Which Whisk(e)y for my return to action

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Okay guys I've been out of action for nearly a month due to my self imposed period of abstinence from the demon drink and it ends next Wednesday



So for my breakout I decided to have a bit of fun and ask the Forum what whisk(e)ys I should pour myself to celebrate the end of the drought ....

Please feel free to pick up to 3 choices for my celebratory selection.

I can only list 25 so these are my choices from my cabinet.

Please feel free to explain you choice if you so please ......

[objetti]

Karuizawa 1971
Amazing
Finished my first bottle (together with friends)
Opened the second
Chasing a third before it´s too late

[DavidH]

I admire your fortitude. I had good results with Lent this year so I'm thinking of observing Ramadan too (in my own fashion).

I'm not really qualified to vote, not having a notion what most of those taste like but I've voted for the Yamazaki 18yo which I enjoyed very much lately. Kampai!

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Karuizawa 1971 is an early favourite and worthy of being in the top 3... love the stuff.

Note: whether or not you have tried any of these feel free to vote on them .... just a bit of fun and will be interesting to see what gets into the top 3. Glad to see a vote for the cheap as Chips Tesco 12yo highland malt. Great things heard about this malt and whispers have said it is either a Dalmore or a Glenmorangie but does anyone really know for sure???? Have not opened this yet but will with in the week whether or not it is in the top 3.

[Jimmy321]

I choose, A'bunadh & Karuizawa 1971. Try tasting them side by side they have some things in common and complement each other imo.

[Deactivated Member]

I and a couple of other forum members have had similar periods of abstinence, and on return been surprised to find whisky tasted hot, spirity and made us headachey drunk rather too quickly. I'd wean yourself back on with your worst, cheapest blend and save the good stuff for a couple of days later.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

I and a couple of other forum members have had similar periods of abstinence, and on return been surprised to find whisky tasted hot, spirity and made us headachey drunk rather too quickly. I'd wean yourself back on with your worst, cheapest blend and save the good stuff for a couple of days later.

It's all bad Nick

I actually would of thought that the flavours would of been just more intense, I'll let you know how I get on..... in all fairness I won't be knocking back a full bottle of anything.

I've often done a week here and there but it's been 2 years now since I've done a month which I used to do most years. I like doing it during the summer as I'm usually more active doing other stuff.

[Deactivated Member]

Tommy 27y for me.

[Deactivated Member]

I agree with Nick, to an extent--I'd say go with basic, familiar malts until you feel sure of your palate.

[IainB]

Well done, I think. Was it just whiskey or total abstinence?

By the way, if it was me I'd go for the Redbreast 15 - only because it's still the regular favourite of mine.

[Wave]

Tommy 27y for me.

Here too, it's quite tasty also the Dailuaine 32, I haven't tasted this one per say but it sounds like a dandy!

Cheers!

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Well done, I think. Was it just whiskey or total abstinence?

By the way, if it was me I'd go for the Redbreast 15 - only because it's still the regular favourite of mine.

Total Iain ....No Whiskey, No Beer no Wine I know madness but I survived


So Far we have 3 clear in the Top 3.

Karuizawa 1971 in te heavy wight section is looking good to be in there.

Mr Tommy Tomintoul is in second

and a'bunadh coming in third.....

I may just have to add the Redbreast to the line up anyway .....

[DavidH]

So Far we have 3 clear in the Top 3.

Karuizawa 1971 in te heavy wight section is looking good to be in there.

Mr Tommy Tomintoul is in second

and a'bunadh coming in third.....

... and the Yamazaki, which is joint third ...

[IainB]

Well done, I think. Was it just whiskey or total abstinence?

By the way, if it was me I'd go for the Redbreast 15 - only because it's still the regular favourite of mine.

Total Iain ....No Whiskey, No Beer no Wine I know madness but I survived


So Far we have 3 clear in the Top 3.

Karuizawa 1971 in te heavy wight section is looking good to be in there.

Mr Tommy Tomintoul is in second

and a'bunadh coming in third.....

I may just have to add the Redbreast to the line up anyway .....

Is there any one in particular you'd like us to vote for. Then you could at least pretend the choice was democratic.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Is there any one in particular you'd like us to vote for. Then you could at least pretend the choice was democratic.

Okay here's a fiver vote for .... ......

Don't worry the choice at the end of the day could be like a Zimbabwean election ..... ..... my party so I'll play it my way .....

Probably will have a RB 15 anyway as it's been way too long but just wanted to have a bit of fun and see what the Forum throws up.

... and the Yamazaki, which is joint third ...

Missed the the Yamazaki there David but probably would knock one of the Japs on the head if 2 get into the top 3 anyway ....




Oh I'm salivating already

[IainB]

I thought I maybe vote RB15 a few times more to help you along but I don't seem to have that option. I'm calling for a second referendum on this one.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

I thought I maybe vote RB15 a few times more to help you along but I don't seem to have that option. I'm calling for a second referendum on this one.

Okay, so what you are saying is we will have to rerun the vote until the Forum get right ....

...... I can live with that .


Welcome back by the way ..... were you on holiers?

[IainB]

I thought I maybe vote RB15 a few times more to help you along but I don't seem to have that option. I'm calling for a second referendum on this one.

Okay, so what you are saying is we will have to rerun the vote until the Forum get right ....

...... I can live with that .


Welcome back by the way ..... were you on holiers?

I was, for the last 2 and a half weeks. Very very pleasant time in Mayo. Also learned something useful from my almost 2 year old. He's now refers to everything plural as "two". So when I arrive home from a night out and am asked just how much I drank I will adopt my sons policy and say TWO.

Did I miss much? Any fighting? Managed to log in once from my phone then decided it was too much trouble.

[Ganga]

Well, I chose up to three. Selected all irish whiskies as you are IWC. Red Breast, Jamesons and Tyrconnell. Whichever you choose, hopefully it's enjoyable.

[wolpertinger]

I voted for the Redbreast 15yo because I know that you'll soon have good supply of this

[Deactivated Member]

I and a couple of other forum members have had similar periods of abstinence, and on return been surprised to find whisky tasted hot, spirity and made us headachey drunk rather too quickly. I'd wean yourself back on with your worst, cheapest blend and save the good stuff for a couple of days later.

I sort of do something like that. All of the whisky will taste good, but the more expensive/older ones you wont appreciate to its full potential and it will be a waste.

That's not my experience - it all tasted bloody awful - just the alcohol and nothing much else.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

I voted for the Redbreast 15yo because I know that you'll soon have good supply of this

I'll have enough to keep me going for a while all right

[irishwhiskeychaser]

I and a couple of other forum members have had similar periods of abstinence, and on return been surprised to find whisky tasted hot, spirity and made us headachey drunk rather too quickly. I'd wean yourself back on with your worst, cheapest blend and save the good stuff for a couple of days later.

I sort of do something like that. All of the whisky will taste good, but the more expensive/older ones you wont appreciate to its full potential and it will be a waste.

That's not my experience - it all tasted bloody awful - just the alcohol and nothing much else.

Well I'll keep it in mind guys, I plan to have small samples to start off with anyway .... if I find your observations to be correct I may take a u turn. I'd like to really explore the Tomintoul 27yo properly so my breakout may not be the correct place for it. Looks like the Karuizawa 1971 will be on the menu though and if that fails me I'll abandon the excercise and drink cheap beer & Lagavulin


It's amazing to see the big support for the Japanese whiskies but they are good though. And I think IainB's propaganda on Redbreast 15yo is working a treat

[Willie JJ]

As usual I voted before reading the instructions so only voted once, but it was the Tomintoul 27 for me.

[Wave]

I and a couple of other forum members have had similar periods of abstinence, and on return been surprised to find whisky tasted hot, spirity and made us headachey drunk rather too quickly. I'd wean yourself back on with your worst, cheapest blend and save the good stuff for a couple of days later.

The only problem I have with whisky after a long dry spell (it happens with me frequently) is with cask strength whiskies, I seem to get too looped too quickly! A nice mellow sherried malt like the Tommy 27 is a good starting point and high proof whiskies like the Karuizawa 1971 I would shun or at least save it for last taste of the night.

Cheers!

[Deactivated Member]

Probably will have a RB 15 anyway as it's been way too long but just wanted to have a bit of fun and see what the Forum throws up.

Cool...then it will be our turn to see what you throw up.

[bamber]

I also agree with Nick: avoid CS stuff for sure as everything seems very alcholic after a month off.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Probably will have a RB 15 anyway as it's been way too long but just wanted to have a bit of fun and see what the Forum throws up.

Cool...then it will be our turn to see what you throw up.

You mean like this




No, I don't plan being that enthusiastic with my breakout but in saying that I'd better not bet on it.


Thanks for all the votes so far everybody.

Cheers Adrian

[irishwhiskeychaser]

On (half)recomendation of Nick & Mr T-H I took it handy with my first whiskey. My compromise was just to have a 2cl measure so as not to waste too much if I found that I too suffered from hot & spirity whisk(e)y syndrome.

Well I have finished 2cl of Redbreast 15yo and must say I really enjoyed it ... no complaints here. Now on to 2cl of Yamakazi 1971 ... the noses on both are better than I remember. I am really getting loads of different new aromas from the Japanese whisky especially and cannot recommend it highly enough. I have to say that the Redbreast had a bit more bitterness than normal but nothing to put me off .... The Yamazazi is a pure joy at full strength of 64.1%. So I'm not getting the hot & spirity syndrome, however that may have a lot to do with my slightly diminished sense of smell and taste. I have broken my nose on 3 separate occasions and would love to get it properly fixed but it was an expensive surgical procedure 10years ago(note to self check this out again)... Because of this I seem to sometimes miss certain aromas at times, totally . I therefor have a leaning towards big bold flavours and enjoy very hot(chilli) food which may be the reason I take easily to high abv whiskies without water.

[les taylor]

Adrian I'm glad you took the Bull by the horns and welcome back. After my month off I had a PC5. It tasted just wonderful.

[Deactivated Member]

I'm glad it's working for you.

[I_SPEY]

1. Bushmills 1680 400th Anniversary Edt
2. Jameson 15yo Pure PotStill (PPS)
3. Redbreast 15yo

Remember your an Irishman, so I would be when something else???

[DavidH]

I have broken my nose on 3 separate occasions...

Maybe don't lift the glass so fast?

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Maybe don't lift the glass so fast?

Well, couldn't do it fast enough tonight but glad to say no casualties

[irishwhiskeychaser]

I'm glad it's working for you.

Ye had me worried there for a while but all grand now ... however I do know that when I'm over tired whisk(e)y just does not taste right to me

Adrian I'm glad you took the Bull by the horns and welcome back. After my month off I had a PC5. It tasted just wonderful.

1. Bushmills 1680 400th Anniversary Edt
2. Jameson 15yo Pure PotStill (PPS)
3. Redbreast 15yo

Remember your an Irishman, so I would be when something else???

Yes, normal business resumes Les ..... Well I started with a RB 15 then the Karuizawa '71 ... I did chicken out on the Tomintoul 27yo and Yamakazi 18yo as I wanted to make sure I had a fresh palate. Then had a Bushmills 1608 400th, a Tesco 12yo Highland Malt (Which is not bad at all) washed down by a couple pints of water and a Labats Ice then again followed by 2 large Lap QC's and now a a'bunadh 19th batch.....

Will let you know how the head is in the morning