Cigar Weekly

SmoKerch · 12-22-2006, 05:27 AM

I am looking for a recommendation for an after-Christmas dinner scotch to share with family.

What is the consensus as to the best, or best balanced, port-aged or finished scotch?

Balvenie Doublewood?

TIA

BigO · 12-22-2006, 06:10 AM

Lagavulin Distiller's Edition, but good luck finding it in the States.

parshooter · 12-22-2006, 06:16 AM

A 1961 Macallan, but good luck affording it

SmoKerch · 12-22-2006, 10:22 AM

Well, budgetary constraints do exist.

How about something in the $60/bottle range?

samiam2 · 12-22-2006, 10:31 AM

I think Glenmorangie has a port finished scotch in there collection. Around your price range and very good sipping.

jazznut · 12-22-2006, 12:01 PM

As far as I am aware, Kevin, no exclusively Port-cask-aged malt exists out there. All of the available examples I've seen spend most of their years slumbering in more mundane varieties of wood, and are only transfered to Port casks for the final period of their maturation.

Balvenie Double Wood, Lagavulin Distillers Edition and The Macallan (that cited) all utilize Sherry casks, with the first two being finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénex wood respectively and the last-named spending all its years in 1st and 2nd-fill Sherry casks.

Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish is likely the most popular of its ilk currently available in the marketplace, and for good reason. The combination of that Glenmorangie northern coastal spiciness and the added roundness contributed by the Port wood works, and the price is quite reasonable to boot.

Balvenie Port Wood is a truly classy pour, as smooth as silk, but the heftier price tag is a limiting factor.

By the way... Have you perchance tried the 16 year old Bushmill's single malt? This one has a proportion of its make aged for a time in Port casks (the remainder in more standard ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry wood), and is a pure delight! I do believe it might even fit in with your budgetary constraints.

SmoKerch · 12-22-2006, 08:22 PM

After a short search (2 stores with decent selection), I opted for the Glenmorangie 12 YO Port Wood Finish.

Both stores carried several versions of the Balvenie, except for the port finished.

That Bushmill's sounds great. May be my next purchase.

Thanks, chaps.

SmoKerch · 12-23-2006, 07:15 PM

Now I have an etiquette question.

Considering that I bought this scotch to share with family after Christmas dinner, should I open it there and then, or should I open and sample it now to make sure it hasn't spoiled or something?

DAFU · 12-23-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmoKerch

Now I have an etiquette question.

Considering that I bought this scotch to share with family after Christmas dinner, should I open it there and then, or should I open and sample it now to make sure it hasn't spoiled or something?

Or open now and drink it all.......................

jazznut · 12-24-2006, 05:51 AM

I don't think you have to worry about spoilage.
But the very first pour from a just-opened bottle of Scotch can, at times, exhibit a minimally unbalanced and slightly closed nature. These characteristics normally resolve quickly through limited aeration.

How about a compromise?

Open the bottle just before dinner and pour a small dram for Robbie.

12-22-2006, 05:27 AM	#1
SmoKerch Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 23,607	Port aged or port finished scotch... I am looking for a recommendation for an after-Christmas dinner scotch to share with family. What is the consensus as to the best, or best balanced, port-aged or finished scotch? Balvenie Doublewood? TIA __________________ Kercheval Bros. LLP Professional Procrastination Consultants 1 - (900) - GO# - SAND The Great State of Confusion Just because I may be paranoid, it doesn't mean there aren't people out there trying to get me. Visit us on The Facebook: Kercheval Bros. Procrastination Consultants ! Galatians 5:24 - NLT

12-22-2006, 06:10 AM	#2
BigO Publisher/Owner El Chefé BBQ Guru Herf God Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Atlanta. Posts: 55,765	Lagavulin Distiller's Edition, but good luck finding it in the States. __________________ Every time you think you've become too cynical, the world finds a way to teach you that the real problem is that you haven't become cynical enough Free speech is free speech is free speech. There is no qualifier. If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention. Never attribute malice to that what can be explained as stupidity. Unborn lives matter too.

12-22-2006, 06:16 AM	#3
parshooter Herf God Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: St Somewhere Posts: 14,444	A 1961 Macallan, but good luck affording it __________________ "I'm not drunk, I've just been drinking." Pat Daley #69 of the JLOH

12-22-2006, 10:22 AM	#4
SmoKerch Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 23,607	Well, budgetary constraints do exist. How about something in the $60/bottle range? __________________ Kercheval Bros. LLP Professional Procrastination Consultants 1 - (900) - GO# - SAND The Great State of Confusion Just because I may be paranoid, it doesn't mean there aren't people out there trying to get me. Visit us on The Facebook: Kercheval Bros. Procrastination Consultants ! Galatians 5:24 - NLT

12-22-2006, 10:31 AM	#5
samiam2 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 3,799	I think Glenmorangie has a port finished scotch in there collection. Around your price range and very good sipping. __________________ "I believe that forgiving them is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." General Norman Schwartzkopf

12-22-2006, 12:01 PM	#6
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	As far as I am aware, Kevin, no exclusively Port-cask-aged malt exists out there. All of the available examples I've seen spend most of their years slumbering in more mundane varieties of wood, and are only transfered to Port casks for the final period of their maturation. Balvenie Double Wood, Lagavulin Distillers Edition and The Macallan (that cited) all utilize Sherry casks, with the first two being finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénex wood respectively and the last-named spending all its years in 1st and 2nd-fill Sherry casks. Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish is likely the most popular of its ilk currently available in the marketplace, and for good reason. The combination of that Glenmorangie northern coastal spiciness and the added roundness contributed by the Port wood works, and the price is quite reasonable to boot. Balvenie Port Wood is a truly classy pour, as smooth as silk, but the heftier price tag is a limiting factor. By the way... Have you perchance tried the 16 year old Bushmill's single malt? This one has a proportion of its make aged for a time in Port casks (the remainder in more standard ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry wood), and is a pure delight! I do believe it might even fit in with your budgetary constraints. __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!

12-22-2006, 08:22 PM	#7
SmoKerch Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 23,607	After a short search (2 stores with decent selection), I opted for the Glenmorangie 12 YO Port Wood Finish. Both stores carried several versions of the Balvenie, except for the port finished. That Bushmill's sounds great. May be my next purchase. Thanks, chaps. __________________ Kercheval Bros. LLP Professional Procrastination Consultants 1 - (900) - GO# - SAND The Great State of Confusion Just because I may be paranoid, it doesn't mean there aren't people out there trying to get me. Visit us on The Facebook: Kercheval Bros. Procrastination Consultants ! Galatians 5:24 - NLT

12-23-2006, 07:15 PM	#8
SmoKerch Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 23,607	Now I have an etiquette question. Considering that I bought this scotch to share with family after Christmas dinner, should I open it there and then, or should I open and sample it now to make sure it hasn't spoiled or something? __________________ Kercheval Bros. LLP Professional Procrastination Consultants 1 - (900) - GO# - SAND The Great State of Confusion Just because I may be paranoid, it doesn't mean there aren't people out there trying to get me. Visit us on The Facebook: Kercheval Bros. Procrastination Consultants ! Galatians 5:24 - NLT

12-24-2006, 05:51 AM	#10
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	I don't think you have to worry about spoilage. But the very first pour from a just-opened bottle of Scotch can, at times, exhibit a minimally unbalanced and slightly closed nature. These characteristics normally resolve quickly through limited aeration. How about a compromise? Open the bottle just before dinner and pour a small dram for Robbie. __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!