Whisky Reviews

[arawa]

Errrrr, honestly there's a decent selection of bourbon in the UK. Infact some bottles can be easier here to obtain than in some US states believe it or not.

We buy a lot from this place. I'll be taking a bottle of Michter's Rye with me tonight from there.

https://www.mitchellswine.co.uk/search/?key=bourbon

Trawl through the page and you'll find a lot of good stuff. The owners James and Frankie really know their stuff and will ship at sensible prices too.

Thanks. Quite a few items were "out of stock" here too but I grabbed a bottle of the Elija Craig 12-year old. I like the Mitchers too and have a bottle of the Sour Mash on the go at the moment.

[Jon]

Thanks. Quite a few items were "out of stock" here too but I grabbed a bottle of the Elija Craig 12-year old. I like the Mitchers too and have a bottle of the Sour Mash on the go at the moment.

There is. And on the flipside there's stuff that isn't listed on the website. So if you're looking for anything in particular give them a call or drop them a message on FB.

[Jon]

A few from last night. The Willets bourbon was easily my favourite.

I've tried the blend Campbeltown Loch before at a Springbank tasting and thought it was good then. Though last night I was less impressed.

The cask strength Glendronach definitely needed a drop of water. It's a bit harsh bear.

The 17 year old Arran lacked complexity. I was pretty disappointed with that to be honest.

We ended up with a couple of bottle kills. And the Michters Rye remains unopened. Until next time.

[SoldierPmr]

Funny enough I had a glass of Campbeltown loch tonight. It's not a bad whisky at all but I can see where you are coming from it doesn't stand out to me.

How long had the Arran 17 been open for could it be that air has killed it?

[Jon]

So a few years ago a Russian friend and I discussed the idea of launching our own independent bottling company. Back then we were really not in a position to do it. But as whisky drinkers, investors and all round nutters who'd rather try and fail rather than not try at all, I think we're about to do it.

A few weeks ago, I had an idea for a brand concept and a brand name. I ran my very raw ideas via an ex Diageo marketing guy I know who helped 'polish' that idea.

I've spent time on MoM and TWE looking at pricing comparable to our proposed products and costed our launch. And I think we can do it.

I've found a hogshead from a well known Highland distillery at a great price that I'm having shipped to our bottling company and sourced both an ex Laphroaig quarter cask and a first fill sherry quarter cask which I'll have the nine year old spirit reracked into.

I'll start sampling the sherried whisky after four months to see how it's colour and flavour are affected. I expect the ex Laphroaig quarter cask to take twelve months to finish it.

So we'll be starting work on our first two expressions very soon. They'll effectively be single cask, natural cask strength whiskies with no chill filtration and no added colour.

And we've found an unconventional way of pre selling bottles (We have a massive network of whisky related social media avenues under our control) too.

Exciting times ahead. I just need to add a bourbon based offering I think.

It's all incredibly small batch / hobby business / lifestyle business / lads dicking about type stuff but I think it will be fun. We have a specialist local retailer and hotel chain interested too, so we might be able to do some white label bottles too.

[Bobfly]

My very best wishes for the business. Fun times ahead!

[SoldierPmr]

Looking forward to it Jon, I follow quite a few of the whisky YouTubers so I'm sure I'll see it pop up on there.

[superscot]

So a few years ago a Russian friend and I discussed the idea of launching our own independent bottling company. Back then we were really not in a position to do it. But as whisky drinkers, investors and all round nutters who'd rather try and fail rather than not try at all, I think we're about to do it.

And of course, favourable discount for the forum members  the best of luck on your new venture

[Jon]

Thanks guys. If anyone is interested I'm sure I'll be able to sort something out.

Currently looking at a second cask so we can launch with a four bottle line up. This one is an 11 year old cask so will be bottles at 12 years of age. It's also a Highland distillery and a pretty well respected one too. It's a refill bourbon hogshead. But again the spirit will be split. This time half into an Oloroso quarter cask. But I'm not yet decided on the other half. I might go Pedro Ximénez or first fill bourbon.

I personally love PX whiskies and the colour should help sell it as daft as that might sound. But the line up might be a bit to sherry heavy.

These quarter casks are damned expensive though. We have access to five different sherry types but these are £489 + VAT each for a tiny 125 litre cask. First fill bourbon are £300 + VAT. And then there's the shipping fees from cooperage to bottling hall and fees for the reracking.

Due to a global shortage of quality wood, prices have skyrocketed in the last four years. It seems the bourbon distilleries are now producing more aged bourbon resulting in less casks becoming availbale. And then you have the Mexicans ageing their Mezcal in ex bourbon casks too. Plus a few US based wineries, which is why we're seeing a lot more wine, brandy and even tequila aged Scotch!

And then just to add insult to injury it costs the same per week to store a 55l octave, 125l quarter cask, 200l barrel or 250l hogshead, so splitting the hoggies results will cost us double in storage fees for the 12 months it takes to finish them. :/

[SoldierPmr]

I'm definitely interested in having a bottle I'm assuming there won't be any fake tan and non chill filtered?