Watchlords

Oh no, not again! The George Dickel Distillery of Tullahoma Tennessee (Cascade Hollow) has just lost another master distiller to the Popcorn Sutton (late of moonshine fame) outfit. Her exit follows the defection of Dickel's previous master distiller to Sutton's eponymous distillery in East Tennessee.

http://www.knoxnews.com/business/popcor ... 30091.html

I'm a particular fan of Dickel's whiskeys, especially the Barrel-Select (only 10 barrels used per batch - aged 10 to 12 yrs. old) available only at the distillery - and a bargain at about $50. The very apotheosis of Tennessee whiskey, the Barrel Select is pure nectar at the end of the day with a good cigar in front of the fire. Bought a case last time I visited - very different vibe from the crowded Jack Daniels circus down the way - quiet and laid back with the Cascade Springs branch running out front. By the by, nothing wrong with Dickel's No. 12 either. Hope Dickel is able to bring some talent of the same caliber down to the "holler".

I'll have to give George Dickel BS a try sometime, if available in my area...last couple of years, my go to has been Knob Creek Small Batch...the Single barrel is better, but the Small Batch is better bang for the buck(around $32 for a .750ml offering)...if you've ever had Jim Beam white label, you'd have difficulty believing both efforts left the same distillery...while a little on the sweet side from the 9 years in the charred oak barrels, the tongue is treated to a medley of flavors...hell, I'm guessing I might need to leave work a little early today after all!!

While I certainly wish Dickel well I find my palate doesn't operate at that level.

I found Jack Daniels Sinatra to be a disappointment.

I found both Glenfiddich and Glenlivet 18 year old to be worthy of the tariff yet the 21 year old not to be worth the jump (at the risk of resurrecting the old "diminishing returns" thread).

Oddly enough I have found myself pleased with the Suntory whiskeys produced by the group that bought Jim Beam. In fact the vendor in charge of damaging my liver saved some Suntory blended and single for me in the last month and I find myself oddly pleased.

Then again I was not totally appalled by "Strawberry Fields" back in the day.

Much like watches it's a journey of discovery some portions of which are best not undertaken too early in one's development. There was a time in the not too distant past where the difference between a Grand Seiko and a Seiko might not have been obvious though now it is so obvious as to be brutal. Perhaps one day with whiskey but not yet.

I don't drink, but reading these posts suddenly seems to have my mouth watering...

Hawk wrote:While I certainly wish Dickel well I find my palate doesn't operate at that level.

I found Jack Daniels Sinatra to be a disappointment.

I found both Glenfiddich and Glenlivet 18 year old to be worthy of the tariff yet the 21 year old not to be worth the jump (at the risk of resurrecting the old "diminishing returns" thread).

Oddly enough I have found myself pleased with the Suntory whiskeys produced by the group that bought Jim Beam. In fact the vendor in charge of damaging my liver saved some Suntory blended and single for me in the last month and I find myself oddly pleased.

Then again I was not totally appalled by "Strawberry Fields" back in the day.

Much like watches it's a journey of discovery some portions of which are best not undertaken too early in one's development. There was a time in the not too distant past where the difference between a Grand Seiko and a Seiko might not have been obvious though now it is so obvious as to be brutal. Perhaps one day with whiskey but not yet.

Scotch worth it? Get yourself a bottle of Scapa 16yr. (from the Orkneys) and settle in for the night - whether in Phuket Thailand or Fayette Georgia. Those far north singles are really something special. Suntory? Their Yamazaki single is the tits! The heathen Japanee are clearly brothers to the Gaels - whoda thunk it?

Falstaff wrote:Scotch worth it? Get yourself a bottle of Scapa 16yr. (from the Orkneys) and settle in for the night - whether in Phuket Thailand or Fayette Georgia. Those far north singles are really something special. Suntory? Their Yamazaki single is the tits! The heathen Japanee are clearly brothers to the Gaels - whoda thunk it?

I approached the Yamazaki with some trepidation as I was a bit concerned it would remind me of your appraisal of Chinese wine - one simply doesn't know what to expect from those Asians.

Very pleasant surprise. They take on the Swiss with good results in watches, the Germans in optics and now they've acquitted themselves well against the Scots in, of all things, Scotch.

It almost makes up for my failure to have acquired a much sought after case of Purple Death from those crazy Kiwis.

Hawk wrote:

Falstaff wrote:Scotch worth it? Get yourself a bottle of Scapa 16yr. (from the Orkneys) and settle in for the night - whether in Phuket Thailand or Fayette Georgia. Those far north singles are really something special. Suntory? Their Yamazaki single is the tits! The heathen Japanee are clearly brothers to the Gaels - whoda thunk it?

I approached the Yamazaki with some trepidation as I was a bit concerned it would remind me of your appraisal of Chinese wine - one simply doesn't know what to expect from those Asians.

Very pleasant surprise. They take on the Swiss with good results in watches, the Germans in optics and now they've acquitted themselves well against the Scots in, of all things, Scotch.

It almost makes up for my failure to have acquired a much sought after case of Purple Death from those crazy Kiwis.

WOW...that's even scarier than sip'n own mah sizyrp and slurpin' down mah PURPLE drank...

They had me hooked at the "Marketed under the Saviour Brand..."

If you're ever in middle Tennessee, I'd highly recommend the Jack Daniels Distillery tour... it's a hoot, and it's free. While in Lynchburg, make reservations for lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's.