ralfy review 868 Extras - Advice on your 1st Indi-malt purchase

[@angelosmichail3950]

I find myself coming regularly back to this particular piece of extras. You really can't add to or take out a word from it. And then I go and pour me a dram of Signatory Edradour unchillfiltered collection, take a whif of it and let it covered for half an hour, my brain already savouring the malt moment to come. Next I return to my old bottling Black Bottle glass, diligently teaching my palate to be patient. And with every sip i take, eyes closed, a big "thank you Ralfy" resonates in my head. Cheers mate, happy drams!!

[@BrianRobson188]

Never thought about this before, but the penny has just dropped about how fortunate I am living in Edinburgh and having Cadenhead, Royal Mile Whiskies and SMWS on my doorstep ... all places where you can get great advice and occasionally try before you buy. Around 50% of my (albeit small) collection is independent bottlings ... I'll be counting myself lucky from now on!

[@sundowner62james69]

These Extras are invaluable! Keep em' coming Ralfy .

[@brendanwaldon2117]

Agreed Ralfy! I had the opportunity to purchase an Indie 5yo Caol Ila. Tasting it side by side with the 12yo OB was an amazing experience.

[@uilleachan]

How to choose an indy bottle, I pick the one that's winking at me, if there's nothing available from the distilleries I usually go for. I've been buying indy bottles since the 80s' and have only ever had one that I can, hand on heart, say that didn't like. Had a good few that weren't great, a few that were thin, but only that one actual disappointment, which have to be taken in the context and off set against, all the good very good and exceptional bottles. There's nothing that sets my heart a flutter more than the discovery of a great indy bottle and then performing an online trawl to snap up any available stock remnants, for me that's the romance and adventure of whisky right there...

[@alexmil002]

Just loads of good advice and another great extras. Ralfy, you and quite a few other presenters/commentators have elevated the discernment and knowledge of spirits enthusiasts around the world. Thank you, and take care. -Alex

[@randyd.7076]

Thought I bought a bad whisky, but added a half teaspoon of good well water and let my dram sit for an hour. This whisky is now a staple.

[@maltphilistine923]

Thanks Ralfy! You've been my "go to" for whisky info for, . . . well, a very long time ;)

[@peterlee2279]

Great sound advice Ralfy. Thanks very much. Something simply can’t be rush especially whisky.

[@Hogibaer]

So true about the "experience can't be rushed" by drinking a lot or straight old stuff in a short period to "save time" on one's whisky journey. Once in every while I come across young and old folk who just have the money or connections to almost immediately try all the glory of old blends, closed distillery bottlings, you name it. I admit that I am a bit envious b/c I often have to work, wait, and also hope for opportunities to get to try a classic. But I also see some privileged folk not knowing (how much) to appreciate what they are served. At best they like the whisky, but their degree of understanding, especially the subtle notes is at rather superficial and often displays in the utterance of empty rhetorics and clichés (=marketing bs). To be fair when confronted with old or rare or very valuable whisk(e)ys we all have to check whether we are star struck, hence I love my blind tastings. :-) Cheers, mate.

[@mikeaddison-saipe5820]

Hi Ralfy. I just had a birthday! My wife bought me a bottle of Infrequent Flyers 21year old unnamed distillery - Orkney. Experience tells me it's Highland Park. Bottled at 52% natural colour. Does NOT however have any statement about filtering. Half an hour in the glass with only a few drops of water added (it really only needed 3 or 4 drops in 20mls of whisky)-only got a faint hint of scotch mist. So it's extensively filtered - and quite possibly chill filtered but I'm just not sure. It is however a magnificent dram. My take is perhaps 88 or 89. And better than the last official bottling I had of Highland Park.

[@stevebloomer2920]

Most of my purchases are from independent bottlers now. I prefer them - the presentation is better (higher proof, typically non-chill filtered and no added colorant) and it is often the only way to try a whisky from a non-mainstream distillery. Ralfy is full of good advice here - one of the pleasures is finding variations on the distillery style that an IB gives; they are simultaneously recognizable and different. And if you drink this stuff for long enough, you also find that the IBs may eventually be a better guardian of the distillery style than the actual distillery.

[@MurrayCohenbluesandwhisky]

Another insightful video here. I wanted to mention something that relates to a much earlier video you presented on doing some experimentation with malts that are not particularly fascinating or that actually appear somewhat mediocre. This happened to me with a bottle of Mortlach Rare Old. I've been a fan of Mortlach aged statements for a long while. I've been impressed with Mortlach 18, 25 and 26 year expressions and have actually written reviews for Scotland from here in Canada on them. So the dilemma with the Rare Old. Had about 4 0r 5 drams out of my bottle over a month or more and nothing improved and my best guess was that fireworks were not going to spontaneously occur with this one. So, back to your suggestion of turning such a malt into a vatted malt. I ended up with the following recipe or marriage that I came up with: 60% proportion of Mortlach Rare Old 43.4% abv., 20% proportion of Glenfiddich 15 Distillery Ed., 51%abv; 15% proportion Glenlivet Cipher 48% abv. and 5% proportion of Bowmore Devil's Casks 10 year small batch 56.9% abv. I let it be and when I decided to nose and taste it I found a rather intriguing and quite complex and I dare say most enjoyable vatted malt. As you said in your first book, never discard a bottle of single malt but try to decipher what's wrong with it. In this case, The Rare Old is neither rare nor old and by marrying it with more substantial and tastier malts, it morphed into something special. Your thoughts? By the way, I posted this comment here so you would see it. Thanks Ralfy.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . the more we explore, the more we discover.

[@andrewblatherwick8758]

On a similar theme I know someone who had a half bottle of Highland Park 12 and he couldn't get on with the Bowmore 12. When the bottle had about 100ml left he topped it up with Bowmore, Talisker and his dregs of Oban. To this day he keeps doing it with dreg ends of bottles to keep changing the whisky and constantly blending his own. Not sure if he kept a diary of everything that went in or not.

[@langbroekmd]

More sage advice! Thanks Ralfy.

[@AndyCigars]

Happy St. Patrick's Day, all! Was really hoping Ralf would have Gene make an appearance to sing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling". ☘️

[@rabinathtulsi7145]

Hello from Trinidad and 🇹🇹 tobago enjoying your videos as alway keep it up ralfy

[@digitaldemocracyai-rob]

Was hoping for an Irish slant on today's chat Ralfy. Happy Paddy's Day everyone!

[@danhammer106]

Raising my pint of stout to you sir ☘️

[@digitaldemocracyai-rob]

@@danhammer106 cheers!

[@AndyCigars]

Same here! Was really hoping Gene would make an appearance.

[@bingerbub]

Thanks a lot for sharing you knowledge and advise. I recently started to buy a few independent bottling and will definitely compare those with core range bottlings.

[@Watchman999]

I think my first Indy bottle was Compass Box Spice Tree. Fantastic dram as are many other Compass Box offerings. Price is becoming an issue though. However, Stranger and Stranger for whatever reason have managed to complement the whisky drinking experience with their bottle art. I would like to think that the liquid in the bottle determines the value and the enjoyment but I fully admit that the label art on Compass Box products can make my enjoyment of a dram greater. Especially if I take my time with it.

[@tommyg5095]

Slightly off topic, but "my independent" rather, my blend of the day was a 50/50 mix of Compass Box Spice Tree and BLACKADDER Smoking Islay... Spicy, Smoky, wow,,, really wow,,,, so damn good,,, Amazingly Great.

[@jagsingh5652]

Great advice Ralfy. Cheers

[@pfalzgraf7527]

Magnifiers of More-ish Mouthfuls The intermediate traders are something I only recently awoke to - through Roy and Ralfy. It absolutely amazes me how many public and hidden ways there are to make a buck in the whisky industry. And yet, I am convinced that the outcome is best when everyone involved does not look mainly for the profit but is there for the Whisky with a passion! The world of Whisky becomes more and more fascinating the longer you are in it!

[@reneerikolsen9694]

Great stuff and good information.

[@danhammer106]

The malt formerly known as Pri....oh sorry, Highland Park ;) Indispensable perspective Ralfy, as always. Thank you!

[@wernerjacq]

Loved the green flashes within the video! So there was actual honoration to St. Patricks........ Or, I should cut down on the Absynth

[@nicktheflybradley]

Hi Ralfy, Very interesting Xtras. I noted your wail about the demise of Baillie, Nicholl, Jarvis for I missed that as well. Nick from York

[@Noble_Oak]

Hi Ralfy ! I wish you a wonderful St. Patricks Day ! 🍀🇮🇪🍻🥃 I have celebrated this day with *Kilkenny* , *Tullamore Dew* and *Irish Pub music* ! Irish Pub @ home ! 😊👍🏼 Cheers , Chris from Bremen / Germany

[@Mr.Wrong1]

Ralfy, when you come back to a 12 year old Glemorangie or Glenfiddich, do you still enjoy them as much as you once did? I just wonder if they may seem less enjoyable somewhat now perhaps as your pallet is much more sophisticated?

[@Carleton.Weaver]

Sadly independent bottlings are not very often available outside the UK or EU. In Canada we see very few, and when we do often at a very high premium.

[@davidrobin1656]

I had a entirely the opposite experience. Unusually, and but accident, I started my whisky journey with Cadenhead’s tastings in Edinburgh in about 2008. It was years before I tried any official bottlings. All I had was cask strength indies. I knew know different and loved it. And back then there were so many quality and afford indies around. Ironically, now, I buy mainly officials. Not being in Edinburgh anymore and have less chance to try quality officials feel a safer bet. I think there are more good officials now than there have been for a long time. I still love indies but I’m very cautious with them now. So I sort of stated backwards but it taught me huge amounts and I got to try so many closed distillers (old Cadenhead littlemills were to die for) along the way.

[@claytonroberts1429]

I got a creative whiskey company (CWC) independent bottling of a cask strength Laphroaig 10-year-old. Compared to the original cask strength core range bottling. It has more complexity and sweetness even though it's slightly lower ABV. About $40 difference but I believe worthy of the extra money.

[@whiskyadventures4979]

Ralfy - I've followed you for years from the very start of MY journey. That's led to setting up a whisky club in my home town, one of the largest whisky groups on Facebook - and in the last 18 months my first 3 bottles as an indie. I do hope you get to try one of ours some time (Waxhouse Whisky).

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . you have been busy, sounds like a lot of good malt-moments !

[@hablandodewhisky]

Really nice vide Ralfy, as usual.. :) I have never tried an Indian whisky just because I am very insure about quality, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. All the best from Spain

[@4ll4nb31l]

At least the jacket is green. Happy SAINT Patrick's Day 2021

[@gav25x]

I bought a bottle of 2007, 12 year old Deanston by Signatory, 64.5% Vol. One of 630 bottles, cost the best part of £100. It'll be interesting to compare it to the standard 12 year old 🤔

[@willemkilian9563]

We seem to be in a terrible region for IBs here in South Africa. Maybe we are just too far away and too small a market. They are sparse and generally very expensive here. Would love to try one that's reasonably affordable one day, though.

[@dribsanddrams]

SMWS has done me pretty well for a few years now, though I’ve noticed some younger juice showing up lately. The only problem is that I fear finishing off a bottle I’m loving, since I can’t get it again.

[@thewhiskyscout1238]

Talking to friends about their experience means you are hoping they were the one taking the chance? If no one is willing to take a chance on an independent bottler who will ever be able to render a true opinion on it. I take that chance every few purchases especially when it offers the opportunity at a distillery I don't have access to official bottlings from. To each their own but that is how I approach it.

[@robertheyes5781]

Hi ralf Loved the video I was thinking of buying my first independent bottle, looking at one from Signatory Edradour 10yr old 2010 Cask 10 Un-Chillfiltered Collection. Would like your opinion on that choose

[@lutzschumacher5891]

That is a good one

[@robertheyes5781]

@@lutzschumacher5891 cheer pal

[@Flow-Joe]

It's a really really great malt, but "technically" not Independent bottling, because Signatory owns Edradour. I suggest to get it anyways.

[@AndyCigars]

I highly recommend it. Delicious sherried whisky that I am always on the lookout for. Buy 2 bottles, in my opinion. Cheers! ☘️

[@robertheyes5781]

@@AndyCigars that's not a bad call

[@ensiobygg5004]

A.D Rattray is awesome. After tasted these indi bottlings it’s hard to fall back to official ones.

[@rizzwan7273]

Hi sir how r u I am just curious about something which I would like to ask How can I order a private cask As I know we need some retailers or distributor my question is that do they also charge us if yes how much and how that whole process is can u give us little light on that

[@tooslow1614]

Thanks Ralfy

[@chrish12345]

Ralf do you rate Hunter Laing? For me they seem to use casks which are potentially too tired-out? Or is this just a more old-fashioned way?

[@jackthepickledhound]

My first indy was an 10 year Old Particular from Glengoyne @48%. After the praise that Ralfy threw at the official bottling, which was no longer on the shelf in New York, as it was a gift pack with glencairns, I figured this Hunter Laing would be a sure thing. Not. The lightest, palest whisky I ever bought and the taste was almost like a sour pickle. It is getting better as the months turn into years, but I'll be a bit leary of inexpensive HL Old Particular from now on.

[@chrish12345]

@@jackthepickledhound they certainly go for the spirit-drivel style which can come as a shock if you are used to Alberlour Abunadh. This can create some wonderful and unusual flavours in its own right but the same time could leave some customers feeling short changed?

[@AlReyn]

Brilliant topic Ralfy thank you. It would be really interesting to understand what sort of rules the distillery may put on the wholesale broker when buying barrels and also what rules then transfer down the line to the IB? Furthermore, why are the rules imposed and how do these rules ultimately affect what we, the consumer, experiences in and on the bottle and packaging?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . it's all rather complex !

[@Andre-nt4dn]

Very interesting (again) Ralfy, but I don't think I will ever like too much bitterness in whisky, even when it takes 20 more years of tasting 😊 . But I do like dark chocolate !

[@Michaele68]

Love this Indi review ...Nivla scripted or a natural?

[@jeffkerman1273]

Hey Ralfy...Love the reviews. Have any single malts scored a 95 or better? If so,which ones?

[@jirizajic2479]

Yes, there are some, but they are less than fingers of one normal hand ... if I remember well, the best whisky for Ralfy was 19 Y.O. Lowland whisky called St. Magdaleine/Maddeleine's cask strenght, from small batch, bought more than 20 years ago for some money, and last bottles of this whisky, available on internet is, of course very expensive, for more than 1000 £... so, big investition, if U like to taste this liquid gold...I think, that the distillery doesnt exist anymore, but I am not 100% sure, mate... Have an excellent spring, if U live in north hemisphere...

[@jeffkerman1273]

@@jirizajic2479 ....Thanks for the reply

[@jirizajic2479]

@@jeffkerman1273 You Are welcome, Jeff! Good night!

[@Asmoc23]

Like me, I don't like cherry cask whiskies :)) And a lot of whiskies are cherry cask

[@marinorasera]

Unfortunately in Switzerland it's heavy to find many different indy bottlers...

[@RwingDsquad]

In the United States we go to a place called a “liquor store”

[@Larce89]

I thought this was going to be about Indian malts.

[@scottyblog]

👍🏻

[@olhemi1]

🙂👍☕

[@pulsarl2c]

Aww.. ;D

[@MarcelB74]

I love these independent bottler reviews.. nowadays i buy these more then distillery bottelings

[@frankg2003]

Kind of useless unless you live in UK