- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Your 2021 Whisky year in review
Posted on 12/30/21 at 8:53 am
Posted on 12/30/21 at 8:53 am
Looking back on all the whiskey you bought this year, what would you narrow down to your favorite, least favorite and such? Let's do 4 categories here. Best, Worst, Biggest Surprise and Biggest Disapointment. Let's keep the qualification to one you bought this year, not necessarily one that was this year's release. That gets too confusing to keep track of sometimes.
Best: Arran 21 I was lucky enough to grab this for 120 euros while in Italy back in October, and I sure am glad I did. It is super rich and complex, and to get a 21 year old scotch at that price is a bargain.
*runner up* Blue Spot Irish Whiskey If you see this, grab it. It's a tremendous pour.
Worst: Basil Hayden Toast It was so bad I couldn't finish my pour. Dump territory.
*runner up* Balcones Baby Blue glad this was just an airplane sample, because it went down the sink.
Biggest Surprise: Chattanooga 111 I waited a long time before finally grabbing one of these to try, and damn if it isn't a great pour. This is in serious contention for my best of the year. A high malt from Tennessee? Yeah, and they knocked this out of the park. You would never know it is only 2yrs old (unlike the horrendous Baby Blue)
*runner up* ASW Tire Fire another craft distiller, this one out of Atlanta. The idea of distilling chocolate malted barley with imported peated barley from Scotland is very adventurous, and it worked. What a cool, interesting pour this is.
Biggest Disappointment: High West Rendezvous Rye I love all things High West, especially their Campfire, and I was looking forward to their first release containing their own distillate in it. This is not a bad whiskey by any means, but it fell flat overall. The mint forward characteristic is very nice, but the full effect of the whisky came off as being watered down. At $70 a bottle this was a major disappointment, especially compared to their previous Rendezvous releases that are worth the price.
*runner up* Michter's Toasted Barrel Bourbon This is one of those unicorn bottles that I never seem to get but got lucky to grab this year. While it is a good and interesting whisky, there's nothing about it that blew me away. It's certainly the best of the toasteds I have tried this year, but it still falls behind many of my whiskies overall. I had a choice between this and the 10yr rye, and I chose wrong (damn you LUNCHBOX!)
Best: Arran 21 I was lucky enough to grab this for 120 euros while in Italy back in October, and I sure am glad I did. It is super rich and complex, and to get a 21 year old scotch at that price is a bargain.
*runner up* Blue Spot Irish Whiskey If you see this, grab it. It's a tremendous pour.
Worst: Basil Hayden Toast It was so bad I couldn't finish my pour. Dump territory.
*runner up* Balcones Baby Blue glad this was just an airplane sample, because it went down the sink.
Biggest Surprise: Chattanooga 111 I waited a long time before finally grabbing one of these to try, and damn if it isn't a great pour. This is in serious contention for my best of the year. A high malt from Tennessee? Yeah, and they knocked this out of the park. You would never know it is only 2yrs old (unlike the horrendous Baby Blue)
*runner up* ASW Tire Fire another craft distiller, this one out of Atlanta. The idea of distilling chocolate malted barley with imported peated barley from Scotland is very adventurous, and it worked. What a cool, interesting pour this is.
Biggest Disappointment: High West Rendezvous Rye I love all things High West, especially their Campfire, and I was looking forward to their first release containing their own distillate in it. This is not a bad whiskey by any means, but it fell flat overall. The mint forward characteristic is very nice, but the full effect of the whisky came off as being watered down. At $70 a bottle this was a major disappointment, especially compared to their previous Rendezvous releases that are worth the price.
*runner up* Michter's Toasted Barrel Bourbon This is one of those unicorn bottles that I never seem to get but got lucky to grab this year. While it is a good and interesting whisky, there's nothing about it that blew me away. It's certainly the best of the toasteds I have tried this year, but it still falls behind many of my whiskies overall. I had a choice between this and the 10yr rye, and I chose wrong (damn you LUNCHBOX!)
8
Posted on 12/30/21 at 10:43 am to Midget Death Squad
quote:
Blue Spot Irish Whiskey
Love the spot whiskeys
My favorite is the Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 11:51 am to WITNESS23
quote:
Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton.
I haven't tried any of their special finishes yet. I plan to at some point. Green Spot itself is damn good stuff in its own right
Posted on 12/30/21 at 12:57 pm to Midget Death Squad
Best: Probably ORVW 10, although I haven't cracked it yet. 
I've had a lot of great whiskey, including the Arran 21 that you mentioned. Lagavulin Distillers' Select as well. A bunch of really nice store picks, one that really stands out is a Blue Note locally.
Worst: Basil Hayden Toast, yep. Definitely was intrigued and it sucked.
Surprise: Early Times BiB, excellent pour for the price. I finished off a bottle last night.
Disappointment: Other than the Basil Hayden Toast... it might end up being the ORVW 10 in the end, right?
I've had a lot of great whiskey, including the Arran 21 that you mentioned. Lagavulin Distillers' Select as well. A bunch of really nice store picks, one that really stands out is a Blue Note locally. Worst: Basil Hayden Toast, yep. Definitely was intrigued and it sucked.
Surprise: Early Times BiB, excellent pour for the price. I finished off a bottle last night.
Disappointment: Other than the Basil Hayden Toast... it might end up being the ORVW 10 in the end, right?
Posted on 12/30/21 at 1:06 pm to Midget Death Squad
This Scotch was delicious....and I don't drink Scotch.
This you have to get only at the Distillery. Freaking delicious also.
Found a small batch of this Basil. My go to bourbon.
This you have to get only at the Distillery. Freaking delicious also.
Found a small batch of this Basil. My go to bourbon.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 1:37 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
Lagavulin Distillers' Select
I grabbed one of these in 2020 and was super impressed.
quote:
Blue Note
Isn't this Dickle? I avoid all things Dickle due to that harsh minerality to it, so I have passed on this every time. Actually that's why I passed on Chattanooga 111 for so long out of fear it was secretly sourced from Dick. Once I learned they were using their own distillate I took the dive.
quote:
Early Times BiB
Dude this is legit great for the price. I grabbed one myself and have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 1:49 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
Lagavulin Distillers' Select
My go to scotch. This or the Lagavulin 16-yr (they are very similar). I just ran out over Christmas. Need to get another bottle.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 1:51 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
Basil Hayden Toast
Is it worse than the regular Basil Hayden’s? That’s my go-to cheapish bourbon for making mixed drinks at home.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 2:03 pm to Midget Death Squad
quote:quote:
Blue Note
Isn't this Dickle?
Some is out of Kentucky, some Tennessee... the bottle I had was a store pick single barrel that was TN sourced, so most likely Dickel. It was really damn good though.
quote:
Actually that's why I passed on Chattanooga 111 for so long out of fear it was secretly sourced from Dick. Once I learned they were using their own distillate I took the dive.
Chattanooga Distilling is putting out some good whiskey, I've enjoyed the 111 and their Port Cask finished recently.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 2:23 pm to kingbob
quote:
Is it worse than the regular Basil Hayden’s?
Yes. I think the standard BH is a nice bourbon that is just overpriced. This was undrinkable to me. Whether it be their toasting process or the wood they toasted, it created a harsh, distinct flavor that was unpalatable.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 3:38 pm to Midget Death Squad
Best: This is too close to call honestly for me.
-EH Taylor Barrel Proof
-WLW
-Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered
-Russel's 13
Worst:
-Hancock. I dont know what it is, but I just dont seem to like Buffalo Trace mashbill 2 stuff.
Biggest Surprise:
-Blue Run in general. I've gotten at least one of each of their releases this year and have been very impressed with most of them. The golden rye was the only one I didnt just love.
Biggest disappointment:
-Calumet 15. Tastes like straight robitussin to me
Best Store Pick:
-Old Elk "Elk Hunter 2" from Oak Point
-EH Taylor Barrel Proof
-WLW
-Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered
-Russel's 13
Worst:
-Hancock. I dont know what it is, but I just dont seem to like Buffalo Trace mashbill 2 stuff.
Biggest Surprise:
-Blue Run in general. I've gotten at least one of each of their releases this year and have been very impressed with most of them. The golden rye was the only one I didnt just love.
Biggest disappointment:
-Calumet 15. Tastes like straight robitussin to me
Best Store Pick:
-Old Elk "Elk Hunter 2" from Oak Point
This post was edited on 12/30/21 at 3:40 pm
Posted on 12/30/21 at 3:53 pm to Midget Death Squad
Just based on new whiskeys IBUs this year….
Best: Knob Creek 9 year barrel pick from Calandro’s. It was a caramel bomb at 120 proof.
Balvenie 14 year Caribbean cask - if all scotch is like this, then I may become a scotch drinker
Biggest Surprise: High West Double Rye (Calandros) barrel pick - Peated barrel . Bought his in hopes it may bridge a gap between 2 whiskeys I don’t really drink. Scotch and Rye bourbon. Did the trick with scotch.
Best: Knob Creek 9 year barrel pick from Calandro’s. It was a caramel bomb at 120 proof.
Balvenie 14 year Caribbean cask - if all scotch is like this, then I may become a scotch drinker
Biggest Surprise: High West Double Rye (Calandros) barrel pick - Peated barrel . Bought his in hopes it may bridge a gap between 2 whiskeys I don’t really drink. Scotch and Rye bourbon. Did the trick with scotch.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 4:02 pm to BugAC
quote:
Balvenie 14 year Caribbean cask - if all scotch is like this, then I may become a scotch drinker
Biggest Surprise: High West Double Rye (Calandros) barrel pick - Peated barrel . Bought his in hopes it may bridge a gap between 2 whiskeys I don’t really drink. Scotch and Rye bourbon. Did the trick with scotch.
Find yourself a Springbank, Kilkerren or another of the Campbeltown scotches. I think you will be a fan based on this.
That Knob from Calandros is very good. My friend grabbed one for me when they dropped, and he now is holding that exact HW Peated for me as well. Anxiously awaiting getting my hands on that bottle.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 11:36 pm to Midget Death Squad
quote:
Find yourself a Springbank, Kilkerren or another of the Campbeltown scotches. I think you will be a fan based on this.
Shhh. Not enough to go around as is. ;)
Posted on 12/31/21 at 10:42 am to busbeepbeep
Lagavulin 16 has become hard to find around here. It sucks. I used to always be able to pick up some good scotch off the shelf.
Posted on 12/31/21 at 10:50 am to Midget Death Squad
Reserving my spot for later 
Posted on 12/31/21 at 11:26 am to LSUcdro
New Favorites: FAE-01, RR13, OC Rye
Surprises: I also really liked that Chattanooga 111 and I’ll add the New Riff SB I had. Both very good young whiskeys. Another one I really liked was Redemption Rye picks.
Let down: again I agree, the Toast was horrible. I’ll also throw in Nelson’s Greenbriar and Barrell Seagrass.
Store Pocks: OP Kentucky Spirit, NOBF Wilderness Trail Rye, Reddit EC Barrell Proof are my highlights.
Surprises: I also really liked that Chattanooga 111 and I’ll add the New Riff SB I had. Both very good young whiskeys. Another one I really liked was Redemption Rye picks.
Let down: again I agree, the Toast was horrible. I’ll also throw in Nelson’s Greenbriar and Barrell Seagrass.
Store Pocks: OP Kentucky Spirit, NOBF Wilderness Trail Rye, Reddit EC Barrell Proof are my highlights.
Posted on 12/31/21 at 12:30 pm to Midget Death Squad
quote:
Chattanooga 111 I waited a long time before finally grabbing one of these to try, and damn if it isn't a great pour. This is in serious contention for my best of the year. A high malt from Tennessee? Yeah, and they knocked this out of the park.
I’ve heard the Chattanooga bottled in bond is really good too although only a few states have gotten any releases of it.
This post was edited on 12/31/21 at 12:31 pm
Posted on 12/31/21 at 12:55 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
Surprise: Early Times BiB, excellent pour for the price
A liter less than $30. I will grab it every time.
Posted on 12/31/21 at 3:56 pm to Midget Death Squad
That Arran 21 is great, have you had the Knappogue Castle 21. It's really good as well.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News