ralfy review 1028 Extras - Micro-Blending malts (Tutorial)

[@88johnbarnes]

Hi Ralfy, you mentioned quantity of whisky you should drink and I think that's so important. Very wise words and well done for bringing it up. My old man was very much famous grouse every night and lots of it. Not good times I'm afraid so everyone please be careful how you drink. God bless. X

[@christinecamley]

Superb messages and info Ralfy. Mentioning the seriousness of alcoholism is so important! I work in the field. Cheers!

[@JC-77]

Sitting here tonight sipping on anCnoc 12 finishing up your 1028 video and my eyes lit up when you pulled out a bottle of the Port Charlotte. I should have seen it coming after watching 1028. Anyway 5 drops into an ounce, give or take, and wow what an interesting change. I am not sure it is going to last until tomorrow for me to try again as it ages but you just opened up a whole new world that for some reason I never though of. It's funny because I like mixing up penecillins with Glenmorangie X and a Laphroaig 10 float but it never occured to me to start experimenting with just the Scotch alone. Sometimes it takes a hammer hit to the head to realize the obvious. Thanks hammer!

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Thank you for this guide. It explains why my blends have gone wrong. I’ve either not given it enough time or I started off with the wrong spirit. One thing I found is, if you have a substandard spirit that doesn’t taste your liking no amount of blending will fix it.

[@davet7185]

A magnificent masterclass of micro-mixology to enhance any malt enthusiast's whisky wonderment Ralfy. And that's a mouthful in anyone's book! 😉 Well done and thank you my friend for providing these essential extras; it makes the whisky world a better place. Slàinte Mhath! 😺

[@fiadman]

Superb content as usual. There's another take to it that you blend to "fix" a Whisky you didn't like as much.

[@TomaszSzymanski-co7qe]

Super idea. Very interesting. I have to try.

[@vinole6532]

I have not tried microblending as you demonstrated, but will certainly try it. For scotch, most of my blends have been of 46% 12Y with Cask Strength from the same distillery, ranging from 50/50 to 67/33, with abv ending up in the low 50's. I have done this with Glenallachie, Glengoyne, Craigellachie (with a Berry Rudd 14Y CS), and Highland Park. I consider all of the final blends better than their components alone, and at an abv more to my liking (as I am also a bourbon drinker used to higher proof). I also blend 2-5 different bourbons with most being 3-4, again hitting that low - mid 50's abv sweet spot. Most of my rye blends are 2-3 different ones. If the blend is not better than all of the components individually, then I have wasted my time. I use my wife's measuring spoons to test them out before blending in any quantity, and let them mingle in a 187ml bottle for a couple of weeks before committing to a larger size. Thanks for the tips on microblending, as I had not thought of that!

[@richardjarratt4921]

I've got a glencadam port finish that's a bit sweet which I add to peated whisky.

[@johng.7560]

Be careful if you use Ardbeg 10, it does not take much to completely overpower a non peated malt. On the other hand, it can turn a bad bottle of unpeated malt into something drinkable. Had a bottle of Teeling Small Batch (completely undrinkable), A little Ardbeg kept me from pouring it down the drain. Another way to use 2 whiskeys is to sequence them, start with an unpeated then transition to a peated or vice versa. I think a lightly peated one works best. Thanks Ralfy!

[@umami0247]

I’ve been blending bourbon and rye’s for awhile now and am quite pleased with the results. I just added some cognac to a rye whiskey and am looking forward to try it in a couple months or so. I usually let them sit at least 4 months. Even my infinity bottles are pretty good. You just have to be patient. Great video sir.. enjoy!!

[@steveno7058]

Rye whisky blends very well with other spirits

[@Brad-ic4bp]

Just watched the Scotch documentary, "Water of Life" and was pleasantly surprised to see you pop up in there! Great film - Gave me an even greater appreciation of Bruichladdich than I already had (which was already high).

[@dantasker9310]

I've enjoyed my blending attempt with Macleans Nose and Ardnamurchan Cask Strength, adds a noticeable improvement to the cheaper blend (which admittedly is already very palatable). I also have a "Sherry Bomb" infinity bottle that I add all the dregs of my sherry matured whisky to, it waxes and wanes a bit, but an interesting exercise nonetheless (completely imprecise I know!).

[@Doddo13]

Kilkerran heavily peated in Thompson Bros 6y 1:10 is very good as well.

[@SimonneNZ]

I've done a bit of experimenting with blends, just in the glass though. I will have to look at getting some miniature bottles though so I can experiment more with my whiskies. Cheers!

[@AV-qj8dz]

Thanks Ralfy. I’ve tried this out on the basis of your previous blending advice. Works wonders 🥃

[@rubenheijstek5070]

i love it!! thank you so much. Love your Comments and love your channel!!!

[@andynicol9831]

I was nurturing the last of my Balvenie 14 (price has risen considerably since I got my last bottle) but started adding a couple of drops to the Balvenie 12, ok I'm using more of the 12 but its making the 14 last forever, same with a Glenmorangie 10 and Lassanta or Quinta Ruban, would never had tried this without watching Ralfy

[@VladMatejka]

My introduction to what blending can do came through the form of a cocktail called the Statesman. Laphroaig, Canadian Club Rye, maple syrup, cedar smoke, lemon juice. I'm not sure if anyone knows the actual proportions from the creator, but I got my own rendition using Laph 10, CC 12 year, lemon zest, and cedar smoke, with a hint of simple syrup. Now we are talking not just mixing scotches 😁. My first real blend was an accident...I was gifted a flask and it had some Laphroaig in it. I forgot and dumped in Aberlour 16. Filled it right up. The result was quite good and is now on my list for a good scientific test as you recommend with the mini bottles. My mix was probably 40% Laph to 60% Aberlour though! It also showed me I would enjoy a sherried Islay.

[@Ne420]

Tried this with Bushmills 10yo and some drops of Ardbeg Uigedail... and I'm impressed what a lovely dram it created.

[@TheIPA35]

Added a few drops of Ardbeg 10 to Arran 10. Needs a lot of water, but very interesting.

[@johnmcmunn3827]

Ralfy, as an alternative to "Green Tea" .. Try a "Ripe Pu-Erh" Tea .. a Shu-Pu-Erh ... FYI there are basically Two types of Pu-Erh, Raw & Ripe.. Raw is close to Green/Oolong tea .. Ripe is simply Magic ..

[@AdlerDanEgoe]

shhh, I don't want all the malt heads hiking up the prices of puerh, or god forbid liu bao ;)

[@yusufsayed1583]

Good Afternoon 😊 Nice Review and the Awareness of Alcoholism 👏🏼👏🏼 Have a good day and Greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@darylshand7595]

I've found Talisker 10 is a great peated whisky to blend with a complex speyside - even with the 8yr old Aldi blend transforms it to a whisky worth double its buy price.

[@kevinnordby4808]

Another great extras Ralfy! I’ve been doing this for quite awhile but only within a brand…..like adding a touch of Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength to normal Laphroaig 10. I’ll have to expand my experimenting!

[@jaylat4578]

I have a bottle of Cardhu Game of Thrones that I got as a gift. Was thinking of adding some Abunadh or GF 105. But it's gona take more than a few drops to fix that swill.

[@rivenbeef]

Hey Ralfy you’ve got the Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014 seven-year-old there not the Port Charlotte 10. Figured you were on auto pilot referencing the 10 so I thought you might want to know.

[@AlinJapan]

That may work even better -- I've used it in a couple of blended -- distinctly spicy and briny -- great whisky!

[@clarke4071]

A little different but I took 1/3 of McLeans nose and mixed in a half bottle of speyburn 10. Taste wise the barley sugar eases up a little but it quite enjoyable

[@Mike-vw7ct]

Great message! I’ll try a few drops of Port Charolette in my Arran 1/4 cask. Since I never drink during the week it will wait till Saturday evening. Thank you Ralfy!

[@rezdm]

On idea of combining with green tea. I experienced nice combination of adding apple juice into Laphroaig 10.

[@WhiskeyKnows]

Ralfy I did the same w Talisker 10 with a drop of Port Charlotte 18!! Wonderful

[@mucky1957.]

the look on your face at 11.37...priceless. I shall try this but I have no idea which whiskies to add to each other. I don't actually have any peaty whiskies.

[@AdlerDanEgoe]

I don't know where to share it, I'm not on discords, patreons or clubs, so I'll do it here. Saltiest single malt whisky (patent pending): Benromach 10 yo, standard 43% bottling - more; Benromach contrasts Triple Distilled - less; Water - very little. Don't ask why. Try it for yourself. I was licking my lips and the salty sensations were sending me into the tailspin. Ardnamurchan times two. Just so you know. Peace.

[@scrimmy45]

Around 30 bottles open at any given time from a collection of around 180 -200. Some opened bottles will not be finished for years. Variety and quality is everything.

[@steveno7058]

Alberta premium cask strength rye with just a bit of Ruby Port is fantastic

[@Nob667]

Hi Ralfy do you think that this micro-blending is possible with Rums ?

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Many thanks dear Ralfy 😊I love that you share the blending knowledge. Much appreciated and kindest regards, Sandro 🥃

[@andyarmstrong1175]

Blimey Ralfy £45.00 a bottle! Its £27.00 across at the moment! 👍🇬🇧

[@Robertcollopy]

The Last Drop Blended Whiskys from the The Last Drop Distillers are very very expensive🌶🥥🍎🍇

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . and you can do it a lot cheaper, and better !

[@bluesmanen1]

This sounds very interesting. I've done it a few times, the 1/3+2/3 version, and that's quite fun. But now I will try this version instead, and see where it gets me. And listen to you here, I think I have to buy me a bottle of anCnoc 12yo, it's atleast 15 years since I've had it, so it would be great just for that reason. The price here in Sweden is 399skr (£28) in today's currency, so it's not an expensive one. Cheers

[@peatbull3426]

Islay Barley 🫢🥂🥂🥂🙋‍♂️

[@bradl2636]

Ancnoc are missing out sales with the 12 non-integrity bottled. Is it really so difficult..?

[@miserablerhurensohn]

I used to buy the 12 and then we got some of the 16 here. I think the 16 spoiled me because the next 12 I bought didn't seem to live up to what I remembered of the previous 12 that I had. I did believe it was a lesser quality batch but if you say it has been consistent over a long time then I guess it was just me.

[@jimster24]

£45 Ralfy? It’s currently £32 on the JPHA website, incl p&p. Total bargain…

[@garynapolitano1270]

Unusual to hear your praise a bottle delivered at .40% (AnCnoc 12)

[@robfut9954]

I can’t hate on anyone blending a blend with any mixer. Their money and they whisky isn’t exactly a masterpiece. And not everyone is looking for a gourmet experience and that’s fine.

[@robfut9954]

Ancnoc 12 is probably the best low ABV, chill filtered younger malt on the market. Imagine if they didn’t chill filter and bottled at 46%…!

[@reigningwhiskey]

Ancnoc Rascan for 29.99 USD a buy or pass?

[@peatbull3426]

At this price definitelly go for it, even more than 1 bottle. Fruity floral lighty peaty 46% young but pleasant whisky 👍😁🥂🙋‍♂️

[@michaelm.9680]

Totally agree. Stash up.

[@bradl2636]

Run, don’t walk, to that deal.

[@robfut9954]

Quite an obvious deal, but 6 and gift them if you hate it.

[@gishg3833]

" Dear Laphroaig, why do you bottle your 10 Yr at 40 % in the UK as apposed to 43% for the US market?"........ cheap skates maybe.?

[@ibelle42]

Better question: why don't you bottle at 46%, non-chill-filtered?

[@robfut9954]

Americans are alcoholics, we tend to demand the hardest of hard stuff. Sad, but it gets us good whisky

[@chrisgwhisky]

And the options are limitless…

[@pi17835]

Hi Ralfy You paid 45 GBP? Wow, I know it’s expensive over there, but my trusted online seller has the 12y for 28 GBP on its shelves. And the 24y you mentioned in the review for only 143 GBP. Are these the bargains I think they are (considering what you said)? How money should I get at that price (especially thinking about the 24y old 😅)? Greetings from Germany 👋🏻

[@WhiskeyKnows]

Malt Mention: Malty Meaty Meeting Magnifies!

[@DominikK45]

You pulled out the wrong PC😂

[@neilmattos2756]

😁🙌🏻🥃

[@Doddo13]

Loads of LIKES

[@777anarchist]

Please don't put the excess stuff back into the vessel it came from.🤯

[@RichardHowells1234]

Wants for bothy ralfy. Just letting you know.😉😄😘

[@lindenblock]

Plastic dropper? Glass dropper, please. Plastic will hold flavors. Plastic can have nasty chemical residues. I have recently discovered that there are plastic food containers (usually the cheaper ones but even some quality food storage ones) that make me extremely ill: swollen tongue, soaking sweats, and a complete purge of my digestive system. All those lovely symptoms hit me within an hour of consuming food that had contact with dodgy plastic. Plastic is a bitch to clean. Glass is a far better vehicle for foods and spirits.