Whiskey Clique

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  • SVRDhand13
    SVRDhand13 Posts: 27,022
    mca47 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    RS151862 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Cliffy6745 said:
    What’s the deal with that one? All the whiskey memberships I’ve done I’ve felt to be a bit underwhelming, but I’d definitely be interested in a scotch one 
    You are better off going to your local and talking to them and buy your own.  I do that with Bourbons.
    Locals don’t get anything near what SMWS has to offer. 
    So I just looked into this.  These are barrel picks?  That is what I am seeing.
    Yeah, kinda.  They select barrels from pretty much every distiller in Scotland.  A lot of the barrels they select are the off-profile ones that don't fit the norm of their common releases, or an experiment that was tried 20 years ago that is now a beautiful thing but the distiller can't do anything with it because of the limited quantity.  They are all single barrel and cask strength.  Not impossible to find but most Scotches you find at the liquor store are not cask strength and many that will put you back $200 are sitting at 80 proof.  I purchased a 19 year old, single barrel, CS, Laphroaig from the SMWS a couple of months ago.  Easily the best Islay scotch i've ever had and it's not even something you could get from Laphroaig if you wanted to.  I've had some of the best bourbon you can find...not necessarily owned, but have had....and none of those even come close to some of the Scotches I've gotten from SMWS.  I'm not even joking.  I have a 33 year old Glen Moray that I consider to be the best whiskey I've ever had.
    Now, it is expensive.  $100/year membership and the low end bottles will cost you about $100, but it's amazing.  
    mca47 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    RS151862 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Cliffy6745 said:
    What’s the deal with that one? All the whiskey memberships I’ve done I’ve felt to be a bit underwhelming, but I’d definitely be interested in a scotch one 
    You are better off going to your local and talking to them and buy your own.  I do that with Bourbons.
    Locals don’t get anything near what SMWS has to offer. 
    So I just looked into this.  These are barrel picks?  That is what I am seeing.
    Yeah, kinda.  They select barrels from pretty much every distiller in Scotland.  A lot of the barrels they select are the off-profile ones that don't fit the norm of their common releases, or an experiment that was tried 20 years ago that is now a beautiful thing but the distiller can't do anything with it because of the limited quantity.  They are all single barrel and cask strength.  Not impossible to find but most Scotches you find at the liquor store are not cask strength and many that will put you back $200 are sitting at 80 proof.  I purchased a 19 year old, single barrel, CS, Laphroaig from the SMWS a couple of months ago.  Easily the best Islay scotch i've ever had and it's not even something you could get from Laphroaig if you wanted to.  I've had some of the best bourbon you can find...not necessarily owned, but have had....and none of those even come close to some of the Scotches I've gotten from SMWS.  I'm not even joking.  I have a 33 year old Glen Moray that I consider to be the best whiskey I've ever had.
    Now, it is expensive.  $100/year membership and the low end bottles will cost you about $100, but it's amazing.  
    Do they do samples or only full bottles? 
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
    2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
    2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
    2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
    2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
    2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,191
    edited January 2022
    SVRDhand13 said:
    mcgruff10 said:
    @SVRDhand13 what s your top five under $100?
    Scotch I’m not knowledgeable enough to answer yet. But bourbon/rye I’ll go:

    Old Forester 1920
    Makers Wood Finishing Series (currently FAE-02) 
    Barrell Dovetail (blended whiskey that’s sweeter) 
    Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
    New Riff Rye (Malted or Balboa if you can find them but small batch and single barrel are also great) 

    I’m realizing one of these is 100 proof and the rest are 110 and up lol. 

    What exactly does barrel proof mean?

    Looks like a solid list to me! I'm heading to Wegman's today, hoping to get Ardbeg 10.
    Post edited by mcgruff10 on
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • RS151862
    RS151862 Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,730
    mcgruff10 said:
    SVRDhand13 said:
    mcgruff10 said:
    @SVRDhand13 what s your top five under $100?
    Scotch I’m not knowledgeable enough to answer yet. But bourbon/rye I’ll go:

    Old Forester 1920
    Makers Wood Finishing Series (currently FAE-02) 
    Barrell Dovetail (blended whiskey that’s sweeter) 
    Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
    New Riff Rye (Malted or Balboa if you can find them but small batch and single barrel are also great) 

    I’m realizing one of these is 100 proof and the rest are 110 and up lol. 

    What exactly does barrel proof mean?

    Looks like a solid list to me! I'm heading to Wegman's today, hoping to get Ardbeg 10.
    Barrel proof means they don’t water it down to reach 80 or 86 proof which it seems like most scotches are bottled at.. whatever proof it is out of the barrel is what it’s bottled at. 
    Pittsburgh 1998 • Pittsburgh 2006 • 2012 Isle Of Wight Festival • 2012 Made In America Festival • Baltimore 2013 • Seattle 2013
    St. Paul 2014 • Mexico City 2015 • Philadelphia II 2016 • Ottawa 2016 • Amsterdam I & II 2018 • Wrigley Field II 2018 • Phoenix 2022
    Apollo Theater 2022 • Chicago I 2023 • Baltimore 2024 • Pittsburgh I & II 2025

  • markymark550
    markymark550 Columbia, SC Posts: 5,234
    edited January 2022
    mcgruff10 said:
    SVRDhand13 said:
    mcgruff10 said:
    @SVRDhand13 what s your top five under $100?
    Scotch I’m not knowledgeable enough to answer yet. But bourbon/rye I’ll go:

    Old Forester 1920
    Makers Wood Finishing Series (currently FAE-02) 
    Barrell Dovetail (blended whiskey that’s sweeter) 
    Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
    New Riff Rye (Malted or Balboa if you can find them but small batch and single barrel are also great) 

    I’m realizing one of these is 100 proof and the rest are 110 and up lol. 

    What exactly does barrel proof mean?

    Looks like a solid list to me! I'm heading to Wegman's today, hoping to get Ardbeg 10.
    Barrel proof is the spirit bottled straight from the barrel. BP will be higher in proof...I'd guess 110 or higher for most. As such, it will be a bit more expensive than the same spirit tempered with water to a lower proof. Barrel proof selections are good choices to experiment with adding water a drop at a time to see how the flavors open up. I would start neat, then add drops one at a time until you get something palatable to you. And, you may like it just fine as it is without any added water.
    Post edited by markymark550 on
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,191
    That makes a lot of sense, thank you for the explanation.

    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • SVRDhand13
    SVRDhand13 Posts: 27,022
    mcgruff10 said:
    That makes a lot of sense, thank you for the explanation.

    Yes, I see it's already been explained.  The EC small batch is good, but the non-watered down version is incredible.  To be honest I've heard the 2021 stuff wasn't as good as past years but still very good.  

    Also have EC Toasted Barrel and the Rye.  Good pricing on their stuff.  

    Enjoy that Ardbeg 10!!!
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
    2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
    2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
    2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
    2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
    2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,343
    SVRDhand13 said:
    mca47 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    RS151862 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Cliffy6745 said:
    What’s the deal with that one? All the whiskey memberships I’ve done I’ve felt to be a bit underwhelming, but I’d definitely be interested in a scotch one 
    You are better off going to your local and talking to them and buy your own.  I do that with Bourbons.
    Locals don’t get anything near what SMWS has to offer. 
    So I just looked into this.  These are barrel picks?  That is what I am seeing.
    Yeah, kinda.  They select barrels from pretty much every distiller in Scotland.  A lot of the barrels they select are the off-profile ones that don't fit the norm of their common releases, or an experiment that was tried 20 years ago that is now a beautiful thing but the distiller can't do anything with it because of the limited quantity.  They are all single barrel and cask strength.  Not impossible to find but most Scotches you find at the liquor store are not cask strength and many that will put you back $200 are sitting at 80 proof.  I purchased a 19 year old, single barrel, CS, Laphroaig from the SMWS a couple of months ago.  Easily the best Islay scotch i've ever had and it's not even something you could get from Laphroaig if you wanted to.  I've had some of the best bourbon you can find...not necessarily owned, but have had....and none of those even come close to some of the Scotches I've gotten from SMWS.  I'm not even joking.  I have a 33 year old Glen Moray that I consider to be the best whiskey I've ever had.
    Now, it is expensive.  $100/year membership and the low end bottles will cost you about $100, but it's amazing.  
    mca47 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    RS151862 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Cliffy6745 said:
    What’s the deal with that one? All the whiskey memberships I’ve done I’ve felt to be a bit underwhelming, but I’d definitely be interested in a scotch one 
    You are better off going to your local and talking to them and buy your own.  I do that with Bourbons.
    Locals don’t get anything near what SMWS has to offer. 
    So I just looked into this.  These are barrel picks?  That is what I am seeing.
    Yeah, kinda.  They select barrels from pretty much every distiller in Scotland.  A lot of the barrels they select are the off-profile ones that don't fit the norm of their common releases, or an experiment that was tried 20 years ago that is now a beautiful thing but the distiller can't do anything with it because of the limited quantity.  They are all single barrel and cask strength.  Not impossible to find but most Scotches you find at the liquor store are not cask strength and many that will put you back $200 are sitting at 80 proof.  I purchased a 19 year old, single barrel, CS, Laphroaig from the SMWS a couple of months ago.  Easily the best Islay scotch i've ever had and it's not even something you could get from Laphroaig if you wanted to.  I've had some of the best bourbon you can find...not necessarily owned, but have had....and none of those even come close to some of the Scotches I've gotten from SMWS.  I'm not even joking.  I have a 33 year old Glen Moray that I consider to be the best whiskey I've ever had.
    Now, it is expensive.  $100/year membership and the low end bottles will cost you about $100, but it's amazing.  
    Do they do samples or only full bottles? 
    I don't believe I've seen them offer any samples.  They have monthly and  bi-monthly outturns where you can go on their site to see what they are releasing.  Each release has very detailed nosing and tasting notes, so you can read through those and get a bottle that might fit whatever profile you are looking for.
    I have a bunch of bottles from them and they've all been amazing.
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,191
    edited January 2022
    Love it.  Not as intense as laphoraig 10 but really really good. 




    Post edited by mcgruff10 on
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • SVRDhand13
    SVRDhand13 Posts: 27,022
    mca47 said:
    SVRDhand13 said:
    mca47 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    RS151862 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Cliffy6745 said:
    What’s the deal with that one? All the whiskey memberships I’ve done I’ve felt to be a bit underwhelming, but I’d definitely be interested in a scotch one 
    You are better off going to your local and talking to them and buy your own.  I do that with Bourbons.
    Locals don’t get anything near what SMWS has to offer. 
    So I just looked into this.  These are barrel picks?  That is what I am seeing.
    Yeah, kinda.  They select barrels from pretty much every distiller in Scotland.  A lot of the barrels they select are the off-profile ones that don't fit the norm of their common releases, or an experiment that was tried 20 years ago that is now a beautiful thing but the distiller can't do anything with it because of the limited quantity.  They are all single barrel and cask strength.  Not impossible to find but most Scotches you find at the liquor store are not cask strength and many that will put you back $200 are sitting at 80 proof.  I purchased a 19 year old, single barrel, CS, Laphroaig from the SMWS a couple of months ago.  Easily the best Islay scotch i've ever had and it's not even something you could get from Laphroaig if you wanted to.  I've had some of the best bourbon you can find...not necessarily owned, but have had....and none of those even come close to some of the Scotches I've gotten from SMWS.  I'm not even joking.  I have a 33 year old Glen Moray that I consider to be the best whiskey I've ever had.
    Now, it is expensive.  $100/year membership and the low end bottles will cost you about $100, but it's amazing.  
    mca47 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    RS151862 said:
    tempo_n_groove said:
    Cliffy6745 said:
    What’s the deal with that one? All the whiskey memberships I’ve done I’ve felt to be a bit underwhelming, but I’d definitely be interested in a scotch one 
    You are better off going to your local and talking to them and buy your own.  I do that with Bourbons.
    Locals don’t get anything near what SMWS has to offer. 
    So I just looked into this.  These are barrel picks?  That is what I am seeing.
    Yeah, kinda.  They select barrels from pretty much every distiller in Scotland.  A lot of the barrels they select are the off-profile ones that don't fit the norm of their common releases, or an experiment that was tried 20 years ago that is now a beautiful thing but the distiller can't do anything with it because of the limited quantity.  They are all single barrel and cask strength.  Not impossible to find but most Scotches you find at the liquor store are not cask strength and many that will put you back $200 are sitting at 80 proof.  I purchased a 19 year old, single barrel, CS, Laphroaig from the SMWS a couple of months ago.  Easily the best Islay scotch i've ever had and it's not even something you could get from Laphroaig if you wanted to.  I've had some of the best bourbon you can find...not necessarily owned, but have had....and none of those even come close to some of the Scotches I've gotten from SMWS.  I'm not even joking.  I have a 33 year old Glen Moray that I consider to be the best whiskey I've ever had.
    Now, it is expensive.  $100/year membership and the low end bottles will cost you about $100, but it's amazing.  
    Do they do samples or only full bottles? 
    I don't believe I've seen them offer any samples.  They have monthly and  bi-monthly outturns where you can go on their site to see what they are releasing.  Each release has very detailed nosing and tasting notes, so you can read through those and get a bottle that might fit whatever profile you are looking for.
    I have a bunch of bottles from them and they've all been amazing.
    Thanks! I expect I’ll become a member at some point. 
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
    2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
    2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
    2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
    2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
    2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
  • SVRDhand13
    SVRDhand13 Posts: 27,022
    mcgruff10 said:
    Love it.  Not as intense as laphoraig 10 but really really good. 




    I wish I could explain the difference between Ardbeg and Laphroig but I can’t put it into words lol. 
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
    2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
    2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
    2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
    2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
    2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,640
    From last year's Ardbeg Day.....




  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,191
    Daaaaamn
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,343
    Bentleyspop said:
    From last year's Ardbeg Day.....




    That is awesome!
  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,640
    mca47 said:
    Bentleyspop said:
    From last year's Ardbeg Day.....




    That is awesome!
    Just realized this wasn't in the picture....

  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,191
    SVRDhand13 said:
    mcgruff10 said:
    Love it.  Not as intense as laphoraig 10 but really really good. 




    I wish I could explain the difference between Ardbeg and Laphroig but I can’t put it into words lol. 
    Ardbeg is less sea weed and band aids.  Lol
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • Gern Blansten
    Gern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 22,731
    I snagged a bottle of Stagg, Jr and a Weller Antique 107 last night at a local "Whiskeyfest"

    They had about 200 bottles available for a randomly generated pick.  My wife got pick 23 (Stagg) and I was 104 for the Weller.

    There were 3 bottles of Van Winkle in that mix that obviously went quick.  We were laughing that the Kentucky Owl (2 bottles both at $300 or so) and the Sweetens Cove (around $200 I think) were still available close to the end. 

    They did an auction after the random picks that we didn't stick around for but the Pappy and Rip bottles started at $500
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
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    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,191
    Cheaper than ketel!  Let s go!!


    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • bbiggs
    bbiggs Posts: 6,965
    ^ And arguably better. You do know this is the whiskey thread right? 😂
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,191
    bbiggs said:
    ^ And arguably better. You do know this is the whiskey thread right? 😂
    Whisky and vodka are the same thing.  ;)

    ketel is my absolute favorite, we will see if my opinion changes.  
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • Cliffy6745
    Cliffy6745 Posts: 34,067
    Clear alcohol is for rich women on diets 

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