Hats and Drinks - A Match Made in Heaven

[The Shoe]

You’re right, of course. Perhaps when it comes down to it, my taste preference is just for Islays, and again, perhaps I’m just not familiar enough with Speysides. Can you recommend some at a price point similar to those Islays? I realise there may be significant differences in the US vs Japan, but I have been meaning to go on a Speyside adventure for a while now.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

You’re right, of course. Perhaps when it comes down to it, my taste preference is just for Islays, and again, perhaps I’m just not familiar enough with Speysides. Can you recommend some at a price point similar to those Islays? I realise there may be significant differences in the US vs Japan, but I have been meaning to go on a Speyside adventure for a while now.

The Speyside region (to include the Highlands) is a big region. The changing landscape & waters greatly affect the flavors of the whisky’s of the region. The various Oak series are aged & finished in oak casks (typically bourbon casks). The Sherry series are aged in Oak, then finished typically in Oloroso &/or Ximenez Sherry casks. There are other Sherry’s but the price goes up & so they are not commonly used. Sherry Speyside’s are always more expensive than the Oaks. Whichever you decide to explore, stay with it for a while.

I drink Islay’s yr around but I really like Sherry Speysides in the early winter thru the Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year holidays. Like drinking a cordial in front of the fireplace. Beyond Balvenie 12 my favorite Highland Sherry’s are among the Glenmorangie’s, topping out with the Glenmorangie 18 Extremely Rare. Expensive, but it does go on sale a couple times per yr & I buy ahead to save.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

You’re right, of course. Perhaps when it comes down to it, my taste preference is just for Islays, and again, perhaps I’m just not familiar enough with Speysides. Can you recommend some at a price point similar to those Islays? I realise there may be significant differences in the US vs Japan, but I have been meaning to go on a Speyside adventure for a while now.

My experiences have me thinking of Speyside whiskies in two styles: the sherry tastes of The Macallan, Glenfarclas, Aberlour, and Tamdu, and the lighter, sweeter, honeyed single malts of The Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and The Balvenie.

I have only sipped at a friends house the Glenfarcias 12. I have it on a short list to purchase a bottle for home.

Eric -

 

[The Shoe]

Back in Osaka, I had to go back to the Blarney Stone for another beautiful pour of Guinness. Etsuko went for her favourite Yona Yona Ale.

I was in my almost black, navy Donna Homburg with the purple ribbon.

 

[The Shoe]

Donna Homburg

Predictive text, spellcheck and autocorrect drive me nuts sometimes. It seems worse on this site for some reason. That’s a Dobbs Homburg.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Rebel Yell Small Batch Wheated Bourbon @ 100 proof.

 

[Blare]

Predictive text, spellcheck and autocorrect drive me nuts sometimes. It seems worse on this site for some reason. That’s a Dobbs Homburg.

Thought maybe it was a new custom Great looking Dobbs and nice Guinness pour

 

[rogueclimber]

nice Guinness pour

Just something about that line between dark and light!

 

[rogueclimber]

I'm nothing if not predictable on my drink choice:

A Negroni with my King's Umbrella "Strike the Gold"

 

[Hurricane Jack]

@The Shoe

You might be able to buy this in your market worth the while. I’m considering an early holiday gift to myself but would like to buy a dram before buying a bottle.

Glenmorangie, A Tale of Tokyo

“For this expression, Dr. Bill Lumsden experiments with mizunara casks for the first time, using a trio of bourbon, sherry, and mizunara oak casks in some unspecified combination…”

“Don’t miss the box and label, by the way, designed by Japanese artist Yamaguchi Akira, “known for his maximalist bird’s-eye view designs,” here creating a boozy version of Where’s Waldo?, with Dr. Bill hidden multiple times in the graphic.”

“…This is classic Glenmorangie, filtered through a different lens to just the right degree to create something that is both familiar and also new and exciting. The nose sets up the “tale” pretty cleanly: brightly sweet with vanilla and caramel dominant, but soon revealing layers of orange peel, tea leaf, some white pepper, and an umami richness that evokes soy-sauced mushrooms. Excellent balance, with a jasmine note coming forward after some time in glass.”

“Chewy and fruity on the palate, here a mix of sweet clementines and almond nougat spar playfully on what quickly emerges as a light and lively experience. While the attack is gentle and accommodating, the whisky soon reveals more depth, bubbling up some flavors that are a little hard to pin down. Oaky, nutty, and increasingly savory, the whisky builds to a finish that offers notes of polished wood and more pepper, though the dessert-like sweetness is never far away.”

 

[The Shoe]

@The Shoe

You might be able to buy this in your market worth the while. I’m considering an early holiday gift to myself but would like to buy a dram before buying a bottle.

Glenmorangie, A Tale of Tokyo


View attachment 651762

“For this expression, Dr. Bill Lumsden experiments with mizunara casks for the first time, using a trio of bourbon, sherry, and mizunara oak casks in some unspecified combination…”

“Don’t miss the box and label, by the way, designed by Japanese artist Yamaguchi Akira, “known for his maximalist bird’s-eye view designs,” here creating a boozy version of Where’s Waldo?, with Dr. Bill hidden multiple times in the graphic.”

“…This is classic Glenmorangie, filtered through a different lens to just the right degree to create something that is both familiar and also new and exciting. The nose sets up the “tale” pretty cleanly: brightly sweet with vanilla and caramel dominant, but soon revealing layers of orange peel, tea leaf, some white pepper, and an umami richness that evokes soy-sauced mushrooms. Excellent balance, with a jasmine note coming forward after some time in glass.”

“Chewy and fruity on the palate, here a mix of sweet clementines and almond nougat spar playfully on what quickly emerges as a light and lively experience. While the attack is gentle and accommodating, the whisky soon reveals more depth, bubbling up some flavors that are a little hard to pin down. Oaky, nutty, and increasingly savory, the whisky builds to a finish that offers notes of polished wood and more pepper, though the dessert-like sweetness is never far away.”

I just put it in my Amazon cart, but again, it goes for a lot more than some great Islays. Significantly more than my favourite Lag 16. And I wonder if I’m going to splash out, if I would be better spending a little less for this.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

And I wonder if I’m going to splash out, if I would be better spending a little less for this.

My thoughts exactly too since I like the 18 so much. In looking around the cheapest I can find the Tokyo for in $104.99. The 18 is $129.99 @ full price but goes on sale a couple times per yr for $99.99.

 

[The Shoe]

My thoughts exactly too since I like the 18 so much. In looking around the cheapest I can find the Tokyo for in $104.99. The 18 is $129.99 @ full price but goes on sale a couple times per yr for $99.99.

The 18 is going for ¥14,450. That’s $95. The Tokyo is 16,400 ($107).

 

[The Shoe]

My thoughts exactly too since I like the 18 so much. In looking around the cheapest I can find the Tokyo for in $104.99. The 18 is $129.99 @ full price but goes on sale a couple times per yr for $99.99.

Or do you think I should fork out ¥31,420 for 50ml of this?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Or do you think I should fork out ¥31,420 for 50ml of this?
View attachment 651800

50ml is not much more than a shot. Never seen this one.

 

[RickP]

And now for something totally different!

Interesting day here in soggy east Texas... Our 75 yr old sewage system decided that a day with thunderstorms and heavy rain was a good day to back up. Managed to keep the house dry but I got dosed with some pretty serious sewer gas in the house. After the city got things cleared and draining again, I turned the ac on, ran fans and burned some incense... House smelled like a hippie smoke shop

Finally out of desperation I broke a long standing policy of not smoking the pipes inside. Made a 16 oz Manhattan, walked through the house, and sat in the dining room with a few different aromatics for a couple hours. Not sure if it actually smells that much better, or if its just the bourbon lol. One way or the other my world is way better and theres no risks of the hats smelling bad !

My whole house smells like walking into a good tobacco shop... If Im careful what blends I light up, I may do this again... way better than spraying air freshener!

FYI 4th Generation 1897 (Virginias, Burles and black cavindish with, vanilla and honey), Cult Blood Red Moon Cherry, and MacBaren Vanilla Creme make for really decent air fresheners!

Pipe smokers unite!!!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Big footed snifter because I was going to fix myself a margarita but my lime was bad. So I’ll enjoy a couple drams of Cazcanes #10 Still Strength Blanco @ 108 proof.

Spent the day under my Knox American Royal.

 

[RickP]

Finally got a tiny bit of sunshine here with a comfortable breeze . Sitting out on the patio in an old Towncraft, with a Celis Belgan White Wheatbeer (with a splash of Mango Nectar) . Topped off with a pipeful of Suttlf Vanilla Custard tobacco... Nice afternoon

 

[RickP]

Well its noon.... so its Blue Moon and orange juicetime! Giving a Stetson 3x Beaver a bit of time along with a new tobbacco to taste test

 

[RickP]

Celebrating a sunny afternoon under a slimmed down Stetson Gus ( 2-1/2" brim) with a Bourbon Mango sour ( Bourbon, Mango Nectar, Orange Bitters and a few cherries for good measure)

I have a couple of these cowboy conversions that have reasonable tall crowns and modest brims... Im kinda fond of the look. Knock a couple inches off the brims and reshape the crown to a teardrop and Voila!