It's always five o'clock somewhere

Pimpernel Smith said:
On the distillery Wiki page it states that Wray & Nephew is the biggest selling rum in Jamaica accounting for 90% of sales there. The also own Appleton.
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oh yeah. its ubiquitous there. anytime you're looking to spike some drink you grab the white lightning. hell people would take sips of it randomly just for a pick me up.
 
Tried the Jameson's Cask Mates, the IPA one with soda water, actually very pleasant. Wouldn't want to drink it neat, too sweet, but ideal with soda.
 
Rambo said:
oh yeah. its ubiquitous there. anytime you're looking to spike some drink you grab the white lightning. hell people would take sips of it randomly just for a pick me up.
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I tried the Plantation O.F.T.D. very typical of the brand style. Good, but not great. At 69% I only had one before dinner with Zero Coke.

The Wray & Nephew whilst a bit industrial on the nose is my kind of rumbullion mixer.
 
That Bushmills 16 is something else too now it's been open for two weeks. So good I'm rationing it to ensure I get maximum enjoyment.

Apparently, before Bushmills sold themselves again, they were selling barrels and bottles of the good stuff to pump-up their revenue ready for selling. Some of the bottles now on the market of the 16 and 21 year old are coming from resellers and date back to 2014 or earlier. You'll soon know as cork might break.
I know for a period you couldn't get hold of Bushmills 16 anywhere. That was the reason I bought this bottle and it didn't disappoint.
 
I am having a big pour of Rittenhouse Rye. It tickles the nostrils, is sweet and herbal. a couple drops of water makes it even nicer.
 
Highland Park 12. Not really sure why mine has this viking honour rubbish on it.
 
Fwiffo said:
Highland Park 12. Not really sure why mine has this viking honour rubbish on it.
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A lot of distilleries are rebranding big time, a sure sign they're not getting market share. Or they need to be doing gimmicks to entice the continued interest of their buyers.

I notice Arran has a 7 wood finish now. That's a gimmick if ever there was one.

I'm dabbling back into whisky. I'm seeing a lot of presentation differences since I was last into it. The Japanese whiskies are a lot more cost effective now, but mainly blends. Then you've got that Indian distillery, not ready for that, despite the hype.

It's nearly 20 years since my grandfather died and it occurred to me other than Laphroaig 15 year which was excellent and that rancid Quarter Cask (do not buy that!) I haven't drank any of the whiskies he use to drink, the prime one being the Cambeltown, Springbank.
 
Many people here buy the quarter cask. I have not cared to try it.
 
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Quarter cask is excellent. I have a couple of bottles of Laphroaig10 and it is not as good as quarter cask.

Tesco supermarket club card now offers differential prices on certain items as well as points for every pound spent. I had to get a new card as I had lost/thrown away the old one. Went to get Ardbeg 10 which was £10 cheaper with the card and the shelves were cleared.

Good time to stock up before Christmas. Good prices and mostly good availability. You don’t have to drink it all at once. It will keep.

Lots of dubious non age statement stuff around though. Caveat emptor.
 
Only a diehard phenol peat monster fan can appreciate the Quarter Cask. As I said, not my dram of choice.

The Laphroaig 15 year old, happened to be Prince Charles favorite whisky. But I see it's not a regular expression anymore.

To support our Australian chums, I've switched over from Bordeaux to Australian wines to help them with the tariffs imposed by China. Not the mass produced sub-5 Euro shite, but I've bought some of those Penfolds Bins (No.2 Shiraz Mataro and No.8 Cabernet Shiraz) from 2017. Excellent, none of that overripe overpowering new world young wine ticket that exploded experience that is so off putting. I'll purchase some more next week, some different ones.
 
Pimpernel Smith said:
A lot of distilleries are rebranding big time, a sure sign they're not getting market share. Or they need to be doing gimmicks to entice the continued interest of their buyers.

I notice Arran has a 7 wood finish now. That's a gimmick if ever there was one.

I'm dabbling back into whisky. I'm seeing a lot of presentation differences since I was last into it. The Japanese whiskies are a lot more cost effective now, but mainly blends. Then you've got that Indian distillery, not ready for that, despite the hype.

It's nearly 20 years since my grandfather died and it occurred to me other than Laphroaig 15 year which was excellent and that rancid Quarter Cask (do not buy that!) I haven't drank any of the whiskies he use to drink, the prime one being the Cambeltown, Springbank.
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Springbank is phenomenal.
 
Pimpernel Smith said:
Only a diehard phenol peat monster fan can appreciate the Quarter Cask. As I said, not my dram of choice.

The Laphroaig 15 year old, happened to be Prince Charles favorite whisky. But I see it's not a regular expression anymore.

To support our Australian chums, I've switched over from Bordeaux to Australian wines to help them with the tariffs imposed by China. Not the mass produced sub-5 Euro shite, but I've bought some of those Penfolds Bins (No.2 Shiraz Mataro and No.8 Cabernet Shiraz) from 2017. Excellent, none of that overripe overpowering new world young wine ticket that exploded experience that is so off putting. I'll purchase some more next week, some different ones.
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I've finished a few bottles of quarter cask. Of course I am not chugging it. I just think of formaldehyde that is used to embalm bodies when I sip it and it starts going down.

Aren't the Australians open business as usual again ? Doubt they need our economic support.
 
Laphroaig is good, nice medicinal (TCP) taste on the finish, the king of the Islay malts however, remains the mighty 16yo Lagavulin.

All the Islays are good to be honest though.

My Christmas tipples are gunna include one of the Glenmorangie wood finishes and a Glenfarcalas 15yo me thinks. That will satisfy the whisky ration.
 
Fwiffo said:
I've finished a few bottles of quarter cask. Of course I am not chugging it. I just think of formaldehyde that is used to embalm bodies when I sip it and it starts going down.

Aren't the Australians open business as usual again ? Doubt they need our economic support.
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I was referring to the 200% tariffs on their wine going into China.

I'm taking up the slack. My only gripe is that Australian wines tend to come in at 14.5%. I like my claret in the 12.5-13.5% region. White wines always better at 14.5%.
formby002 said:
Laphroaig is good, nice medicinal (TCP) taste on the finish, the king of the Islay malts however, remains the mighty 16yo Lagavulin.

All the Islays are good to be honest though.

My Christmas tipples are gunna include one of the Glenmorangie wood finishes and a Glenfarcalas 15yo me thinks. That will satisfy the whisky ration.
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Lagavulin 16 year old is highly rated and still relatively affordable.

For Christmas I'm thinking of Bushmills 21, the Glenfiddich Original and maybe one of the Talisker expressions. Also considering the Bushmills Red to have with soda. But I can only get that online here from an untried source. Maybe I need a theme: Irish whiskies or distilleries I haven't tried yet, of which there's very few in Scotland.

Lot's of good options on the ancient blend front too. Chivas Regal 21 year old for Euros 100. The aged Chivas Regals are excellent.
 
19 Crimes, my favorite inexpensive Australian supermarket red is now doing an American wine: Snoop Dog. WTF?

6E983226-0310-4D08-9CB4-172D776317E3.webp
 
Pimpernel Smith said:
You can get that 19 Crimes over here too, as regards cost effective wines go it certainly beats the crime that is Yellow Tail.
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Jacob’s Creek is also in that same $5 a bottle price range as yellowtail and far more drinkable if that’s your budget.

fxh fxh what Barossa Valley delights are you drinking tonight? Is 19 Crimes big there, now?
 
Pimpernel Smith said:
I was referring to the 200% tariffs on their wine going into China.

I'm taking up the slack. My only gripe is that Australian wines tend to come in at 14.5%. I like my claret in the 12.5-13.5% region. White wines always better at 14.5%.


Lagavulin 16 year old is highly rated and still relatively affordable.

For Christmas I'm thinking of Bushmills 21, the Glenfiddich Original and maybe one of the Talisker expressions. Also considering the Bushmills Red to have with soda. But I can only get that online here from an untried source. Maybe I need a theme: Irish whiskies or distilleries I haven't tried yet, of which there's very few in Scotland.

Lot's of good options on the ancient blend front too. Chivas Regal 21 year old for Euros 100. The aged Chivas Regals are excellent.
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I know the tariffs but it's a question of whether you bite the hand that feeds you. We're next to the US and pick and choose what trade battles to engage in when it's "free trade" .

Chivas 21 is royal salute isn't it? Lagavulin doesn't appeal to everyone's palate or if peat was appealing to all then they would have ramped up their marketing like Macallan or Oban and drive up prices to pay for said marketing. Oban used to be more affordable.

Every Christmas I curate the alcohol selection for family Christmas but as this year it's a dire solitary experience it's like picking which car you want to park in a garage and suffocate yourself with carbon monoxide. I'll take the Ferrari yeah.
 
Fwiffo said:
I know the tariffs but it's a question of whether you bite the hand that feeds you. We're next to the US and pick and choose what trade battles to engage in when it's "free trade" .

Chivas 21 is royal salute isn't it? Lagavulin doesn't appeal to everyone's palate or if peat was appealing to all then they would have ramped up their marketing like Macallan or Oban and drive up prices to pay for said marketing. Oban used to be more affordable.

Every Christmas I curate the alcohol selection for family Christmas but as this year it's a dire solitary experience it's like picking which car you want to park in a garage and suffocate yourself with carbon monoxide. I'll take the Ferrari yeah.
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Well at least you'll die at the wheel of a class motor...

That's a least something ain't it?
 
Fwiffo said:
I know the tariffs but it's a question of whether you bite the hand that feeds you. We're next to the US and pick and choose what trade battles to engage in when it's "free trade" .

Chivas 21 is royal salute isn't it? Lagavulin doesn't appeal to everyone's palate or if peat was appealing to all then they would have ramped up their marketing like Macallan or Oban and drive up prices to pay for said marketing. Oban used to be more affordable.

Every Christmas I curate the alcohol selection for family Christmas but as this year it's a dire solitary experience it's like picking which car you want to park in a garage and suffocate yourself with carbon monoxide. I'll take the Ferrari yeah.
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Yes, the Chivas 21 is the Royal Salute, fancy pottery bottle mind you. But don't let that put you off.

Oban I never rated, half Islay and Campbeltown. Haven't seen a bottle for ages, don't even think in the whisky store here even.

Macallan's not so in anymore, now the Russian oligarchs have ditched it.
 
Pimpernel Smith said:
Yes, the Chivas 21 is the Royal Salute, fancy pottery bottle mind you. But don't let that put you off.

Oban I never rated, half Islay and Campbeltown. Haven't seen a bottle for ages, don't even think in the whisky store here even.

Macallan's not so in anymore, now the Russian oligarchs have ditched it.
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I went to the Oban distillery. It’s very small and the town was built around the distillery. Not a particularly interesting whisky.
 
Finished off the Midleton Very Rare 2019 edition the other night. It had been open for a month at that stage, no improvement or opening out of the expression. A very clean and bland whiskey. Nothing like the 2000's version. Definitely not worth 160 Euros. Standard Jameson's will deliver that far more cost effectively.

It's the same vibe as JW Blue, you buy for the fancy packaging and to show to someone that you respect them.

Of the two, JW Blue has the edge as that will improve weeks after opening.
 
I picked up Johnnie Walker Green. I have a feeling I wrote this on the forum but there was a $5 difference with Gold but I thought I'd try the Green. Selection of nice peaty whiskys. The problem is I finished the bottle and it's only Boxing Day. This was in addition to having a bottle of wine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - by myself.

Liquor stores don't open up again till Tuesday.
 
Fwiffo said:
I picked up Johnnie Walker Green. I have a feeling I wrote this on the forum but there was a $5 difference with Gold but I thought I'd try the Green. Selection of nice peaty whiskys. The problem is I finished the bottle and it's only Boxing Day. This was in addition to having a bottle of wine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - by myself.

Liquor stores don't open up again till Tuesday.
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You've broken the first rule of heavy home drinking there, always keep plenty in reserves. Anyway, you need a couple of days off after that drinking.

My rules of drinking are quite simple and work rather well: always use a jigger to measure your drinks, don't fall back on the two finger rule and don't exceed half a bottle of wine with dinner.

Green is pretty good. Better than the non-18 year old Gold. The 18 year old Gold from 14-15 years back was out of this world. The new stuff is a very average blend. You did wise to get the Green.

I've had a couple of drams of the Glenfiddich Original which is a remake of the 1963 single malt that was sold outside the UK for the first time, allegedly creating the buzz and global market for single malts. I'll post some more details in a day or two: it comes in fancy metal box with a booklet that's worth taking some photos of.
 
Pimpernel Smith said:
You've broken the first rule of heavy home drinking there, always keep plenty in reserves. Anyway, you need a couple of days off after that drinking.

My rules of drinking are quite simple and work rather well: always use a jigger to measure your drinks, don't fall back on the two finger rule and don't exceed half a bottle of wine with dinner.

Green is pretty good. Better than the non-18 year old Gold. The 18 year old Gold from 14-15 years back was out of this world. The new stuff is a very average blend. You did wise to get the Green.

I've had a couple of drams of the Glenfiddich Original which is a remake of the 1963 single malt that was sold outside the UK for the first time, allegedly creating the buzz and global market for single malts. I'll post some more details in a day or two: it comes in fancy metal box with a booklet that's worth taking some photos of.
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Thank you for reaffirming my choice for Green then. I did have Gold before but I frankly have no recollection of it. It was a gift. Blue I remember quite distinctly but ultimately for that money I can do better than a blend.

To be honest if I was out and about and at other people's homes the number of alcohol units would probably be higher. I'd be on a 10 day bender at this time. The fact that I am pouring and purchasing all the bottles and not sharing or imbibing at restaurants with only a cheque to show means I have a grasp of pouring I free pour now into an old fashioned glass. Wine goes into a stemless glass. No decanter.

I gave up with jiggers when I gave up trying to make cocktails at home.
 
Here's the Glenfiddich ''The Original'', the whisky that according to the marketing spin, popularized single malts outside of the UK back in 1963:
IMG_1813.webp

IMG_1815.webp

IMG_1816.webp

They liked a big drink in their tumblers back then:
IMG_1817.webp


It's quite good, different to the standard Glenfiddich 12 year old you get now. Not that different you still get a bit of pear drops in there, but the profile is more complex and longer lasting in the finish. Which it should be for €99.
 
That's my pouring.

I thought Glenfiddich with all its marketing was part of LVMH but then a bit of Wikipedia told me that it was Glenmorangie and Diageo, Pernod Ricard and William Grant were the big three.
 
Fwiffo said:
That's my pouring.

I thought Glenfiddich with all its marketing was part of LVMH but then a bit of Wikipedia told me that it was Glenmorangie and Diageo, Pernod Ricard and William Grant were the big three.
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Diageo's mission is allegedly less volume, higher quality for which the consumer will pay a premium.

Just opened a bottle of the Malbec 2013 from this South African vineyard:


Bottled at a reasonable 13.5%.
 
Opened a bottle of the Hampden Estate Pure Single: Hampden 46 — Hampden Estate Rum — Pure Single Jamaican Rum Of course very Jamaican, at lot less woody than the Appleton products. Tastes above 46%, I think it's a lot better when watered down a bit. I think it's generally recommendable and a good product, but I'll probably try something else from Jamaica before getting another bottle.

Tried the Barbancourt Reserve Du Domaine 15 ans and ordered a bottle right away. It has a bit of sugar added to it but it's a very nice rum nonetheless and extremely easy to drink. Can't hurt to have that on the shelf.

Sampled many of the popular rums like Pyrat XO, Don Papa, Ron Prohibido etc. over the holidays, those where all rubbish and actually A LOT worse than expected, truly horrible tastes.

Also ordered some more brandys from Dirker, some replacements and some new stuff, a.o. Boskoop apple and something made from a rare, supposedly outer-worldly Romanian wild red raspberry. Will be lots of fun trying those.
 
güero said:
.... Don Papa....
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Don Papa being classed as a rum is rather misleading, it is more of a vanilla essence flavored licquer. Great marketing spin, packaging and bottling though.

Much like that lost Peruvian rum and distillery I got suckered into buying a bottle from, that initial thick glycerine hit and flavoring works. But only for one drink and the worse of it is, it even fails in a long rum and coke as vanilla essence shines on through.
 
güero said:
Opened a bottle of the Hampden Estate Pure Single: Hampden 46 — Hampden Estate Rum — Pure Single Jamaican Rum Of course very Jamaican, at lot less woody than the Appleton products. Tastes above 46%, I think it's a lot better when watered down a bit. I think it's generally recommendable and a good product, but I'll probably try something else from Jamaica before getting another bottle.

Tried the Barbancourt Reserve Du Domaine 15 ans and ordered a bottle right away. It has a bit of sugar added to it but it's a very nice rum nonetheless and extremely easy to drink. Can't hurt to have that on the shelf.

Sampled many of the popular rums like Pyrat XO, Don Papa, Ron Prohibido etc. over the holidays, those where all rubbish and actually A LOT worse than expected, truly horrible tastes.

Also ordered some more brandys from Dirker, some replacements and some new stuff, a.o. Boskoop apple and something made from a rare, supposedly outer-worldly Romanian wild red raspberry. Will be lots of fun trying those.
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That Hampden Estate looks excellent! When the wife and I go back to Jamaica, I will be visiting the Estate for a tour. I believe the rum used in Smith & Cross comes from Hampden.

I really like where WI rums is going, starting to see single cask bottles, decent aging and the strict rules ensure a nice product.
 
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Pretty much out of hard booze now. I didn't really enjoy the single malts I bought over Christmas, all a bit too heavy and rich. I'm not going to be getting back into single malts anytime soon. Blends I'm still okay with.

I use to really enjoy whiskies and bourbon, there was a period I thought there were the greatest drinks of all. That was from 2005-2011. During that period I was really off wine, would never drink with a meal at home. All my drinking was after dinner. Now I'm the opposite prefer an aperitif, drinking wine over dinner and then one measured cognac or equivalent afterwards.

One of my favorite nights at home use to be 2 x 33cl bottles of Guinness Special Export served extra cold, followed by 2 x two fingers of good bourbon with ice, something like Booker's. That will get you to where you need to go and you'll have a clear head the next day.

If you've not tried it the Guinness Special Export is worth having. Super strong at 8% but not in a let's get pissed as quick as possible way, like with Carlsberg Special Brew.

That Wray & Nephew rum was the best mixer I had over Christmas. Followed by Bushmills Original which is great with soda water. A more savory take on a cheap mixing blend to say JW Red.

Got a bottle of that Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin in. Good stuff had it a couple of times before. I like gin as it's light and out your system quick.
 
Surprised you would drink Bushmills Original. You warned me it was like sucking on honey nectar so I have been avoiding it except the ones with the age statement. Even then it goes down too easy.

I bought Monkey Shoulder last weekend and finished it today. Then I said screw it and bought a bottle of Ardbeg. It's winter after all even though it's rarely below 0c.
 
Pimpernel Smith said:
Pretty much out of hard booze now. I didn't really enjoy the single malts I bought over Christmas, all a bit too heavy and rich. I'm not going to be getting back into single malts anytime soon. Blends I'm still okay with.

I use to really enjoy whiskies and bourbon, there was a period I thought there were the greatest drinks of all. That was from 2005-2011. During that period I was really off wine, would never drink with a meal at home. All my drinking was after dinner. Now I'm the opposite prefer an aperitif, drinking wine over dinner and then one measured cognac or equivalent afterwards.

One of my favorite nights at home use to be 2 x 33cl bottles of Guinness Special Export served extra cold, followed by 2 x two fingers of good bourbon with ice, something like Booker's. That will get you to where you need to go and you'll have a clear head the next day.

If you've not tried it the Guinness Special Export is worth having. Super strong at 8% but not in a let's get pissed as quick as possible way, like with Carlsberg Special Brew.

That Wray & Nephew rum was the best mixer I had over Christmas. Followed by Bushmills Original which is great with soda water. A more savory take on a cheap mixing blend to say JW Red.

Got a bottle of that Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin in. Good stuff had it a couple of times before. I like gin as it's light and out your system quick.
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You ever try rye whiskey?
 
Pimpernel Smith said:
Pretty much out of hard booze now. I didn't really enjoy the single malts I bought over Christmas, all a bit too heavy and rich. I'm not going to be getting back into single malts anytime soon. Blends I'm still okay with.

I use to really enjoy whiskies and bourbon, there was a period I thought there were the greatest drinks of all. That was from 2005-2011. During that period I was really off wine, would never drink with a meal at home. All my drinking was after dinner. Now I'm the opposite prefer an aperitif, drinking wine over dinner and then one measured cognac or equivalent afterwards.

One of my favorite nights at home use to be 2 x 33cl bottles of Guinness Special Export served extra cold, followed by 2 x two fingers of good bourbon with ice, something like Booker's. That will get you to where you need to go and you'll have a clear head the next day.

If you've not tried it the Guinness Special Export is worth having. Super strong at 8% but not in a let's get pissed as quick as possible way, like with Carlsberg Special Brew.

That Wray & Nephew rum was the best mixer I had over Christmas. Followed by Bushmills Original which is great with soda water. A more savory take on a cheap mixing blend to say JW Red.

Got a bottle of that Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin in. Good stuff had it a couple of times before. I like gin as it's light and out your system quick.
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Where you are living - next to Belgium - it should be easy to pick up John Martins Guinness, which is the ne plus ultra of bottled Guinness :-

anthonymartin.be

Guinness Special Export - Brewery John Martin S.A. | Anthony Martin

Alcohol: 8%Colour: Dark ruby redFermentation: TopType: Irish StoutTemperature: 6° – 8°Format: 33cl + 50cl + BarrelBUY →
anthonymartin.be anthonymartin.be
 
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