Black Bottle

Oct 23, 2006 21 Replies

Just got back from Scotland. Great trip to Islay and Skye. Don't bother with duty free/tax free shops at the airport. The savings aren't that good. Go for what you want.



Which brings me to Black Bottle. I picked up a bottle for 10 GBP and saw it for (gasp) as much as 13. I know there's a 10 YO version for somewhat more. It's an incredible value. A fine blend of Islays. What's the best place to get it in the States? I know the 10YO is available, is the non-age statement available as well?



Speaking of blends (OK, so flame me), Te Bheag is still amazing. I bought two bottles back as well. Plus the vatted Famous Grouse Pure Malt 1992 - a vatting of Highland Park and The Macallan.



I didn't spend much but came back with some modest favorites. By the way, 5 bottles. 3.5 liters. If you declare and be honest they just let you through. Don't worry about the liter/person limit if you don't push it too far.



Peter


Skye is a great place. Did you do any hillwalking?

Uzytkownik "Marvin" napisal:

Skye is great alright, but Black Bottle is chill-filtered and caramel-coloured. Plus at least some of it was matured in sherry casks. Totally undrinkable ;-)

Cheers, Rajmund

I dont remember critisising chill filtering.

Marvin wrote: > I dont remember critisising chill filtering.

Must be old age. Take some geritol and lay off the weed.

If you're gonna shoot down anything, chill filtering iz it!

nick

After reading about Black Bottle in magazines for years, I recently found the 10 YO version at Martignetti's in Boston and bought a bottle. About $28.00 if I remember correctly. It is unlike any blend or single malt I have previously tasted, very distinct. What single malts would you recommend that I try that are along the same general taste?

By the way, based on some web-searching, I don't believe the non-age version is available in the US.

R

Seconded. That was introduced purely for cosmetic effect and should be stopped (IMHO).

Actually, what I'd like to see is someone releasing the same whisky in chill filtered and non-chill filtered expressions. Might be interesting to see if the differences are subtle or not.

Jim

There's that word "expressions" again...

Yes. I'd get used to it if I were you, because it's here to stay.

Jim McEwan has a problem with the word 'finish' but only because it gives the (wrong) impression that other non-finished whiskies are somehow incomplete.

Jim

That's a shame because it's pretentious as hell.

Might I suggest filtering out good ol' marv??

Yah. People who arrive in this group often already know what they're talking about, or else they try to learn from those already here.

Not that many combine ignorance with arrogance, and they generally don't last long.

He'll leave in a huff some time soon.

bill

It's an industry-standard term for a particular bottling, and it makes sense linguistically as well, as an expression of either the distillery's or the whisky-maker's design.

And you've long overstayed your welcome, not-even-marginal Marvin. Buh-bye. {plonk}

-- Larry

If he tries having a reasonable discussion then I'll play. If all he's interested in is an argument then I'll sit it out.

Jim

No it's just a different distillate or blend, or one that's matured in a different way.

Uzytkownik "Marvin" napisal:

If you're here to really learn something (which I have begun to doubt, but what the hell), Marvin, let me enlighten you that each and every single cask of whisky matures in a different way. No two casks are the same. That is why the word "expression" is the most appropriate one. Sounds accurate even to foreign with a fair knowledge of English, and _some_ knowledge of whisky. I have had single cask whiskies from the same distillery, from the same distillation batch, the same type of wood, but from two different casks, and their nose and taste was miles away from one another. Even though the cask numbers were only two numbers apart. They _were_ different expressions of the same style of whisky. Not to mention the ones I have tasted straight from the cask, at the distillery warehouse, which were maturing one next to the other. They _were_ different. Like it or not, this is the way it works.

Cheers, Rajmund

Sound pretentious to someone who's first language is english.

Lots of things do until you understand them.

Jim

U¿ytkownik "Jim" napisa³:

And that sounds patronising. But maybe it does not sound pretentious to someon whose first language is English rather than english, my dear...

Irrespective od what your first language is, don't they?

Cheers, Rajmund

Oh, absolutely. Language is designed to transmit meaning, but you have to supply understanding yourself.

Jim

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required