ralfy review 980 Extras - The 'Stages' of whisky.

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

I have been smoking a pipe for 37 years, drinking whisky 🥃 for 27 years and have enjoyed many malts over and over again: then thanks to Ralfy I discovered many more whiskies that deliver new experience and delicious flavours. Sipping a Deanston 12 as I write. Thanks 🙏 dear Ralfy. Ciao 👋 S.

[@Sinier940n]

Mind if i ask your top whiskies?

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

I have been enjoying Craigellechie 13, Glendronach 8,12,15 (Billie Walker Bottlings) Ardbeg 10, Springbank 10,12, Kilkerran 12,16, GlenScotia 15, Glenfarclas 12,15,105, Ledaig 10, Bunnahabhain 12, Ballechine 10, Edradour 12 etc. None are so fancy or expensive but thanks to Ralfy and others they are all NCF and natural colour . I hope that helps. Cheers 🥃SF.

[@Sinier940n]

@@sandrofazzolari8833 Cheers!

[@gertabour9509]

These things you say are true.

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Been in my journey for 35 years and still learning and amazed on how much fun there is still to come. Every whisky has its own story to tell. Cheers.

[@sotirismaroudas5923]

The great thing about the particular list of stages is that it applies to the majority (if not all) of topics in life.

[@jujtan5412]

My whisky journey began during the pandemic. Lock down, lots of me time, stumbled upon people like Ralfy and Roy on youtube, ended up in the 'hole'.... and now deeper into it day by day... 😂👍

[@sashidemedia]

Haha same

[@whompbiscuits8930]

I think my introduction started over 25 years ago with Jack Daniel's Old No. 7. I've always been fond of JD even though I now know that it's currently a very mediocre whiskey (I am toying with trying their new bottled in bonds). Years later I got into Bushmills because I was (and still am) a fan of the old TV show "Rescue Me", because Bushmill's was Tommy Gavin's whiskey of choice. But I was a guzzler then, I'm not that anymore thankfully. But my real discovery probably began with another whiskey YT channel, couple of guys based in Austin, TX, and I learned a lot from them. Great introductory lessons I learned, and I learned how appreciating/articulating whiskey was really done (by comparison). Then Ralfy popped up in my YT recommendations sometime last year or late 2021, began my enquiry stage and I haven't looked back since. Right now I'm in this weird phase of knowledge, experience and disillusionment. More I learn, the more I'm skeptical which is healthy. Because at least I'm no longer one of those many naive brand-fanboys that too many bourbon fans are.

[@danzai666]

Amazing video. The seven stages can be used as a metaphor for life. Never thought I would learn so much from a whisky video. Salud, slainte, slange var.🎉

[@cecilrobbins5182]

Just wanted to say. I've known about "Scotch" since the JW Red Label days in the late 60s. Got refined a bit in the early 90s with single Malt and using wine glasses and goblets. Then 2019 went to Scotland and discovered Springbank, Glendronach, Glen Scotia and Ralfy. Ralfy's whisky of the year was Glenallachie 12 which brought me to online buying. Then in Feb.2020 I discovered Peat and was starting to understand integrity bottling. Then RAGE as I came to fully understand low ABV, Chillfiltering and e-150!!!!! I'm in Nirvana now....Thank's Ralfy, you and others in your craft have been Great Guides!! The journey continues....

[@jamesleavitt5719]

This is a great video. Thank you for making it. I was wondering if you could make a video speaking to how the food you eat before having a drink effects your pallet? Do you ever drink with a meal? Do you wait a few hours after eating? Can you make some generalized comments about what foods enhance/diminish the whiskey’s tasting notes?

[@teunvanderlinden1740]

My introduction to whisky took me many years: I long thought that whisky was just a 'so so' beverage. This changed when I reached - three years ago - the stage of discovery when I had a sample of Glenlivet 18 in a giftpack. During my enquiry I tried to find a cheap alternative for that dram. During this enquiry I gained experience and some knowledge and learned that there is much more than the Glenlivet 18. That's where I am now: still gaining experience and knowledge. This channel proofed to be a great guidance! The only thing lacking is a bad bottle!

[@freddievanterbeek4913]

my introduction was a bit unusual, I live in the Netherlands, started dating a Scottish lassie in september 2012, spring 2013 we visited her parents near Aberdeen, and went to a restaurant. As a starter I had fried haggis balls, smoked salmon and a shotglas of PEATED whisky...! my first whisky, and I was already age 44! 10 years ago... I loved it and peated whisky is my favourite style since then. Later on I read that beginners should start with a non-peated mellow/smooth whisky... Hmmm, not for me, and it went well haha! Got about 70 bottled at home now. 🙂

[@FreedsFirstTime_Whisky_Reviews]

Absolutely love videos like this! Thanks Ralfy! Wise words. Cheers

[@Nicolas_Allende]

It's a fact of living; with experience and knowledge the magic veil comes off and then comes disillusionment. I'm between stages 4 and 5 and I'm NOT looking forward to 6. As with whisky, so too with life. Thanks for the malty philosophical moment Ralfy, always good to hear from you. A malt mention, if you will: Mellifluous magical merriment-mongers.

[@Whiskyanalyse]

Hello Ralfy, thank you for the many videos with your advice. You changed my view of whisky and inspired me to focus on more quality, although the other standards taste good from time to time 😉.

[@wilsonwilson7533]

Another great sharing by Ralfy which is full of wisdom, insight and valuable experience !

[@dezzz4845]

Disolusionment- when you disillusioned with a solvent. Brilliant.

[@lucasl2559]

sir i want to say THANK YOU for these knowledge that ive been learning from you. a lot of things u are telling us is making so much sense to me and my experience. thank you.

[@Mylatestdram]

My introduction phase of whisky goes back to age 14-16

[@ExtendedPachiderm]

I'm smack dab in the middle of disillusionment right now. I still enjoy drinking whisky, but the recent increases in price for some of my old favorites corresponding with a decrease in quality has me looking at other shelves at the liquor store.

[@Malt454]

Yep, I'm with you - value for money is dropping rapidly; too few resources (quality casks and maturation time/dunnage space) spread over too much product all looking for too much profit. Most relative high value these days is really only found in producer press releases; some opinions to the contrary, you can't cheerlead current whisky into being great.

[@whompbiscuits8930]

Same. But I'm not yet looking at rums, tequilas, etc.

[@elduderino3120]

Have you tried “integrity” malts or been drinking Diago pish? If the former and still disillusioned, there’s only the prices to grumble at and there’s still better value than the big name classics. If the latter, give up on 40% ABV stuff like Macallan, Talisker, Lagavulin etc.ancc do discover something new. A quick browse through Ralfy’s reviews of the last 2-3 years should help.

[@robfut9954]

I feel that part of the disillusion is real today, whisky is indeed often worse in taste and smell than it was even 5-10 years ago. It’s highly frustrating and it’s important to realize you’re not the crazy one, it’s changed.

[@robfut9954]

@@elduderino3120 the sad thing is those brands are iconic scotch brands that were at one time a true experience. Flavors that cannot be replicated or replaced. Hopefully they turn it around because I miss them

[@wadew5100]

What an excellent and enjoyable post 👍 thanks

[@Slikx666]

Ralfy. You've just described how people interact with music, coffee. Cultures, food and so much more. If we take the music charts in the UK it's mostly the same beat, the same vocal lines and as interesting as the next track, it's all designed to make money. But if we forget the chats we can end up experiencing so really good and interesting music. Or we can experience the equivalent of a shot of Grants whiskey in a basic hot chocolate, it works and makes us smile. Also try some marmite with strawberry jam on toast, it's interesting. 😃👍

[@adiatassi1796]

thank you Ralfy! Proud to be a subscriber! really Learned a lot

[@gertabour9509]

I only have the time to watch Ralfy videos. He puts out so much content i only watch this and Ralfs positive gainer channel. Oh, yes and yesterday's machinery too.

[@robfut9954]

My introduction was Lagavulin 16. Bought at the bar with the intention to slow me down in college. But I learned to appreciate it. And so the rest of malt whisky has been a deescalation from that impact, and a search for always something new

[@TheHiram123]

The Book of Ralfy: 2023:980-x

[@majordomo3]

Amen

[@EricMilewski]

Ralphy, cheers I'd say I'm somewhere in between 3-4 if I was asked. Given a $200-250 budget for summer drinking, should I get 2 (maybe 3) local Canadian whiskeys or one decent Scotch on the journey to 4-5?

[@robfut9954]

To quote Nirvana: All the kids will eat it up, if it’s packaged properly.

[@TimHoekstra]

Bouncing back and forth between stage 4-6 in the state machine at the moment. No rush at all.

[@blablaogist]

Great way of putting it, Ralfy! Although a true Whisky Nirvana would actually break out of the eternal circle ;)

[@gertabour9509]

Oh, Ralphy's other channel is called Fitter Philosophy. Looked it up in the extended video write up. K

[@ruipedroparada]

dear Maltmates, just went through the stages of a bottle, from neck pour to absolute emptiness: a Signatory Clynelish distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2018. Nirvana, in retrospect, lasted only for the marvellous 2 first pours (various apples, pears, some citrus - both on nose and palate -, albeit no discernible waxiness or former coastal-iness). After that, the whisky launched itself into a steady descent: whatever mouthfeel began vanishing; halfway down the bottle, the lovely sourness that had so far subsisted gave way to fairly distant vanilla wood and J. Walker sickliness (sorry, cannot find a better descriptor...). Just following Ralfy's suggestion and saved a small miniature for future reference ...the rest is going straight to Coca Cola gallows. Hope this can be of some use....

[@robfut9954]

It’s not in your head, many malts fall apart only days after the bottle has been opened. It’s the opposite of how angry bottles can turn amazing after leaving it on the shelf a month. There are certain bottles I love but I know that I most finish it within a week (Ralfy wouldn’t approve), while there are others I add a teaspoon of water to, shake, then leave on the shelf a month and they’re amazing. So don’t be scared to buy again, but realize you have a limited time to enjoy it.

[@mediaikonz]

As someone who is currently on holiday here in Inverness and just went to Macgregor's Highland Malt Whisky Experience, after a couple of years of disillusionment, I'm starting to reach nirvana.

[@eLSyDro]

I've only seen Aberlour in Texas, kilchoman machir bay cask strength and Kilkerran s heavy peat batch 8, and ardnamurchans cask strength is good

[@superodfx]

Attended my first festival, feis ile in Melbourne Au. All the reps except ardnahoe. $200 a ticket, and some nice offerings, I wanted to get my worth, so I tasted 25 whiskies but after about 8 or 10 they tasted the same. Even leaving laphroig cask strngth, octomor for last they didn’t taste peaty or V.smoky 😢 There was a beautiful cask strngth Bunna 20yr in oloroso, we only had 3hrs to drink, I think I was like a bull in a china shop lol I drank a couple litres of water too

[@whisky.Lovers]

Dissolutions, or disappointment, I should have listened to you, I bought a Macallan classic cut 2022 and it was not worth the money. I though it being a 52.5% in strength it would be great, but, it was not. Will not bother Macallan again, that bottle was $220.00.

[@DileepB]

My Glen Grant 15 was not that bad. It could have been a different release.

[@weichen7261]

I have proudly been through several cycles of these stages and each time I get a higher level of nirvana. I no longer get obsessed with my whisky collection nor too many rare whisky tasting …

[@Soldano999]

I'm in the "exploring world whisky" phase. Lately i've been focusing on bourbons and found these less complex and pretentious and generally more easy to drink.

[@joealtare9124]

Off topic... what do you think of the David Grusch story?! Great time to be alive.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . and the 'legacy media' say nothing 😎

[@CaptainWilloughby777]

Hello, Ralfy.A few weeks ago I reported to you regarding the Glenglassaugh distillery...and how they tricked me with a bottle of Revival that omitted the non-chill filtered statement on the label. They never responded to my inquiry. Well, guess what? Their website has undergone a complete change along with their packaging. Whereas they used to state their bottlings were non-chill filtered and natural colour; they have switched to paragraph after paragraph of vapid flannel describing their "coastal whisky". I sent them another email asking if Brown Forman had done to them what Brown Forman did to GlenDronach. I bet they DO NOT respond quickly as they say they will. Congratulations, Brown Forman, for destroying yet another distillery's products. If a distillery is unwilling to sell me an integrity whisky, then I am unwilling to give them my coin. Period. 0:19

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . actions speak louder than words !

[@wilsonwilson7533]

Not really sure about the whole story /issue of ncf natural colour of that producer you have experienced but in my understanding, that brand didn't earn good reputation under the billy walker era many yrs ago, never read really positive drinking review for this brand on internet neither even for their newer bottles. Guess it really need time and luck for this distillery to at least have a solid quality core range with some age statment before normal whisky drinkers shall try their products as there are too many new bottles and new producers showing up every yr. Shall really do some basic research before we buy a bottle or have a high chance wasting our money, time ,passion and health in long run to drink bad quality alcohol by trying random bottle from a random producer without solid track record for at least some but not most of their core range bottles

[@ironmantran]

I NEVER have taste-fatigue, dramming since 1995. Just fatigued from Price hikes and corporate greed. . . I skipped step 1-2-3, experienced 4-5-6 in one year, and now, permanently stuck on step 6. I NEED MORE 25 Y MALTS TO GET TO STEP 7 ! ! hehe

[@Ediranii]

The only bottle I ever regretted buying was The Illeach Cask Strength. Bottled at 58% with chill filtration and E150a. It was such a disappointing experience and I regret every penny spent on it.

[@88johnbarnes]

Hi Ralfy, hope you're good. 🫶🏾🥃👍🏾

[@heatherharrison264]

It is wise to be careful about following recommendations from salespeople in certain stores. Total Wine, a chain that can be found in parts of the United States, has a large number of store brands of wine and spirits that occupy a lot of shelf space. They make more profit on these than they do on the regular stuff, so salespeople are encouraged to steer people toward them. Experienced imbibers of spirits generally know not to count on the salespeople at big box chains, but inexperienced drinkers could easily be steered toward less than ideal choices. Quality is variable; while some might be good, most are mediocre and a few are bad. I suspect that their single malts are lower end independent bottlings of blend filler. I haven't seen any specific distilleries on the labels - just brand names that have no connection to anything. Their store brand American whiskies are mostly of uncertain origin and are highly variable in quality, though they appear to have some deals going with a few craft distilleries - those products can be very good. Out of curiosity, I tried a few of their whiskies from 50ml mini-bottles. This is a good way to give them a fair try without committing to an entire bottle, and if I find a good one at a good price, I'm not one to argue with it. Most didn't outperform others in their price range, but two or three of them at least came close and would be suitable budget options. With store brands, it is best to try before you buy if possible, as they usually aren't as good a deal as they may seem at first glance.

[@БьярмГипербореев]

the hebridean series: tobermory 24 old ABV 52,5% please😇

[@Hogibaer]

Interesting how disillusionment seems to have much to do with the whisky world you experience throughout your whisky journey. I am certain my recent (years') degree of disillusionment would be significant lower if I was a billionaire with lots and lots of phenomenal - but now silly expensive - bottlings yet to discover instead of being out of equation as it stands. The stupid thing is that I would've barely been able to acknowledge said malts when I started my journey 16 years ago. Now with lots of exprience I do, and, PUFF ... gone and/or out of reach.

[@davidmarshall8628]

I'm stuck hard in the disillusionment stage. The state of the market is terrible. I must say I don't believe personal growth is all of the reason the old standards no longer satisfy. I believe they don't deliver what they used to. Some of the finest whisky I've ever had was an 18 year old Macallan from the 1978 distillation season. Current issue Mac 18 is lame in comparison. Remember Highland Park 12 and 18 from the 1990's? The short, fat bottles with the large diameter corks. The Highland Park you get these days is a big letdown in comparison. Hell, Johnnie Walker Black was a good dram thirty years ago.

[@linoleumbonypart385]

Stage 8 ….. quit …..

[@HerbertDuckshort]

Obi Wan Mitchell 😉

[@sundowner62james69]

Nothing bland about these Extras!

[@alexk3088]

100%, at least in the US store-bought desserts are absolutely rubbish, too sweet, no flavor and way overpriced. DIY is the only sensible alternative.

[@andypike1234]

Disillusionment

[@Malt454]

Furthermore, I'm even more disillusioned when comments criticizing the status quo on this channel mysteriously disappear, regardless of the censor or the reason - any discussion of whisky that has to proceed along those lines isn't worth the name.

[@wilsonwilson7533]

Lol, you can't make everyone like and support you even you are telling the truth. So far people comment other peacefully , I don't think it's a big issue. Maybe some of them will take time reading Ralfy videos and become a supporter later. Time will tell😊

[@Malt454]

@@wilsonwilson7533 - I could care less how much everyone likes me or not - I had comments disappear and I called it out. How good or bad someone says a whisky is has nothing to do with the production information provided or withheld. If Ralfy truly supports consumers having more production information, then he should also only support/review those products that provide it. No one gets more information by settling for less. If anyone else is confused over exactly what message Ralfy is sending regarding NAS, they're not alone.

[@leojudkins2040]

@@Malt454 "I could care less how much everyone likes me or not" sorry to hear that you care so much.

[@Malt454]

@@leojudkins2040- Not exactly sure what that means. My larger point would be that the discussion of whisky shouldn't be a mere popularity contest based on hero worship. If these topics can't be debated fairly, and without censorship, then "debate" is a farce. Whether people like me or not for saying so is their affair.

[@Malt454]

I'm certainly disillusioned with any channel/reviewer who argues, in theory, for more product information yet reviews NAS-marketed products. It's all a bit of a joke.

[@artvandelay3922]

Reviewing NAS is a good decision. Less mature stock these days, but doesn't mean consumers can't know as much as possible

[@Malt454]

@@artvandelay3922 - But, with NAS marketing, consumers simply don't know as much as possible, and will never get more product information by settling for less, or by having their popular reviewers do the same, no matter what information they argue for in theory. Reviewing NAS while arguing that consumers should be informed and respected is a joke.

[@Soldano999]

@@Malt454 just because you get more product information doesn't always mean the whisky is better. I have had major disappointments and good surprises in both categories.

[@Malt454]

@@Soldano999- Subjective assessments of quality or value and objective product information are, quite obviously, different things. The real question is why you supposedly need to know less about some products than others - all at the whim of the producer - and how any of this enhances quality, if at all. NAS isn't even really a "category" of whisky, just a category of label; there is nothing but a deficit in production information which makes any whisky an NAS product.

[@elduderino3120]

…hmmm, we meet again. Is there any point in rehashing this? You could just choose to avoid reviews of NAS drams if it offends that much.