices, it's fun, and you come up with some interesting flavors.

 

[Mr Tree]

Ok so felt inspired to make an old fashioned at home tonight. Overall I'd give it a 7/10. Need to get my ratio of sugar/bitters/soda nailed down a little better.

 

[atomiktoaster]

Been mixing these up lately as a change of pace. Very nice and not too pricey.

 

[pltrgyst]

Those must be really bad whiskies if you have to throw all that crap into the glass with them.

 

[mattduck]

Made a Brooklyn this evening with this. Likely going to have another in about 20 min.

 

[BiGGyT]

4th of July was different than expected, we planned on trying several bottles in the cabinet, but instead we just drank this Willett and played 3 man tournament for $20 entry.

Brother made me some bitchin coasters too

I enjoyed this Willett, we sipped it neat. First sip thought I would not like it, by the 17th, it was awesome.

Thanks to the brothers for making the weekend a great time of eating, drinking, swimming, poker, and fireworks!

BiGGyT

 

[Poker Zombie]

Spill the beans - how and where did the custom coasters come from? What material are they made from? Size? Can they be emblazoned with a Zombie (or perhaps a donkey/hitching post)?

 

[Poker Zombie]

Since most whiskies head downhill pretty rapidly when there's not much whisky (and thus a lot of air) left in the bottle, I generally combine all my tiny remainders into old Century of Scotch bottle.

Re-reading this thread under the influence, so bear with me...

Assuming a "standard" shaped bottle, once you drink past the bottleneck, isn't the amount of air (i.e. the amount of whisky subject to oxidation) the same whether it's 85% full or 5% full?

Yes, when I drink, I read PCF and contemplate scientific principles. At least I'm not an angry drunk.

 

[Mr Tree]

Spill the beans - how and where did the custom coasters come from? What material are they made from? Size? Can they be emblazoned with a Zombie (or perhaps a donkey/hitching post)?

You guys are like an after school special.

 

[atomiktoaster]

Re-reading this thread under the influence, so bear with me...

Assuming a "standard" shaped bottle, once you drink past the bottleneck, isn't the amount of air (i.e. the amount of whisky subject to oxidation) the same whether it's 85% full or 5% full?

Yes, when I drink, I read PCF and contemplate scientific principles. At least I'm not an angry drunk.

When you pour, you put a fresh charge of oxygen into the bottle. That oxygen will react with the whiskey once the bottle is sealed. If you have more oxygen, it will continue to do damage for a longer time.

In addition, the volume of whiskey subject to damage near the surface becomes a greater percentage of the total volume.

The lesson, of course, should be to always drink the rest of the bottle if it's mostly gone, rather than mixing up some franken-booze. Pltrgyst loses two drunk points.

 

[pltrgyst]

....The lesson, of course, should be to always drink the rest of the bottle if it's mostly gone, rather than mixing up some franken-booze. Pltrgyst loses two drunk points.

While I agree with your first point, I disagree highly with the "franken-booze". You're dismissing offhand the entire world of vatted malts, including such gems as the Chivas Century of Malts I mentioned -- a centennial vatting of 100 single malts, which was very nice, indeed.

And then there are bottlings like JW Gold, which are also vattings from multiple distilleries.

Remember that almost all single malts are vattings of many vintages from the distillery, which may even have been produced in very different styles and flavors by according to the taste of multiple master distillers.

In suburban Washington DC, there has been for many years an organization of whisky lovers whose primary purpose is to meet monthly at a pub (Irish, a pity, but what can you do?) to mix and taste single malts and other whiskies.

Try mixing, say, a Laphroaig with a Talisker some time. It might knock your socks off. :

I blend beers, whiskies, spices, vinegars -- it's all good. Just don't let your wife get near your girlfriend.

 

[BiGGyT]

Spill the beans - how and where did the custom coasters come from? What material are they made from? Size? Can they be emblazoned with a Zombie (or perhaps a donkey/hitching post)?

From my brother Scott:
"I did the design using Xara Designer, then zazzle.com makes custom everything, so I exported my design as a png (vector scalable) image, and uploaded it for the custom coasters."

Enjoy making backpacks, pens, coffee mugs, etc. !

BiGGyT

 

[Bloody Marvelous]

I enjoyed this Willett, we sipped it neat. First sip thought I would not like it, by the 17th, it was awesome.

BiGGyT

You mean it got better the more drunk you got?

 

[BiGGyT]

You mean it got better the more drunk you got?

xactly.

 

[Bloody Marvelous]

I figured this thread could use more photos.

From left to right:
Remy Martin Louis XIII (40%)
Dalwhinnie 15yo (DB / 43%)
Talisker 10yo (DB / 45.8%)
Cragganmore 12yo (DB / 40%)
Oban 14yo (DB / 43%)
Lagavulin 16yo (DB / 43%)
Glenkinchie 12yo (DB / 43%)

From left to right:
Scapa 14yo (DB / 40%)
Laphroaig 10yo (DB / 40%)
Glendronach 12yo (DB / 40%)
Brora 30yo 2006 Edition (DB / 55.7%)
Port Ellen 26yo 6th release 2006 (DB / 54.3% / 20cl)
Lagavulin 21yo (DB / 56.5%)
Talisker 25yo 2006 Edition (DB / 56.9%)
Port Ellen 25yo 5th release 2005 (DB / 57.4%)
Rosebank 25yo (DB / 61.4%)
Brora 20yo (Rare Malts / 58.1%)
Banff 21yo (Rare Malts / 57.1%)
Rosebank 22yo (Rare Malts / 61.1%)
Convalmore 24yo (Rare Malts / 59.4%)
Glen Albyn 26yo (Rare Malts / 54.8%)

From left to right:
Lagavulin 25yo (DB / 57.2%)
Glenmorangie Port Wood (DB / 43%)
Glenmorangie Sherry Wood (DB / 43%)
Glenmorangie Madeira Wood (DB / 43%)
Talisker 20yo 1981 (DB / 62%)

From left to right:
Glenkinchie 10yo (DB / 43%)
Clynelish 14yo (DB / 43%)
Caol Ila Natural Cask Strength (DB / 59.3%)
Talisker 10yo (DB / 45.8%)
Glen Elgin 12yo (DB / 43%)
Glen Ord 12yo (DB / 43%)

From left to right:
Ardbeg Ar1 (Specialty Drinks / 58.7% / 50cl)
Caol Ila Cl1 (Specialty Drinks / 62.9% / 50cl)
Laphroaig Lp1 (Specialty Drinks / 58.8% / 50cl)

From left to right:
Bruichladdich 10yo (DB / 40%)
Bruichladdich 21yo (DB / 43%)
Highland Park 12yo (DB / 40%)
Highland Park 18yo (DB / 43%)

Front row from left to right:
Bowmore 25yo (Duncan Taylor / 55.8%)
Bowmore 12yo (DB / 40%)
Bowmore 25yo (DB / 43%)
Bowmore 16yo Sherry Wood (DB / 53.8%)
Talisker 18yo (DB / 45.8%)

Back row from left to right:
Midleton 2006 (DB / 43%)
Tobermory 15yo (DB / 46.3%)
Glendronach 33yo (DB / 40%)
Highland Park 25yo (DB / 51.5%)
Scapa 25yo (DB / 54%)
Laphroaig 25 2008 Edition (DB / 50.9%)
The Macallan 25yo Anniversary Malt (DB / 43%)

From left to right:
Blanton's Private Stock (DB / 46.5%)
Booker's 7yo (DB / 63.3%)
George T. Stagg 2007 Edition (DB / 70.9%)
Blanton's Straight from the Cask (DB / 65.45%)

A bunch of Ardbegs:
Ardbeg Still Young 8yo (DB / 56.2%)
Ardbeg Almost There 9yo (DB / 54.1%)
Ardbeg Renaissance 10yo (DB / 55.9%)
Ardbeg Corryvreckan Committee Release (DB / 57.1%)
Ardbeg Supernova Committee Release (DB / 58.9%)
Ardbeg Supernova Stellar Release (DB / 58.9%)
Ardbeg Uigeadail (DB / 54.2%)
Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25yo (DB / 46%)

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Wow. Just...wow. I am not worthy.

 

[ChaosRock]

I figured this thread could use more photos.

From left to right:
Remy Martin Louis XIII (40%)
Dalwhinnie 15yo (DB / 43%)
Talisker 10yo (DB / 45.8%)
Cragganmore 12yo (DB / 40%)
Oban 14yo (DB / 43%)
Lagavulin 16yo (DB / 43%)
Glenkinchie 12yo (DB / 43%)

From left to right:
Scapa 14yo (DB / 40%)
Laphroaig 10yo (DB / 40%)
Glendronach 12yo (DB / 40%)
Brora 30yo 2006 Edition (DB / 55.7%)
Port Ellen 26yo 6th release 2006 (DB / 54.3% / 20cl)
Lagavulin 21yo (DB / 56.5%)
Talisker 25yo 2006 Edition (DB / 56.9%)
Port Ellen 25yo 5th release 2005 (DB / 57.4%)
Rosebank 25yo (DB / 61.4%)
Brora 20yo (Rare Malts / 58.1%)
Banff 21yo (Rare Malts / 57.1%)
Rosebank 22yo (Rare Malts / 61.1%)
Convalmore 24yo (Rare Malts / 59.4%)
Glen Albyn 26yo (Rare Malts / 54.8%)

From left to right:
Lagavulin 25yo (DB / 57.2%)
Glenmorangie Port Wood (DB / 43%)
Glenmorangie Sherry Wood (DB / 43%)
Glenmorangie Madeira Wood (DB / 43%)
Talisker 20yo 1981 (DB / 62%)

From left to right:
Glenkinchie 10yo (DB / 43%)
Clynelish 14yo (DB / 43%)
Caol Ila Natural Cask Strength (DB / 59.3%)
Talisker 10yo (DB / 45.8%)
Glen Elgin 12yo (DB / 43%)
Glen Ord 12yo (DB / 43%)

From left to right:
Ardbeg Ar1 (Specialty Drinks / 58.7% / 50cl)
Caol Ila Cl1 (Specialty Drinks / 62.9% / 50cl)
Laphroaig Lp1 (Specialty Drinks / 58.8% / 50cl)

From left to right:
Bruichladdich 10yo (DB / 40%)
Bruichladdich 21yo (DB / 43%)
Highland Park 12yo (DB / 40%)
Highland Park 18yo (DB / 43%)

Front row from left to right:
Bowmore 25yo (Duncan Taylor / 55.8%)
Bowmore 12yo (DB / 40%)
Bowmore 25yo (DB / 43%)
Bowmore 16yo Sherry Wood (DB / 53.8%)
Talisker 18yo (DB / 45.8%)

Back row from left to right:
Midleton 2006 (DB / 43%)
Tobermory 15yo (DB / 46.3%)
Glendronach 33yo (DB / 40%)
Highland Park 25yo (DB / 51.5%)
Scapa 25yo (DB / 54%)
Laphroaig 25 2008 Edition (DB / 50.9%)
The Macallan 25yo Anniversary Malt (DB / 43%)

From left to right:
Blanton's Private Stock (DB / 46.5%)
Booker's 7yo (DB / 63.3%)
George T. Stagg 2007 Edition (DB / 70.9%)
Blanton's Straight from the Cask (DB / 65.45%)

A bunch of Ardbegs:
Ardbeg Still Young 8yo (DB / 56.2%)
Ardbeg Almost There 9yo (DB / 54.1%)
Ardbeg Renaissance 10yo (DB / 55.9%)
Ardbeg Corryvreckan Committee Release (DB / 57.1%)
Ardbeg Supernova Committee Release (DB / 58.9%)
Ardbeg Supernova Stellar Release (DB / 58.9%)
Ardbeg Uigeadail (DB / 54.2%)
Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25yo (DB / 46%)

Absolutely fantastic collection Marvelous!!! I'm salivating over here... Would love to try some of the stuff that's not available over here... Some of the older stuff you have is just impossible to get here without paying through the roof and only in auctions... Very, very impressed man...

Now, next time you're here, get some more Bourbons!!!

 

[atomiktoaster]

Can't decide whether this post or slisk's is more jaw dropping.

 

[gopherblue]

Yawn. Most of those are not open.