Recommendation for a grain whisky?

[lincoln imp]

I have been thinking about buying a grain whisky for a while now but do not really know what to get. Some of the bottlings appear really old and quite expensive. Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced one to try? I dont fancy splashing out on an old Invergordan for fear of not liking it so i figured i better stick to a cheaper bottle to get me started.
Comments appreciated.

[lincoln imp]

Sorry i seem to have done this twice and cannot seem to get rid of this one.

[woodhill]

do we reply on this one or t'other

[Di Blasi]

The first single grain that I tasted thus turning me on to them and impressed me too was a 40y 1964 Dunbarton from Clan Denny, (The Douglas Laing Brothers). Excellent whisky! I've had a few others in the meantime, also good. I had one in April at The Highlander in Craigellachie, a 15y Fuji Gotemba!!!!! (Yes, Japanese). Yowza, awesome! Also a very good whisky!

[Aidan]

I've had a few Invergordons. Both excellent. The Greenore 8 is ok too. Some people love it.

[pmullin]

I've had a few Invergordons. Both excellent. The Greenore 8 is ok too. Some people love it.

I've also tried some Invergordon and can second the nomination.

[Spirit of Islay]

Hi lincoln imp,
Have a look here ,http://www.bladnoch.co.uk/whiskyprices.htm , Raymonds Invergordon is very good and reasonably priced .

[mattbuty]

I have the Clan Denny Dumbarton, it is great. very sweet and tasty, and a real suprise for my guests when we talk blends

[Muskrat Portage]

I've had a few Invergordons. Both excellent. The Greenore 8 is ok too. Some people love it.

I'll second Aidan on the Greenore 8, it is a delightfully refreshing dram which I acquired from my source prior to it's release. Two actually.

I hadn't twigged to the fact it's grain whisky, 'though. Have to go take a second look at the label.

Musky

[Aidan]

Peter, yes, I think it's the only Irish grain whiskey released. It may be distilled in pot stills, although I'm not sure about this.

[Aidan]

PS, the only distilled grain at Cooley for the first few years. So while they have some much older stocks of grain whiskey. I think they'll be releasing much older Greenores very soon.

[vitara7]

you can pick up a bottle of cameron brig single grain whisky no age statment from the cameron bridge distillery in quite a few shops, including RMW and TWE very cheap too.

[hwh]

..haven't tasted too many grains...except our tasting club did Compass Box Hedonism recently and it was well received...pretty pricy though...$80+ a bottle or so...a John Glaser product...and he's a pretty interesting guy...imagine a scotch expert from Minnesota!!!

[Muskrat Portage]

PS, the only distilled grain at Cooley for the first few years. So while they have some much older stocks of grain whiskey. I think they'll be releasing much older Greenores very soon.

John:
Yep, you're right and I even knew that it was a grain whisky because I'd remarked on it when I picked them up. Must be losing memory cells. Must..drink...more...whisky! Save... what's....left....

On a side note, most of the Irish I own are from Cooleys.

Musky

[Aidan]

Peter, I read over my post and it does not make much sense... What I meant to say is that their stocks of malt aren't as old as their stocks of grain.

I like the stuff Cooley are making a lot. It is a worthy distillery.

[Muskrat Portage]

Peter, I read over my post and it does not make much sense... What I meant to say is that their stocks of malt aren't as old as their stocks of grain.

I like the stuff Cooley are making a lot. It is a worthy distillery.

I regretfully won't see much Greenore over here with the LCBO manning the gates against the barbarians. I have to agree that I really enjoy the Cooley offerings that I've been able to glean from the system here.

Now, to the Lair to see what I'm drinking next...

Muskrat Portage

[IainB]

I'll add my voice to those who said the Greenore 8yo. I've had 2 different bottlings at this stage, both good but the more recent one very good. Hopefully we will see this at different ages in the future.

There was another Irish single grain a couple of years ago - when Cooley were supplying the Clontarf brand the Black Label was a single grain (albeit charcoal mellowed).

Nowdays the grain is supplied by Irish Distillers and I think there may be some malt and / or pot still there also so it's a blend at this stage, but if you found a bottle for 3 / 4 years ago that should be a single grain.

I've also had a bottle of the Compass Box Hedonism which I would recommend, though I don't remember it being that expensive.

Loch Lomond also do an organic grain whisky which isn't too expensive - can't recommend it yet though, I haven't got around to opening the bottle.

[DavidH]

I'll add my voice to those who said the Greenore 8yo. I've had 2 different bottlings at this stage, both good but the more recent one very good. Hopefully we will see this at different ages in the future.

I was wondering about that too. The Cooley website says:

The first Greenore will be an 8 year old, followed by a 10 year old, then a 16 year old and finally an 18 year old.

But John Hansell, on his blog has said:

And finally, it's only logical that Cooley would also release a 15 year old expression of their grain whiskey, Greenore. This too will find its way to the U.S. in the Spring.

[IainB]

Peter, I read over my post and it does not make much sense... What I meant to say is that their stocks of malt aren't as old as their stocks of grain.

I like the stuff Cooley are making a lot. It is a worthy distillery.

I agree. Cooley seem to keep things a bit more interesting, especially with Kilbeggan coming back on stream.

[IainB]

Peter, yes, I think it's the only Irish grain whiskey released. It may be distilled in pot stills, although I'm not sure about this.

Just thinking about this, if it was distilled in a pot still it would probably technically be a pure pot still. And if it was I'm sure Cooley would put pure pot still on the label. So I'd guess it's probably column distilled.

[Muskrat Portage]

I checked out the Colley website here:
http://www.cooleywhiskey.com/_aboutWhis ... tion.shtml
This is what they say about distillation of Grain Whiskey:

Grain Whiskey Distillation in Columns

...Distillation: After fermentation, two separate distillation columns are used to produce a spirit of 94.6% alcohol which has the exact balance to produce one of the most flavoursome of grain whiskies.

Based on this, I would think that IainB is on track with his summation that Greenore is from a column still. Thank you Mr Coffey, wherever you are.

Muskrat Portage

[IainB]

I checked out the Colley website here:
http://www.cooleywhiskey.com/_aboutWhis ... tion.shtml
This is what they say about distillation of Grain Whiskey:

Grain Whiskey Distillation in Columns

...Distillation: After fermentation, two separate distillation columns are used to produce a spirit of 94.6% alcohol which has the exact balance to produce one of the most flavoursome of grain whiskies.

Based on this, I would think that IainB is on track with his summation that Greenore is from a column still. Thank you Mr Coffey, wherever you are.

Muskrat Portage

You have to love the marketing speak though - the exact balance and all that. I'd imagine the 94.6% is about the maximum strength you can get from a column still. Which was one of the original aims of a column still anyway - the maximum amount of alcohol as quickly and cheaply as possible. Which is not to knock the whiskey, which I enjoy.

And anyway, it is, I'm sure, watered down before it's put into barrells.

[lincoln imp]

Guys,
Thankyou for all your knowledgable comments so far. I am leaning towards a Carsbridge at the moment.
All posts are much appreciated.
Lincon Imp.

[lincoln imp]

Collector 57, can i ask which particular bottling of Carsbridge it was. ie, year and strength.
Thankyou

[BruceCrichton]

Cameron Brig is popular in Fife.

I also recommend Greenore Irish whiskey and be sure to see what Duncan Taylor have in stock. Their 1979 Carsebridge is brilliant and other grain whiskies from them are usually worth grabbing.

Compass box also do a vatted grain whisky.

[woodhill]

I'm on my second bottle of the North British 1980 single grain, and it's the best SG ive ever had!

[BruceCrichton]

Who's the bottler for the 1980 North British?

[woodhill]

Who's the bottler for the 1980 North British?

I think it's a OB