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You used to be able to get some very good blends but the drive to make more money plus them going mainly to large distributors/groups means that they're going to be making the blends as cheaply as possible.  I can't remember the last time I had a blend that I thought was better than average.  Even those who used to have a good base are using less of it or younger malts to save money.

 

Johnnie Walker Double Black is an Islay blend that I enjoyed and have even purchased another bottle of. I tended to avoid blended whisky but gave this a go and was quite impressed. It's not as full bodied as a decent Islay but you can definitely identify it as an Islay blend. Plus Amazon often do this as a special so available for a decent price.

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Johnnie Walker Double Black is an Islay blend that I enjoyed and have even purchased another bottle of. I tended to avoid blended whisky but gave this a go and was quite impressed. It's not as full bodied as a decent Islay but you can definitely identify it as an Islay blend. Plus Amazon often do this as a special so available for a decent price.

I'm glad I chose to unignore you on the whisky threads! I found a bottle of the Double Black in a supermarket. Very nice and a steal at €25.

Ron Banks

Midlands Hurricanes and Barrow

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I'm glad I chose to unignore you on the whisky threads! I found a bottle of the Double Black in a supermarket. Very nice and a steal at €25.

Whisky:  The United Nations that actually works. 

 

Just think how many world conflicts could be resolved over whisky, you could even segregate the world into whisky drinkers and heathens.  You put a bottle of coke and a bottle of lemonade next to the good malts and anyone who mixes is clearly a heathen who deserves to be wiped out the next time arms manufacturing profits start to drop.

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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Whisky:  The United Nations that actually works. 

 

Just think how many world conflicts could be resolved over whisky, you could even segregate the world into whisky drinkers and heathens.  You put a bottle of coke and a bottle of lemonade next to the good malts and anyone who mixes is clearly a heathen who deserves to be wiped out the next time arms manufacturing profits start to drop.

The first item I would liked tabled for discussion is the fact that I can buy a bottled of Scottish whisky cheaper in America or almost anywhere across the EU than I can in the UK. All those responsible for this disparity should also be shot. IMHO of course.

 

I've not tried any of the more expensive JW blends, but if I saw them in a pub I would certainly be tempted to give them a go on the strength of how nice the double black is. Sadly not seen that many pubs offering any JW let alone a choice.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Look who's launched their own whiskey - hardly surprising...

 

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Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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You used to be able to get some very good blends but the drive to make more money plus them going mainly to large distributors/groups means that they're going to be making the blends as cheaply as possible.  I can't remember the last time I had a blend that I thought was better than average.  Even those who used to have a good base are using less of it or younger malts to save money.

 

I'll say that for £18 at Asda, Black Grouse is worth adding to anybody's sideboard.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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  • 1 month later...

On the boat back from Belgium and they had some truly ordinary whiskies at supposedly amazing prices.  I settled for something 20cl that actually had an age on it: Jura 10.

 

It's bobbins*.  Don't bother.

 

 

(* = For the price you'd expect better.  You could have Famous Grouse for less and enjoy it more.)

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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On the boat back from Belgium and they had some truly ordinary whiskies at supposedly amazing prices.  I settled for something 20cl that actually had an age on it: Jura 10.

 

It's bobbins*.  Don't bother.

 

 

(* = For the price you'd expect better.  You could have Famous Grouse for less and enjoy it more.)

Jura used to be hard to find, but it's everywhere now. And discounted in supermarkets more often than not.

 

It isn't a special whisky, at least not these days.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Jura used to be hard to find, but it's everywhere now. And discounted in supermarkets more often than not.

 

It isn't a special whisky, at least not these days.

 

For a ten year old it's suspiciously dark in colour as well.  And whilst I'm no snob I expect a bit of subtlety and nuance in what I'm drinking.  This doesn't have any.

 

Goes well with Coke.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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I've recommended it before, but Sainsbury's own label Highland single malt is just crazy value for money. 

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I've recommended it before, but Sainsbury's own label Highland single malt is just crazy value for money. 

 

They were out of the Highland so I'm currently supping the Taste the Difference Speyside.

 

I'll write my review before I lose the ability to type: superb.

 

(Needs a bit of ice IMO to draw out the flavour but it's a decent drop.)

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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They were out of the Highland so I'm currently supping the Taste the Difference Speyside.

 

I'll write my review before I lose the ability to type: superb.

 

(Needs a bit of ice IMO to draw out the flavour but it's a decent drop.)

My local branch only stocks the Highland. Grr.  :angry:

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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BTW, I have recently experimented with using soda water instead of plain. I'd always thought whisky/brandy and soda was a hopelessly old-fashioned way to drink spirits, but with soda water so cheap, it was worth trying out.

 

Well, I wouldn't drink it that way all the time, but it really does change the drinking experience. The amount of soda water is small (the same as with still water), but the slight effervescence is interesting in the nose and on the tongue. 

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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My mum's Scottish boyfriend cracked open a bottle of 18yr old Bunnahabhain last weekend.... Lovely stuff, like a cross between the peaty flavours of Islay and the sweeter flavours of Arran...unfortunately I reverted back to drinking red wine after he put the bottle away (there was no way he leaving that out with us when he went to bed!) and so I was ruined the next day

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  • 3 weeks later...

This year's Asda "Extra Special" Islay single malt is in the stores.  After a few glasses in a highly scientific taste test, I'm 95% confident that it's either a Lagavulin or Ardbeg.  £22 for a 10yo version of one of those is a shamefully cheap bargain.  Get it before they sell out.

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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This year's Asda "Extra Special" Islay single malt is in the stores.  After a few glasses in a highly scientific taste test, I'm 95% confident that it's either a Lagavulin or Ardbeg.  £22 for a 10yo version of one of those is a shamefully cheap bargain.  Get it before they sell out.

I tried Asda's Speyside. Not a great one. Their Islay is a much better bet. 

 

Having said that, I'm on Highland Park at the moment. B)

Edited by Futtocks

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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On the way back from Amsterdam I purchased a bottle of Bunnahabhain as I've never tried this before. I did sample various different whiskies but decided to try something new rather than just going for a bottle of Laphroaig. 

 

Haven't tried it yet but will probably give it a go this evening

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On the way back from Amsterdam I purchased a bottle of Bunnahabhain as I've never tried this before. I did sample various different whiskies but decided to try something new rather than just going for a bottle of Laphroaig. 

 

Haven't tried it yet but will probably give it a go this evening

Ahhh, bunny heaven (as my friend's wife insists on calling it, actually quite close to the proper pronunciation as well!).   A very good drink, one for relaxing with.

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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Ahhh, bunny heaven (as my friend's wife insists on calling it, actually quite close to the proper pronunciation as well!).   A very good drink, one for relaxing with.

 

And it came in a litre bottle  :biggrin:

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just back from a meeting with an old friend and colleague, at the pub that used to be the Marquee Club. Mind you, he remembers it from even before that - as a teenager, he used to watch newsreels and Flash Gordon series there when it was a cinema. It is now a Wetherspoons, but one of the better examples of the breed.

 

Anyhoo, I went back to the tube station via Milroys, the whisky specialist and now find myself in possession of a bottle of Four Roses single barrel bourbon. Cask Strength, too, so it'll last a bit longer. I'm pretty new to bourbon, so I just collared a Milroys employee, gave him a ballpark price and asked him to recommend something interesting. And he did! :) 

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Just back from a meeting with an old friend and colleague, at the pub that used to be the Marquee Club. Mind you, he remembers it from even before that - as a teenager, he used to watch newsreels and Flash Gordon series there when it was a cinema. It is now a Wetherspoons, but one of the better examples of the breed.

 

Anyhoo, I went back to the tube station via Milroys, the whisky specialist and now find myself in possession of a bottle of Four Roses single barrel bourbon. Cask Strength, too, so it'll last a bit longer. I'm pretty new to bourbon, so I just collared a Milroys employee, gave him a ballpark price and asked him to recommend something interesting. And he did! :)

How did he say to drink it?

Ron Banks

Midlands Hurricanes and Barrow

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