Uisge Beath
All hail the cask
Scotch FAQ - Curtesy of Texacer
Whisky Reviewing Guide - Curtesy of Texacer
Liquourverse Good pricing, have not ordered from them yet. Based in the US.
The Whisky Exchange: The classic shop, shipping to the US is difficult.
Whisky Shop USA: Based in California, website is rough but has some hard to find stuff
Wine Searcher: For the really hard to find stuff
Whisky Auctioneer, Whisky Hammer, Unicorn Auctions
Whiskybase: To keep track of your inventory and its value
Seelbachs - Fantastic for hard to find craft distilleries. Free shipping on first order if you sign up for newsletter.
Lueken’s Wine and Spirits - Based in Florida
Marketview Liquor - Based in New York
B-21 - Very cheap shipping within the US ($14 for 6 bottles and no tax!). Based in Florida.
Rules
Im not even sure what the occasion will be that warrants opening it. Just like the great Justice Potter Stewart said, "I know it when I see it." I bought this bottle off the shelf prior to it being discontinued and I have held on to it ever since.
It's my wild turkey 101. That is my dangerous drink that I know if I am going to drink it, i'm going to be fucking up really bad.
LOVE me some WT101. I am having a glass right now. I honestly challenge anyone to give me a better bottle at the mid $20 price range that is commonly available that is worthy to drink neat. I want one of those Austin Nichol's gold foil old bottles. Theyre going for over a grand on the auction site I check out occasionally. Of course, I like rye so that is a huge part of my WT love.
Just found this community, so sorry for a necro-post.
I'm also a giant WT101 fan. If you haven't picked up a Old grandad (OGD) Bonded recently, it's always the one I lean on for a bit more of that rye without going to a straight rye. Is it better? Obviously that's ultimately a matter of opinion, but it's certainly in the same category in both price and quality. Huge value bourbon.
I have never had the OGD bonded before, I have had the 114. I am a fan of that. I will have to try to the bonded sometime when I see it for a reasonable price. I am on the hunt for this:
Good choice of drink. It does go down way, way, waaaaay too easily for me. It is good stuff though. Gold foild oldies? never heard of those until now. I'll have to look into them. I know a guy I work with always wants me to get him some pappy van winkle, and i'm like 'man, you make way more than me, get some yourself'. Rye is a good call, my goto rye is typically Bulleitt rye. That stuff so good both straight and mixed.
You more a fan of neat or over ice?
I have learned the hard way that when it starts going down as fast as I pour, it's time to stop for the evening. I am also very lucky that my partner drinks her's neat and the same styles as me so we get to try lots of new bottles together. I have not gotten a chance to try a gold foil but even if it is just as good as modern WT the nostalgia would be worth it for a birthday. I was too young to buy it back then but I remember strongly seeing the Austin Nichols name on the bottles. Later releases of WT without the gold foil are much more reasonable in the few hundred dollar range vs the 4 digit range.
I am looking forward to trying some of the other Spots besides the Green. I am slowly starting to see Yellow and Blue showing up around us. I like a wide variety, heavy peat (octomore was amazing) Islays to a sweet wheater Maker's Mark CS. I would like to try to Pappy just to see but I feel like I can find things I like just as much for a lot less. I will say I did enjoy the Stagg Jr and would love to try the antique GTS if I ever get a chance.
If you like WT products have you tried any of the Russel's things?
I am always neat, it grew out of necessity since I have rarely had an ice maker in my fridge through college and I was not about to make trays of ice, and it has carried on since then. I do rotate out of what I drink based on the seasonal temps, it's hard to drink Laphroaig by the pool when it is peak summer, but it hits so perfectly in mid winter beside a fire. How about you, preferred way to have yours?
About 10 years ago, I bought an old bottle of Bunnahabhain 18 for £50 and decided to set it aside for the day I retire.
I hope that you can open that bottle sooner than you imagine! Good luck to you.
Good stuff, I love some of the unique Balvenies!
My most prized bottle is a Shackleton Discovery Edition signed by Richard Patterson himself, which was a birthday present from my wife many years ago. I don't know if that will ever be opened. Aside from that, I have many that have appreciated to the point that it would take a very special reason to crack it open. Whiskybase has my Dalmore Mackenzie and Blood Oath Pact 1 as the most expensive.
I love the story of that bottle. Have you had the chance to try a non-signed bottle to open and see how it tastes?
After staring at it for years I finally cracked open a non-signed bottle just a couple months back to celebrate a major life event. Here are the notes from my journal:
Distiller: Mackinlay
Product: Shackleton’s
Bottle: Discovery Edition
Category: Islay
Aged: -
Nose: Honey, wheat, figs, and just a hint of peat smoke.
Body: Olive oil coated peaches drizzled in caramel and honey. A bit of tobacco leaf and black pepper the longer it sits. Starts smooth as silk and sharpens dramatically.
Finish: Vanilla, marshmallow nougat, toasted oak and just a bit more tobacco.
Activation: Trades the sweet caramel for a sour citrus, full of tangerines and key limes. Overall a poor trade.
Notes: This is the big one. The story of Ernest Shackleton and his whisky has been told several times over, so I won’t recount it all here. Suffice to say that the Discovery Edition is the definitive work of art, fresh from mass spectroscopy with a tiny dilution of the salvaged malt inside. It’s a bottle that has high sentimental value to me and thus I waited years for an occasion worthy of opening the ornate wooden case. It is at once every I wanted and something of a surprise. It is subtle but firm, peated but delicate, complex but straightforward. The legend is larger than life but the whisky is honest and workmanlike. This dram is truly worth exploring and celebrating.