Advice on whisky

At prices round $90 STARWARD is competing at a price level with some very presentable Scottish and other Aussie single malts,
must be hard for them to maintain their business model in the early stages without an aged whisky to sell and compete in the market
place.

Other thoughts on the STARWARD Spongebob.
 
I find younger whiskies can be much more interesting than the aged ones which all tend to take on similar characteristics after so long in oak (peat levels notwithstanding).

E.g. the Kilchoman whiskies are mostly all "young" and there are some lovely drops amongst them.
 
I like whiskeys that has been aged in Ale casks... one surprisingly good drop for the price was the Grants Blue (can be found in some Dan Murphys). Really great taste, bit strong, but as I like my whiskey on ice, it was just right.
 
Must try one RoseAnna, love to drink whisky with a stout chaser on BBQ Sundays :D

Certainly a lot of NAS whiskies about opusman that sell well and highly rated, the Kilchoman from ISLAY, must be good - & stocked locally is handy !!
 
RoseAnna said:
I like whiskeys that has been aged in Ale casks... one surprisingly good drop for the price was the Grants Blue (can be found in some Dan Murphys). Really great taste, bit strong, but as I like my whiskey on ice, it was just right.
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One of the reasons for paying a premium for single malt of a certain age (as opposed to, say, Johnny Walker Red) is that the tastes and aromas have time to develop, and by chilling the liquor the flavours are effectively suppressed.

If one is after the alcohol to give the cola a bit of a kick, that's fine, but if one is paying ten bucks a dram, might as well enjoy the full experience!
 
Skyring said:
One of the reasons for paying a premium for single malt of a certain age (as opposed to, say, Johnny Walker Red) is that the tastes and aromas have time to develop, and by chilling the liquor the flavours are effectively suppressed.

If one is after the alcohol to give the cola a bit of a kick, that's fine, but if one is paying ten bucks a dram, might as well enjoy the full experience!
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I am not a fan of any of the Johnny Walkers, the ones that starts tasting good are just too expensive for what you get.
I havent tried Islay whiskeys for years but I didnt fancy the taste back then and it would just be a waste if I get a bottle and still dont like it. Perhaps give it a go again one day when I am out. I tend to like them a bit more complex these days.
I really like Glenfiddich, and especially the 15yo, but perhaps a bit expensive unless its a special occasion.
 
RoseAnna said:
I am not a fan of any of the Johnny Walkers, the ones that starts tasting good are just too expensive for what you get.
I havent tried Islay whiskeys for years but I didnt fancy the taste back then and it would just be a waste if I get a bottle and still dont like it. Perhaps give it a go again one day when I am out. I tend to like them a bit more complex these days.
I really like Glenfiddich, and especially the 15yo, but perhaps a bit expensive unless its a special occasion.
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Glenfiddich 15YO is the sort of Scotch best kept away from ice. A few drops of water to open it up after first nosing and a wee taste. This age and price range is where things get interesting, and, apart from the occasional bottle of Glenmorangie at around $70, is where I hang out. My most expensive bottle - a gift - is JW Blue, which is around the $200 mark and a delicious drop.

I'm not trying to be a snob, but the younger and cheaper whiskies are just too raw for my taste. Just fine for mixing, but as a standalone dram, more a chore than a delight. A touch of peat is okay, but when the iodine level climbs too high, that's all I taste.

The experiences of others differ, of course, but if a bottle of JW Red and (say) GF 21YO have the same amount of alcohol, then that price differential needs to be justified, and the complexities of smell, taste, and mouth feel are where the differences are perceived. And appreciated.

In my younger days, getting as much alcohol as I could for my limited dollars was the idea. Slug it down, enjoy the high. Nowadays, with a few more bucks at my command, I tend to go for drinks that both pack a punch and are actually tasty. Been years since I had a fruity lexia.
 
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IRISH Whiskey........

Picked up a cheapy the other day at ALDI, (they advertise don't knock it till you try it :D ) DUFFYS IRISH WHISKY (Blended) @ $35. Not to bad at all, would pick one up again !

Mind you, to compete I see DM has JAMIESONS @ $36.95, never seen it cheaper !
 
RoseAnna said:
I really like Glenfiddich, and especially the 15yo, but perhaps a bit expensive unless its a special occasion.
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I had a chance to sample - well, almost drown in - the GF 21YO a couple of weeks ago.

Perhaps I wasn't at my best or something, but while I liked it, it didn't set off OMG fireworks must have more. In fact, I left a lot of it behind, and I suspect the staff had a snort.
 
I guess one's attraction to a whisky depends on what you are used to, the reason you drink it and/or style you prefer. Some are best for pre-meal drinking, some are best for post-meal drinking, others are best as just a relaxing drink, while a few are so good they should only be consumed for special occasions (and by people would will appreciate them).

The price differences between OK, good, very good and outstanding whisky can be wide, and the price differences cannot always be justified by one's motivation, preferred style(s), and rate of consumption.
 
Spongbob said:
I guess one's attraction to a whisky depends on what you are used to, the reason you drink it and/or style you prefer. Some are best for pre-meal drinking, some are best for post-meal drinking, others are best as just a relaxing drink, while a few are so good they should only be consumed for special occasions (and by people would will appreciate them).

The price differences between OK, good, very good and outstanding whisky can be wide, and the price differences cannot always be justified by one's motivation, preferred style(s), and rate of consumption.
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Words of wisdom!

Some of this stuff is insanely expensive, and the very best really should only be tippled by those who can appreciate the quality.

On the other hand, the very worst is pretty bloody dire, and needs to be cut with Coke to make it drinkable. Um, my student days, when maximising alcohol while minimising expense was par for the course.

It's horses for courses. My idea of whisky is something about a hundred bucks a bottle, ten years old at least, single malt, and not too heavily peated. I enjoy a wee dram after a good dinner, watching a show, reading a good book, something like that. Had an acceptable Ancnoc last night in company with my wife who chose the Glenfarclas.

I like to keep a selection of reasonably good stuff available so I have a choice. Anything really nice tends to go first; I had a Japanese whisky that all but evaporated overnight!

The difference between a basic bottom-shelf Scotch (say Johnny Walker Red) and something costing twice as much can be very wide. One's a chore and one's a joy.

But the difference between a mid-range and something going for a thousand bucks a pop, not so great, in my (limited) experience.
 
Skyring said:
I like to keep a selection of reasonably good stuff available so I have a choice. Anything really nice tends to go first; I had a Japanese whisky that all but evaporated overnight!
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And this is a problem. Really nice whisky does tend to evaporate over night, which can be expensive.
 

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