Is no whisky actually bad?

[EdipisReks]

i've changed my eating habits, so i'm not drinking a lot lately, but i indulged in some Arbeg Uigeadail and Laphroaig 15yo tonight, which i very much enjoyed. as i'm a bit tipsy, i started drinking Rebel Yell bourbon, which is my mixing bourbon of choice, and it isn't bad at all! i haven't had it neat from a proper glass before, and i'm quite surprised. it isn't any worse than Maker's Mark, which is generally my go to bourbon. is there such a thing as truly bad whisk(e)y, or am i just spoiled?

[Scotchio]

I've had 3 truly bad minis; Glen Keith 83, Littlemill NAS and Tormore 10, but considering the number I have tried lately there are not many that could be called bad.

[EdipisReks]

i haven't had any of those. i find even the Litttlemill OB 8yo to be drinkable, though, so i guess that categorizes my tastes.

[Scotchio]

They could be bad examples of a potentially good whisky. I liked the Sig Littlemill 93, the NAS mini had a lot of caramel in it so although it nosed like the other Littlemill I'd had very little came thru on the palate and finish. The Tormore was an old bottling(river label) and was hot and bitter. Again I'm sure Tormore can be good, I think Lawrence was praising some recent bottlings. Likewise Glen Keith, my old mini tasted of vomit and licorice allsorts, the current CC93 sounds fine according to Murray.
Perhaps it's reasonable to say that all distilleries are well capable of producing the exceptional aswell as the awful. What sets apart the better ones is the consictency and quality of their standard output

[Elagabalus]

Since taste is subjective I wouldn't say any whisky is bad. Unless they've bottled a ruined batch, but how often is that likely to occur?

Some whisky is merely preferred by a larger portion of people than others are.

Also what one likes in one's youth might change with experience and age.

[Deactivated Member]

True enough; someone must like even the awful Littlemills I've had. But from what I've heard, Littlemill was rather lax in its quality control in its last years, and I think it's fair to say that if that is truly the case, such inconsistency (as opposed to normal variability) qualifies as bad whisky-making.

[vitara7]

id say there is no bad whisky. yes, theres a few that are rather rubbish, but if you had the choice between a dram of the stinker that is loch dhu, or no whisky at all, im sure youd go for the loch dhu.

[Deactivated Member]

I'm not so sure. Dunglas, anyone? I know that, on the beer front, I'll go without rather than drink Budmillercoors. I'd rather drink a nice Ohio rosé.

And even if I did take the Loch Dhu, that doesn't mean it's not bad!

[vitara7]

your right tattie, there is bad whisky, but id change what i said to theres no undrinkable whisky.

bad whisky is better than no whisky..

as for dunglas, never tried it. might need to get a mini the next time i see one on ebay.

[Mustardhead]

Even the plain white label supermarket "Scotch Whisky" is better than nothing.

I think the worst single malt I have tried has to be the old Glen Garioch 8 year old. Like drinking your way an old lady's perfume collection

But I've never encountered a Scotch which I wouldn't drink again.

[BubbaC]

I think I'm gonna have to go against the grain here... Jim Beam, the one with the white label. If I had a choice between that and nothing, I may actually go with nothing. Haven't had it in a decade though. Who knows, maybe it's better. Not willing to venture out and try it though.

[vitara7]

bubba - i bet if someone gave you a free dram you wouldnt turn it down

[TheLaddie]

I'm sure there are plenty of bad whiskies, but one hopes there is always someone between the warehouse and the bottling line with the integrity to stop it reaching the bottle. Hopefully lessons were learned from Dunglas etc.

[Elagabalus]

There are people who will drink anything. Alcoholics have been known to reach for perfume bottles.

[Ardbeg311]

Actually, I wouldn't drink a Richardson's Traditional Blend even if offered for free. I have gotten sick on more than one occasion with this bottle. I am not saying one has to be an alcoholic to find something in Richardson's Traditional Blend, but I am at a loss as to why somebody would make his liver work for it.

[xcel]

Anyone try the Tomatin 12 yo? This was the only whisky at a recent party and I had a dram of it. I thought it was horrible, it was the worst whisky I've ever had. I don't know why it just really didn't do well with me.

I wouldn't drink it again if you paid me

[Muskrat Portage]

I got into a discussion about this last year, simply because my signature said "There's no such thing as a bad whisky" After subsequent discussions with my learned friends from across the pond, it was amended to include the suffix ..."but indifferent may apply"

Finally, I had to admit there are certain whiskies which I would only drink for effect. Edradour 10 yo; Vintage Malts' Islay; Glen Breton 10 yo all spring to mind. I have no doubt that others will be discovered and derided but I actually found the Tomatin 12 yo tolerable as compared to the above, although I scored it in the low 80's (out of a possible 100). By way of reference Glen Breton received a 65 and Vintage Malts Islay a 05.
Muskrat Portage aka Peter

[DramMeister]

I'm surprised Creiftan hasn't posted. I agree with him anyway.

[Quaichuser]

I got into a discussion about this last year, simply because my signature said "There's no such thing as a bad whisky" After subsequent discussions with my learned friends from across the pond, it was amended to include the suffix ..."but indifferent may apply"

Mea Culpa MP. I'm still new and didn't realize I had cribbed you signature.

Many years ago I tasted Dalwhinnie for the first time and immediately decided it was not a scotch I would drink again. (Cue passage of time graphic) About a year ago someone offered me a Dalwhinnie. Never one to turn down a freebie I decided to see if I still felt the same about it. I don't....it was better than I remembered...still not one I would go out and buy though.

Now..to work on that new signature.

[Muskrat Portage]

I maintain that 3 year old whisky should stay in the cask for a few years longer, as any I've come across in the 3-5 yo bracket is pretty terrible.

...Mea Culpa MP. I'm still new and didn't realize I had cribbed you signature. ...
Now..to work on that new signature.

Qauichuser:
Not to worry -continue to use it as I've already cleared all the flack you'dve received for it. (I've got a new one in mind once 2007 is over anyways.) This illustrates that the Ontario school system punches out like-minded individuals...should we worry?
Peter