ralfy review 859 Extras - Malternatives for 2021

[@weichen7261]

Ralfy, you are a true ideologist, stubborn and adorable, rare and precious.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . aw bless you, thanks.

[@matusknives]

Really appreciate these ‘non-review’ videos of yours. I got my first rum when trying to find a bottle as a present so I took time to do a little research and ended up with McCoy 12 limited madeira and bourbon casks, no extra sugar, no coloring - and it is fantastic.

[@bolancaster1379]

An American bourbon I recommend is called 1792. If you can find it, give it a shot.

[@BirdArvid]

1:16 Come on Ralfy; I'm usually on your side, but the fact that it's stated on the label should suffice, shouldn't it? It's not on the packaging where I know you don't like it; it's on the bottle-label. "That's the contract!" I'm pulling your leg because I love your channel so much!!!

[@CPW1991]

Even though I share your affection with smaller distilleries (love Balcones and Andalusia), especially in these times where we got to be more economically efficient of our purchases. I admire what Wild Turkey does. Their core line up with the 101 and the Rare Breed are arguably the most bang for your buck bourbons you can buy, they're full of flavour, bottled at a good strength and have decent age and it shows. PS: Keep doing what you do, really enjoy watching your videos!

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . I agree.

[@alexk3088]

I have to agree as well. Craft and smaller distilleries are to be encouraged, but practically speaking "SOME" of the best bourbons come from big distilleries and at better prices. For now. Hopefully we'll see more variety. I have a feeling that the "rare" bourbon craze will eventually fizzle out and all the extra stock will be more and more abundant. You can't pretend forever that there's not enough bourbon (while sitting on millions of barrels). And older isn't better, not a linear function, bourbon can get seriously over-oaked.

[@jeroenheun82]

I also agree. Recently bought the Rare Breed en was totally surprised by the amount of flavour. Paid 34 euro's. Worth every penny. In fact I think this is the best spirit you can get for the money.

[@calebsteingruber6906]

I absolutely agree about WT101 and Rarebreed, highly available, good aging, more interesting for a Scotch drinker (balance of sweet, spicy, savoury and herbal), family owned and non gmo corn (not a given in the states), and of course prices more than agreeable.

[@johnandrus3901]

I have the Rare Breed and 101. Always enjoyable. Some of the best out there for the price.

[@thespiritsafe]

I am Canadian and now swap out the occasional bottle of malt with a bottle of Lot 40 rye. Delicious stuff for $40

[@alexk3088]

Yes, Lot no. 40 is among the best ryes I've tried!

[@briannienhaus6109]

Ralfy, A few comments on your bourbon malternatives from someone based in the US who enjoys scotch as much as bourbon just to rescope for your other American viewers: 1. Eagle Rare 10 (45% ABV)- highly recommend, but for a good part of the country, it's very hard to find. Retail price is anywhere between $30-$45 if you can find it. 2. Four Roses Single Barrel (Varies) - there are two versions. The non-cask-strength version for around $40, and the cask strength for around $80 - $85. 3. Elijah Craig 12 Year / Barrel Proof (60%+ ABV) - it's only $60 here in the US. Compared to the others, it's the best value for the price. Higher age, higher proof, and remarkably consistent and delicious. I think this is the best bourbon for value (price vs. product) in the market today. 4. Balcone's (varies) is distilled in Texas as opposed to Kentucky and has a different smoky character. I'm glad you mentioned it as it's certainly in a class different than 1-3. Unfortunately, most of these are still big corporations though not as big as Jack Daniels. Cheers!

[@BDCF100]

Oh! Balconnes! Awesome stuff. Flavor. Wish it could reach you out on that rock between Ireland and heaven.

[@officereric36]

As a Texan I wholeheartedly recommend any Balcones.

[@NeonSonOfXenon]

My malternative is Armenian brandy. Last year I tried a cheap 5yo one (It was a Proshyan product rebranded for the US market) that was absolutely lovely. Lots of tea and chocolate notes. This year I bought a much nicer one (Noy 10yo) which was very complex yet approachable. Complex coffee, caramelized fruit, bit of wood. Simply divine. Outside of that, maybe rhum agricole/sugarcane spirits, but those are harder to find. Clément and Novo Fogo are nice though.

[@mattd2001]

I think it’s fun to explore the Norwegian Akevitt or Aquavit, it’s of course readily available in all shapes and forms up here (in Norway). Most hold high quality. Potato spirit infused with herbs and spices, often matured in oak. The great thing is that very little sugar is added. And you can in most cases really taste the spirit. Rum is great fun as well.

[@thespiritsafe]

My wife nearly bought, from a farmers market a spirit/liqueur they were calling "moonshine". It was flavoured, expensive, sold in a small bottle and at 35% ABV. I said that my dear is an insult to the noble trade of illegal distilling. it needs to be 35% methanol and come in an old paint can.

[@sunryse111]

Good, solid, sound advice, Ralfy. Thanks.

[@r.w.culbertson2030]

I found a cheap and cheerful malternative in Doorly's 12 year old Rum, just by going off my whisky intuition...then found out you reviewed it a while back and agreed! I was chuffed with myself, to be honest! Oh hell, and now you've just brought it up here! Haha

[@blindtomuk]

Certainly agree with your bourbon suggestions which are relatively easy to get hold of the UK. In the case of Eagle Rare it can often be easier to find in the UK than in some parts of the US. So far as Jim Beam goes it may be worth looking at their Bookers cask strength bottling they produce. Often around GBP70 in the UK. Wild Turkey Rare Breed is another to look at. When I lived in the US I certainly got into visiting and trying some of the smaller distilleries and there are so many to look for. Another I would suggest looking at is High West from Park City UT. Had the opportunity to visit them in better times last year. They produce some great core whiskies but also have an interesting finishing programme, which unfortunately is hardly seen outside of the UK. I was lucky enough to get one of their ryes that was finished in a barrel previously used to barrel finish Manhattan cocktail and has a really interesting a delicious flavour. When they started they were doing what you talk about in buying whiskey from the likes of MGP who mass produce, but they are largely using their own distillate now. This is not necessarily terrible. There have been some great bottlings of MGP from the likes of Smooth Ambler, but it is important to understand what it is and what it is not. Also yes love Foursquare.

[@chrisnil]

The way the bottle was turned at the start of the video I thought you had a pint of beer. Was going to switch over. Glad I stayed :-)

[@NZAnimeManga]

For me, been really getting into wine since ~November. A rarely talked about malternative imo. Speaking of locally made, English wine producers have been putting out cracking red, white and sparkling wines, under the radar. Would recommend taking a look if you live in the UK.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . been buying and enjoying English wine this year.

[@Gggrrrrrrrr23]

@@thewhiskybothy Hi Ralphy can you do a video on Aldis Glen Marnoch Islay please. It's now only £16.50 and it's really incredible for that price, there's a rumour that it's from Caol ila.

[@timford8315]

I tried rum in Barbados last year and I was just so happy I did. I got to go on the Mountgay tour which was excellent. Really like the XO

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . always tastes best where it was made !

[@kareliask]

I believe that Bladnoch's 10 did not mention natural colour on the bottle, and so the inclusion this time may have (at least in part) been a response to you pointing this out in the review of the 10. This is a welcome form of response and engagement by the distillery and I appreciate it. I hope to see the 11 at a sensible price once the new release purchases have all calmed down. It's almost 100% consistent whenever I see an American friend tell me about an interesting local whisky to me, and I search for it, naturally invariably it's not available in the UK. Even if they were once available here, they would sell out in no time at all. Dettling is the latest one, a good 3yo cask strength/single cask, the like of which will never be available here. It's a shame, but I agree, what can they do. A consistent supply is just not possible to provide. I do wish there was a speciality American whisky seller in Europe that import "when it's gone it's gone" small amounts of all of these hundreds of distilleries in the US. There is so much to choose from that it's hard to keep track, and it almost doesn't matter which you get, as regardless of the microdistillery that produces them, they will be ten times better than the commonly-available stuff. They could even do commonly available things there like Mellow Corn which tend to be very overpriced outside of the US.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . It's a business plan for someone !

[@ralphwatten2426]

Many fine American whiskeys are not available in America anymore. If you want a bottle you can order it at your store and when they get a few maybe, if you've gotten on the list early enough you might get one. I'm talking Blantons and EH Taylor and some others. I've heard of people going to Mexico to buy Blantons.

[@aljurje]

You are right about barrelled Italian grappas being underrated. They rock! As far as palinka is concerned, you are also right, local knowledge is key. Cheers!

[@lostcatatonic6185]

"Malternatives" I like it. We're ordering a bunch of bottles from Germany soon, I'll be getting the Eagle Rare 10, Port Askaig 8 and Oban 14 so I get lots of variety and new stuff.

[@garrettjanssen7683]

Hey Ralfy, I'm American and your comment about a lack of independent bourbon producers is still applicable here. Many, and I mean many, new bourbon brands if independent are sourcing their bourbons from the big boys. But even the lesser names have big corporate backers because frankly distilling is expensive. The true self-distilled, independent brand is uncommon. That being said, the "independents" are often lovely whiskies. And my favorite new producer, Westland, is owned by Remy Cointreau and they're better for it (for now).

[@alexk3088]

I agree. That's just reality. Spirits should be judged on flavor/aroma and integrity of presentation, and value.

[@steveno7058]

Lot of independent Bourbon producers. Just in Texas alone there is Balcones, Ironroot, Andelusia, and Ghost Hill.

[@alexk3088]

@@steveno7058 sure and being outside of Texas I've only heard of/seen one of them - Balcones. We're talking about global availability/accessibility.

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Cut Spike Nebraska single malt is very unique. They have a base 46% and a cask strength, both NCF NC. I preferred it to Balcones single malt. Cut Spike bought their stills from a company in Glenrothes Scotland so they are serious about being a malt Whisky distillery. It does have a pronounced wood character but no where near as intense as the Balcones. Also has a intresting orange creamsicle flavor. Cheers

[@HyppJ]

Good stuff Ralfy, stick to your principles, integrity is priceless.

[@BDCF100]

Enjoying the Bladnoch Samsara while I watch this extra. The B-10 shows up via FedEx in 2 days then I get to see what all the fuss is about. Cheer's Ralfy!

[@zhanborukhov7026]

Thank you Ralfy for the recommendations. What would you recommend as malternatives from the Cognac, Armagnac and Brandy world ?

[@johngo3715]

Darroze is a great Armagnac house to get into. They do blends and do single-estate bottlings. For Cognac, Hine or Dudognon are good brands to get into.

[@manuelchapa767]

I've been enjoying Chateau du Tariquet - got a 50% 8 year old Armagnac from them, natural colour and delicious

[@zhanborukhov7026]

@@johngo3715 Thank you. I heard about them but haven’t tried anything yet.

[@zhanborukhov7026]

@@manuelchapa767 Thank you. That sounds good.

[@johngo3715]

@@zhanborukhov7026 they're one of the most accessible Armagnac brands in the US. I'm not sure how easy they are to find in the EU though.

[@brianboru8858]

At first glance I thought the Bladnoch was a pint lol

[@jvaahtera]

True. I saw it as a pint, too... :-)

[@dougowen9873]

When I visited Bermuda years ago I enjoyed a dark rum called Gosling's Black Seal, but of course, it was not really a sipping rum but distinctive enough to set it apart from the herd.

[@johnandrus3901]

There are some real nice whiskey's here in the States. Some of the bigger names have some good stuff. Wild Turkey Rare Breed, 58.4% is quite enjoyable I have a bottle of Rowan's Creek, which is very nice. 50.05%, which is strange, but the taste is there. White Cap from Little Water Distillery in Atlantic City, NJ, is fine. Tom Foolery, Sycamore and others are good choices that I've had in my bar. MGP makes some good, quality whiskey which many smaller distilleries buy as a base and add some staves or other ingredients to it and age it in different barrels. It is a good way for newer manufacturers to get up and running a bit quicker. Don't count them out, as they have some surprisingly good whiskies. As far as rum goes, I'm not too familiar with the specialty, higher end brands. I'm going to try a few and see how that goes. As for Gin, I like Beefeater. Nice, solid juniper and botanical flavor. Most of the other brands are a bit too delicate for me. Some are good mixers for Gin cocktails, though, as they don't overpower the other flavors like Beefeater can.

[@dietbruboy]

Are you picking up any Armagnac these days?

[@ders5905]

Nice video..glad we have so much choice of independent bottlers in Germany bottling different spirits. A Gin with 10yr aging in an Ardbeg cask and a Worthy Park 12- 2 yrs Laphroaig finish waiting to be tasted in 21 ;)

[@johngo3715]

Ralfy, OB Angostura are sweetened. They don't admit to it but they are. English Harbour is from Antigua. They're column distilled and slightly sweetened but they make ok stuff. You missed out on mentioned El Dorado from Guyana. The core range may be sweetened but the heavier style of rum don't get drowned by the added sweeteners.

[@bryanyachts]

Hi Ralfy, I would love to hear your thoughts on Balcones Single Malt. It’s a completely different animal than scotch whisky given some of the extreme weather fluctuations here in Texas. As always, love the channel and integrity (and the book!).

[@ZacChastain]

Agreed! I think the single malt is the best thing Balcones makes, particularly the single barrel cask strength varieties. I’m in OK and enjoy having good access to their products. Ironroot Republic in TX makes a very good bourbon.

[@jameswright4236]

There are a few websites doing a variety of bourbons. I recently bought a bottle of Angel's Envy and also saw the likes of High West and Michter's available too. While I agree that it isn't as wide a selection as there is single malt or scotch in general, it's understandable seeing there is a lot of small scale American distilleries that have only began distribution outside of their respective states.

[@WatfordWobble]

Love the 2021 bunnet.

[@scottyblog]

I’ll give you bourbon mates a couple of very reasonable in price bourbons that are worthwhile. George Dickel BIB 11 year and Early Times bottled in bond. Both have a blue label. Both with older juice and under $50. Easily available in the states. Great value at 100 proof for under $35. There are so many others but these two are sure things in the budget range.

[@solrac4600]

I do enjoy Buffalo Trace, but in the UK where I live its 40% and 45% in the US. Whenever I drink it I always wonder how much of a bad deal we're getting in the UK.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . a very bad deal. I just don't buy it !

[@danadair1349]

A bourbon that checks all your boxes and that is quite tasty for hipster booze is Kings County peated bourbon. It's pot still and amazing. Even their other bourbons are quite good, but the peated one... It's just interesting AF

[@jeanventura1]

recently my mother located a bottle of J Dupeyron armagnac that my grandfather brought back home in 1978. Still unopened and cork in tact. My heavens above it is good. Hope to find more good spirits like this but is difficult here in South Africa to find stuff from smaller distilleries at a good price

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . Armagnac tends to be under-rated by many !

[@richard4ever256]

Dear Ralfy, never thought you're also into rum! Sugar cane spirits... Quite different from whisky, but delicious as well!

[@escofies]

Hello Ralfy. St.nicholas info. When the new owner, Larry Warren, first started the current rum production in 2006, it is worth noting that the 10-year-old St. Nicholas Abbey Rum at the time of writing (May 2014) is based on barrels from Foursquare Distillery.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . Interesting, I did not know that ! I think that St Nich' is expensive and under strength, but the quality of still signature is growing all the time !

[@escofies]

@@thewhiskybothy totally agree. have you tried Clement (distillery simon)? it's my favorite when it comes to Rum. it is really delicious rhum agricole. their single cask series in fantastic. I Been drinking rum for 4 years, but now im looking for whisky. I just starter drinking whisky last year, after i watch your videos about CDI guadeloupe rum review. Then i watch your whisky reviews. Thanks for The advice. I have now tasted springbank 10, Ardbeg 10, Glen scotia 15, bladnoch 10, Bunnahabhain 12, talisker 10, Arran 10. Lovely stuff. Love your videos Ralfy. But dont agree on The talisker 10 review. I love that whisky.

[@kostasmaziotis]

hello ralphy and malt mates! Ralphy i see that you are a rum drinker for many years now and you are talking often about rum . here where i live in greece, the most common 'premium' rums that are well known and famous are diplomatico, sailor jerry, plantation and matusalem. are you familiar with them and have you ever tried some of them? (p.s. i am still waiting and looking veryyy forward at the day when you will do a chartreuse review) Greetings mate and thank you for your company once again!

[@JPC326]

Thanks Ralfy !

[@brian6x]

Hi Ralfy, what about Canadian rums? How do they compare to Caribbean rums?

[@ipad141]

Thanks mate informative as usual, I have been trying a few runs lately really enjoying it also I’ve had some high-end tequila shock to my tastebuds but I loved it because it was just so different

[@grahamgreenwood4234]

Good morning, and thank you

[@claytonroberts1429]

I feel your pain and struggle. I'm a Scotch lover living in Kentucky. I've only ever seen 2 Octomore's , 1 Laphroaig Lore and one Laphroaig 15. Thanks to the law makers powers at be. I can order to the door.

[@ryanchernochan9366]

Question Ralfy: If you had $200 to spend, would you buy 2 - $100 bottles of a scotch you’ve already tried but know you absolutely love? Or would you buy 2 different $100 bottles of scotch you’ve never tried before but you may or may not like in the end?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . I would focus on what I know I will like ! Disappointing buys are demoralising. Only occasionally should you take risks. Good luck.

[@steveno7058]

Look out for Balcones Linage. Its a $30-$40 Texas Single Malt that is outstanding.

[@fleckengel]

PMG Liberation vintage rhum agricole from the small island Marie Galante near Guadeloupe is outstanding. Not sweet though.

[@pfalzgraf7527]

1st of all: I had to laugh at this malt mention! :D apart from this: triggered by a group of friends with whom I went several times sailing on a 100+ year old sailing vessel, my MALTERNATIVE is rum. Now, Rum is not quite but almost as varied and complicated and differenciated as Malt. And now my best friend is going to move to Ireland - so, Irish Whiskies will have an emotional meaning to me! Both of them I know already - - and I have a pretty strong emotional attachment to them. Within those two worlds, there are not quite as many options on price and quality as in malt - but since they are not Malt but Malternatives, this doesn’t bother me. Living in Germany, by the way.

[@marcwhiskey]

I love gin, a local distillery made the best stuff but they have closed a few years ago now. I still find it on shelves and discounted, I have a couple backup bottles I'll enjoy slowly while I used other gins

[@jeroenj7494]

Dry January :')

[@Watchman999]

Same here. Might make it a dry February too.

[@jeroenj7494]

@@Watchman999 haha same here. But I hear that alcohol free Whiskey is awfully. Maybe something that Ralphy can test :p

[@chefmarv6499]

Knob Creek is back with an age statement in their regular bottling, 9 yo. It's industrial, I know, but damn good if you ask me. They also will offer a 12 yo version soon. I think that's why they took the 9yo statement off for a couple of years, to stash up on older spirits and be ready for a 12yo bottling.

[@RichardHowells1234]

Booze is for joy in the heart....not investing.....got 2 pity and forgive those money lovers....Good information and entertaining Ralfy....as per usual😆👉

[@alexk3088]

Honestly, bourbon and rye, more than scotch, need at least 50% in my experience. They really shine at cask strength or near that. I can't even think of a bourbon or rye that are worth my time at 40% (even though I've tasted lots of them and they're mostly of good quality, unlike bottom shelf scottish and irish blends, which I've also tried). With Scotch there are certainly single malts that shine "even" at 40% (Cragganmore 12) but that's not to say that it's acceptable, all whisky should be at cask strength. With all the fake concern about environment why are we paying to truck around water, which we can add ourselves? I'm not suggesting any new laws but to be taken seriously a bourbon/rye should be 50% and malt whisky should be at least 46% in my view. Maybe rum and cognac/armagnac, tequila/mescal can catch up to these sentiments eventually. Thank you, Ralfy, clearly your rants over all these years have made a dent! ;)

[@MrJonno85]

One thing to consider is that Excise Duty for spirits has traditionally been based on alcoholic strength, and I assume still is.

[@alexk3088]

@@MrJonno85 I'm sure that's true. I'm not sure if there's also a tax on the price/value (i.e. locally we have a county with a "sin tax" on alcohol charged in addition to the sales tax or VAT). Because abv-based duty alone would be more negligible with higher priced spirits. But when the 2 are combined, the customers are paying for both. Our sales tax is charged on the sin tax portion of the sale price, too. It's a tax on a tax.

[@MrJonno85]

@@alexk3088 Yes in the UK our VAT is also based on all previous taxes incurred, added to basic cost and shipping - tax on tax. Who knows, if Scotland gets independence then Scotch whisky might even be subject to Customs Duty coming into England!

[@mark5ization]

Ralf, you did indeed change the camera angle for the new year - I thought it was just my phone ;-O

[@robmanzanares]

Hello my magnificent malt maestro! Greetings from the small suburb of Henderson, just adjacent to Las Vegas, Nevada U.S.A. My son and I have added whisky to our cosmic journey and look to you as our malty master. After our "recalibration" efforts we have made an intention. We would like to build from scratch a modest bar in our home and would like your insight to the "essential elements" of a classic Scottish bar. Would you please consider making a video covering said topic? Cherry smiles Maestro Mitchell! Rob Manzanares

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . I will !

[@MikeC.11]

Now you understand how I feel when I try to get Springbank anything at a reasonable price here in NYC. Not to be had. And the allocation and selection is low.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . very small distillery, and the best 'traditional' operation.

[@MikeC.11]

@@thewhiskybothy Hard to have a "favorite" distillery, but Springbank would be it. All the best stuff stays in the UK and EU, though.

[@paintspot1509]

Hi Ralphy , I have been temped to try the Bunnahabhain stiuireadair as it looks quite good value, but it is a NAS whiskey. On the plus side it is 46%, no colour and no filtering. Have you come across this bottle? is it worth a shot?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . go for it, a decent NAS.

[@paintspot1509]

@@thewhiskybothy Cheers for the reply, ill give it a go. On a different note, I just had a look at my order history from a certain whiskey shop, I bought a 29 year old Bunnahabhain for £65 +Vat back in 2010!! oh how times change haha.

[@simonbarrett5624]

I'd argue that Buffalo Trace at 40% is actually a tremendous bourbon. I know that becuase it doesn't have an official age statement means that the snobby crew won't go near it (despite the fact that the label and blurb state that the majority is 8 year old), but it is great stuff. Eagle Rare is the same product with a 10 pound (UK) premium because it has an age statement.

[@nicholasmongiori7023]

Hey Ralfy, once this global pandemic slows down come on out to Colorado. There are some great whiskey distilleries out here and they are small owned.

[@Alexandr_Titarenko]

Scotland is a wilderness country, although it is always small in terms of its territory.

[@darienbragg4826]

Any chance of a review of Zuidam Millstone 100 Rye?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . yet to find it on sale where I am. But I will look out for it.

[@alpaytemiz229]

wild turkey: 101, rare breed, russell's reserve etc

[@jpgc83]

I don't know the history of the brand, let me look for it, but my personal favority run is Botran 18

[@freedomchannel3656]

Come on over to California... Let's start a distillery

[@Alexandr_Titarenko]

yes ralfy......whiskey for all time

[@zamarcha]

Maybe try some white jamaican rum from hampden, or dark overproofed carraibean rum, it's a rich experience, to share even more

[@prestonw3878]

I'd like to hear you talk more about cachaca and agricole

[@tobelieve627]

Any recommendations for Brandies?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . anything not on supermarket shelves and bottles at 40%. Start with a search for 'armagnac' which is hidden brandy.

[@tobelieve627]

@@thewhiskybothy thank you so much, Ralfy! Love your channel and you are one of the best content creators on this subject! So glad I found your channel!

[@treyjohnson8178]

Wild turkey rare breed! If you can find it!

[@mattd2001]

Love the 101. Haven’t had the Rare Breed.

[@finallydone8640]

Took the words right out of my mouth

[@PapaAthona]

Love 101 and Rare breed. Great calls

[@jeroenheun82]

Agreed on the Breed. But maybe better if Ralfy doesn't review it because it's still affordable at the moment.

[@rasklaat2]

And Longbranch.

[@justincase5124]

Russell's Reserve Single Barrel is 55% and delicious! $80 in Australia.

[@ZacChastain]

Agreed! And about $50-55 US

[@beardybeerreviews2720]

You gonna review blackened whiskey, metallica collab whiskey? I would love to see you review it!

[@steveno7058]

Ralfy does not review non-aged stated whiskey, especially ones that a gimmick like Blackened. I can find a dozen Bourbon's way better then Blackened for 50% less.

[@johandelpire7290]

Give us some rye recommendations please?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . Wild Turkey 101 is a good start.

[@johandelpire7290]

@@thewhiskybothy Got me a bottle of that a couple weeks ago, 1l, it's a nice one. Also had High West Rendezvous Rye and Double Rye! delivered, yum yum ^^

[@callofthewillman4469]

Hello Malty Minnie the moochers

[@thewhiskybothy]

. .. now on the M-mention List, thanks !

[@alansmithee4895]

Ryes, much more interesting than bourbons, imho.

[@andrec171]

Ralfy, how would a brother from Canada arrange a chat with you? Would be Happy to meet...

[@ianhenderson3078]

Malternative mention: "Bonjour, Bon Accord Brandy Buddies!"

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . needs to be all 'm' words !

[@danswank3378]

Old Forrester for price is bourbon value. Shame Brown Forman doesn't ship some full barrels to Scotland and bottle before using to mature scotch

[@alexk3088]

Some bourbon producers engage in this practice and I think it seriously hurts bourbon reputation. Now, I like your idea, if these barrels were shipped to a distillery under control of the same parent company and bottled under that supervision... maybe that'd be ok. I guess in a whisky country like Scotland I'd trust this practice more than in certain other countries where this is done by Beam.

[@mr2gordons940]

Ralfy, what were you drinking prior to this video that had you smacking your lips so loudly?

[@clarkpj1]

Once this pandemic settles down, why not go to the US and do a few reviews of products from some of the "craft" distilleries whilst you're on that side of the pond?

[@danielmcevoy976]

I am officially sick of the whole deal. Bourbon is as over priced as Scotch now in the USA. And I understand I am paying to have the Scotch come from another country. Im not paying $60 for any bourbon when I can get an Ardbeg 10 for the same price. Im just looking for a fair price for anything that tastes good going forward. I don't care about proof or chill filtering anymore. Does it taste good. Im not getting drunk anyway. Im not made of money.

[@uninteresting1212]

Im Canadian...you don't know what over priced is.....

[@alexk3088]

I agree. Wild Turkey products appear to be fairly priced. Knob Creek. Bottled in Bond stuff. Old Granddad 114. Elijah Craig (yes, even the regular, it's 47%), Larceny is 46%. I don't think I ever paid over $50 for a bourbon (even a 1.75L). Chuck Cowdery recently wrote that "$100-150 is a princely sum to pay for a bourbon" and he's one of the more knowledgeable people who write about it. I've certainly paid more for Scotch single malt and sometimes it's worth it. I'd never pay over $150 and even that wouldn't be the norm for me. I like to explore the core flagship offerings. And I rarely ever even buy at retail, I like discounts.

[@alexk3088]

@@uninteresting1212 waiting for an Australian to enter conversation ;)

[@highlander548]

@@alexk3088 Yep...here is one. You guys seriously don't know what overpriced is until you look at how much we need to pay for booze here in Aus. Over $80 for that same Rare Breed, WD. $120 for Lagavulin 16, $150 for Glenfarclas 15 and so on...

[@steveno7058]

Are you in the USA? There is so much affordable and high quality Bourbon. Wild Turkey 101 $22, Knob Creek Small Batch $25, Old Forester 100 $22. Knob Creek Single Barrel 120 Proof 9 year $40-$50. Rare Breed Barrel Proof $40-$45.

[@graham2954]

cannae beat a bottle of ovd.

[@johnc3403]

Sorry Ralfy. I've followed your reviews for years. I've sampled the whole field, Whisky's and bourbons, Scotch and Irish, Vodka's, Gin's and Rum's too and I've come to the conclusion that Whiskey is where someone has taken perfectly good ethanol and flavoured it with wood. I mean, that's it really, isn't it. Whiskey is nothing more than ethanol left in smelly wooden barrels for a while to impart taste and colour to them. And if they don't come out brown enough, we'll throw some caramel in to fix that. Whiskey is the fakest of drinks.

[@AndyCigars]

Elijah Craig 12 is super rare here in the US...they do not make it anymore.

[@judgeholden849]

They still make the Barrel proof 12 year

[@AndyCigars]

@@judgeholden849 ahh, not the same...has NO age statement. I still have one unopened bottle of 12 y/o for my son when he turns 21 in 5 years.

[@callofthewillman4469]

Corporations suck in general as a whole no matter what they make